The Ashen Dominion

The arena was still buzzing from the clash between Kaiser and Brock. The gladiators murmured. Guards discussed. A few were still in shock.

But the training of the six didn't stop.

Viktor was up next.

And standing at the opposite side of the ring—was Jin. He was his opponent today.

"...oof."

Viktor mumbled to himself as he rotated his shoulders a bit, spinning his wooden axes with his fingers.

Jin, on the other hand, was just standing there.

Holding his twin wooden machetes calmly... and his sharp eyes were locked on Viktor, unfazed and quiet.

Then—

Ting-!

The bell was rung by Khan, who was sitting beside Edmar.

BAM!

SWISH—!

Jin rushed in instantly, blurring like a shadow with his machetes drawn!

But—

"HUP!"

Viktor didn't back down.

He charged straight forward, slamming his foot into the ground and dashing headfirst, wooden axes raised!

And then— THWACK!

Their weapons clashed at the center of the arena.

The impact echoed loudly.

Viktor went all out from the start, unleashing a storm of fast, powerful swings—!

CLACK! TAK! THUD! TOK!

But—

Jin blocked and dodged them all. Smoothly.

"..."

His eyes were calm. Body flowing like water.

He deflected the strikes with precise parries, using the flat or back of his blades when needed. And whenever there was even the slightest opening—

SWISH!

He would counter with terrifying speed!

"Tch—!"

Viktor's foot slipped a bit, and before he could reset his stance—

THUD!

Jin's blunt machete slammed into his side.

"Ugh—!"

But Viktor twisted his torso and stepped back, gritting his teeth.

He avoided the brunt of the blow.

"He's still as slippery..."

Viktor muttered, breathing a bit heavier than before.

But he didn't stop.

FWISH—

He swung his axes again.

And again.

TAK—! THACK! TWHACK!

And again!

Though, through his continuous attacks—

"..."

Whoosh~

Jin kept slipping through. His movements were refined, elegant almost. Like he wasn't even trying hard. A blade here, a pivot there—his flow was perfect.

But Viktor—!

"GRRGH...!"

He forced his body to respond. Even when he was off-balance, even when his stance was crumbling—he pushed through with sheer will.

'Move...!'

SWISH—

He exclaimed in his head, avoiding a strike by twisting his body mid-swing.

Then suddenly—

SHHHK—!

His axe grazed Jin's cheek!

"...!"

Blood dripped from the small cut.

A shallow wound, but still... a hit.

Viktor's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't even expect it to land. He smiled.

But the grin didn't last.

Because Jin—

"That was good."

Dodged his follow-up, and instantly stepped in with a thrust—!

THUD!

Right into Viktor's chest.

"GUH—!"

Viktor staggered back from the sharp impact, his eyes still on Jin—

But before he could react or even breathe...

CRACK—!

Jin followed up with a horizontal slash from his left machete.

The wooden blade smacked Viktor directly across the jaw.

His body spun mid-air—

THUD!

And then collapsed onto the ground.

"..."

Silence.

Everyone just stared at the arena.

Viktor was unconscious.

And just like that... the match was over.

"..."

Jin stood silently for a moment.

Then, he calmly sheathed both wooden machetes behind his back, walked toward Viktor's body, and crouched down.

He checked his pulse.

Viktor was breathing just fine.

"...Hup."

Jin then picked him up.

Just casually slung Viktor over his shoulder like a sack of rice.

Everyone watched as Jin walked out of the arena, carrying the passed-out Viktor.

He didn't say anything.

He didn't gloat or even show emotion.

Just placed Viktor gently on a bench at the side and sat beside him.

"..."

Folded arms. Closed eyes.

He waited.

Like nothing happened.

Like knocking someone out cold with two moves was just part of his morning routine.

Meanwhile—

At the far side, Edmar and Kaiser were watching.

Kaiser sat shirtless, his chest still bruised from his fight with Brock.

He glanced at Viktor... then at Jin.

"...He's on a different level."

He muttered.

Edmar nodded slowly, his arms crossed.

"He didn't even get serious."

"..."

Kaiser stayed quiet.

His expression was calm. But deep inside—he felt something stir.

He lost.

Viktor lost.

That meant...

It was just Edmar now.

"... it's your turn."

Kaiser said that quietly without looking at him.

"Tch..."

Edmar clicked his tongue.

And with that—it was time for the next match.

...

...

...

Seeing the two do well against those monsters, Brock and Jin—

Tap-

Edmar stepped onto the arena with a determined look on his face, clenching his dual wooden swords tightly in his hands.

