Return of the Fallen Vol1 Ch24
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch24
The weary time they spent inside the Karada Cauldron was washed away as they each felt immense strength swell within themselves.
Right now Kazuki and the rest stood by these 7 boulders and a crowd of both soldiers and mages alike gathered around to watch. Since the bet had become several times bigger and split between the crowd, Rust stepped forward to see that things are done fairly.
Eyeing Kazuki and the others, Rust explained what he expected.
“First off, there will be no cheating of any kind under my watch. That means no interfering with your opponent while they attempt a lift. Also, no mind games. I don’t care if you’re heroes, if you cheat then I’ll beat your ass.”
Everyone, the soldiers and mages included, all collectively gulped hearing that.
“And finally, don’t let me catch any of you holding back. Whether this be a simple bet or a match concerning life and death, always push the limits. Good luck.”
Before the match started, to make things more interesting as well as fair, the 6 heroes were divided into two groups between the weakest and strongest right off the bat.
The first group was to compete amongst themselves and the winner of that group and the winner of the second group would both receive a reward of 10 Zeni gold out of pocket from Rust, while all the losers got a big fat nothing.
Among the first group was Asuna, Kimi and to his shame and annoyance, Danny.
“Hey, why do I have to compete with the girls?”
Rust smiled and explained.
“Well I think we can all agree where your strengths lie and where they don’t but if you disagree then prove us all wrong and beat those two. I don’t do this to make fun of you but to show you where I believe you currently stand. Whether you take this as an opportunity to reflect and improve or just feel insulted and sulk, well that’s up to you.”
Danny grit his teeth but said nothing more. Turning around, he skipped the smallest boulder and went straight for the second one which was slightly bigger.
*Hurgh*
Danny could feel the veins in his arms pulse with power. He neither had proper lifting form nor a physique that any would consider decent but with a flex of his muscles, the boulder weighing 400 pounds soon left the ground. 1 inch 2, 6, the boulder was now about a foot off the dirt when Danny finally felt something start to give and he dropped it.
*Boom*
The boulder rocked unsteadily for a few seconds before settling and Danny stepped away.
*Huff Puff*
“Well can you do that?”
The crowd grew excited but Asuna and Kimi actually felt irked. When having Danny be compared with them as well as them being separated from the other group, it felt like they were being called weak.
They recognized that there was an innate difference between men and women physically but something was different in this world. Strength wasn’t determined simply by genetics and exercise. There was another factor entirely and that was magic. Whether they lift these boulders or not, they knew that they could improve their power as long as they had magic.
Kimi stood next to the second boulder as well and gave it a bear hug.
*Eur*
The boulder lifted albeit noticeably slower than Danny’s but still, Kimi did it.
*Boom*
The boulder came crashing back down. Danny’s eyes went wide, while the crowd began to cheer. Rust pat Kimi on the back, causing her to nearly fall over. She looked up at him and he was giving her a thumbs up.
“Nice one.”
Kimi smiled brightly in response before scuttling away shyly. This time it was Asuna’s turn. The crowd grew quiet as she approached the second boulder. Gripping the boulder in a hug, Asuna easily lifted the boulder for a few seconds before dropping it.
*Boom*
The crowd again got excited and started to clamor. Rust was going to pat her on her back as well but Asuna ignored him and stepped forward. This time she stood in front of the 3rd largest boulder. This one was slightly rounder than a bucket and stood about as tall as an average person’s chest.
This boulder had to weigh at least five maybe six hundred pounds.
Asuna didn’t hesitate and exploded with power.
Using her legs, she pushed through and lifted the boulder off of the ground. A few seconds later she released her grip and let out a heavy breath.
*Phew*
She didn’t stop though. Grabbing the next biggest boulder she tried to lift it. The boulder began to tremble but besides that nothing.
Asuna turned around and fanned her face with her hand.
“That’s it for me.”
Rust nudged the disbelieving Danny and said.
“She managed to lift the 3rd one and made the 4th one budge a bit. If you can at least pick up the 3rd one I’d say its a tie between the two of you, otherwise it’s your loss.”
The crowd was nervously watching. A good portion of them had placed their bets on Danny in this first match simply because he was male but looking at it now, it seemed Asuna had quite the competitive nature.
Danny stood in front of the 3rd biggest boulder and felt an immense amount of pressure for some reason. Looking at the crowd behind him, he could see many pairs of eyes that resembled a hungry wolf staring at a juicy little lamb.
*Gulp*
Grabbing the boulder, Danny squeezed with all his strength and lifted. Nothing happened. Danny continued with all his power and slowly the boulder rose. 1 inch 1 1/2, 2 inches.
“No.”
Danny couldn’t stop it and the boulder slipped from his grip and crashed.
*Boom*
Rust walked over to Asuna and lifted her arm in the air.
“Winner, Asuna!”
A few in the crowd booed while a few of the lucky ones began laughing and jumping around in joy.
