Veronica slammed her hand down on the railing. "I can't take this anymore, Amir!" "He'll be fine," Amir said, ending his Force focus. Just m
Veronica slammed her hand down on the railing.
"I can't take this anymore, Amir!"
"He'll be fine," Amir said, ending his Force focus. Just moments ago, he'd intervened in the arena and had successfully saved Rango from a deadly strike.
"He almost died back there!"
"But he didn't."
"Don't you dare stop me later."
Amir wisely kept quiet.
Rango seized the moment and swung his spear into the back of the man who had tried to stab him. The blow knocked the attacker unconscious. The one mistakenly stabbed by his own teammate was quickly finished off by Rango's remaining allies.
The host's voice rang out once more.
"Oh! Unbelievable! Such incredible speed! This is the fastest I've ever seen a top ten decided—what amazing warriors! Could the champion be among them? Without further ado, let's welcome them to the central arena!!"
Rango and Mara eagerly entered the main arena and scanned the other battlefields.
"There you are!!" Mara muttered and charged toward Arena Four. His two companions followed.
Rango had already spotted the Wookiee in Arena One.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his spear and ran in.
"Oh! The surprises just keep coming! Almost all finalists have re-entered the other arenas!!"
The four Tusken Raiders had also entered an arena filled with their kin.
Only two slave fighters remained in the central arena, choosing to rest until the final match.
Rango spotted the bloodied Wookiee, and fury surged in him.
There were around twenty combatants left. Several were still fighting, but six had ganged up on the Wookiee. Despite his incredible strength, every strike left him visibly more worn.
Rango erupted with power. He charged in and swept his spear, smashing a Duros and nearly knocking his giant blue eyes out of his skull.
He then swung down at another attacker, whose sword intercepted the strike. At that moment, Chewbacca lunged forward and sent the off-balance enemy flying.
"ROOAARRR!!"
A deafening roar washed over Rango's face. But then the Wookiee recognized him, and his expression softened.
"Shocking! This young Falleen is aiding tonight's most popular gladiator! What will happen next?!"
Amir was stunned too. Rango already knew Chewbacca? And he'd reentered the fight tonight for his sake?
Veronica was flexing her left arm again.
Rango's situation was getting worse. More fighters converged, trying to eliminate the two biggest threats.
Weapons rained down. Chewbacca blocked with his greatsword, but cuts still landed where he couldn't reach.
Rango dodged, his agility saving him—but exhaustion quickly set in.
Wave after wave of attacks left no time to breathe.
Like drowning in freezing water, strength drained with every second.
Metal clashed repeatedly, numbing Rango's hands. Timing one of Chewbacca's strikes, he charged in and skewered an enemy, only to have his back slashed open in the process.
"ROOAARRR!!" Chewbacca roared and knocked out the attacker, but the effort brought him to his knees.
The enemies surged.
Rango unleashed all his remaining strength. He ducked low into the crowd. A blade stabbed into his left arm, but he ignored the pain. With a roar, he drove his spear through one enemy and into another.
He released the spear, letting the two bodies fall aside. His arm now hung useless.
The remaining fighters froze.
Rango grit his teeth and pulled a longsword from the ground. Leaning on the bloodied weapon, he stood protectively in front of Chewbacca.
No one moved. Only ten fighters remained.
Veronica lowered her charged arm. Amir exhaled. For now, Rango was safe.
Meanwhile, Mara was still fighting.
His two teammates had been evacuated by medpod. No life-threatening injuries. Mara now faced a helmeted Mandalorian, sword in hand.
"Why did you kill my men?" Mara demanded.
"They had bounties," the Mandalorian replied calmly.
"Haha, good answer. So why are you here? Why fight in this damn arena?"
"Combat training."
"Ha! I like you, Mando. But I still have to avenge my men. They were scum, but they were mine."
"If you defeat me today, I'll drop it."
"But I won't," the Mandalorian said. "You're worth quite a bit too."
Mara grinned, raised his broadsword, and charged. His cybernetic body granted him blazing speed.
They clashed. Mara wielded his broadsword like a dagger. Their blades met again and again.
Two dull thuds rang out. Mara's elbow slammed into the Mandalorian's helmet. Simultaneously, the Mandalorian's kick sent Mara flying.
They both collapsed.
The Mandalorian pushed the sword off his leg and sat up slowly. Mara pulled a dagger from his side, but sparks flew from his cybernetics.
"Damn system's short-circuiting... lucky day, Mando."
The Mandalorian didn't respond. He just looked up.
Mara looked up too.
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the dome. Gilded panels burst open. Shards rained down as the crowd screamed.
A small starship descended through the hole, circling the arenas.
Its doors opened, and crates were dropped into the arenas.
Long, black supply cases crashed onto the ground, cracking open.
Four arenas were still in combat. All fighting stopped as eyes turned to the crates.
The Mandalorian, next to one, kicked it open. It sprang wide.
Inside: a pristine blaster rifle.
Without hesitation, the Mandalorian took it, eyes locked on the surrounding chaos.
All around, slave gladiators scrambled for the crates—desperate to arm themselves.
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