Tension filled the air.

I, on the other hand, was savoring the sudden surge of adrenaline as I watched them. I'd seen Logan and Mara fight, but that didn't stop me from feeling as enthusiastic as I was back then.

Compared to the way Logan lavishly moved around Lucas, this time, he seemed to be quite nervous. Each of his honed muscles protruded through his otherwise loosen shirt. There was even a vein popping on the bicep of the arm he grasped the axe with, while with the other, he was prepared to tackle down whoever came in his way. The expression on his face said it all. He was taking this bout very seriously.

As opposed to someone who relied on their brute strength to fight, Mara's posture was quite lax, balancing herself on the tip of her shoes as she took a step forward—pointing the tip of her curved scabbard toward her opponent. The blade was obviously sheathed. Even though both were acting childishly, I highly doubted either of them would be willing to cause any significant injuries to the other.

"Just start already," Edward's scoff signaled the beginning of this duel.

Let's hope they'll be able to settle their differences and stop fighting in the future. A wish I knew would never come true.

"Who'll win?" Lucas asked, as equally immersed in the show ahead as I was.

"I'm not sure," I blurted out, shrugging my shoulders. Logan may be more experienced and blessed with a powerful physique, but there was something about Mara that often gave her the edge. Attitude. She detests losing or admitting defeat. "But the last time the winner was—"

My comment was drowned out by the sound of the scabbard colliding with the axe's handle. Their expressions were utterly devoid of the previous mockery as they sized one another with a glare. Mara stomped hard onto the concrete and spun around, throwing a sharp kick into Logan's side.

Instead of evading it, he took it head-on, not perturbed by the blow in the slightest, then wrapped his thick arm around her lean calf. Such an attack would be quite effective against any ordinary civilian. Yet, someone as enormous as this barbarian would barely take any damage. He rose the axe with a faint smirk, ready to stab its bottom into her kneecap.

Instead of panicking, Mara jumped, aiming her other kick toward his beard. Logan instinctively bent his arm to cover his face, blocking the hit as Mara wrenched her leg away from his grasp, surprised that she'd do something like that. What was even more impressive than Mara's counter was the way she tightened her elastic muscles and rolled on the harsh ground, gritting her teeth as she tried to diminish some of the impact, which would've been pivotal in this fight. Dragging the battle down also meant that she'll most likely lose since Logan was a lot heavier and stronger than her.

As if to argue that she wasn't done yet, Mara leaned on her palms, arched her back, then kipped straight onto her feet and lifted her guard up, unfazed by her previous failure. Even Logan seemed to be taken aback by that unexpected display of talent.

"She can do that?" Lucas asked me, deeply shaken by what our ferocious scout was capable of doing.

"Uh-huh. She also does splits when she's bored," was my brief response tinged with sarcasm, knowing she was the only one within our group who could match me in utter versatility. Even if Logan was stronger than me, in other physical aspects, I might humbly claim that I was one step above him.

Those dense muscles sapped his stamina and overall pliability. Blunt force wasn't everything there was to one's physical attributes. Mara, for example, made up for her lack of raw power with her ridiculous agility, exceptional coordination in space, and outstanding flexibility. When you combine all of that with her experience as a mercenary and inherent thirst for blood, you get one frightening scout.

Logan would certainly strain a muscle or something if he tried to unleash kicks like hers, which might be fun to see in its own right.

"Aren't they a bit too serious about this, though?"

"Mara was the new chick before you and I came into the picture."

I could still recall the way she wrapped her elbow around my neck, cheering because someone else took the honor away from her. I dare to say that she was literally choking me to death during the process. An awful memory. Not worth considering. I shook it off my mind as I continued: "Maybe this is a matter of pride, rather than anything else."

"So they're putting on a show for us?"

"Do you really think either of them thought about it that far ahead? Now stop talking," I gave the order, my eyes fixed on what was about to happen next. "You're distracting me."

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"Sorry," Lucas whispered as we saw Mara throw yet another kick toward Logan's jaw. It lacked in strength, but it was definitely faster and a lot higher than the previous one. It appeared as though she didn't want to repeat the same mistake and allow herself to be grabbed by the barbarian again.

Unable to even get close to her, Logan tilted his head to avoid the attack, clicking his tongue as though he made up his mind. Giving up on defense, the barbarian charged toward her like a bull. Yeah, his patience was undoubtedly running thin.

That tackle stunned her, and in response, Mara did a wild slash with the scabbard, slamming it against his shoulder. A clean hit. Under normal circumstances, she would celebrate her triumph since she struck her adversary's body with her weapon first. This was just a spar, and no one had to get seriously hurt. But Logan didn't really care about those unspoken whatnots. Too pissed off to even care about them.

