Ki woke to Septh's worried face hovering over him, his head throbbing. He sat up, blinking against the sunlight, and saw Zephyr struggling to rise, hands raised in confusion. Around them, men in shining armor stood with swords drawn, forming a tight circle.
"Where are we?" Ki asked calmly, scanning the scene, assessing every angle. The people wore strange clothing, and whispers rippled through the crowd.
Ki rose fully, noting the soldiers closing in. One stepped forward cautiously, sword ready. Ki remained motionless, waiting until the man was within reach. In a flash, he grabbed the soldier's sword and held it to his throat, turning him into the perfect hostage. The other soldiers hesitated, uncertain how to respond.
A man on horseback approached, wearing gleaming white armor and a crown. The king. His presence was commanding, and his soldiers instinctively backed away, sheathing their swords. The king dismounted, hand resting on his sword, eyes fixed on Ki.
Ki slowly released the soldier, dropping the blade to the ground. He squared himself, ready to demonstrate his combat skills. The king chuckled, dropping his own sword and assuming a fighting stance.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other, sizing up strength and skill, before charging simultaneously.
Ki threw a punch, but the king blocked it with an iron grip, holding Ki's fist tightly. Ki tried to pull back, but the king's strength was overwhelming. A punch came from the king, which Ki narrowly dodged by leaning backward. Using the momentum, Ki dropped low, spinning horizontally to land a kick on the king's chin... but the king's arm intercepted it.
The king momentarily loosened his hold on Ki's hand, and Ki flipped back, landing at a safe distance. He charged again, jabbing at the king's face. The king blocked the strike, but his focus shifted to Ki's left hand. Seizing the opening, Ki's right fist slammed into the king's stomach with a sharp crack. Pain shot through his body as his hand struck the king's armor, breaking a bone.
Ki fell to his knees, gasping. Zephyr stifled a laugh, while Septh's eyes widened in concern. The king seized the opportunity, grabbing Ki by the hair and driving a knee into his face. Ki's vision blurred, his body screaming in pain.
"Dirty bastard…" he murmured through clenched teeth as darkness crept over his senses.