CLANG!
The sound of metal striking bone echoed through the forest.
"Hahahahaha!"
Spike laughed as he continued pressing the attack.
He swung a heavy punch toward Gregory's face.
Gregory ducked beneath it.
In one fluid motion, he pivoted and swept his leg toward Spike's feet.
Spike jumped over the kick.
Gregory immediately swung his staff toward his head.
WHOOSH!
Spike twisted away.
The blade slammed into the ground.
SHK!
Soil exploded around the weapon.
Spike recovered instantly.
He charged.
BANG!
His first punch came straight for Gregory's chest.
Gregory blocked it.
BANG!
The second.
Blocked.
BANG!
The third.
Blocked again.
Spike grinned.
Gregory suddenly grabbed the front of his shirt.
He pulled his staff backward slightly...
Then released it.
BOING!
The staff snapped forward.
BANG!
The shaft slammed directly into Spike's face.
"Guh!"
Spike staggered backward.
Gregory dropped one hand to the ground.
His legs shot upward.
BAM!
One kick caught Spike in the stomach.
BAM!
Another struck his chest.
BAM!
The third sent him stumbling backward.
Before Spike could recover, Gregory planted his other hand against the ground.
He spun his body.
His feet swept around in a wide arc.
At the same time, he caught his staff.
Then—
WHOOSH!
The weapon spun through the air.
CLANG!
The staff struck Spike's ribs.
CLANG!
His shoulder.
CLANG!
His side.
CLANG!
And finally, the shaft slammed into his chest.
Spike staggered several steps backward.
Gregory immediately retreated.
He landed lightly and lowered his staff.
His breathing had become noticeably heavier.
'If I keep fighting like this...'
'I'll burn through my stamina before he does.'
He tightened his grip.
'And once that happens, it's over.'
Gregory glanced at Spike.
'I don't even know how long we've been fighting anymore.'
'But it's been long enough.'
'He should at least be breathing as heavily as I am by now.'
Spike rolled his shoulder.
Then his neck.
His grin never disappeared.
"Hehehehehe..."
Gregory's eyes narrowed.
Spike slowly walked toward him.
"I haven't had a fight this good in a long time."
He stopped several meters away.
His grin widened.
"Listen, Greg."
Gregory raised his staff.
Spike clenched both fists.
"Take this seriously."
The excitement in his voice disappeared.
His expression became almost savage.
"Let's kill each other."
"Tch!"
Gregory tightened his grip around his staff.
Spike charged.
A fist came straight toward his face.
Gregory dodged.
But Spike didn't give him time to counter.
The instant his fist passed Gregory's head, Spike twisted his body and converted the momentum into an elbow.
SMACK!
The blow caught Gregory across the side of the head.
He staggered.
He quickly planted his staff against the ground, using it to keep himself from falling.
Then he spun around and settled back into his stance.
Spike grinned.
Gregory tightened his grip.
He grabbed the staff with both hands and twisted his wrists in opposite directions.
CLICK.
Sharp red blades extended from both ends of the weapon.
Spike's eyes widened.
"I knew that weapon of yours was more than just a metal stick."
He jumped backward.
Gregory immediately pursued him.
"You'd be surprised at the things she can do."
Gregory suddenly winced.
His hand briefly moved toward his stomach.
The wound caused by his own weapon was still hurting.
But he pushed through it.
Spike noticed.
He charged again.
Gregory spun the staff.
Spike raised his arms to block.
But Gregory suddenly changed the angle of his attack.
SHHK!
The blade struck Spike across the abdomen.
Spike flinched.
His guard dropped.
Gregory immediately spun the staff again.
The second blade swept toward Spike's throat.
Spike jerked backward.
But Gregory was already inside his guard.
SHK!
The staff's blade pierced Spike's abdomen.
Spike's eyes widened.
He dropped onto one knee.
Gregory immediately followed him down, keeping the staff locked in place.
Both men were now kneeling in front of each other.
Gregory grabbed his staff with both hands.
His wrists twisted in opposite directions.
CLICK.
Spike's entire body tensed.
Gregory stared directly into his eyes.
"My Awakened Weapon."
He tightened his grip.
"Venra."
The red blades pulsed.
"She releases poison through her blades."
His voice remained calm.
"One successful strike is enough to inject a lethal dose."
Spike gritted his teeth.
"There is no cure."
Gregory pushed the weapon forward.
"So if you get stabbed..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Your only option is death."
Silence.
For several seconds, neither man moved.
Then—
"Hehehe..."
A low laugh escaped Spike.
Gregory's eyes narrowed.
Spike's shoulders began shaking.
The laugh grew louder.
Then suddenly—
"DO YOU THINK I'M GONNA BE DONE IN BY POISON?!"
His voice thundered through the forest.
Spike grabbed Gregory's staff.
"ALRIGHT THEN!"
His grin widened.
"LET'S SEE WHICH ONE OF US DIES FIRST!"
Gregory's expression changed.
"What do you me—"
SHK!
Spike suddenly drove one arm forward.
Gregory's eyes widened as the arm entered his stomach.
The force knocked him backward.
"You... bastard."
Gregory twisted Venra again.
CLICK.
Spike roared.
"Motherfucker!"
Despite the poison spreading through his body, Spike refused to let go.
Gregory stared at him in disbelief.
'Why the hell isn't he down yet?!'
The poison should have taken effect by now.
But Spike was still fighting.
Still conscious.
Still smiling.
Gregory twisted Venra again.
CLICK.
Spike's body shook.
Yet he remained on his knees.
Then Gregory noticed something.
Spike's other arm was moving.
His eyes widened.
"Wait..."
Spike drove his second arm forward.
Gregory's body jolted.
"YOU BASTARD!"
Spike grunted through the pain.
Gregory's grip on Venra tightened.
He twisted the weapon again.
CLICK.
Spike screamed.
But instead of pulling away, he drove both arms farther apart.
Gregory's expression finally changed to panic.
"Why aren't you dying?!"
Spike's head hung low.
His breathing was ragged.
Then he slowly raised his face.
"I said..."
His grin returned.
"LET'S SEE..."
His arms tensed.
"WHICH ONE OF US..."
Gregory's eyes widened.
"DIES FIRST!"
Spike suddenly pulled both arms outward.
"Wait—!"
Gregory's voice broke.
"Agh!"
The force knocked him sideways.
His body collapsed onto the ground.
His grip finally loosened from Venra.
Spike remained on his knees for several seconds.
He was barely holding himself upright.
Then he forced himself to stand.
His legs immediately gave out.
He slipped and fell back onto one knee.
"Hehehe..."
He laughed weakly.
With a trembling hand, he grabbed Venra and pulled it free.
He tossed the weapon aside.
Spike looked toward Gregory.
His vision was beginning to blur.
"You..."
He struggled to breathe.
"...died... first..."
A crooked grin appeared on his face.
"...bastard."
His eyes slowly closed.
Spike collapsed beside Gregory.
The forest fell silent.
Two fighters lay motionless on the ground.
Venra rested a short distance away.
Neither man moved.