The roar of the excited crowd still echoed through the charred stands, as if the fire that consumed them had left behind a flame that could never be extinguished.
At the top of the stands, a platform shaded by a heavy roof blocked the sun of this world. There, two figures sat—vague silhouettes with glowing red eyes devoid of any flicker.
"…Today's match isn't bad, huh?"
One of the shadows spoke with a smile, while something beside him twitched back and forth, as if it could find no peace.
"I don't know… It's obvious the boy is cheating," the other replied in a cold tone.
"Oh, come on! Life is precious! Of course one should do anything to stay alive!"
The first one snapped, leaning toward his companion.
"Yes, yes…" the second muttered indifferently, waving his hand before falling silent again.
But his apathetic response irritated the first. The shadow lowered his head slightly, then suddenly lunged at his friend's neck and gripped it tightly.
"Why so indifferent?"
He asked in a low, completely emotionless voice.
"Sorel… take your hand off me."
The other shadow replied without resistance, though his eyes warned of danger.
"Hehe… Relax, I was just joking."
The first shadow laughed and released him, then eagerly returned to his seat.
"But… you hurt my feelings like that…"
He said with teary eyes, pretending to be sad, prompting his companion to sigh inwardly.
Sigh... this is the problem with all researchers...
---
In the arena...
"Azul" could barely stand, struggling to gather what remained of his consciousness. His eyes were fixed on "Alfonso," who looked like he didn't even belong to the scene—relaxed, completely detached from the battlefield, showing no tension at all.
I've never slaughtered a sheep in my life...
Alfonso thought as he advanced calmly.
And now, after arriving in this world… I've kneaded a sheep and am about to butcher a bull.
Despite his poison, Azul remained standing like a seasoned warrior. Just staying on his feet was a testament to his toughness.
But suddenly, Azul charged with all his strength!
"…!?"
Alfonso was surprised by the movement, but readied himself. It made sense that his opponent would feign weakness to lure him in for a sudden strike.
But this charge was different… direct, chaotic, and brutal.
"Khkh..."
Alfonso stepped back, narrowly dodging the blow, but the wind from it hit him hard.
He crouched swiftly and used his sword to slash Azul's stomach, but Azul spun his body to avoid the blow.
The sword didn't miss entirely… it left a deep gash.
"Kh..."
Azul clenched his teeth, realizing retreat was no longer an option.
He gripped his stomach with his left hand to keep his guts from spilling out, and with his right, he seized Alfonso's sword arm, then suddenly bent forward with all his strength to headbutt Alfonso!
"Aaaaah!"
Alfonso screamed from the blow, his eyes losing focus for a moment.
But Azul didn't give him a chance!
He drove his knee hard into Alfonso's stomach, causing him to vomit black blood.
Regaining part of his awareness, Alfonso released the sword, only to catch it again with his free hand before it dropped, then aimed a direct strike at Azul's neck!
But Azul, with unbelievable instinct, leaned his head back.
So Alfonso redirected the blow toward Azul's foot.
"Aaaaah!"
Azul screamed as the sword pierced through his foot, pinning it to the ground.
"Heh…"
Alfonso smiled, blood dripping from his mouth.
For the first time, he felt… pleasure.
Without breaking focus, he swung his fist toward Azul's face. Azul braced for the punch—
But Alfonso didn't punch. Instead, he opened his hand and drove his index finger straight into Azul's eye.
"Aaaaaah!"
Blood burst from Azul's eye, covering his face as he tried to retreat.
But the sword pinned in his foot stopped him.
"Grrrrgh…"
Alfonso gave him no respite, launching punch after punch—one of them slamming into Azul's groin, ignoring even the metal armor covering it.
"Ugh…"
Azul tried to muster all his strength to grab Alfonso and crush him with his body.
"Rrrghhh!" Alfonso resisted, but in vain. Azul succeeded in shoving him down and wrapped his hands around Alfonso's throat.
