Catherine was terrified. Her pupils dilated, and her whole body trembled ceaselessly. Looking at Nicholas' demonic grin, an extreme sense of foreboding assaulted her entire existence.
"Wait! Nicholas, I can explain this!"
Gazing at the mortified Justin in amusement, Nicholas asked him funnily, "What do you want to explain? You don't have anything to explain here." Nicholas laughed in an eerie way, before adding, "Furthermore, no matter how sound your reasoning was, I wouldn't register any of it."
Justin quickly assume the look of a person with constipation. Nicholas had basically told him the truth. In this situation, what did he have to explain? A reason to justify his act? Even if Justin wasn't as bright as Nicholas, he wasn't stupid.
"Dear, this is... It must be someone's attempt to tear us apart!"
Catherine was desperate. Looking at Nicholas with her heart wrenching teary eyes, she gathered as much feeling in every word she uttered. Sadly, Nicholas merely shook his head, and laughed loudly.
"Look at these wretched couples! Your drama is so bad that I can tell right away you are acting!"
"Nicholas, think logically! There must be—"
"Someone who has fabricated it?"
"Yes, Dear! There is no way I—"
"Meh, I've laid my hands in these proofs since two weeks ago. I have plenty of time to prove the authenticity of them. Therefore..." Nicholas clapped his hands and six hooded figures appeared behind him. "I have another proofs too," he added.
Each of the six hooded figures presented a Visual Orb in their hands. Without anymore instruction from Nicholas, they projected the recorded obscenities inside.
Gasp!
A compilation of Justin and Catherine's heated session was laid bare in front of their eyes. They were horrified and ashamed at the same time. Especially, Justin who always regarded himself highly.
Justin who was filled with embarrassment and indignation shouted, "Nicholas, stop this right— Kuhak!" Sadly, he didn't manage to complete his sentence as something hit his chest. His Mana went berserk right after.
"Ahhh!!! What is.. this??!!"
"Ho-ho-ho! Did I make that face too back then? Judging by this bastard's face, my face should've been pretty hilarious too. Ku-ku-ku."
Nicholas laughed in humor at the squirming Justin who was painfully clutching his chest on the ground. As he had said, one of the Assassins he had hired had shot the same thing that had ever sealed his Magic Circles at Justin.
He didn't know what they were using, however he didn't care too much about that. Seeing the squirming Justin on the ground was already an amusement for him.
"I will tell you one thing to stop the pain. You will have—"
"To stop using Mana? You have sealed my Magic Circles?!"
"Wow, you are smart enough, I guess?"
"Nicholas!"
"Why are you angry? Do you think you have the right to be angry?"
Nicholas asked Justin in mock curiosity, however it was enough to shut him entirely. Justin couldn't utter any word as he couldn't think of a perfect reason to defend himself.
"Dear, stop this immediately. I will explain everything, please!"
Catherine was torn between her choice. She couldn't decide which side she would choice. Currently, Nicholas had the upperhand and the competence. However, in the other hand, Justin had the wealth and the connection.
She was an ambitious woman. She had chosen to lay her body for them just to make them dance in her palm. She had no feelings over them. All she had on them was her interest in their position.
Now that she was exposed, she had to choose between the two. She had to make the right decision. Once she made a wrong decision, she would lose everything she had been trying to build!
"I am sorry, Dear! I was forced to do that!"
"Huh? What are you saying, Catherine?!"
"Shut up, you filthy man!"
Justin was extremely baffled at Catherine's decision of making a scapegoat out of him. He stared at Catherine in indignation and resentment. Surely, Catherine ignored him completely. She had decided her choice, and she had to be committed to it.
"Hoh? Actually, I'm a little bit interested in the story."
"Catherine, you harlot! How dare you throw your dirt all on me!"
"Hearing that from someone who has forced himself upon a married woman like you is disgusting!"
"Tsk. Why are you cursing to each other? I just want an explanation."
Nicholas clicked his tongue in annoyance. He was sincerely interested in Catherine's reason for betraying him. However, instead of hearing the reason, he was forced to watch the quarrel between the two betrayers.
"You can't hear this harlot out, Nicholas! She is tricking you!"
"Who do you believe more, Dear? Your wife or your rotten friend?"
Contrary to the loud Justin, Catherine spoke softly with her sympathy evoking crocodile tears. Nicholas clicked his tongue at that, and merely gestured one of the hooded figures to restrain Justin.
"Nicholas! You can't—!"
That was all Justin managed to say before his mouth was completely muffled by the hooded figure. He couldn't even move his body as it was completely restrained by the hooded figure.
"Let me hear you."
Catherine nodded her head and started to recount her version of story, "It was started at the gathering from 15 years ago. Justin had just lost his wife and was stressed out. He drank too much and lost his self control. He then forced himself upon me."
Catherine paused as tears were falling down her cheeks. She was trying her best to wipe them, while sobbing constantly. She gritted her teeth as if recounting the story itself was hurtful.
"When I retaliated, he used Magic against me. I couldn't fight back as I am merely an ordinary person. That night, he violated me to his heart content. I couldn't do anything but crying helplessly."
"Huuuummmmhh! Huuuuhhhhm!"
Justin was outraged at Catherine's audacity to fabricate the story. However, he couldn't do anything to defend himself as the hand of the hooded figure was tightly sealing his mouth. He could only stare at Catherine with disbelieving eyes and resentment.
"When he got sober, what he did was threatening me to keep the thing he had done to me to myself. He said he would make your life miserable if I told anyone. With that threat, he has been controlling me for all these years."
Sobbing audibly, Catherine added in the most sincere sorrowful tone, "I'm really, sorry! I was too afraid and ashamed to tell it to you!"
