The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

The final contestants of the tournament—Devin and Rickrey, were given a few minutes to rest up and prepare themselves.

They were also healed by the standby healer team of Zion.

And then, after nearly half an hour...

"Devin and Rickrey, please step onto the arena."

Charles stood on top of one of the arenas and instructed that with a mana-enhanced voice!

"Fuuu..."

Devin let out a sigh as he stood up from being seated.

He’s not nervous.

As a matter of fact—

’Let’s get this started already.’

He’s more than ready to go up there and fight Rickrey!

"Beat the shit out of him."

Devin heard Raye behind him.

He looked back, and with a smile...

"Yeah, count on me."

He replied confidently.

"Give him a good punch."

Lycus followed.

Then—

"We’ll be waiting for you."

"Don’t take too long up there!"

"Good luck!"

Lena, Jerusha, and Sofia.

They all had no doubt that Devin would win.

Responding to their trust...

"Wait for me, guys. I won’t take too long."

Devin declared that!

Tap—

Then he turned his back against them and started walking away.

*****

Devin silently walked toward the arena.

"Go, Devin!"

"Beat his ass!"

Many were cheering for him.

He was happy to hear their encouragement.

Though...

"..."

He decided to ignore them and focus on the upcoming match.

Fwish—

Devin looked up at the arena.

And beside Charles...

"..."

He saw Rickrey, standing casually with an arrogant smirk on his face.

’His face is just so punchable.’

Devin thought, keeping a poker face.

...

Tap—

Devin stepped onto the arena.

And after that...

"..."

He stood face-to-face with Rickrey in the middle.

"Nice to see you again."

Rickrey said to him with a smug smile.

"..."

Devin didn’t reply, but he’s clearly displeased.

"Oh, the silent treatment, huh..."

Rickrey mumbled.

Anyway...

"It’s starting..."

"The final match."

The students from the audience whispered as anticipation filled the arena.

Then—

As total silence surrounded them...

Devin opened his mouth—

"You know, you’re such a loser."

And then he said that, looking at Rickrey in the face!

His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it!

"...What?"

Rickrey asked as a vein popped on his forehead.

"You heard me."

Tap-

Devin took a step forward.

"You had to drug me just to win last time. Pretty pathetic, don’t you think?"

He asked with a small smile on his face.

Rickrey’s fingers twitched.

"You—"

"And let’s not forget how you kicked Terri despite him being already passed out."

Devin chuckled.

"That was cute. Trying so hard to act tough, you know you can’t win against him without the help of the students from the other academies."

And then he declared that!

"..."

Rickrey’s face darkened as he fell silent.

"Oh? Did I strike a nerve?"

Devin tilted his head mockingly.

"Tell me, does it feel good? Knowing that even after cheating, everyone still sees you as a fucking loser?"

He asked.

"Gurgh...!"

Rickrey gritted his teeth.

Swaaa~!

His mana flared uncontrollably!

Charles glanced at Rickrey and Devin, frowning.

"Enough talking. Go to your positions."

Then he instructed that.

"..."

After glaring at each other for a while...

Tap- tap- tap—

Devin and Rickrey silently complied.

Charles nodded his head seeing them like that.

He opened his mouth to start the match.

"Star—"

But before he could even fully finish—

BOOM—!!!

A huge fireball exploded from Rickrey’s wooden staff!

SWOOSH—

A blazing sphere, nearly the size of a boulder, shot toward Devin at terrifying speed!

"Wha?!"

The crowd gasped in surprise.

Though, Devin...

’Hah!’

He reacted instantly!

He was already expecting such action from an enraged Rickrey!

"[Fire Fist!]"

Devin exclaimed!

FWOOOSH—!

Then raging flames engulfed his hands!

Tap-

Fwip—

He stepped forward with his left foot and twisted his torso to the right!

Then with all of his might—

BOOM—!!!

He punched the giant fireball with his right fist!

A loud explosion rocked the arena!

SWAAAA—

The giant fireball dissipated upon receiving the impact from Devin’s attack!

Though, behind it—

Swoosh—

Rickrey appeared!

Turns out that he only used the giant fireball to hide himself!

"?!"

Devin’s eyes widened seeing him.

Then, as he was in the air—

FWOOSH—!

Rickrey swung his wooden staff with both hands, aiming at Devin’s head! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Fwip-

TWHACK-!

Devin raised his mana-coated left arm and used it to shield his face!

Then responding—

FWISH—

He threw a right straight toward Rickrey’s stomach!

BAM!

Rickrey blocked it with his left knee!

Fwoosh—

But he was sent flying a few meters away after!

Tap-

Rickrey landed softly on the ground.

Then, looking back at Devin again...

"Tch—"

He just clicked his tongue in annoyance.

On the other hand...

Fwip—

Devin lightly shook his right hand, it was a bit sore after punching Rickrey’s mana-enhanced knee.

Though, ignoring the pain...

