Step.
The sound of someone coming closer broke my thoughts, and I turned my head.
Number 32 stood next to me. His eyes were fixed on me as his arm lifted—then he swung in a wide arc toward my face.
Swoosh.
I reacted on instinct.
I grabbed his arm and stepped inside.
My other hand lifted to counter. I enhanced it—warmth spread up toward my fingers—and I punched.
Swoosh.
But right at the moment of impact, the mana vanished.
Flesh hit flesh.
Smash.
32's head snapped back, and his body followed, collapsing as I released his arm.
Thud.
He lay sprawled on the ground, blood flowing down from his nose as he tried to push himself up.
My left arm dropped to my side as my gaze fixed on my right fist.
'I hesitated...'
I had enhanced my fist, ready to end it with one clean hit. But the moment my fist neared his face—and I saw the terrified look in his eyes—the mana dispersed, and I hit him with only my physical strength.
32 had already risen when I lifted my arms into a guard position again.
The shouts of the crowd broke through.
"Come on, 29!"
"I bet on you!"
"Fifty on 29! He can do it!"
"Finish him!"
'I know.'
I spoke to myself as I watched 32 come closer again.
'I could've killed him. But... his eyes. He looked so scared.'
I shook my head.
'No...'
I promised her.
'I would survive.'
Until tomorrow.
Swoosh.
32 launched a straight at my face. I blocked with my left hand as I stepped inside again.
'And if I have to kill to reach my tomorrow...'
My right hand tensed, locked close to my chin. Mana spread toward my fingers. My shoulder rolled as I punched straight at his face, my hips turning with the swing.
Crack.
My fist connected with his face.
The mana enhanced the blow, and it felt like I punched straight through his face.
'So be it.'
Blood splashed over my hand and across my face as 32 fell to the sand.
Thud.
He didn't move anymore.
His chest stopped rising. Blood covered his face and slowly soaked into the ground.
I watched him for a moment longer. Then I wiped my hand on my shirt and walked past him toward the other teens.
"I am sorry."
A weak whisper escaped me as I walked past his corpse.
"But I will remember."
I didn't look back.
The arena looked more like a battlefield now.
More than half of the teens lay unmoving, faces painted red, blood spilling into the sand.
The girl, number 11, was already dead.
Her face was turned into the ground, and one arm was broken at a grotesque angle.
The small boy that 22 and 23 had preyed on was in an even worse state.
His shirt was torn apart. A white bone protruded from his stomach. His face was flattened—unrecognizable.
Next to him lay 22, his head twisted the wrong way.
A few meters away was the corpse of 23.
'That's what you get for targeting the weak.'
My eyes lifted toward the remaining teens.
Five were still alive.
Number 3 was cornered by 24 and 27. Punch after punch flew at him while he dodged, shifting with sharp movements.
On the other side, 34 and 41 wrestled on the sand. 41 had the upper hand—his arms locked around 34's neck.
My feet stopped a few meters away from them.
'I don't need to join their fights.'
I only need to wait for the exhausted winner.
Boom.
The drums thundered, followed by John's clear voice.
"Our little lambs are already warm, as you can see! With two minutes left, we have only five fighters standing—hahah! Or should I say brawling?"
Boom.
Another drumbeat followed.
"It's such a tight finale! With only five fighters left, who will win? Is it number 3, who dominated yesterday's match? Number 29, who patiently waits for his next target? Or will we see a new champion?"
He paused for a breath before continuing.
"Place your last bets now before this heated match comes to a close! And don't forget—Blood!"
The crowd completed it.
"NO MERCY!"
My stomach twisted at the chant.
'How can they scream like that while watching children kill each other?'
My gaze stayed on the two teens on the floor.
And it didn't take long until—
Crack.
A sickening snap echoed as 41 twisted 34's neck.
41 stayed on the sand a bit longer, panting heavily, kneeling over 34's lifeless body.
Then he raised his right arm high, a shout broke out of him.
"Yeah!"
The crowd roared at his celebration.
"That's it, 41!"
"Seventy on 41! He'll take this home!"
"Kill them all!"
I watched him as he staggered to his feet while the crowd fed his brutality.
'This world had gone mad...'
41's eyes locked with mine.
For a moment, we just stared.
Then—
Step.
He started walking toward me.
I raised my arms. My left fist tightened beside my forehead, my right near my chin. Hands balled into fists.
Step.
He started to run until he was close enough.
Step.
Then jumped, throwing a superman punch at me.
Swoosh.
I rolled to the side, dodging, and sprang back up, but he was already coming at me again.
He twisted his waist and raised his leg, delivering a kick, aiming for my head as I rose with one knee still on the ground.
Thud.
I let mana flow into my left arm and blocked the kick, then reached with my right hand for his leg.
His eyes went wide when I grabbed him.
My grip locked around his thigh while my left arm twisted, catching his calf.
I enhanced both arms as I stood, lifting him before I threw him down.
Bam.
It wasn't enough.
He pushed himself off the sand, coughing, trying to rise.
I didn't give him that chance.
