The top five (2)

Very few people watched Born and Hex make their way onto the platform in the middle of the arena. Most were still discussing the turn of events during the first match.

The way the nobles and merchants treated the first two matches infuriated many but also impressed many.

The rewards for the tournament were certainly not too appealing to those people. It would be nice to win them but they also had other means to get their hands on them.

Hex had to admit he was impressed by the way Sterling handled his match. He showed his superiority in power and wealth and ensured double rewards without having to do any more work.

"Bet you loved it when the hostess called you a son of Grindeston, didn't you?" An unpleasant voice, filled with disgust, asked from the opposite of Hex.

Only now did Hex notice Born who had also arrived on the platform.

"No matter what people call you, you will never be one of us. You were and will always remain an outsider," Born continued with a sneer.

Hex smiled wryly. He was used to Born's insults. He also knew how to make him shut up.

"Idiot."

Born seethed with anger but was unable to counterattack. It was his weakness, something Hex always loved to take advantage of.

Right then the signal to start the match sounded.

Hex didn't hesitate. He ran up to Born and punched hard, aiming at his chest.

The punch connected but Hex felt his wrist sting. The robe on Born tore apart, revealing a black armor underneath. The armor was vibrating loudly.

'Customized Knight armor.'  Hex understood at once what had happened.

Born, as the heir of an elite family in the town also had customized armor. But his armor didn't have an elemental component.

'If I am right, it just reflects part of my attack back to me.'

It was a difficult armor to fight against but it wasn't hopeless. Hex's punch had thrown Born to the edge of the platform. Although he quickly got back up on his feet, Hex saw him grimace in pain.

"That's all you got?" Born sneered, putting a brave front up. "I wished you would hit harder!"

'So he thinks he has the advantage? Yes, I will suffer but this fight is about vitality. I doubt any other Squire has more of it than me.'

"Don't worry. I always fulfill my old friend's wishes," Hex said with a grin.

He ran back toward Born, who readied himself. Just as Hex hit him, he punched back.

Hex felt his wrist and chest sting this time. But it wasn't unbearable. Born, however, flew a few meters before being slammed into the floor. He even spat blood out.

"I don't think that was hard enough, friend. I will try to hit harder."

Hearing Hex's words, Born trembled. It was only now he realized the difference in power between them. He wanted to shout but Hex didn't let him.

With a sprint, Hex reached Born and kicked his abdomen. Born slid a few meters over the ground, vomiting blood.

"Harder huh friend?" Hex asked, laughing loudly.

"N-o...," Born said, coughing more blood out. But no one heard him. His voice was drowned in the noise of the arena.

The spectators were hungry for blood. The first two matches didn't offer much to satiate their desire to see people getting hurt.

Every time Born tried to stand back up, Hex reached him and punched or kicked. It was a one-sided massacre. But only a few knew Hex was being lenient. If he truly went all out, he would have killed Born in one punch.

When Born barely could stand, Hex dragged him up and held him close.

"If you give up and agree to fight against the Dawnbringer, I can let you go." Hex's voice was only audible to Born.

The look on Born's face fluctuated for a few seconds then he smiled viciously.

"Fuck you, bastard!" He spat angrily in Hex's face. But with his ribs almost broken, his spit didn't land on Hex. It just hung on the corners of his mouth.

Hex looked at Born with calm eyes.

"You guys claim to wish to change your fates but none of you are willing to do it yourselves. You all just wish some lord-person would do that for you guys."

Hex felt no sympathy for these people. He too wished to be free from Heaven's fate strings but he wouldn't depend on others for that. He would do it with his own strength.

"Bye old friend," Hex whispered as he twisted Born's head, hearing it break.

Born's body slumped against him and then slowly slid to the ground. Once again a person died in the arena. And once again, the crowd cheered loudly.

Hex didn't feel happy. This entire farce emphasized what he already knew. The world didn't care about losers. It only loved winners.

"You bastard," Clannad shouted filled with anger as he ran up on the platform. He held his friend's corpse and stared at Hex.

"You didn't need to kill him. You already broke his body."

Hex looked at Clannad's rage-filled eyes.

"You are maybe right but if he lives more people might die. We all have choices. He made his, I made mine."

Seeing Hex remain calm and unperturbed by killing his friend, Clannad gritted his teeth.

"Let's see if you remain as cold as now when I kill your friend."

Hex saw Clannad look at Althea when he said that. He had to admit, it did irk him that Clannad threatened him with her.

But he remained calm. It wouldn't be as easy as Clannad thought. Hex knew how resilient that girl was.

He ignored Clannad and got off the stage. He joined Althea.

"Be careful," he whispered to her.

"I will," she whispered back.

The crowd cheered and shouted. Three people had entered the top five. And Hex was the only one they truly saw fight and win. Suddenly, he was their favorite.