The Crystals

A vine emerging around Zohaifa's feet tried to pull him upward but unsuccessfully tore off.

"What is this move? He became so heavy all on a sudden!" IV exclaimed.

This time several vines emerged. IV used all the force he could muster. He could somehow slide Zohaifa towards the end.

"This is the first time IV is showing his control over the vines. All this time, it looked like the vine was created on their own," Red-1 remarked.

But Zohaifa planted his feet into the ground.

"So, he still can move a little," IV said to himself, "Fine then."

IV created more vines and gritted his teeth to pull Zohaifa. His muscle toned up and veins popped out from the skin of his forearm.

The force was enough to pull Zohaifa up and throw him to out of the arena.

"Behold! The result of my training. 'Golden Punch!'" He shouted.

The punch extended from Zohaifa's hand like extendable goldenrod with a fist on top and traveled all the way to IV. He created a mass of vines in between him and the punch.

But the punch pushed through the vines and hit IV throwing him off ground. They landed at the same time.

"It's a draw!" the organizer shouted.

"Aww," the audience shouted in disappointment.

"But that was one of the craziest fights we have seen," said one of them.

"You are right!" said the other.

A huge applaud filled the arena.

But it didn't cheer Zohaifa who punched the ground in anger as he starts to get drenched in rain.

"Someone give him a table to flip," said Red-1.

IV approached him and said, "That was a great fight. You are a warrior indeed."

He extended his hands towards Zohiafa. Zohaifa calmed down and got up taking his hand. But IV suddenly fell unconscious. Zohaifa caught him.

"Are you okay, IV?" he asked.

"It's a punch made to destroy the Lava Gladiator. What can you expect?" Red-1 said.

Lazuli walked to the scene too carrying Marium in her umbrella. "You have paid me back in half. Are you satisfied?" she asked.

"No," replied Zohaifa.

"Then stick with me. I will make you do more work for me. But let us celebrate now!"

Zohaifa smiled but with a little guilt. "Should I celebrate for a draw?" he asked

"Celebrating a draw? I am celebrating for Marium's first-ever tournament. She will probably be happier if you come along," she replied

"Oh!" replied Zohaifa and said to himself, "Some things never change."

Zohaifa went towards the participants' building while waving at Red-1. He waved back.

After using the healing Crystal and taking the prizes from the organizer, Zohaifa and IV were called for an interview.

"Interview? Nobody said anything about the interview!"

"Isn't it expectable?" asked an assistant of the organizer.

"Uh… can I go to the toilet?" Zohaifa asked.

After 15 minutes, Lazuli got a call from one of her servants.

"That's odd. My servants never call me. Let me check," she said to herself.

"Hello, this is Zohaifa speaking. I am currently in your house. You can come back now. I am not going back there," said Zohaifa and immediately cut off the call.

"Sigh… doesn't he feel a little embarrassed? Well, doesn't matter to me," said Lazuli

After IV was done with his interview and the function was over, Lazuli and Marium went back home.

Later, all of them went to a fancy looking restaurant. It seemed mostly empty and the people who were present wore aristocratic clothes.

"I guess, it's an expensive restaurant," Zohaifa thought to himself.

Lazuli let Marium choose the dish. Marium chose her favorite one with a smile.

"It just looks like a dish containing rice and meat and a few veggies," said Zohaifa when the dish was served.

"Perhaps the only specialty of rice and veggies is that they were cooked by the expert chefs here. But as for the meat, have you ever heard of sugar deer?" replied Lazuli.

"There is a deer made of sugar?" asked Zohaifa.

"No. But it is named so because of its meat containing a sweet flavor," Lazuli replied.

"Meat? Sweet?" asked Zohaifa.

"Um. Not the kind of sweet in sugar. Just have a bite and you will realize,"

Marium and Lazuli gently pick up the fork and knife and started eating. But people do not usually use spoons and forks for eating in Zohaifa's country. They use the hand. Thus Zohaifa had little experience with it.

But he could not express it in front of such aristocratic figures or embarrass himself in front of Lazuli. A drop of sweat rolled down his chin, glittering with the brilliant rays of light in the restaurant.

He took the knife and fork and tried his best to get the food to his mouth by any means. But the meat slipped and hit Lazuli's face.

What happened next is too violent to be described in the story.