The duel concluded with Zarura standing victorious, his triumph igniting a roar of cheers from the crowd. Roznok clapped his hands with fervor, while Kimaru and Luna erupted into thunderous praises, their voices rising above the fray. Yet, amid the celebration, Sougo and Mika stood in eerie silence, their expressions unyielding. Sougo turned to Mika, sensing the weight of his thoughts. "What's eating at you, Mika?"
Mika's gaze remained locked on Zarura, his voice low and contemplative. "It's strange," he mused, furrowing his brow. "Get this. The tribes here are all lean, almost gaunt. But Zarura? He's bursting with power. The Aquar thrive on the sea, yet he's something else entirely."
A chill ran through Mika as he continued, "It's unsettling. Someone like him shouldn't possess such strength. Could it be a genetic mutation?" His words hung in the air, a heavy revelation that caught Luna's attention, leaving her bewildered and speechless.
Sougo's mind raced, absorbing Mika's insights. Something simmered beneath the surface of Zarura's might—an enigma that beckoned him to delve deeper. He felt an electric pull, a sense that the true nature of Zarura's power was waiting to be uncovered, and it stirred a primal thrill within him.
Then, an unexpected proposition was put forth by Mika. "Sougo, could you face him in a duel?" The request, though sudden, resonated with him. He understood the implicit challenge, a test of his own abilities against the mysterious Aquar.
Though wary, Sougo accepted the challenge. The duel would be a mere formality, a chance to gauge Zarura's power and perhaps uncover the secret behind his extraordinary strength. With the stakes relatively low, Sougo eventually left the spectator seat and drew a wooden blade that was given to him, pointing at Zarura.
""Very well. I'm very happy to fight with you," Zarura bowed respectfully, a glint of excitement in his eyes. The opportunity to spar with an unknown opponent was a welcome challenge. The crowd was equally intrigued, their surprise palpable as he spoke their language. Sougo, however, remained silent, his expression a mask of calm. Zarura recognized this as the quiet confidence of a skilled fighter.
"Zing! (Start!)"
The duel began with a tense standoff. Zarura and Sougo circled each other, each mind racing, calculating their next move. The first strike would be decisive, a misstep could prove fatal. Sougo, a seasoned warrior, sensed Zarura's hesitation.
With a sudden burst of speed, Sougo lunged forward, his sword aimed at Zarura's heart. Startled by the unexpected attack, Zarura managed to deflect the blow, but the force of the strike sent him reeling backward. "Impressive," Zarura grunted, his eyes narrowing. "But is that all you've got?" His eyes remained alert for Sougo's next attack.
Zarura, impressed by Sougo's cunning and experience, found himself on the defensive. Sougo's strikes, honed by countless battles, were precise and relentless, forcing Zarura to retreat step by step. As Zarura neared the edge of the arena, he knew that the next blow could be the end.
Sougo's blade hissed through the air, a venomous serpent seeking its prey. Zarura, cornered and desperate, parried the deadly strike. His heart pounded in his chest, a drumbeat of fear and adrenaline. He could feel the sweat stinging his eyes, the dust clogging his lungs. Every breath was a struggle, every movement a test of endurance.
Zarura unleashed a surge of power, a raw force that even surprised himself. He charged forward, his movements a blur as he aimed to overpower Sougo. But Sougo, agile as a snake, effortlessly dodged the attack and countered with a swift strike.
In this gripping encounter, the arena was charged with anticipation as Sougo and Zarura faced off. Just as Sougo was about to land a decisive blow, a voice that sounded exactly like Mika's pierced the tension, causing him to hesitate.
This momentary distraction was all Zarura needed. Utilizing his ability to mimic voices through his gills, Zarura had tricked Sougo into breaking his focus. With precision and speed, Zarura evaded Sougo's attack and countered with a powerful blow, sending Sougo staggering backward.
The crowd, including Sougo's friends, was stunned into silence. Mika himself was bewildered, unsure why Sougo had faltered at such a crucial moment. It was a testament to Zarura's strategic mind, using deception to turn the tide of battle in his favor.
As the fight progressed, Sougo became hyper-aware of his opponent's cunning. He realized he couldn't rely solely on his senses but had to anticipate Zarura's deceptive tactics. The clash of their wooden blades was fierce, each strike a testament to their skill and resolve. Sougo's eyes were locked onto Zarura's, filled with determination and a refusal to lose. The pride of both warriors was on the line, as they pushed each other to their limits.
The audience watched with bated breath, witnessing not just a physical battle, but a mental one as well. Sougo's resolve strengthened, driven by the need to prove himself and outsmart Zarura's tricks. The fight was more than just a contest of strength; it was a test of wits and willpower, with both fighters striving for victory amidst the charged silence of the arena.
The battle was far from over, Zarura almost conquered the fight but Sougo returned quickly to his feet and fought against valiantly. Through echoes of hundreds of voices, Sougo remained vigilant, surprising Zarura. The clash got harder and harder, those blade equipped with Sougo's strength were unimaginable and demolished every move Zarura had.
With the final strike, it was over. Sougo pushed Zarura out from the ring.
"He... He beat Zarura?" The chief gasped.
Sougo dropped the wooden blade as he watched him fall, Mika had his hand in his mouth and the chief was speechless.
Zarura return to the ground, acknowledging his defeat. "You're very formidable..." Zarura took the time to catch his breath, his unexpected defeat gave him a taste and motivation to march on higher.
Later, as the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, Mika reflected on the intense showdown. He couldn't shake the feeling that Zarura had many more tricks up his sleeve.
The arena, once filled with the sounds of clashing wood and strained breaths, had fallen into a tense silence, allowing for a deeper understanding of the tactics at play.
In that quiet, Mika had sensed something unusual—vibrations emanating from Zarura's gills, which he now understood as a clever mechanism for mimicking voices. It was a brilliant strategy, one that had caught Sougo off guard, but ultimately, it was not enough.
The crowd erupted in joyous disbelief as Sougo emerged victorious. Their cheers reverberated through the arena, celebrating the underdog's triumph over the seemingly unbeatable Zarura.
"ZOUGO, ZOUGO, ZOUGO!!!" People jumped to their feet, shouting Sougo's name, their excitement roared throughout the island. It was a moment of pure elation.