Chapter Thirty: One Against Fourteen
Now, the cosmos that appeared in the arena, though far less sharp than Shura's, bore an uncanny resemblance in nature, making it impossible for the evil-minded Saga to feel any affinity toward it.
He quickly located the source of that cosmos—a dark-haired boy, about fifteen or sixteen years old.
“So, how should I reward you, young man?” Behind the mask, Saga’s evil side revealed a meaningful smile.
Just then, the stern voice of Saga’s good side echoed in his mind.
“What are you plotting now?”
“Nothing, just looking for a bit of amusement,” the evil Saga replied carelessly within.
Though good and evil were one within him, they repelled each other, inseparable yet forever at odds.
“I warn you, don’t forget your position!” the good Saga reminded loudly in his mind.
“Relax, I never forget! I am the Pope, the supreme ruler of the Sanctuary! Mere trainee warriors are hardly worth my attention!” the evil Saga replied impatiently, completely blocking out the voice of good.
He knew well that only by keeping the Sanctuary stable could his rule endure. So, unless absolutely necessary, he would not reveal his identity by intervening.
In the spectator stands, as the ‘Swordfish Cloth’ responded, eager trainees immediately rushed down to the arena.
Yin Seventeen did not hesitate and joined them.
In the blink of an eye, fifteen trainee warriors appeared in the arena—four women and eleven men.
Women were rare among the trainee warriors, and even fewer had endured harsh training and ignited their cosmos.
After waiting nearly ten more minutes, with no further trainees stepping forward, the Pope addressed the fifteen loudly, “The rules remain as always: you will battle in pairs, and the final victor will claim the Swordfish Bronze Cloth!”
“Any objections?”
No one spoke.
At that moment, Yin Seventeen slowly raised his hand.
“Young man, what do you wish to say?” The Pope, seeing it was him, asked curiously.
“Your Holiness, I find this method too troublesome,” Yin Seventeen said softly.
“Do you have a better idea?” The Pope asked, suspicious.
Yin Seventeen nodded, adding, “The Swordfish Cloth is destined for me. Let them all come at once.”
“I have a more important request for you afterward.”
While waiting, he had quietly assessed the strength of the other contenders.
Most were only capable of speeds a hundred times faster than sound, with the strongest barely reaching three hundred times sonic speed. Even if they had hidden strength, it would not be excessive.
Faced with such opponents, he felt no urge to fight.
Though his suggestion would make him stand out, he planned to apply for a Silver advancement battle later, which would attract attention anyway.
Meanwhile, the other fourteen trainees were furious at his suggestion.
“Hey kid, are you desperate for fame? You dare take on all fourteen of us alone—how arrogant!”
“Yeah! Don’t think you can look down on us just because you’re a bit stronger!”
“If you run into me, don’t beg for mercy on your knees!”
...
The trainees raged, cursing him loudly.
Though unfamiliar with each other, they had probed each other’s abilities while waiting.
The strong could easily see through the weak, not vice versa. Still, they had a rough estimate: Yin Seventeen was likely the strongest among the fifteen, the one everyone feared most.
But fear aside, being so underestimated made it impossible to remain calm.
Unfortunately, the Pope ignored their protests, instead scrutinizing Yin Seventeen before nodding in agreement, to their astonishment.
“Very well.”
He could clearly see that the boy’s strength far surpassed the others.
The outcome was obvious. If the result was predetermined, the usual rules were pointless.
“What???”
The trainees were dumbfounded by the Pope’s acceptance.
“Your Holiness, isn’t this improper?” a tall, thin trainee asked bravely.
The Pope glanced at him impatiently. “What’s improper? Fourteen against one—what more could you want?”
“But...” The tall, thin trainee hesitated.
“But what?” The Pope said, displeased.
His sudden, fiery tone startled all fifteen.
Shrinking back, the tall, thin trainee whispered, “If the fourteen of us win, who gets the Swordfish Cloth?”
Though unsure of Yin Seventeen’s depth, he didn’t believe their group would lose to one.
There was only one Cloth—how would the prize be divided after defeating this strong opponent?
The Pope snorted coldly, “If that happens, you’ll battle each other in pairs until the final winner claims the Cloth!”
His face was masked, so the trainees could not see his expression.
“In that case, don’t blame us for being ruthless, kid!” The tall, thin trainee turned to Yin Seventeen with a triumphant grin.
“Yes, you brought this on yourself!”
“Arrogance comes at a price!”
...
The trainees echoed each other.
Though angry at being underestimated, combining their strength to eliminate the strongest contender was ultimately to their benefit.
In an instant, most were caught up in the joy of soon ousting a powerful rival, though two or three remained calm.
That young man’s arrogance aside, the Pope’s acquiescence made them wonder just how strong he truly was.
“Are you ready? If so, begin the duel!” the Pope urged from the judge’s seat.
At his words, the trainees spread out, encircling Yin Seventeen.
“Give the order, Your Holiness!”
The tall, thin trainee glanced at the judge’s seat, then stared triumphantly at Yin Seventeen. “You asked for this—too late to regret!”
From the judge’s seat, the Pope waved his hand to signal the start.
“Begin!”
The command was given, but the arena witnessed an odd scene.
Usually, when the order was given, the trainees would launch fierce attacks at once, hoping to catch their opponent off guard.
But today, fourteen trainees stood in place, unmoving, none willing to strike first.
“Tch! Everyone had the same idea!” Seeing this, the tall, thin trainee spat in frustration.
In this situation, whoever struck first would face the fiercest counterattack.
To preserve his strength and reduce competitors, he planned to act after others made their move.
But everyone else had the same plan.