Odsa, a giant, walked to the center with a hammer on his back. He bowed to Dargah and took his position.
He remembered what Sam had told him before the tournament.
"This tournament should be an example for everyone… so kill them in the most brutal way possible."
Then Wuan and his son were pushed into the arena by the soldiers.
The match was about to begin.
The soldiers asked Wuan to choose his weapon. He knew he had no chance against Odsa, but he still wanted to protect Tian. So he stepped forward and chose a silver shield.
The crowd burst into laughter.
Then they told Tian to choose a weapon.
He picked up a sword—but he couldn't even hold it properly.
The father and son stood together, facing the giant Odsa.
Odsa looked at them and said, "It breaks me to see such weak humans facing me in a fight… don't worry, I will end this as quickly as possible."
He stepped forward and swung his hammer.
The next swing was aimed directly at Wuan.
Wuan raised his shield to block—but even after blocking it, he could feel the overwhelming power behind Odsa's attack.
Tian tried to lift his sword and attack Odsa—but Odsa casually shattered it with his hammer.
He then moved to attack Tian—
—but Wuan stepped in and blocked it again with his shield.
Odsa began striking the shield repeatedly.
Each hit felt like it would break at any moment.
Tian saw his father struggling to protect him.
He realized something.
He stepped out from behind his father.
Wuan shouted, "What are you doing?!"
Odsa smiled and moved toward Tian.
Tian started running around the arena.
Odsa couldn't catch him—but he didn't care.
He turned back toward Wuan and raised his hammer to strike—
—and suddenly, a stone hit him.
Tian.
He kept throwing stones, trying to draw Odsa's attention.
But instead, it only angered him.
Odsa stopped.
He stood still.
Then slowly turned toward Tian.
Without warning, he threw his hammer.
Tian ran—
—but suddenly, Odsa appeared from the other side and punched him hard.
Tian was thrown back and crashed into the arena wall.
"TIAN!" Wuan screamed and ran toward Odsa.
Odsa bent down to pick up his hammer—
—and in that moment, Wuan attacked him with his shield.
He didn't stop.
He kept hitting him again and again.
Odsa grabbed his hammer and, with a powerful upward swing, sent Wuan flying.
The shield slipped from Wuan's hand.
Odsa began walking toward him slowly.
With each step, he swung his hammer.
On the final step, he raised it to strike—
—and suddenly, Tian stood up again and threw another stone.
Odsa turned—
He was about to throw his hammer again—
…but he couldn't.
He looked back.
Wuan was holding the hammer.
Both of them struggled, pulling it in opposite directions.
Odsa asked, "How… are you this strong?"
Wuan replied, "I'm a woodcutter… of course I'm strong."
He tightened his grip.
"I'm strong enough to protect my family."
They both pulled with all their strength—
—and suddenly, Wuan let go.
The hammer swung back—
—and struck Odsa in the head.
Odsa fell.
Blood began to flow from his head.
Wuan quickly picked up his shield and ran to Tian.
He checked on him and said softly, "Tian… don't run away from your dad again. I promise… I will protect you."
Tian stood behind him.
Wuan charged forward toward Odsa with his shield.
But suddenly—
Odsa began to pray.
His hammer started glowing with a blue light.
Wuan moved in to attack—
Odsa lifted his hammer—
Both were about to strike—
—and in the next moment—
The hammer shattered the silver shield into pieces.
Wuan and Tian froze in shock.
Even Sam was surprised.
He couldn't believe that a simple woodcutter had forced Odsa to use his special power.
Odsa lifted his hammer for another attack.
Wuan and Tian barely managed to escape as the hammer came crashing down, striking the ground and cracking it.
Wuan quickly lifted Tian onto his back and started running.
Odsa chased after them, swinging his hammer. With each swing, it felt heavier and more dangerous.
Then he suddenly threw his hammer toward Wuan.
Wuan immediately turned around to protect Tian—and took the full impact of the hit.
Even after that, he didn't stop.
He kept running.
But after a few steps, his body gave in.
He stopped… and collapsed.