“Hahaha, she did it. I placed a bet on the little lady and she pulled it off.”
“Me too hehehe, what a lucky day. I’mma hit the town after this. Once my shift’s over I’ll be drowning in some fine women, hehehe.”
Once the first bets were paid out, the second round of bets took place for Kazuki and the others. With bets placed and settled The three young man came up. Before they started though Rust had something to say.
“OK men, that last round was fun but let’s not waste time this round.”
Rust approached the three boulders and threw a punch at each one. Only a few people actually managed to follow his movements, to the rest though all they could see was Rust standing in front of the boulders and all three suddenly explode and crumble into the dirt.
This caused everyone gathered to feel immense admiration for Rust. Not only because his blows were so strong and fast that most people here had not even witnessed it but also because of how much control he had. Kazuki as well had to applaud his abilities.
(To use so much force and completely crush the boulder but also enough control to precisely hit it in certain locations so when it exploded it would not hit anyone in the crowd with any debris, now that’s impressive.)
Kazuki eyed Rust for a moment and Rust spotted him. walking over, he patted Kazuki on the shoulder and smiled.
“I see you appreciate my awesomeness, hahaha. Ryuta, you shall be the one to go first.”
Kazuki nodded and stepped forward.
“Oh, and Ryuta, there’s no need for me to repeat what I said earlier about cheating, correct?”
Kazuki rolled his eyes in his mind before gulping with a bit of fear on the outside.
Kazuki as well though wanted to hurry along with this bet. He had only indulged Shin and accepted this bet earlier because it was something which the real Ryuta would have done but who knew that so many people would turn it into a real gambler’s den type of situation.
Kazuki skipped the fourth one and went straight for the 5th biggest boulder. It was almost as round as a barrel but its height still remained near the chest area. Kazuki inhaled deeply and squatted down slightly. Purposely showing an inadequate form, he lifted it slightly sloppily but still, he lifted it.
*BOOM*
Dropping it back down, the 1000 pound boulder split the ground, causing it to fissure in the pattern of a spiders web.
Kazuki was going to go for the sixth one but Shin cut in.
“No big deal. If you can do it so can I.”
Shin grunted and the 1000 pound boulder slowly rose a moment later though and the weight became too much.
*BOOM*
“See, what you can do so can I.”
Shin was patting himself on the back while his face poured with sweat.
“Sam, me and Ryuta lifted the 5th one so now it’s your turn.”
Sam eyed the 5th boulder up ad down before he decided to skip it entirely. Approaching the 6th one Sam hugged it like it was a friend and lifted it with the same emotionless face as always. Instead of dropping the boulder onto the ground with a bang like everyone else, Sam gently rested it back in its same spot.
Shaking his head he seemed bored and approached the 7th and last boulder. This boulder was about one and a half barrels in diameter and was a full head taller than a man. Gripping it, Sam couldn’t even touch his hands together so instead his fingers began to sink into the stone as though it were made from hardened clay, not difficult but not exactly easy either.
This boulder was only a fraction from being called a ton. Sam’s muscles began to bulge and flex like a bodybuilder. Although he wasn’t built like one his muscles were definitely beyond average. His black eyes seemed to release a small gleam as he lifted the boulder with power. Picking it all the way up before setting it back down gently, Sam did this all in a matter of seconds. Walking back to everyone he smiled.
“Now that’s how you level up.”
Kimi stared up at the 6 foot 2-inch black-haired young man and her mind started to drift with thoughts. Sam noticed her staring at him and he said.
“Kimi, when did you get here?”
Something seemed to break in Kimi’s mind and she almost fell over. Asuna caught her by the arm and they walked off somewhere together while discussing idiots who lack awareness.
While the crowd was lit with unrest, Shin and Kazuki shared the same pitiful look with one another but looking at the two you’d never guess that one was genuinely feeling self-pity while the other was faking it.
Kazuki put on a bit of a show and picked up the 6th boulder. Making his legs wobble and his entire frame shake, everyone bought it. Dropping the boulder, the ground again broke all over. Kazuki fell onto his butt and made himself sweat.
*Phew*
“No more, I can’t lift another rock for at least a hundred years.”
Seeing Kazuki’s ridiculous state, Shin regained some energy.
“Haha, if I can at least look better while lifting this boulder, I at least have won some dignity.”
Shin though was no opponent for the 6th boulder and soon collapsed in exhaustion from repeatedly trying to lift the boulder and failing. In the end, he couldn’t even budge it.
Rust approached Kazuki.
“Ryuta are you going to attempt the 7th boulder or is that it?”
Kazuki shook his head.
“Not unless you’ve got some magic equipment that’ll give me plus 30 in str.”
Rust shook his head disappointingly. Not because Kazuki didn’t lift the 7th boulder but instead because he didn’t even attempt it. Raising Sam’s hand Rust announced.
“Winner, Sam!”
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