The fight raged on. Wido stayed on the offensive, but his frustration was mounting. Despite his superior strength, he couldn't land a single significant blow on Abell. His attacks grew wilder, each one more erratic than the last.
Wido swung his massive right arm, but his blow missed, sailing past Abell. In that instant, Abell struck, his sword slicing through the air and catching Wido's exposed abdomen. Wido stumbled backward, momentarily stunned by the powerful hit.
Abell's confidence surged. The fight was far from over, but he felt a shift. Speed was his advantage, and it was working. He quickly fell back into position, holding his sword in a neutral stance, ready to counter whatever Wido threw next.
Wido's attacks became increasingly sloppy as his anger boiled over. Wide, heavy punches that missed their mark, poorly timed blocks, and his growing frustration only made his strikes less effective. Abell dodged with ease, countering every opening with precision.
"Hm, is this what mother was talking about?" Abell thought, dodging and weaving through Wido's wild strikes. A smile crept across his face. "Keeping your emotions in check huh."
"Why are you smiling, rat? This is far from over!" Wido yelled, his voice filled with rage.
Gaius observed the fight intently, completely lost in thought. He couldn't fathom why Abell was fighting so hard—there was nothing to gain or prove. This complete idiot is risking his life for what? Pride? he thought, shaking his head.
"Well, would you look at that," his father Camus said with a smirk. "He has a trait, Gaius. What do you think of that?"
"So what?" Gaius replied dismissively. "He's a fool. Why bother fighting so recklessly?"
Camus smirked deeper. "Sometimes there are challenges a man just can't run away from."
"That's dumb," Gaius muttered, eyes still locked on Abell, unmoved by his father's words.
Abell smirked as he taunted, "Is this really all you have? I thought someone like you would be a challenge."
Wido faltered mid-fight, his rage boiling over. I'm struggling against this sewer rat? His eyes filled with tears, and for a moment, he halted in place, completely undone.
The unexpected display caught Abell off guard. Why was this giant breaking down in front of him? Laughter bubbled up from the other prisoners, though it was more a quiet mockery than anything loud.
"Guess we've found his breaking point," one prisoner muttered under his breath, a smirk on his face.
"Didn't take much," another added, shaking his head.
Wido, still trembling, looked up at the Benedict crest above him. "Master Benedict, I'm sorry for dishonoring you," he cried, his voice shaky. "Please forgive me."
A few prisoners exchanged looks, their smiles barely concealed. "Should've stayed in the barracks," one said quietly, barely audible over the rest.
Another prisoner, watching Wido's tearful plea, simply chuckled. "Guess Hallion's standards aren't what they used to be."
With moments of an awkward pause, he started at the crest with a crazed expression, smiling, chuckling and moving awkwardly.
His voice, though still shaky, carried a new determination. "Master Benedict…. I will be better. I will make it right."
A low growl escaped Wido's throat, and suddenly, he lunged back into the fight with renewed fury. His strikes were no longer hesitant; they were calculated, brutal, as if every blow carried the weight of his newfound resolve.
Abell barely had time to react as Wido's powerful fists came crashing down. The momentum of the fight shifted instantly. Wido's earlier hesitations were gone, replaced by a savage precision that drove Abell back.
The prisoners, once mocking, now watched with growing disbelief. "What the hell just happened?" one muttered, eyes wide.
"That's more like it," another said, voice tinged with awe. "Guess he wasn't done yet."
He struggling to keep up, he tried to parry, but Wido's strength and speed had drastically increased. Every swing felt like it could shatter him. Abell's confidence began to waver, and for the first time in the fight, he found himself on the defensive.
Gaius, still watching, leaned forward slightly, his expression shifting. What is this?
Wido's temperament shifted. No longer were his swings wild and chaotic—each attack was measured, deliberate, and fierce. His stance became fluid, the strikes coming in rapid succession, forcing Abell to constantly shift and adapt. The battle was no longer just about strength; Wido's control over his movements was terrifying.
Abell barely dodged a punch aimed at his head, feeling the rush of air as the blow whooshed past. He stumbled back, his heart racing, but Wido was right on him. Another punch, faster this time, caught the edge of his shoulder. Abell gritted his teeth, the pain sharp and immediate, but he pushed through it, spinning away just as a powerful kick aimed for his ribs.
