"You… You have nothing to say?!" Jonete's shrill roar reverberated through the arena, forcing Ryu's corpse puppet to stumble backward several steps.
"… I kill those who deserve to be killed. Your brother just happened to be among them."
To say that Ryu's words were brazen was an understatement. This wasn't just any person he was speaking of, this was the Second-in-Line Heir of the Minn Clan! A Sixth Order Clan!
Those of the Core Region wouldn't dare even dream of slighting them. However, what was even more unacceptable to those of the crowd was that Ryu actually dared say such heartless words to a little girl whose cheeks had long since flooded with tears.
To Ryu, however, this so-called "little girl" was already a Connecting Heaven Realm expert and well over three hundred years old. What did it have to do with him whether she cried or not? So, even when the chorus of boos began to rain downward with impunity, it was as though Ryu didn't hear them at all.
Clans with status on the level of the Minn Clan had their own reserved section for this event. From eldest to youngest, they all boiled in anger. They cared little for what the backstory of Vygil's death was, all they felt the needed to know was that Ryu was responsible for it.
"Kill him Mistress Jonete!"
"Make him regret his words!"
Among the uproar, the Patriarch of the Minn Clan stared toward the platform with a gloomy expression. Vygil may have been Second-in-Line, but he was still his son. It was taking every fiber of his being to not directly implode.
Jonete's shriek shook the protective array that covered their battlefield as she lunged toward Ryu. But, she was met with the very same puppet she had forced to stumble backward with nothing more than her voice.
Unfortunately, this corpse puppet she thought she could swat away with a single hand, blocked her path toward Ryu time and time again.
At first, she thought it was a simple fluke. It wasn't just her, but many others who had this line of thinking as well. However, but third… then fourth… then fifth exchange, Jonete's rage felt so stifled that coughed up blood despite not having suffered an injury.
How infuriated she must have been in those moment. Seeing the enemy she wanted to kill with every fiber of her being standing right before her, yet being completely unable to pass a mere Peak Fifth Order corpse puppet.
Ryu silently watched all of this, his gaze completely without emotion. Jonete must have thought he was mocking her, but this wasn't the case at all…
Her fury, her helplessness… He internalized it all. Maybe one day if he failed in his ultimate goal, it would be him on the other side of this corpse puppet. He wanted to etch this moment into his heart. Never… Never could he allow this to be him.
The chorus of boos grew hoarser and louder.
Matheus' eyes narrowed.
Others didn't know, but he knew well just how terrible Ryu's corpse control was just a year ago. This sort of vast improvement bordered on incredulity. How could a person improve so much in such a short period of time?
The corpse puppet's steps wavered. It seemed to be gliding in the wind, appearing and disappearing from existence at different points in time. Its glaive strikes were rare, but purposeful and full of power.
Despite appearing to be on its backfoot, Jonete never managed to enter a three-meter radius of Ryu. Even as her fury burned stronger, there was nothing she could do.
Her dainty fists rained downward as though she didn't know fatigue, executing all of the close combat techniques of the Minn Clan, but each of her attempts were dispelled with what seemed like ease.
A simple [Retreat] here, a [Sidestep] there.
The movements held a simplistic elegance to them that both wowed and infuriated.
Soon, the jeers of the crowd grew tired and deflated as even Jonete's movements became sluggish. She had exploded with so much strength in such a short amount of time that she hadn't had the mind to worry about stamina. Just thirty minutes later, she paid a dear price from her mistakes.
The butt of the puppet's glaive slammed into her toned torso.
Her breath was completely knocked out of her, a mixture of blood and saliva flying forth as she slammed to the outer edge of the arena.
The corpse puppet flashed and disappeared, its fluid technique causing those watching on to tremble.
A kick slammed against the side of Jonete's delicate cheek, sending her flying once more.
Unfortunately, in the Final Selection Tournament, there was no such thing as a 'ring-out'. Unless one opponent died, was unable to battle, or admitted defeat, the match would continue. However, under such circumstances, how could Jonete be willing to admit defeat?
Seeing Jonete's sorry state, the rage of the crowd that had been doused over time ignited once more.
By now, Ryu could have killed Jonete several times already, but he held back. He didn't fancy himself an emotionless, amoral murderer. Jonete's rage was valid in his eyes. He didn't hate Vygil either despite him being a catalyst toward his grandfather's death.
At the end of the day, Ryu only blamed himself for being too weak back then. It wasn't Vygil's responsibility to not attack him simply because he was weaker, nor was it wrong of Ryu to seek revenge for his slight. Since Vygil could kill him, why could Ryu not kill in return?
Though Ryu would not kill Jonete, he wouldn't feel bad for her either. She believed that her brother's life was worth more than his. Well, in Ryu's opinion, his own life was worth more than every existence not just in this Realm, but in every Realm. If he died, his family would never rise again. In comparison to a mere Vygil, what was that worth?
"Jonete Minn is unable to continue. Ryu wins."