Neizan was on the brink of exhaustion, his wounds stinging, and his breath was heavy and ragged. In front of him, the vampire advanced with relentless brutality, his red eyes gleaming with fierce hatred, like a starving beast about to tear into his guts.
A vertical slash from the right came at him with speed, but Neizan intercepted it with his sword. He barely had time to recover when another horizontal strike, this time from the left, aimed at his neck. Reacting with near-superhuman instinct, Neizan raised his left forearm and blocked the attack with the brace protecting it. Taking advantage of his adversary's momentary distraction, Neizan counterattacked, landing a kick with his left leg to the vampire's side, just below his right arm.
『Neizan: Aaaaah! 』
Neizan shouted with all his strength, and the kick was so powerful that the vampire dropped his sword.
In a swift movement, Neizan caught the fallen sword with his left hand, and now, armed with both swords, he launched a renewed series of strikes. The vampire staggered back, his once-confident expression turning into a grimace of shock and anger.
『Vampire: Tsk, damn you… 』
『Neizan: You may have copied my techniques, but there's something you forgot to consider… 』
『Vampire: Wha—?! 』
The vampire furrowed his brow, sensing a shift in the air.
『Neizan: I haven't completely mastered them myself. And by using too much reiki, you didn't anticipate the consequences of draining your own strength… you're weakening. 』
Neizan's words sank into the vampire's mind, and his confidence began to crumble. Seizing the advantage, Neizan flashed a mischievous grin, his confidence restored. A thought brought him a sense of relief:
『Neizan: «If this guy had perfected my technique… he would have defeated me.» 』
Using his advantage, Neizan unleashed a flurry of precise strikes, fueled by his last reserves of energy. The vampire, now unable to defend himself effectively, began to lose ground. Though Neizan was also drained, his resolve was strong enough to push his opponent to the edge.
With a well-placed horizontal cut, Neizan struck the vampire's sword blade, pushing it toward the center. Taking advantage of the momentum, Neizan crossed his swords, and as if they were scissors, he snapped the blade of his opponent's weapon. Then, in one final move, he sliced off the vampire's arms, leaving him defenseless. The crimson glow in the vampire's eyes began to fade, turning a dull silver, a sign that his power and fighting spirit had faded.
With one last, decisive strike, Neizan decapitated the vampire, bringing the battle to an end. The audience, which had watched in utter silence, erupted in applause, awed by the skill and resilience Neizan had displayed in that epic fight. The arena echoed with cheers, and Neizan, though exhausted, stood tall as a victorious warrior.
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After Neizan's last battle, Meilia continued to tend to his wounds with healing magic. Although he was physically exhausted, Neizan tried to keep training whenever he regained his strength. However, Luna and Arthur wanted him to rest more, so they invited him out for a walk around the city. The cobblestone streets were illuminated by a soft light that made the stone facades glow. In every corner, there was a sense of history and magic.
The capital of Liones was truly beautiful. Together, they strolled through flower-filled gardens, crossed bridges over crystal-clear rivers, and sampled local delicacies from street vendors. At times, amid laughter and light-hearted conversation, Neizan managed to forget his worries. For Luna and Arthur, seeing Neizan enjoy the city was a small victory; they enjoyed this time together immensely, as it helped them forget, if only for a moment, their worries about the upcoming battles in which Neizan would put his life on the line.
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The curtain opened once more. Neizan walked towards the imposing doors, which would, as always, swing open to the echo of trumpets, marking the start of yet another duel to the death in the gladiator arena. His heart, usually calm, beat steadily; after all, he was used to facing life-threatening situations, and now, in this coliseum, mortal danger was his new stage. Despite the brutal and grim nature of the experience, Neizan's courage pushed him forward without hesitation, following the rhythm of his heartbeat, the voice in his mind, the warmth of the sun on his skin, and the solidity of the ground beneath his feet.
Crossing the threshold, he encountered a young man with blue hair and eyes of an unusual orange hue, waiting for him with a confident expression. Like Neizan, this fighter wielded only a sword, and his outfit in shades of white, blue, and orange highlighted his assured bearing. The young man gave him a keen look, missing none of his movements. Closing one of his eyes and tilting his head slightly, he smiled and broke the silence.
『???: Hello. My name is Alan. Nice to meet you. 』
Alan's relaxed attitude suggested he had his guard down, but Neizan wasn't fooled. He knew that Alan's confidence was hiding something, and though the trumpets hadn't yet sounded to start the fight, his instincts warned him that this opponent was not someone to underestimate.
『Alan: Are you going to tell me your name, or will you just stand there silently? 』
Neizan eyed him with distrust. He knew his name was well-known among the gladiators, and this attempt at conversation felt forced, as if Alan were trying to provoke a reaction.
『Neizan: You must already know my name. 』
『Alan: I do, but it's only polite to introduce yourself to someone you've just met. 』
Neizan frowned, his voice turning serious.
『Neizan: I didn't come here for a friendly chat with you. 』
Alan sighed, as if he were enjoying the exchange.
『Alan: That's a pity. So, you're not interested in knowing who I am? 』
Neizan raised an eyebrow, disinterested.
『Neizan: Not in the slightest. 』
With a sly smile, Alan continued.
『Alan: I'm one of Emperor Erick's sons. Prince Alan Léonas. 』
『Neizan: «Does this idiot think I don't know who he is, or is he just boasting…?» 』
Sensing Neizan's lack of reaction, Alan stepped a bit closer, his voice dropping slightly as if to reveal a secret.