The air in the Colosseum grew tense as Ray, for the first time in the fight, moved with intent to attack. The once-calm figure who had dodged Rudra's every strike now seemed to shift into something more. His stance changed, becoming sharper, focused. He reached behind his back and, with a fluid motion, drew out a pair of weapons.
The students leaned forward in their seats. No one had seen Ray's weapons. They were sleek, with black handles and blades that sparkled under the Martian sun— like curved knives with single-edged blade, but thinner, almost like ninjatōs. Attached to each handle was a chain, wrapped around Ray's forearms, giving him complete control over the range and direction of each weapon.
Akiro's eyes lit up. "He's using double ninjatōs with chains. That's serious. He can extend their range or use them in close combat. The chains let him switch from offense to defense in an instant. This... just got interesting."
Rudra narrowed his eyes, watching as Ray twirled the weapons, testing their weight. The blades spun effortlessly in his hands, a blur of steel and chain.
"Nice toys," Rudra smirked, though his tone was more cautious than cocky. His wings flapped once, lifting him just above the ground.
Ray didn't respond, his focus now entirely on Rudra. Without warning, he lunged forward, the chains whirling around him like a cyclone. The ninjatō blades were extensions of his arms, slicing through the air in rapid arcs as Ray closed the distance.
Rudra shot upwards, his eagle wings propelling him above the storm of chains. From his vantage point, he could see Ray's every movement with clarity. But Ray wasn't done. With a flick of his wrist, the chains extended, lashing upwards toward Rudra like serpents. The blades whirred with deadly intent, aiming to damage Rudra's wings and bring him crashing down.
But Rudra was no easy target.
In a split second, he inclined left, the sharp turn sending the chains off course. He used the cheetah's speed to dive out of reach, his talons ready to counter. But Ray anticipated it. With a sharp sudden, forceful pull, the chains retracted, pulling the blades back into a defensive position just as Rudra's talons descended.
CLANG!
The sound of metal meeting talon echoed through the arena as Ray deflected Rudra's strike. The two combatants were locked in a dance of speed and precision, each countering the other in an unrelenting flurry of attacks.
"Ray's tactics are impressive," Akiro observed, his eyes narrowing in analysis. "He's using the chains to control distance. Even when Rudra's in the air, he can extend his reach. But what's really clever is how he retracts the chains to block. It's like he's controlling the entire battlefield with just those two weapons."
Ray, sensing Rudra was about to unleash something more, adjusted his stance. The chains retracted fully as he stood firm, waiting for the next assault. His eyes, though hidden behind the mask, were trained on Rudra's every movement.
Rudra soared high above the Colosseum, his wings cutting through the thin Martian air. He could feel his stamina diminishing, but he still had enough in him for one final push. Ray's chains were formidable, but they relied on timing and precision. If Rudra could break Ray's rhythm, even for a second, he could take the upper hand.
He circled high above Ray, his eagle eyes scanning the battlefield for any weakness. Then, he saw it. The chains—though deadly—left Ray open for a split second when he was retracting them. It was a minuscule window, but it was enough.
Without warning, Rudra dived again, but this time he wasn't aiming for Ray directly. He veered to the right at the last moment, slamming into the Colosseum floor with his claws, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris. The students gasped as the entire battlefield was obscured in a thick haze.
"Smart move," Akiro muttered, watching intently. "By blinding Ray, he disrupts his ability to see and time his counters. He's forcing Ray to fight without vision."
From within the dust cloud, the sound of chains could be heard spinning, searching for a target. Ray's chains lashed out blindly, but Rudra had already taken to the air once more, this time flying low to the ground, hidden within the haze.
And just like that, Rudra struck. His hybrid form—a blend of cheetah speed and eagle agility—allowed him to move faster than anyone could anticipate. He darted through the dust cloud, circling Ray in dizzying patterns, claws striking from different angles, never giving Ray a moment to recover.
But Ray, ever the tactician, wasn't out of options. With a quick flick of his wrists, he sent the chains spinning around him in a protective whirl. The blades cut through the dust, creating a barrier that kept Rudra's attacks at bay.
The audience held its breath, captivated by the intense duel.
"Rudra's moving too fast for Ray to see," Elif whispered. "But Ray's defending everything without even looking!"
Akiro nodded, impressed. "Ray's relying on sound and instinct now. He's using the chains as a shield, but he knows Rudra will try to break through. This is a battle of stamina now."
Rudra, realizing he couldn't get through Ray's defenses with speed alone, took a deep breath. He was tiring, but so was Ray. The constant back-and-forth had pushed both of them to their limits.
And then it happened. Ray, in a moment of overextension, sent one of his chains too far. It was subtle, but Rudra's eagle eyes caught it immediately. This was his opening.
With a final burst of speed, Rudra launched himself forward, diving beneath the spinning chains. He struck with his talons, aiming for Ray's midsection.
But Ray was ready.
In one fluid motion, Ray dropped the chain from his right hand and reached into his cloak, pulling out a small, spinning blade—like a shuriken, but larger and equipped with retractable spikes. He flung it at Rudra with perfect timing, forcing him to divert his strike. The blade grazed Rudra's arm as he dodged, but the attack had been nullified.
"Ray's got more tricks up his sleeve than I thought," Akiro muttered, eyebrows raised. "He let Rudra think he was open, just to lure him in for that counter."
Astha, never one to miss a joke, chuckled. "This guy's like a walking ninja catalog. What's next? Smoke bombs?"
The two fighters stood apart, both breathing heavily now, their bodies battered but not broken. They had tested each other to the limits, pushing themselves beyond what any of the students had ever seen. And yet, neither had gained the upper hand.
The Colosseum was silent, save for the heavy breathing of the two warriors. The students watched in awe, unsure of who would make the next move, or if they even had anything left to give.
Rudra grinned, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "You're better than I thought, Ray. But I'm not done yet."
Ray, his mask hiding any expression, nodded once. "Neither am I."
The final blow is exchanged, and a massive shockwave erupts, throwing dust and debris into the air. As the dust settles, both Rudra and Ray stand, battered and bruised, but still standing.
Rudra grins through the pain. "You never hold back, do you?"
Ray, still calm behind his mask, replies, "Not when I'm fighting someone like you."
They both collapse to their knees, utterly exhausted, unable to continue. A voice from the academy's head instructor calls out from the sidelines, "That's enough! This match is over!" The other students erupt into cheers, acknowledging the greatness of both fighters.
Though the fight is technically a draw, both Rudra and Ray leave the Colosseum with a newfound respect for each other. As they walk off the battlefield, Ray places a hand on Rudra's shoulder. "Next time, I won't hold back."
Rudra smirks. "Neither will I."