«I… I give up…» – Cait said in a trembling humble voice and knelt down, tears glittering in her eyes. First, he defeated her on the psychological level, then she lost control over her emotions and her sword. As a result, she was humiliated and crushed.

The judge announced the winner.

Kyon removed his sword, and the flame around Cait went out. Holding back her tears, she and covered her red face and broke into a run away from the arena, somewhere up the aisle (to watch her weird n.o.ble opponent), not wanting to see or hear anyone. Kyon Stone was telling the truth. There was nothing unique or special about her. She was an ordinary fool with an att.i.tude. It was a day that Cait would remember for the rest of her life.

«She has lost?..» – The Browns and Cait's fans whispered incredulously.

The rest of the audience did not know what to say. Kyon's victory seemed to be another lucky coincidence. He moved slowly and awkwardly, his fire immunity must be some cheating trick, and throwing dust in Cait's eyes was despicable! Even the way he made Cait lose her sword looked somewhat wrong and unrealistic!

There was loud applause and cheers in the Stone zone. Some other spectators caught the mood of the perked-up family and broke into uncertain applause.

«Father, Kyon has spared the girl even if he could have killed her! Why did you say that he was pure evil? What if we are wrong about him? We should have let him explain his point of view before accusing him and sentencing to death…» – Diana said anxiously.

«You don't know anything about him... He is the one who pays back evil for good. He has been taking advantage of our family, holding your daughter hostage! You can't trust him, daughter. He is a lying, deceiving sc.u.mbag…» – Bai said wearily, sinking heavily into the seat. He didn't want to add to her anxiety, that's why he didn't tell Diana that Kyon had emptied the treasury and was blackmailing the family for 10 million spheres.

«But he is defending our family in this tournament! He is risking his life! Doesn't he deserve your forgiveness?! My son…»

«Stop calling him your son, Diana! He is the devil incarnate! Trust your father at least once. Can't you see that he is not helping our family? He is just an arrogant p.r.i.c.k who likes to show off! Mark my words, he will give up as soon as his life is in danger, after which he will come here with a guilty expression on his face and say: "I did everything I could"…»

«Father…» – Diana snapped, crossly turned to Kyon, standing beneath the platform, bravely protecting their family. Was she the only one who saw his bright side? Bai used to be skeptical and hostile towards Yurich, but in the end, their family rose, their children happened to be so healthy and talented that her heart burst with pride! With all her heart, Diana wanted to believe in her adopted son. She had pinned her hope for their bright future on him. Like Yurich, Kyon appeared out of nowhere, making the whole world run with his outstanding skills... Did Diana cling to blind faith, an attempt to fill the void after her husband left? Even if she did, she couldn't care less.

«I did…» – Kara nodded reluctantly.

Kara immediately tensed up and whispered back with exasperation. ��� «I didn't want to hurt Juno's feelings! He was her friend, and I didn't want to take him away from her. Anyway, the uncouth boy was supposed to disappoint her with his obsession with me, and when it happened, he was to find me with his master's heritage... I gave him an important task, and he ruined everything, wis.h.i.+ng to impress me. d.a.m.ned b.a.s.t.a.r.d…»

Kyon turned his cold, contemptuous gaze to Herman. – «Highly disrespected Patriarch Browns, it's time to keep your promise…»

The frog-faced patriarch pretended he didn't hear anything and announced loudly:

«Two on two! Against the Stones! Kiyan, you are going alone!»

A wave of exclamations swept through the audience, from angry to gloating.

The patriarch had used a precious summon 2on2, sending only one partic.i.p.ant! It was a small wonder, though. If he sent two "t.i.tans" against someone he considered a weakling, his family's reputation would be completely ruined...

Herman bowed to the queen, pressing his hand on his chest, over his heart. – «Your Majesty, like many people present here, I am still not sure in Kyon Stone's strength... His victory was again ridiculously simple, and his heat resistance is pure cheating! Therefore, he must once again confirm his allegedly great strength and skills in a battle with a worthy opponent... One on one.»

Vlada thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Kyon breathed a sigh of relief. At least he didn't have to deal with two monsters at once, but it didn't get much better. According to Kyon's intel, Kiyan was 15 stages stronger, just like Yegorka back in the day. He managed to defeat that moron only with the help of the gun, but what to do with this thud? Most likely, even a shot in the eye would do him little harm. Kiyan was as tough as Kirsan... The pract.i.tioners in the n.o.ble phase were unbelievably strong. And there was an even more powerful opponent, Brown number one!

