8.

As the two warriors stepped into the arena, Sett could feel the excitement. The crowd was cheering wildly, with many shouting the names of their favored fighter. Gaius the Savage was a prominent and imposing figure towering over Liara the Swift. He was wielding a massive battle axe, which he swung quickly, sending a gust of wind in its wake. On the other hand, Liara was armed with two slender blades glinted in the sun. Her movements were quick and agile as she darted around Gaius, trying to find an opening.

The fight began with a flurry of blows as Gaius swung his axe in wide arcs, trying to catch Liara off-guard. But she was too quick for him, darting around and striking him with blades from all sides. Sett saw that Gaius was tiring quickly, while Liara remained calm and focused. Despite his size advantage, Gaius struggled to land a hit on Liara, who was using her speed and agility to stay out of reach. Sett could see that she was using a hit-and-run strategy, darting in to strike Gaius and then quickly backing away before he could retaliate.

As the fight wore on, Gaius became more and more frustrated. He was used to overpowering his opponents with his strength, but Liara proved a formidable opponent. Sett could see the sweat pouring down Gaius's face, and he knew that Liara had the upper hand. Suddenly, Gaius let out a roar and charged at Liara, swinging his axe with all his might. Liara dodged to the side, but Gaius's axe caught her on the shoulder, sending her reeling.

Sett gasped, thinking the fight was over. The crowd was going wild, cheering for their favorite fighter. Sett could feel his heart racing as he watched the intense battle. He had bet all his money on Liara and knew he would be broke if she lost.

But Liara quickly recovered, her face set in a determined expression. She moved more quickly, darting around Gaius and striking him with lightning-fast blows. Sett could see that Gaius was getting weaker, his movements becoming sluggish from blood loss.

Sett jumped up from his seat and started cheering for Liara. The group around him also started shouting her name.

Liara's closed eyes slowly opened, and she looked toward the audience. As she did, she could see everything in slow motion. She could see the people in the stands, their faces contorted in excitement, the banners and flags waving in the wind, and the dirt and dust kicked up by the two warriors. She could even see the individual strands of hair on Gaius's head. Liara then closed her eyes again and took a deep breath.

Suddenly, everything around her seemed to stop. Gaius was frozen in place, and Liara could see the path of his axe, moving towards her with great speed. She could see exactly where the blade would fall, and she knew exactly how to dodge it.

Liara sidestepped the incoming blow with ease, and Gaius, unable to stop his momentum, tripped and fell forward. Liara saw an opening and struck him with both her blades. Gaius's eyes widened in shock as he realized he had been defeated. With lightning-fast reflexes, she had made a counterattack, leaving her two blades embedded in Gaius's throat and liver, respectively. Gaius fell to the ground with a sickening thud, and the crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause. Liara stood there, covered in blood, her blades still buried in her opponent's body, breathing heavily and eyes shining fiercely.

Sett made his way through the bustling crowd, his heart racing with excitement. He couldn't wait to collect his winnings from the betting booth. As he approached the booth, he saw a long line of people waiting to collect their winnings.

He joined the line and waited patiently, replaying the fight in his head. He had confidence in Liara's abilities, and she had not disappointed him. He knew he had made the right choice in placing his bet on her.

As he reached the front line, he presented his betting slip to the clerk. The clerk quickly scanned the recipe and handed Sett a bag with money.

As Sett made his way home, he counted the berries he had won from the bet. He couldn't believe his luck - he had won more than he had expected. With this money, he could finally take his mother to the doctor and get her the treatment she needed.

However, Sett knew he couldn't rely on gambling to sustain his family. He had heard of many people who had lost everything to their addiction to betting. He promised himself that this would be a one-time thing and that he would find a more stable source of income.

As he entered his home, his mother looked up at him with a smile. "How was your day, son?" she asked.

Sett forced a smile and replied, "It was good, Mom. I did some work at a construction site and earned some money."

His mother looked relieved. "That's excellent news, Sett."

Sett nodded, feeling guilty for lying to his mother. He knew that he needed to find a way to earn a living without resorting to gambling. But for now, he was glad he could provide for his mother's needs.

As they sat down for dinner, Sett couldn't help but feel grateful for the small blessings in his life. He had a loving mother, a roof over his head, and food on the table.