Ethan dodged another strike, but the tip of the blade grazed his arm, leaving a shallow but painful cut. The crowd gasped, and a few stepped forward, but Ethan held up a hand to stop them.
"This is between us," he said firmly, his eyes never leaving Marcus.
Marcus smirked, his confidence growing. "You're out of your depth, Ethan. Just give up and save yourself the humiliation."
"Never," Ethan replied, his voice like steel.
---
With a sudden burst of energy, Ethan surged forward, using Marcus's overconfidence against him. He grabbed Marcus's wrist, twisting it until the dagger fell to the ground. The two men grappled again, their bodies a blur of movement as they fought for dominance.
For a moment, it seemed like Ethan had the upper hand. He pinned Marcus to the ground, his strength and determination overpowering the other man's rage.
But then, Marcus's free hand shot out, grabbing the dagger and driving it into Ethan's side.
