Atlas held his breath when he saw what was happening. It was truly happening.
"Those are that lord's troops, aren't they?" he said quietly, almost to himself.
Because what that lord did to the defeated was clear to everyone who watched. He beheaded them once the duel was over.
The others around the field burst into loud cheers and wild laughter, shouting praise and crude jokes as if they had just witnessed a grand performance instead of an execution.
It did not end there. After that, several men stepped forward, dragging the lifeless body across the dirt without care.
Then the sparring resumed again with another fighter stepping into the circle as if nothing had happened.
"If I look closely, my lord, the ones forced to spar are those who performed the worst in the last battle," Kurogasa said. "It seems like a punishment for those who ranked at the bottom. A public warning for anyone who dares to fall behind."
Atlas gave a slow nod.
