The arena, still caught in the aftermath of the unmasking, was stunned into silence. For a moment, it felt as though the world itself had stopped, all eyes fixed on Cedric and Aurelius. Then, unexpectedly, Cedric started laughing.
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
It wasn't a laugh of disbelief or humiliation; it was something darker, deeper. His shoulders shook, and his laughter grew louder until it echoed across the battlefield.
"Good… good!" Cedric said, his voice dripping with an eerie mix of satisfaction and hidden madness. "I've been waiting for this moment... brother. Waiting for so long to fight you—really fight you."
Aurelius's expression didn't waver, though his grip on his sword tightened. "Is that so?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with challenge.