11 Zuko Concedes.

With a smirk, Zuko reached out for one more bead. The bead was neither red nor blue, it was grayish, held between his forefinger and thumbs, Zuko threw it high in the sky and then rushed toward Illusionist, he did not make any extraordinary moves but with a simple and explosive punch, he came right before Illusionist and threw it at his abdomen.

Illusionist like always was still on his place, no movements, he knew Zuko could not touch him with that simple punch. The crowd too knew that that Zuko's punch will stop in mid-air and there will be three cuts on his punch if he still did not stop his fruitless effort.

Meanwhile, the bead that was descending finally exploded on coming in contact with the ground. A cloud of smoke formed upon explosion that covered the entire stage, the smoke was not black but it was light in color, one could easily see through it. Along with the cloud, there were fine lines that glimmered in the gloomy atmosphere on the stage. The lines had extended from the same corner where Zuko stood and it seemed like the strings were continuously moving and were rapping around Zuko as he was moving towards Illusionist. whereas at the same time, a spider net-like defensive formation was appearing between Zuko and Illusionist, and it was meant to protect Illusionist.

The crowd gasped with astonishment, "So the strings that have entangled Jace are acting like an offense formation as well as restricting formation, incredible, he is actually using his enemies brute force back on them." as they could see Illusionist controlling the strings in such perfect manner. But since Zuko knew all of this before the fight, which was incredible in itself, then why was he using the same old way to take Illusionis down.

When Illusionist saw that his trick was revealed to the public and Zuko was aware of the fighting style then why was he acting so foolishly, why was he coming head-on and was using such a brute force, he knew something was not right but he was unable to perceive where.

Zuko was a meter away from him, at this point his string should already have restricted him but he was still able to move unhindered. Just then a sudden realization came to him but he was too late. The punch had already arrived he was unable to dodge it or defend against it.

with a 'CRASH!' Illusionist flew in the air, the punch had landed on his abdomen since he had not defended against the punch and Zuko had given in a lot in that punch. Illusionist flew and landed on the ice barrier.

CLAMOUR!

The crowd reacted in a very astonished way as they were waiting for the moment when Zuko's punch would be blocked, and in some cases, there were many who expected Zuko to get several cuts on himself. Whereas unexpectedly it was the unbeatable Illusionist who was sent flying in the air. The crowd was now clear whom the barrier was meant for, it was for Illusionist to not let him fall off the stage that easily.

The moment Illusionist crashed on the ice spikes, the ice spikes behind Zuko turned in to smithereens, many people gasped at the sight as the finally came to know why Zuko was creating that ice barrier. It was all to hinder Illusionist's strings to find support and use that to restrict Zuko.

In the case of Chiyoko, Illusionist had used such supports and had raped his strings with them and was then able to trap Chiyoko in the unbreakable net, hence Chiyoko was unable to reach him because the strings were pulling him in the opposite direction.

But now, Zuko had not only created a barrier but he had also heated up the string with the numerous explosions which resulted in the present scenario, the string would easily cut the ice rather than using it as it's basic support.

"I could have easily knocked you out but I wanted you to witness your trashiness yourself. With your cheap tricks, you could have won a battle or two but to play dirty and act so majestically. Ridiculous!" Zuko had disdain in his eyes for Illusionist, a smirk that clearly showed it on his face. "You have been hypnotizing your opponents before every match, not only that but you even crippled someone who is worthy of everyone's respect."

Illusionist was in a sorry state at first, "Oh! So that day you acted on purpose, you already knew why I was there," but then a cunning smile appeared on his face, "so what, do you think you still can defeat me even if I have failed in my first attempt."

"No, no. You got me wrong that day it was not me who was trapped but instead you, that day it was me who got you, and made you think like I was hypnotized but the fact was that it was you, otherwise how would have I known all your cheap tricks and the person who is behind all of this." Smilingly Zuko explained the circumstances.

when heard all of what Zuko said, ruthlessness and strong killing intent appeared in Illusionist's eyes. He was like a predator looking at his prey. He backflipped and stood back, this time he took off his hood and cloak. With a swing, he took out tens of extremely sharp and fine needles the size of a normal palm. Illusionist hurled them into the sky when they reached their maximum height, all the needles stood in the air then started floating in the air. The needles were like guardians, they circulated around Illusionist in a very magnanimous manner.

