"STOP, YOU IDI*T! I SURRENDERED!"
Elian's scream echoed across the dimension—
But Kenshi didn't hear it.
His eyes were blank, his mind fogged by the bloodlust of combat.
The katana was already cutting through the air, its edge inches away from Elian's neck…
In the final moment, Akito dashed forward and grabbed the blade with his bare hand.
In the same instant, Kasumi soared into the air—ten glowing feathers fell around them, forming a shimmering dome:
[Skill Activated: Wind Cage]
"You already won! Elian surrendered! Why are you still attacking?!"
Kasumi's voice was cold, but tense.
Kenshi, as if waking from a trance, slowly came back to his senses.
He didn't say a word.
His katanas returned silently to their sheaths.
"The match is over. Winner: Kenshi."
The cage vanished. Everyone returned to their places as Akito raised his voice:
"We move on to the second match! Arden vs Targus! Wait for my signal!"
Two fighters faced each other.
Arden—lean, focused, with calm fire in his eyes.
Targus—massive like a mountain, already cracking his knuckles in excitement.
"This is gonna be fun, Foxy. Show me everything you've got," Targus chuckled.
"He's a walking monster… Strength, speed, defense—he's got it all. But I've got the brain."
flashed through Arden's mind.
"FIGHT!" Akito shouted.
Flash.
Targus activated [Jotun's Blood] — giant's fury surged through his veins, his muscles bulged, eyes turning blood-red.
Arden activated [Lapet's Pulse] — and vanished from sight.
They clashed in the center —
A burst of force cracked the ground beneath them.
Strike after strike — Targus kept up, but Arden danced around, launching rapid kicks to his neck and chest.
"Hit harder, Foxy!" Targus roared, activating:
[Thunder Anchor]
A lightning-fast pull—Arden was dragged back into range.
He barely had time to cross his arms before the blow landed—like a falling meteor.
Arden was hurled backward, gouging a trench in the ground.
"How do you beat a damn wrecking ball like this…?"
Arden dug his claws into the soil, halting his slide and scraping his palms raw.
Targus was already charging again—like a raging elephant.
"No obvious weakness in this mode. I'll have to tank it…"
The hammer came crashing down—Arden dodged, countered with a strike to the leg, then two more to the torso.
"You've gotten faster, Fox, faster than last time.
But stronger than me? Nah, never gonna happen!"
Targus growled, charging again.
He swung his hammer repeatedly, but couldn't land a solid hit.
Then Arden's boost faded—his speed dropped, and dodging became harder.
Targus noticed immediately.
"Fox, your skill's done. You've already lost."
He lunged forward.
Their eyes locked.
Swing—strike—
But Arden didn't retreat.
He took the hit in a block and, using the momentum, smashed a kick into Targus' face before being knocked away.
Targus simply laughed. He was loving this fight.
He charged again, but his enhancement faded too.
In the distance, Arden smiled slightly behind his guard.
"This is it. My chance."
Just before impact, Arden ripped off his shirt and tossed it right at Targus' face.
The giant instinctively swatted it aside—
But Arden had already slipped around him, setting up his strike.
"Clever bastard…"
Targus muttered internally.
"Too late to block—"
But Arden halted mid-swing and instantly pivoted behind him.
[Skill Activated: Fang of Deceit]
A strike—
Right into the old battle scar on Targus' right side.
A sharp surge of pain.
For the first time, Targus' face twisted in anger.
He dropped to one knee, clutching the wound.
"Did I win…?"
Arden thought.
"He actually… did it,"
Akito whispered.
But it was too soon.
Targus grabbed Arden by the head and slammed him into the ground.
Again.
Then hurled him aside like a toy.
[Skill Re-Activated: Jotun's Blood]
"You got cocky too fast, Foxy…"
He appeared beside Arden in a blink.
Blow to the back — Arden lifted off the ground.
Another — to the torso.
He was airborne — but…
[Skill Activated: Lapet's Pulse]
A sudden twist — a kick in mid-air to Targus' chest.
The giant stumbled back.
Arden landed, panting.
Targus—same.
They locked eyes.
"This is even better than the first match,"
Kasumi whispered.
Another flash.
They clashed again —
A storm of strikes, dodges, grunts.
Twenty seconds of hell.
The ground beneath them cracked apart.
And then — a chance.
Targus' boost expired.
Arden had one second left.
He struck — the final blow meant to end it all.
"I did it… Watch me, Akito… I won…"
But—
Brunhilde's Shield.
"Da*n…"
Arden whispered.
The counter-blow landed square on his head.
He collapsed.
Unconscious.
Targus stood for a moment, then dropped to one knee.
He was still standing.
"…Great match, Foxy."
Akito was silent, stunned.
"Young Master…"
Elian whispered.
"Huh? Oh. Right.
Winner of the second match: Targus!"
Arden came to.
He clenched his fist, staring down.
"I trusted too soon… Thought about Akito's reaction… Relaxed…
Forgot his third skill…
Fuk…"*
He slammed his fist into the ground.
A few minutes later, all fighters were resting on the sidelines, catching their breath.
Akito stepped forward:
"Next match—Aurelia vs Kasumi."
[Noxveil]
Hey there, reader!
If you've made it this far, thank you so much. I'm writing this story in Russian and translating it into English — so I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Even one small comment gives me huge motivation 💬💙
Let me know who your favorite character is so far!