The knight turned around, stumbling a little in the sand.

  Jason was still trying to piece together what had happened. One moment he was standing; the next, he was face-down in the dust. He remembered the knight charging with inhuman speed.

  As he got up, he saw the knight staggering away toward his entrance. Was he just playing around? Drunk? Or was it something else?

  Jason forced himself to breathe steadily. He needed to stay calm and think.

  Why did he start slow, then accelerate? He needed to be close enough before attacking.

  The memory replayed in Jason’s mind — the elder’s words to Tahuuk, the instant when the knight’s eyes had glowed just before he moved faster than sight.

  He stepped closer to Tahuuk, helping him up.

  “He has a power-up!” Jason exclaimed.

  Tahuuk blinked, still dazed.

  “Remember what your elder said? His eyes! When they glowed, he got faster and stronger!”

  The knight, still staggering, noticed them getting up and turned with an annoyed grunt.

  “Stay down.”

  Jason clenched his fists. “We can’t!”

  The knight steadied his longsword. His stance wasn’t exceptional — different from before.

  He can’t maintain that phase for long, Jason thought.

  “Let’s go. We need to finish this before he powers up again.”

  Tahuuk didn’t fully understand, but nodded anyway. “Alright, brother.”

  He shook off the daze and readied his spear.

  Jason calmed himself, eyes fixed on the knight, trying to read the tells — weight shift, breath, grip.

  The knight shuffled closer, trying to stabilize his stance.

  “Damn,” he muttered, “alright… here we go.”

  He drew his sword into an arc. It felt too slow compared to before. Then Jason realized something was wrong — the sound around him had faded, and even Tahuuk’s movements seemed sluggish. A strange stillness filled his body. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.

  Then — sound rushed back. The crowd roared again. The knight’s speed returned to normal, and so did Tahuuk’s.

  Jason blinked hard. What was that? A moment of hyperfocus? Adrenaline?

  The knight’s swing came down toward Tahuuk’s head. Tahuuk blocked it with his spear just before impact but struggled against the strength pressing him down.

  Jason lunged at the knight’s exposed side, aiming for a vital point.

  The knight twisted away and kicked Jason in the head with his armored boot, sending him stumbling back.

  Tahuuk countered — his gauntlet clenched, reinforced metal meeting steel with a heavy thud. The knight was thrown a few meters back, rolling across the sand.

  He rose quickly and charged again. Another swing — but Jason noticed the knight’s footing was off.

  Tahuuk moved to block, but the blow never came. Instead, the knight kicked up a spray of sand. Tahuuk flinched.

  The knight slashed for his throat.

  Jason darted in, intercepting the sword mid-arc. The force behind it rattled his arms, a grinding contest of strength.

  Tahuuk blinked the sand from his eyes, saw Jason struggling, and swung a heavy punch.

  The knight reacted instantly — he twisted his blade, blocking Jason’s sword with the edge and Tahuuk’s punch with the hilt.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  The three locked together, steel shrieking. Jason’s eyes met the knight’s.

  The knight exhaled slowly, regulating his breath — then closed his eyes.

  The pressure on Jason’s arms lightened.

  Now! Jason thought, pushing forward. Tahuuk followed his lead.

  The knight’s stance bent backward, one foot sliding in the sand. For a moment, Jason thought they had him. Then the knight’s eyes snapped open — glowing white for brief flickers.

  The strength came roaring back.

  The pressure surged, fluctuating with each pulse of light. Overwhelming.

  The knight gave one last shove, hurling them backward. Jason barely caught himself on his palms; Tahuuk staggered, spear clutched close.

  Before either could recover, the knight was already on them. His glowing irises flared again as he closed the distance.

  Tahuuk raised his weapon to guard, but the knight feinted — sword pulling back while his free hand cocked for a punch.

  The impact came like thunder. Metal groaned.

  A dent cratered Tahuuk’s gauntlet as he was shoved back two meters. He gritted his teeth at the pain — but the knight was already winding up the next blow.

  This time the sword drew back in a wide arc. The power behind it was unmistakable. Tahuuk knew his spear wouldn’t hold. He braced to counter — even if it meant taking the hit.

  The sword rose — then the knight’s eyes flicked left, sensing motion.

  Jason was sprinting at him full-speed. The knight moved to intercept.

  At the last instant, Jason dropped low, sliding through the sand and striking the knight’s stabilizing leg.

  The blow didn’t break armor, but it ruined balance. The knight’s sword fell wide, narrowly missing Tahuuk.

  Tahuuk thrust, the spear catching the knight’s shoulder instead of his heart — but it was something.

  Jason followed through, slashing upward, but the knight, still empowered, barely sidestepped, retreating a few meters while clutching his wound.

  They all stood still, breathing hard. Jason panted shallowly, sweat tracing his jaw. Tahuuk’s chest rose and fell like a drum.

  Across from them, the knight’s glow faded. His movements faltered.

  For a heartbeat, no one moved.

  Then — a shared glance. Agreement.

  Even exhausted, it was two against one.

  The knight realized it too. “Well, damn…” he muttered, voice hoarse.

  Jason and Tahuuk inhaled deeply, steadying themselves. The knight raised his sword, taking stance once more.

  Jason dashed forward, Tahuuk close behind.

  Jason lifted his left arm — firing the small bolt from the crossbow mounted on his forearm. It streaked toward the knight’s unarmored shoulder.

  The knight turned his blade, blocking the shot — exposing his flank.

  Jason drove in, sword aimed for that opening — but the knight twisted his torso, and Jason’s blade skidded off the breastplate.

  The knight’s sword came sweeping diagonally toward him — only for Tahuuk to crash in, spear first.

  The tip sliced across the knight’s cheek. A spray of blood. He caught the shaft with his gauntleted hand, stopping the kill strike by inches.

  Tahuuk didn’t stop — he chambered his other arm, the gauntlet ready to smash.

  Jason saw it coming and shifted behind the knight, sword poised.

  The punch landed square on the knight’s face — and in that instant, Jason drove his blade into the knight’s back. The double impact forced the steel through the armor, leaving a trail of blood down the crimson cape.

  The knight fell to his knees, gasping. “Well… cough… damn…”

  He collapsed face-first into the sand.

  For a moment, the arena was silent — only Jason and Tahuuk’s heavy breathing filled the air.

  Then the crowd erupted. Cheers. Whistles. Applause.

  Jason turned, disgust twisting his face. Survival as entertainment.

  His eyes climbed the stands — and froze on Veyrn.

  Veyrn was smiling with the crowd, but his eyes burned with contempt.

  Jason’s stomach sank. He’s angry. This wasn’t how he wanted it to go. Did he know? Was this meant to kill me?

  Panic pricked at his chest. If Veyrn was displeased, everyone’s lives were in danger now.

  A hand tapped his shoulder — Tahuuk, urging him toward the prep area.

  Jason followed numbly, his mind spinning with questions. Why did Veyrn do this? Who was that knight? What was that power?

  He wouldn’t get answers now. Only exhaustion.

  They returned to the prep area, going through the usual routine while trying to catch their breath. They both knew what came next: the escape — and hopefully Vincent’s part was still in motion.

  Then a guard approached Jason.

  “Veyrn wants to talk to you. Let’s go.”

  Jason and Tahuuk exchanged a look — tension clear in their eyes.

  Jason leaned closer and whispered, “The plan’s already set. Go with Vincent. We’ll meet at the rec area like we agreed.”

  Then, straightening, he exhaled and turned to the guard.

  “Alright. Let’s go.”

  He took one last steadying breath and followed him toward Veyrn’s office.