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 head that prevented me from

away from where I was, carefully alternating his head in my direction

"Khh…"

through my whole body, prompting me

twitched repeatedly as my body seemed to refuse

of will, I supported my body up

my ears decreased, the

Thunderous.

I'd describe the audience once my

audience was thunderous. So loud that it

the back kf my mind, I grabbed onto the side of my waist and forcefully suppressed

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

had still not announced the victor, I knew

teeth hard, I slowly turned around, and it was

a worse state as his right arm hung loosely down his body. On his left was his axe. Blood dripped

grabbing onto a small fruit from the

this fucker

inside of my mind

in a state to fight, then it

move my body, it would ache unctrollably as all the muscles inside

that, my mana was completely drained. I was no longer in a state to be

if there was one thing that I could do, it was to withstand

pain, but that was merely something I did to distract

"Huuuu…"

bracelet, I took out a couple potions

and the extent of my injuries were just too much to heal in

it was enough to give me that one push to fight

Thump!

clenching my

Thump! Thump!

neared each other. It wasn't long before we

figure looked down on me from above as I looked back at him straight into his eyes, neither

"Khrrr…khrrr..."

Kimor's breathing

Thamp!

sound, Kimor dropped

"Huaaaarg!!!!"

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

I

fist. A powerful glow suddenly enshrouded my hand as I breathed out and

to an agreement, we both

Bang—

What followed after was a strong circular pressurized wind gale that shot outwardly, our clothes fluttering due

"Khaaaa!!"

long before our hands separated. A pained groan escaped from my lips

sound as his body skid back a couple of meters.

his body was tougher than mine.

and followed up with another punch. Only a second

"Huaaag!!"

on time, Kimor raised his hand and

Bang—

blast shot out as Kimor's figure skid back even more. A pained shout

"Fall, damn it!"

still standing. Taking a step forward, my left leg similarly gave out, but I quickly moved

hand on the ground, I hopped forward

"Khhhh…"

fact that every part of my being wanted me to give up, I

had no choice but to do

No, I didn't want

head and staring at him who was barely holding

trashing all of the experiences