The arena burned like smoldering embers.
The roar of the crowd surged like a storm—cheers, whistles, every eye locked on the clash, every heart pounding to the rhythm of battle.
The announcer nearly leapt from his platform, his voice thundering above the chaos:
— "Ladies and gentlemen! We are about to witness a clash that will shake the very foundations! Gray versus Kota—the nameless upstart against the warrior whose name was forged through countless tournaments!"
The fight ignited instantly.
Kota lunged forward, his blade gleaming under the light, his strikes crashing down like relentless waves. Each swing ripped through the air with such force it seemed to tear at the ears.
Gray raised his sword with difficulty, blocking some, retreating against others, every muscle in his body screaming with the weight of each impact.
His legs trembled beneath him, yet he did not falter. His eyes never wavered.
Breathe… hold yourself together… I cannot fall now.
Kota's confident grin widened, his eyes gleaming with mockery.
— "Is this all you've got? You're nothing but a child lost in the world of men."
The first strike.
As Kota swung a vicious side blow, Gray suddenly ducked, driving his blade upward to slash beneath Kota's left arm, into the gap under his shoulder guard.
A spark of metal burst forth, leaving a visible scratch.
The crowd erupted, half of them laughing in dismissal:
— "Just a scratch!"
While others clapped in surprise:
— "He actually hit him!"
Kota stepped back, eyes narrowing.
At the gamblers' table:
A portly man slapped the wood lightly.
— "Ha! You see? He's not as weak as you all thought."
A thin man shook his head.
— "Don't exaggerate. Just a lucky fluke. The boy will crumble at the first real blow."
The bearded elder chuckled.
— "But the strike hit the same vulnerable spot… That may not be coincidence. If he's targeting a weakness, things could turn."
The cautious fourth gambler weighed his coin pouch.
— "If the tables turn, our losses will be catastrophic. We're talking thousands of aur!"
The fifth, a young man with sharp eyes, grinned.
— "Risk only makes the game more thrilling."
In the royal stands:
Darius laughed coldly, his voice carrying to his brothers.
— "That boy is delusional. Do they think a scratch will change anything? He'll be broken here, unable to rise again."
Kin leaned forward, eyes locked on Gray.
— "And yet… his hand didn't tremble. Even under this pressure."
The eldest, Adrian, remained silent, his gaze calm, as though seeing beyond what anyone else could perceive.
Back in the arena:
Kota pursed his lips, rolled his shoulders, then struck again—faster, heavier, more brutal than before.
Gray staggered back, panting, his right arm shaking from the strain of each block.
Damn it… my body is breaking… but this is no time to surrender.
The second strike.
In a rare opening, Gray lunged once more, striking the same gap beneath Kota's left arm.
The clang of steel rang out, and the crowd roared in astonishment:
— "Again! The same spot!"
Kota laughed aloud, shaking his head.
— "Is that all you can do? A child's tantrum at one place?"
Yet for a fleeting second, his hand pressed the wounded spot before he resumed his relentless assault—proof the blow had not been without effect.
Among the gamblers once more:
The bearded elder shouted:
— "You fools! Can't you see? This is no accident—he's aiming for it deliberately!"
The thin one sneered:
— "Even if he shatters the armor, Kota is ten times stronger. The boy is playing with fire."
The portly gambler tapped the table nervously:
— "I'm starting to doubt my wager… Should I switch sides?"
The cautious one cut in sharply:
— "Switch now and you'll lose double! There's no turning back."
The young man only laughed softly.
— "We're about to witness either a miracle… or a tragedy. Either way, it's a rare spectacle."
The pressure mounted.
Kota's assault became a storm, giving Gray no space to breathe.
Blows slammed into his arm, his shoulder, his legs buckling beneath the weight of the strikes.
From the royal stands, Darius shouted:
— "It's over! He won't leave this place standing. I'd wager my life on his defeat!"
The crushing kick.
Gray dodged a diagonal slash—but Kota seized the moment, lifting his leg and slamming a brutal kick into Gray's chest.
The impact exploded like a cannon blast, hurling Gray backward. His body smashed into the ground, dust bursting upward as the crowd screamed in unison.
The announcer roared with all his might:
— "A devastating blow! Has the fight ended here?!"
The cliffhanger.
Gray lay sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving, pain raging through every bone.
And yet… amid the agony, a small, defiant smile curved his lips.
A smile that carried a single meaning: This is not over.
The crowd rose to its feet, breathless with anticipation, as Kota stood poised, ready to deliver the finishing strike.
End of Chapter