『Alberto: Just pay attention to whoever stands out the most during the battle. 』
It was clear that Neizan would, without a doubt, be the main focus of this show. Miguel nodded and added:
『Miguel: Yes… Let's go, Neizan. 』
Hearing those words eased some of his insecurities, and they started cheering for Neizan. Arthur, seated among them, showed a nervous expression. To his left, Lina looked worried, while to his right, Meilia observed silently and somewhat confused, unsure of what to expect from this event that was almost entirely unfamiliar to her.
『Arthur: Right… It's true, Neizan always finds a way. Let's go, Neizan! 』
『Lina: Go, Neizan, you can do it! 』
Lina didn't say it out loud, but in her mind and in her heart, as she held her chest, she repeated those words. Although Neizan couldn't hear his name over the crowd's roar, he knew that somewhere in the stands, they were there. Watching him, cheering for him, and wishing him all the luck in the world.
The first wave arrived. From the entrances of the coliseum, horses burst forth at full speed. Three chariots, each drawn by two horses, charged toward the gladiators. In each chariot, four soldiers armed with spears and bows were ready to attack. Soon, a rain of arrows began to fall on the warriors, and one of them was quickly struck in the shoulder, letting out a cry of pain as his blood began to stain the sand-covered ground. The gladiators, armed with spears, swords, and shields, and protected by light armor and helmets covering their faces, prepared for the confrontation. Neizan was there with them, as one of their own.
After the first round of arrows—many of which were blocked by shields—the horses changed direction. They galloped in wide circles over the vast battlefield until two of the chariots headed toward the group of gladiators. On each chariot wheel, two deadly blades spun at high speed. The first chariot, attacking from a flank, was dodged, but the second one arrived at just the right moment, making it impossible to evade. One of the gladiators was caught by the rotating blades, which completely sliced through his leg, leaving him on the ground, screaming as blood spattered across the sand in pools.
Though the enemy had struck hard, immediately after the chariot passed, a spear flew toward it and pierced one of the soldiers, who fell lifeless to the ground. The enemy archer had been eliminated, and it was the young Neizan who had landed the hit. Now, without his spear, he observed the enemy group, now one less in their ranks, and drew his sword. But suddenly, he felt a sharp impact on his back: a pointed tip penetrated his armor and pierced his skin. An arrow had struck him from the third chariot, the last one approaching the fight.
The intense pain made Neizan let out a scream with all his strength, though fortunately, the arrow hadn't hit any vital points or embedded itself deeply. Even so, the battle continued. The gladiators saw the chariot approaching again and quickly took their positions: those in the front blocked the blades with their lowered shields, while those in the back raised theirs to deflect the arrows and advanced with their spears. One of the spears struck another archer, knocking him down.
Everyone's hearts were pounding, fueled by the nervousness and tension in the air. Fear filled their bodies, but it did not take away their hope, and their survival instinct gave them the determination needed to overcome the situation. Suddenly, a fireball appeared out of nowhere and struck one of the gladiators, engulfing him in flames. The man fell to the ground and began rolling, screaming in agony as the fire burned his skin.
Watching closely, Neizan realized that the attack was coming from one of the chariots, where a mage was casting fireballs from a distance. The gladiators, now alerted, managed to block the following attacks with their shields. At the same time, another chariot quickly approached them. Neizan's companion was the first to notice and warned him to get ready. This time, they decided to take the offensive: the companion threw his spear, hitting the chariot's driver, while Neizan ran directly toward the horses. With a powerful leap, he spun his sword in the air and decapitated one of the soldiers. He managed to get onto the chariot, and with an almost imperceptible speed, he swiftly cut off the head of the last soldier standing on the chariot.
Upon feeling the impact of an arrow, Neizan noticed how his helmet reverberated. The projectile had been deflected by the metal, preventing the arrow from reaching him as the chariot following him now drew closer. Seizing the moment, Neizan raised his shield, preparing to protect himself from the next arrows. On the wooden floor of the chariot, he spotted several lifeless bodies spilling blood, and beside them, a bow with arrows. Without hesitation, he grabbed the bow and, while still shielded, drew an arrow on the bowstring. He stood up, his figure poised, and aimed toward the enemy chariot. His shot was direct and precise, striking one of the archers in the head.
However, just after firing, a fireball exploded, destroying the chariot. Neizan jumped, sword and shield in hand, landing firmly on the ground.
In another part of the arena, the gladiators were facing the second chariot. Although there were only two of them, they advanced with determination. Several spears flew through the air; one hit a horse, and another struck an archer. The wounded horse fell, destabilizing the chariot until it overturned, throwing all its occupants to the ground. They were barely getting to their feet when the group of gladiators charged at them, executing them without delay.
Now only one chariot remained, with three men: the driver, an archer, and a mage. Eight gladiators were still standing, although some were wounded by arrows. Suddenly, the blare of trumpets sounded again. From smaller side gates, a dozen soldiers emerged. This time, they came better armed, carrying shields and covered in armor that protected them fully, with helmets that gave them the appearance of battle demons. Thus began the second round in the arena.