Hercules panted heavily, hammer trembling in his grip. Sweat poured down his face. His arms shook. Blood ran from his lips… but he was grinning.
"Ha! I got him," he muttered in excitement. "That blow… no one could stand up after that. Not even him. I shattered his skull with the hammer. It's over."
Back in the pavilion. Everyone watching felt it. That had been a killing blow. They all believed there was no way Jayden could get up from that. It was practically impossible.
Even Hercules believed it. He needed to. He stood there, waiting for Jayden's avatar to dissipate in defeat. But it didn't. Instead…
There was a sudden shift in atmosphere. A subtle chill. A sound… soft, steady. Breathing. Coming from the crater.
Hercules' grin slowly faded. His eyes widened in disbelief as a calm, grounded footstep echoed across the arena with slow inevitability.
