Ethan stood—bloodied, shirtless, and shaking.
His chest heaved with every breath, the skin torn and bruised, crisscrossed with wounds that bled freely. The air around him still humming from the clash with the masked man's devastating Serpent's Maw. But despite everything—
He was still standing.
The arena fell into stunned silence.
The masked man stared at him, frozen in disbelief. His voice broke the quiet, an unconscious whisper.
"How… is he still alive?"
Behind Ethan, Sophia stared at his torn back, his shredded body shielding her from death. Her eyes widened, a mix of awe and guilt twisting inside her.
"This is all because of me…"
"If I were stronger… he wouldn't have to suffer like this… not alone…"
The other contestants, each of them powerful in their own right, looked on with widened eyes and stunned expressions. They had seen Ethan fight, seen him take on challenges with reckless bravery—but this?
This was madness.
And yet… he endured.
