Chapter 34: Axe Meets Axes

The announcer stepped forward, raising his arms to quiet the roaring crowd.

"Welcome to the grand arena of the Great Stallion!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the makeshift coliseum. "Tonight, we witness a clash of warriors! On one side, the berserker of the Grimknights, a man of unyielding tenacity—Bjorn Ironside!"

Bjorn stood tall, gripping his twin axes, his expression stoic as the bandits jeered at him.

"And on the other side, one of Stallion's own champions, a beast of a man, wielding a weapon fit for kings—Dusty!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as Dusty raised his enormous greataxe with a single hand, smirking at Bjorn.

A loud gong echoed through the arena.

The fight had begun.

Bjorn began circling Dusty, his eyes locked onto his opponent's stance. He moved lightly on his feet, shifting his weight as he analyzed his foe. Dusty, however, remained motionless, simply gripping his massive greataxe with one hand, his gaze never leaving Bjorn.

Dusty's smirk widened.

Bjorn rushed forward, faking a low attack before feinting to the left, swinging his right axe toward Dusty's ribs.

Clang!

Dusty effortlessly parried with the shaft of his greataxe, pushing Bjorn back with sheer force.

Bjorn slid back, nodding in approval. "hmm.".

For several long seconds, Dusty remained on the defensive, effortlessly blocking and dodging each of Bjorn's relentless strikes. It was as if he was merely toying with him, gauging his movements.

Then, without warning, Dusty struck.

He swung his greataxe in a massive arc, a strike carrying enough power to split a man in two. Bjorn attempted to leap back, but the sheer range of the weapon was too vast. Instinctively, he raised one of his axes to absorb the impact.

BOOM!

Bjorn was sent tumbling backward, rolling across the dirt floor. The force of the attack rattled his bones, and he barely managed to regain his footing. He cracked his neck, spitting a bit of blood onto the ground, then smiled.

Dusty chuckled. "I like you. Let me show you my real power."

Bjorn grunted, gripping his axes tighter. Before he could react, Dusty was suddenly right in front of him.

BANG!

Bjorn took a direct punch to the face. His vision blurred as he stumbled, his mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened.

"W-what?" he muttered in his thoughts, shaking his head. He instinctively raised his axes in a defensive stance, but within a blink of an eye—

CRACK!

A heavy blow landed against his left ribs, forcing him to his knees. The crowd erupted into cheers.

The announcer laughed, "Looks like the Grimknight doesn't even know what hit him!"

Bjorn wiped blood from his mouth and stood up, running sideways around the arena, keeping his eyes on Dusty. He had to figure it out—how was Dusty moving so fast?

Then, realization dawned on him. Time manipulation.

Dusty narrowed his eyes. "You're quick. That won't save you."

He dashes with his time manipulation, to chase Bjorn. When he was behind Bjorn.Bjorn stopped abruptly and launched himself backward, crashing into Dusty. Before Dusty could react, Bjorn grabbed his wrist and hurled one of his axes straight into Dusty's shoulder.

THUNK!

Dusty barely flinched. He grinned and cocked back his fist. Bjorn saw it coming and caught it mid-air.

A moment of silence passed.

Then—BAM! Bjorn headbutted Dusty.

Dusty didn't even flinch.

"Not bad," Dusty said, before slamming his own forehead against Bjorn's skull.

Bjorn's forehead split open, blood dripping into his eyes. His vision blurred, but instead of backing away, something snapped inside of him.

Images of his wife and child, bloodied and lifeless, flashed in his mind.

With a primal roar, Bjorn began headbutting Dusty—again and again, each impact sending blood flying into the air.

The audience went silent, watching in horror as Bjorn relentlessly bashed his skull against Dusty's. Dusty struggled, trying to activate his time manipulation, but Bjorn's grip on his wrists was crushing.

CRACK!

With one final devastating headbutt, Dusty's legs gave out. His body went limp. Bjorn let him go, breathing heavily, his face a crimson mask.

Dusty collapsed, motionless.

Bjorn exhaled, shaking his head to clear his blurred vision. Henry's words echoed in his mind: Study your enemy.

He walked toward his fallen axes, wiping blood from his brow.

Dusty groaned, regaining consciousness. He reached for his greataxe, struggling to his feet.

Then he saw it.

Bjorn's wounds were healing.

The berserker slowly turned back to Dusty, his eyes now devoid of emotion.

Dusty's breath hitched. "You… you have Hand of God?"

Bjorn rolled his shoulders.

The crowd murmured in shock. "Regeneration", one of the crowd says.

Dusty steadied himself, taking a deep breath. "Fine. Let's finish this."

He lunged at Bjorn, swinging his greataxe with desperate force. Bjorn parried, but the sheer power of the attack still sent a gash across his chest.

Dusty locked eyes with him. What he saw made his stomach drop—Bjorn's eyes were empty.

Before he could react—

WHAM!

Bjorn swung his axe straight into Dusty's chest.

Dusty gasped, stumbling back. He raised his head—Bjorn was gone.

Then he felt a shadow looming over him.

Dusty looked up.

Bjorn was descending upon him, both axes raised.

KABLAM!

Bjorn's axe sank deep into Dusty's shoulder, forcing him to the ground.

Bjorn exhaled heavily, then kicked Dusty's lifeless body to the side.

The arena fell silent.

Then, a single voice from the crowd spoke: "…He won."

The realization rippled through the audience.

Bjorn Ironside had won.

The Grimknights stood in quiet approval.

The battle was over.

But the war had just begun.