1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 71: A Resolve That Burns For Centuries

Without mercy, Ju-Nao repeatedly thrust each hand forward, causing small holes to penetrate the helpless elf’s skin. It made no sense to the audience, seeing as there was a ten meter gap between them, yet the mastered spear-hand still reached.

"Nngh...!" Lamore struggled, holding his gauntlets in front of his body in an attempt to protect himself.

If there was anything to be thankful for in the elf’s mind, it was that the mysterious wounds were only a couple inches deep, non-fatal, but not for long.

Magic? That was the first thought for observers, though those familiar with magecraft knew that wasn’t the case. Even through the mystical screen, Noah’s keenly picked up on it–there was a complete lack of mana.

"There’s no way, right?" Noah remarked.

"Huh? What is it? Didja see what he did?" Sylvan asked, scratching her head in frustration while looking up at the screen. "I sure as hell didn’t."

"It’s nothing different from what he’s been doing, just on a completely different degree of absurd," Noah explained what he saw while watching. "He’s manipulating air pressure by thrusting his hand."

"Wha–?! No way!" The goblin girl said in disbelief with a raised eyebrow.

Considering the fact Ogatrina stood, being generous, at his waist height, he questioned if she could even see the screen all that well.

"I’ve seen it before."

–Out of nowhere, the hooded rogue spoke, making the three of them jump, finding the man right behind them, watching the fight as well.

Sylvan huffed, "Ya gotta stop doing that!"

"You said you’ve seen that technique before?" Noah said, catching his breath after the unexpected fright.

Van answered with a subtle nod, "Ju-Nao is a master of the Art of The Spear-Fist, but he didn’t create it. Years ago, I was hired to take out another master of that same style."

"Take out?" Noah questioned.

There wasn’t further clarification from the rogue, who lifted his shirt, revealing his pitch-black skin and a perfect, round scar near his hip, "I had no intel on it until I was hit, so I was left with a reminder."

"You’re an assassin, aren’t you?" Noah questioned.

"Used to be," Van answered with minimal detail.

Once again, the tides shifted in the arena; Lamore hunkered down, desperately shielding his body while the piercing strikes stabbed at him from the front.

A strike to the kneecap threatened the elf’s balance, while another strike to the shin challenged his ability to stand entirely.

"LAMORE CAN’T DO ANYTHING! IS JU-NAO GOING TO BE HEADING TO THE SEMI-FINALS?!"

Most of the rambunctious shouts in the crowd had quieted down to horror at the bloodied sight left of the elf. Some even covered their eyes, neglecting to see a horrible fate for their favorite fighter.

Despite what she’d heard of the man, Astrid couldn’t help but feel squeamish, looking down at her lap, "Won’t they call the match...? It’s over." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Yeah, it’s not looking good, not at all," Rain agreed.

As blood pooled at Lamore’s feet, it was one of the judges hands that observed the match that was ready to swipe at any moment to signal an end before a competitor died.

However–

The timing was found as the elf’s gaze sharpened with sudden resolve. Just as Ju-Nao’s hand thrust forward, the gauntlets soared against the piercing air pressure. It was an act that caught all spectators by surprise as the steel-forged hands flew as if having fire pushing them.

"LAMORE’S GAUNTLETS...ARE FLYING FORWARD?!"

Ju-Nao halted his offense, ducking out of the way as the pair of flying gauntlets passed right above his head. The unorthodox move even shifted the stoic expression of the demi-human, who furrowed his brow in surprise.

At the exact moment Ju-Nao began to stand back up, the peculiar, desperate move made sense: Lamore was right in front of him, moving with nothing but stubs for arms.

’He...used his gauntlets as a diversion to close the distance between us–?’ The master martial artist deduced.

Knowing that didn’t soften the blow for the demi-human, as the armless elf leapt up, leading his knee upwards against the granite jaw. A direct knock to the chin left even the stalwart giant dazed as his brain was left bouncing inside his skull.

"Gruua...Hrhm!?" Ju-Nao slobbered before aggressively shaking his head to focus, immediately retaliating with a wild thrust.

It lacked any of the master’s previous refinement, leaving the elf sidestepping it and spinning around into a kick delivered right to the giant’s ribs. A resounding "crack" made even the most jaded onlookers wince, reeling in a pained grunt from the demi-human.

