『Lina: Neizan, enough of this. 』
She said firmly.
『Neizan: ...? 』
He looked at her, not fully understanding.
『Lina: You can't go on like this. You're going to get yourself killed... 』
Lina had been holding back these words, waiting for Neizan to recover from his worst injuries. However, her worry was consuming her. With each fight, Neizan was pushed closer to his limit, and she feared that, at this rate, he would end up losing his life in the coliseum. This thought haunted her, feeding her anxiety and stress after Neizan's last fight against Alan. The last time Lina had felt such anguish was when she had to part from her mother a painful loss that still torments her and leaves her with a deep-seated fear of being left alone again.
『Neizan: Lina, we've talked about this before. What am I supposed to do now? 』
『Lina: I don't know. But I… 』
『Neizan: There's only one last fight left, just one more and I'll be free. I plan to win it for us, alright? 』
『Lina: I don't want you to win for me. I want you to do it for yourself… so you can live. 』
『Neizan: I know. That's why I plan to win, whatever it takes. 』
Upon hearing this, Lina looked down with worry and sighed. Neizan noticed her reaction and thought about going over to hug her. Deep down, he also felt uneasy about the situation, but the support of his friends and the trust they had placed in him helped drown out those fears, allowing him to face his life-or-death battle in the coliseum with courage.
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The next afternoon, Neizan arrived at the hotel dining room. He joined the others, and they started eating together while chatting. The food served at the hotel was first-class, comparable only to the exquisite dishes Neizan had tasted at Alberto's mansion. His appetite was voracious; every bite seemed necessary to replenish his strength for the upcoming battle.
『Miguel: It's incredible how much you've improved in such a short time. 』
Miguel, who had been Neizan's tutor and mentor in swordsmanship and reiki control, had closely watched as his skills blossomed with each fight. Neizan excelled in sword control and had impressive vitality and strength for his age.
From his first match, Neizan learned to fight multiple opponents at once, keeping his guard high to cover any gaps in his defense. Although he tried to coordinate with his companions, the battle was a disaster, with too many casualties.
In his second fight, Neizan understood the danger of facing an opponent with magical abilities. This taught him to balance his defense and use his reiki to minimize impact. His speed allowed him to make his moves more unpredictable and exploit his opponents' weaknesses.
In the third match, Neizan faced an unknown creature: a dark knight, a vampire with pale skin, silver hair, and golden eyes that turned crimson after drinking human blood. This warrior, Eder Blood Haunt, tested Neizan by copying his abilities. Through him, Neizan learned the risks of using the two-sword technique he had developed: although it increased his offensive power, it also left him vulnerable to prolonged attacks. Even so, this technique allowed him to launch simultaneous attacks from different angles, creating openings in his opponent's defense.
In the penultimate match, Neizan faced the arrogant son of the emperor. He learned to be alert against possible traps, as some rivals fight dirty. He also realized how lethal a sorcerer's magic could be in battle and the importance of having trained so hard until now.
Miguel watched Neizan with pride, acknowledging his achievements and always advising him where he could. However, he still harbored some doubts.
『Neizan: Do you think I have a chance? 』
Neizan looked at Miguel seriously as he took a sip of his drink and then set it down, maintaining a reflective silence before answering. Although his recent victories had given Neizan great confidence, he still wasn't sure of his victory in the upcoming fight, remembering the difficulty of the previous ones.
『Miguel: I don't know... Your next opponent is undoubtedly the strongest of this year's participants. So, be very careful, Neizan. 』
『Neizan: I will. 』
From a young age, Neizan had learned to value and respect those who taught him, those who became his mentors, whether in boxing or swordsmanship. He had complete confidence in their teachings, and the one person he listened to before each fight was the strong and experienced knight, Miguel. What began as a rivalry during his early days of training at the mansion had evolved into a bond of trust, thanks to Neizan's survival and growth through each battle. He knew that without Miguel's teachings, his opponents would have defeated him long ago.
『Miguel: Anyway, I know you can do it. Give your heart and everything you have for that battle. 』
The others listened closely to the conversation between master and disciple, until Arthur decided to jump in with a comment.
『Arthur: Neizan, when I went to check the bets, less than 1% was for our faction. No one's betting on you in this fight. 』
『Neizan: And why should I care? 』
『Arthur: I just want you to go through with this if you're sure. I spoke with Meilia, and we're both worried. We try not to imagine what could happen to you… 』
『Neizan: …Don't treat me like a friend. Mind your own business. 』
Though Neizan claimed to need nothing more than his own confidence, deep down, he was grateful for the support his friends and companions had given him. He knew that, despite their increasingly hesitant words, they doubted because they truly feared for him.
『Arthur: Why don't you want to talk to me anymore? «You only make me feel pain… and I end up hating you for it.» 』
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『Alberto: You know what, kid? The winning horse has always been the one I pick, so whether you lose this fight or not, I'll still come out on top. 』
Later, when Neizan spoke privately with Arthur, he revealed that Alberto hadn't placed his bet on him. This angered Neizan, though he wasn't surprised, as Alberto had always been the one he trusted the least in the group.