Rising Shadow descended to the platform with steady steps, his gaze fixed on the Defender. The crowd cheered him, but the people's support didn't seem to affect him. His face was as apathetic as ever.

  Living Armor watched the approaching Challenger, his right hand clenching the big silver scythe.

  How can they be so confident? Larna's eyes dilated as he looked at both battlers. Maybe a battle like this would show him something.

  Finally, Rising Shadow stepped on the battle platform, his black kimono and long hair waving in the air.

  Living Armor stood inert, any emotion sweeping through the armor's crevices. He and his silver scythe shone under the sunlight like a fallen star.

  Even a novice like Larna would immediately notice it. This combat was going to be on another level.

  The idol girl's eyes reflected the two fighters in front of her. With a smile she turned towards the crowd, her mesmerizing eyes brilliant as starlight. “Everyone’s ready?! The Defender Living Armor vs The Challenger Rising Shadow.”

  She jumped full of emotion, and opened her arms. “Let’s count down!”

  The crowd burst into emotion with screams and yells full of adrenaline. The idol girl jumped and raised her arm to the sky, with one elevated finger. Synchronized with the crowd she counted.

  “One!”

  Rising Shadow grimaced.

  “Two!”

  He raised his arm and pointed at the Defender, his voice steady and confident. “I expect you to give me a good fight. All this week I’ve just found pure weakness, I don’t want to get rusty.”

  “Three!”

  The pristine knight didn't say a single word, but he didn’t keep quiet. He clenched with emotion his scythe and moved it with great agility around his body, that movement ending with the weapon pointing at Rising Shadow.

  The Challenger just smirked, his right hand slowly reaching the hilt of his sheathed katana, and resting there.

  The Idol girl turned towards the fighters and yelled.

  “Begin!"

  The world shifted. A wave capable of changing reality flowed through the texture of the universe, altering reality into one where fights like this were possible.

  The sky became dark, and enormous stars shone blinding in the open space. The platform where the battlers stood became the world’s center.

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  Then, both Challenger and Defender rushed forward.

  Living Armor′s scythe behind his body, ready to deliver a lethal blow. Rising Shadow was still some meters away. But the knight didn’t hesitate and discharged his power.

  The scythe flew towards Rising Shadow, but the challenger jumped, passing above the deadly blow, landed swiftly, and resumed his charge towards the Defender.

  Living Armor briefly lost his balance because of the failed attack, but that was enough for Rising Shadow to close the distance. His hand was dangerously clenching the grip of his katana.

  Larna leaned forward, remembering what Rising Shadow did to Garuma. But, the bully was a novice and Living Armor was a strong fighter. Is it going to end the same way?

  A crimson shine poured through Living Armor's visor. He was in a bad situation, but he looked as if everything was under his control. The Defender didn’t try to recover his balance. Instead, he let the inertia guide his next move.

  Rising Shadow’s katana warped just inches away from Living Armor’s stomach. But the knight’s scythe repelled it.

  The clang of steel echoed through the entire Battle Zone as the weapons clashed. The two battlers stood in front of each other with their postures broken.

  The knight threw his weapon away, and his now free hand rocketed towards Rising Shadow’s face, delivering a powerful blow that made the challenger step back and fall seated on the floor.

  Rising Shadow’s eyes were wide open, blurred as they looked up at the pristine knight, who was slowly approaching.

  This is bad. Larna frowned. His eyes… Rising Shadow’s eyes grew dimmer and blurrier after receiving that punch. Their color became opaque and dead.

  Larna knew that look. It was the one he had when he returned home after being bullied. Those were the eyes of the losers, the gaze of the weak ones.

  Watching him in that state, made Larna frown. He probably had not received a good punch in a good time. But that was all. It wasn't over. The Battle has not ended. Living Armor was unarmed, Rising Shadow still had a chance.

  Larna wanted to yell and make him react. But the words didn't come out. What scares me so much? His face contorted as he looked down. The opinions of these strangers?

  He bit his lips. Maybe Rising Shadow was cold, but he had saved him from Garuma. If he had to suffer the humiliation of these people to return his favor, he was willing to do it.

  Rising Shadow was still seated on the floor, looking up at Living Armor with a defeated expression.

  "Get up!" The scream reached everyone's ears in the stadium.

  Larna’s face became red and he hid behind the seat in front of him, as everyone turned to him. What did I just do?

  All his body trembled but a smile formed in his mouth as he saw how Rising Shadow's eyes turned intense and vivid again, similar to a black hole that devoured everything on his path.

  Rising Shadow searched for the source of the sound, but stopped and focused again on his opponent.

  Living Armor was unarmed, and he had strongly gripped his katana in his right hand.

  You can do it.

  Rising Shadow jumped to his feet and lunged towards the knight, but Living Armor strangely didn't seem to care as he stretched his right arm to the side. Rising Shadow's brown furrowed, but he continued his race.

  The black challenger suddenly froze, noticing how the scythe that had been thrown earlier startlingly fell in Living Armor's hand. His eyes widened as he tried to sidestep, but the silver scythe was already plummeting down, aiming for the win.