Chapter 616: The Fighting King Tournament (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 616: The Fighting King Tournament (3)
The one who shouted was the 10th Fighting King of the Pluto Tribe, Kaio.
Brother Kaio?
Everyone turned to look at him. Kaio was trembling with such fury that his clenched fists shook visibly.
"B-Brother 10th Fighting King. What’s wrong?"
"Did you bet on Brother Garmund or something?"
Kaio didn't bother responding to the few rank-and-file warriors who had failed to read the room. Tantel, being more perceptive, quickly covered their mouths and cleared his throat.
A heavy silence fell over the hall.
Since Jin had first arrived in Laprarosa, he had never seen any of his brothers express such raw, unbridled rage.
"…It seems you have some grievance with me, Brother 10th Fighting King."
Garmund narrowed his eyes as he looked at Kaio. His own eyes now held a Fighting Spirit far deeper and darker than the one he had displayed while facing Jin just moments ago.
"Yes, finally. Now you have the look of someone actually prepared to fight."
"Stop talking in circles and say what you mean."
"That look in your eyes—you should have shown it when you were fighting Brother Jin, not me."
"What?"
"If you’re going to treat Brother Jin like such a child, why don't you go ahead and change his diapers for him too?"
"Your tongue is sharp… Brother 10th Fighting King. I believe you are crossing a line."
"The one who crossed the line first was you, Brother 8th Fighting King. Do you honestly think the other brothers don't know you lost to Brother Jin on purpose?"
"I simply lost! The accumulated fatigue from the morning matches was greater than I thought, and—and! Brother Jin was just stronger than I expected!"
"That’s what’s called ‘willful negligence.’ You secretly wanted Brother Jin to win. That’s why you didn't commit to any deep strategies during the match."
"I told you, that's not it! Stop talking nonsense—!"
"If it's truly not the case," Kaio said, taking a heavy step toward Garmund, "then swear upon the honor of the Fighting God and all our brothers. Did you, Brother 8th Fighting King, truly fight with every ounce of your strength? If you answer 'yes,' I will cut off my own right arm."
Looking into Kaio’s resolute face as he stood inches away, Garmund involuntarily took a step back.
It wasn't because he was overwhelmed by Kaio’s presence or afraid of a confrontation.
It was because the words stung. Every single word Kaio uttered had struck the very heart of the truth.
"Why can't you answer, Brother 8th Fighting King?"
"Ahem, hmph! That… well. It’s not that, but since you’re talking about cutting off your arm…"
"Brother 8th Fighting King, it is a disgrace that you, the 12th Fighting King, and I all share the same title."
"Uh… I really did fight properly and got beaten fair and square. Do I have to be dragged into this and insulted too, Brother 10th Fighting King?"
When Teto spoke up with a wronged tone, Rumora roughly wrapped her arm around his neck.
"Stay quiet, Brother 12th Fighting King. This is a serious matter."
"No, but the way Brother Kaio is talking is just plain mean! Don’t stop me! Why is he taking a swipe at me when I was just standing here? Ha! Just because I’m the weakest, does he think I’m some kind of pushover?"
"What, are you going to pick a fight with Brother Kaio? Do you think you can handle him? Listen to your big sister. Besides, since you also lost to Brother Jin, it’s true that the pride of the Fighting Kings has been bruised."
Teto could do nothing but flail helplessly against Rumora’s superior strength.
Kaio didn't even spare Teto a glance.
"Are you going to refuse to answer even while enduring such an insult, Brother 8th Fighting King?"
"It seems you’ve mistaken yourself for the Fighting God, Brother 10th Fighting King. Why should I have to follow your—"
In the next instant, the members of the Pluto Tribe gasped in horror.
CRACK—!
Without warning, Kaio drove his fist into Garmund’s jaw. It was a blow so powerful that a shockwave rippled through the entire Main Hall.
[Ooh. That’s going to hurt. I think his jaw is broken.]
Garmund staggered, nearly falling, before glaring back with bared teeth.
"Kaio, you bastard!"
Just as Garmund was about to retaliate—
"Enough."
Ban spoke for the first time.
Perched atop Ling Ling, Ban looked down at his brothers for a long moment without another word.
"The seventh match is over. The winner is Brother Jin. The next match will proceed after a one-hour break."
Instead of addressing the conflict, he simply announced the result in a calm voice and vanished.
Among the Pluto Tribe, excluding the Fighting God, there was no formal hierarchy. If one were to be technical, Jin—as the successor to the Fighting God’s techniques and Sigmund—held a nominal rank second only to Ban, but actual recognition was another matter entirely.
That was why a situation like this could occur.
Jin had certainly risen to the ranks of the strong, even among the Pluto Tribe, and he had become the heir to the Spirit Sword and the Fighting God.
However, he had not yet earned the recognition of all his brothers for that power.
Being accepted as a brother was one thing; being recognized as a Fighting King and a successor was an entirely different realm.
