With the announcer's call, a frail-looking girl adorned in baggy purple pants and loose blouse hurried into the arena from the Armis side. Her ponytail bounced behind her as she made a beeline for the announcer.
On the other side, a tall boy with charming features and slicked-back hair confidently strode into the arena from Alan's side, his attire exuding a sense of purpose.
As the two fighters faced each other, the anticipation in the arena reached a fever pitch, with spectators eagerly awaiting the clash between these formidable opponents.
As the two fighters stood face to face, Alan noticed the girl's apprehension as she hesitated while announcing her vows and engaging in a handshake.
In contrast, the boy exuded confidence, attempting to ease the girl's nerves by gallantly kissing her hand and assuring her that he would take it easy on her. However, she withdrew her hand in embarrassment, disregarding his attempts.
With the announcer stepping back, the fight commenced, and Diana wasted no time springing into action. She raised her right arm into the air, her two middle fingers pointed inward while the rest stretched outward. With a low grunt, she leaped into the air, her hand enveloped in a green glow as a wooden bow materialized in her grasp. With practiced precision, she drew back the bowstring, a line of light forming along its length, before releasing the arrow towards Felix.
Meanwhile, Felix stood his ground, his hand adorned with a black circle etching. With a determined grunt, he summoned forth his shield, crafted from hard steel, just in time to intercept Diana's arrow.
The clash between long-range precision and defensive prowess elicited thunderous cheers from the crowd, their excitement reaching a crescendo as the battle unfolded before them.
Despite landing, Diana didn't falter, continuing to rain arrows at Felix. He deflected each projectile with ease, steadily advancing.
With a measured tone, he advised, "Madam, I suggest you cease this. Unless you have another tactic, I implore you to concede. I'll allow you to exit the arena gracefully, as befits a woman."
However, undeterred by Felix's words and the roaring cheers of the audience, Diana persisted in her struggle. She fired another arrow and leaped towards Felix, using his shield as a platform to launch herself into the air. With her bow raised, she attempted to strike Felix mid-flight, only to have her attack deflected by his shield.
Unyielding, Diana fired yet another arrow, but Felix effortlessly deflected it once more. Without hesitation, he charged towards Diana with incredible speed, delivering a forceful blow with his shield that sent her sprawling to the ground. With another decisive strike, Felix disarmed Diana, sending her bow clattering to the ground.
Pointing his shield at her, Felix issued a final warning, "I'm asking you nicely. Surrender, and I won't resort to force."
As Diana gazed into Felix's eyes, a plea for mercy seemed to flicker within her own.
Felix hesitated for a moment, sensing her desperation. However, before he could react further, Diana abruptly pushed him away and scrambled to retrieve her bow from the ground.
The crowd's jeers intensified as Felix swiftly closed the distance between them. With a swift and brutal strike, he slammed his shield into Diana's face, causing her nose to erupt with blood upon impact.
Without hesitation, Felix seized Diana's hand before she could collapse and, with a swift motion, spun his shield in a full circle. The edge of the shield connected with Diana's elbow with brutal force, eliciting a cry of agony from her lips as her arm snapped under the impact.
With her bow falling to the ground, Felix wasted no time. With a powerful leap, he hurled his shield with incredible force, striking Diana with bone-crushing impact and sending her flying several feet backward before she crashed to the ground.
With a swift landing, Felix swiftly retrieved Diana's bow and turned to face her, his voice ringing out with a mix of frustration and warning, "I warned you. The consequences are yours to bear now!"
With a resounding stomp, Felix brought his foot down on Diana's bow, shattering it into pieces. As her bow disintegrated, emitting green glowing specks that returned to her mark, Diana let out a piercing scream of agony, as if her very flesh were being torn from within. With a final, gut-wrenching cry, she fell silent, unconscious on the ground.
Alan observed this phenomenon with narrowed eyes, his mind racing with thoughts. "So, the bond between wielder and weapon runs deeper than I thought," he muttered under his breath, a hint of fascination in his voice, his eyes narrowing on the spectacle.
As Felix moved towards Diana to retrieve her hand-plate and sack of coins, the announcer's voice boomed throughout the arena, declaring the outcome of the bout, "With a flawless victory over his opponent, Felix Orberto of the Orberto Lineage claims victory in this round!"
Amidst the raucous cheers, Felix triumphantly returned to his seat, basking in the adulation of the crowd. The announcer's booming voice cut through the noise, urging the spectators to turn their attention to the next bout.
"Not a moment to waste! Prepare to witness the arrival of the Hound of Oreus Church, the purger of sinners himself - Priest Cesar Oreus!"
The announcer's words reverberated throughout the arena, setting the stage for the impending clash. "Facing him is none other than the formidable Arces, second runner-up of the Pompeii heavyweight battles. Let the battle commence!"