"You know quite too much but you must also know that that some secrets can not be revealed or one has to pay a very big price to compensate for it. Sometimes it is one's life." The floating needles that were guarding Illusionist now changed their course and went after Zuko. Tens of needles came striking at Zuko but unlike to crowd expectation, rather than dodging the needles he stood in one place and took out the blue beads and threw them behind the incoming needles. The beads exploded in mead air and soon ice covering the strings appeared to everyone. Whereas, the needles that were like bullets suddenly withered, the attacking formation was destroyed just like that.

The entire crowd was amazed by the Zuko's fighting style and reaction timing. Zuko was a quick thinker, all this time he had defeated his opponents with very simple but effective moves.

Illusionist's eyes turned red, he was furious upon his humiliating loss. He took out more needles, attacked once more, and like before his attack failed again. Zuko had thrown his red bead on the strings this time, upon explosion the course of the needles changed and Zuko still stood in the same place.

More and more needles were thrown in, different strategies were used but all the time Zuko would come out unscathed. Finally in his madness, Illusionist nailed all of his needles in the marble floor, he created a net around Zuko and had intended to cut him into pieces. When Illusionist was executing his plan Zuko moved, he came for Illusionist, his punch was aimed at his face. With a swift movement, Zuko arrived before Illusionist and his punch too came with explosive power.

Just before the contact between his face and the punch, Illusionist saw a ring that glimmered brilliantly on Zuko's middle finger.

BOOM!

A very big explosion occurred on the stage, Illusionist flew off in the air but when he was just about to reach the edge of the stage he stopped in mid-air. The needles that were holding him snapped on by one. Illusionist was still in mid-air when Zuko took out another bead, the bead was twice the size it before was and it was deep red. Zuko threw it at Illusionist, another explosion resounded, this time Illusionist was thrown out of the stage with all the needles snapped.

He was fully covered in wounds, blood was all over his body, his face was badly mutilated by the explosion from the ring when Zuko punched him. Everyone was astonished by the ruthlessness of Zuko, he was always calm but when he acted, he was extremely ruthless.

Illusionist was on the verge of death, he was quickly carried by the nursing team and soon the arena turned silent when the screen showed that Jace was the winner. The black horse of the tournament 'Jace'-Zuko, finally was winner of the tournament. The show was over, It was the last fight, everyone was all smiling, it was after all the first time that such a marvelous show occurred in this arena.

But soon someone issued a challenge to Zuko, he was no one other than Royan. "Has he gone mad, he is literally asking for a beating." Many people showed disapproval, as they believed that Zuko was the one who is worthy of being the champion of the tournament.

Royan ascended the stage, he stood in when corner Zuko was still there on the stage. Soon the system rang the bell and the fight was allowed to be started. "I concede." Zuko turned around and left the stage.

He had lost, Zuko had lost with out putting any fight. The crowd, even many upper echelons were shocked. Zuko was forfeiting the chance to go to the capital which was the ultimate dream of every person on the continent.

The system announced Royan as the winner. He was the champion and he would be the person who will represent their town or at least he had the chance.

The competition was over, as per the rules participants were awarded according to their rankings. The day passed and when the night arrived everyone had already returned to their respective places. It was late enough that all the students in the academy were asleep. In a room, three people were still awake, those three were non-other than Chiyoko, Royan, and Zuko. They had been discussing something for hours now. Royan had a gloomy look on his face, he had no idea that his father would turn out against his own sons. It turned out that Both Royan and Chiyoko were blood brothers and only Chiyoko knew this truth. But unexpectedly his father too came to know about her mother's doings, hence he had prepared Illusionist to cripple both the brothers.

Unexpectedly, Royan escaped the calamity unscathed.