Chapter 47: Emily Vs Others

Everyone turned to look at Emily. Some faces were pale with fear, while some started showing hints of coldness.

Sol stood beside Emily firmly. "Don’t you dare. Have you already forgotten who came for your help?"

Emily said nothing. But there was no sign of despair or frustration in her eyes.

"Even if we unite ourselves and fight against her, can we really win? She is an S-Class hunter. She stands at the peak of the food chain." A person who was carrying a staff said.

"That’s why no matter what, we need to take care of her before the tournament starts." A female knight, in whose back a spear was strapped, added.

Meridith and Willow looked at Alex. "Alex, what should we do?" Meridith asked.

"I don’t know. She indeed came for our help. But what if we are not in the same group when the teams are divided? Either it’s her or us." Alex said in a hushed voice.

Noah was standing beside them. "What are you even saying? We are gonna fight against that person and the monsters together. How can you even suggest fighting one of our own?"

"You are right, Noah." Willow started. "But think about it. We don’t know how to get back. Our only chance is to believe that, if we win, we will be allowed to and shown the way out. Isn’t it better that five people live than all of us dying?"

"You are talking nonsense, Willow. If I die, I die. But I will never fight against our own to survive." Noah said righteously. And there was no pretense in his voice.

Murmurs spread across the group. Almost everyone was in favor of fighting against Emily. And those few who were against it were only because they knew they weren’t Emily’s match. Not even when combined.

Sol’s face twisted in rage at that. "All of these people are scum bags. Sis, don’t you worry at all. I am here with you."

Suddenly, Harold spoke again. "Oh, I forgot to mention a few things. You were kept locked for a long time. Before the fight starts, you will each get a pill that will help you fully recover. And you see...." He gestured at the person who had guided the monsters, dragging those seven, the person who had helped Leon and others, but trapped them at the last. "This guy here is Nicholas. He is also from your world. He won’t be participating in the tournament this time, but he will give you a helping hand in the pre-match. I mean, help dealing with the person you all chose."

Nicholas walked forward and stopped beside Harold.

And that did it. Except for two or three, everyone else decided what they had to do. The doubt, the dilemma, everything vanished instantly.

’Fools. Or it’s just how most of the humans really are in their deep consciousness.’ Leon, who had been standing still and only observing till now, thought. ’At the first sign of danger, none of them hesitated to choose the easy path.’

"So which side are you in?" Suddenly, Emily spoke. She had been quiet this whole time, focusing only on Harold. She tilted her head slightly at Leon.

"I don’t want to be a fool." Leon replied.

Emily shook her head. "So you are just like them. Whatever." She looked at Harold again.

"The death tournament, wasn’t it? I may not leave this place alive. But that shitty tournament, it’s not going to happen for sure." She spoke each word slowly and clearly. She unsheathed her sword. ’First, I am going to kill all of these spineless animals. And then, I am going to see how many of my attacks he can really deal with.’ She thought.

Earlier, the wyvern’s arrival and Harold’s overwhelming strength had dampened her composure. But the people’s betrayal had stirred something within her. Her face didn’t show it. But her body was barely suppressing it.

Harold didn’t say anything at first. But then his lips curved into a smile at Emily’s words. "I like that thing about humans. So fragile, yet you can’t let your ego crumble. Good. Very good." He brought out a pouch from his robe’s pocket.

"Go, deliver the pills."

Nichols took the pill and strode forward. He brought out one pill at a time and started handing them out.

Within minutes, it was done.

All the knights swallowed them without hesitation. Only a few didn’t. Noah and Meridith were among them. Then there was one bulky man with a shield. And a female knight with a spear.

"Noah, Meridith. What’s wrong? Eat those already." Alex spoke.

"Sorry, Alex. I can’t do this." Meridith said and walked toward Emily. Noah shot a disdainful glance at Alex and Willow and then followed behind her. Those other two knights who hadn’t swallowed the pills also followed.

The moment they swallowed the pills, all their injuries and exhaustion vanished.

"Well, if you are ready, you can start." Harold stepped back. His feet left the ground as he soared in the sky again.

"He’s actually flying. Is that a magic ability?" One whispered.

"Maybe. But it’s my first time seeing it." Another knight added.

Harold landed back on the wyvern. The wyvern didn’t resist. It was acting like a pet.

The monsters who were surrounding everyone stepped back.

Nicholas walked forward. "Shall we start?" He said with a grin.

Emily didn’t lunge forward immediately. She looked at Nicholas. "You are one of us, right? I believe you were also trapped here by chance. Then why are you bootlicking a primal? Is it worth it?"

"Hahaha." Nicholas suddenly burst into laughter. "One of you? Yeah, I once was. But then I was introduced to the truth and was given a chance to serve the true purpose of life. People like you who are born with power wouldn’t understand that. Now, enough with this chit-chat. Let’s see what an S-Class prodigy is really capable of?" He lunged forward. So did Emily.

Emily swung her sword. Nicholas threw a punch with his bare hand.

Flesh met steel, and a light shockwave erupted.

Emily skidded back more than ten metres. ’What?’ She was shocked beyond words, her hand feeling numb.

Nicholas twisted his head left and right.

Leon stood in position, motionless. "System." He whispered.

[Yes, host?]

"The lucky draw. I want the reward now."