The atmosphere in the coliseum had shifted. The previous matches, brutal as they were, had been contests of strength, skill and strategy. But now, something darker loomed over the battlefield.
From their elevated thrones, Knox and Seraph watched as the next two combatants entered the ring.
On one side stood Darius—a broad-shouldered fighter with scars crisscrossing his arms, his grip tight around the twin short swords he wielded with deadly efficiency. His stance was solid, measured, the mask of a warrior who had survived countless battles.
Opposing him was Kain—a lean, unassuming man with raven-black hair and a casual, almost last smirk. No weapons, No armor. Just a glint in his eyes that hinted at something far more sinister than the others had seen in this tournament so far.
Seraph exhaled sharply, already unsetted. "That one... Kain. There's something off about him."
Knox studied the man, his expression unreadable. "We'll see soon enough."
Below, Max stepped forward, oblivious to the unease in the air. He raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Darius wasted no time. He lunged forward, twin blades flashing like streaks of silver, his movements honed and precise. He aimed for Kain's throat—a clean, efficient kill strike.
Kain did not move.
At the last second, he tilted his head slightly. The blade missed his neck by a hair's breadth.
Then—SNAP!
Kain's hand shot out like a viper, gripping Darius;s wrist.
Before Darius could react. Kain twisted—hard.
A sickening crack echoed through the coliseum as Darius's arm bent the wrong way. His sword clattered to the ground, his face twisted in sheer agony.
The audience gasped. Fighters who had been cheering moments ago fell silent.
Knox leaned forward slightly. Serap's jaw tightened.
But Kain wasn't done.
With an almost casual motion, he kicked out Darius's knee. Bone jutted from flesh as the warrior collapsed. A strangled cry tore from his throat.
And then—Kain grinned.
He grabbed Darius's other arm.
"No—" Seraph's breath hitched.
RIP!
He tore it off.
A fountain of blood sprayed across the battlefield. The severed limb landed with a sickening thud.
Darius screamed—a raw, soul-wrenching sound that sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened warriors watching.
Kain laughed.
Seraph shot to her feet.
"Killing is forbidden!" Her voice cut through the stunned silence like a blade.
Kain turned his gaze ip toward her. His expression was bored.
"Rules don't matter to the weak."
He stepped forward, gripping the gasping, barely-conscious Darius by the skull.
Seraph moved. She was ready to leap from the platform.
But before she could—Knox's hand caught her wrist.
She whirled on him. "Let. Go."
Knox met the fury with cold calculation. "I'll handle it."
Seraph's body trembled with rage. "This was never part of the rules! You said no killing!"
Knox released her wrist but did not look away. "And I meant it."
Then, in a blur of motion, he vanished from his throne.
THe air cracked as he landed in the arena.
A slow, suffocating silence fell over the coliseum.
Kain turned to face him, still holding Darius's skull in his grasp. He blinked. "Sir?"
Knox's gaze was cold. "Why?"
Kain shrugged. "Just eliminating the weak links, sir. He grinned. "And, well... it was fun."
Seraph clenched her fists so hard her nails drew blood.
Knox sad nothing.
Then—he exhaled.
"You're disqualified."
Kain's smirk widened. "Yeah? And If I refuse?"
Knox raised his chin. "Then I'll remove you myself."
Kain chuckled. Then he stepped forward. "You think you can just—"
FWOOSH.
A blinding red beam seared through his skull.
For a fraction of a second, the crowd saw it.
The instant his head ceased to exit.
Heat vision. Straight through the forehead.
Kain's body twitched once.
Then—it collapsed, lifeless.
Blood and scorched flesh splattered across the ground. Smoke skill curled from Knox's eyes.
He turned his gaze to the audience. His voice carried across the stadium like thunder.
"I will not tolerate this behavior from anyone."
Silence.
Knox flew back up to the platform, landing smoothly in his seat. He leaned back slightly, exhaled. Then, without looking at Seraph—
"Satisfied?"
Seraph sat down, her lips curling into a dark smirk. "He should've suffered more." She crossed her arms. "But... it'll do."
Knox glanced at her hands, still clenched tightly, blood smeared across her knuckles from where her nail had dug into her palm. Without a word, he reached over, tugging a section of his cape and wiping the blood away.
Seraph blinked, caught of guard.
Knox shook his head. "Women are trouble."
Seraph narrowed her eyes. "I heard that," But after a moment, she added, quieter, "Thanks."
Knox leaned back, arms resting on the throne. "Keep your anger in check. The last thing we need is you shifting into your angel form and destroying the base." His gaze darkened slightly. "That would likely kill everyone here... and alert the GPA."
Seraph scoffed but didn't argue. "Tch. Like I'd let some pathetic tournament be my breaking point." She exhaled through her nose, flexing her fingers. "Still, I won't lie... I hate people like him."
Knox didn't respond immediately. His gaze flickered toward the arena, where Kain's corpse still smoldered.
The next match was about to begin.
And this time, there would be no mercy.