Chapter 201: Before the Battle
Chapter 201: Before the Battle
The day of Liam's and William's fight had arrived, and the City Thirteen Combat Arena buzzed with excitement as spectators gathered for the highly expected showdown between the reigning number one and the challenger with the fastest rise in the city's history.
The arena's outskirts were crowded with disciples and city Officials, and every seat around the fighting platform was occupied an hour before the match began.
When Liam arrived at the arena that morning, accompanied by Felicity, Electa, and Mary, they were met with an unusual throng of disciples, eagerly waiting in the area.
"I didn't think there would be so many people here today…" Electa murmured, a confident smile on her face, clearly optimistic about the day's event.
She had unwavering faith in Liam's victory. Additionally, she was eager to join the sect's inner wing and receive her first Officer's salary.
Felicity remarked to the group, "This is a battle that will be remembered for years, even decades, given the prospects we have today.
Having a 6-Star Spirit Earth cultivator in City Thirteen is extremely rare. We've only had two in the past century, and one of them is William himself. But someone catching up to the city's top contender in just three months is unprecedented.
Everyone here wants to witness the fight, or at least be near the arena when it concludes. In a way, we're witnessing history in the making. Even if we're gone or have advanced to much higher levels in the future, the disciples of this city will still recount the tale of Liam and William's confrontation."
Liam paused to consider this perspective for the first time since arriving in the city. His rapid growth had shattered every conceivable record. Meanwhile, William was a formidable opponent in his own right. Their fight would likely rank among the top three battles in the city's history for centuries, perhaps even millennia, to come.
It wasn't Liam's intention to make history in Demon Gate. He preferred to remain unnoticed. Yet, he couldn't help but reflect on his extraordinary journey so far.
'A year ago, I was just an ordinary person living on Earth. But in mere months, I've become a cultivator, reaching levels of power and influence that few in Twin Lands can claim.'
Most people in the Twin Lands haven't cultivation at all. Among those who have, the majority are Spirit Masters of the first, second, and third realms of cultivation. Now, he was midway through the third realm, on the verge of becoming a fourth realm cultivator, soon to be recognized as an expert by continental standards.
But even with these sudden changes in his journey, Liam still had the same goals.
To escape the sect, to return to the home of the old Liam Porter, to resolve the issues he needed to resolve to rid himself of the memory of his predecessor, and then to hide until he could secure his own freedom. Those were the goals he had when he arrived in Twin Land months ago, the same ones he still had today.
But even with the same plans, he wouldn't deny his different circumstances. He now had different opportunities and duties than when he was thrown onto this island by Commander Amos' group, and as such, his plans for achieving his goals had changed.
As he walked towards the inner area of the arena, leaving the many disciples from the city behind and ignoring the chatter of the women beside him, Liam thought of something and said to Felicity, "Let's rethink our plans when you enter the inner area of the sect.
There are things I need to tell you, and the time has come for us to discuss the terms of our agreement. I want to know more about who we'll be working against."
Liam hadn't forgotten that Felicity wanted his help in dealing with opponents from outside the sect.
She had expected him to say something like that soon and readily agreed.
"I should move to the inner wing in three months at the most. I'll let your cultivation partners go ahead of me to help you cultivate, and I'll join you last."
"Good. Don't worry about us leaving you behind. I'll send you resources and give you some opportunities when you get to the inner area." Liam assured her as he entered the contestant wing of the arena.
Felicity was happy with the way things were going, less interested in controlling her ally, and more relaxed about her revenge.
She was no longer far from reaching the 5-Star of the Spirit Earth Realm, and with Liam getting stronger and stronger, she was sure that within a year at the most, she could reach the conditions to begin her quest for vengeance.
Mary and Electa didn't comment on Liam's plans for them, and Felicity soon fell behind as he moved on to the final registration in this area before the battle began.
At the same time, Nance, Grace, Ann, Joan, Jane and men from each of their factions were already in their places in the stands, eagerly awaiting the end of the last fight before William and Liam's combat.
