That giant started coming again.
His heavy footsteps were pressing into the sand, with every step my heart was beating faster.
My left shoulder was still dislocated, waves of pain were coming. But I couldn't be afraid.
Not now. Not when Haru's sacrifice was still fresh in the air around me.
I remembered a technique that Haru had been teaching me for a long time, but it required a lot of speed. Could I do it? I didn't know, but I would try my best.
"Shira, use this move only in an emergency," Haru's voice was humming in my ear. "If the timing is wrong, then it's game over."
The fight started again. This time, I threw my remaining dagger towards the giant — quite fast.
But my one shoulder was dislocated so I had to do everything with one hand.
The throw was weak, less force than expected. But the giant did exactly what I wanted — he dodged to the left side.
As he was dodging, I quickly reached behind him. Haru's training sessions' muscle memory kicked in. I picked up the fallen dagger and plunged it straight into his heart.
The blade slid perfectly between his ribs. Heart straight through. Just like Haru had taught me.
He died instantly.
Blood started spreading in the sand of the arena. I stood there, breathing heavily, one hand useless and hanging, the other hand holding the bloody dagger.
The crowd started shouting again and praising me. Their voices were blurring in my ears, like being in a dream.
"INCREDIBLE! SHE DID IT WITH ONE ARM!"
"Value for money! What a comeback!"
"Look at that technique! Pure perfection!"
And then that cursed name. Which would become my identity:
"THE QUEEN OF BLADES! THE QUEEN OF BLADES!"
Tears came to my eyes. The crowd was celebrating like it was a festival. But I could only see one thing — Haru's absence. That empty space where she should have been, celebrating with me.
Was it because of me that Haru died? Is all this my fault?
Guilt settled in my chest like a heavy weight. I couldn't even see her one last time. Soldiers had already taken her body away, like she was broken furniture. Like she had no value.
But I knew. Haru's life had value. She was my hope. My strength. And now she was gone, only remaining in my memory. Could I ever get out of here without her?
**Back to Present**
The memory faded like a movie screen. I was focusing on the present, on the Silent One (Garrett) standing in front of me. He looked tired — sweat beads on his forehead, small cuts bleeding on his arms, and his palm had a deep cut from my dagger.
This is the right time for my best attack.
I executed the same strategy that worked against the giant. Haru's technique.
I threw my dagger straight at him. His eyes were tracking the blade, exactly as I expected.
In that split second of divided attention, I moved.
Then quickly, I reached behind him. Muscle memory was guiding me, every step precise. I quickly picked up my second dagger from the ground.
And here is my final attack.
But this time, it didn't go as I had thought.
Garrett was different from the giant. It was like he could sense the danger approaching. He defended himself, raising his arm to block my strike.
The blade scraped his forearm instead of his heart. It still drew blood, but it wasn't fatal.
This is my biggest mistake because now he catches me.
In a smooth motion, he turned and grabbed my wrist. Iron grip. Escape impossible.
Instead of using a sword, he attacked with his fist — straight to my face.
It hit me hard, but not as hard as I thought.
He was holding back. Why?
Then he targeted my ribs, but I blocked with my free arm.
I can't lose after coming this far. I still have an opening.
I counter-attacked with my leg, aiming at his injured leg.
But this time, he was ready.
When my kick connected, he used my momentum against me. With devastating efficiency, he spun me around.
His elbow struck my temple — a precise calculated force. Hard enough to disorient me completely, but it felt like he was holding himself back.
I realized he doesn't want to kill me, only to stun me. But still, why is he not hurting me?
This won't be good for me.
My body fell to the ground, sand particles scattering everywhere.
Before I could recover, his arm coiled around my throat like a snake. Not tight enough to cut off air completely, but firm enough to make struggling useless.
I tried to get free, twisting and pulling, but the hold only tightened. His raw strength was too much.
The fight was over. I had lost.
Commander Voss stood up from his seat.
"STOP! STOP! Finally! Our Queen of Blades has lost!"
The crowd's reaction was mixed — a strange combination of disappointment and excitement.
"THE SILENT ONE! THE SILENT ONE!"
"CLAIM YOUR REWARD! ENJOY YOUR PRIZE!"
Shitty bastards.
Their voices felt like knives in my ears.
So this is what losing feels like. The last time I lost was the first time. After that, two years of victories, and now this is the end. In the sand. Defeated by a man.
**Pride and Recognition**
I have lost, but I fought with all my pride and strength. I will not bow before anyone.
I was struggling to get on my knees, my body aching but my spirit unbroken. Blood from small cuts was mixing with dirt on my arms.
The Silent One approached me and did something unexpected.
He stretched out his hand towards me.
Not with dominance. Not with that predatory smile I had seen on countless faces. This was... respectful. An offering of help. From one fighter to another.
I looked at his hand reaching out for help.
But something inside me recoiled. Two years of fighting alone. Two years of trusting no one. Two years of being seen as a prize, not a person.
But something inside me couldn't bear that help.
I jerked my hand away forcefully.
He immediately stepped back, but there was no anger in his eyes. No wounded pride or masculine rage. Just... understanding.
I was not ashamed. I could not break my pride.
I wasn't ashamed of losing. I was ashamed of needing help. Of appearing weak. Of giving them what they wanted — a broken woman on her knees.
More than help, I wanted to save my identity and respect.
He turned towards the crowd and loudly said,
"I want this girl... I want her in a separate private room!"
The crowd's reaction was mixed — some disappointed they wouldn't get immediate "entertainment," others excited at the prospect of a week-long "reward" for their new champion.
I didn't understand his intentions.
As guards approached to escort me, I was barely able to walk but they were forcefully taking me. I looked at the Silent One.
What will he do with me? What are his intentions? Is he just pretending to be good? I have to find out.
**The room**
They took me to that private room — the chains they used were heavy iron, binding my wrists to the wall.
I looked around the room — silk hangings, a real bed, even wine and food laid out. But luxury was just another kind of cage.
But they had underestimated me. Two years of captivity teaches you things — about restraints, weak points, and patience.
I examined the chain link by link, feeling for imperfections with my fingertips. There — one link was slightly thinner than the others. A flaw in the metal that might be my salvation.
Working slowly, methodically, I applied pressure on that weak point. The metal was old, slightly corroded by the dampness of underground chambers. With enough stress, maybe it would break.
Minutes passed. My wrists were raw but I knew it could break.
Finally, with a soft metallic ping, it snapped.
My hands were free.
I moved quickly but silently, searching the room. In a drawer, I found a small but wickedly sharp knife — probably meant for cutting fruit or bread. Perfect.
I positioned myself beside the door, back pressed against the stone wall, knife held in reverse grip. When he entered, I would have one chance. One moment where surprise would be my only advantage.
Footsteps echoed in the corridor outside. Heavy. Measured. Getting closer.
As soon as this Silent One comes in, I will put my knife on his throat. Then I will ask him his intentions.
The door handle was slowly turning.
This time, I am ready.
I have lost everything anyway.
Even if it means killing the only person who looked
at me like a fighter, not a prize.
The door swung open.
Silent One stepped inside…
TO BE CONTINUED