Tough

"..."

I bit my lip as I watched the fight unfolding before me.

Currently, Eldric had clear control of the situation as he fought against Orion, his every move calculated and precise.

I could even say that he was winning the battle.

However, something was wrong...

I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about Orion's demeanor seemed off.

His face seemed exhausted and his movements became slower and less coordinated as the fight progressed.

However, his eyes had a strange and dreadful gleam to them.

Unknowingly, I gripped the edge of my seat so tightly that the wood creaked under my fingers.

Clang...

Suddenly, Eldric spun his scythe in a fluid arc and its hooked blade yanked the glaive out of Orion's grasp, sending it clattering to the ground.

I didn't even realize that I stood up from my seat.

'Finish him...'

I screamed in my mind.

One thing I hated about Eldric was his humility. Just knock him unconscious, don't leave any chances for Orion to retaliate.

Unfortunately, Eldric didn't share the same sentiment.

"Yield."

Even from my position in the crowd, I could hear the command in Eldric's voice.

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, broken only by the ragged gasps of the duelists.

Then, the world tilted on its axis.

Orion, his desperation turning into a snarl of defiance, lunged forward.

"Wha-"

My breath caught in my throat.

It wasn't the attack itself that stole my air, but the sight of his hand. Instead of the familiar flesh and bone, a grotesque parody of a claw, tipped with obsidian nails, pulsed with an unnatural light.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, mimicking the chilling sensation that crawled down my spine. The afternoon sun seemed to dim, casting long, distorted shadows upon the arena floor.

Eldric stumbled back, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and disgust.

"What in the seven hells is that?"

I muttered, the words barely audible above the stunned silence.

Orion cackled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. It was a sound devoid of humor, filled with a chilling satisfaction. He flexed his transformed hand, the obsidian claws clicking together like malevolent jaws.

"This..."

He boomed, his voice echoing in the now-silent coliseum.

"...Is the culmination of my genius!"

His twisted laughter echoed through the arena, a stark contrast to the tense silence that followed his revelation.

Frowning, I squinted my eyes, trying to take a clearer look at Orion's transformed hand.

The sight was both bewildering and horrifying.

It was bewildering because I recognized the origin of Orion's grotesque claw and horrifying because no one with a sane mind would willingly undergo such a transformation.

First of all, Orion's hand, or what used to be his hand, appeared to be a Demon's severed limb. It seems that he underwent an experiment to attach a demonic limb to his own body, increasing its power and giving him an advantage in combat.

Second of all, if a human attaches a Demon part to their body, it usually comes with a heavy price.

Rationality and logic takes a backseat to such beings, their dark and unpredictable nature threatening to consume the host's sanity.

"..."

My eyes immediately went to the judge standing nearby, searching for any sign of intervention or reaction, but to my dismay, the judge remained frozen in place, observing the combatants with calm eyes.

Orion hadn't broken any rules, so the fight would continue.

Although it is considered unethical and frowned upon, it is nothing illegal so he had no basis to stop the fight.

'Damn... Damn... Damn...'

Cursing under my breath, I clenched my fists in frustration.

Even though I want to, I can't do shit!

***

Swish...

Orion lunged, his transformed hand a blur of obsidian claws and inky mist.

Eldric, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tactics, barely managed to raise his arm in time to block the blow. The claws scraped against his forearm, leaving behind deep gouges that sizzled with an unnatural heat.

Aghhh...

Eldric cried out in pain, a primal sound laced with surprise and anger. He stumbled back, his grip on the fallen scythe forgotten.

The crowd roared in shock, their initial awe replaced by a wave of horrified gasps.

"How have the mighty fallen..."

Orion, emboldened by his success, pressed his attack. He swiped at Eldric again, his claws tearing through the air with a chilling rasp.

However, Eldric, fueled by a surge of adrenaline, rolled away just in time, the claws snapping at his heels as he narrowly avoided another hit.

He scrambled to his feet, his eyes narrowed in a mixture of pain and determination. He knew he could no longer afford his usual defensive tactics.

As Orion lunged again, Eldric sidestepped, this time utilizing the agility that years of training had instilled in him. He darted past the clawed hand, reaching for the fallen scythe on the ground. His fingers brushed the smooth hilt, sending a jolt of relief through him.

But before he could fully grasp the weapon, Orion lashed out with his foot, kicking the scythe away with surprising force. It skidded across the dusty arena floor, landing just out of Eldric's reach.

Frustration bubbled within Eldric.

His opponent was really getting on his nerves.