Chapter 112 - Fighting Peter
Theo’s hand slowly dropped from his chest.
The uneasy feeling inside him had calmed down a little as his attention had shifted back to the tournament.
He glanced up at the announcer’s booth for a brief moment.
Then—
He raised his thumb.
A ripple went through the crowd immediately.
’’Look at that, ladies and gentlemen!’’
The announcer’s voice rang out, bursting with excitement.
’’Theo Lane has taken up the offer and will be the one to start off the top 32 battles!’’
The crowd cheered wildly, whistling and clapping mixed within.
Theo didn’t react.
His mind was still focused on something else.
’Why did that guy no-show?’ he thought. ’He definitely didn’t seem like the type to do that.’
Not to mention the bad feeling he’d gotten from it.
He just couldn’t put a finger on it.
Finally, the announcer’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts again.
’’Everyone, let me hear you welcome Peter Smith into the arena!’’
The doors shifted open opposite of him.
Slowly, a brown-haired student stepped forward.
A normal spear rested on his back, its material seemingly only of bronze grade.
Theo narrowed his eyes slightly.
’Who is this?’
The student walked toward him and stopped a few yards away.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, Peter opened his mouth.
’’I’d appreciate it if you used your spear,’’ he said firmly. ’’Though I likely won’t win, I’d rather not be embarrassed by an umbrella.’’
Theo just looked at him.
’A nice and honest guy,’ he thought. ’When’s the last time I’ve seen that?’
He smiled.
’’I can do that.’’
Peter blinked, clearly not expecting that answer.
’’...Thanks,’’ he said after a brief pause.
Theo nodded once and put his umbrella on his back again.
Without another word, he pulled off his spear.
’Let’s see how this spear works with my water affinity.’
He spun it around once, remembering the feeling.
’Yeah, this’ll work.’
Peter’s expression sharpened instantly.
He lowered into a strange stance, pushing his spear’s blade behind him.
’...So he does use one,’ he thought. ’Why the umbrella then?’
But he didn’t care about it any further.
A countdown echoed through the arena, slowly counting down from ten.
’’...3...2...1...’’
’’Go!’’
Peter moved first.
His foot pressed firmly against the ground, shooting him forward.
A bright light appeared around his spear at the same time.
Without hesitation, he swung it.
From all the way behind him.
Theo frowned.
’He’s full of openi—’
Despite the wide motion, Peter’s spear travelled impossibly fast.
Theo’s eyes widened slightly.
’—ngs.’
CLANG!
He barely managed to raise his own spear in time.
The impact rang out across the arena, the force pushing his arm back slightly.
’That speed... and strength?’
Theo let out a quiet breath as he took a step back.
The light around Peter’s spear was definitely a spell... but it wasn’t anything he recognized.
Peter pulled his spear back immediately, putting its blade behind him again.
Light gathered around it once more.
This time, Theo didn’t wait.
A wave of water gathered around his spear.
Then, they both swung out.
CLANG!
The impact sent Peter several steps back.
Thin trails of blood trickled down his hands as his skin had been ripped.
’’That water...’’ he said, collecting himself. ’’It slows me down.’’
Theo smiled slightly.
Peter’s spear had gone through a layer of swirling water first, getting all its momentum sucked away.
Then, the same water swirled around, crashing against Peter’s spear.
’His spell is quite peculiar,’ he thought. ’But it’s not a good match-up against mine.’
Peter came to somewhat the same conclusion.
His eyes narrowed even further.
He lowered into an even stranger stance.
This time, he held his spear right in front of him.
’Something new?’
Theo calmly prepared himself.
As a bright light began gathering around Peter’s spear, all his swirling water flowed to the front.
Peter kicked off in an instant.
The light around his spear grew even brighter this time.
Unlike before, he didn’t swing wide.
Instead—
He thrust straight forward.
Theo reacted instantly.
Water surged forward from his spear, expanding into a dense, spiked shield.
The spear plunged in and slowed down right away.
’’Tsk,’’ Peter let out, frustrated.
That’s when he felt it.
His eyes widened.
He tried to pull out his spear immediately.
But... he couldn’t.
’’What?!’’
Peter tried pulling with all his might again.
Suddenly, the water shield vanished.
’’Huh?’’
Peter stumbled back, falling down from the sudden change.
Theo closed the distance in an instant.
His leg shot forward toward the already downed Peter.
CRACK!
The kick slammed into Peter’s side.
A sharp gasp escaped his lips as his body was thrown backward.
He hit the ground hard, rolling once before coming to a stop.
Silence filled the arena for a brief moment.
Peter coughed, clutching his side as he struggled to push himself up.
Theo smiled slightly, but didn’t approach again.
"...I yield," Peter said, forcing the words out.
The announcer’s voice rang out immediately.
"What an excellent match!"
’’The winner is Theo Lane!’’
The crowd erupted into cheers once again.
Theo lowered his spear slightly.
The water dissipated, dripping softly onto the arena floor.
’That was fun,’ he thought. ’First time I’ve used my spear for that.’
Sure, it wasn’t the best for sharp weapons like that.
But it was nice to know he could in case he ever needed to.
Theo turned around, resting the spear over his shoulder as he walked off the arena.
The cheers slowly faded behind him, replaced by the silent corridors.
He stepped back into the stands a moment later.
Owen immediately leaned forward.
’’Look at that,’’ he said, grinning. ’’Our lucky guy finally got someone who showed up.’’
Theo shrugged, placing the spear back on his back.
’’Second round was fun though,’’ he replied.
Iris smiled softly.
"You handled that well," she said.
’’Thanks,’’ Theo nodded, taking his seat again.
His gaze returned to the arena as more matches had already started again.
’I have two more matches for today,’ he thought. ’And then, the quarterfinals and finals tomorrow.’