"Attacking before the professor could even finish his words, huh. I couldn’t expect less from a coward such as you."

Devin muttered that.

"Though, you could’ve at least tried to land a hit, you know?"

And then he provocatively followed with a smug smile on his face!

*****

"..."

Rickrey remained silent, he decided not to respond to Devin’s words.

And noticing this—

"Hmm..."

’Time to do what Raye had told me.’

Devin thought of that!

Then, opening his mouth—

"See what would’ve happened if I wasn’t drugged back then? Notice the difference between us?"

He asked that!

"You wouldn’t stand a chance against me."

He said with a shrug.

"You tried to become good at close combat and magic, overestimating your talent—now look at you, you’re mediocre at both of them."

He added!

Devin just wouldn’t stop!

Then, to finish it off—

’Time for Raye’s special message.’

Devin said that in his head.

"Just accept it, no matter how hard you try—your younger brother’s talent is way above yours. He’s special unlike you, that’s why he was chosen to be the next family head despite being younger than you."

And then he declared that!

"He took your spot in a flash, your parents didn’t even hesitate to take it from you and give it to your brother, hah!"

Devin continued.

And just then—

"SHUT UP!!!"

Rickrey snapped and shouted that, his face looking like he was ready to kill someone!

’Oh, Raye is really good at this.’

Devin thought to himself.

"DIEEE!!!"

SWOOSH—!

Rickrey’s mana erupted violently!

Then, opening his mouth—

"[FLAME BARRAGE!]"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A storm of blazing projectiles exploded from Rickrey’s staff!

Each fireball was fast, powerful, and merciless!

Fwoosh—

Devin dodged one of them!

Then, he twisted his body—

Bam!

And deflected another with his flaming fists!

Fwip-

FWISH—

Devin moved through the barrage, barely avoiding the deadly flames!

Then, one step at a time—

Tap-

He was closing the distance between him and his opponent!

’Tch—! Just go down already!’

Rickrey’s frustration grew.

SWOOSH—!

He launched more fireballs, faster and stronger!

But—

’Yep, Raye’s provoking method should be classified as magic.’

Swish-

Devin just easily weaved through them!

A sharp gaze in his eyes—

And then—

Fwish-!

He slid past the last projectile!

And in an instant—

He reached Rickrey!

"Huh?!"

Rickrey panicked!

"Shit—!"

He desperately tried to ward Devin off!

Swoosh!

Rickrey swung his wooden staff vertically upward!

Though—

Twhack-

Devin just caught it with his left hand!

"Wrong move, shithead."

And after saying that—

BOOM—!!!

His flaming right fist slammed and exploded into Rickrey’s face!

The impact echoed throughout the arena!

"UAAAAGH!"

Rickrey’s body was sent flying!

Bam— thud-

He crashed onto the ground, rolling multiple times before stopping!

Szzzzz—

Smoke rose from Rickrey’s burnt cheek.

"..."

The whole area went silent.

"Keuk..."

Rickrey trembled as he slowly pushed himself up.

His rage—

It was overflowing!

"Y-YOU...!!!"

His mana exploded violently!

FWOOOOOSH!—

The entire arena shook!

Rickrey’s eyes glowed bright red.

"THAT’S IT! I’LL KILL YOU!!!"

He raised his staff high!

"[INFERNAL STORM!]"

And after shouting that—

SWAAAAAAAAAAAA—

A tornado made of flames was summoned in front of Rickrey!

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Rickrey started laughing maniacally like a madman.

He was ready to end Devin with this magic!

But before the storm could even fully manifest—

Swish—

Devin appeared to his right!

"?!"

Rickrey was surprised by this.

But responding quickly—

"[Firebal—!]

He tried to blast Devin away!

Though, he was a second too late!

"[Azure Fist]"

Devin muttered.

FWOOOSH—!!!

Then, with an angry expression on his face—

BAM-!

He punched Rickrey straight in the nose with his right fist covered in blue raging flame!

BOOM!

"GAHHH?!"

And he slammed Rickrey’s body straight onto the floor!

CRACK-!

The concrete floor cracked from the impact!

And with that...

"..."

Rickrey lost consciousness!

His nose was crushed and his face was covered by his own blood!

"..."

Fwoosh-

Devin stood straight as he looked at Rickrey’s ragdoll body planted on the floor.

"That’s payback, you bastard."

He said calmly.

Then—

Fwish-

He looked at Charles!

"Ah...!"

And Charles, snapping out of shock—

"Winner, Devin Dustin!"

He announced that!

"WAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

"WHOAAAAAHH!!!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd after!

"Fuuuuu..."

Devin let out a sigh, calming his body and mind down after making sure of his win.

And then, looking in the direction where Raye and the others were—

"I WON!"

Devin exclaimed, raising his fist in the air and smiling proudly!

"CONGRATULATIONS!!!"

Raye and the others shouted in unison to respond to him.

"Haha..."

Devin laughed, he was happily waving to his friends.