Up in Box 9, Darius was sweating profusely, his eyes bulging as he stared down at the burnt skeleton on the arena floor.
Earlier, he had watched Polly defeat Raze. He had seen her humiliate the SS-rank Pioneer without even breaking a sweat.
At the time, he had assumed she was simply a gifted fighter with an unusual ability. Now he understood how wrong he had been.
Raze hadn't been unlucky. He had been hopelessly outmatched.
Darius had built his reputation across several worlds. His crew feared him, his enemies avoided him, and his name carried weight throughout the pirate routes.
But all of that meant nothing against a creature like Polly.
If he fought her himself, he would lose. He knew it.
His reputation wouldn't save him. His crew wouldn't save him. Even his ship's weapons will not save him.
He had seen enough to understand that.
Beside him, his attendant approached cautiously.
