The arena was restless from the last fight when Ryan stepped inside the arena. The only one archer that had made it through the first round, that was him. Jai, Vijay,s older brother who should have passed the first round easily, but due to Ryan was injured and disqualified.
Now, Vijay stood opposite to Ryan, Vijay,s jaw was tight, his eyes burning, all he wanted was revenge. Strapped to his left arm was a small round shield and on his fists gleamed sharp knuckle knives, he was completely prepared for this fight.
Soon the elder gave the signal and the match began.
Ryan's instantly released the already loaded onto his string and the arrows sliced through the air. Vijay didn't stop at one place, he ran sideways or rolled on the ground to dodge arrows, shield jerking up whenever he couldn't dodge. Arrows thunked inside the wooden shield, scraping against it but he avoid closing the gap, because he knew the more distance he maintained the more time he get to gauge the arrow's trajectory, he knew sooner or later Ryan will run out of arrows.
Soon Ryan's quiver was empty, his breathing heavy from the rapid firing. Vijay, still in rhythm, looked fresh, his shield battered but steady.
Ryan shifted, pulling out his throwing knives. He didn't waste them recklessly. He let Vijay come close and when there was about three meters gap between them his hands flicked with sharp precision. Vijay jumped back, widening the distance again. The crowd cheered as knives hissed through the air.
One by one, Ryan's knives dwindled. When only two remained, Vijay surged forward again.
Ryan threw one. Vijay swatted it aside with his shield, then he stopped. He ripped the shield loose and looked straight into Ryan's eyes "Go on" he said, his voice low but eerie "Throw it, I won't move."
Ryan didn't hesitate, he threw the last knife straight at his chest.
Vijay didn't move the blade struck, biting into his flesh, just beneath his collarbone. He hissed, gritted his teeth, and yanked it out, blood trickling down his tunic. He tossed the weapon aside, then lifted the discarded shield and threw it across the arena aiming at Ryan's head.
Ryan ducked quickly the shield spun past his head with a gust of air.
"You hurt my brother" Vijay growled, advancing with his knuckle knives on his fists. "Now I will hurt you ten-fold of what you hurt my brother".
Ryan staggered back, his knives and arrows were gone, his face pale with fear. The crowd roared, sensing the end, Vijay laughed as he closed the distance "Nowhere left to run".
But the fear Ryan showed was a mask.
When around one meter distance was left between them, this was the perfect distance for Ryan, he twisted his body, holding one end of the bow in his both hands and swinging his bow like a club. The wooden bow cracked across Vijay's skull. Vijay dropped with a thud, the arena gasped in shock.
"TEN folds" Ryan said with a crooked grin, mockingly.
But the grin faded quick.
Vijay stirred. His body wobbled as he rose, eyes unfocused. He palmed the side of his own head, shaking it, forcing his vision clear again. The crowd was surprised to see him still standing.
Ryan didn't wait. He rushed in, fists hammering. Blow after blow droving Vijay back, although Vijay kept staggering backward but he didn't fall, his teeth clenched then he caught Ryan's punch Ryan continued hitting with his other hand but Vijay caught his other hand too.
Their hands locked, fingers interlaced, muscles straining. They pushed back each other, grunting, like two sumo wrestlers caught in a test of strength.
Slowly, Vijay's mind cleared. Ryan's strikes weren't heavy, clearly he hadn't trained in martial arts.
Vijay pushed harder bending Ryan onto his knee and with a sudden leap, he planted one foot on Ryan's knee, the other smashing up into Ryan's face. The knee cracked against bone, and before the crowd could blink, Vijay flipped backward, dragging Ryan with him, and slammed him into the dirt.
"Ten times I said" Vijay growled, laughter bubbling through his ragged breaths.
Ryan's head spinned, blood dripping from his nose. He knew it was over for him. He had no intension to keep going, so without hesitation, he shouted
"I surrender!"
The elder raised his hand instantly. "The match is over! Vijay, step back!"
Vijay's face reddened with anger, rage boiling as he tried to lunge forward again. But the elder's command froze him in place. One step more would mean disqualification "this coward, fight me "thundered Vijay.
Ryan, still on the ground, smirked weakly. "You can't touch me now."
The crowd booed Ryan, some calling Ryan a coward for surrendering but he ignored them all, to him there was no bravery in letting himself be butchered "Survival is a victory of its own kind and this was a tactical retreat" he thought inside his head.
Vijay stomped out of the arena, fists clenched, blood dripping from his chest wound. Ryan staggered up, wiping his face exited the arena.
Soon it was Vayu's turn. As he stepped into the arena, he saw his opponent Rajat entering from the opposite side, twin short spears twirling between his fingers like toys. Vayu knew the truth about the spears, even short ones, had an edge over daggers. Their rounded shafts made deflection difficult, and with a change of grip, they could stab, slash or strike like a baton.
