The Arena
After White cut off the right side of Thanos's body, he revealed himself before him.
Thanos: (bleeding heavily and falling to his knees) Damn you, do you show yourself now?
White: (calmly, returning to his natural form, hiding his scythe, and forming a sword from blood) Do you know why you lost, you fool? Is it because you're weak? That's not true. It's because you knew nothing about your opponent and fought like an idiot.
Thanos: (angry and pained face) Come on, finish it.
White moves toward him quickly and throws him backward. Thanos crashes into the arena wall, and White follows, standing in front of him with his sword to his neck.
Thanos: (in a weak and painful voice) Can you tell me why you defended me before the king?
White: (getting closer to Thanos) Because you're reckless, you fool. Did you think I'd be happy to cut off your head? I didn't expect it to reach this point, that's why I just wanted to end it by defeating you. But I don't know what that foolish king is thinking.
Thanos: (smiling with a blood-covered face) What? I didn't know you could speak badly about the king.
White: (tightens his grip and moves the sword slightly away from his neck) Are you still talking nonsense?
Thanos: (barely moving his hands and then takes out a small necklace)
Can I ask one last thing from you? I know it's very rude, but my intention was to reach first rank because of a promise I made to someone, and I didn't want it to end like this.
Thanos moves his hands with difficulty and gives the necklace to White, who takes it with his other hand.
White: What is this?
Thanos: A fool will come looking for me later. I don't know when she'll return, but when she does, please give her this necklace.
White: Why should I do that?
Thanos: Because you're weak in front of girls. You won't bear seeing her looking for me. So please.
White: Damn you.
With a swift strike, White cuts off Thanos's head. The head rolls and falls in front of White. He looks at the face—still smiling foolishly.
White: Damn you, how can you die with a smile on your face, you idiot?
The arena became completely silent for a few minutes.
Then the crowd's cheers began to rise again, shouting the name: White! White! White!
---
The Glass Room Above
Minalost stands up from his chair.
Minalost: It ended exactly as I expected. (laughs)
Thea looks toward Minalost and thinks: What's so amusing about this to you?
She raises her voice: Seems your expectations were right, my lord. I didn't need to worry about White.
Ban starts heading toward the room's door.
Minalost: Ban, stop.
Ban: (turns to Minalost) Yes, my lord?
Minalost: You know what's going on around, don't you?
Ban: (looks toward Thea with a tense voice) Of course, Thea told me about it.
Minalost: (approaches Ban calmly) Then why haven't you done anything?
Ban becomes very nervous and tense.
Thea intervenes.
Thea: I'm sorry, my lord. I did tell him, but I haven't given him all the details yet.
Minalost turns to Thea.
Minalost: What are you waiting for then? Do I need to tell each one of you what to do?
Thea: I'm sorry, my lord. I've been a little busy lately due to all the recent events, that's why… (she looks sharply at Ban with a look that says: "Kneel and apologize too.")
Ban understands what Thea means.
Ban: (kneels on one knee) I'm sorry, my lord. I'll get the details now and begin work immediately.
Minalost: I want to know everything before nightfall. Is that clear?
Thea and Ban together: Yes, my lord.
Minalost leaves the room quietly, and the guards close the door behind him.
Ban: (looks at Thea angrily) What the hell is this thing I have to know?
Thea: (walks to the edge of the room and looks at the arena) Ban, you've gotten really lazy these days. Don't let things end for you like they did for Thanos.
Ban: Are you worried about me or something?
Thea: (turns to Ban) I'm not worried about you, but you should be careful these days.
Ban: I don't need your concern. Just tell me what the king is preoccupied with.
Thea: It's about that pill Thanos took.
Ban: And what does that have to do with me? Isn't getting rid of them your and White's job?
Thea: That's true, but the king wants to get rid of them as quickly as possible. That's why he also wants you to investigate the matter.
Ban: Aren't you better than me at this stuff? Why don't you handle it yourself? I already have a pile of paperwork on my desk.
Thea: Fine, I don't want you involved anyway. But I'll send you later everything I discovered through my investigation.
Ban: That's better. I'll leave now. Looks like the palace beside you will be very quiet.
Thea: Of course. I won't hear annoying screaming in the morning, but that silence scares me more.
Ban: Who even likes quietness these days?
Ban leaves the room and closes the door behind him.
Thea walks toward the glass and looks at the arena.
Thea: Naya, are you here?
Naya appears from nowhere, wearing her black clothes.
Naya: Yes, my lady.
Thea: Are you ready?
Naya: Yes. I already received your message. I'll head north tomorrow.
Thea: Try to observe him from afar. Don't get close to him.
Naya: Yes, my lady.
Naya disappears quietly from the room.
Thea: (speaking to herself) It's going to be a long day.
---
Audience Stands
Lem: Looks like it's over.
Lemty: And the result was expected.
Kalira: Why did that guy lose? He should've kicked White's ass.
Lemty: Looks like we have a fan here.
Lem: (laughs) That bastard can't even touch a woman.
Lemty: Seems you're right.
Kalira: What? Are you laughing at me now?
Lemty: No, no, we were just talking about White.
Torrance: Can we leave this noisy place now?
Lemty: Let's go. We've got a lot to do as well.
They leave their seats and head toward the exit gate.
A strange person approaches them.
Stranger: Little girl, where did you get that bird?
Kalira moves away and stands behind Lemty.
Kalira: That's none of your business.
Stranger: You rude girl, is that how you talk to someone older than you?
Lem steps forward and stands in front of the stranger.
Lem: Do you have a problem here? How about talking to someone your size?
Stranger: (with a smug face) Don't you see I'm talking to the little girl? Why don't you get out of my face?
Lem looks at Kalira: Do you know this person?
Kalira shakes her head, meaning "no."
Lem: Looks like she doesn't want to talk to you. Why don't you get out of my face before I kick your ass right here?
Stranger: Seems like you're confident in yourself?
The stranger stands in a fighting stance, and his hand seems to harden slightly.
Lem: What's an idiot enhancer doing here?
Stranger: Let me show you.
Just as the stranger began his attack, a guard's voice came from behind.
Guard: Stop! No fighting allowed here!
Stranger: Seems you're lucky today, boy. I'll see you later.
Lem: Get out of my face.
The stranger leaves with the guard.
Lem looks at Torrance: Hey bird, why don't you hide yourself or something?
Torrance: He wasn't interested in me.
Lemty: Then what did he want?
Torrance: His eyes were on Kalira, not me.
Lemty: Do you know this man?
Kalira: No, I've never seen him before.
Lem: Looks like he's one of those damned perverts.
Torrance: I'd prefer to find him outside and make him rethink himself.
Lemty: Come on, let's go.
They all leave the arena and head to the carriage.
---
To be continued...