Back at the prison:
The fight was at its peak, the tension palpable as Abell and Gaius stood, side by side, facing Wido. The cheering from the prisoners echoed throughout the prison, growing louder with each passing second. The guards were beginning to take notice.
"This has gone on long enough," Wido said, his voice steady and heavy with authority.
Abell grinned, a smirk spreading across his face. "Yeah, it definitely has. I'm ready to win," he replied, though his thoughts betrayed his outward confidence. This needs to end quickly—my sword's about to reach its limit.
Gaius said nothing, his eyes fixed on the scene, calculating, weighing options. His gaze flickered briefly to Abell's sword, and a quiet thought formed in his mind. Hmm.
Suddenly, the tension snapped. Wido's massive fist shot forward, the air vibrating with the sheer force of his punch.
"Boom!"
Abell's muscles screamed as he quickly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding Wido's follow-up swing. I can't keep dodging like this, he thought, his sword already heavy in his grip. He needed to end this fast.
Gaius's eyes flickered between the two combatants, his stance poised and calculating. He'd been waiting for the right moment to intervene, but Abell was stubborn, never giving him the opening.
Wido roared, his next punch coming in at an angle Abell couldn't anticipate. With a twist of his wrist, Abell deflected it, his sword catching Wido's knuckles in a flash of steel. Wido howled, pulling back just long enough for Abell to close the distance.
"Not bad, kid," Wido sneered, wiping blood from his fist. His rage had turned into something colder—focused. He launched another punch, this time with more precision.
Abell barely had time to react. The punch landed, a sickening crack reverberating through the air as Wido's fist collided with his ribs. Damn, that hurts, Abell thought, struggling to breathe. But the pain ignited something inside him—an iron will to keep fighting.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gaius move. A flash of motion, like a shadow cutting through the chaos.
Wido's wild fist came down, but Gaius was faster. He intercepted with a well-placed strike, a sharp blow to Wido's side using his daggers, throwing the giant off balance. Wido stumbled, just enough for Abell to spring into action.
With a quick, decisive movement, Abell swung his sword in a clean arc, catching Wido off guard. The blade scraped against Wido's armor with a metallic screech, but it was enough to push him back.
Wido growled, his focus now entirely on the two of them, his movements slower, more deliberate. "You think you've won?" he roared, his voice trembling with fury.
"Not yet," Abell muttered, readying his sword.
Gaius didn't need to say a word. The fight wasn't over yet—but with their combined pressure, it wouldn't be long.
Camus watched quietly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "This is a surprise," he thought. "I wonder why he decided to help that boy.
"Wido roared, his eyes wild with fury, as he charged once more. His massive frame cut through the air like a boulder, his next punch a hammer aimed straight for Abell's chest.
Abell didn't wait for it to land. He dropped low, ducking just in time as the punch soared overhead. The air around him seemed to ripple with the force of Wido's attack. Abell's feet scraped the ground, his body coiling like a spring as he pushed forward.
But Wido was fast. Faster than Abell expected. A brutal knee shot up, catching him in the stomach. The wind was knocked out of him, his vision blurring for a moment.
"Damn…" Abell gasped, stumbling back, but he didn't let up. With a sharp breath, he lunged, swinging his sword with a fierce, controlled arc.
Wido barely managed to block it with his forearm. The sword bounced off his muscle with an ethereal ring, but Abell saw it—his opening.
Without hesitation, Gaius moved. He shifted, like a shadow darting through the chaos. Abell's instincts told him to watch for the right moment. He saw Wido's guard dip just slightly, just enough for Gaius to strike.
In an instant, Gaius darted forward, his hand flashing toward Wido's side. His fist landed with surgical precision, hitting the gap between the giant's ribs and armor.
Wido grunted, staggering, eyes wide with a mix of surprise and pain. The force of the blow sent him stumbling, his weight shifting awkwardly.
Abell wasn't waiting. He was already on the move. With Wido off balance, he closed the distance in a blur, his sword raised high. His muscles burned with exhaustion, but there was a fire in his eyes—a refusal to fall back now.
He swung again, faster than before, catching Wido in the shoulder. The impact sent a jolt through Abell's arm, but Wido's staggered step told him it was enough.
Wido's growl turned into a snarl. He swung again—recklessly, furiously—his fist aimed like a battering ram at Abell's chest.
