Looking at the grinning man before him, Linius had another foreboding feeling. He was going to do whatever he wanted again. It would be an absolute relief if the elders won't start to suspect them. Although it was already proven that the master was his brother, inconsistencies could still arise which will cause doubt.
"Can't you just not do it?" Linius rubbed his forehead and leaned on the seat. He was hoping that the master wouldn't overdo it again.
His crisp laugh echoed in the room which attracted attention from the other people. "You are being a bit funny big brother, of course I need to go all out!" His grin was so wide that the major already knew that he couldn't convince him to stop what he was about to do.
Isaiah, who was only a listener, was confused as to what they were talking about. "What are the both of you talking about?" So, he couldn't hold back and ask.
Cygnus patted him on the shoulder, "You'll know later, so you should stay here and watch." He repeatedly tapped the other's shoulder while saying those words.
While he was still lost, the one-hour break was already over. Cygnus stood up and went to the edge of the viewing platform where they were and jumped down. He used his wind magic to slowly float down. Celestine, who was already there, sneered.
"What a show off," she spat. This man had humiliated her so many times now so she was going to make sure that he would regret his actions.
The host looked at the both of them and ensured that both were ready before he commenced the fight. Unlike the first fights they had where they rushed and finished it off quickly, this time both of them became cautious.
Cygnus had a grin on his face while Celestine was frowning. "Lady's first." The master extended his arm out like he was handing a gift and acted like a gentleman which made the woman irked.
"Don't patronize me. You can attack and I'll be sure to defend and return the favor to you," Celestine spat. She was in no mood to joke around.
"Then," he disappeared and reappeared behind Celestine, "I'll do the honors." His fist was pulled back and was enveloped with a swirling wind. He attacked with a punch, swift and without delay.
Celestine's eyes widened when he suddenly disappeared and was almost hit by the fist, if not for her fast reflexes she would have been badly injured by that attack. He jumped back a few times before she got her footing but before she could attack too, Cygnus was already onto her.
This time his punch was packed with the power of ice magic. Celestine raised a barrier of fire to defend against him. The master was impressed that she could defend even with how fast he was attacking and she was also able to summon those fireballs.
From above a rain of fire was falling down towards him, he jumped from every direction to dodge the balls of fire that were hitting the ground. While he was busy dodging, Celestine was now free to attack him. From where she was standing, she summoned a bow made up of fire and even the arrow was burning red.
She pulled the bow and let the fire arrows fly towards him. Cygnus noticed this so he also dodged but the arrows suddenly changed directions and went after him. Celestine shot more arrows that did not stop from going after her opponent.
These arrows were infused with her mana and even without moving from where she was standing, she can still manipulate and change its direction. Cygnus looked behind and chuckled when he saw that the arrows were still following him. He stopped and faced the attack. He used ice that solidified into small round pellets to freeze and destroy the arrows.
His movements were so fast and precise that the ice pellets hit all the marks. When they thought that everything was over, a fire arrow pierced through his stomach. That arrow was fast and silent, it did not have a feel to it too that Cygnus failed to notice it. Blood started to flow from his wound as it stained the ground where he was standing.
He stood there for a moment, speechless at what just happened. Anything revolving around magic, he could feel them all, nothing can be hidden from him. His mind was in overdrive. It must have something to do with them, they were the only ones who could follow and injure him like that.
The arena became silent after the arrow hit its mark and because Cygnus was not moving from where he was. He suddenly raised his head and looked at the sky before he suddenly let out a loud laugh. He used his hand to cover his face before he looked down again.
To the audience and the host, he appeared to have given up. So, the host who was watching outside the barrier decided to announce who the winner was. The moment he was about to open his mouth, they heard Celestine's scream.
All eyes went to where she was and they were shocked to see that her body was pierced by ice. She coughed out blood and her wound was bleeding profusely but she still refused to back down. Celestine used her fire to melt the ice.
She slumped on the ground still coughing but as she used her fire to forcefully close the wound. She picked herself up and stood with unsteady feet. She thought that her victory was secured after she learned that technique but to think that her opponent can still attack her, he was really not someone ordinary.
"This pain, it is the first time that I'm feeling such pain again." He slowly turned around to face the direction where Celestine was standing. "You learned quite a bothersome technique. Interesting, who taught you? Who told you? Aren't you going to tell me?"
Cygnus appeared in front of Celestine in the blink of an eye with his hand already around her neck. The woman gasped for air but the master's hand did loosen. He was grinning and his eyes looked deranged.
Linius suddenly stood up from his seat because he felt that there was something wrong with the master. He was clearly not acting like himself. It was like that time, when he cut off that arm.
Astro barged through the viewing deck where the major was and looked out at the arena. "Ari, give me the status!" He mumbled and he could hear the woman's voice.
"Insanity state is at 30%. The master's current state of mind is falling below rational. If the insanity state reaches 50%, he will kill his opponent. Suggested course of action: Stop him by force and let him calm down. He can still be reasoned with." The answer only made Astro anxious even more.
"How can we even stop him if he looks like that?" He pointed at Cygnus who was laughing while slowly squeezing the tiny little neck of his opponent.
"It is possible with the help of Major Linius Ginehart." Astro's eyes went to the major who was also looking at him.
"We need to stop him," was the only words he said. Linius and Astro jumped down from where they were and landed just a few inches from the barrier.
The crowd started to murmur and some were already showing worry. It was already obvious that Celestine's life was in danger and yet none of the proctors were going in to help. They were just running around below.
As much as they wanted to stop the fight, for some reason the barrier they put around the fighting area became unbreachable. No matter how they tried to enter it, they were instantly repelled. Celes went down to see what was happening while the other elders remained unmoved.