Timothy looked indifferently at the pretentious opponent. He couldn't quite understand how he could be so strong with his cultivation. What was the secret? Anyway, nothing was going to help him defeat Kiyan, let alone Timothy himself.

A healthy young stud jumped off the platform. He released a frosty aura of the second stage in the n.o.ble phase that surpa.s.sed even the one previously demonstrated by Charlie. A cold bender! Many in the audience guessed.

The situation seemed deplorable to Lovr, especially when his fortune earned in Boston, as well as his plans for Kara, Vlada, and imperial power were all at stake. It was all or nothing! Victory or... Victory!

Kyon focused on the upcoming battle duel and nodded to the judge.

The judge signaled them to commence.

Diana bit her lips anxiously. – «Father, you see, Kyon is in serious danger, but he won't give up! Kiyan can kill him with one blow, but Kyon is willing to fight for our family!»

Bai shook his head incredulously. – «Don't jump to conclusions. It's really surprising that Kyon has become so strong in such a short time, but now the difference between him and Kiyan is the same as it was between him and Yegorka int the qualifiers, which doesn't mean instant death for Kyon. He will give up as soon as he smells trouble…»

Kiyan headed toward the opponent, who he already considered a dead man. It was time to return the family honor and dignity stained by wretched Tsayan! Herman ordered him to kill the adversary as quickly as possible to make him look a boastful weakling, which, in its turn, would free the patriarch from his part of the deal. However, Brown could not miss a good opportunity to taunt the culprit of all his trouble, and at the same time, kick Herman, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, out of his position of the patriarch for sending his father unjustly to prison. Thus, Kiyan was counting on dragging the battle to give Kyon plenty of a hard time before killing him!

When Kiyan approached Kyon close enough, he instantly developed a high speed, although far from the maximum, and tried to hit him in the head.

~whoosh~

Kiyan's attack did not find its target, instead, a jet-black sword was rapidly approaching him in response. It seemed rather slow, though, and the energy inside was insignificant.

Kiyan snorted arrogantly. He wasn't going to dodge this one, wis.h.i.+ng to prove to the opponent and all the spectators that there was nothing Kyon could do to harm him.

~bam~

As the Scourge hit him, Kiyan the Mighty tilted like a sinking s.h.i.+p, almost falling over. He did not expect the sword to weigh a hundred kilos!

Suddenly, Kiyan's face contorted in a grimace of pain. He moaned, reflexively clutching the cut. Thick, yellow pus oozed from the wound. The darkness made the little scratch rot in no time, causing Kiyan unbearable suffering! He managed to stop the torment with a fair amount of pure energy.

If Kyon's darkness hadn't changed and become denser (when his unique reached the next stage), rotting would be much weaker and less painful.

No one, whose cultivation hadn't reached the lord phase, noticed the darkness element because Kyon's bracelet concealed the "sound" of the element vibrations, which didn't apply to Vlada, Fernand, and the sect envoys. They suddenly realized that Kyon Stone was a heavenly genius! Their greedy predatory eyes sparkled when they looked at him. Lanatelle, the b.l.o.o.d.y ruler, was the only person in the entire empire of Rosarrio to be registered as a heavenly genius! It was believed that heavenly geniuses stole good luck from heaven. They were supposed to change the fate of the whole world! And there he was, a living legend! Even Nargise wanted to get the gifted guy into her sect, disregarding that he was a hairy b.u.mpkin!

Vlada was annoyed that her daughter turned out to be complete fool. How could she let him go?! However, the answer was obvious. Rumors had it that Kyon bended only four elements. Apparently, he was hiding his real talent.

«You'll pay for this with your life!» – Kiyan said fiercely.

«For your stupidity?»

Without saying a word, Kiyan rushed at him, furiously waving his big bearish arms. He was no longer restraining himself.

The whole battle looked like a one-sided beating. Even if Kiyan hadn't hit him once, there was nothing Kyon could do to harm his opponent. Lovr concentrated on defense, using all his 13 battle fists that helped him evade the attacks, on condition that nothing prevented him from moving.

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