Ignoring the sharp pain coming from his back, Cyrus didn't waste a second as he forcefully shook off the disorienting sensation and lunged at his fallen opponent.
Unlike the taller youth who still had his back facing towards him, Cyrus had been fully prepared for their crash, so shaking off the dizziness was something he had been ready for!
Without any hesitation, he raised both arms and climbed on top of 298, before he unleashed punch after punch on the defenseless youth's head and ribs!
His fists hurt as they met the teen's skull and exposed ribcage, but Cyrus didn't stop or slow down his hammering. This wasn't his first time fighting in the Bloodpit. He knew that this was his only chance to win the fight. If he couldn't take 298 down quickly enough, he would be the one kissing the ground!
The bony youth reacted quickly enough, to his credit. Quicker than any opponent Cyrus had faced, at least, as he raised his own hands and guarded his vital spots while trying to curl up to a fetal position and minimize the damage.
Unfortunately for him, Cyrus's hits didn't follow a certain pattern. The strikes came indiscriminately, some of them targeting his head while others his ribs, trying to find even the smallest of openings.
At this point, it was purely a matter of attrition. Would Cyrus's blows break past 298's guard first, or was the 14-year-old going to get exhausted before that happened?
With another swing, Cyrus landed a clean hit on his opponent's ribcage, finally hearing a faint cracking sound and feeling his fist sink in slightly deeper than before.
At that moment, the tall, slender youth who had been clutching his head and enduring the hammering this whole time suddenly let out a painful, bestial roar.
''Aaaargghh!''
However, that's when the fight unexpectedly turned.
Cyrus didn't know how it happened, but as he let out that roar, 298 ignored his relentless assault and stood up, standing on his own two feet with Cyrus still on his back.
Then, almost as if he had gone mad, the bony youth put all his weight at the back of his legs and fell backwards, slamming his 'back' on the ground behind him!
Cyrus didn't have a chance to react as his body was the first to slam against the crimson sand, followed by 298's full body weight!
The youth wasn't fat by any means, if anything, he was severely malnourished… but so was Cyrus!
Thus, the scene that followed was only natural when a larger opponent used his weight against a significantly smaller one.
Carried by 298's overwhelming momentum, Cyrus could feel his body crashing against the cold arena floor, his head slamming on the blood-stained soil behind him and almost losing consciousness.
But, 298 didn't stop. There was no way he would stop!
Cyrus could see the youth -still bleeding from his mouth- turn around and get on top of him, his cold gaze oozing with fury and barely restrained killing intent.
However, to everyone's surprise, he didn't hit Cyrus.
No, he didn't even retaliate with any flurry of strikes either, like everyone had expected.
Instead, he stretched out his hands and placed them on Cyrus's neck, as a grim yet almost cathartic smile found its way to his face.
''Ah. I underestimated you. I knew I shouldn't have, but I still did it! …Still, you don't have to worry. I'll send you off quickly.''
Cyrus could feel the iron grip on his neck closing in, as the thin, bone-like fingers pressed on him with unbelievable strength.
Almost instinctively, he raised his hands and tried to pull the iron clamps away, but the slender youth's fingers wouldn't budge. No, at most, Cyrus could feel that he'd alleviated the slightest bit of pressure, but it wasn't nearly enough to save himself.
He could feel his life slipping away with every moment, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.
289's smile became more and more pronounced seeing this, while the madness in his eyes increased as well. He was so close to victory he could almost taste it -taste the death throes of the worm who had almost killed him!
But as the strength behind his fingertips increased, 289 suddenly widened his eyes.
For a moment, he thought he saw a… flicker of madness flash through Cyrus's dim grey eyes?
Before he could register that thought though, Cyrus suddenly let go of the fingertips that were crushing his neck.
He could feel the pressure increase exponentially, so much so that his neck bone could snap at any moment.
Cyrus had never felt such pain before.
But he didn't care. He couldn't care.
''Sa..distic... basta..rd!'' Even his thoughts had started to crawl to a halt, but he didn't stop.
Gathering whatever strength he had left, he put it all behind his right fist as he drove it straight through 298's ribs.
''AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!''
A scream so shrill and loud pierced through the 'Red Arena', completely stunning the spectators who were now on their feet.
Everyone stared at the tall, slender youth who was now wailing on the ground, rolling left and right in a desperate attempt to drive away the pain. His hand was tightly clenching his left ribcage while the crimson sand underneath him was painted a lighter shade of red.
And yet, those gazes only lingered on 298 for the briefest of moments before they quickly turned towards Cyrus.
The 14-year-old teen was now wheezing, struggling to breathe while clutching his neck with his left hand.
The expression of pain on his face seemed even worse than 298's as he desperately vomited blood with every breath.
And yet, he was still breathing… for now!