Justin regretted his decision. He shouldn't have believed in Catherine. He didn't know Catherine was such a person. He didn't foresee it. He should've been more careful on that day where Catherine had tempted him.
Due to his carelessness, he had perfectly fallen for the trap of this manipulative harlot. Alas, that was the only thing he could do, thinking of the what ifs. What happened had already happened. He could do nothing but wallow in regrets.
"Honey... That is..." Nicholas went closer, before finally stopping in front of Catherine. His demonic grin disappeared and was replaced with a sympathetic expression. Seeing that her charm was working, Catherine snuggled closer, "I'm sorry, Dear. I'm really sorry!"
Nicholas reciprocated the hug Catherine was giving him warmly. His shirt was starting to get wet by her tears. Surely, all of them were crocodile tears. Although she was crying, Catherine couldn't help the grin on her face.
"That is so unfortunate, Honey." Nicholas rubbed Catherine's back tenderly, before stopping and said, "However, I don't care with your stupidly made up reason. I can see you were enjoying it too."
Letting go of his hug, Nicholas looked at Catherine right in the eyes. His demonic grin returned in full force. Catherine recoiled in surprise and took a step back, "Dear, what are you—?" Nicholas shushed her and said, "We are going to do something fun!"
Gesturing at the hooded figures, all of them started to scurry over Catherine. Justin was incapacitated and quickly bound by a rope. His mouth was also gagged to prevent any sound coming out of his mouth.
Catherine stepped back each time the hooded figures got close to her. However, it didn't last long before she was out of space to move as the hooded figures had completely surrounded her.
"Dear, what is this? What are you trying to do?!"
Nicholas quirked an eyebrow and said, "Well... I am about to make you become what you really are." Extending his hand forward, he ripped apart Catherine's dress. "Kyaa!!!" Catherine could do nothing but scream.
Two bountiful mounds with fair skin were revealed for the world to see. Nicholas who was seeing the scene had his eyes lit up in glee. A sick desire filled up his head. Gesturing his hand at the hooded figures, they quickly understood his meaning.
"You are about to become a real harlot today, Catherine."
"N-no! D-don't come near me!"
Catherine wanted to run away. Her eyes widened in horror. She didn't need to ask to know what was about to happen. The hooded figures had long lowered their pants for her to deduce. Surely, Nicholas was no exception.
"Let's ravage her!"
"Kyaaaa!!! No, stay away!!!"
Thus, Nicholas' revenge on her wife started, and Justin was forced to watch the sickening debauchery with his wide eyes. In the process, Nicholas was having the best time of his life.
...
Basil had a sudden urge to smirk, and he did just that. Raising his eyebrow in curiosity, he was thinking about the thing he had momentarily forgotten. "Oh, right. Chaos must be happening at that place. Well, it is not that it matters anyway."
Cleaning the crumbs of the sweet potatoes off his fingers, he observed the two people in Battle. In all honesty, he hadn't paid a single attention to a single match. He had been too engrossed in eating his sweet potatoes to even mind the match.
"Kuhum. As expected of my personally baked sweet potatoes. It can even drown me in its deliciousness!"
When you are in the wrong — and you are aware of it — but you want to play it cool, you can only do one thing.
Shameless flex!
Yes, you heard it right. Shameless flex is way better than blaming the others! When you are in fault, you just have to admit it. Then, show the others why you are superior than them. With that, your mistake will be forgotten instantly!
Surely, it was all Basil's thought and available to Basil only. Don't get him wrong! He wasn't narcissistic, for he could always take responsibility of what he had said. Therefore, even though the way his act was close to narcissism, people had never seen him that way.
At that moment, an explosion occured in the arena.
Boom!
Basil's attention was perked up and he held the urge to eat another sweet potato back. He quickly planted his gaze at the scene occuring in the arena.
"Gahak! You, bastard.. you are playing dirty!"
"Kuhahaha! Hearing that from you is funny. Come on, just forfeit, and I will spare you from the pain."
"I will never forfeit my seat!"
Colby Dormer was already in tatters. One of his eyes was half closed and blood was pouring down from his forehead. He had battled five times consecutively, and the fatigue had finally taken a toll on him.
Still, he was unwilling to forfeit. The voice in his head was still encouraging him to move forward. He would do anything to keep his seat, even if it meant to be injured badly. He would definitely win the tournament!
"Tsk! A deadman talking nonsense. Curb your greed, imbecile!"
Colby's opponent had enough of him and dashed toward him in a swift movement. Jumping in the middle of his dash, he twisted his body along with his twin swords whilst airborne.
"Huh? What is he...! [Water Dome]!"
Colby who was in the brink of collapse realized his opponent's attempt on taking his life a second too late. He could do nothing other than casting a sloppy defensive Spell with his remaining Mana.
Splash!
"Ahh!!!"
"Die, you bastard!"
Boom!
Colby was thrown to the ground. His [Water Barrier] was too sloppy to protect him. Thus, by the time his opponent's swords made contact with it, it was instantly destroyed. In result, his body was bisected right in the middle.
"Kuhuk! Is this the end for me?" Even if he was already cut in two, Colby was still alive. Raising his hand, he tried to grasp the light that was dimming each second, "Ahh.. it was already so close. Too bad, I lost here."
Colby's opponent who was looking at him from the side couldn't help clicking his tongue. Bringing his sword down, he quickly jabbed it at Colby's heart.
"Tsk! I will free you of your misery."
Stab!
"Ahh.. my chest hurts... I wish... I hadn't stepped up."
Colby's opponent frowned his forehead. Shaking his head bitterly in the next moment, he was puzzled himself at how the tournament turned this way. They were competing no more. They were slaying each other instead, and they were even aware of it.
However, despite knowing it, their urge to kill became even stronger.
[The next challenge is ready to be proceeded.]
Thus, the cycle continued.