Now that he was close enough, and with a reach much longer than hers, he threw an arm over her neck and pulled her into a guillotine chock hold, right underneath his armpit.

"I won! I hit you first! Now stop being a petty bastard and let go," she roared as her face gradually reddened. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Mara gave up on the scabbard and began desperately pounding his torso. Left, then right. Her knuckles repeatedly connected against the boxing bag. None of the blows seemed to have much of an effect on the giant, though. After all, there's a reason battles are segregated by weight.

"You cut my shoulder? So what. The battle's over when someone gives up. And I'm rather convinced it's your loss," he let out with a giggle, unfazed by any of her rigid strikes. "Admit it~"

Frankly, I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to take any of those punches and shake them off like Logan just did, especially with bruises covering half of my body.

"Give up, Mara," urged Edward from the side as she dug her nails into his flesh while reaching toward Logan's hair with the other. The height difference made it impossible for her to grab it, unfortunately. All those ire attempts only made him yawn. "This beast's simply too big for you to deal with."

"Fine! I give up! Let go already!" she yelled, meekly tapping her fist like a hammer in defeat. "I can't breathe!"

"Sure," Logan answered and took a step back, a pang of regret washing over as he realized what he did was quite excessive.

Mara collapsed on the ground, desperate for breath. Glaring at him with bloodshot eyes, she shouted in disgust: "Animal."

"Logan made it quite clear he wouldn't go easy on you," Edward murmured in his disinterested referee-like tone. "Only Oliver, that moron, holds back because he's too worried about his teammate's safety."

"Well, he isn't here!" Mara snarled as she massaged her neck, still trying to calm her quickened heartbeat. "He ducked us and went on with his day, so we should stop thinking about people that aren't here! It's ridiculous."

"Natasha included?"

I almost felt guilty as I heard their names. Both, me and Lucas took their places here, today. At the same time, change was natural. People were bound to replace one another as they moved on with their lives. There are certainly some exceptions, but we're often doing what's the most convenient thing for us to do.

"She's an exception," Mara cut him short. "Natasha at least has the decency to keep things tidy compared to, you know who. That buffoon over there."

"I'm sorry, you know..." Logan spat out. "Never thought you'd stubbornly hang in there instead of tapping out..."

Yeah. Big guy, bigger heart. He never wanted to harm her. They were both swept away by the atmosphere and things got a little bit out of control. That's all.

"Whatever you say," she replied, but the look on her face suggested that Mara felt terrible as well. I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually.

"Yeah," I nodded to myself as I watched everything, dismissing what I actually felt deep down. "Something like that happened the last time they fought, too."

It was incredibly tough to narrow the gap with a physically superior opponent. More experienced, too. I've had the misfortune of dealing with something like that myself. Even so, there are ways in which you could take down an outstanding individual. If you can't take them head-on, just find a different way.

"You're next, Gray!" Logan's voice rang like thunder, directing his conquering stare toward me in an attempt to better the sour air surrounding us.

"I'll pass," I rejected his offer with a flap of my hand. "Not in the mood, and I have to carry the backpack later. Can't get injured, or my performance as the porter might diminish. You get what I'm saying, right? I know you do, Leader."

I already am injured, though.

"What the hell!"

See? There are better ways to deal with someone other than fighting. I was honestly amazed at my own intelligence at times.

"Gray," called Lucas from my side, recalling what I did in the Underworld. "Who'd win? Between you and them, I mean."

"I don't know," I answered him honestly.

Neither of the two were opponents someone like me could take lightly. But that didn't mean I never considered fighting against them. Quite on the contrary. Each time they sparred, my full attention will be locked on them, studying constantly. I turned toward him, only to discover he wasn't looking back at me for an answer, but toward the ceiling once more. A habit of his that I wasn't going to go out of my way to mention aloud. Not minding that, I only stated: "But I wouldn't go down as easily as you did—"

That's when a screech ripped through the air, echoing throughout the whole factory. Everyone turned their attention toward the root of the problem, the wrecked car that was obstructing a large portion of the fence's entrance. Scrawny and greenish hands grasped the rusty frame, the tip of grimy claws scratching against the metal's surface. As it tried to climb over, the whistle of a projectile followed. A thin bluish trail was left behind by an arrow that flew toward the vehicle. Just as it poked its green forehead above, a pain-filled wail came out as soon the arrow hit its destined temple. From its cry, anyone could tell it wasn't something humane.

"It would be better to do whatever you wanted to do later," Edward grumbled as he prepared another arrow from his quiver—more figures becoming apparent through the breaches in the fence and the car's shattered windows. "I think there are others that want to join in the fun as well."

Yes, we should put things on hold for the time being. Our games will have to wait. We'll get another chance to play later.

If we manage to survive what's coming, that is.