Interesting… very interesting. Daahahahhshshah!
The laugh carried a terrifying weight.
The giant man raised his hand and touched his chin.
"If that's the case, prepare yourself, kid. This fight will be to the death."
Then a voice echoed:
"Fighters, take your positions! The 1000 Ewi prize tournament is startinggg!"
We took our places and the countdown began.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3…
I was ready, but I was also extremely nervous. Dozens of thoughts were rushing through my mind, and I had started to sweat. But that voice interrupted my thoughts:
"Let the fight beginnnn!"
I pulled myself together and focused on the fight. The giant in front of me wasn't taking me seriously at all. Fine, doesn't matter. It would be his greatest mistake. Hehe.
I raised my guard and slowly moved forward. Four steps away, the giant made his move, and in the blink of an eye he was in front of me. His hand grew larger and he smashed his fist onto my head. My guard was useless.
Shit… I collapsed right there. My head was throbbing and I was covered in blood. My consciousness was fading. "How? How can it be this easy?"
The giant was approaching. I had to get up, but I couldn't. My legs… my 17–year–old legs were betraying me.
Just as my mind drifted into deep thoughts, a voice woke me up. Harsh yet warm. It was old Shroud, shouting at me, cursing. I grinned.
Seeing my grin, the giant stopped and looked at me. Then he yelled:
"Hey! What the hell are you doing? If you're gonna beat me, stand up, baby!"
I stood up. Covered in blood, but my plan was ready. His blessing ability was dangerous—he could enlarge any limb, increase muscle mass.
No matter how strong he was… I was the one standing against him.
I dropped my guard and ran toward him. As he threw his punch, I ducked at the last second, spun to his right, and struck hard into his ribs.
He staggered but recovered instantly. He punched the ground where I had been standing; the arena shook, the floor cracked open. I leaped back and counterattacked, smashing his face again and again.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8!
Eight clean hits. His face was bloody… but he grinned. Then he enlarged his head and slammed it into me. My head hit the arena ropes. My eyes were closing. Voices rose behind me:
"10, 9, 8, 6…"
My consciousness collapsed and my eyes shut.
Lucky Nowr
I was covered in blood. For the first time, a rival had pushed me this far—but in the end, I had won. The countdown stopped. I was the victor.
The merciless cheers of the crowd filled the arena, but they meant nothing. What mattered was my opponent's condition.
His friends and teacher were silent.
I turned and started walking. Just as I was about to leave the arena, my body froze. I couldn't take a step.
After a moment, I realized why.
With difficulty, I turned my body… and there he was—not on the ground where he should've been, but standing.
But nothing of his old self remained.
Smoke rose from his body, and two horns had grown from his head.
I couldn't believe my eyes, and the words slipped out of my mouth:
"Holy shit… a monster was born here today…"
I started sweating. My body locked in place. The monster looked at me with crimson eyes—and vanished.
When I blinked, he was suddenly in front of me, staring straight at me.
I enlarged my hand, but it was useless.
He appeared before me and punched straight through my chest.
My eyes closed right there.