However… Malakai's movements were the problem. He moved like he knew, dodging, striking, crippling. Three movements done so seamlessly and rapidly it was insane.
This… this was a street rat?
Only the sounds of bones breaking echoed across the space, along with the painful cries of the contenders.
Malakai held nothing back. He dodged a bone crushing punch from a large man and followed up with a sharp blow to his knee, shattering it.
The man had barely screamed before Malakai zipped past him, the sound of bone shattering echoing again and again.
No matter what they tried, sneak attacks, group ambushes, Malakai moved like he had already anticipated it, weaving through it all.
Soon enough, the final crack echoed, followed by a loud thud.
At this point, the crowd's eyes were filled with nothing but shock. Every gaze was locked on Malakai.
All around him, contenders writhed on the floor. Blood pooled beneath the feet of many, and their cries of pain continued to echo across the space.
Despite the brutal scene, Malakai only stared at them coldly. His steps rang out as he moved toward one of the contenders, and everyone held their breath.
What else did this monster child want to do again?
Malakai seemed to hear their thoughts. He reached his target and…
Malakai slammed his foot into his face and sent him flying off the arena. He didn't wait. He moved quickly, slamming the other contenders and sending them flying from the stage one after the other.
The crowd watched with chilled hearts, some of them subtly trembling as they took in the brutality unfolding before them.
Malakai couldn't be more than seventeen. Seeing that level of savagery from a child… it hit them differently.
Soon enough, Malakai kicked the last person off the arena and shook his head.
"It turned out to be even more disappointing than I thought," Malakai said, turning his gaze upwards toward Whiteshade.
"Even with all your tricks, they still couldn't land a hit. Useless. Useless." Malakai shook his head and released a sigh.
"Well. It's my fault for hoping for more in a rundown place . Captain Rhett."
Rhett licked his lips as Malakai fixed his gaze on him.
"Don't forget to collect our winnings… and his cane."
The entire underground watched as Malakai walked down from the stage, unable to utter even a single word.
He approached a dazed guard and stretched out his arm with the regulator.
The regulators could be said to be akin to handcuffs, but with far more functions. A set of codes was needed to unlock them once worn.
The guard was so shocked and overwhelmed by the events that he subconsciously punched in the code and took the regulator, allowing Malakai to walk out.
Whiteshade was utterly still. Shockingly, he hadn't moved throughout the events. His blue eyes were fixed on the spot Malakai had uttered those words… those humiliating words.
His fingers clenched his cane so tightly his palm turned white.
Only one thought roared in his mind:
'I'm going to kill him.'
"Well, that was a good one. Don't you think?"
The sound of Rhett's carefree voice only made things worse. Regardless, the stupid man was a Bloom.
Whiteshade reeled in his anger and turned toward Rhett.
Rhett grinned. "Good good. Ah, it's been a long night. I think I'm ready to leave now. I'll take my winnings…"
Rhett felt the tension in the room spike at that mention, but he never lost his smile.
He stretched out his arm and waited. Whiteshade stared at the hand for a second before taking it.
"Of course. I'm a man of my word."
Though he said that, there was no hiding your true feelings from a Bloom. Rhett ignored the man's gritted teeth as their lifeguards met and the enormous sum was transferred to him.
Rhett took his arm back and stared at his lifeguard with disbelief. He still couldn't believe he had that sort of money on him.
'My arm feels a little heavier,' Rhett chuckled. He couldn't wait to spend it all!
His eyes narrowed as he saw Whiteshade walking out of the room.
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
Rhett's words stopped Whiteshade in his tracks. He turned slowly to see Rhett pointing at his cane.
"Your cane. Hand it over."
Rhett ignored Whiteshade's clenched arms as he stretched his hand out, waiting.
Whiteshade stared at the hand, clutching the cane tightly. With a deep breath, he walked forward and handed it to Rhett, who took it with a smile, looking at it carefully to see if it was worth something.
Without a single word, Whiteshade turned and walked out of the room, his guards in tow.
"Haha! That was awesome! That was amazing!" Rhett's booming voice broke the quiet night, and Malakai couldn't help but roll his eyes at the dramatic reaction. The had left the underground den and were now in the forest.
"It's just money. Why are you so happy?" Malakai asked.
"Ahh, Malakai, my boy. You're still too young to understand. When you get to my age, you'll understand the importance of being stupid rich."
"Aside from whoring around and getting drunk in bars?"
Rhett paused. 'Damn that Laila. You're teaching this boy nonsense!'
He cleared his throat. "Of course not. Money's important for, you know, training and all that stuff."
But Malakai could spot the lie from a mile away. "I'm sure it is," he said, stepping toward him and stretching out his arm. "Now transfer all the money to me."
Rhett's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. He gasped, suddenly taking a step back as though he had just heard blasphemy.
"There's no way I'm trusting you with that money, not after everything you've been known to do. Hand it over," Malakai said.
"No, no. This sum is… it's too much for you to handle by yourself. As a captain, I can't allow it."
But Malakai stared at him dead in the eye. "We both know I have a Bloom always watching my back. Nyx will protect me. The money will be safe."