Second Round (1)

In the box of Virtues…

All the Virtues were preparing for a new round of their tournament. Mabel sat leisurely as she lazily watched the first fight's preparations as they were being carried out.

At that moment, she saw how Jonah casually entered through the main door. All the other Virtues also noticed him. Some greeted him with brotherhood.

"Jonah," Maximo called out when the soldier's passed by. His voice was cold.

"Maximum," Jonah answered expressionlessly. None of them stared at each other longer. The tension between them was clearly felt by everyone.

Jonah then glanced at Satin, who was sitting in a corner.

The Beast Virtue was smoking his cigar calmly as if he did not see Jonah at all. Satin's outfit was the usual colorful shirts that made him look much bigger. His strange gold tooth shone in all directions, but this time he presented something unusual, a pair of black gloves covered his hands.

Jonah grinned, "Why are you so cold, Satin?" He asked, clearly trying to be annoying.

Satin frowned before glancing at Jonah to give him a look of contempt. He then showed his middle finger and went back to looking at the stadium.

Jonah grinned triumphantly.

"What's wrong? Since when are you interested in Satin's outfit?" Mabel asked curiously. She was sitting across from him.

Jonah sat next to her and dismissed it with his hand. He looked up at the stage and said, "It's nothing, just looking to rile the bull."

However, Maximo was looking at Jonah with interest. His eyes then went back to Satin. He suspected that something was happening and he would discover it.

The commentator began, "Ladies and gentlemen! My dear friends! Everyone! Welcome to the second round of the Virtues tournament!"

The entire stadium erupted in cheers upon hearing those words.

"A few days ago, we witnessed one of the most incredible fights ever seen in the league, and today its protagonists returned to the fore!" The commentator continued enthusiastically.

The people knew perfectly who he was referring to. They cheered with total joy.

On the giant screen on the stage, the images of the best parts of the last fight were played.

Everyone could see Skyler's incredible attacks and Malcom's versatility.

At that moment, people started chanting Marked's name.

"Malcom! Malcom! Malcom!"

Maximo was surprised initially before he got exasperated by the behavior of the public.

He was clearly discontented. He walked to the table where the Virtues had appetizers and poured himself a glass of liquor before taking a drink.

"The sky will fall," Mabel said next to him when she saw the Virtue leader drinking alcohol.

Maximo looked at her. "You know that marked Mabel. Tell me, will he lose today?" He asked with a noticeably less impatient voice.

He looked completely confused, his eyes showing overwhelming security, genuinely crying out for Mabel to answer him with the answer he expected.

"I really doubt it!" Mabel immediately answered with confidence. She couldn't care less about Maximo's feelings regarding Malcom. Regardless of what he thought, if Malcom kept on winning, the people would keep on supporting him.

That's just life. The victor always has the last laugh.

Maximo let out a resigned sigh and, drinking the entire contents of the glass in one gulp, returned to his seat. Mabel found that incredibly strange, and serving two drinks brought one to Jonah, who kept his eyes on Satin.

"What's wrong with everyone today?" Mabel asked as she sat down, "You are strangely serious, and Maximo is drinking."

Jonah's eyes widened in surprise. He could not help but glance at Maximo. Jonah saw him completely focused on the match that was about to begin.

So he just shrugged his shoulders.

"My dear companions, the moment has come! It's the time that all of you are waiting for!" When the commentator shouted these words, the audience went wild. "Our first fighter is a necromancer, a powerful wizard coming off a loss in the first round. He can't afford to lose again. I present to all, Baxter!"

The boy left the corridor that corresponded to him, while on the other side of the stadium waiting for her call was Skyler. She was completely focused and serious.

Behind her, slowly Malcom appeared, who said, "Good Luck!"

Hearing his voice, the girl smiled and, turning to see him, she said, "Malcom! You never sit with the other participant's right?"

Malcom shook his head calmly, while she smiling added, "I hope you can see well from here! I don't know if it makes sense, but I feel different, and I'm going to show it to you in this fight!"

He gave a big smile and, looking into her eyes, he nodded.

At that moment, the commentator said, "And with you, the winner of an extremely close battle, the most powerful warrior in the tournament, the goddess of fire, Skyler!"

When they mentioned her name, the resection was mixed. Part of the stadium cheered her on, and another part booed her loudly.

She smiled, looking at Malcom, and with a tiny sign of sadness, she said, "I deserve it. But I will win the public back now."

And with that, she left and walked towards the direction of the stage.

Malcom watched her from the door with a smile. He was used to the audience or everyone else booing him and did not care about it anymore. But how many times has he heard of it, for him to get used to it?

Skyler, on the other hand, was different. This was her first time experiencing being despised by the crowd.

She, being understanding about it made Malcom feel Skyler was really an amazing mage.

In the box for the Virtues…

Maximo shook his head when he heard how the crowd had greeted Skyler. This was the same crowd that had cheered multiple times before. He actually felt conflicted. A part of him was regretful. There was the thought of what if he had not intervened in the last fight?'

There was no "what if's" however. The damage had been done.