Chapter 292: A Friendly Handshake

"The final has reached its peak! With only a few points separating our top three contestants, everything now rests in the hands of our lucky judges! And guess what? They’re finally here!"

At Faris’s announcement, two people - a red-haired woman in her early thirties and an obese man with coily hair entered the arena, led by staff. They waved enthusiastically at the cameras.

’...’ Soren quickly scanned the newcomers. ’...I was right, huh.’

He then glanced at Lucent, shaking his head.

’Guys... Get ready to run away. Leave the arena as fast as you can. Blink and rub your eye if you heard me, or smile.’

Nuelia and Damir froze, but quickly did as he said to show they understood.

’...Lady Nuelia, please knock Damir out as soon as ’it’ starts. He’s already been taken over once earlier. So...’ He trailed off, knowing Nuelia would understand the rest without him needing to spell it out.

’...It’s time.’ Soren spoke as he stood up from his seat. ’Wait for my signal.’

’...’

Despite receiving no response, he continued forward, his movements calm and unhurried as he wore a friendly smile on his face. "Chef Lucent. I think no matter who wins this, I have to admit your passion for cooking is genuine. It takes courage to stand on this stage and say what you said without hesitation. So allow me to show my respect with a proper handshake."

"Oh," Lucent studied him for a moment, suspicion flickering in his eyes. Then, as if deciding it didn’t matter, he smiled and extended his hand. "I guess you are finally acknowledging me as your rival too?"

"...You could say that," Soren replied, and the instant their hands touched, his smile vanished. His grip tightened like a vice, and with a sharp twist, he wrenched Lucent’s arm behind his back and drove him to his knees in one swift motion. Before Lucent could even react, Soren’s free hand clamped around his throat, fingers pressing just hard enough to make breathing difficult.

"NOW!"

"YOUNG MASTER!"

The two hooded figures roared loudly and charged toward Soren.

"YOU BASTARD! LET GO!"

"...Come and get him," Soren said coldly, "if you can; that is."

"BASTARD!"

His words infuriated them even more, as they leaped into the air.

Swoosh!

’...Hooh.’ Soren let out a breath as his leg snapped out in a blur, catching the two possessed staff in the chest and sending them crashing into others behind.

At the same time, he noticed Nuelia knocking Damir out with a clean strike. However, he also saw the small group of possessed guards charging at them from behind.

’Behind you.’ He warned her and kicked away another possessed staff.

"!" Nuelia spun around just in time, raising her arms to defend. But before the guards could reach her, two armored figures crashed down from above like thunderbolts, landing between her and the attackers.

At the same time, three more figures descended with a deafening boom in front of Soren, their armor gleaming brightly under the sunlight. They formed a protective line around him, shields raised and weapons held at the ready.

The Hollow Pair were already airborne, streaking toward Soren with murder in their eyes.

"DIE! YOU BAST-!"

Their roars were cut short as a gray-armored knight dropped from the sky like a falling star, his sword swinging in a wide arc. The Hollow Pair met him with their daggers and gauntlets.

"CLANG-!"

The clash of weapons echoed through the arena, sending a visible shockwave rippling outward. The possessed staff and guards nearby staggered, their movements disrupted by the force. For a brief moment, the knight held his ground, his blade locked against theirs, muscles straining under the pressure.

Swoosh!

The combined momentum of the Hollow Pair was too much, and the knight was hurled backward. However, he managed to twist mid-air and landed in a low crouch, skidding across the floor before coming to a stop, his cold gaze still fixated on the pair.

Thud!

The pair landed a short distance away before charging forward once again with all their speed.

"Protect him."

The gray armored knight muttered as he shot forward like an arrow, his sword trailing behind him as he closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

"Understood, Commander Ervin!"

The three knights surrounding Soren shouted as they tightened their formation.

"Boom!"

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The gray knight, Commander Ervin, met the Hollow Pair head-on, his blade a blur of silver as it danced between the two. The massive one, the Nullifier, led with his gauntlets, each swing carrying enough force to crush a building. Commander Ervin deflected the blows at an angle, letting their momentum slide past him while his sword flicked out in rapid counters.

However, it was hard to deal any real damage since the other one, the Leech, kept moving like a phantom, daggers darting in whenever Commander Ervin showed an opening or was about to land a decisive blow.

’...He’ll be defeated if this goes on.’ Soren squinted as he analyzed their situation. He also assessed the enemies and compared them to himself to see whether his plan would really work. ’...They are definitely hiding their strength, but... I have a chance. I believe I can do it.’

However, he had to make sure Lucent wouldn’t get taken away first. He needed someone else who wouldn’t be controlled by the enemy to watch over Lucent.

"...Nuelia." He muttered as he looked over to the side. She was being guarded by two elven warriors, with one being Lariel himself. ’If it’s her, she should be able to handle it.’

Thanks to her spirit, her mind was protected from the possessor, making her one of the few here who couldn’t be turned against them.

Soren tightened his grip on Lucent’s collar and raised his voice. "We’re joining the elves!" he shouted to the knights around him. "Hold the line and clear a path!"

Without waiting for a response, he dragged Lucent with him as the knights moved to cover his flank. Within seconds, they arrived at Luelia’s side.

Soren shoved Lucent forward, forcing him to stumble to his knees in front of Nuelia while coughing violently.

"Watch over him," Soren said, his eyes already turning back toward the battle. "Don’t let him escape."

"W-What about you?!" Nuelia asked in confusion.

"I..." Soren muttered as he summoned his beloved spear, Nightfrost. "I am going to help Commander Ervin!"