Abell ducked, but this time, his footing slipped on the slick stone beneath him. He felt the punch graze his side, and pain flared up his ribs. He gritted his teeth, refusing to fall.
In that moment, Abell's sword began to flash, the unmistakable sign that it was fading. "Damn, I need more time," he muttered aloud. With a final, desperate swing, hoping to end the battle, he struck—but as his sword sliced through the air, it vanished, missing Wido completely.
Wido stood calmly, a proud grin spreading across his face. "It seems your trick ran out," he said, delivering a firm punch that sent Abell reeling.
"His trait is on a timer?" Gaius thought, his brow furrowing. "Hm, so reckless."
The female prisoner, watching with interest, looked surprised. "Seems like his orb isn't fully developed yet. That's a shame. He could've won easily with a trait like that," she said, a sinister smile creeping onto her lips.
One prisoner turned to another. "You still wanna bet those sols?"
"Hell no, I'm good. Didn't know the kid's trait had a time limit. Heck, I didn't know traits had time limits."
Wido looked calmly at Abell, his pride evident. "It seems your trick ran out," he said, delivering a firm punch to Abell's stomach.
"His trait is on a timer?" Gaius thought. "Hm, so reckless."
The female prisoner, surprised, murmured, "Seems like his orb isn't developed yet. That's a shame. He could've won easily with a trait like that," a sinister smile creeping onto her lips.
One prisoner turned to another. "You still wanna bet those sols?"
"Hell no, I'm good. Didn't know the kid's trait had a time limit. Heck, I didn't know traits had time limits."
Gaius rushed forward, daggers in hand.
"How pathetic, a thief is protecting me," Abell muttered, holding his stomach.
"Shut up," Gaius said sternly, his focus shifting to Wido.
Camus, observing, thought, "He actually looks like he's having fun."
"Are you next, boy—" Wido started, but Gaius didn't wait for him to finish.
With a quick lunge, he closed the distance, his dagger flashing toward Wido's side. The giant barely had time to react as Gaius's blade sank into a gap in his armor. Wido grunted, but his expression didn't change.
Wido's fury grew with every blow. His massive arms swung in wide arcs, forcing Gaius to stay on the move. The ground shook with each step, but Gaius was light on his feet, using his daggers to deflect the powerful strikes. He wasn't aiming to defeat Wido just yet—he needed to wait for the right opening.
Gaius darted in and out, his movements quick but measured. Wido's attacks grew wilder, and the giant's focus slipped. Gaius capitalized, staying just out of reach but never too far.
Wido swung down with a crushing blow aimed at Gaius's head. At the last moment, Gaius twisted, the attack missing by inches, but not without cost. He wasn't fast enough to fully avoid it—just quick enough to survive. He retaliated, slashing at Wido's exposed side, the dagger biting into armor. Wido staggered back, unaffected.
"Not bad," Wido taunted, turning back toward him.
Gaius's breath grew heavier, his legs beginning to feel the strain. He knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. The giant swung wildly, but Gaius had already moved to the side, striking at Wido's back. The blow landed, but not deeply enough to take the giant down. Wido staggered but didn't fall. He narrowed his eyes, searching for Gaius.
"Oh, this boy might have a trait too?" the female prisoner laughed insanely.
Camus watched, stunned. "He actually used his trait... Well, I'll be damned."
"Where are you, little rat?" Wido muttered, his voice cold, betraying no panic despite the confusion.
Gaius, chest rising and falling with each breath, moved again—slower now, more deliberate. He wasn't trying to outrun Wido; he was waiting for the perfect opening.
Wido's frustration grew. His next punch came with brutal force, aimed directly at Gaius's chest. Gaius couldn't avoid it. The punch landed solidly, knocking the air from him, but instead of crumpling, he vanished in a puff of air, the impact dissipating into nothing.
For a brief moment, the battlefield went still. The giant blinked, scanning the empty space where Gaius had been. Then, with a quiet flicker, Gaius reappeared behind Wido.
"Now!" Gaius shouted, his voice sharp and commanding.
Abell, stunned by Gaius's grace and precision, snapped out of it. His sword was spent, but he charged forward, using his strength to land a solid punch to Wido's gut.
Gaius moved in sync, his daggers flashing as he struck at Wido's exposed back. The combined force of their attacks sent the giant reeling, and with a final grunt, Wido collapsed, unconscious.