A Battle of Willpower

The arena was no longer just a battleground—it was a warzone.

Dust swirled in the air, the shattered stone beneath Damien's feet proof of the sheer power behind Arjun's last attack. Yet, despite the heavy blow he had taken, Damien was still standing.

No—he wasn't just standing.

He was smiling.

Arjun exhaled sharply, his body still buzzing from the golden energy surging through him. His newfound power had allowed him to land a hit. That alone was a monumental shift in the battle. Yet, the momentary satisfaction of his strike faded as he watched Damien roll his shoulders like he was just warming up.

Blood dripped from the corner of Damien's lips, but he wiped it away with the back of his hand, his sharp eyes glinting with something dangerous.

Excitement.

"You're better than I thought," Damien admitted, cracking his neck. His voice was eerily calm, almost playful. "Most people wouldn't even last long enough to see me go all out."

The nobles in the stands had grown silent.

A few minutes ago, they were mocking Arjun, certain of Damien's victory.

Now?

They were watching. Waiting.

The commoners, on the other hand, had turned into a roaring force, their cheers growing louder with every second.

"COME ON, ARJUN!"

"YOU CAN WIN THIS!"

Arjun ignored the noise. He wasn't here for their validation. He wasn't here to prove anything to the nobles or earn the admiration of the common folk.

He was here to win.

To fight.

To survive.

Arjun tightened his fists. His breath was steady. His muscles ached from the impacts, but he had no time to think about the pain.

He lifted his gaze.

Damien's stance had changed.

Gone was the relaxed, cocky posture.

Now, he was serious.

Arjun felt the shift in the air—a suffocating, crushing pressure that only strong warriors emitted.

This was it.

The real battle was starting now.

Damien moved first.

BOOM!

He was faster. Stronger.

Arjun's eyes barely tracked his movement before Damien was in front of him, his fist already in motion.

No time to dodge.

Arjun raised his arms to block—

BAM!

The impact sent a shockwave through his body, his feet skidding back against the cracked stone. His arms screamed in pain, the sheer force of Damien's punch sending vibrations through his bones.

But he didn't break.

Didn't fall.

Damien grinned, pleased. "You blocked that? Not bad."

But Arjun wasn't done.

Instead of retreating—

He counterattacked.

He twisted his body, his fist glowing with golden energy, and swung forward.

Damien's eyes gleamed.

He dodged.

No—he didn't just dodge.

He vanished.

And then—

BAM!

A kick slammed into Arjun's ribs, launching him sideways.

Arjun barely caught himself before he hit the ground, rolling into a crouch. His ribs throbbed from the impact, but his mind stayed sharp.

Damien landed gracefully, shaking his head. "You're too straightforward. You think strength alone will win this fight?"

Arjun wiped blood from his mouth. His breathing was heavier, but his focus never wavered.

Damien was fast. Faster than before.

Arjun had been able to keep up earlier—but now?

It felt like Damien had stepped into another realm of speed.

Adapt.

Arjun had to adapt.

Arjun took a slow breath.

Think.

He had felt something in their last exchange.

His golden energy had surged—not just in his body, but in his mind.

The moment Damien attacked, Arjun had sensed it—just a fraction of a second before it happened.

It wasn't prediction.

It was intuition.

A battle instinct.

He clenched his fists, feeling the golden energy pulse through him again.

If he could harness it…

If he could learn to trust it…

He might just match Damien's speed.

Damien dashed forward again.

This time, Arjun didn't just watch.

He felt.

Time stretched.

His heartbeat slowed.

And then—

He moved.

WHOOSH!

Damien's fist barely missed.

The nobles gasped.

Arjun had dodged at the last second.

Damien's eyes widened for just a fraction of a second—

And in that moment—

Arjun struck.

His fist collided with Damien's side, golden energy exploding on impact.

BOOM!

Damien was sent flying.

The crowd erupted.

But Arjun wasn't celebrating yet.

Because Damien was already getting up.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but the excitement in his eyes hadn't faded.

If anything—

It had intensified.

"This… is fun," Damien muttered, his breathing heavier now. "You're actually making me try."

His aura surged.

And for the first time—

Arjun felt genuine danger.

The temperature around them rose.

A deep, powerful energy pulsed from Damien's core, crackling like unseen lightning. The stones beneath his feet trembled.

Arjun's instincts screamed.

This… isn't normal speed.

This was something else.

Something beyond human reflexes.

Before Arjun could react—

Damien vanished.

And this time—

He was everywhere.

BOOM!

A punch struck Arjun's stomach.

BAM!

A kick slammed into his shoulder.

CRACK!

A strike to his ribs.

Arjun's vision blurred. He staggered backward, his body screaming in protest.

His knees threatened to give out—

But he forced himself to stand.

To fight.

Golden energy surged through him again, pushing back the pain, filling his body with warmth.

His instincts flared.

And then—

Time slowed again.

Damien reappeared.

This time—

Arjun saw it.

The way Damien's body shifted. The way his energy flared before an attack.

And in that instant—

Arjun moved.

His body reacted before his mind.

WHOOSH!

He dodged Damien's next attack—by an inch.

And then—

He struck.

With everything he had.

His fist, cloaked in golden energy, exploded forward.

And this time—

Damien didn't dodge.

The world shook.

The golden energy collided with Damien's chest, sending a shockwave across the entire arena.

BOOM!

Damien was blasted back, his body slamming into the stone wall of the arena. Cracks formed in the structure, dust and debris raining down.

The crowd fell into a stunned silence.

The nobles—speechless.

The commoners—holding their breath.

And in the center of the arena—

Arjun stood.

Breathing heavily.

Sweat and blood dripping from his body.

His hands still tingling from the energy.

But his gaze never wavered.

Across from him, Damien lay in the rubble.

For a moment, he didn't move.

Then—

A chuckle.

A deep, quiet laugh.

And then—

Damien stood up.

His breathing was ragged. His body was bruised. But his eyes—

His eyes burned with pure exhilaration.

He wiped the blood from his mouth.

And then he grinned.

"This…" he exhaled, "just got even better."

Arjun clenched his fists.

This fight—

Was far from over.