The horn sounded, and the dance began.
Shira moved first—her daggers striking like lightning, slicing through the air from two directions. I barely managed to dodge. One dagger cut close to my cheek, and a little blood came out.
The crowd went wild. "FIRST BLOOD TO THE QUEEN!"
I stepped back, breath heavy, slipping into defense mode. Shira's cold, calculating gaze locked onto me. Then she struck again—a deadly combination: left dagger aiming for an uppercut, right dagger lunging at my stomach.
I raised my sword to block, but the force slammed me backward. Before I could recover, she spun and delivered a fierce kick to my ribs.
Pain shot through my body. I fell to one knee on the ground.
Now I understand how she killed 23 men.
This girl is a machine. Every move calculated. Every strike perfectly timed. Her experience was clear—years of survival, years of killing.
I quickly rolled as her dagger hit the ground where my head had just been a second ago. Sand flew up.
"Too slow, Silent One!" Shira called out, spinning around for another attack.
I stood up, sword ready. This time I waited. I shifted from defense to a little bit of attack mode.
When she launched her next combo, I countered. My sword blocked her left dagger, and I escaped from the right.
For the next few minutes, we fought on equal terms. She had experience; I had raw strength and desperation. The crowd's volume kept increasing.
The crowd's voices trembled, some shouting with excitement—
"This is the real fight! The Silent King is showing his power! Today, the Silent King will enjoy himself."
"That won't happen; Queen of Blades will defeat him."
Some spectators sat on the edge of their seats, holding their breath, watching every move. Commander Voss also seemed very excited from his place.
"In Shira's eyes, there is that passion, but in every attack by Garrett, there is a story hidden—he is fighting only for his life."
Sweat dripped on my forehead. Shira was also breathing hard, but her eyes still had the same coldness.
We circled each other. Measuring. Calculating the next moves.
Then I suddenly spoke when we were locked in close combat:
Alright, let's end this fight here—come with me to a private room, I have some important things to discuss with you.
Shira's expression completely changed. The fire in her eyes became even more dangerous.
"WHAT?" she said angrily.
"After everything I've survived, you think pretty words will work on me?" she snarled.
Her attacks suddenly tripled. Speed increased. Aggression maxed out. Daggers attacked my face, chest, arms—everywhere. I was barely keeping up.
She's faster than I thought. Every move is meant to kill, not just win.
Shit. I have to do something fast or she will really kill me.
She made a combination—fake left, real right. I dodged left and went straight into her dagger. She spun and hit my leg directly.
My balance was completely gone. I stumbled, almost falling.
The crowd went silent for a second. This moment felt decisive.
Commander Voss leaned forward in his box. His eyes were intense, watching what would happen.
Shira saw an opportunity and attacked my throat directly. This was the finishing move—the blade was about to go straight to my neck.
Time felt like slow motion.
What could I do? I was falling, off balance, and she was attacking from above—"Am I going to die here? Is this going to be my end?"
Then suddenly, a small smile flashed before my eyes — my sister Mira's, who had cared for me when I was a child in bad shape. Her innocent eyes and sweet voice echoed in my mind…"
"Garrett, have courage. I am always with you."
I remembered the day when I burned my hand to save her. It hurt, but I always showed strength in front of her. She trusted me completely. That trust became my passion. I wonder where she is now, and if she's getting enough food.
"I will save Mira, no matter what it takes."
I extended my left hand and grabbed the sharp edge of the blade with my bare palm. The steel cut deep, blood flowing freely, but I never loosened my grip.
Shira was shocked; she probably thought I couldn't survive this—but seeing determination in my eyes, she froze for a moment.
"No," I said through gritted teeth, blood dripping from my left hand. "Not now. I can't die yet."
The pain was intense, but there was courage too.
With my right hand, I attacked her second dagger—with my sword—which was in her right hand. She was surprised by my move and couldn't defend properly.
The dagger flew out of her hand, landing several feet away.
I quickly shifted my weight to my good leg and moved myself close to her throat. The sword tip was just inches from her neck. But I stopped, and she quickly stepped back.
We both froze.
The crowd was completely silent. Pin-drop silence.
Shira's eyes were wide—shock, and maybe a little fear too.
I was breathing heavily, blood still dripping from my left hand. But I ignored it.
"Good," Commander Voss's voice echoed across the arena. He was clapping. "Very good! I was right not to kill you that day. You truly have immense potential. Well done!"
I slowly looked at Voss. Silence. Death stare. Pure hatred radiating.
This isn't about winning anymore. This is about surviving long enough to make you pay for Elena.
He had killed Elena. He had destroyed my life.
One day, I will kill you too. Wait for that day.
Sudden movement caught my peripheral vision.
Shira! She threw her last remaining dagger at me very fast—the dagger was coming quickly toward me.
What trick is this?
I reacted—instinctively I grabbed the dagger approaching in mid-air.
But I made a mistake. While I was focusing on the dagger in front, Shira saw an opportunity.
She quickly came behind me and picked up her dagger from the ground—which I had knocked from her hand earlier. She rolled behind me and attacked.
I could turn, but not fast enough.
The dagger connected. It pierced through my right forearm, cutting deep. I barely managed to survive, or else this attack would have pierced my heart.
The crowd's intensity reached its peak. It was like they were fighting this battle themselves.
But this move actually gave me the opening I needed.
As she was attacking from behind, I timed it perfectly. I grabbed her wrist mid-strike.
Finally, I locked her properly.
The first attack was my fist directly to her face. Not with a sword—with bare knuckles.
The second attack was going for her ribs, but she blocked with her free arm.
Smart girl.
She counter-attacked with her leg—kicking my injured leg again.
This time I was ready. When her kick connected, I used her momentum against her. I spun with the impact and drove my elbow hard into her temple—controlled enough to stun, not to kill.
She crashed into the ground, sand everywhere.
I quickly moved and pinned her—crude but effective. My arm around her throat, using my weight to keep her down. She couldn't move without choking herself.
"STOP! STOP!" Commander Voss stood near his box. "Finally! Our Queen of Blades has been defeated!"
The crowd exploded:
"GARRETT! GARRETT! GARRETT!"
"THE SILENT KING!"
"NEW CHAMPION!"
"IT'S REWARD TIME!"
The name changed. Now my name was chanted instead of Shira's.
I slowly stood up. Blood was still flowing from both wounds—my left palm where I'd grabbed her blade, and my right forearm where her dagger had pierced through. The pain was constant, but I stayed focused.
I carefully removed the dagger from my forearm and threw it to the ground. Blood dripped faster now.
This was my toughest fight.
Shira was on the ground, breathing heavily, defeated but not broken. Her eyes still had that same fire.
I extended my uninjured hand to her—to help. A gesture of respect.
As soon as I extended my hand—
SLAP
She slapped my hand away. Hard.
I was shocked for a moment. What happened? I was trying to help—
But I said nothing. I understood.
She doesn't want help, nor pity. Just understanding that much is enough.
Pride. She felt defeated and couldn't accept help right now. Or maybe there was something else.
I stepped back and faced the crowd.
Above, Commander Voss was watching me expectantly.
This victory means nothing. Real victory comes when Voss is dead.
I took a deep breath and addressed the crowd, loud enough for everyone to hear:
"I want this girl... I want her in a separate private room!"
---
To Be Continued