''Mom…'' Laura said quietly with a pounding heartbeat.
Carla clenched her fist, ''It's alright… Liam will win.''
Laura nodded and sadly looked at her legs.
She used to be Martial Arts Practitioner as well.
But that all changed in the Middle School tournament.
Her team hoped to reach Round of 16, but that all changed because of bad match-up.
They had to face against one of the winning candidates.
And they lost the first match.
They had to win the second one— otherwise, they would lose.
Laura was the one who fought the match.
Her opponent looked at her with scorn and disdain.
She found a reason for these looks shortly afterward.
Apparently, her opponent has a great dislike towards people from weaker countries.
There are hundreds of different kinds of people.
Her opponent hated people from weak countries and cities. In his words, weak people should only bow and serve the stronger.
Laura got angry and made a mistake in the match.
Her opponent took advantage of it and defeated her.
But…
Defeating her was not good enough.
He broke both of her legs before she could give up or leave the arena.
''LAURA!'' Liam shouted with a pale face and reached the arena where Laura was holding her legs in agony— tears started flowing her eyes like a waterfall.
Laura's opponent only snorted and left the arena.
''MATCH OVER! WINNER, COLDLAND!''
…
Mocking looks were aimed at Liam.
From Iceland and from a few of the audience members.
Avery was standing in another arena, his face was calm, but there was some disdain visible in his eyes.
Liam leaped through the air and reached the arena Avery was in.
He put his two palms together and ran straight towards Avery.
[Sinful Exterminator!]
His two hands became blurry, and only his shoulders were visible as his two palms were thrusted towards Avery.
Avery smirked and did a sidestep towards the left, easily dodging the palm attack.
But then…
[Sinful Blessing!]
His two palms changed directions and went straight towards Avery's neck.
Avery simply smiled and walked out of the way.
In the audience's eyes, the confrontation only lasted 1 second, but many different things happened at that time span.
Liam gritted his teeth and chased after Avery.
Avery only simply dodged the attacks— his handsome face started having a sadistic smile.
He loves to make fun of his opponent's seriousness.
''Don't make fun of me!'' Liam shouted and threw dozen of punches, but all his punches missed just by an inch.
''If you don't want me to make fun of you… Then stop being a clown.'' Avery said with a grinning face— he did a sidestep and kicked at Liam's shinbone!
*BAM*
Liam lost his posture after Avery's kick pushed his left leg backward.
''?!'' Liam was shocked— his face was filled with disbelief.
Avery grinned and grabbed Liam from his hair.
''ARGH!'' Liam tried to escape, but Avery simply grabbed harder.
He started throwing Liam around him like a ragdoll.
''AHHH!'' Liam shouted with an anxious tone— his vision was getting blurry.
The audience didn't know how to react.
Not many liked the way Avery played with his opponent.
But some people were amazed after seeing Avery toying with his opponent.
But some people laughed at the scene of Liam getting ragdolled.
Avery finally let go of his grab, and Liam landed on the ground with a painful crack.
''ARGHH!'' Liam was lying on the ground while painfully holding his waist— he felt something breaking.
''Liam!'' His friends shouted while Kara had tears falling from his eyes.
''Pfft…'' Liam spat a few of his teeth out, he pushed himself up.
His posture was a mess— his legs were shaking like newborns.
''Liam… Liam…'' Two different voices echoed in Liam's ears.
''Mom… Laura…'' Liam turned his shaky body towards Avery.
His face was fatigued, but his eyes still brimmed fighting intent.
''This is boring,'' Avery stated and slammed his foot deep in Liam's torso.
''UGH!'' Liam fell down on his knees— he clutched his torso with a painful face.
Saliva and blood dripped down from his mouth.
The citizens in Frostyland who was watching the TV lowered their head.
Memories of being humiliated surfaced into their minds.
But, Liam is getting humiliated more than they all combined.
He is getting humiliated in front of hundreds of millions of people.
''B-Brother…'' Laura said with a sobbing tone.
Carla turned her head away, trying to hide her tears, but Laura heard her sobbing and sniffing.
Michael in the medical bay clenched his fist.
He doesn't enjoy seeing his rival getting humiliated— he doesn't deserve such a fate.
''T-This is horrible…'' He heard Alice muttering.
Michael turned his gaze towards the beautiful Alice.
''H-How is your injuries?'' Michael decided to ask.
Alice went shy, ''I-I am alright… What about you?'' She said with worry while looking at bandages.
''I am fine!'' Michael said with an energetic expression, trying to hide his pained expression.
In fact, he is in agony.
His wrist is completely broken, and the bandages only worsened the pain.
Back in the arena.
Liam tried to stand up, but his body wasn't listening to him.
*BAM*
A kick hit his face, making half of his teeth fly out of his mouth.
His vision was starting to get dark.
But then… Avery slammed his foot in Liam's back.
''ARGHH!'' Liam cried in agony— he felt that his spinal cord might be broken at this rate.
And if that happens… He will be cripple, like his sister.
'N-No… I need to heal Laura's legs!' Liam cried in his mind.
He opened his mouth shakily, ''I GIWE UPW!'' His voice sounded like a child was trying to talk the first time.
But those words coming from Liam was a comical sight.
''PFFT!'' Most of the audience members started laughing, while some tried not to laugh, but their faces showed that they were amused.
But some audience members knew that this wasn't a laughing matter.
Lyon understood Liam's words— he was about to shout that the match was over.
But then…
''Give up? Hehe.'' Avery smirked and raised his leg.
Liam shakily turned his head and widened his eyes in shock, ''N-No…''
Avery grinned and stomped towards Liam's spinal cord.
''STOP!'' Lyon shouted angrily.
But Avery didn't listen to mere Martial King.
Laura and Carla widened their eyes.
Laura's body trembled— she knew what Avery was planning.
Irwin also widened his eyes— he stood up and was about to interrupt Avery, but then… He saw someone else approaching the arena faster.
Irwin smiled and decided not to do anything after all.
*WHOOSH*
*BAM*
The stadium went quiet.
Liam was watching Avery with teary eyes, but then he saw a very shocking sight.
A handsome black-haired youth was blocking Avery's leg with his own.
''I-Ichiro…'' Liam muttered.
''Eh?'' Avery raised an eyebrow.
*SMACK*
A fist contacted with Avery's face.
''?!'' Avery widened his eyes out of shock, but then he was sent flying.
Avery flew towards his team stands and crashed onto Seiji.
[Iron Destruction!]
The whole Winterlight went quiet.