Ren vs Rakan (2)

Meanwhile, the fight in the arena was growing fiercer.

Rakan was giving everything he had, but he could feel his strength waning. He was certain he had hit Ren with his blade—the feel of metal piercing flesh was familiar. But shockingly, Ren seemed unfazed. And then, a hard hit to Rakan's leg produced a sickening sound. His bone had cracked. The pain was almost unbearable.

However, in a strange way, this pain was a relief to Rakan. It meant he wasn't dreaming. It meant he was here in this arena, and not trapped in that nightmarish cage from his memories.

He tried to get up, his vision all hazy, and noticed Ren was also struggling to his feet.

Rakan couldn't help but wonder about Ren's past. "What has he been through to be so unyielding, to keep rising, refusing to be defeated?"

"They're pushing themselves way too hard. This isn't what I was expecting," Olivia commented from the stands, shaking her head in disbelief.