Mervan's POV

The sky was heavy with dark clouds, hinting at the imminent rain. I stood alone in the arena, my eyes fixed on Su, who was preparing for the match. Eldran had vanished after dropping us off, leaving me with a sense of unease.

"Mervan, kid!" a voice called out, breaking my thoughts.

I turned to see Ash, the warrior Su fought in his first match. "Ash?"

"You're Su's friend, aren't you? I've seen you together multiple times," Ash said.

"Yeah," I replied. "Are you here to watch Su's match?"

"Yes, though I doubt it's going to be an easy fight for Su. That guy, Kilian, is one fearsome opponent—a monster, to be exact."

"I know… I lost what's left of my family because of him. We couldn't do anything…" I said, my voice trailing off with the weight of painful memories.

Ash's expression softened with sympathy. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's okay, Ash… I know Su will avenge my brother's death," I said, clinging to that hope.

"Listen, I'm really sorry for your loss, kid. I fought Su, and he's strong… but the way he is now, it'd be a miracle for him to survive…"

"I know," I interrupted. "But Su will win."

"How can you be so sure? We're talking about Kilian, Mehmoura's Grim Reaper. Do you know how many warriors fell to his blade?" Ash pressed.

A surge of memories hit me. "Do you think I didn't try to stop him?" I shouted, anger and grief bubbling up. "I saw Kilian kill my brother effortlessly! I tried to stop him this morning! I know it's suicide!"

I remembered that morning vividly. As we prepared to enter the arena, I turned to Su, my voice shaking. "Su, aren't you scared?" I had asked, desperation clear in my tone.

Su had responded with an almost serene calmness, a slight giggle escaping his lips. "What's this about?"

"HOW COULD YOU LAUGH? THIS IS LITERALLY SUICIDE! IT'S IRREALISTIC! YOU SAW HOW STRONG THAT MONSTER IS! HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM? ARE YOU DUMB? HAVE YOU LOST IT?" I had yelled, my fear turning into frustration.

"Mervan," Su said, cutting me off gently. "I will not die, I promise," he said, patting my head.

I started to cry, the fear overwhelming me. "Aren't you scared?" I had asked, my voice breaking.

"Oh, I'm scared shitless," Su admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "But I'm more scared about what could happen to the Amazighs and my family if I don't survive this fight. So don't worry about me, okay? I will avenge Murad's death and save the Amazighs."

As I snapped back to the present, the weight of Su's words grounded me. "I know it's dangerous, Ash. But Su will win. I believe in him."

Sheherazade joined us, her presence a calming influence. "You are right, Mervan. The best we can do now is believe in Su."

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I looked at her, finding solace in her words. "Miss Sheherazade…"

Ash sighed, shaking his head. "Not you too… Ugh, whatever. Let's hope you're right. That guy… Su isn't like the other exil-"

Before Ash could continue, the announcer's voice boomed through the arena. "Ladies and gentlemen, the final match is about to begin!"

The final match. The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the stakes at hand. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked at Su, praying silently for his victory.

Su's POV

"The air around you has changed," Kilian said, his voice calm but condescending. "But it's still not enough."

"Enough talk, Kilian. Let's end this," I replied, my voice steady, though my heart pounded with anticipation.

"Let's see if you can back those words of yours," Kilian sneered.

In an instant, we both vanished, our speeds surpassing the eye's ability to track us. We reappeared in a flurry of movement, exchanging blows with such force that the ground beneath us trembled. Kilian dodged my attacks with ease, his movements fluid and almost effortless. He countered with a punch that I barely managed to block, the impact sending shockwaves through my arm.

Ignoring the pain coursing through my body, I pressed the attack. My movements became a blur of fists and kicks, each one aimed with deadly precision. Kilian countered with equal ferocity, his blows coming at me from all directions. We moved so fast that to the onlookers, it must have seemed like a storm of shadows and energy, a battle beyond human comprehension. Kilian evaded each one with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He swung at me again, but I sidestepped just in time, feeling the rush of air as his fist missed me by mere inches.

"Better clench your teeth, you bastard!" I shouted, channeling all my strength into a single punch. The impact was explosive, sending Kilian flying across the arena.

"This is becoming interesting," Kilian said, getting back on his feet with a grin. "You've earned this Kid..."

He unsheathed his sword slowly, revealing a greenish blade that seemed almost alive, radiating an aura of death and corruption. The sight of it sent a chill down my spine.

"DO NOT GET HURT BY THE BLADE, SU!" Sheherazade's voice rang out from the stands, filled with urgency. "THAT BLADE IS FULL OF CORRUPTION! ONE SINGLE GRAZE COULD BE THE END!"

I nodded, understanding the gravity of her warning. But as I turned my attention back to Kilian, he vanished again, reappearing just behind me.

"How confident of you to not pay attention to me," Kilian whispered, his blade slashing towards me. I ducked at the last possible moment, feeling the tip of the sword slice through my hair.

Using Eldran's footwork technique, I dodged away, my heart racing. "Kilian, you sly bastard," I muttered under my breath.

Kilian charged at me with relentless speed, his blade flashing dangerously. I dodged as best as I could, each movement becoming more desperate as I realized that merely avoiding his attacks wouldn't be enough. Sooner or later, I would get hit. It was time to go on the offensive.

Kilian swung his blade in a powerful arc, aiming to cleave me in two. I summoned my aura, using it to deflect the blow. The clash of energies was intense, the force of it reverberating through the arena.

"THIS IS…!" Kilian exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.

A flashback of my training with Eldran came rushing back. I remembered struggling to maintain my aura, the intense effort it took draining me quickly. Frustration had boiled over, and I found myself venting to Eldran.

"Eldran, I can't do this," I had said, my voice filled with desperation. "I can barely keep my aura up for a few seconds. How am I supposed to fight Kilian like this? It's impossible!"

Eldran had looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and determination. "Brat," he had said, his tone stern yet encouraging. "If you can't hold your aura for long, you just need to activate it the moment your blow impacts..."

In the present, as i remember Eldran's words, I focused all my willpower, activating my aura just as my fist connected with Kilian. The energy EXPLODED from me, sending Kilian flying once again. He slammed into the arena wall with a bone-crushing force, the impact leaving a crater in the stone.

The arena was silent for a moment, the audience holding their breath. I stood there, panting, my body trembling with exhaustion and adrenaline.

Kilian slowly got to his feet, a malevolent smile spreading across his face. "Not bad, brat. Not bad at all. But this fight is far from over."

The final match was still raging, and the outcome was uncertain. I steeled myself, knowing that the real battle had only just begun.