"Ghhhk!" Alfonso struggled for air, to no avail. He raised his hands to Azul's head, trying to twist his neck—
But it was useless. The choking continued. Alfonso began to lose consciousness… edging closer to death.
Then suddenly—
His limp hand jolted with a sudden surge.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!"
With a powerful scream, he twisted Azul's neck, causing the latter to collapse on top of him. Alfonso rolled to the side just in time.
"Hah… hah… hah… Hehe… HAHAHA!"
Alfonso stood up, clutching his throat, laughing hysterically.
Then he turned to look at the fallen Azul for a few seconds before staggering toward the hammer.
Azul, poisoned and with a broken neck, lay there, staring at the dirt, hearing Alfonso's footsteps approach… heading for the hammer.
The hammer that brought me glory… will be the one to bring me death. This world's irony never ends, Azul thought, surrendering to his fate.
But suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind, sending a tremble through his fingers and a spark to his eyes.
"…!?"
Alfonso stood before the hammer—but instead of lifting it, he turned and headed for his sword.
He grabbed "Aleph," placed the hilt in his mouth, and returned toward the hammer.
"Haaaaah…"
Alfonso gathered all his strength to move the hammer, dragging it toward Azul.
He stood before Azul's head.
"Haaaaaah…"
Then, with determination, he raised the hammer high.
"Haaaaaaah…"
And brought it down toward Azul's skull—but just before impact, he let go of the handle.
Azul had been waiting for the hammer to fall so he could roll aside and land a fatal strike.
But as the hammer hit the ground—
Azul rose to strike, only to find a sword piercing through his neck.
His eyes lifted to meet Alfonso's merciless gaze. He knew this was the end.
He closed his eyes and surrendered to death.
"C… Camelia… my daughter…"
His words were torn apart by gasps of pain, his tear-stained eyes staring into the void.
"I'm sorry... your father... couldn't..."
His voice faltered, and blood seeped from his mouth with every syllable.
"come back..."
But he never finished.
His skull was crushed.
The hammer fell from above like a meteor,
Crashing into his head with a sound akin to "crack and muddy collapse."
Bone shards scattered, and a burst of blood and grey matter exploded from the left side of his head.
His left eye slowly slipped out of its socket, dangling by a thread of sinew, swinging like a dead puppet,
While his jawbone shattered and the lower lip tore loose from its place.
All that followed was the creaking sound of the hammer sliding from the opened skull,
And the roar of blood flooding the floor beneath the trembling body—for the last time.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" The crowd's roar crashed onto the arena like thunder.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
"...!?"
"BOOOOOOOOOM!"
"....!?!"
Alfonso kept smashing the hammer into Azul's corpse.
"...!??!!"
"BOOOOOOOOOM!"
Did Alfonso hear Azul's final murmurs before death? Yes. Clearly.
"BOOOOOOOOOM!"
Did he care ?No. He did not.
Azul—whether by force or choice—had stood against Alfonso's will.
And that was a crime beyond forgiveness.
"BOOOOOOOOOM!" Alfonso kept swinging the hammer down on Azul's body, long since reduced to a pulp—blood, flesh, and bone.
Brain and nerves all mashed together into a painting titled "Violence."
Alfonso finally stopped and tossed the hammer aside.
"...!?"The spectators, mouths agape and eyes wide, had no idea how to react to such brutality.
Yes, they were used to bloody scenes. In fact, that's why they were here in the first place
after all, the betting was part of the thrill.
But this was the first time they had witnessed such savagery, such unjustified violence
The opponent had been dead for a while.
"A... a... HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"Suddenly, a cheer escaped the mouth of one spectator.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"The rest quickly followed, and the entire stadium was soon echoing with screams.
"SILENCEEEEEEEEE!"A thunderous shout burst from Alfonso's mouth, silencing the crowd.
"...!?"
"My name... was Kaysis. But from today onward, I shall be called... Alfonso."Alfonso spoke calmly, then raised his arms in a stretching pose.
"ALFONSOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"The crowd erupted in a frenzy of chants.
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