The dust was still settling.
Zach stood near the center of the ring, shoulders rising and falling like slow thunder. Blood dripped down his knuckles, his right eye swollen half shut. Across from him, the elder's champion lay sprawled out—still breathing, barely. The crowd had gone quiet, watching the remnants of that brutal duel fade into silence.
I exhaled, tension leaving me in waves. I hadn't even realized I'd stepped halfway into the arena during the fight. My hand was still clenched around one of my blades, knuckles white.
"That was…" Deya started, then trailed off.
"Insane," Nel finished for her, arms crossed, eyes locked on Zach. "But we expected nothing less."
The silence broke with a slow clap. The 7th Elder stepped forward from his row of loyalists, arms folded, that smug confidence never leaving his face.
"Impressive," he said. "But strength isn't proven once."
Zach turned his head slightly, still breathing hard. I stepped fully into the arena now, standing just behind him. The elder's voice carried across the battlefield like an invitation and a challenge rolled into one.
"A two-on-two," the elder said. "Our two strongest left, versus yours. Dont blame me you guys are the political ones. Let's see if the new Breaker blood really measures up."
Murmurs rippled again—from the crowd, from some of the visiting clans. Even among the elders, a few heads turned sharply. This wasn't part of the original ceremony. And yet no one objected.
Zach gave a look. A look I seen a million times. The same look he gave me when others used to bully amir, the same look he gave me when others questioned on of or clans. it had a simple translation. Win
"I'll do it," I said.
A beat passed. All eyes drifted to Amir—ready to step forward, already shifting his stance.
Then I spoke again.
"Nel," I said, turning to her directly. "You're with me."
Even Nel raised her eyebrows slightly, but she didn't question it.
"Understood," she replied, already stepping toward me.
Gasps this time—not from the crowd, but from our side. Deya blinked. Amir's arms tightened across his chest. He didn't say anything, but his silence was loud. Heavy. He looked away, jaw tense.
I moved to the center of the arena and bent down slowly. One by one, I placed my swords on the ground—careful, deliberate. Then I stood tall and rolled off my suit jacket, letting it fall behind me. My undershirt followed.
"As a Fortune Clan member," I said, loud enough for all to hear, "I fight against faith. But today, as an ally of the Breaker Clan… I follow your style."
No weapons. Just fists. Just essence.
Nel followed my lead, stripping off her jacket, revealing minimal gear beneath—tight-wrapped armor at the forearms and thighs, nothing more. Her whip still hung from her hip, but she didn't reach for it.
The elder tilted his head, amused. "Interesting choices."
"I made them," I answered. "So test me."
The ring was cleared. The crowd re-formed in a wide circle. Above us, the sky had gone darker. Not from clouds.
From tension.
From expectation.
From whatever was about to happen next.