Chatper 5: Sparring

'This… it's inside the main house'

When the system announcement ended, a hum of nostalgia leapt through his mind as he found himself sitting in the room with the other brothers. 

Sharing bewildered expressions, the group scanned the room for Banuar and Homobono. The two just died a moment ago and the group couldn't believe their eyes when they found the two sitting on their respective chairs. 

'They've been revived as the system announced.', Dos recalled the announcement from earlier. 

'Still, a rule has been breached but which rule'

Everyone was glued on their seats, reluctant to make any movement. The silence was deep and the tension was loud from the event that just transpired. 

Even Homobono was staring into space.

They were taking their time processing the events. 

'Possibly the rule no.2 about the number of survivors being predetermined and with Homobono killing Banuar, the number fell short and so the change. Just that this time, the punishment was imposed.', Dos dissected it to bits and pieces, formulating his presumption

The system didn't take long to verify his thoughts. 

[A new rule has been unlocked]

[Rule no.11: The number of survivors must neither exceed nor fall short of the predetermined count. If this rule is violated, the scene will repeat, and punishment will descend upon the offender.]

It was about the rule for punishing the offender and repeating the scenario. 

'It seems that everyone has the same presumption as mine', Dos pondered, seeing that the unlocked rule was general rather than exclusive. 

'Still, there is one thing that I haven't figured out yet - the reason why Homobono could move despite being inside the scenario'

'Also, how did Banuar lose?'

Prior to punishment, Homobono was able to move as he pleased. It was evident given that he had killed Banuar inside the scenario. 

Deep in his thoughts, the system resounded. 

[Now Commencing]

[Scenario 3: Sparring

Mission: None

Characters: Banuar Calingan, Dos, Sadiri…. 7 other Calinga brothers 

Survivors: 10]

The scenario commenced as the plot intended. 

The group went into the open area covered with the towering translucent sheet. The butler oriented them with the rules and weapons were handed out. 

Dos and Banuar had their first sparring. 

'I still cannot move my body', Dos attempted to break free from the restraints but to no avail, he couldn't move his body. 

'Just how did Homobono move freely?' Dos raced his mind. 

Before he knew it, the match ended and then Sadiri and Homobono entered the scene. 

In pure contrast to his expectation however, Homobono moved just like before. His moves were predetermined and his art was optimized to beheading. 

'Is he feigning or are his moves restricted?', questions bubbled in Dos' mind. 

Just as his eyes were keen on the two, tension brewed as a feud sparked beside him. 

Banuar, in a temperament as tranquil as the serene sky, met the faltering eyes of the 6 other Calinga brothers. 

His voice was gentle and patient as he spoke. 

"I am asking if the food you gave me earlier was drugged." Banuar was calm in his tone

The expressions of the brothers made their answers apparent. Their eyes faltered, elusive in meeting Banuar's eyes. 

One of the brothers immediately hid the tiny piece of candy he was holding. This sight however didn't escape Dos' eyes. 

He was just standing too close to Dos, being pushed to the back by the group as if to hide him.

Dos hand swiftly clenched the brother's hand, making him wail from pain. His fist clenching the candy, involuntarily loosened, making him drop the candy.

"Arghhh! Who did that?!", the brother screamed, turning his head. The moment he saw Dos, his fist immediately clenched once more, raising his arm right after. Furious and piled up frustrations from being interrogated by Banuar, blurred his mind of rationality. 

He had to divert his madness somewhere somehow. 

Dos was about to stop the incoming fist when in abrupt, a wooden sword adorned with shadow energy blocked the incoming fist, interrupting his counterattack. 

"Stop it now, Isagani", Banuar's voice was deep and resonant. A hint of authority conspicuous in his eyes. 

Isagani was one of the 10 Calinga brothers. He was also one of the lackeys of Homobono. 

Terror dwelled in him as his fist met the shadow energy swirling around Banuar's sword. He immediately retracted his hand and lowered his head in submission. 

Banuar, the main protagonist, exuded superiority, dominating the other characters. 

The others tightly shut their mouths, terror pressed on their chest, losing all motivation to retaliate. 

Nonetheless, they were similarly afraid of Homobono. They had seen what he was capable of from sparring earlier and in terms of cruelty, Homobono was a homicidal maniac, exhilarated by slaughter.

They'd rather be on the bad side of Banuar than Homobono. 

*sigh 

Banuar heaved a deep breath acknowledging the reluctance of the brothers. Lowering his sword, he muttered to the group. 

"I hope that this will not happen again. I hope that we will get to work together in the future.", Banuar was unwilling to let go of the prospect of camaraderie. To him, this event was just one of the obstacles they had to overcome. 

'One day, we will see the worth in working together.', Banuar yearned

The fight between Sadiri and Homobono then finally came to an end. Eventually, the session came to the last sparring. 

"Sparring between Homobono and Sadiri, starts", the butler announced 

Homobono rushed forward with an even greater speed. He had subdue Banuar earlier and knew that barraging him of heavy attacks would eventually drive him to the edge. 

Banuar stood in the spot, raising his sword to his side, forming a 90 degree angle with his shoulder. His eyes closed and shadows sluggishly swirled around his sword. 

This time, the shadows appeared darker, striking menace to the other brothers. 

Realizing the brisk change, Homobono halted on his track and similarly changed his fighting stance. He darted to the left side of Banuar, running through an arc. 

Then he activated his skill "Calinga Sword Mastery (D)". His swordsmanship was fiercer than last. 

Then, seeing that Banuar hadn't opened his eyes, Homobono stamped and then jumped into the air, his large body gaining kinetic energy as it dropped from the air, landing atop Banuar. 

His sword carried all his weight power, unveiling an aura more massive than before. 

"You're dead!" Homobono exclaimed with his blade cutting through the air.

Before his sword land to Banuar's head, the latter opened his eyes, his sword gliding through the air, creating an arc at a cruel angle, and then

It cut through Homobono's sword with ease like a knife cutting through a tofu. The sword halted on its arc the moment it met his skin, the shadow ceased entirely. 

A small cut carved in his neck as Banuar's sword blew into ash. The wooden sword couldn't carry the power of the shadow energy and had been burned to ashes. 

"I hope that we can work together next time, Homobono.", Banuar muttered, retracting his hand and looking at Homobono. 

The latter watched in daze, watching the back of Banuar as he left the translucent sheet. His head was overwhelmed with fury. Nonetheless, he didn't make any further recklessness, realizing full well the difference in power. 

Banuar, the main protagonist, was equipped with several plot armors. His skills far greater than theirs.

Fear was already carved in his mind. 

Looking at the back of Banuar, a bold curiosity rang in his mind. 

'If I were to steal that role, will I also be that powerful?'

His curiosity grew wilder

'If I were to steal that role… will I get his skill?'

…

..