-What the hell is that? Zarathoz, what the hell is that kid?!
( Ursa shouted, furious )
Zarathoz didn't answer. She had already witnessed three transformations… Two had seemed "normal." One had happened in a state of unconsciousness.
But this one… this one was different.
This time, he was fully aware.
That kind, cheerful, gentle nature… was gone.
Now only a beast remained.
A creature swollen with rage, with a thirst for violence that made the air burn.
Morgan abandoned his upright stance and dropped onto all fours. Slowly, he pressed his hands and feet against the ice until it cracked and shattered beneath his weight.
His gaze remained locked on Kalista.
That shiver… the same one crawling across her skin… was still there.
But she refused to accept it.
-Me? Afraid? Afraid of this bastard? No… never. Never.
With fury, Kalista dug her fingers into her wound, forcing herself to feel pain so she wouldn't lose control.
-Damn… this hurts like hell.
( Kalista said, grimacing in pain )
Her own blood had stained the white ice, but thanks to it her body responded again. Pain crushed fear.
She blew onto the wound, freezing the blood, creating a patch of frost to keep it sealed.
-T… this will do.
( Kalista said angrily, touching the frozen wound )
-Well… whatever. Now I have to see what I'll do with—
Kalista, still hunched over her side, lifted her gaze.
And Morgan was already there.
In front of her.
Too close.
He stretched out a hand, opening his palm, as if his claws were about to latch onto her face.
Kalista barely reacted. She blasted cold air to the left and her body was thrown aside.
The air left her lungs.
Her breathing became fast, erratic.
The shiver returned.
She brought a trembling hand to her face.
For a moment she thought it was over.
If she hadn't reacted in that instant… he would have torn her face off.
She turned her head, searching for Morgan.
He was embedded in one of the coliseum's walls.
His arm had pierced straight through the stone.
Cracks spread all the way to the spectators' seats.
Kalista forced herself upright… but fear returned when she saw Morgan slowly turn his head to look at her.
His eyes locked onto her again as he pulled his arm from the wall.
He went back down on all fours.
And began to move forward.
Every step shattered the ice beneath him.
Kalista stepped back, her voice trembling.
-stay back… stay back…
( Kalista whispered )
She didn't wait. She slid across the ice, fleeing.
Morgan chased after her.
At full speed.
The roles had reversed.
Now Kalista was the one running in terror.
She darted in every direction, changing course at random. She blew out freezing breath, creating razor-sharp frost that whistled through the air.
She sent it toward Morgan.
But it shattered against him.
The few shards that pierced him didn't slow him down.
Even with ice spikes lodged in his body… he kept coming.
Frenzied.
Obsessed.
He wasn't going to let her go.
Ursa lowered her gaze as the mockery began to rise.
This time it wasn't aimed at Morgan.
It was aimed at Kalista.
And, by extension, at her.
Rage consumed her.
-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! FIGHT! FIGHT!
( Ursa screamed desperately )
Kalista lost focus.
One single misstep.
She slipped.
Lost her balance.
And Morgan was suddenly right in front of her.
There was no way to dodge it.
The punch fell like a hammer.
Kalista's body was slammed into the coliseum wall.
Ursa tried to scream… but couldn't.
Only a strangled sound escaped her throat.
Kalista created a shield of glacial frost, covering herself, but the impact was brutal.
She was thrown out of the wall and fell to her knees, coughing up blood.
The wound in her side opened again.
Even so… she stood back up.
-…looks like it's over.
( Helios said, with a hint of excitement )
But the master in rusted armor spoke.
-no. Not yet. Look.
Everyone turned.
-he's getting tired.
( He said coldly )
And then they saw it.
The aura around Morgan was fading.
His eyes closed at times.
His body seemed ready to collapse… but he forced himself to stay standing.
-oh… it's true. They're both wearing out.
( Helios said, astonished )
-so the real question isn't whether it's over.
( Said the master )
-then what?
( Princess Amon asked )
-…who will last longer.
( Athelstan answered )
Kalista and Morgan faced each other.
Wounded.
Broken.
At their limits.
Only one would walk away.
But who?
End of chapter.
Next chapter: The Last One Standing. 🩸