In that moment, Neizan tensed every muscle, his fingers firmly gripping the hilt of his sword. With a slash, both swords were unsheathed in the blink of an eye. The sound of steel clashing echoed across the arena, leaving a metallic ring that electrified the crowd. Neizan was astonished by his opponent's reaction speed; not only did he match Neizan's attack speed, but he also managed to do so while wearing that heavy armor. Moreover, the impact force was almost equal to his own, though Neizan had one advantage: he could use his free hand to add more power to his push.
However, when he attempted to do so, the dark knight anticipated it and deflected Neizan's sword to the side with a skillful move, using the opportunity to launch a powerful shield bash. Neizan reacted just in time, raising his left arm to block the impact, though the strength of the blow pushed him back several meters. His left foot braced forward for balance, his back tilted forward in an attempt to stop the retreat.
Once recovered, Neizan wasted no time and pushed forward again, launching a new attack. This time, his opponent blocked the thrust with his shield and, in a fluid motion, counterattacked with his own sword. Neizan leapt back, dodging the blade, and prepared himself for the next exchange.
From that point on, both gladiators plunged into a frantic duel, their strikes becoming increasingly intense. Neither yielded, keeping in constant motion, sliding from side to side like shadows locked in combat. When one retreated, the other advanced, and so on, creating a dance of steel and strategy that raised clouds of yellow, soft dust beneath their feet.
Minutes passed, and Neizan began to feel the heat in his body; sweat soaked his skin as his arteries pumped hard. However, his breathing remained steady, his body in a state of calculated balance. At one point, both gladiators found themselves in a perfect standstill, neither giving ground. Then Neizan decided to take the initiative: he launched a powerful kick toward the dark knight, who blocked it with his shield, though the force of the impact made him step back a few paces, just as had happened to Neizan before.
In that moment, it was clear that both were closely matched in the fight.
『Miguel: It seems he's going to push him to the limit. 』
Miguel watched the fight intently, barely blinking, alongside the others in their usual spot in the stands, each of them captivated by the intensity of the duel in the arena.
『Arthur: Who do you think will win? 』
『Lina: I think they're very evenly matched. 』
『Meilia: I can barely keep up with the pace of the fight. 』
『Arthur: Me too. Even though I've seen them fight like this before with Miguel, I never get used to the speed of their movements. 』
Hearing his friends, Alberto, always curious, turned to Miguel.
『Alberto: And what do you think, Miguel? 』
Miguel, arms crossed and wearing a serious expression, let a small smile escape while his eyes remained fixed on the battlefield.
『Miguel: Neizan still hasn't shown his trump card. 』
Everyone looked at Miguel in silence, uncertainty in their gaze. Then, they turned their attention back to the intense fight unfolding before them.
In the arena, both gladiators continued to fight with unrelenting intensity. Neizan began changing his movement patterns, circling around his opponent in an attempt to disorient him. With each step, he looked for an opening in the dark knight's defense, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The strategy started to pay off, and the knight, weighed down by his heavy armor, struggled to turn quickly enough to keep up with Neizan's movements.
Sensing a weakness in his opponent's guard, Neizan broke the circle, launching a lightning-fast attack. Taking advantage of his speed, he moved in behind the knight, aiming the tip of his sword straight at his heart. Just as the tension reached its peak, the crowd held its breath, expectant.
The fight seemed decided, but just at that moment…
『Neizan: …! 』
The sound of steel echoed through the coliseum as Neizan's strike was abruptly blocked. The dark knight deflected the attack with his shield, and a shower of sparks momentarily illuminated their faces, freezing the fierce gazes of both fighters in mid-air. Just then, his enemy's dark sword sliced through the air toward Neizan. He managed to twist his neck just in time, feeling the blade graze his skin, leaving a thin but deep cut on his cheek. A slender line of blood began to trickle down, marking his face.
Both warriors stepped back, reevaluating their positions. A tense silence enveloped the coliseum, as if even the crowd were holding their breath, waiting for the next move. Neizan, still panting, raised the back of his left hand to wipe the blood from his cheek. His eyes, dark and full of determination, fixed on the dark knight. Scars from previous battles seemed to burn on his skin, reminding him of every fight he had endured to make it this far.
『Neizan: "It won't be that easy for you…" 』
His opponent, motionless, observed him from behind his shield with a cold, calculating stare, preparing his defense. Neizan took a combat stance, firm and defiant, as if every fiber of his body screamed that he wouldn't back down. With a decisive movement, he launched himself toward the dark knight, sword held high.
『Dark Knight: …? 』
The dark knight's shield intercepted him, but Neizan brought his sword down with all the remaining strength he had, unleashing an explosion of sparks that lit up the knight's face. In that instant, they found themselves in opposite positions, backs to each other and their breaths heavy.
Neizan straightened up, feeling the adrenaline course through him, knowing that the end of this battle was near. The silence in the coliseum was absolute, each spectator focused on the next move that would decide the fate of these two warriors, locked in a duel of honor and survival.