Tian rushed to him, trying to wake him up—but the damage from the hammer was too much.
Odsa slowly walked toward them.
He grabbed Tian and threw him aside.
Then he bent down, about to pick up Wuan—
—but Tian got up again and ran toward him.
He started hitting Odsa with random punches.
Odsa didn't even react.
Odsa lifted Wuan up, holding his barely standing body, and started attacking him with his bare hands.
With every punch, Wuan coughed blood.
The entire crowd fell silent.
Fear spread among them.
After ten brutal punches, Odsa threw Wuan to the ground.
Wuan lay there… lifeless.
Odsa then turned toward Tian and started walking toward him.
Tian tried to run—but he fell, crawling backward, trying to reach his father.
Odsa grabbed him and lifted him up.
He was about to strike—
"YOU MONSTER! LEAVE TIAN ALONE!"
Uruka's voice echoed through the arena.
"Big oaf! Leave him!"
She was crying and shouting uncontrollably.
The merchants began to cry as well.
Elder Shah tried to calm her down, but she wouldn't stop. She kept screaming again and again.
One of the Holy Saints stepped forward.
"Hey, brat… shut up, or I'll make you shut up."
He raised his hand to strike her—
—but Ren stepped forward and stood in front of Uruka.
He said nothing.
He just looked at him.
A cold… furious look.
The man froze.
That single look was enough.
A warning.
Don't ever try to lay a hand on her again.
The man stepped back.
Sam watched this… and smiled.
Dargah observed silently, his expression unreadable.
Then everyone's attention returned to the arena.
Odsa continued his attack and was about to strike Tian—
—but a stone hit him.
He turned back.
Wuan was standing.
Covered in blood.
He slowly walked toward Odsa.
"Leave… my son alone…"
Odsa walked toward him, still holding Tian.
As he got close, he punched Wuan again.
But Wuan didn't fall.
He stood still.
Then he pulled his arm back—and struck Odsa with a powerful punch.
The impact forced Odsa to release Tian.
Wuan rushed forward and picked Tian up.
Tian hugged his father tightly.
Odsa got back up.
And suddenly… he started crying.
Not because of the punch—
—but because of them.
The father and son… still standing.
Still fighting.
Still getting back up again and again.
"You fools…" Odsa said, his voice shaking. "You didn't even hit me that hard… but you made me cry like a fool."
"Why can't you just lie down… and accept your fate?"
He walked toward them again, raising his hammer for the final blow—
—and suddenly…
He stopped.
Frozen.
No one understood what was happening.
Wuan and Tian slowly stood up.
The merchants started shouting, "Now! Attack him! Come on!"
The villagers remained silent—
but deep inside, even they wanted to scream for Wuan.
Their blind faith held them back.
Wuan clenched his fist.
He pulled his arm back—
and with all the strength he had left—
he punched Odsa.
Odsa was thrown back and crashed to the ground.
He didn't get up.
The announcer's voice echoed across the arena—
"Wuan and Tian… are your winners!"
Everyone was shocked.
Sam couldn't believe what had just happened.
Dargah looked… disappointed.
The merchants erupted in joy, shouting loudly.
Uruka stopped crying and started smiling.
Elder Shah lifted her up, relieved.
Everyone was happy.
Even Wuan… couldn't believe it.
Then suddenly—
A butterfly landed on his shoulder.
It stayed there for a moment…
…and then flew away.
Wuan watched it carefully as it flew back—
toward a figure standing in the shadows.
The person slowly raised a hand toward him.
No one else noticed it.
But Wuan did.
He knew that hand.
It was Rosene's.
Rosene had returned… to help Wuan.
Odsa slowly walked back.
Tian and Wuan were greeted by Tian's mother. She rushed to them and held them both, crying.
The family was reunited.
The match continued.
The announcer's voice echoed across the arena—
"The next match will be between Saint Truga… and his opponent will be…?"
A man stepped forward.
"It will be me."
All eyes turned toward him.
It was Patrick (aka)
Ren. 🔥
- to be continued -