Even when hiding behind the seat, Larna didn’t look away from the battle even for a second. Even so, what Living Armor had just done caught him by surprise.

  When Living Armor released his weapon to punch Rising Shadow, he didn’t simply let his weapon go—he threw it. Having been so focused on the battlers, Larna only realized the amazing arch drawn in the air by the scythe when it landed in his owner’s hand.

  Larna's face contorted as he looked at Rising Shadow's severed left arm resting on the floor. He could not see any blood or bone, just a red digital mark where the cut was made.

  It didn't seem to hurt. Rising Shadow would already be screaming if that were the case. However, he looked like he could feel something missing in him.

  Rising Shadow's face tensed and tsked. It was understandable. Now he would have to face with one hand an opponent that was already giving him trouble with two.

  But he shook his head, and his eyes got fixed on the knight.

  Despite the Challenger's will to keep fighting, Larna let out a sigh. It's over. His disadvantage was too big.

  Rising Shadow burst forward, taking Living Armor by surprise. With his right hand, the challenger swung his katana, but the knight deflected the attack.

  Using the recoil, the knight rotated his body and used his katana as a bat. The challenger managed to millimetrically step away from the scythe’s course.

  Rising Shadow didn’t hesitate. He charged again, and Living Armor received him with his scythe ready. Sparks flew everywhere as the weapons clashed in a strength contest. They were face-to-face. Living Armor’s crimson eyes shone more than ever, and Rising Shadow had that unusual smile.

  The two Battlers stepped back and looked at each other, their shoulders moving up and down every time they breathed.

  Both lunged forward. Their weapons clashed every second. Living Armor used the inertia to his advantage with creative moves, while Rising Shadow did ruthless cuts that each one aimed to end the battle.

  The symphony of the clang of metal resounded in the stadium. The fast moves of the battlers caused sparks and winds with each exchange. Everything reflected in Larna’s wide eyes.

  He unconsciously stood up and clenched the back of the seat in front of him. His dilated pupils took in every possible detail, and his breathing grew sharper. His earth raced—this was the climax of the battle.

  Living Armor deflected the challenger's attack and counterattacked, but the scythe was evaded. A single mistake and the fight would end.

  At this point, every attack seemed to ache in the battlers's muscles. Their moves progressively had grown slower. And still they kept attacking and dodging.

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  Larna blinked in disbelief as he witnessed Rising Shadow's strength. His face contorted every time he moved his only arm. But he continued.

  After dodging back, he spread his feet and flexed them ready to lunge forward, but he stopped as the silver scythe flew in his direction. The scythe spun away as he repelled it with his katana.

  Living Armor had jumped into the air. He grabbed the scythe that had bounced back and brutally threw it to cut his opponent in half. The scythe rotated like a saw, seeming to be nothing that could resist its sharp blade.

  Rising Shadow’s eyes widened, and he managed to haphazardly push his katana forward. The silver scythe impacted against the black katana, causing a clang that made everyone cover their ears and send sparks everywhere. The scythe was deflected again, but the impact made Rising Shadow's katana slip off his tired arm.

  The scythe ended again in Living Armor’s hands. Who spun on air, falling as a silver comet of death above his enemy.

  The scythe shattered the floor, causing an enormous explosion of dust.

  When the barrier of dust dissipated, Larna’s eyes widened. Rising Shadow was standing there with his black kimono and long hair. He was looking down, watching a red line that marked his body in the middle.

  The crowd grew silent, everyone admiring the conclusion of such a spectacular battle.

  Larna lowered his head. It was a fair battle, and both deserved to win, but—he squeezed his chest—it still felt bad.

  He saw the wave from before contracting to a single spot, returning reality and taking with it the Battle Scenario. When that happened, both fighters were again facing each other from opposite sides of the platform. The fatigue, the bruises, and the shattered floor were nowhere to be seen, and the left arm of Rising Shadow was back in its place.

  The only proof that the fight happened was the memory of everyone in the place and the battlers.

  Larna looked at Rising Shadow. He was as serious as ever, but below his frown, his eyes were deeper and much darker, as a terrifying abyss without end. He clenched his fists to the point that his veins bulged on his skin. He was tasting the sour taste of defeat.

  The Idol girl returned to the center of the stage. “Please let's thank our battlers for such an amazing spectacle!”

  The crowd burst into claps and cheers as the two battlers bowed to each other. The Battle had ended, and they had to return to their places, Living Armor to the center of the platform and Rising Shadow to the seats.

  On his way, he passed by Larna, stepping up the stairs as a soulless vessel. The cheers and claps just increased the wrinkles on his face and the clench of his fists.

  Larna’s eyes followed him until he ended up seated in the back seats. Wait. How was Larna looking back at him, if he was supposed to be in the back seats?

  Larna's heart raced when he noticed he was standing on the front seats. His hand was clenching the back of the seat in front of him, clearly irritating the person seated there.

  He was about to run away when the idol's voice thrusted into his ears. “Sir, could you take a seat? You are bothering the others.”

  As a rusty gear, Larna turned to the stage. The idol looked at him with her mesmerizing eyes and a smile. Larna’s face reddened as never before. He ran back to the back seats, hearing the laughs of the people around him.

  As the event continued Larna periodically peered at Rising Shadow, to always see him glaring at Living Armor.

  He takes defeats really seriously.

  Larna spent the rest of the event watching the next battles and getting impressed by Living Armor, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Rising Shadow.

  He saved him earlier. If there was something he could do to help him, he would do it.