The horn blasted across the arena.
A deep, vibrating sound that settled into Euris' chest.
"BEGIN!"
Silas' voice echoed a second later.
And just like that—
Konner vanished.
Not moved.
Not ran.
Vanished.
Euris barely had time to register it before the ground behind the enemy team cracked from the force of his arrival.
"…Yeah, he's got that covered…"
Euris muttered under his breath.
That left him.
Alone.
Against the rest.
Euris stepped forward, tightening his grip on the staff.
His eyes scanned the battlefield quickly.
Five opponents.
Now four.
"…Pick one…"
His gaze locked onto a smaller figure.
Short.
Lean.
Blonde hair.
Different from the others.
Dual tonfa.
Spiked.
"…Fast type…"
Euris exhaled slowly.
"That's mine."
He rushed forward.
The blonde reacted instantly.
No hesitation.
No panic.
"…Good…"
Euris thought.
"…At least you won't be boring…"
He swung his staff downward with full force.
The strike cut through the air—
But missed.
The blonde slipped to the side with a clean step, his body barely moving out of range.
"…What—"
Before Euris could recover—
The tonfa shot forward.
A direct thrust.
Fast.
Precise.
Instinct took over.
Euris slammed his staff downward, rotating his body at the same time.
CLANG.
Metal collided.
The impact rang through his arms.
But the blonde didn't stop.
Using the momentum of the block—
He twisted.
And drove his other tonfa forward.
Straight into Euris' side.
CRUNCH.
"AGH—!"
Pain exploded through his ribs.
HP: 6 / 10
"You stupid—!" Euris shouted, teeth clenched.
He looked down.
The weapon was stuck.
"…Wait…"
A quick thought sparked.
Instead of pulling away—
He stepped forward.
Twisting his body.
Dragging the blonde with him.
"Got you—!"
The sudden movement threw the blonde off balance.
Euris used that moment.
He rotated his hips—
And brought the staff up.
CRACK.
It slammed into the blonde's chin.
The kid stumbled back, dazed.
"Take that, you bastard!"
Euris didn't stop.
He stepped in.
Raised the staff.
And brought it down.
CRUNCH.
"Again!"
Another strike.
CRUNCH.
"AGAIN!"
One more.
The blonde collapsed.
Silence.
Then—
Enemy Defeated+25 XPBonus XP: +50 (Higher-Level Opponent)
Level 3 — 75 / 200 XP
Euris stepped back, breathing heavily.
"…One down…"
He turned.
Konner was already handling the others.
No—
Destroying them.
Each movement was simple.
Efficient.
Like he wasn't even trying.
"…Of course…"
Euris scanned the field again.
"…Wait…"
Three were down.
Konner had one.
"…Where's the last—"
"RIGHT HERE!"
The shout came from behind him.
Euris' body moved before his mind caught up.
He turned.
A strike was already coming.
Too fast to dodge.
Too close to block normally.
But—
"PARRY!"
His arms shifted.
The staff moved into position.
CLANG.
The attack deflected.
The force still hit him—
HP: 4 / 10
"…That was close…"
Euris breathed out.
"HEY!" the attacker shouted. "How did you block that?! I caught you off guard! That's not fair!"
Euris smirked slightly despite the pain.
"Fair?" he said. "What's fair about a two versus five?"
"SHUT UP!"
"Seriously," Euris continued. "Your logic makes no sense."
"WHY YOU—!"
The greasy guy from earlier charged at him.
No stance.
No control.
Just anger.
"…Idiot…"
Euris steadied himself.
Waited.
The distance closed.
Closer.
Closer.
"…Now."
He stepped forward.
A quick thrust.
The end of the staff drove straight into the guy's throat.
Right at the Adam's apple.
"—!"
The guy choked instantly.
Hands flying to his neck.
"COUGH—! YOU—!"
Euris didn't hesitate.
He pivoted.
Swung the staff sideways.
CRACK.
It connected with the side of the guy's head.
His body dropped.
Still.
"Enemy defeated 25 XP awarded"
"Level 3 100/200 XP"
Euris lowered the staff slowly.
"…That skill is broken…"
he muttered.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
He turned again.
Just in time to see—
Konner flick his wrist.
That was it.
The last opponent hit the ground.
Unconscious.
"…What…"
Euris blinked.
"…A flick…?"
Before he could process it—
BUZZZZ.
The signal rang out.
Match over.
Silas' voice followed.
"Victory. Earthquakers advance."
Euris let out a long breath.
"…We actually did it…"
He looked at his hands.
Still shaking.
Still hurting.
But—
Stronger.
They walked off the arena floor.
Euris climbed back up into the stands and dropped into a seat.
"…I need a break…"
Konner didn't sit.
Of course he didn't.
He walked straight back to the training area.
"…Yeah… makes sense…"
Euris leaned back, staring up at the ceiling.
Then slowly turned his head toward the bracket.
Their name had moved forward.
Next round.
Tomorrow.
"…Alright…"
He scanned the remaining teams.
Most matches were one-sided.
Dominant teams crushing weaker ones.
"…Figures…"
There were still a few strong contenders.
But nothing like Konner.
"…As long as I keep up…"
His eyes grew heavy.
The adrenaline faded.
The exhaustion returned.
"…Just for a minute…"
He closed his eyes.
And this time—
He slept.
Not from boredom.
But from satisfaction.