The armless brawler landed nimbly after delivering the kick, though the rhino-man didn’t falter, instead rushing right towards him. An unbothered look cemented itself in Lamore’s gaze, as if entirely certain of his victory–

THWUNK.

–As Ju-Nao flexed his arm with complete intent of skewering his opponent, the airborne gauntlets returned, giving him a greeting to the back of the head. Even for the martial master of terrifying toughness, the unforeseen blow made the consciousness in his eyes flicker.

Lamore held the steel sockets of his stubs out, allowing the flying prosthetics to reconnect in a seamless snap.

"I’VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE...! THE SEEMINGLY UNSTOPPABLE FORCE IN JU-NAO, IS...IS ON THE ROPES?!"

An exhale left the bleeding elf’s lips as he clenched his metal fists as if feeling out his returned hands, "I was hoping to save that for later on myself."

There was little resistance as Lamore drew one fist back, putting his entire body weight behind the swing while the dazed demi-human stumbled in place. With climactic force, the metal knuckles drove right into the giant’s chest, delivering a blow that made the ground they stood on crack.

BANG.

As the punch was followed through, it made a sound like a cannon being fired, leaving Ju-Nao’s large body flying across the arena. A slam into the magical barrier around the stands drew gasps from the observers on the other side, leaving the now unconscious competitor falling into the water below.

"...JU-NAO HAS BEEN KNOCKED OUT OF BOUNDS! THE WINNER IS LAMORE!"

Left as the last man standing on the platform, the bloodied, battered elf raised his fist in triumph, prompting the entire colosseum to erupt in applause.

Witnessing it all, Noah felt his perspective shift on the weight of the tournament itself, especially what would be waiting for him in the current round.

’Those two fought with everything they had...I can’t half-ass my way through this. I wasn’t planning on it anyway, but I know for sure I can’t play around,’ he thought.

It wasn’t long after the match concluded that the next contestants would be chosen, leaving the waiting room entirely filled with tension. He waited by the screen, though there were no words spoken between anybody.

’That’s right. Nobody is going to be buddy-buddy when at any moment, it could be your opponent you’re talking to,’ he watched.

Only a few minutes paused of the excruciating silence before the bombastic announcer’s voice called out, "IT’S TIME FOR THE NEXT MATCH OF THIS ROUND! AFTER THAT LAST FIGHT, I KNOW THIS CROWD IS READY FOR MORE! THIS ONE WON’T DISSAPOINT! IT’S GOING TO BE...VAN VERSUS...NOAH SOUL!"

Hearing his name made his body run cold, not expecting to be called so soon, though especially not expecting his designated opponent. Naturally, he looked across the room where the former assassin was leaning against a wall with his arms folded.

He couldn’t see those cat-like eyes past the dark hood, though knew he was being watched as well.

’I guess it’s now or never,’ Noah accepted.

–

In the stands, the companions of the competitor clapped in support, though to varying degrees. That was, Astrid meekly gestured while the likes of Otto and Redrum chanted "Go, Noah!" like a pair of fangirls.

"You got this, Noah! Tear him a new one!" Otto shouted in support.

"Win me some money!" Rain cheered, for much less noble reasons than purely friendship.

"I wouldn’t be so easy goin’ about this," the remark came from the fox-eared man with his feet kicked up on the stands, lounging back.

Otto flinched, not realizing the former competitor was seated there the whole time, "Woah! Who even invited you, dude?"

"I paid for this damn seat, you just so happened to sit here," Lacian mumbled in frustration before explaining himself. "I fought Noah, so I know he’s pretty damn strong. Thing is, Van is something different entirely."

"Something different?" Astrid repeated, leaning forward to look across her brother at the demi-human.

Lacian had bitter recollection in his eyes, "Van walks a different path now, but those that ventured in the criminal underworld know–that guy is a living legend. Or, more like a complete nightmare."

"It can’t be that bad, c’mon," Otto brushed off.

Astrid looked at the eliminated participant, "Criminal underworld...How do you know, then?"

"That’s besides the point," Lacian waved off the question casually. "Point is, your friend better hope he’s got a helluva lot up his sleeve, because Van has killed just about any type of person there is."