He had one goal...

It's to at least graze his opponent.

Then, at that moment—his opponent stepped on the arena as well.

Tap.

It was Khan.

A casual smile on his face while holding a wooden spear.

And as if sensing Edmar's goal, he opened his mouth—

"Good luck, Edmar."

Then wished him luck.

"..."

Edmar frowned after hearing that, because he knows—Khan meant his words. He's not mocking him.

"...Thanks."

So with a small smile on his face, he thanked him and took a fighting stance.

Fwish~

Khan did the same, spinning his spear once before holding it calmly with both hands.

And soon—

Ting!

Kaiser rung the bell, and their sparring match started!

Though... unlike the two previous fights...

"..."

"..."

Nobody took initiative.

The two of them just stood where they are, looking at their opponents calmly.

It was silent, but the atmosphere around the two was like they were clashing weapons!

In their minds, they were already exchanging attacks and techniques!

"..."

Kaiser frowned, feeling that as he tried to wake up Viktor.

"Hey... Hey, wake up. You're missing something good."

Viktor groaned.

"..."

But he didn't open his eyes.

Then, after a bit of time—

BAM!

Edmar moved first, he kicked off the ground and propelled himself forward!

But as he got near, Khan thrust his spear forward, aiming at his head!

Though calmly, Edmar just ducked down and slithered in under the spear!

FWISH—

He closed in the distance between him and Khan in an instant!

TAP!

His foot twisted mid-step, anchoring his body in perfect rhythm.

Edmar thrust his right sword forward—

CLACK!

But Khan parried it with the rear end of his spear!

"Oh, that kid is bold..."

Someone muttered in the crowd.

But Edmar didn't give up.

Without hesitation, he followed up with another thrust using his left!

But this time, Khan had enough time to respond...

Bam!

He jumped up and dodged Edmar's second sword!

And as he was in the air—

SWISH—!!

He swung his spear down, as if trying to crack Edmar's head open like a coconut!

"...!"

Edmar frowned and immediately moved his right sword above his head.

TWHACK!

He blocked it.

He felt the force of it in his right arm, but ignoring it— He countered with his left, thrusting toward Khan while he was still in the air!

"HAAA!!"

He thought he got Khan—

WHOOSH~

But Khan just twisted his body midair like an acrobat!

The tip of Edmar's sword just brushed past him!

Then, using the momentum of his spin—

WHOOSH! THUD!

He swung his spear horizontally and it hit Edmar in his left shoulder!

"UGHK...!"

Edmar groaned and rolled to the right to lessen the impact.

FWIP-

He immediately got up and took his stance again, his shoulder still hurting.

Then when he looked in front of him—

BAM!

Khan was already there!

Edmar's eyes widened in shock.

And in that moment—

Khan unleashed a barrage of thrusts!

SWISH! FWISH! SWOOSH!

Edmar gritted his teeth and tried to parry them all!

CLACK! TAK! TOK—!

But Khan was just too fast—

"Shit...!"

WHOOSH~

Edmar started dodging the attacks he couldn't parry anymore.

But that still wasn't enough, because after a while—

TOK!

He was hit in the stomach!

"KUUH—?!!"

Edmar spit out saliva, he almost lost consciousness upon being hit...

But his pride—

Of doing worse than Kaiser and Viktor—

Didn't let him!

So, gritting his teeth and swallowing his scream—

"GRAAAAAAH!!!"

FWIP-

FWOOSH—!

He let go of his weapon in his left, grabbed the spear with that hand, and pulled it in!

"Hm...?!"

Khan's eyes slightly widened in surprise.

He was dragged forward a bit—

Then in that moment—

"HAAAAAAA—!!!"

Edmar roared and thrust his right sword forward, aimed at Khan's head!

Khan tilted his head to the side. But he was a beat away.

SHHK—

"guh..."

A small groan escaped Khan's mouth...

He was grazed at the left temple of his head!

But then after that, to finish off the fight—

B A M!

He sent a devastating front kick to Edmar's stomach!

"KURGH...!!"

Edmar's feet left the ground as he was blown backward.

THUD-

He hit the floor... and he didn't move after that.

"..."

He passed out this time.

But... There was a small, faint smile on his face—

Knowing...

He succeeded in his goal.

"Haha, what a lunatic."

Khan said to himself, looking down at Edmar on the floor.

Then with a small smile on his face, he touched the temple where he was grazed.

He shrugged his shoulders and just casually picked up Edmar like Jin did to Viktor earlier.

And with that—he got out of the arena and placed Edmar on the bench to let him rest.