367 A Reason To Kill

Red Marshall fell to the ground right after Steel Fist's announcement. She clutched her bleeding abdomen with a pale complexion and coughed violently. Luckily, the healing team had already arrived next to her. They quickly performed some first aid treatment and crudely bandaged her wound to slow down the bleeding. Then they placed her on a stretcher and quickly moved her away. Black Ink was also moved from the field in haste, and it was likely that both fighters were going to spend the night, and maybe several other nights, in the hospital.

"I'm sorry captain," Red Marshall had a disappointed expression on her face as she spoke. Red Prince and the two brothers in the Red team arrived next to her once Steel Fist announced the results of the match. It was forbidden for anyone to interfere with the matches or even come onto the field until everything was over, so Red Prince could only watch as his protégé got hurt.

"What are you apologizing for? You won, didn't you?" Red Prince shook his head and said. He wouldn't have blamed her even if she lost because their opponents weren't slim pickings. But he didn't say that because there was no need to. Since Red Marshall won, there was no need to talk about what could have happened instead of what had happened.

"I got myself hurt badly and wouldn't be able to do more for the team right now," Red Marshall coughed and said. Even in her condition, all she thought about was the fact that the Red Team wouldn't get the one man advantage they were supposed to have from having won the first match.

"You literally sacrificed yourself for the team," one of the brothers pointed at the blood soaked bandage and said. His brother nodded his head to show that he was thinking the same.

"You have done everything you could have done. Leave the rest to us." Red Prince smiled and said. Then he patted Red Marshall on her head and watched as she was carried out of the stadium.

Elsewhere, Black Saga watched on as Black Ink was carried out of the stadium. Next to him were the two other members of the Black Team. None of them was smiling anymore. Their gazes were cold and unflinching, and their auras of power were nothing to scoff at.

"When I meet them, I would crash them," the Black Team member who wielded the axe gritted his teeth and said to the other member who used the hammer. Both were given names because of their proficiency with their weapons. The axe user was called Black Axe, and the hammer user was called Black Hammer.

"That goes without saying," Black Hammer balled his fists tightly and watched as Black Ink was carried out of the stadium unconscious. After speaking to the healers, they understood that Black Ink's injury wasn't light. The warrior would need the blood of a Mythic Class Magical Beast and some precious herbs to be able to recover from the damage to his head. Although Asher City was going to provide these things, it didn't change the fact that their friend was hurt. And although Red Marshall was also injured, they didn't care about her. All they understood was that their friend had been hurt. And since the one who caused his pain was indisposed, they were going to transfer their anger elsewhere.

"But I fear more for Red Prince than the others," Black Axe suddenly said.

"Why?" Black Hammer wondered.

"Have you seen Captain's expression?" Black Axe gestured and said. Black Axe turned to look at his captain, and felt his blood run cold when he felt the hostility within his captain's aura. Black Saga was usually an easygoing person and it was difficult to anger him. But whenever he raged, he left nothing of his opponents. And that bloodthirsty death god that they had come to fear more than respect had been awakened once more. Black Axe and Black Hammer were angry, however faced with the wrath of their captain they could only shiver in fear.

"I fear that this would only end in blood," Black Axe stated with a chilly expression on his face. Although killing wasn't allowed in the Grand Tourney, there had been occasional deaths here and there. The price for killing an opponent was disqualification. But Black Axe and Black Hammer could feel that their captain didn't care about being disqualified. Their captain was angry, and he would not consider the consequences of his actions until his anger was fully sated.

"The first match has ended in grave injuries for both teams Maggie."

"Yes it has Peter. And it seems that Black Ink got the short end of the stick. Head injuries aren't easy to treat after all."

The stadium was overcome with a cloud of unease as the people watched both warriors being carried out of the stadium. They were more concerned about Black Ink than Red Marshall. This wasn't merely because they were Asher City citizens, but because Black Ink had been injured on the head. The man was currently unconscious and no one knew when he would awaken.

"We can only pray for his safety right now Maggie. And hope that Red Marshall would also recover soon."

"We wish both warriors a speedy and efficient recovery"

After a few minutes, Steel Fist nodded at Peter and Maggie to indicate that they could proceed, and the two went down to business.

