『Arthur: No, no, no, this can't be happening! He's flying! 』
『Meilia: Neizan… 』
Meilia covered her mouth with her hands upon seeing Neizan falling from the sky, while Lina, pale-faced and wide-eyed with panic, stood frozen.
『Neizan: «I have to withstand this blow!» 』
As he was about to hit the ground, Neizan crossed his arms to shield his body and positioned his sword vertically in front of him as a last defense. Just before he could steady himself, the giant swung his kanabo with both hands. The speed was so extreme that it broke the sound barrier, producing a deafening roar and hitting Neizan with brutal force.
The impact was devastating. Despite his defense, Neizan barely managed to block the blow with his sword. He was sent flying across the coliseum, crashing into the wall. The force of the blow caused the wall to explode into debris as dust rose into the air, leaving a large section of the wall destroyed and cracked.
The audience fell into complete silence, unable to process what they had just witnessed. Amid the wreckage, Neizan collapsed to the ground, unconscious, as tension hung in the air, leaving everyone on edge.
『Lina: Please… get up... 』
Lina's jet-black eyes were filled with anguish as she struggled to hold back the tears welling up in her gaze. Her hands, clasped over her chest, let her feel the frantic beats of her heart, reflecting the deep anxiety that consumed her as she watched the arena. There, among rubble and dust, lay Neizan, who had been brutally thrown against the wall by the giant. His inert body and broken sword in two conveyed an overwhelming sense of defeat. Lost in a chasm of unconsciousness, he could barely hear faint echoes calling him from the darkness.
『Arthur: Get up, Neizan! 』
Arthur and Lina's voices rose, begging him not to give up. With growing intensity, their voices joined a chorus in the stadium. The electrified crowd began to chant Neizan's name fervently, creating a wave of encouragement that resonated throughout the coliseum.
『Everyone: Get up! 』
The giant observed the scene, unmoved, with his gaze fixed on the fallen young man. When he grew tired of waiting, he struck the ground with his kanabo in a massive blow that made the earth tremble, momentarily silencing the crowd. However, it wasn't fear that made them quiet. At the far end of the arena, Neizan began to move.
『Lina: Neizan…! 』
『Miguel: Come on… get up. 』
『Arthur: He's alive! 』
Propping himself up with an elbow on the ground, Neizan struggled to lift his aching body. He got to his knees and, with unbreakable resolve, managed to stand up. As consciousness returned, pain surged through his body like a torrent of flames, making him tremble and nearly lose his balance.
『Neizan: Argh! 』
A small cry of pain escaped his lips. His left shoulder throbbed, and as he tried to move it, the pain told him it was dislocated. The giant's kanabo and the impact against the wall had left their mark. He brought his hand to his forehead, feeling a dampness trickling down his fingers—it was blood, seeping from a cut across his brow. The pain multiplied, now with intense nausea welling up in his stomach. Finally, unable to contain himself, he vomited onto the sand, releasing a mixture of gastric juice and blood from some internal injuries his body had suffered. When he was done, tears of exhaustion ran down his face, the result of the effort and pain.
At last, Neizan raised his head and looked toward the center of the arena. There, the giant waited, arms crossed and an expression that only seemed to challenge him further.
『Jack: «That's it. Pull yourself together and keep fighting.» 』
The giant watched Neizan closely, never looking away. He was proud that, after that devastating blow, Neizan had managed to get up. As a mark of respect, he had waited patiently for his opponent to recover before continuing the fight—a gesture of honor that gave Neizan a chance to survive when he could have ended it while Neizan was unconscious.
Neizan remained silent, locking eyes with the giant as he struggled to catch his breath. Then he turned toward the ruined wall, where a sturdier layer still stood. He took a few steps toward it, gripping his left shoulder with one hand. Without hesitation, he began ramming his shoulder against the wall, over and over again, until a loud pop signaled that his dislocated joint had returned to place. A searing pain shot through his shoulder, but Neizan endured it. As he turned back, he fixed his intense gaze on the giant, who had retrieved one of the spare swords from the center of the arena. With a firm motion, the giant threw the sword, which landed near Neizan's feet.
『Jack: Take it. 』
『Neizan: Thank you… 』
『Jack: There's no need to thank me, kid. What you did was admirable. You have my respect as a warrior. 』
It seemed that the giant, Jack, now acknowledged Neizan as a worthy opponent, a respectable warrior. A satisfied smile crossed Neizan's face as he took up the sword, gripping it firmly in his right hand and preparing himself to continue the fight.
『Neizan: «I've never been this close to death. It's getting harder to stay on my feet, and I think I broke a rib. But I can keep fighting. There's no room for excuses now.» 』
The giant once again took his kanabo in his right hand, resting it on his shoulder with an air of calculated calm. He knew that Neizan could still fight, but he was also aware that each blow and every wound had diminished his strength. Meanwhile, Neizan watched the giant: his own injuries did not seem to affect his opponent, who remained unperturbed, showing no signs of pain or fatigue.
『Jack: Hey, boy. 』
『Neizan: ...? 』
『Jack: Why are you fighting? 』
The question resonated in the coliseum like an unexpected pause, breaking the fierce rhythm of the battle. In a life-or-death duel between two gladiators, such a question seemed out of place. Neizan blinked in surprise, unsure of how to respond. For a moment, the image of Lina and his friends, their tense faces from the stands, flashed through his mind.
『Neizan: I fight for my life… and for my friends. 』