Saint Truga stepped forward, holding two daggers in her hands. She entered the arena after bowing to Dargah.
She was full of confidence… and ego.
From the other side, Rin walked forward. He was stopped and asked to choose a weapon, but he didn't pick one.
"I'm fine with my hands," he said, stepping into the arena.
She smirked, mocking him.
"You think you can take me on without a weapon? Who do you think you are… you lowly merchant?"
Rin didn't respond. He stood there silently, listening to everything around him.
He could feel it.
Sam was watching him.
Rin slowly turned back, and that small movement surprised Sam.
Their eyes met.
Both of them smiled.
A quiet smile… a challenge.
As if they were saying to each other—
Let's meet in the finals.
Truga spun her daggers in her hands… and suddenly threw one at Rin at incredible speed.
Rin casually tilted his head.
The dagger flew past him and struck the ground.
Truga's expression hardened.
"Don't push your luck."
With the remaining dagger in her hand, she rushed toward him in anger.
She leaped up and tried to land a kick—
Rin blocked it, caught her leg, and threw her back.
She rolled, got up immediately, and charged again.
This time, she aimed to slash him with her dagger—
—but Rin caught her hand and flipped her upside down.
And in the next moment—
crack.
He broke her hand.
The entire arena fell silent.
The match ended… instantly.
Dargah leaned forward slightly.
"Oh… a warrior among merchants?"
Sam smiled to himself.
He already knew who was going to win from the beginning.
And just like that—
Rin won the match.
Rin stepped forward and said, "I will fight the remaining matches."
He hadn't even used his demon power.
In truth, he had learned combat from Daris. His skill was already at Varner's level… maybe even higher.
The Holy Master accepted his challenge.
Rin defeated the remaining two students with ease.
Since Wuan was badly injured from his previous match, he was forced to give up. He wanted to step forward, but his wife held him back, pleading with him not to go.
And then—
It was time for the next match.
Donge stepped forward, carrying his sword.
He looked at Rin and warned him,
"I don't know how you won those matches… but I strongly suggest you pick a weapon. Or you will regret it."
Rin smiled.
A mocking smile.
Both of them stood ready—
to face each other.
Donge didn't waste any time.
He imbued his sword with power and charged toward Rin. The blade glowed with holy energy.
He swung from above—
Rin dodged.
Donge continued attacking, striking left and right without pause.
Rin moved calmly, slipping past every swing.
Then—
he picked up a stone.
Donge went for a full-force strike—
Rin avoided it and struck Donge's hand with the stone.
The impact made Donge lose control.
His sword fell.
Rin stepped in and kicked him back.
Donge fell—but got up immediately and rushed forward again.
This time, he threw punches.
Left. Right.
Rin dodged each one… and countered at the same time.
Both of them kept exchanging blows—
until—
Donge landed a hit.
But it wasn't enough.
Rin stepped forward and delivered a heavy punch.
Donge's vision blurred.
His body gave in.
Rin struck him again—
and Donge fell to the ground.
He didn't get back up.
The match was over.
Rin had won.
Without wasting any time, Sam jumped into the arena.
"Let's start the final now," he said.
Rin shifted his focus toward him.
A soldier rushed forward, carrying Sam's weapon—but Sam raised his hand.
"I don't need one."
He glanced at Rin.
"That lowly merchant is fighting with his bare hands… why should I carry a weapon?"
He chose to fight Rin the same way.
Both of them stepped forward—
and then charged at each other.
Sam struck first, aiming a punch at Rin's face—
Rin moved to the left and countered with a punch to Sam's stomach.
Sam didn't step back.
Instead, he smiled.
"You're quite strong…"
In the next instant, he drove his knee upward—
It struck Rin in the face.
Rin was thrown back.
Sam followed up immediately, slamming his fists down toward the ground—
—but Rin barely escaped in time.
Rin got up and threw a right hook.
Sam was knocked back and fell to the ground.