Brother Fighting God left without mediating the fight…
Does he mean for us not to stop the Fighting Kings from clashing? Things haven't been this grim since the final battle against the gods.
It was rare even before that battle. This is unsettling.
But is it true that the 12th and 8th Fighting Kings lost on purpose?
Is that really something to fight over? What’s wrong with Brother Jin doing well? Honestly, I think Brother 10th Fighting King is overreacting. Brother Jin is our only hope, anyway.
Exactly. Without Brother Jin, we can’t even leave this place. Besides, it’s not like Brother Jin has ever acted like a reckless brat relying on the Fighting God’s favor. He’s always proven himself. That’s why he became our brother!
That’s true, but considering the meaning of the Fighting King Tournament… I can understand Brother 10th Fighting King’s feelings. To be honest, it hasn't been that long since Brother Jin became one of us.
And Brother Jin is grasping everything the Fighting Kings have yearned for in such a short time. It’s because he was chosen by the Fighting God, but in any other era, all of this would have been nearly impossible.
Above all, Brother 10th Fighting King… before our fall, he was the one who worked harder than anyone to become the successor. No one can deny that.
The rank-and-file warriors whispered among themselves, sharing their opinions.
They couldn't fathom why Ban had simply walked away. Because of that, they didn't dare intervene in the fight.
Jin was equally confused.
The brothers he knew never bared their teeth at one another.
Furthermore, from the moment he was accepted as a brother, Jin had never experienced discrimination or hazing; he had only ever received their full support and backing.
That was the nature of the Pluto Tribe.
Jin had often felt that no group possessed a more ideal society than them. A single absolute leader, followed by equality, trust, and a people who would never betray one another.
However, as Boras had once said, the Pluto Tribe were also people.
—We didn't always cherish each other as sincerely as we do now, Brother Jin. The history of the Pluto Tribe is also filled with betrayal, murder, conspiracies, and schemes. It was just less frequent than in other races.
—The era of the current Fighting God, Brother Ban, was truly a golden age for the Pluto Tribe. That is why no murders occurred even during the Fighting King Tournament held before our destruction, but it wasn't like that before. Factions used to split and fight, and people were killed intentionally to achieve political goals.
Tantel’s words suddenly came back to him.
And that golden age of the Fighting God… ultimately ended in a challenge against the gods and our own destruction.
Perhaps the ideal image Jin had of his brothers was only possible because this place, Laprarosa, was a 'dead world.'
Time had stopped for the Pluto Tribe. Whether it was when Temar first visited as the first successor or a thousand years later when Jin arrived, Laprarosa was a society without a future.
In that state, the only thing the Pluto Tribe could do was give everything they had to the two successors who had visited over the long eons.
Because of that, they no longer had a reason to compete with one another. There was no need to struggle to become the successor, nor any reason to strive for further heights.
But now, with Jin’s declaration that he would return them to the world, their time had gained meaning once again.
They had a reason to live. Their desires were resurrected. The embers of their dreams had reignited.
In other words, they were no longer ghosts existing only for the successor, but people who could face tomorrow.
That was why some of the brothers were convinced that this Fighting King Tournament had to be uncompromisingly fair.
No matter the outcome, Jin would remain the successor of the Spirit Sword, but they believed the successor of the Fighting God could still change.
To remove the rust and moss that has accumulated in the stagnant history of the Pluto Tribe, struggle and conflict are inevitable.
The Fighting King Tournament was the final test and a site of purification that Ban had imposed on Jin and all the other members of the tribe.
If they wanted history to flow again, they had to shake off everything that held them back.
To that end, Jin reached a conclusion on what he ought to do.
"Brother 10th Fighting King."
Jin looked at Kaio, his back still turned to Garmund.
"If you don't like what Brother 8th Fighting King did, then when your turn comes, you can just use all your strength to crush me."
"That is exactly what I intend to do, Brother Jin."
"And regardless of what Brother 8th Fighting King’s true intentions were, the fact remains that the result was my victory. This isn't a spar; it’s a fight. At this point, whether he gave his all or not is irrelevant."
"Yes, that is true."
"So, you should stop making such a pathetic scene. Just as Brother 8th Fighting King said, you’re acting as if you’ve already become the Fighting God. There is no hierarchy among brothers. You cannot give orders or force your will. That is a right reserved only for the Fighting God."
The members of the Pluto Tribe were divided, some nodding in agreement with Jin, others remaining silent.
Jin decided to become the villain who would provoke their struggle.
A villain they would be forced to acknowledge once he won.
"In my opinion, it seems Brother 10th Fighting King is secretly convinced that he is stronger than Brother 8th Fighting King. Otherwise, you wouldn't dare insult him like this in front of all the brothers."
Kaio’s eyes grew even fiercer.
"…Is that so? What an interesting theory. Then is the reason you’re pushing me right now based on the same logic? Are you acting this cocky because you’re convinced you’re stronger than me, Brother Jin?"
At those words, Jin smirked.
"Exactly. You won't be able to beat me, Brother 10th Fighting King."