Chapter 27.1
The finals.
The crowd was buzzing with anticipation, as expected. The two fierce semifinalists would face off and bring the long tournament to an end. Nothing could be more exciting.
But this year’s final was unusually quiet. In the semifinals, Barabara Do Banga put up a terrible fight. Most spectators knew how he used to fight. Like a dwarf, he would stand on his armor and defeat any foe head-on. He fought in a manner reminiscent of the Doradora Do Banga of old. That was Barabara Do Banga.
That man, as if he were a rookie, was on the run and yet, unable to escape, he lost as if self-destructing. No one applauded, and the crowd was annoyed and bewildered.
But a portion of the audience saw beyond that. I don’t think Barabara Do Banga was awash in the waters of cowardice, they said. For he was the champion of the Armament Festival. They recalled how he bravely defeated all his opponents last year. And even this year, except for the fight with Bash, he had fought decently against all of them.
Surely he had some plan. Everyone wanted to think he did. That, in order to win, he had to put on that pitiful show. But even after all that, he still couldn’t achieve victory.
And now the one who would face Bash was also an orc. The orc who had won second place in the last tournament despite being a slave.
Donzoi. He was the most skilled slave orc. He was the most popular slave fighter, and he skillfully manipulated the buckler equipped in his left hand. Many people knew his strength. They did not know where he had gotten his weapons from, nor who his waiting room blacksmith was, but there was no doubt that he was one of the contenders for this year’s championship.
But still, his opponent was Bash, the Orc Hero. Comparing the two fighters so far, no one believed Donzoi could win.