Nadir's weapon had a unique aura, the kind only emitted by legendary objects like Priscilla's Yang Sword—or my own Yin Sword.
"Well... You sure had that well hidden, you son of a bitch."
I truly hadn't expected Nadir to be hiding such an ace up his sleeve. With a weapon like that, he could have easily killed me when I went to hit him for losing the revolver.
The fact that he didn't... well, I'll admit I have no idea what that could mean.
For someone who didn't even appear in the original story, this guy was making me very curious.
After dealing with the Wolgarm, Nadir yawned as if he had just woken up, stretched like an athlete, and started running much faster than a drunken, sedentary blacksmith should be capable of.
I watched in amazement as he leapt over a group of mabeasts and turned them into minced meat in a matter of seconds, repeating the process until only the strongest ones remained.
His spear moved so fast and in so many directions that it looked like a laser pointer being handled by a Chilean with Parkinson's having an epileptic seizure during an earthquake.
"So you can fight at this level, huh? It's hard to believe you got captured so easily."
The same could be said of Félix. While the cat-boy wasn't strong, he had his own ways of defending himself—not to mention he was in a "safe" place and nobody noticed anything.
That was when I remembered Gilbert mentioning a highly skilled ally. Who could have been the one who presumably captured both Nadir and Félix?
Not only that... I began to suspect that this person was the main force behind the riot—or at least behind its success and the subsequent escape.
On top of that, Gilbert implied that this was an enemy of mine. Which meant that person was doing all this just to screw me over.
Was it someone I knew? A character from the original story, or a "new" one like Nadir and Gilbert? There were too many possibilities.
For now, I put my deductions on hold and focused on the final stretch of the spectacle.
Only two mabeasts remained: an Earthworm (the name was pretty self-explanatory) and a Hungry Horse King (a deformed centaur with a long, curved horn instead of a head, plus a massive mouth in its torso). Both were specimens brought from the Sand Dunes of Augria.
How the hell did these guys manage to approach, capture, and transport mabeasts like those without dying in the process? Was there something stopping them from turning around and attacking the people in the stands—or trying to escape?
Apparently, yes.
As the Earthworm dug a hole, the Hungry Horse King let out a horrifying screech and began charging a fire attack in its mouth.
Nadir didn't flinch. Instead, he waited until the fireball was right in front of him, then jumped and dodged it at the last second.
However, the Earthworm appeared at that moment and tried to swallow him. To my surprise, Nadir twisted midair and stabbed his spear into the beast's tough hide, using it as leverage to propel himself acrobatically toward the other monster.
The centaur tried to skewer him with its conical weapons, but Nadir gracefully evaded and drove his spear straight into the Hungry Horse King's mouth as it was preparing another attack.
The fire magic collapsed violently, triggering a massive explosion. When the smoke cleared, Nadir stood among the charred remains of the beast, his body exuding a strange reddish aura that matched the tone of his spear.
"He's getting stronger. Is that the property of his weapon?"
As if realizing that the human wasn't prey but a predator, the Earthworm burrowed underground. This time, Nadir didn't wait. Spinning the spear in his hands, he struck the ground with the butt end, and the earth filled with cracks from which red light emerged.
A powerful tremor shook the foundations of the coliseum. The audience and the announcer screamed in horror, thinking the entire structure would collapse, when the arena split apart, revealing the tunnels the Earthworm had created below.
As if saying, "There you are," Nadir gave a faint smile and dove in, spear in hand, toward the exposed location of the beast. The worm tried to escape, but its massive size doomed it—Nadir split it in two with a single motion.
"Impressive. He's fighting at the level of the strongest in the kingdom. How strong can he become?"
At last, the spectacle was over. Nadir returned to the upper arena and looked at the announcer, waiting for the declaration of his victory.
"Oh... W-Well! It seems our man has done it! A big round of applause for him!"
Applause and cheers erupted immediately, though there was a strange feeling in the air, as if this wasn't truly over.
The next instant, a new figure appeared—a man in his thirties, with an imposing build and a smug expression.
"As agreed, Nadir Ashveil will obtain his freedom! Let us give a warm welcome to Mr. Hendrick Strom, owner of the coliseum!"
"Another district leader..."
The crowd grew even louder, as if expecting something to happen. My gut feeling intensified.
Hendrick stopped in front of Nadir, looking down on him.
"That was an interesting display. Not bad for a vagabond..."
"Please," Nadir replied sarcastically, "I'll blush if you flatter me that much."
They stared at each other with poorly concealed hostility. I wondered when they'd drop the act, and the announcer chose the perfect moment to clear his throat.
"Very well! Mr. Hendrick will do the honors."
With those words, the leader stepped forward, his body emitting an intense, electrifying pressure. The announcer smiled.
"Nadir Ashveil, you will now be freed from your slavery... and from your mortality! You will become a legend that lives on in the memories of those who witnessed your feats! The end of your story will be an epic fight to the death against our mighty leader! Is there a better reward!?"
I facepalmed.
"This feels like a bad parody of Gladiator..."
