Chapter 68 : In A Pinch

"So tell me, how are you guys going to split the rewards?" Axion asks as she continues fighting.

"Huh? Splitting reward? What are you talking about?" ask a hunter.

"Anyone who captures you gets the prize," said a mercenary.

"Is that so...." Axion smirked. An idea comes to her mind.

She stabs her sword to the ground and raises both hands. "I yield," she yelled.

Everyone in the arena was confused.

"I yield. That's it. I'm defeated. You guys win. So, which one of you will get the prize? I mean, looking at the situation, no one here exactly captured or defeated me so I assume you guys gonna split the prize?" Axion asked. "What about we decide by the people who stand close to me?" Axion looks around. "You," she called as she pointed at a hunter with a cowboy outfit.

"Who? Me?" The cowboy looked around in confusion.

"Yea, you. You're standing close to me when I yield so we can assume you get the prize?" said Axion.

The cowboy flustered. "W-well. I mean. Yeah sure," he chuckled.

"No way! I don't accept that kind of rule!" yelled a hunter.

"So what are you gonna do? Beat the cowboy here and steal the prize from him?" Axion asks.

Her question makes all the hunters and mercenaries look at the cowboy. The cowboy nervously laughed.

"Now, wait a second.... " said the cowboy.

"The 25 million is mine," said a big muscly mercenary. He swung his ax and attacked the cowboy. But another hunter stopped him.

"The prize is mine!" said the hunter.

It doesn't take long for the hunters and mercenaries to fight each other. Diabolos growled in anger on his chair. Axion smirked at him.

"Hmph! These idiots. I'm not that dumb to take in her words," said a swordsman.

He raised his sword and charge at Axion. "Noche! You're mine!"

"AAAAAAAA I'm going to get captured!" Axion yelled, taking the attention of the whole arena.

The swordsman startled. Suddenly, another hunter stopped the swordsman.

"Don't you think you can lay a hand on her. She's mine!" said the hunter.

The fight goes on. Every time a hunter tries to attack Axion, another hunter stops them.

Diabolos hit his armchair in frustration. "Those idiots!" he growled.

"Your manipulating skill is scary as always," said Kaizo.

Axion chuckles. "What can I say? It's not easy being popular," she said. She pulled her sword and began fighting again.

"Heh! I see why you're in doubt now, Kaizo," said Albi.

"What do you mean?"

Albi looked at Kaizo in the eyes. "It's not easy falling in love with a woman who knows how to play with people's hearts."

Kaizo silent. He looked at Axion who seemed to be having fun beating mercenaries. "Yeah. It's not easy indeed...." he mumbled.

"Tsk. I'm tired of watching this stupidity," said Diabolos. He rose from his seat and walked down to the arena.

"Master Diabolos..." Venturi called.

Diabolos pulled his diabolo and two sticks connected with a string. He punches a few hunters and mercenaries that accidentally bumped him.

"Noche... I will finish you myself," he mumbled.

Diabolos throws his diabolo yo-yo into the air and begins spinning it. A click sound comes from the diabolo and he throws the diabolo at Axion. The diabolo explodes in front of Axion.

"Axion!!!" both Kaizo and Albi exclaimed.

Smoke covered Axion's surroundings. Ice daggers suddenly fly at Diabolos. He leisurely parries the ice daggers with his sticks.

"Do you think the same trick you used to my brother would work on me?" said Diabolos.

Smoke slowly disappears. Revealing Axion standing behind her magic shield.

"Maybe," said Axion. "They say apples fall not far from its tree. I thought you might be as dumb as your brother," she sneered.

"Don't take me as a fool. I am not my brother," said Diabolos. He pulled out three Diabolo and began playing them.

Axion throws more ice daggers. Diabolo easily dodges it. He throws all three Diabolo at Axion. Strings popped out of the three diabolos and began circling Axion, tying her body. Kaizo and Albi tried to get close to Axion. But their distance is too far and their enemies keep getting in their way. Diabolos throw a bigger bomb diabolo at Axion. The bomb detonates and sends her away across the arena. Axion hit the arena wall hard.

"Axion!!!" Kaizo exclaimed. He jumps and steps on the mercenary as he heads towards Axion.

Diabolos throw a bomb diabolo at Kaizo.

"Kaizo, look out!" Albi yelled. But before Kaizo can activate his energy shield, the bomb explodes on his face, sending him flying far.

"Ughh...." Kaizo grunt. He removes his mask to get a little fresh air. He glances at Axion.

Axion managed to cut the string that binds her. She was panting. She looks at Diabolos, still standing, playing with his diabolo. Axion musters her strength and stands back up.