The arena trembled under an overwhelming wave of bloodlust, a force so primal and suffocating that it seemed to claw at the very air. Villagers in the stands gasped, some collapsed and fainted, their bodies unable to bear the crushing weight of it. Others clutched their chests, eyes wide with terror, as the invisible tide pressed against their hearts. Even Tetsuya, the village commander known for his unyielding resolve, felt his hands and legs quiver despite the iron will that had carried him through countless battles.
His mind raced, fragments of memory colliding with the present. It's the same bloodlust I felt earlier today on that street where I met Renjiro fighting, he thought, his breath shallow. But that was nothing compared to this. What kind of life has he lived to unleash something so monstrous?
High in the stands, Selena's voice trembled as she gripped the railing, her knuckles white. "Is that really Renjiro?" she whispered, her words barely audible over the roar of the crowd.
Beside her, Haruto struggled to steady himself, his footing uncertain as the bloodlust sapped his strength. "No," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "It's not the Renjiro we know."
Yuki, barely able to speak, forced the words out through gritted teeth. "Guys… Takeshi, Himari, and Reina—they've all fainted."
Selena spun around, her heart lurching as she saw her friends slumped over in their seats. She dropped to her knees beside them, shaking their shoulders desperately. "Wake up! Come on, please!"
Haruto reached out, his hand trembling as he touched Selena's shoulder. "It's useless," he said, his voice low and strained. "This bloodlust… it's too immense. Even the three of us are barely holding on."
In the crowd below, a child clung to his mother, his small arms wrapped tightly around her waist. "Mom, what is he?" he whimpered, his voice quaking with fear. "I'm scared."
The villagers' shouts rose like a storm, their fear feeding the chaos. "He's not human!" one cried. "A demon in human form!" another bellowed. The arena had become a cauldron of dread, every soul within it ensnared by the sheer power radiating from the figure at its center.
Renjiro stood in the arena, his sword gleaming with a dark promise as he pointed it at Tetsuya. An evil smirk curled his lips, a stark contrast to the boy they once knew. "Let's start," he said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Before Tetsuya could fully issue his command, Renjiro surged forward with blinding speed. His left leg lashed out, driving into the neck of the nearest soldier with a sickening crunch. The armored figure hurtled backward, crashing into the arena wall with a thunderous impact that sent dust billowing into the air.
The soldier's body twitched, divine energy knitting its wounds back together as it began to regenerate. Tetsuya's summoned warriors were relentless—immortal as long as their summoner's power held. The only way to stop them was total destruction, a feat few could achieve.
Renjiro didn't hesitate. He seized the soldier's legs, swinging the armored body around like a ragdoll before hurling it skyward. The crowd gasped as he prepared his signature move: the Phantom Step Slash. But instead of a single strike, Renjiro unleashed a barrage of powerful slashes, each one tearing through the air with a howl. Then, in a blur, he executed the Phantom Step Slash, vanishing and reappearing behind the airborne soldier.
The soldier, anticipating the attack, twisted midair and countered with a vicious strike of its own. Blade met blade in a blinding clash, the force of their collision sending shockwaves through the arena. The soldier crashed into the ground, a crater forming beneath it, while Renjiro landed hard, the impact driving him to one knee.
Haruto's eyes widened in disbelief. "Has he lost his mind?"
Selena blinked, her voice tight with confusion. "What are you saying?"
"The more he uses that technique, the more it damages his legs," Haruto explained, his tone grim. "Renjiro doesn't have a core. He can't enhance his body like we can. That Phantom Step Slash—it's pure speed, forced out of him at a cost."
Yuki's brow furrowed. "But… why?"
"Without a core, overusing it tears at his leg cells," Haruto said. "The more he pushes, the worse it gets. It could cost him his legs entirely."
Selena's chest tightened, her breath catching as she bit her lip. She turned to Haruto, her voice trembling with a rare vulnerability. "We have to stop this match. I won't let my brother lose his legs. Haruto, please let's stop it."
Haruto glanced at her, struck by the raw emotion in her eyes. Selena, who never flinched in the face of danger, was trembling not for herself, but for Renjiro. Though they weren't bound by blood, her bond with him ran deeper than anyone knew. A faint smirk tugged at Haruto's lips despite the gravity of the moment. She cares more than she'll ever admit.
They leapt from the stands, determined to intervene, but an unseen force halted them at the edge of the battlefield. A shimmering blue barrier pulsed before them, blocking their path.
Haruto's eyes flicked to Selena. "It's some kind of barrier."
The battle grew fiercer. Renjiro bled heavily now, crimson drops staining the ground as his evil smirk widened. Selena stepped forward, summoning a fire spell in a desperate bid to shatter the barrier. Flames roared to life, crashing against the shield, but it held firm, unyielding.
"How are we supposed to get through?" Haruto growled, frustration boiling over.
A voice cut through their despair from behind. "Oi, you two! What are you doing?
Startled, Haruto and Selena whirled around. A young adventurer sat casually on a nearby ledge, his well-dressed figure exuding an air of nonchalance. A sword hung at his waist, and his carefree smile seemed out of place amidst the chaos. He looked about their age, his dark hair tousled by the wind.
"Who are you?" Haruto demanded, narrowing his eyes.
The stranger waved a hand dismissively. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Name's Hayato. Just another adventurer passing through. Heard there was a battle worth seeing, so I came to check it out."
Selena eyed him warily. "What do you want?"
Hayato tilted his head, his smile unwavering. "I just noticed you two trying to break that barrier, right?"
"Yes," Haruto snapped. "We're trying to stop this match."
"It's useless," Hayato said simply, folding his arms. "That barrier's not coming down by force."
Haruto gritted his teeth. "Damn it! How do we stop this?"
Hayato shrugged. "Your best bet is to wait for the match to end or convince the challenger to call it off. If you're desperate, talk to the adventurer's guild. Explain why you want it stopped—they might make an exception, depending on the situation."
Selena clicked her tongue, her frustration palpable. "Tch… this is a pain."
Haruto scratched the back of his head. "Guess we'll try the guild first. Those two are too caught up in the fight to listen."
As they spoke, the battle escalated. Tetsuya raised a hand, his telekinesis seizing Renjiro mid-strike. The soldier lunged, unleashing a devastating attack. Renjiro twisted free, his voice ringing out with defiance. "It's unfair, Tetsuya! Two against one?"
Tetsuya smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I want to see more of your abilities. Don't worry—I'll hold back."
Their blades clashed again, the impact birthing an explosion of force that sent smoke and dust swirling across the arena. Selena squinted through the haze. "What's happening over there?"
"I can't see anything," Haruto muttered
As the smoke cleared, the crowd murmured in awe. "I didn't think that kid could give Tetsuya such a fight," one villager said.
But then, Renjiro staggered—and collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud. Shock rippled through the arena.
"Hey, you two—the barrier's gone!" Hayato called out.
Selena and Haruto didn't hesitate. They vaulted over the railing, racing to Renjiro's side. Selena dropped to her knees beside him, tears streaming down her face as she shook him. "Renjiro, wake up! Please, wake up!" she cried, her voice breaking.
He didn't stir.
Tetsuya approached, his expression grim. "We need to get him to a hospital. He's losing too much blood."
Haruto hoisted Renjiro onto his back, his muscles straining under the weight. "Lead the way," he said, following Tetsuya as they sprinted toward the village's medical center.
The arena fell silent behind them, the bloodlust fading like a receding tide. But for Selena, Haruto, and the unconscious Renjiro, the battle was far from over.