『Jack: …I don't believe you, boy. 』
『Neizan: ...? 』
『Jack: When you were unconscious, your friends didn't stop shouting your name. They were the first to try to encourage you to get back up. 』
The giant closed his eyes for a moment, his expression hardened, and his voice boomed in the air, making his conviction clear.
『Jack: If you were only fighting for them, you wouldn't be here right now. They're safe in the stands; they're not in danger. The only one risking his life here is you. 』
The giant's words penetrated Neizan, leaving a deep mark on his spirit. For the first time, he was compelled to reflect on his true purpose.
『Neizan: I guess… you're right. 』
Jack nodded, keeping his firm gaze on him, assessing him.
『Jack: So tell me, kid… what's the real reason you fight? 』
With a sympathetic look, Jack observed the young man before him, sensing that a boy so young, pushed to risk his life in the arena of a coliseum, must carry a hard and unfortunate story. Something in his eyes indicated that he knew the harshness of life all too well, and he waited, almost empathetically, for Neizan's answer.
In that moment, Neizan felt that all the battles he had fought, all the accumulated wounds, and all the sacrifices made converged into that single question. It was a confrontation with himself. In the distance, he could hear the dull roar of the crowd, now watching him in silence, almost holding their breath. Lina, Arthur, and Miguel's eyes looked at him from the stands with concern but also with unwavering faith.
Finally, with a look of determination and a firm voice, Neizan found his answer.
Throughout his life, Jack had faced all sorts of people both inside and outside the coliseum. Most of the opponents this giant had defeated with his own hands were convicts and murderers—people whose selfishness and violence would have been hard to believe if not for their own sins. They fought for nothing more than survival and to pay off their debts. He could have thought Neizan was just another fool who had willingly thrown himself into these deadly Gladiator Lion games or someone consumed by his own reckless confidence. But this young man had something different in his spirit.
He wasn't brimming with arrogance, nor was he reckless or violent. He knew exactly what he had gotten into, and he treated his rival with respect, even thanking him for letting him stand up again. Not only did he care for his friends, but they also cared deeply for him, watching each of his battles from the stands with worry and support. He carried on his shoulders a profound determination and bravery that he could only have forged through hard experiences, forcing him to grow stronger and refine his warrior's spirit. He had also trained to the point of exhaustion to reach this level, honing his sword skills and his strength.
『Neizan: I… 』
『Jack: …? 』
Neizan closed his eyes and looked within himself, feeling the sadness that flooded him and the fury that silenced him. The pain in his chest from his wounds was intense, but the sadness that enveloped him was even greater.
『Neizan: I'm not completely sure yet, but I know I'm here because of my mother. 』
『Jack: …! 』
『Neizan: I used to fight alone, with nothing to lose. But now I have my friends. That's why I can't allow myself to lose here. 』
The giant was surprised to hear this as Neizan began to walk slowly toward the center of the arena, passing him and approaching another sword embedded in the ground.
『Jack: I think I understand. You don't need to give a complete answer just yet. 』
『Neizan: I'll just say this: I came into this life to defend a purpose. That's why I'm willing to risk it all, and I don't care if the gates of hell await me if that means I can achieve what I desire. 』
Neizan gripped the sword's hilt with his left hand, brandishing both weapons and taking his stance, while a white light illuminated his spirit.
『Jack: «That's what I wanted to hear.» 』
The giant was astonished by the attitude of this young warrior. He found no better way to show his respect and admiration than by responding with equal intensity, igniting his own spirit with an aura even brighter than Neizan's. Gripping his kanabo firmly, the giant launched an attack, which Neizan deflected with both swords. The giant followed up with a vertical strike, then a horizontal one, then diagonal. From every direction, they unleashed a storm of strikes between them, exchanging attacks with such force that the air around them stirred, kicking up sand and scattering it away from them.
In an instant, Neizan dodged another blow from the giant, seizing the opening to strike back with his swords, making a double cut across the giant's chest as he leapt over him. The giant reacted swiftly, counterattacking with his free arm to strike faster, but Neizan kicked his arm away, propelling himself backward. As soon as he hit the ground, he steadied himself and lunged forward again.
『Neizan: «I've been using both techniques I was supposed to save as a last resort at the same time—the dual-sword technique and the offensive technique that lets me channel nearly all my energy into each strike, leaving my body unprotected. I feel my body growing heavier and my exhaustion intensifying. If I take another direct hit like that… I won't be able to withstand it. I have only one chance. It's all or nothing.» 』
Seeing Neizan charging directly at him, the giant swung his kanabo in a powerful arc to strike, but Neizan swiftly slid across the ground, ducking to dodge the attack. Passing beneath the giant and between his legs, Neizan moved both swords with precision, slashing his calves and causing him to momentarily lose balance. Seizing this brief opening, Neizan spun around and unleashed two more cuts across the giant's massive back, leaving a cross-shaped mark that splattered blood onto the ground.