The spectators held their breath as what felt like the final clash began. Hittag swung the uprooted tree in a massive arc, the sheer force of it clearing away the mist and snapping several smaller trees apart like twigs. Calvinel gripped his greatsword in one hand and thrust out his left hand, forming a ramp of ice beneath him. With a burst of speed, he skated up the ramp and launched himself into the air, just as the Champion's swing shattered the frozen structure behind him.
Hittag grunted, muscles straining as he fought the tree's momentum, dragging it back for another swing. But Calvinel was ready. Before Hittag could complete the follow-through, Calvinel created another sheet of ice, sliding under the tree's heavy trunk just as it swung past him. In one fluid motion, he closed the distance. Hittag, realizing the danger, dropped the tree to defend himself. Calvinel struck, swinging his greatsword in a powerful arc. Hittag raised his massive left arm, catching the blade with the thick vambrace wrapped around his forearm. Even so, he felt the shuddering groan of his bones beneath the blow.
With a yell, Hittag countered, throwing a massive punch at Calvinel, who barely managed to dodge aside, feeling the rush of air as the fist grazed past him. Calvinel swung again, this time cutting a deep gash across the Champion's back, drawing a pained roar from Hittag. Desperate, Hittag spun, delivering a sudden, brutal kick. Calvinel's leg buckled under the force, a sickening snap echoing through the arena as his knee was knocked out of place. He crumpled, but as he fell, he wrenched his greatsword upward in a last-ditch strike, smashing the flat of the blade into Hittag's jaw.
The impact sent Hittag staggering backward, his helmet flying free as he crashed to the ground.
"Wow, wow, wow! How are these two still going!?" Quincy shouted, her voice almost cracking with excitement. "The Victories looks like he broke his leg, and the Champion just took a sword to the jaw! Will they even be able to continue!?"
The crowd roared, caught between awe and concern.
Calvinel groaned, clutching his mangled knee. "Ugh! You snapped my knee out of place!" he growled, grimacing in pain as he struggled on the ground. Across from him, Hittag only made guttural sounds, struggling to even form words, his jaw clearly broken.
"Oh, goddess," Calvinel muttered, forcing himself upright, leaning heavily on his greatsword like a crutch. He eyed Hittag with a grimace. "Hey, this is getting a bit too much. Why don't you just give up? I just cracked you in the jaw with a sword—you can't seriously be thinking about fighting any longer."
Hittag, his head spinning and vision blurring, fought to push himself into a kneeling position. His body wobbled as his brain tried to catch up. Blinking rapidly, he raised one trembling hand into the air—thumb extended upright. Calvinel tensed, thinking he was about to refuse.
But slowly, deliberately, Hittag turned his thumb downward.
"Is that... is that what I think it is?" Quincy gasped, her eyes wide.
Hittag emphasized the gesture, his thumb pointed firmly toward the ground.
"The Champion just yielded! That means the Victories wins!" she screamed as the entire coliseum erupted into deafening cheers.
Calvinel glanced around at the roaring crowd, a tired but satisfied grin on his face. He turned toward Hittag and gave a small laugh. "I'd offer you a hand right now, but," he said, giving his shattered knee a pat, "who am I kidding? I couldn't lift you even if my leg wasn't broken."
Hittag stared at him for a moment, breathing heavily, before shaking his head. He reached up with his good hand, carefully moving his broken jaw to force the words out. "W...e sho...uld bow... th...at wou...ld be enough," he rasped.
Calvinel smirked, closed his eyes for a second, and gave a casual shrug. "Yeah. Good enough," he muttered. He turned to face one side of the crowd, planting his greatsword in the ground to help him stay steady, and gave as deep a bow as his battered body would allow. Across from him, Hittag, still kneeling, turned to the opposite side of the stands and bowed stiffly, his huge frame trembling but refusing to fall.
"Such sportsmanship! Such respect! Such honor!" Quincy cried out, her voice brimming with excitement as she zipped through the air above them, spinning in delight. The crowd responded with another thunderous wave of cheers, voices rising in admiration for the warriors' respect for each other—and for the audience that had watched them fight to their limits.
"This is the perfect ending! Thank you, everyone, for coming to today's Tournament of Greatness!" Quincy called out to the entire coliseum. "I hope you all join us tomorrow! Goodbye!"