Rin didn't stop. He rushed forward, jumped, and tried to stomp him—
—but in a split second, Sam escaped.
He swept Rin's leg and pulled him down, locking him into a triangle hold.
Rin reacted quickly.
He twisted his body, slipped out, and got back on his feet.
He grabbed Sam's shoulder and threw him behind him.
Sam rolled and stood up again.
Both of them stared at each other.
For a moment—
the arena went silent.
Rin smiled and raised his hand.
Come at me.
Sam charged forward.
Both of them jumped high.
Rin blocked his kick mid-air and tried to punch—
—but Sam deflected it.
They landed and rushed at each other again, exchanging punches and kicks from all sides.
The fight grew intense.
Both of them were trying to finish each other.
Suddenly—
Rin blocked Sam's hand—
and in the next second, punched him straight in the face.
Sam was pushed back.
But he came forward again, anger burning in his eyes.
He tried to use his knee again—
—but this time, Rin kicked his other leg and knocked him down.
Rin stepped in and started striking him harder.
Sam coughed blood.
Rin stepped back.
He thought it was over.
He turned toward Dargah—
and made a silent gesture of challenge.
And then—
A blade pierced his back.
Uruka and Tian screamed, "Big brother Patrick!"
Sam stood behind him, holding a holy knife.
In the next moment—
Rin's human form disappeared.
His demon form emerged.
Everyone around him froze in shock.
Dargah's voice echoed—
"Catch him… now."
All the Holy Masters surrounded Rin.
Dargah slowly walked toward him… whispering a prayer.
Rin couldn't move.
The holy blade in his back had weakened him.
For the next fifteen minutes, he couldn't use his power.
Dargah raised his hand—
and cast a holy spell.
Rin couldn't react.
But suddenly—
Uruka jumped in.
She took the attack.
The spell hit her directly.
It wasn't just a holy spell—
It was a curse.
Uruka collapsed instantly, coughing blood.
Rin froze.
He couldn't believe what had just happened.
"Hey… brat… get up!"
His voice shook.
"What are you doing here?! Can't you see… I'm a demon?!"
Uruka looked at him.
And smiled.
Then—
she fell again.
Dargah began chanting again.
The merchants rushed into the arena.
"Protect Uruka!" Elder Shah shouted.
The Holy Saints moved to stop them.
And suddenly—
Smoke spread across the ground.
No one could see anything.
From within the smoke, a man appeared.
He grabbed Rin and Uruka—
and leaped away, disappearing into the fog.
At the same time, Rosene arrived.
"Wuan! This way!" she called.
Wuan's family rushed toward her.
She lifted Wuan, while Tian and his mother followed.
When the smoke cleared—
Rin and Uruka were gone.
The Holy Saints captured the remaining merchants.
The man ran toward a lake.
Rosene and the others followed him.
He placed Rin down and pushed a large stone nearby.
A hidden path opened—
leading deep underground.
"Rosene… get in," he said.
Then he turned to Wuan.
"Trust me. I will protect your family."
One by one, they followed Rosene and jumped into the passage.
The man stepped forward to pick up Rin—
but stopped.
His eyes caught something.
A royal symbol… on Rin's belt.
Rin had kept it hidden during the journey—
but now, unconscious, it was exposed.
The man hesitated.
Then made a decision.
He left Rin there.
And jumped into the passage, carrying Uruka.
After some time—
the path closed.
Rin lay there, unconscious.
The humans began searching for him.
Suddenly—
a figure appeared.
He picked Rin up—
and flew across the river.
After some time, Rin slowly opened his eyes.
Calt was standing before him, holding a human captive.
"My lord," Calt said, "I hunted him down. The one with the tattoo… this is him."
He revealed the man's tattoo.
Rin smiled.
"Did you save the others?" he asked.
Calt frowned. "Others? I saw only you, my lord. No one else was there."
Rin's expression changed.
"So… you didn't save me first."
He paused.
"During the smoke… I saw someone. He picked me up."
"Who… was that man?"
- to be continued -