The Twilight Duel [part 2]

As the duel reached a crescendo of tension and skill, the crowd couldn't help but actively participate in the spectacle.

The thrill of every strike, block, and dodge ignited an increasing fervor among the spectators.

And it was in this moment of frenzy that the betting began.

The betting merchants, who roamed the stands like wolves among sheep, began to collect wagers.

With shrill voices and quick gestures, they offered odds and collected money, while people shouted the names of their favorites.

"Ten silver coins on Arashi no Taka! No one can beat the Storm Falcon!" shouted a burly man, his face red with excitement.

"Twelve coins on Yaiba no Maihime! The Blade Dancer is unbeatable!" retorted a woman, clutching her coin purse tightly.

The energy in the air was electrifying, and every spectator seemed invested in the fate of the duelists not only as a fan but also as a bettor. Voices rose and intersected, creating a constant buzz that served as a backdrop to the narrator's commentary.

"Bets are open!" announced a merchant, raising his arms to attract attention. "Who will have the courage to bet on the victory of Arashi no Taka or Yaiba no Maihime?"

At that point, I couldn't hold back; I knew there might be a chance of losing and that it would be better not to bet, but I wanted to try.

So, I tugged on the nanny's sleeve, whose face was lit up by the frenzy of the moment.

"Nanny, bet on Arashi no Taka! I'm sure he will win!"

She looked at me with a sweet and patient smile, her hand gently stroking mine.

"Alright, little one, I'll bet 1 gold coin on Arashi no Taka for you."

Meanwhile, in the arena, Arashi no Taka and Yaiba no Maihime continued to exchange devastating blows.

Each move was followed by an exclamation from the crowd, reacting with shouts of approval or groans of disappointment depending on their allegiance.

The commentator, ever vigilant, noticed every detail.

"Yaiba no Maihime seems to be gaining ground with her incredible agility! But Arashi no Taka is no less, his brute strength is unstoppable!"

The stakes became higher and higher, the busy merchants tried to keep up with the frantic requests.

The tension grew in step with the stakes, and every spectator held their breath in anticipation of the decisive blow that would determine the winner of the Twilight Duel.

Finally, with a flash of lightning-fast movements and a battle cry, the duelists prepared for the climax of the confrontation.

The crowd fell silent for a moment, the air charged with expectation.

Who would prevail? Arashi no Taka, the Storm Falcon, or Yaiba no Maihime, the Blade Dancer?

The answer was there, suspended in the air, ready to reveal itself in the next, fateful moment.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I watched the arena closely as Arashi no Taka and Yaiba no Maihime prepared for the final, decisive confrontation.

The crowd held its breath, the silence was almost surreal, broken only by the rustling of the wind and the labored breathing of the duelists.

Arashi no Taka took the first step, advancing with fierce determination. His sword emitted a bluish glow, cutting the air with lethal precision.

Yaiba no Maihime, with her innate grace, immediately responded, her twin blades creating an intricate ballet of light as she parried and counterattacked.

"Look at Arashi no Taka's speed! A lightning-fast attack!" exclaimed the commentator, his voice echoing off the walls of the Colosseum.

"But Yaiba no Maihime is an elusive shadow, every move a dance of elegance and lethality!"

Yaiba no Maihime dodged a devastating blow from Arashi no Taka with a graceful rotation, her blades dangerously grazing her opponent.

The crowd exploded into a chorus of screams and applause, the fervor reaching new heights.

"Arashi no Taka does not yield! His strength is unstoppable!" continued the commentator, as the warrior advanced again, using his power to try to overwhelm Yaiba no Maihime's defense.

With a quick and unpredictable movement, Yaiba no Maihime managed to wound Arashi no Taka on the side, a clean and precise cut.

The audience held their breath, the emotion palpable.

Arashi no Taka, however, was not intimidated. Clenching his teeth in pain, he responded with a flurry of blows that forced Yaiba no Maihime to retreat.

"Nanny, look! Arashi no Taka is recovering!" I exclaimed, my heart pounding with excitement.

She smiled at me, squeezing my hand in a sign of comfort and encouragement.

The duel continued, each blow a work of art of skill and determination.

The two fighters seemed perfectly balanced, neither willing to give a single step.

The tension in the air was almost unbearable, every spectator holding their breath, aware that the next move could be decisive.

Arashi no Taka, using his strength and experience, attempted a surprise attack, a feint followed by a powerful thrust.

Yaiba no Maihime, however, anticipated the move, her blades crossing in a perfect parry that momentarily disarmed her opponent.

"A masterful blow by Yaiba no Maihime! It could be the end for Arashi no Taka!" shouted the commentator, as the crowd erupted in a clamor of contrasting emotions.

But Arashi no Taka, with renewed energy, managed to recover his sword, his gaze fixed on Yaiba no Maihime with unshakeable determination.

With a battle cry, he lunged forward, his sword glittering like a falling star.

The climax had arrived. The two warriors clashed with a force and precision that left the crowd breathless.

The clanging of metal rang in the air, as the two engaged in a final, desperate struggle.

"Who will be the victor? Who will emerge triumphant in this epic duel?" asked the commentator, his voice trembling with emotion.

The duel between Arashi no Taka and Yaiba no Maihime had reached its peak, and the atmosphere in the Colosseum was charged with palpable tension.

The crowd, a sea of anxious faces and wide eyes, hung on the commentator's lips, whose words painted vivid pictures of the action below.

"Arashi no Taka, the Storm Falcon, moves with the precision of a predator," announced the commentator, his voice rising above the clamor.

"Every attack is calculated, every defense is impenetrable. But watch out! Yaiba no Maihime, the Blade Dancer, dances around him with a lightness that defies gravity itself!"

Yaiba no Maihime, her slender figure wrapped in a silk cloak that fluttered behind her like butterfly wings, rotated around Arashi no Taka in a whirlwind of fluid movements.

Her blades, extensions of her own limbs, traced arcs of light in the twilight air, reflecting the rays of the setting sun.

Arashi no Taka, on the other hand, was a statue of muscles and determination.

His armor glittered with a metallic glow, each piece forged to withstand the fiercest attacks.

His sword, an extension of his arm, was a lightning bolt of steel that cleaved the air with a menacing hiss.

The audience, now completely absorbed in the duel, was divided between those who supported Arashi no Taka and those who rooted for Yaiba no Maihime.

The bets increased, the betting merchants moved frantically among the rows, collecting coins and promises, while the favorites changed with every exchanged blow.