The air was knocked out of Kaiden's lungs as a brutal punch crashed into his midsection.
'H-how?'
He was thrown back, skidding roughly across the arena grounds before coming to a stop at the edge.
"That's a rune art!"
"He's Mark Three!?"
Loud gasps rippled through the watching crowd. However, Kaiden didn't appear to hear any of it.
"Urk!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood, then pushed himself up with gritted teeth, staring at Zephyrion with a burning glare.
"Y-you… you've been hiding your power this whole time?"
"…"
Kaiden gnashed his teeth at Zephyrion's silence. It was only now that he noticed the eye Zephyrion was using to look at him; emotionless, as though he were staring at nothing at all.
His grip tightened around his sword as he became aware of the weight of the entire coliseum's gaze on him.
'Focus.'
This was his moment. His chance. Before the whole house. Before the head of house.
He couldn't lose here.
Not to him.
'He's still a waste.'