Step.
I stepped in, planting my left foot firmly in the ground before I swung my right leg at his unguarded head—mana reinforcing the strike.
Crack.
Pain shot through my shin as it met his skull.
But it ended it, and 41 collapsed.
Haah.
Haah.
I panted heavily, lungs burning.
But there was no time to rest.
My gaze shifted away from his still body and toward the others.
They were already done.
Number 3 stood over 24's lifeless body.
He held 27 in the air, hands locked around his throat tightly.
27's face turned blue.
His feet kicked desperately, but it was useless.
3's grip didn't loosen.
Not until—
27 stopped moving.
3 held him a few seconds longer.
Before dropping the body.
Thud.
He didn't spare the corpse a glance as his head turned toward me.
His red eyes locked with mine.
I knew that gaze.
He had this strange edge in his eyes that couldn't be seen but felt—like bugs crawling across my skin.
'A murderer.'
Step.
He walked toward me with slow steps.
Step.
I raised my guard as I watched him come closer.
While I fought 32, he killed two more, and I didn't even want to know how many he had killed before.
Step.
He smiled and lifted his arms as he closed in.
Step.
Before, this was survival.
A game of death they forced on us.
Step.
But now…
Step.
Now it wasn't just survival.
Step.
Not for him.
3 stepped into range.
Swoosh.
He threw a straight at my face—fast, too fast to dodge.
Thud.
I blocked with my enhanced arm, but the force drove me backward anyway. My feet slid through the sand.
My arm burned where he hit.
But I had no time to focus on it as he was already throwing the next punch.
His shoulder rolled.
I stepped to the right before the fist even reached me.
Step.
Swoosh.
It passed by my ear.
My eyes focused on him.
The arena's noise faded.
All that existed was him.
'He's strong.'
He knows how to use mana, making his fists too fast for my eyes to follow.
Gulp.
Nervousness spread through me.
This will be difficult.
His left foot twisted, and his right leg lifted.
Step.
Swoosh.
I stepped back before the kick could connect.
Mana spread across my body—arms and legs—as I had practiced.
Heat flooded my muscles.
Step.
Swoosh.
Then I stepped in and threw a jab.
Bam.
He blocked, but the force pushed him back.
I took my chance as my strength surprised him and followed up with another jab.
Bam.
Then a straight.
Bam.
His hands stayed tight around his face, blocking every punch.
But blocking wouldn't be enough here.
I threw my next jab at him.
Bam.
Even if you block—
Bam.
It will hurt.
Bam.
Each hit will make you weaker.
Bam.
His arms began to tremble.
Of course they did.
Mana-enhanced fists weren't something you could just block and be done with.
The damage would stack, and if there is enough damage—
Step.
He stepped back as I threw another straight into his guard.
Bam.
His arms dropped for a split second—just enough.
I rolled my shoulder and snapped a jab toward his face.
Crack.
It landed.
His head jerked back, and he tried to create distance.
I didn't allow it.
Step.
I stepped in and threw another straight at him.
Swoosh.
But he stepped in at the same time.
Step.
My eyes widened as he ducked, my punch sliding across his shoulder. His hand clamped onto my shoulder, and he—
Crunch.
Bit down into my forearm.
"Aghh!"
A scream tore out of me as his teeth sank into my flesh. His grip locked my arm in place.
Pain flared up, and blood began to run down my arm.
But this wasn't the time to stop.
I let myself fall backward and drove a kick into his chest with my full weight behind it.
Bam.
His jaw stayed clenched as my kick landed.
Step.
He staggered backward, grip loosening while tearing flesh from my arm as his jaw unclenched, before falling to the ground.
Thud.
My back hit the ground, too, but I stood up a moment later.
Pain pulsed through my right arm where he bit me.
But now was not the time.
I staggered up and panted heavily while my head snapped toward him.
He lay still, unmoving.
For a moment, I thought he was dead.
Then his chest rose.
Once.
Twice.
Haah.
I exhaled and walked toward him.
Step.
I stopped beside him.
It wasn't that he didn't have enough strength to stand up.
But he couldn't.
My kick had hit his chest with my full weight behind it.
His ribs were likely broken—maybe even digging into his organs.
Blood left his mouth with every breath.
His eyes were wide as his arm reached toward my leg.
Not to attack.
It was—
A plea.
He must be in a lot of pain.
I hesitated for a heartbeat, my mind racing.
Haah.
I let out a heavy breath before placing my boot on his throat.
His neck rose and fell with each breath, pushing against my foot.
Our gazes locked.
His eyes went wide, and tears ran down his cheeks.
Mana flowed into my leg as I pushed down.
Crack.
His neck snapped.
He died immediately.
My gaze stayed on his face for a breath longer.
He looked… peaceful.
Haah.
I let out a breath and thought.
'He was a murderer.'
I could've let him die slowly, painfully.
My head lifted toward the bright ceiling, lightstones shining down.
The crowd roared in the background.
"29!"
"I knew you would do it!"
"Kill them all!"
My eyes closed.
But I am not like them.