My eyes widened as I saw that we were in trouble. The amount of force this lunatic was focused on our heads would crush them if he succeeded. I had to act fast. Desperately, I generated a protective barrier that was reinforced with my spirit energy beneath us, hoping it'd serve as a cushion. This happened within a fraction of a second, just as we connected with the ground, and Rave forced our heads into it.
But it wasn't over. I could hear his maniacal laugh as his grip tightened around my face and he started dragging us through the ground before raising us by our throats.
I coughed as I felt blood drip from my head. In an instant, I'd developed the world's worst headache, but I was thankful my power and tough body prevented severe damage.
This guy..., I gripped his thick forearms helplessly.
"You ignorant buffoon!" Avarice yelled, outraged as he tried to turn Rave's arms to gold, but the aura Rave radiated was just too powerful. "We're part of the Chimera Crest! She's the new Crest Head! Killing her would be problematic even for you. Now unhand me!"
Za'Fia was on his neck, focusing as much firepower as she could into a concentrated rotation of fire that engulfed his head, but Rave was unfazed. He didn't acknowledge her presence at all.
Rave's laugh vibrated through us as he looked at me with his huge teeth bearing through the flames.
"You came to the wrong district if you thought your title would protect you."
I felt his grip tighten around my throat and croaked in pain.
"Ack! I want to invoke a Duel of Dexterity!" I said desperately.
Rave suddenly stopped. His grip slacked as he looked at us before he let us go. Za'Fia leaped from his shoulders and stood by my side, panting. I wiped some blood from my forehead, but I kept my eyes on Rave as he looked us up and down.
"That insufferable...he told you about that, huh?" I grinned. "Fine. So we'll settle this with a wager then? You choosing the challenge or do you need me to?"
I had no idea what the rules for the challenge were. Was I supposed just to make them up?
"Um...you?" I decided, uncertain.
Rave's widened grin instantly told me that I'd chosen wrong, making me regret my answer.
"What exactly is a Duel of Dexterity for it to make you comply so suddenly?" Za'Fia asked him.
"It's a vow I made long ago. Once every 30 days, another Crest Head can issue an honorable duel of their choice or mine if they want. If I lose, then I must submit to whatever request they have for me. It's usually used to keep me from entering other districts or leaving Pneuma City without anyone having to risk their people."
"You're that much of a problem that a special vow between each leader had to be made for you specifically?" Za'Fia raised an eyebrow.
Rave once again revealed his yellow teeth with pride.
"They call me the Beast of Carnage for a reason. You felt my Madness. My sacred gift forced those too weak to resist into a primal state of extreme violence. It's the best way to ensure we give it our all in the wild. Imagine what it would do in a heavily populated area. Everyone trying to rip each other's throats out...I've looked forward to the day the cowards keeping me here slip up. I'll spread madness everywhere and engulf the whole world in battle."
He stretched out his arms as if he could almost grasp his dream.
"So, you lose challenges every 30 days that force you to stay here..." Avarice stated, uninterested in Rave's dreams. "I'm guessing that doesn't apply to grand summonings, though. I saw you among the others during the expungement."
"Hm,' Rave grunted. "They aren't foolish enough to let me choose the challenge and always avoid challenging me in the area I excel in."
"And what area is that?" I asked skeptically.
"Strength," Rave clenched his fist before him. "In terms of raw strength, no other pneumarian on Cindar is stronger than me."
His eyes drifted to gaze at me with a hint of appreciation in them.
"But you...you let me choose. We will have a test of might and durability—my favorite version of the challenge. At least one of you," he pointed at us, "must withstand a blow from me and deliver one strong enough to move or injure me. If any of you manage to, I won't attempt to kill you—this time. But should you lose, each of you will willingly succumb to my madness and fight me simultaneously until I get tired or you die. Whichever comes first."
"You," Rave pointed at Za'Fia. "You're first. Hit me as hard as you can. I won't dodge or defend."
"Alright," Za'Fia shrugged as Avarice and I stepped back to give them space.
"Don't bother holding anything back. Put every ounce of your draconic might into a single blow," Rave spoke condescendingly.
"Thing is," Za'Fia leaped up and cocked her arm back before landing a powerful blow right onto Rave's face – she even applied spirit enhancement – but it didn't have the slightest effect on him. "I already felt the difference between our strengths earlier. I know there's nothing I can do against you."
She skidded back, unsurprised then immediately applied spirit enhancement to her body as Rave came at her.
After receiving one overwhelming punch to the gut, even with her extra dragon scales, Za'Fia couldn't withstand a blow from Rave and was knocked unconscious.
"You're next, goblin," Rave turned to Avarice.
Avarice grimaced in disgust but stepped forward to analyze Rave for the best approach. He knelt and turned his surroundings to gold before liquidating, bonding his energy with it, and focusing it into a flashy mass of condensed gold the size of a car that hovered over him. He then formed part of it into a compact golden sword that gave off an intense aura. The rest of the glowing gold wrapped around him and fashioned itself into some kind of armor.
"Infusement..." Rave whistled, pleased. "This oughta be interesting. Give me your best shot."
"I intend to," Avarice swung his blade for Rave's neck. The blade scraped against Rave's skin as Avarice groaned from putting in considerable effort until it finally produced a thin cut that bled yellow.
Avarice stepped back, breathing heavily from exertion. We saw the cut on Rave's throat that he'd tried so hard to make instantly mend, but Rave was pleased nonetheless.
He wasted no time and struck Avarice, who guarded with his golden armor, but Rave applied spirit enhancement to his fist and easily cracked Avarice's gold as he punched Avarice in the gut too, causing Avarice to fall to a knee.
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