"Not bad," Wido taunted, his voice cold.
Abell's breath came in ragged gasps. His legs were already tiring, his movements less fluid than before. I can't let him wear me down, he thought, desperate to find a way out of this.
Wido's next move came without warning—he swept his leg under Abell's, knocking him off balance. Abell staggered, barely managing to catch himself before falling completely. He could hear the mocking laughter of the prisoners, but it only fueled his determination. He wasn't going to go down like this.
Every time he dodged or blocked, Wido's attacks came faster, more precise. Abell's defensive movements grew sloppier, but somehow, he managed to stay on his feet. The hits he did manage to avoid left his skin raw, and the pain from the ones that landed made it harder to focus.
"The gap's showing itself," the female prisoner murmured from above.
Abell's legs burned, and his body felt like it was screaming at him to stop, but he couldn't. He had to keep fighting.
Wido moved again, his knee aimed straight for Abell's midsection. Abell twisted at the last second, narrowly dodging, but Wido's fist found his side instead. The force of the punch knocked the wind out of him. Abell hit the ground hard, struggling to stay conscious.
"I can't keep this up". Abell thought, staggering backward, the pain in his body growing unbearable. Despite it all, he still smiled—stubborn, defiant.
Gaius watched from the sidelines, his arms crossed. "This idiot… still grinning?" he muttered under his breath. "Why doesn't he just quit?"
Abell's determination was irritating, but it was also… something Gaius couldn't ignore. The fight dragged on, and Wido was pushing him harder than ever. Gaius couldn't understand why Abell wasn't just collapsing already.
"Whatever," Gaius thought, trying to dismiss it. But Abell's relentless fighting made the whole thing feel more pointless—and annoying.
Then Wido overextended his punch, and Gaius saw it. An opening.
Without hesitation, Gaius moved. He shoved Abell aside, stepping in and knocking Wido off balance with a precise strike to his side.
Wido grunted and stumbled back. "Damn, the other rat shows its head."
Gaius didn't acknowledge Abell. His gaze was fixed on Wido, voice flat. "Keep moving like that, and it won't last."
Wido growled, recovering quickly. Gaius didn't look at Abell—he just shifted his weight, waiting for the next move.
Abell blinked, still reeling from the last hit. He shook his head. "The Thief…?"
"Move," Gaius muttered, tone sharp. He didn't wait for a response, already redirecting his attention to Wido. He wouldn't let Wido gain any ground now.
Abell, still shaky, pushed himself up. This wasn't about working together, it was about surviving. They weren't friends, but they both needed this to end.
Wido lunged again, but Gaius intercepted the strike, moving faster, blocking it and forcing Wido back. Abell followed through with a slash that caught Wido off guard, pushing him back a step further.
The fight wasn't about teamwork. It was about handling this situation. And neither of them was going down without a fight.
Meanwhile in The Benedict's Hall:
"Why are you in my region, Hugo Creed?" The man's voice was quiet but heavy with authority. "I recall telling you to stay away."
Hugo gave a nonchalant smile. "It doesn't really matter," he replied with a shrug. "I couldn't care less about your feud with Ephraim. My presence here has nothing to do with him."
Cedris didn't move, his posture straight as he watched Hugo carefully, his expression unreadable. "If you care about your well-being, I suggest you tell me why."
Hugo's grin only widened at the challenge. "You wouldn't want to do anything rash, would you? I think we both know it wouldn't end well."
Cedris's gaze remained fixed, unwavering. He exhaled a controlled sigh. "If you came for the Lunar Night Festival, I'll allow it. But after that, I want you gone."
"How's the family? I heard Theo is going to the academy this year. Also, did you ever find Cassandra?" Hugo asked nonchalantly.
"I haven't the time to chat with you, I have a whole region to run. So, if you could go, please."
Hugo chuckled, unfazed by the tension. "Sure, sure. I'll be seeing you, Cedris."
"Remember I have eyes all over this region." Cedris said sternly.
As Hugo walked out the building a faint frown appeared on his face.
"Oh, I forgot about Abell. I hope he doesn't tell Keeko. Knowing him he's probably got into so trouble."