Xander's entire body screamed in agony, his muscles seizing with every shallow breath. His skin was charred and burned, blood seeped from countless wounds, and his legs felt like they no longer existed. The arena blurred before his eyes, but his mind was aflame with a single thought:
'I can't lose. I can't lose to a commoner… Not after everything they've done. I can't lose…'
With a guttural groan, he raised his head, his blood-streaked face pale and haggard. His eyes, barely open, fixated on his opponent.
The commoner—no, Damon Grey—stood a short distance away, his body a bloody mess. A black blindfold obscured his eyes, but his expression remained unnervingly calm. Even now, Xander could feel the quiet determination radiating from the man he once considered beneath notice.
