The Author's POV

Click—!

It was very subtle, but almost everyone in the arena and the ones spectating were able to hear the sound.

Zack and Lorena, who were staring at the screen, their eyes filled with shock, suddenly stood up as they watched Ren's figure disappear from the sky.

He was already traveling at a speed that made it hard for them to follow, but the moment they heard the clicking sound, his figure, which was already a blur, completely disappeared from their vision.

What followed his disappearance was a deathly silence as Ren's figure suddenly materialized in front of Kimor.

It had to be noted that before his figure disappeared, he was still quite far from him. For him to have suddenly appeared in front of Kimor at such speed, many couldn't follow his movements.

Clink—

It was then that Ren's sword met with Kimor's axe. A loud metallic sound rang in the air, travelling through the ears of each person in the arena.

With the tip of his sword meeting the edge of Kimor's axe, time seemed to stand still as everyone kept their eyes glued on the two figures standing in the middle of the arena.

BOOOOOOOM—

The originally quiet environment was soon drowned out by the terrifying sound of an explosion as four pressurized circular energy beams shot out from the point of contact between the two weapons.

The whole arena started to crack apart as small pieces of rock flung in the air like projectiles. Unfortunately for Ren and Kimor, the projectiles quickly attacked them as even more wounds started to appear on their bodies.

It wasn't long before Ren's upper garments tore off, revealing his muscular body that was riddled with scars. The sight was deeply etched into the vision of everyone that was watching.

Soon enough, dust flew in the air, covering the vision of most spectators.

The explosion was so loud and powerful that even after it disappeared, some people had difficulty hearing.

Slowly, once the after-effects of the explosion died down and the dust slowly started to settle, every spectator leaned forward with anticipation.

Their palpitating heartbeats rang throughout their heads as they all had the same question inside of their mind.

'Who won?'

Just who had won between the two contestants?

"This…"

It wasn't long before everyone got their answer. Zack and Lorena simultaneously looked at the screen with extreme surprise.

Displayed on their screen were the images of both Ren and Kimor laying down on the ground, blood seeping from the bodies of both individuals. Neither of them was moving.

Zack and Lorena's heart squeezed the moment they saw this. Zack softly muttered in response.

"This… It looks like both contestants are knocked out cold. The match seems to be coming to end in a—"

However, just as he thought that the match was going to end in a draw, his eyes lit up as he watched both Ren and Kimor's body twitch.

His eyes isntantly lit up when he saw this.

***

"Ugh."

Everything felt like a blur to me. I don't quite remember what happened after my strike, but all I could feel at the moment was an intense pain coursing down my body.

Regaining a bit of clarity, I felt my cheek pressing against something hard.

"…ah."

Opening my eyes, I realized that I was on the ground. Blood leaked from my mouth.

Slowly lifting my head and glancing around, I could see all the spectators' eyes directed in my general direction.

I couldn't quite hear anything.

of my

was, carefully alternating his

"Khh…"

an electrifying pain ran through my whole body, prompting me to fall

eyes twitched repeatedly as my

through sheer grit of will, I supported my body up with the aid of my

inside of my ears decreased, the

Thunderous.

I'd describe the audience once

loud that it reminded me of a

I grabbed onto

my injuries, from the way I was having a hard time moving and breathing, I could tell that I was

then, since the referee had still not announced the victor, I

and it was then

state was the same as me, or rather, he seemed to be in a worse state as his right arm hung loosely down his body. On his left was his

a small fruit from the side of his pants, he quickly put it in

fucker

cursed inside of my

I said that I was in a state

move my body, it

that, my mana was completely drained. I was no longer

I could do, it was to withstand

and there because of the pain, but that was merely

"Huuuu…"

bracelet, I took out a couple potions and

the potion weren't instantaneous and the extent of my injuries were just too much to heal in such a

that

Thump!

Raising my head and clenching my fists, I similarly took

Thump! Thump!

both neared each other. It wasn't long before we came face to face with one

down on me from above as I looked back at him straight into

"Khrrr…khrrr..."

feel Kimor's breathing from where

Thamp!

Kimor dropped the axe in

"Huaaaarg!!!!"

at the top of his lungs. His body arched backwards, his hand

him prepare himself to attack, I decided

fist. A powerful glow

an agreement,

Bang—

sound reverberated throughout the whole arena the moment our fists connected. What followed after was a strong circular pressurized wind gale that shot

"Khaaaa!!"

from my lips as I felt

similar sound as his body skid back a

mine. But that was the only thing I could do given my

everything, I clenched my left fist and followed up with another punch. Only a second had passed from the previous

"Huaaag!!"

his hand and

Bang—

skid back even more. A pained shout escaped from Kimor's

"Fall, damn it!"

my left leg similarly gave out, but I quickly moved my right leg and barely managed to stop

I hopped forward with my right leg

"Khhhh…"

that every part of my being wanted me to

had no choice but to do

No, I didn't want

was stronger than me? Raising my head and staring at him who was barely holding on, I knew that this was the result of all the pain and suffering I had been going

up now was the same as trashing all of the experiences I