Vayu was slightly taller, more sturdier then Rajat, his opponent Rajat was a year older then his, with a good battle experience. Rajat spun the spears in his hands and sneered to him, Vayu was nothing but a rat, biting, running, wearing down his opponent before darting in again. He had no intention of giving Vayu that chance today. His plan was simple push him relentlessly, corner him, and crush him.
The elder dropped his hand.
Rajat lunged forward instantly, his right spear stabbing straight for Vayu's chest. Vayu twisted his torso, sliding his dagger across the spear with a sharp spark. The counter came immediately as Rajat's left spear slashed in a horizontal arc. Vayu ducked low, the small spear slicing the air above his ear, Vayu still low darted forward, daggers angled to tear open Rajat's chest.
But Rajat's knee snapped up, Vayu saw it at the last moment, halting abruptly and retreated. If he'd pressed forward recklessly, he would've slammed his face into Rajat's knee, it was a trap. Rajat smirked, his voice mocking.
"Can't get close, can you?"
Rajat pressed again, his spears carving a cross in the air with each slash. Vayu weaved around them, moving lightly on his feet. Rajat's plan was working he was driving him back step by step, herding him toward the boundary. In his mind, he had already won the battle, once Vayu was cornered there would be nowhere left to run.
But Vayu wasn't the same fighter as he had been in his last fight. He had learned the danger of being trapped and got inspired from Aspen so instead of backing away endlessly, he moved in circles, slipping left and right, never letting Rajat corner him in.
Rajat's grin faltered, his patience snapped with a growl he switched grips, flipping his spears into an icepick hold. His movements sharpened, the arcs now horizontal, faster, heavier and harder to deflect. Vayu parried, his daggers sparking against the steel, the pressure kept mounting on Vayu.
Then Rajat feinted mid slash, flipping one spear back into a normal grip, the sudden thrust shot forward before Vayu could retreat. The point drove into his thigh, sinking an inch deep inside his thigh, pain flared hot and Vayu cried out, stumbling back with blood running down his leg.
"Got you rat!" Rajat barked, mockery ringing in his voice.
Vayu gritted his teeth, breathing ragged, but his eyes stayed locked on Rajat. He had seen enough now. He understood the rhythm. When Rajat used a normal grip, his range extended, but the strikes were slower and mostly vertical but when he switched to icepick grip, his attacks became vicious, horizontal, but left his front open.
Vayu steadied himself, he was done running and most of all he felt angry.
Rajat, spears back in normal grip, advanced with a smirk. "Here I come."
The right spear slashed downward in a vertical arc exactly as Vayu had expected. Instead of deflecting, Vayu stepped into it. His right dagger met the spear, sliding down along the shaft with a screech of metal. But he didn't stop there. He pressed harder, Rajat too kept pushing forward thinking Vayu was making a last ditch effort.
But the blade bit into Rajat's hand.
"AAARGH!" Rajat's scream tore across the arena. The dagger split into his palm, cutting deep between the fingers. His spear fell from his right hand, clattering against the dirt. Blood splattered across the ground, dripping freely from his ruined grip.
The crowd gasped in shock, some covering their mouths, others roaring at the brutality.
Rajat staggered back, clutching his bleeding hand. Vayu's chest heaved, his thigh still bleeding, but his eyes were cold.
Rajat staggered back to his feet, blood dripping down his arm, his face streaked with tears and snot. His pride broken with a trembling grip, he lifted up his left hand. The crowd murmured uneasily.
The elder raised his hand, his voice stern. "Rajat, enough I advice you to Surrender before you lose more blood".
But Rajat only shook his head violently, his voice breaking. "I… won't… lose to him!" He stumbled forward, the spear wobbling in his weakened grip, and lunged with a clumsy stab.
Vayu's eyes narrowed. The boy before him no longer looked like a competitor, he looked more like a child. He shifted both daggers into icepick grip and rushed forward, stepping inside the weak thrust. With a sharp twist, he deflected the spear and in the same motion, his right dagger carved a long slice across Rajat's arm. Blood sprayed as the weapon clattered uselessly to the ground.
Before Rajat could even scream, Vayu's left dagger flashed carving a cross slash across his chest. Rajat staggered, chest heaving as streaks of blood came out .
Then Vayu dropped low, his movements fluid and merciless. Both daggers plunged into the outer sides of Rajat's thighs. The blades sank deep into muscle. Rajat's body jerked violently but no sound came out. Rajat stood stunned as he lost his consciousness, yet somehow he remained standing.
The arena froze. No one spoke, no one cheered.
Vayu rose slowly, his breath calm. He reached out with one finger, pressed it gently against Rajat's forehead, and pushed.
Rajat toppled backward with a heavy thud, blood pooling beneath him.
The elder's voice rang out, sharp and final: "Victory—Vayu!" and two people rushed in to carry Rajat to infirmary .
But the crowd did not erupt into cheers, no applause. Only stunned silence filled the arena.
Vayu stood alone in the center, daggers dripping red