The crowd shouted, cheering on Senshi in his battle. Various blades and objects were thrown onto the field, but Senshi was focused. He didn't bother picking up anything to help him, just like how he did not use the knife that Percival gave him.

The beast roared and launched his claws towards Senshi. It ripped across the sand, creating a mini cyclone of sand particles in the air. Senshi couldn't see and was struck square in the stomach by its powerful punch. Its claws stabbed into him during the strike, gashing blood across Senshi's chest.

Senshi was knocked several feet onto his back, and the air blew out of him. He couldn't breathe for a moment, trying to catch his breath in the pile of sand. He's never been through so much pain, almost like a canon hit straight in the belly. He heard the crowd scream his name while he was on the ground, and it woke him up. He slowly picked himself up, balling his fist up and showing resilience. One attack by this thing already had him gasping for air, but he wouldn't give up.

It launched forward, attempting to slice him with its claws once again. It got close enough before raising its right arm and unleashing a powerful slash. Senshi tried to dodge, but his right foot was caught in the attack. He slipped immediately and felt blood rush down his leg.

"Funny enough, if I weren't an Aestari, I would've lost my leg there."

The monster wasted no time, attempting to slam his fists into Senshi. Quickly reacting, Senshi rolled to the right and narrowly dodged the explosion of sand and fists. He used this as an opportunity to lift his body and strike it in the face, but he was met with a follow-up punch to the nose before he could. He flew across the entire arena, tumbling across the sand and rolling near the opposite gate.

He didn't look at his nose, but it felt loose. He slowly touched his nose as he lifted his body from the sand, feeling its structure loosely placed. His nose was annihilated, and he could barely breathe, having to rely on his mouth for most. His vision was blurry, the fist big enough to cover his face. The monster used this as an opportunity to rush forward, before being hit by stones and food by the crowd. The crowd booed as Senshi laid down in severe pain, another strike potentially enough to kill him.

Senshi eventually fully got up and stared at it dead in the eyes. It raised its arm again, attempting to slam into Senshi once again.

"I see what you're gonna do," Senshi muttered, his eyes glowing at a blinding light for a split second, foreseeing the coming attack. He easily dodged out of the way before springing off of the ground and delivering a decisive blow to its stomach. The monster stepped back, roaring in pain. Its stomach had a significant bruise; Senshi's strike was enough to send it hysterical.

Senshi followed it up, moving towards it once more and punching it squarely in the chin. Its face buckled, sending it sprawling backward. It slid across the sand before coming to a halt, its jaw hanging off its face.

It looked down at Senshi, even angrier than before.

It roared, this time enough to send Senshi back a few inches. With each step, it ran forward, digging its claws into the sand, propelling itself for its next attack. Senshi anticipated but was too slow. It rubbed its claws across the sand, sending a wave of dust onto Senshi's already relatively blurry eyes, rendering him somewhat blind for the moment.

Senshi couldn't see what was next and moved out of the way out of instinct before being grabbed and slammed into the ground with massive force. Senshi heard bones crack and noises that didn't sound great.

After slamming Senshi, it picked him up by the leg and threw him again, returning to where Cindy sat. He slid across the sand, slowly stopped to a halt, and pressed up against one of the dead bodies. Senshi lay there, still. Blood poured like a fountain from every wound.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

It ran towards Senshi once again, attempting to finish him off. Eventually, it stood over Senshi with a violent look on its face. It opened its large, sharp mouth and roared, saliva dripping onto Senshi's face. Senshi wasn't moving, and the crowd settled him as dead. After realizing the situation, the monster stopped roaring and opened its mouth. It sent its head forward, attempting to bite off the head of Senshi before it felt a sharp pain in its throat. It was a cracked and rustic blade, something familiar.

"The blade that I gave him, he kept it?" Percival thought, tears already running down his eyes from the money he thought he'd lose from this fight.

Senshi's eyes were wide open, more expansive than before. The bloodlust seeping from his soul, his personality void, and his intent to kill took over. The small blade was deep into its neck, rendering it unable to make any noise or breathe. Its blood poured over Senshi's face, which barely made a difference from the previously existing blood on Senshi.

Senshi yelled at the top of his lungs and pushed the blade up to its face, stabbing through its chin, mouth, nose, forehead, and up to its brain, slicing its face entirely in half.

The crowd screamed and cheered as the monster's body fell on top of Senshi, almost completely crushing him. Senshi maneuvered his way from the body with his strength, crawling on the sand. He eventually moved away from its body and lay still on the sand.

"I'm. Free." He said quietly, unable to feel any part of his body. That attack was his last resort; he knew after it he wouldn't be able to use his body.

"It's impossible. How can even a lousy Aestari defeat a Vicious Nocturne? Fed hundreds of bodies in its wake.." Said the king, immediately dropping his bottle of whisking and standing up. "I'd like to have a word with the boy." He continued, walking past his family and the guards, entering through a door connected to a room with stairs that led to the prison's surface area.

Senshi's eyes began to close, his vision becoming increasingly distorted. That was until he was woken up. Talia was standing over him, along with a few guards behind her. She had a large smile, seeming to congratulate him from his POV.

She stabbed a syringe into his arm, temporarily activating his brain and muscles. Some adrenaline can keep him active for the time being.

He gasped immediately and rose, now sitting.

"Great, your special abilities allow you to actively regenerate fatal wounds. You'll be just fine," Talia reassured, slowly standing up and making way. The king walked out of the opposite gate with ten guards leading him. They all stood around him, making sure to block and secure his safety.

"Congratulations, Senshi! You're granted your freedom and free to leave at any moment." Yelled the king, slowly walking towards Senshi.

"Yeah, sure. Also, I'm not the only one who survived." Said Senshi, pointing at Cindy, barely able to keep herself conscious.

"Oh? I guess he is correct. Aid her, please, and make sure you fix that leg." The king yelled to Talia, swiftly turning his back and leading his guards to the gate he had come from.

Senshi was helped up by the guards, watching the crowd begin to leave.

Just like that, huh? People die right in front of your eyes; you just leave, go home, and eat dinner. It's pathetic; these people aren't humans; they're monsters. Even more "monster" than the one I just killed.

The king watched the bloodied sand, scowling. "A sixteen-year-old just killed a Vicious Nocturne. A prisoner. A threat."

Talia stood firm. "Orders?"

"Send Shaikatsu."

Percival scoffed. "That dog? Harsh."

The king didn't waver. "Senshi thinks he's free. I want eyes on him."

Talia smirked. "Consider it done."

The king turned away. "Let's see what he does when no one's watching."

***

Senshi was packing his clothes and items before he heard a knock at the door. He knew exactly what it was; he dropped everything he was holding and ran to the door, excited as ever. And just as he thought, his little brother Nale was at the door waiting for him.

He immediately picked him up, hugged him, and swung him around.

"I won; I told you I would win," said Senshi, holding onto his brother tight. His brother cried in happiness, excited for what was to come.

"You promise you'll come back for me?" cried Nale. Senshi smiled and hugged his brother once more.

"Yeah, I will. But I have to take care of something first. It won't take long. Keep yourself safe, okay? Senshi said before standing up, realizing a guard was signaling the end of the visit.

Senshi grabbed his bags and hugged his brother before walking out of the door. He walked down the corridor without a bag over his head or pushed. He walked out clean and with his belongings. Each step was a breath of fresh air, finally free at sixteen.