The man, his body trembling, screamed as Liza's lips pressed against his skin, the searing heat of her touch burning his flesh like a brand. Liza, her mouth now a seething inferno of flame and desire, fed upon the man's agony, his screams of pain fuelling her hunger. The man, his body now a twisted grotesque parody of its former self, writhed and struggled, but Liza's grip was unbreakable.
She drank deep, her thirst for vengeance quenched by the man's screams, his pain becoming a symphony of ecstasy for her depraved soul. With a final, shuddering gasp, the man's body went still, his life force drained by Liza's infernal kiss. Liza, her eyes still glowing with the malevolent light of flames, pulled away her lips stained with the man's blood.
'' Burn,'' she whispered, her voice a low powerful incantation. The man's body, now a lifeless husk, erupted into a raging inferno, his bones crackling like kindling as Liza's flames consumed him, her vengeance finally fulfilled. Liza, victorious and ablaze with the fiery wrath of the phoenix, towered over her vanquished opponent, her face twisted into a mask of smug satisfaction. But as she turned to leave, the flames that engulfed her began to recede, revealing the innocent, vulnerable face that Hiro had seen in the moments before the fight had begun.
As the embers died down, Liza's expression melted from fierce triumph to one of horrified realization, as if only now she was seeing the destruction she had wrought. She swayed slightly, her knees threatening to buckle under the weight of emotions. With slow labored steps, she began to make her way toward Hiro, her eyes locked on his face.
The old man, his face creased in surprise, took a step forward, prepared to announce the start of the next match. But before he could speak, a voice rang out from the upper part of the arena. It was the general, his face cold and impassive. '' The tournament is over'', he announced his voice carrying across the arena. The soldiers, their cheers now replaced by a low murmur of confusion, turned towards the general, their gazes questioning.
The general, his eyes fixed on Hiro, Liza, and Goro, issued his orders with terse efficiency. '' You will escort these warriors to the room at the far end of the east corridor, '' he instructed the cold edge of authority clear in his voice. '' The room will guarded by two of you soldiers. None shall enter or leave without my express permission.'' The soldiers, their eyes locked on their targets, formed a tight circle around Hiro, Goro, and Liza, the cold steel of their spears glinting in the sunlight.
The three, their faces set in grim resignation, allowed themselves to be herded from the arena by the phalanx of soldiers. As they passed through the shadowed archways and into the labyrinthine corridors of the arena, the hush of the footfalls echoed off the stone walls. The air was thick with tension, as though a storm was brewing just beyond their sight. At last, the procession arrived at the east corridor, the door of the room looming before them. The soldiers stood attention as one of their numbers opened the door, revealing a bare room lit by flickering torches.
The three of them were guided into the room, the air suddenly thick with a sense of foreboding. The door closed behind them with a resounding click, the sound echoing in the quiet of the room. For a time, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of their breathing and the distant sound of metals. But then, Goro, his arms folded across his chest, broke the silence.
'' You're quite good, Hiro,'' he said, his voice low and thoughtful, '' I was impressed with the way you fought out there. It was a masterful display of skill and power.'' Goro, his expression eager and determined, leaned forward from the wall, his voice a low murmur. '' I would love to face you in a fight someday, Hiro,'' he whispered, a fire of ambition suddenly burning in his eyes. '' But first, we must make it out of this place alive.''
Hiro, his gaze shifting from Goro to the still figure of Liza, found himself lost in confusion. This girl, with her head leaning against the cold stone wall, seemed so different from the fearsome, deadly phoenix that had graced the arena minutes ago. As Hiro sat in the dim, touch-lit room, lost in his thoughts, the sound of the door creaking open snapped him back to reality.
Two guards stepped into the room, their faces grim and unsmiling.'' The general requests your presence, '' one of the guards announced, his voice as cold and unwavering as steel. Hiro, his eyes narrowing, turned to face the guards. '' And the other?'' he demanded, his voice a low growl. '' They will remain here,'' the other soldier replied, his hand closing around the haft of his spear. Hiro rose to his feet, his muscles tensing in anticipation. The guards their expressions impassive, fell into step behind him, their footsteps echoing down the narrow corridors.
As they made their way toward the general's office, Hiro's mind raced, his thoughts returning to the events of the arena. What did the general want with him? Was he in trouble for his actions in the arena? At last, they reached the general's office, a massive, oak-paneled room that seemed to radiate power and authority. Hiro stepped into the general's office, the air thick with the tension of the unknown. The general, a grizzly, middle-aged man with a shake of silver hair, sat at his desk, his gaze fixed on a stack of papers in front of him.
The general looked up, his eyes as hard and unforgiving as flint. '' You can leave,'' he commanded, gesturing to the door as he told the soldiers to leave. The soldiers obeyed and immediately left. After their exit, the general rose from his chair, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predatory animal stalking its prey. Hiro, his body tensed for a fight, watched the general approach with unblinking eyes.
And then, in a stunning reversal of expectations, the general threw his arms around Hiro, hugging him tightly. '' Welcome back, big brother,'' the general said, his voice thick with emotion.