The young man looked at him coldly and said,
"So what? Do I need your permission to bear arms?"
The man's face darkened, and he muttered,
"What a sharp tongue…"
Neither the two old men, nor the young man, nor the girl paid any attention to what was happening between the man and the seventeen-year-old boy. As for the stands, several side skirmishes had broken out among the spectators, due to the many bets placed here and there. Even the royal platform wasn't spared.
Loren said,
"Our previous bet was left unfinished… How about another one?"
Lebran replied,
"I was just about to suggest that. So, what do you think? Who do you believe will walk away alive from this fight?"
Loren answered thoughtfully,
"I honestly don't know… but a bet must be made."
Lebran smiled,
"There's no way to predict something like this. The smallest detail could cost you your life… Very well, let's wager as we did before. Sound good?"
Loren said,
"So be it… I'll choose the boy."
Lebran nodded,
"Good. Then I'll bet on the girl."
The girl had strange features: skin with a reddish hue, a black dot in the center of her forehead, long black hair, and loose black garments clutched tightly around her.
But the girl did not step forward to the weapons cart, which left everyone puzzled. Some in the stands began shouting:
"What is this?! The fight hasn't even started and someone's already lost the will to fight! What a farce!"
"Just die already, you filthy girl!"
Another mocked loudly:
"Is that a criminal? She's even afraid to hold a weapon!"
Then the announcer's voice rang out, sharp and cutting through the noise:
"Do not rush to judge, people... In this arena, none of them are weak. They are all criminals, and capturing them took great effort. If she doesn't fight... she will die."
He then shot the girl a piercing look, as if his gaze were daggers stabbing into her chest.
But she said nothing.
Calm… silent like a shadow with no voice.
Yet deep within her, something unimaginable stirred.
Her eyes appeared drowsy, like embers hidden beneath ash—but within them burned a spark that would never die.
The two old men stepped forward to the weapons cart and chose swords that fit their trembling hands.
The man with the massive build selected a heavy hammer that thudded through the air with its weight,
while the twenty-three-year-old young man picked a barbed whip, as if he had decided to fight with pain itself.
The man in charge of the weapons cart noticed that the girl had not chosen a weapon, so he ignored her and left, pushing the cart outside, then closed the large iron gate.
At that moment, there was only one law:
> Survival is the key to freedom,
and the gate will not open again...
unless all five die.
Five people... but only one will walk out alive.
And freedom? It will belong to him alone.
The announcer said,
"So… let the fight begin!"
Then a spark shot into the sky, announcing the start of the battle.
In the stands, Mihon and Youray were sitting, watching what was happening.
Mihon said, looking thoughtfully at the girl,
"When you are unable to respond, harsh things come.
That girl… with her red skin, she seems like one of them,
yet she appears completely unable to fight.
Something inside her restrains her…
but her eyes blaze with a strange flame."
Youray asked him,
"So… will we help her?"
Mihon replied,
"Let's see what happens… then we'll decide."
---
In the arena, the massive man charged toward the young boy, attacking him with his hammer,
but the boy was very agile, easily dodging the strikes and evading without counterattacking.
He found no opportunity to respond, as the man's long arms kept him at a distance,
and the man's heavy body hindered his movement, making it impossible to pursue the boy.
In another corner, the two old men fought fiercely,
while the twenty-five-year-old stood silently, watching the girl.
Then he said, waving his barbed whip,
"Will you fight… or die?"
She did not reply.
"Why don't you speak? Are you mute?"
Mihon remained seated with Youray.
Youray said,
"It seems she hasn't awakened yet... that's why she is restrained."
Mihon replied,
"I don't know..."
Youray asked him,
"Should we intervene?"
Mihon thought.
There are many strong people, and intervening might put us in danger.
But he muttered,
"Who cares? If she is recognized, chaos will spread... bigger."
Then he said loudly,
"You can do whatever you want."
Youray smiled and said,
"This is entertaining."
He stood up, then jumped into the arena before everyone's eyes.
All eyes fell on him.
He said to the announcer clearly, pointing at the girl,
"Can I fight... for her?"