Chapter-58
Upon hearing the pronouncement uttered by the big man, a wave of astonishment washed over everyone present, particularly Eric and his comrades from the Sin's team. They were acutely aware of the events that had transpired mere moments before Eric had unleashed his wrath upon this man, were still fresh in their minds, causing their confusion to intensify even more so than that of their fellow onlookers.
On the contrary, the referee finds themselves in a confusing situation where they are unsure whether to express amusement or frustration. This dilemma arises from the fact that if the participants employ personal battle terms, the referee lacks the authority to disqualify them. This occurs due to the absence of stringent regulations governing such verbal exchanges. Nonetheless, the referee still possesses the power to administer alternative forms of punishment to the participant, thereby maintaining a sense of order and discipline within the competition.
The referee's gaze fixated upon Sin, his confusion evident as he pondered the presence of this seemingly unremarkable individual. Sin's physical appearance did not exude the aura of strength that typically commanded attention in the arena. Yet, there was a flicker of intrigue within the referee's mind, for he contemplated the possibility that Sin held a hidden reservoir of power. The mere fact that Sin had managed to scrape through the initial stage of the competition, albeit by a hair's breadth, hinted at an untapped wellspring of strength that lay dormant within him. This enigma intrigued the referee, as he recognized that only a select few possessed such latent potential, concealed from the prying eyes of the masses.
Despite being aware that he must make a decision, the referee finds himself in a rather complicated situation as the individual opposing him happens to be the esteemed son of the influential Archduke. Taking a moment to collect his thoughts and reflect on the matter at hand, the referee eventually utters a composed response. He firmly states that regardless of whether this altercation is fueled by personal grudges or a premeditated plot, engaging in combat outside the confines of the sanctioned ring is strictly prohibited. Consequently, both parties involved will inevitably face the consequences of their actions.
Afterward, he proceeds to administer their punishment. Sin and Eric, who were both part of the same team, launched an aggressive assault on the imposing figure. Consequently, their team incurred a significant penalty of 5 points. Conversely, the big man, due to his affiliation with the losing side and did not engaged this act as a part of team member, will receive a final warning. It must be understood that should the big man violate any regulations in any future league, he will face immediate disqualification.
After uttering those words, the referee and members of the tournament committee swiftly departed from the scene in fear of further calamity. Observing their hasty retreat, Sin let out a sigh of relief.
The big man takes a seat on the cold, hard surface of the floor. Sin, curious to know the identity of this imposing figure, inquires about his name. In the depths of the big man's eyes, a flicker of fear emerges, for he alone has witnessed the sheer terror that looms before him. The mere presence of this looming entity (Sin) inflicts a mental anguish upon him, surpassing any previous nightmares he has ever endured.
In a remarkable turn of events, this individual found himself trapped in a perplexing genjutsu, where he witnessed the relentless onslaught of Sin's powerful Susanoo repeatedly pulverizing him into the very ground beneath his feet. The cycle seemed never-ending, leaving him feeling helpless and at the mercy of his opponent's relentless assault. However, amidst this seemingly hopeless situation, a glimmer of hope emerged as Sin proposed a proposition. In exchange for his freedom from this torturous loop, he had to comply with Sin's demands and obediently utter whatever words Sin dictated in front of the watchful referee. This unexpected twist added an element of suspense and uncertainty, as the individual now faced the daunting decision of whether to succumb to Sin's will or endure the unyielding torment of the genjutsu. However he accepted his proposal anyway to escape from this hell.
After being freed from the genjutsu, the realization of betraying Sin crossed the mind of the big man. However, a sudden recollection of a bone-chilling nightmare overwhelmed him, causing his body to shiver uncontrollably and his legs to feel weak and unstable. Gripped by fear, he found himself uttering the very words that Sin had instructed him to speak.
The large individual introduced himself as Adrian, and shortly thereafter, Sin expressed admiration for Adrian's exceptional talent. Sin believed that Adrian possessed the potential to become an outstanding tanker in the times to come. Furthermore, Sin kindly offered his assistance, suggesting that if Adrian desired to enhance his physical prowess and advance his skills even further, he could easily reach out to him for guidance and support.
The rumor about Sin's unusual behavior had spread like wildfire among the crowd, leaving everyone in a state of perpetual curiosity and speculation. Each person had their own version of the story, weaving a complex web of gossip and intrigue. Some even went as far as suggesting that Sin had possibly issued a threat to Adrian while pretending to offer him healing. This shocking twist only fueled the gossip, and the incident quickly became the talk of the area. People couldn't help but wonder what could have driven Adrian to behave in such an uncharacteristic manner, and theories began to circulate like wildfire. The air was thick with anticipation as individuals eagerly awaited further details and explanations regarding this perplexing turn of events.
Initially, it was evident that Sin lacked an adequate amount of mana to perform healing abilities. Consequently, the notion of him being capable of providing healing to others seemed implausible. Thus, the theory proposing that Sin resorted to employing threatening tactics appeared to be a more plausible explanation. This reasoning stemmed from the belief that Sin possessed substantial wealth, as the Archduke who was his father is renowned for having a seemingly infinite abundance of monetary resources at his disposal.
There was another individual who formulated an additional hypothesis, suggesting that Sin might have also exerted influence over the referee by means of bribery. It seems puzzling that no further investigation was conducted to delve deeper into this matter and just impose penalties on his team as to show that they are impartial. One cannot help but wonder if there is some ulterior means at play here, perhaps involving the exertion of financial power.
The negative gossip surrounding Sin was circulating with even greater intensity than ever before. However, Sin remained unfazed by it all, firmly believing that only time will ultimately determine the truth and falsehoods within these rumors. Despite this, he felt obliged to express his sincerest apologies to his team, as he was aware that his own decision had resulted in a detrimental 5 points penalty for them.
Despite the opinions of others, who believed it was trivial, Wesley remained confident in their victory and reassured everyone that even if they were penalized 5 points which is worth a single match, it wouldn't affect the outcome. They will destroy other teams anyway.