Chapter 27: Are You Not Entertained?

Noah looked up just in time to see Ben turn away from him with a sneer, blood still dripping from his clawed fingers. His voice rose, loud and proud. "Are you all watching?" He shouted to the crowd. "Are you not entertained?" A small section of the crowd, the Gold and Silver students, cheered, while the others looked on with murmurs of excitement. "This is the difference between Gold and Stone! This," he pointed at Noah’s bloodied form, "is the reason we’re separated right from the beginning!" The stands rumbled with low murmurs, students leaning forward, drawn by the theatrics. "We’re not the same!" Ben barked, his voice carrying easily across the arena. "You all wanted to believe it, didn’t you? That effort could make up for potential. That some nobody from the gutter could rise and challenge us." He turned in a slow circle, his arms raised as if addressing the entire academy. "Stone-tier trash like him should never dream of standing beside us." "That’s why they start at the bottom. That’s why they stay at the bottom. This system? This order? It exists for a reason." Noah clenched his fists, the cuts along his arms throbbing. The pain was there, but so was the heat. It simmered beneath his skin like a boiling kettle about to burst. His breath came heavier, slower. Ben’s voice grew louder, feeding off the attention. "They want you to believe in fair chances and rising through ranks. They want you to think you can claw your way to the top with nothing but stubbornness and luck." "But this," he jabbed his clawed thumb over his shoulder toward Noah, "is what happens when someone weak tries to climb a wall meant to keep them out!" Laughter rippled through the Gold-tier section. Ben grinned wider, fangs catching the light. "So let this be a lesson to all of you! Know your place. Crawl if you must, but don’t ever—" "Hey, twilight!" The shout cut through the arena like a sword. Ben froze mid-sentence. Noah straightened from where he’d been crouched, blood running down his arm, eyes burning like twin coals. He spat to the side and raised his voice. "The fight isn’t over yet." The crowd went quiet. Some leaned forward. Others looked between Noah and Ben, unsure if they’d heard him right. Ben turned slowly, his grin faltering. "What did you just call me?" Noah grinned, his hand already rising. "I said, shut up and fight, pretty boy." Ben roared and charged, claws gleaming as he closed the distance with inhuman speed. But this time, Noah was ready. He shifted smoothly, his body moving like water. He weaved around Ben’s first swipe, ducked the second, and twisted away from the third with a turn that left the claws whistling past his cheek. "Too slow." He said, smirking as he slid back just out of range. Ben’s eyes widened. He lunged again, this time faking low before snapping his claws upward toward Noah’s face. Noah leaned back, the attack grazing nothing but air, then dropped low and rolled past Ben’s side, popping up behind him. "Come on, is that it?" Noah said. "I’ve fought hungrier puppies." Ben growled, his control slipping. "Shut up!" He slashed wildly, and Noah stepped aside with a calm grace that seemed unnatural. Claws missed. Again and again. Noah’s hand shot forward, smashing into Ben’s ribs with a solid crack. Ben stumbled back, gasping. But Noah didn’t chase. He stood still, bouncing on his heels slightly, relaxed. The arena fell into a hush. Spectators gawked. Even the second-years watching leaned forward, stunned. Wasn’t this supposed to be a massacre? Noah grinned, wiping the blood that dripped down his arm on his shirt. ’That’s right... Get mad. I need it.’ He stared at Ben, who was holding his side, fury etched into every line of his face. "What’s wrong?" Noah asked, loud enough for the entire arena to hear. "Forgot how my fists taste?" Ben didn’t reply. "Don’t worry," Noah added with a wolfish grin, "I’ll remind you." Ben surged forward again with a growl, his claws slashing through the air. Noah met him this time. He dodged and twisted between the blows, dancing around the claws like he knew exactly where they’d land. When the opening came, he struck. A jab to the ribs. A fist to the stomach. Then a blow to the jaw that snapped Ben’s head sideways. Ben grunted, slashing desperately. His claws caught Noah’s shoulder, another shallow cut, but Noah didn’t flinch. He pivoted and slammed his fist into Ben’s cheek. The Gold-tier student reeled. The crowd watched in stunned silence. Noah kept pressing. He ducked and struck, landing punches that snapped against Ben’s flesh. Each blow was brutal, and confident. "You know what’s pathetic?" Noah hissed, low enough only Ben could hear. "You. With all your S-rank potential. Your Gold-tier privilege. And this," he shoved Ben back with a punch to the chest, "this is all you can do?" Ben’s face twisted in rage, his fangs bared. "You had every advantage. The backing of the king. Personal instructors. A spell token gifted to you. And yet here I am, Stone-tier, FFF-rank, and I’m still beating you." Ben screamed and slashed again, but it was reckless, messy. Noah stepped to the side and jabbed him in the ribs again. "Where’s that A-rank skill of yours?" Noah whispered. "Blood Armament, right? You’re so proud of it. But looking at you now..." he shook his head. "It’s wasted on someone like you." Ben’s face turned red. The air around him trembled. Noah’s grin widened. ’That’s it. Break, Ben. Break for me.’ Enraged, Ben snarled, "If you’re so fascinated with Blood Armament, then I’ll give you a taste." ’Yes!’ Noah crowed in the privacy of his mind. ’Bring it on.’ "Blood Armament!" A pulse of energy exploded from Ben’s body, and the arena darkened. Above them, a crimson glow filled the sky, and blood-red weapons shimmered into existence, hovering high in the air like a silent army. Swords. Spears. Axes. All forged from pure blood, each humming with dark energy. Gasps rippled through the crowd. A few students stood from their seats to get a better look. Even the second years among them were startled. None had expected Ben to use his A-rank skill. Noah stared up at the darkened sky, his jaw falling open. This was... death. There was no way out. "Die, Webb." Ben snarled. Then, the sky began to fall as the rain of armaments began.