Nadir scratched his neck, bored. His red aura radiated far more power than Hendrick's presence.
"Die here? Nah. I'll win."
That comment stirred excitement in the crowd. Hendrick smiled.
"If you're so confident, you won't mind giving me the first move, right?"
"Sure. Do whatever you want," Nadir shrugged, sounding more indifferent than arrogant.
I wanted to tell him it wasn't wise to underestimate an unknown enemy—but that would've made me a hypocrite.
Hendrick extended his hand and recited a strange spell.
"El Zea."
Suddenly, a lightning bolt shot from his body, striking Nadir in less than half a second. It was an instant, lethal attack.
At first, it didn't seem to have any effect. But then Nadir collapsed, kicking up a bit of dust.
He didn't appear dead—his body still exuded that red energy.
"Where's your confidence now, huh?" Hendrick sneered. "That's what you get for being arrogant."
The stands fell silent. No one knew what to expect.
I felt the urge to jump down and help Nadir before he was killed. I was about to act when I noticed he had moved again.
Weak and trembling, he used his spear as support as he slowly got back on his feet.
"Well... I definitely didn't expect that."
"Hey, are you serious?" Hendrick's expression changed completely, showing shock. "You shouldn't be able to move after that."
"Buddy... I've had drinks stronger than your little lightning bolt. If you want to knock me down, you'll have to try harder."
"You bastard... Who do you think you are?" With his pride wounded, Hendrick began radiating a nearly tangible bloodlust. "I'll end your pathetic life right now."
He raised his hand to cast another spell, but Nadir was faster, moving with impossible speed for someone who had just been struck by lightning.
The tip of the spear sank into Hendrick's abdomen, dragging him along its trajectory until he was slammed into the stone wall of the arena.
Hendrick saw only a fleeting red flash. The next thing he knew, there was a hole in his midsection. He was practically pinned to the wall—and unless he wanted to make it worse, he couldn't move.
As if the body had been waiting for the mind, Hendrick coughed up a mouthful of blood. It didn't take much thought to realize he was screwed.
"Damn it... There's no way I lost... and like this..."
"It's fine. You don't need to be ashamed," Nadir approached him, looking at him with dead eyes. "We're all pathetic beings, driven by selfish desires. Fortunately, our lives are fragile—and limited."
"Go to hell, you crazy bastard!" Hendrick roared. "If I fall, everyone falls! Al Zea!"
Suddenly, the sky filled with lights—not stars or flames, but lightning. A storm summoned by a single man.
The audience gasped in horror. The spell activated instantly, raining lightning down on the coliseum.
Watching the lights and hearing the screams, Nadir smirked and closed his eyes, waiting for the same fate as everyone else.
But that fate never came—because I flew in at full speed and pulled him out just before he was electrocuted.
"Huh? Boss?" he looked at me in surprise as we landed near the coliseum. "What are you doing here?"
"Besides saving your life? I'm looking for Félix Argyle. Have you seen him?"
Nadir stared at me for a few seconds, as if processing the question. Then he made an uncomfortable face.
"Damn... yeah."
"What does that mean?" I narrowed my eyes.
"Come with me. I'll show you where he is," was all he said before taking off running.
I wasn't satisfied with the lack of explanation, but this wasn't the time for chatting, so I followed him without complaint.
***
He wanted to die.
He truly wanted to die.
The last hours of his life had been hell.
He had been forced to use his powers in the vilest, cruelest ways. For him, there was no worse torture than that.
For hours, he healed people—only for them to continue suffering afterward. He treated all kinds of injuries: battle wounds, fractures, dislocations, amputations, tears, burns, and lacerations in places that suggested unspeakable acts.
Félix even considered killing his patients to free them from the endless suffering they were doomed to endure—physically and mentally. But most were already so mentally broken they didn't seem aware anymore, like empty shells.
Every time Félix was forced to use his healing magic, he felt nauseous from the disgust of participating in such an atrocity.
There was also the guilt of allowing all of it to happen—and being unable to stop it. He had been powerless when he was kidnapped, and he was powerless now as they used him like a tool.
No—there was another task. One even worse.
"Please... don't make me do this... I don't want to..."
"If you don't, we'll sell you at the market! Want to risk being bought by some pervert who'll brutally rape you? Do you know what they'd do to your ass out there, kitty? Or do you like the idea?"
"I... fine. I'll do whatever you want."
As much as he hated both options, Félix had to prioritize himself. If he died—or broke—how could he ever escape and return to Lady Crusch?
He had to do whatever it took to survive.
That's what he told himself as they brought a man before him and ordered him to use his powers to brainwash him—since the man was too tough for conventional torture.
"Who is he...?" Félix asked timidly.
"That doesn't matter. Get to work."
Félix swallowed and stepped forward, raising his hands to touch the man's face. Suddenly, the man's mouth opened slightly.
"Nadir..." he murmured. "Nadir Ashveil."
Unlike the others, this man still retained his mind.
That realization shattered Félix.
Tears filled his eyes as he broke down crying while beginning to manipulate the mind of Nadir Ashveil.