As Lyco removed his hat, revealing himself as a supporter of Armis, Alan found himself questioning everything he had witnessed so far. This display of a human commanding an element was unlike anything he had ever seen before, leaving him with a newfound sense of wonder and curiosity.
Lyco stood tall, his hand extended, pointing directly at Grumio, who was filled with shock, freight, and panic. Without hesitation, Grumio charged at Lyco, but with swift movements of his fingers, Lyco manipulated the ground beneath Grumio's feet, propelling him forward with incredible speed.
Grumio attempted to defend himself by smashing the debris of rock hurtling towards him with his hammers, the shifting ground caught him off guard, launching him into the air. Seizing the opportunity, Lyco spun gracefully and hurled boulders at Grumio with precision, each one emerging from the ground beneath them.
Although Grumio managed to deflect the first few boulders mid-air with his hammers, he was unable to evade the onslaught entirely. Two massive rocks collided with him simultaneously, sending him hurtling through the air and crashing into the ground, creating yet another crater in the arena.
With a fierce determination, Lyco dashed towards Grumio, his petite stature belying his newfound strength. As Grumio struggled to rise from the crater, Lyco swung his staff with all his might, causing the rocks lining the crater's edge to encase Grumio completely, leaving only his head exposed.
With a resounding yell, Lyco unleashed his frustration, shouting,
"Do not make fun of me! Please!"
The force of his strike, combined with the momentum of his jump and the swing of his staff, delivered a powerful blow directly to Grumio's exposed head, leaving him dazed and defeated.
Emerging from the settling dust with his staff resting proudly on his shoulder, Lyco strode forward with an air of triumph. The crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers, their thunderous applause reverberating throughout the arena, echoing Lyco's name in jubilant celebration.
"In a stunning turn of events, the underdog from the Preprenas lineage, Lyco Preparena, emerges victorious!" The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, punctuating Lyco's triumph. With a joyful bounce in his step, Lyco made his way back to his seat, basking in the adulation of the crowd.
As workers extracted Grumio from the surrounding rocks, clearing the battlefield for the next match, the announcer signaled the arrival of Alan's moment. Filled with astonishment and satisfaction after witnessing the breathtaking battles unfold, Alan turned his gaze towards his opponent, Ragnar.
Catching Ragnar's menacing gestures, indicating his intentions to crush Alan, Alan responded with a serene smile, seemingly unfazed by Ragnar's threats.
As the announcer's voice thundered through the arena once more, he proclaimed:
"Now, Pompeii, brace yourselves for the grand finale of the Physical Trials! Introducing the newcomer, the enigma—Alan Chircha from the esteemed Kunoichi Lineage! And facing him, with a towering presence and a menacing glare, none other than Ragnar Alister from the formidable Alister Lineage!"
With the announcement echoing throughout the arena, Alan entered with a flourish, leaping from his seat and executing a series of graceful somersaults and flips mid-air before landing with precision in the arena. Ragnar, struck by a mix of awe and rage, attempted to disrupt Alan's landing, but Alan effortlessly adjusted his stance, landing a few steps away from Ragnar, a testament to his agility and poise.
Stepping forward, the announcer issued a stern warning to Ragnar: "No fighting before the vows! Any violation will result in immediate disqualification!"
"Yeah, yeah!" Ragnar retorted with unyielding arrogance, his demeanor oozing with defiance.
With a commanding gesture, the announcer requested Alan and Ragnar to place their hands on his, signaling the initiation of the vow. Together, they recited:
"We, the proud warriors of Pompeii, now embark upon this battle. We beseech our savior and deity, Roiran, to witness this grand spectacle and grant us the strength to persevere. Should either of us transgress the sacred code, we invoke Roiran's divine justice, condemning us to face the ultimate punishment."
During the recitation, Ragnar interjected with a piercing glare at Alan, who, unfazed, maintained a serene smile, meeting Ragnar's gaze with humility.
With the vow complete, the announcer stepped back, leaving Ragnar to seethe with rage and arrogance as he looked down upon Alan, who still met his gaze with unwavering composure and a gentle smile.
In contrast, Ragnar let out a bellowing roar, his voice echoing in the arena as he exclaimed,
"Let's mangle this pretty face!"
With a green glow surrounding his fingers, his knuckles materialized, ready for battle.
In response to Ragnar's aggression, Alan stood with humility, his smile still in place. Enraged by Alan's calm demeanor, Ragnar lunged forward, his intent clear. But in a display of agility and precision, Alan leaped into action.
With a graceful twirl, Alan delivered a kick to Ragnar's face. The impact, although appearing deceptively light, reverberated through the arena with a loud thud which almost broke the wind. The sound echoed like a thunderclap, leaving the audience stunned in silence as they watched the scene unfold.
The audience watched in stunned silence as Alan, without waiting for Ragnar to hit the ground, began to celebrate his victory with unrestrained excitement, as if experiencing the thrill of raiding and for the fact, the very first time.
Meanwhile, Ragnar's eyes rolled back and his cheek bore the crimson mark of Alan's powerful kick.
"Don't mind if I do," Alan quipped as he retrieved a gold coin from his sack and tossed the remaining coins toward the announcer.
The announcer fumbled to catch the sack, his shock mirroring that of the audience witnessing Ragnar's unexpected defeat.
Suddenly, a voice filled with rage and suspicion cut through the silence from the upper row of the stadium.
"That is a violation! I demand the authorities investigate!" cried out a man, his words echoing in the hushed arena, challenging the legitimacy of Alan's victory.
He was draped in a brown robe intricately adorned with white stitching, his slicked-back hair framing a strip of white at his sideburns. His goatee mirrored this pattern, exuding an unmistakable aura of authority.
Alan's heart raced as he observed the scene, his gaze sharp and focused. The announcer, too, snapped to attention at the sudden objection.
"Please wait for the consultation from authorities before we announce any results," the announcer instructed the eager audience.
As the announcer hurried into the passage connected to the stadium, moments stretched into tense anticipation.
Eventually, he emerged, horn held high, his expression eager to deliver the verdict.
"After consulting with the managing authority and reviewing the rules governing the Physical Trials, it has been determined that a candidate is not obligated to summon or display their weapon, provided they win the battle in accordance with all rules and without external assistance."
"So without further ado, Pompeii! Allow me to declare the victor of the final bout, showcasing unprecedented power and skill, none other than the enigmatic Alan Circha!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as Alan basked in the joy of his triumph, marking the culmination of the first phase of his mission.