The arena buzzed with a storm of murmurs after the last strike that shattered part of Kota's armor. Blood seeped from his left side, yet the beast did not fall… not yet.
Kota lifted his head, his eyes blazing with fury and madness. A terrifying laugh burst from his sweat- and blood-streaked chest.
— "Hyooh… Is that all you've got, boy?! You dare wound me?! I'll show you now what it means to face a real beast!"
Some in the audience shivered at the sheer force of his voice, the echo of his heavy steps shaking the ground as he charged forward once more.
The Surge of Rage
Kota stormed like a raging torrent, his blade flashing with every swing. His strikes were more savage than ever before—yet less precise. All he wanted now was to crush Gray beneath his feet.
Gray staggered backward, breath quickening, sweat dripping down his brow. Every block rattled his trembling arms; every dodge left him gasping for air, as though he were caught in a storm with no end.
The crowd divided:
— "It's over! The boy can't hold out!"
— "Stay firm, kid! Don't fall!"
Standing His Ground
Then, in a decisive moment, Gray stopped retreating.
He planted his feet firmly, clenched his sword with what strength remained, and summoned the echo carved deep in his bones:
"Anchor your feet… Don't let the wind uproot you."
Kin's voice. A memory like an engraving in his soul.
Gray roared from the depths of his chest:
— "I will not back down!"
Their blades collided head-on. Kota's monstrous swing crashed against Gray's weakened sword. Sparks exploded, and the ring of steel thundered across the arena.
The audience froze in silence… then erupted in a deafening cheer.
The Double Pain
But standing firm came at a cost.
Gray forced every ounce of his strength into the clash—and in doing so, he reopened Kota's old wound.
Blood burst forth once more beneath his left arm.
— "Aaaaargh!" Kota howled in pain, staggering for just one heartbeat.
The Counterattack
That heartbeat was all Gray needed.
With a swift step forward, he angled his blade beneath Kota's exposed armor and drove it in.
CRAAASH!
The metallic crack echoed like thunder. The armor split apart completely, shards scattering onto the ground. Jagged pieces pierced into Kota's flesh, tearing open a deep, gushing wound.
The Fall
Time stopped.
The crowd stood frozen, breath held, as the beast faltered.
Kota's knees hit the ground with a thud, his eyes wide with disbelief, blood trickling from his mouth. His voice came out as a faint whisper, almost inaudible:
— "…Impossible…"
Then his massive frame collapsed, sprawling lifelessly onto the bloodstained earth.
The Roar of the Crowd
For one suspended moment, silence hung in the air.
Then came the explosion.
— "Graaaaay!!"
— "The boy has felled Kota!"
The announcer nearly lost his voice screaming:
— "Ladies and gentlemen!! Do you see this?! Kota—the legendary fighter, the former mercenary, last year's runner-up—has fallen to an unknown boy named Gray!!!"
The Royal Stands
In the high seats, the king sat in silence, his sharp eyes never blinking.
Adrian, the eldest, mirrored his father's silence.
Leon, the second, scoffed under his breath:
— "A fluke… nothing more than a lucky wound."
Darius, the third, bit his lip in fury:
— "Nonsense! The boy won't survive the next round."
But Kin, the fourth prince, smiled broadly, laughter bubbling from his lips as his gaze locked onto Gray.
The Closing Moment
Gray stood, his body trembling with exhaustion, blood and sweat streaking his face. He lifted his sword high to the sky, his eyes glistening with tears that could not be hidden.
Then, turning to the royal stands, his gaze found Kin's.
Kin's smile was enough to ignite the meaning of victory in Gray's heart.
Gray shouted with every ounce of his being:
— "It's not over yet!!"
And with unsteady but determined steps, he left the arena—behind him, a stunned crowd, a fallen beast bathed in blood, and royal brothers smoldering with envy.
End of Chapter