The Hunted Regressor: My Heretic Saint System

Chapter 216: Cold Blooded

High above the arena, the eight massive projections displayed the face-off from every conceivable angle.

"AND HERE WE GO!"

Lothar’s voice boomed, vibrating the teeth of everyone in the front row.

"The Prodigal Son versus the Abandoned Child! Speed versus Nature! Brother versus Brother!"

Down on the sand, Acer didn’t wait for the bell.

"Die!"

Divinity exploded from the Plant scion as he slammed his hands into the ground.

Thick, thorny vines erupted from the sand, snaking toward Ignotus like hungry vipers.

Ignotus stood there, watching the vines approach with a look of mild disappointment.

"The first thing you can do in a fight..."

He began to speak, his voice surprisingly clear over the cheering crowd.

"Is make your opponent emotional. Forsake their rationality."

He shifted his weight to the left.

Whoosh.

A massive vine aimed at his head missed by a millimeter.

"Say whatever is necessary to rile them up."

Ignotus continued, stepping casually over a few vines that tried to grab his ankle.

"You can do what you like. Insult their hair, mock their stance, or..."

He looked at Acer, who was red-faced from anger.

"Just exist. That seems to be enough for my brother."

"SHUT UP!"

Acer clapped his hands, sending out a [Thorn Volley].

Hundreds of sharp wooden spikes shot from the vines.

"Now, thankfully, your strategy worked."

Ignotus narrated to the audience while leaning forward, nearly facing the ground.

That simple move had him duck under the main volley, but even more came after.

Ready for them, Ignotu’s arms knocked aside the stray spikes with the armored back of his gauntlet, using [Wise Fool] on them so they were strong enough to deflect.

Regaining his balance perfectly, he stood three feet closer to Acer.

"But it doesn’t matter if it didn’t. You need to move on. You don’t have time to think in a fight."

"I’ll kill you!!"

Acer threw a seed onto the ground.

"You can do better than that."

A massive, twisted tree sprouted instantly in the center of the arena.

Its branches were massive, able to squash most beneath them, but that wasn’t its strength.

"Poison Bloom."

The tree began to spew a purple, toxic mist.

"OH! Acer brings out the heavy artillery! The Ironwood Sentinel! That’s a Great Rune! And look at that poison! Ignotus has nowhere to run!"

"He doesn’t seem to be running."

John quietly added while Ignotus calmly looked at the poison cloud.

Perhaps he underestimated his brother too much.

The bastard might be untrained, but he had good Runes.

This thing before him spat out poison and defended itself.

Ignotus couldn’t get close and end it; he had to figure out something else.

"Keep yourself controlled and look out for weaknesses."

He did just that while continuing his lecture.

"Stop dodging and fight me like a man!"

It was funny that the man hiding behind a tree was screaming that, but Ignotus obliged.

He couldn’t use his Fortune’s Wheel here; he didn’t want the cooldown to be known.

This had to be done only using his other Runes.

And so, Ignotus quickly found a path forward.

Equipping his Stranger’s Mask, he cast [Wise Fool] on it.

Poison reached him, burning his body, yet his head was fine.

The madman repeatedly cast [Wise Fool] on it, forcing it to do what it wasn’t designed to do, and casually walked deeper into the poison mist.

"Wha—ATTACK!"

Acer commanded the tree to attack, sending tens of wooden branches, all aiming to squash Ignotus flat.

Meeting the attack, Ignotus raised his hand.

"If you can’t find a weakness..."

He caught the first branch of many.

The ground cracked under his boots, but he held the massive limb in place with one hand.

"...Then you need to look harder. Everyone has one, even a tree."

It was crushed beneath his grip.

Ignotus yanked it, unbalancing the entire tree and making its limbs fly everywhere, essentially killing the attack.

Acer, realizing his summon was failing, began to panic.

He charged in personally, pulling a wooden dagger from his belt, dripping with poison.

"STOP MOCKING ME, YOU FUCKING BASTARD!"

"Words, brother~!"

Ignotus tutted.

"Please show your manners in front of the crowd."

Acer lunged, knowing one scratch was enough.

"FUCK YOU!"

Ignotus sidestepped and used an open palm.

"Ugh!"

Acer was sent stumbling back.

"Distract the target."

Ignotus kicked sand into Acer’s eyes.

"Then block or deflect their blind attack."

Acer swung wildly, but Ignotus parried the dagger with his forearm guard, letting the wood chip uselessly against the metal.

"Counter with your own."

Ignotus struck back.

SMACK!

It was a disrespectful, open-palm slap across the face.

The sound echoed through the Colosseum.

"AGH!"

Acer clutched his cheek, his eyes watering.

"And finally, disorient them."

Ignotus stepped in, slamming his heavy boot onto Acer’s toes.

"AAAAH!"

"Dazed..."

Ignoring the screaming, Ignotus continued, sounding bored.

"They’ll attempt another wild attack."

As if following a script, Acer swung the dagger frantically, screaming in rage.

"Now that you’re expecting it, you can easily defend, disarm, and attack."

Ignotus weaved through the sloppy slashes and grabbed Acer’s wrist.

"Disarm."

He squeezed.

SNAP.

Acer dropped the dagger.

"Attack."

Ignotus drove his elbow into Acer’s ribs.

"OOF!"

Acer collapsed to his knees, gasping for air.

The tree behind him withered as his concentration broke.

"Weaken any of their vital points."

Ignotus kneed Acer in the chin, snapping the kid’s head back.

He fell onto the ground, groaning, blood leaking from his lip.

"Traumatize what’s still intact."

Ignotus raised his foot.

"WAIT!"

Acer wheezed, holding up a trembling hand.

"STOP! I SAID STOP!"

He was... crying. The arrogance was gone.

The noble bearing of House Plant was gone.

He was just a kid getting beaten up by his little brother.

Ignotus looked down at him.

’Poor kid... maybe he’ll learn after this.’

Raising his foot, he revealed a wide smile.

"Now, go for the kill."

He stomped down, aiming right for the throat.

"NO! NO! NO!"

Acer squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for death.

"DON’T! PLEASE—"

WHOOSH.

Ignotus stopped his boot.

An inch away from Acer’s adam’s apple.

The dust settled.

"Good match, elder brother."

Ignotus stepped back with his hands behind his back.

Flabbergasted, bewildered, and utterly confused, Acer opened his eyes.

He looked at Ignotus blankly, then at the silent crowd and the silent commentators.

Nobody understood how they had reached this point.

What they had just witnessed was the furthest thing from a damned fight.

Only when Ignotus turned his back on him and started walking away did Acer regain his wits.

"You.... You! Y-you—"

Ignotus ignored him and waved to the commentators’ booth.

"Judge? I think he’s done."

"Winner!"

Lothar shouted, recovering his hype.

"Lord Ignotus!"

Ignotus pointed to two stunned medics near the gate.

"You and you, come on. Get him to the infirmary. His toes are broken, his ribs are cracked, and his ego is shattered. Be careful with that last one... it’s fragile."

He was too cold-blooded.