The two warriors fighting now felt a bit pressured under the scrutiny of so many spectators, but neither of them were fooled by what was happening. All these people were there to see another match that they were interested in seeing themselves.
Both fighters took it easy on each other, not wanting to risk losing the chance to see Liam vs. William.
Soon the last fight before the most important match of the century in this city was over and the crowd stirred, the tone of the conversations rising to a point where the people who couldn't get into the arena understood that the big moment was coming.
The Officers standing guard in the area stood up, paying more attention to their surroundings, but even these men on duty couldn't help but be interested in the fight to come. Unlike 99% of the disciples in this city, Liam and William were at a level that all the Officers would look at them differently.
In fact, after today's match, the winner would have no choice but to move to the inner area of the sect and compete with some Officers there.
As the referee called the names of the next fighters, Amzi Watt was already at the top of the building, with Eliakim at his side, both eager to see Liam's warrior skills. They knew how talented Liam was at rune's inscription, but they needed to see him in action in a fight to better understand his prospects.
"What will my relationship with Liam be like after today?" The Fourth Class Runemaster next to the Guardian of Peak Thirteen asked.
"Not much different from it is now. I'll try to get our group to help him have the space to continue learning weekly under your tutelage," Amzi said to that influential fellow.
Amzi shifted her gaze to where she saw the Commanders waiting for Liam and said, "We just have to be careful of what Elder Niall wants. That's the only thing standing in our way."
The Runemaster looked in the direction of the men, where another Commander Liam knew was joining the two individuals waiting for Liam.
Amos arrived there seconds before the fight started and couldn't help but look toward where Liam was at that moment.
"I didn't expect that kid to grow up so fast," he said to his two colleagues.
Elder Niall's two emissaries looked at Amos, remembering that the man was responsible for bringing Liam into the sect.
"Commander Amos, you must come with us after Liam's fight. The Elder wants to talk to you as well."
"Also?" Amos looked at the two men differently. He was there for Liam and not for these individuals. But just as he was about to ask what two Commanders were doing there, he looked at Liam and understood.
"The boy Liam has accomplished a special mission and after this fight, if he survives, he will come with us to City Two, where he will live from now on as a Division Chief."
"Oh?" Amos' eyes widened as his First Officer caught up with him there.
Merlin listened to the Commander's explanation to Amos and couldn't help but look at the boy, not understanding how Liam had achieved all this in such a short time.
'No wonder I've gotten so many merit points in the last three months. It was Liam who caused chaos in City Thirteen.' Amos laughed, satisfied, even though he was at the last moment when he would no longer benefit from Liam.
But what pleased him most at the moment was the opportunity to talk to Elder Niall.
'I have brought quite a figure into the sect... I hope the old man gives me a good prize.' The blond man thought as he looked at the center of the ring as the referee finished quoting the final rules before the fight began.
Liam and William were already in fighting position on their sides of the platform.
Liam knew how formidable his opponent was after hearing from some of his companions about William's past fights in the arena.
William respected Liam and did not believe the fake 9-Star Spirit Lord aura coming from his opponent. Anyone capable of destroying two Spirit Puppets like the one he sent out earlier had to be at least a mid-level Spirit Earth Spirit Master!
But as he listened to the end of the referee's speech, William's mind flashed back to a conversation he had had with his master the night before.
"You may..." The referee was about to give the signal for the fight to begin when William interrupted him.
"Liam, let's make an oath here. I will fight you to the death, and if I lose, you must inherit everything I have." He suggested as he looked at the tremendous prizes Liam seemed to be about to receive.
Liam didn't know what his opponent had in mind, but he accepted the proposal. "Very well. We'll fight to the death. If I lose, you'll have everything that belongs to me."
After these oaths, they both looked at each other in silence, each interested in the other's wealth.
The referee could finally give the signal for the fight to begin, and he moved away from the center of the platform while the two disciples summoned their Spirits!