Chapter 128: The contest II
The arena was entirely silent as the onlookers watched the colour drain from the man's face.
He opened and closed his mouth, but the words were unable to come out. He had been all talk earlier, but now faced with this behemoth of a man, he had gone mute.
The man couldn't help cursing himself. Me and my big mouth.
The king didn't wait to hear his opinion as he eyed Hael who went down and signed both of their names in the list of challengers after the final round. It was a bonus activity the contest would run in order to shed light on any potential talents in the city. It gave them some fame and recognition plus it was a great way to get fellow contestants to apply next year as well.
Once the winner was announced, the host then let the crowd know that anyone who wishes to challenge the winner can do so. A few brave souls stepped up, but none of them could beat the sharp-eyed man. Though he gave them all smiles and words of encouragement, it was clear he was feeling smug that no one could beat him, at least until Hael stepped up to the plate.
The entire crowd went silent as Hael appeared, a rare jewel who caught the eyes of many women and men by surprise. He commanded a presence, one that could be felt even up on the platforms. The young man's smile faltered when he saw him, but it did return once he saw Hael fumbling with the bows.
He thought, "Ha, this newb may look skilled, but it's clear he's just an amateur."
His confidence returned in full force as he watched Hael struggle, an arrogant smirk tugging at his lips. "Seems like the challenger doesn't even know how to hold a bow properly," he mused, allowing his previous smugness to resurface.
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, some watching in curiosity, others in amusement. A few even chuckled under their breaths, thinking this might turn into a farce rather than a challenge. Since they were visiting another town, many people knew of the king, but they didn't know much about his guard.
Even if he had been given the title of ultimate warrior, not many of them knew how to handle a bow. They mostly fought with their hands and if they used a weapon, it was usually a sword.
Archery was usually reserved for refined nobles who liked the elegance the weapon offered. Someone as big and buff as Hael looked strange wielding a bow and so many people didn't think it would be able to do much. They also wondered why the king didn't go down himself since he was the one who offered to the challenge the chatty man.