Chapter 352 sound of screams is a sunny song that sets the mood
?"Do you think we should help?"
"We should stop this match."
"He had just came back and this… if news reaches out, there'll be chaos."
"I mean they're clearly not even playing anymore. Or trying to hide their enmity."
"Fourth year students fighting first years, or others bullying Rio, no matter which news leaks, it'll only tarnish the reputation of Zenith."
"Humph, they should've thought of all this before choosing to play this game. Ragball had always been a gritty game. It's their own arrogance that brought them shame."
"Yeah, not to mention if fourth years went easy on them, they'd be defeated and solved just like those third years. Seniors losing to juniors, urgh, just what I needed to see in Zenith."
"They are golden gen for a reason, after all. Have you seen that first ranker, before today's match I always thought he was just lucky, but the kid has some skills."
"Yeah, he's the one who secured the win."
"What skills, he's an idiot. If it was a real battle, we'd be collecting pieces of his corpse by now, not celebrating his victory. He just used the game's loophole to cheat his way."
"And isn't that a skill in itself? Using situations to your advantage is what makes a great warrior."
"Forget the chicks, tell me, what do you guys think, is professor Hakan a little weird today?"
"What's weird, he's probably enjoying this match the most. Man's been chasing ghosts thinking Rio killed his son and now he's laughing in revenge. I bet he even gave those seniors some incentive to be extra cruel."
"And what do you think, about his son's death I mean?"
"Who cares, that guy was a weakling weirdo anyway. Remember what we found in his room after the search. Urgh, perverted bastard, it's always the silent ones with the weirdest hobbies."
"Be careful, lest professor Hakan hears you."
"Who cares, man's a dead man anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing."
"..."
"How long has it been since the game started anyway?"
"One hour and thirty eight minutes."
"He really does have a thick skin. No wonder he could hold on in that dungeon."
"Boy's a monster."
"Or a Messiah. Angel I mean."
"Hahaha maybe."
The professors watching the game were all talking amongst themselves, chatting about various things they noticed or remembered, giving their suggestions about stuff - but despite the arguments or hesitation from many, none came forward to interfere in the game.
Hell a few professor even noticed something wrong with the ball, as it always seemed to miss or dodge whenever Rio wanted to hit someone back, but none spoke of it out loud.
First, because as someone said, both parties had agreed to the terms of the game. And second, because the one with the highest authority and perception amongst the staff present, Elder Xander, never said anything.
The audience watching all this too had chilled and been silent for a while now. Many of them even left this place as the game became too broody and boring to watch.
The seniors had divided themselves into two groups, one which blocked others ignoring the game and the rules, and second, which just followed and focused on Rio.
'Brother, I'm…' Amelia said as she slammed the bat on a senior's face for no reason just in anger, damn the penalty. 'I'm going to kill them all.' She said as the aura of chaos started permeating from her body, causing the shackles of mana restraining bracelet to shine even brighter.
'Calm down Ames, let's wait for a few more minutes. And then we can kill them.'
Despite what everyone thought or witnessed through their eyes Rio wasn't having much of a tough time. Though he did get beaten up every now and then, but having so many points in his pocket and a system to back him up, it wasn't hard to block these puny hits and handle the pain and cure of any major injuries.
Except for a few close hits that were hard to fake in front of so many professors he hadn't taken much injuries himself. And even those injuries were healing slowly due to the amount of passive blessings he had. Not like these little hits could hurt his body with how much tempering he had to go through in the dungeon, but he wasn't a masochistic idiot who enjoyed pain for no reason.
But not getting hurt didn't mean the constant pressure and penalties didn't annoy him. Even a lion would roar if a dozen mosquitoes kept biting him for nearly two hours.
And all he was doing was just waiting for that opportunity to strike back.
[Red team wins.]
[Current score 1:1]
[Third match begins in 5 minutes.]
The bell sound rang in the air, and all the students breathed a sigh of relief. This sound marked the second round ending.
The first round was won by first years as seniors ignored the 'goal' part of the game and kept breaking the rules thus giving first years extra points. This second round however they took a little focus back and scored a few goals too, so they can drag this match to round 3 and not lose to first years and bring shame to themselves.
Rio looked at his teammates and couldn't help but smile, despite the disparity in match and gap in strength none of the first year rankers siding with him left the match halfway. Heath, Moksh, Zirrix, Valtor, Qingyue, Becca, Amaya - everyone was in a way giving their all in this match. Some of them were friends with him and wanted to help him, while others just wanted to take this chance to see the strength and understand the gap between their classes, to hone their skills and temper their senses.
After all, all the seniors fighting them now were in and around A rank, so getting a chance to train with them was a nice opportunity for them too.
