The Karnan bared his fangs, his sharp canines glinting under the arena's harsh artificial lights. He spoke, his voice a guttural growl, filled with a language Joseph didn't understand. Whatever Grycity was saying, it didn't matter. They were both here for the same reason. One of them was leaving this arena alive.
Joseph tightened his grip on Nikomar's sword and lunged forward, swinging in a controlled arc aimed at Grycity's midsection. The Karnan moved like liquid shadow, effortlessly weaving out of the way. Joseph felt the rush of air as his blade sliced nothing but empty space.
Before he could recover, Grycity countered. Claws flashed. Pain exploded across Joseph's chest as three deep gashes tore through his skin, his suit mending and his enhanced healing kicking in immediately, but not before he felt the burn of fresh wounds. He gritted his teeth and swung again, this time at Grycity's legs. The Karnan leaped back, landing gracefully on the balls of his feet, tail flicking in irritation.
Joseph cursed under his breath. He wasn't a swordsman. He had trained enough to have a basic understanding, but against a veteran like Grycity, he was outmatched. The Karnan wasn't just dodging; he was toying with him.
Another slash, another miss. A counterattack, another cut—this time on Joseph's forearm. Blood dripped from the wound, but he ignored it. He was healing, but not fast enough to keep up with the Karnan's relentless strikes.
This wasn't working. He was losing.
Fighting a skilled veteran with a weapon he barely knew how to use was suicide. He needed to change tactics.
Joseph's fingers tightened around the hilt of the sword, then he suddenly hurled it toward Grycity. The Karnan's feline reflexes kicked in, his hyper-attuned senses forcing him to react. He caught the weapon mid-air, instincts overriding strategy.
And that's when Joseph struck.
He closed the distance in a heartbeat, driving his fist toward Grycity's chest. The Karnan twisted away, barely avoiding a direct hit, but for the first time, he didn't fully evade. Joseph's knuckles grazed his ribs, the impact sending a small shockwave through the Karnan's frame.
Grycity hissed in annoyance and retaliated with a swipe of his claws. Joseph twisted, letting the attack pass an inch from his skin. His enhanced senses kicked into overdrive, tracking every shift in Grycity's stance, every muscle twitch that signaled his next move.
Fists against claws. It was a brutal exchange.
Joseph wasn't landing solid blows, but neither was Grycity. The Karnan still had the advantage in speed, but Joseph's endurance was superior. With every exchange, Joseph felt himself adapting, moving more efficiently, wasting less energy.
Grycity was fast. Joseph just had to last longer.
Time stretched, each second a grueling battle of attrition. The Karnan's movements, once crisp and sharp, were slowing ever so slightly. His chest heaved with exertion, and his footwork, once impeccable, was beginning to show cracks.
Joseph smirked. This was his moment.
Grycity lunged, claws aimed for Joseph's throat, but Joseph ducked under the attack and drove his knee into the Karnan's stomach. Grycity coughed, momentarily winded. Joseph didn't hesitate. He slammed his fist into the Karnan's jaw, sending him staggering backward.
Joseph pressed the advantage. He dodged a weak counterstrike, stepped in, and drove his fist into Grycity's knee. A sickening crack echoed through the arena as the Karnan collapsed, his leg bent at an unnatural angle. He let out a sharp snarl of pain but didn't beg. He simply lay there, accepting the inevitable.
Joseph exhaled heavily, stepping back. His body ached, his wounds still knitting themselves back together. The crowd roared in approval, their hunger for violence insatiable.
He walked over to where Grycity had dropped the sword and picked it up. Turning back, he met the Karnan's gaze.
Joseph hesitated. He didn't want to do this. But he had to.
"Any last words?" he asked. For more chapters visıt 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥
To his surprise, he understood the response.
The words were simple, resigned. There was no fear in Grycity's voice, only the acceptance of a warrior who had fought and lost.
Joseph swallowed hard. He could stab him, but Karnan physiology was slightly different from humans. He didn't know if piercing Grycity's heart would kill him instantly or leave him in agonizing pain. He couldn't risk that.
Beheading was the surest way.
"I'm sorry," Joseph said softly.
Then he swung the blade.
The Karnan's head separated from his shoulders in a clean stroke, rolling across the blood-stained sand. The body slumped forward, lifeless.
Joseph stared at the corpse, his grip on the sword tightening. The crowd erupted in cheers, reveling in the bloodshed.
Another kill. Another step toward survival.
He turned away from the body and let the weight of his actions settle on his shoulders. He had won. But at what cost?