"Although we are still saddened by the most recent development, the competition must go on. That means we must move on to the next match. And according to what we have on the slates here…"

"The second match is between Black Saga and Red Prince?!" Peter exclaimed in shock.

"Are you reading that right Peter?" Maggie was equally stunned. Normally the captains were poised to face each other in the third round, after they had both sent out their first and second fighters. Yet both captains had put their names second on the list. That was completely unusual.

"I am not reading it wrong Maggie. It is exactly as I said. Both captains are next on the list." Peter wiped the sweat of his brows as he spoke.

The audience was sent into a frenzy, as they tried to understand what was going on. Why had both captains made the same decision? And what were both of them thinking by doing this?

Both Black Ink and Red Prince didn't care about the state of the audience or the commentators. Both men didn't say a word to their team members. Slowly, they walked towards the centre of the stadium. Yet their steady steps didn't hide their billowing auras and hidden rage. With every step they took, their auras of power grew even stronger. The audience could feel it. Their team members could feel it. The Indigo Team could feel it, and the Orange Team could feel it. Both men were just as furious and just as powerful as each other. Their auras clashed as they faced each other; their eyes cold and unfeeling. Deep within their gazes toward each other was resentment and the will to swallow the other whole.

"They intend to start at their peak," Celestial Fairy had a serious expression on her face as she felt the aura of both men. Both men were strong. In fact, Red Prince who was a Cheetah had an aura of power that could rival a Tiger's, and he wasn't losing out to Black Saga's aura in any way. She felt threatened by their auras, and she could tell that both men had enough resentment towards the other to attempt to kill the other. It was understandable. After all, they were captains and had just watched their people being carried off the field in severely injured states. Maybe she would have also been in the same state if it happened to her girls.

"Why are they starting so strongly? Isn't it better to slowly gather momentum as the battle wears on?" Lam asked Mane. He also could feel the power of both captains, and he felt that although they were both angry – and understandably so – there was no need for them to rush things.

"That is not true. The matches have been progressing that way because no one wanted to hurt their opponent badly. So every person starts at their base power level, so that they could feel out their opponent and determine if they are stronger or weaker. If they are stronger, they can exercise caution so that they don't hurt anybody. If they are weaker, they can go all out"

"But in this case, both men are handling things like they would on a real battlefield. Remember this Lam: on an actual battlefield one must never start at their base power level. It is ignorant and foolish to do so. One must always be at their peak, so that one isn't killed by a weakling because of one's foolishness"

Mane explained to Lam, and his friend nodded his head in understanding. He felt that Mane was right. And he felt scared seeing that Black Saga and Red Prince were out for the other's blood.

"Are you afraid?" Mane noticed Lam's fear and asked. His voice was as soft as a whisper, as it had to be since Vital Orange and Black Hand were around.

"Yes," Lam admitted. He felt that there was no need to hide anything from Mane.

"You should try to understand it from their point of view. Both men had their team members whom they love rushed to the hospital. And both of them have no idea how they are faring now. They are right to be furious. If someone hurt you or Lily, I would undoubtedly kill them!" Mane announced without any hesitation. Although Mane spoke about killing another person, Lam felt nothing but warmth. He could feel Mane's sincerity when he said that he would do it for their sakes. And he appreciated that.

"Just watch," Mane patted Lam's shoulder and said.

"Please, don't fight to kill," Steel Fist sighed and begged both men. Red Prince and Black Saga didn't give a reply. They just kept looking at each other.

"Are you ready?" Steel Fist gritted her teeth and asked. She didn't feel right officiating a match that was likely to end in death, but she had no choice but to. All she could do was hover next to both of them and try to step in when someone was about to die.

"Ready"

"Ready"

Both men wasted no time in announcing their readiness. Red Prince unsheathed his blades. His aura skyrocketed once he did. If before he was an angry Cheetah, right now he was a furious Cheetah King!

Black Saga pulled his rod from his back, and his already domineering aura grew even more domineering. He was like a Tiger that had been given wings and could now fly, and his bloodthirsty gaze was set on Red Prince's heart.

"The Second Match is between Red Prince of the Red Team and Black Saga of the Black Team."

"Fight!"