After a brief rest just when the match was about to begin again, Rio left his seat and walked towards the professor overseeing this match.
"I have something to say."
"Speak." Professor Hakan said, his voice calm and without any ripples. He had a muscular build and his body was towering over Rio's figure, shadowing him due to the sun hanging high.
"The match should stop." Rio said, his words causing many to raise their eyebrows in confusion." The ball , there's something wrong with it."
"Explain." The professor didn't get angry or annoyed for being questioned, his face didn't even show a change of expression at all. He just asked for an explanation and clarity.
"The hits and penalties are much higher than what should be allowed in the game between students." Rio replied, his words amplified by the little amount of mana he could muster, reached even the professors standing outside the barriers and some audience members watching close by.
"The runes and patterns on the ball are random, they're triggered just by chance and no one can control them. Using this sudden shift and adjusting to these instant changes is what the game is all about. When you're fighting a war or challenging towers, only your control over your senses and instincts can help you, and that's what this game teaches." Professor Hakan replied. "If you're complaining over the loss and hurt you feel, it simply means you lack the skill and calm to handle these situations."
"Is this what the elder sees too?" Igmoring professor Hakan, Rio loudly said, raising his head to look at Xander, who was staring at him too.
His words made many professors frown, as questioning an elder was something even they wouldn't dare. But they didn't want to interfere in this talk, as they themselves were curious about what the elder thinks.
"If you want, we can change the ball, but if you don't have any proof of other things, I suppose you either play the game or surrender in defeat." Xander replied in a normal tone, his words calming the chatter of audience, who got excited by what Rio announced.
Hearing the answer from the old man, Rio wasn't disappointed or angry, he just nodded his head and replied back. "Well, if the elder Xander and professor Hakan says nothing's wrong, then I guess nothing is wrong."
As his words finished he turned his back and started walking back towards the gaming stage. He looked at Amy and could see a cold smile on her face, his sister was more than happy to let loose now.
As for seniors they had no idea of what was coming. Till now they were all protected by Professor Hakan's backhands, and thought they were invincible. Seeing Rio taking the chance to voice complaints many even laughed out loud and mocked him.
"Don't worry Rio, we'll go easy on ya. So don't cry to teachers."
"Hahaha I can't believe you did that. Such a sore loser."
"Why don't you just give up and admit that you're no match for us anymore."
Hearing the chatter and ridicule Rio only responded with a smirk as he chatted with his system, preparing the coffins to place their corpses in.
'System, how about we try the runes we developed a few days ago.'
[You hate them that much huh.]
'Well, it'd be a pity to give them a quick death, no. After all, these are the first lambs to line up after me coming back. They got a lot of fat in my absence, how about we grill it nice and slow.'
[According to my guesses most of them don't even know about the cheating part of the game, they're just here to win favors from others or following orders.] System explained.
'Doesn't matter, just cause they're puppets and their strings are in someone else's hands , doesn't mean I should go easy on them.'
'Especially that fat bitch and the female villainess, I'm gonna savor the flavor of their torture.'
[She's a heroine.]
'Not for me. Now stop the chatter and start printing.'
[As you wish.]
Clankkk (the bell rings) ??????
Round 3 starts
In 3 2 1...
The second the timer hit the clock and the ball floated up from its central stage, a loud scream echoed in the surroundings instantly that seemed to shatter the ear drums of the listeners.
Before anyone could even notice , a fourth year student lost control of his floating magic and fell down to the ground with a heavy thud.
His body whcih fell from hundred meters of heights had broken bones sticking out of his skins and blood gurgling through his nose and mouth. Yet despite the pain and nausea, the man's screams never stopped, as he kept rolling in dirt. Banging his head on the ground like a madman.
Someone from the staff wanted to jump forward to help the guy, as it looked quite serious from a glance, but before he could pass the barriers, a voice stopped him.
"The game is to hone their instincts and control and calm and wada nada, he's crying like a baby after just one hit and a single penalty, pussy. He'll be fine in a minute, don't you think so Xander."
The staff, who was about to interfere turned back to look who it was, and when he noticed the man standing side by side with Elder Xander, his body froze and he hurriedly backed away from the barrier. Hiding behind the crowd to hide his face and erase his presence.
"Ragnar" Xander said with a visible frown on his face after seeing the man who had a similar authority as his.
"This game's fun. I can't believe you didn't invite me, Xander. I hope that wasn't intentional." The man named Ragnar, who was dressed in a viking type uniform with a bear head skin on his shoulder smiled and spoke while patting the heavy ax hanging on his waist.
"What a good show to watch just after waking up." Ignoring the clear displeasure of Xander, Ragnar still maintained his smile and laughed out loud as the screams of that one guy kept echoing in the background.
The sound of screams was like the sunny song for a viking that just sets the mood.
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