Chapter 17: Between Honor and Rage

The coliseum's energy ignites the moment the all mighty's hand drops.

Connor and Zohar charge at each other with explosive force, their footsteps cracking the sandy ground. Connor leads with a heavy swipe of his claws, but Zohar ducks and counters with a somersault, flipping over Connor's hulking frame while landing an electrified kick to his shoulder. Sparks fly as Connor stumbles back but quickly regains his footing, growling.

"Not bad, thunder boy," Connor smirks, slamming his gauntlets together to extend his claws. "But let's see if you're fast enough for this!"

Connor leaps into the air with a surprising agility for his size, spinning into a powerful slash. Zohar rolls under him, lightning surging around his arms as he punches the ground. A surge of electricity courses through the arena, forcing Connor to leap backward to avoid it.

From their chambers, Raiden and Kaito are pressed against the bars, watching with wide eyes.

"Come on, Zohar!" Raiden shouts, gripping the metal tightly, small jolts of electricity sparking from his fingers. "Show him how Thor's chosen handles things!"

Kaito, standing just to Raiden's side, cups his hands around his mouth. "Yeah, Zohar! Somersault his butt into next week! You're like...a superhero!"

Raiden glances at him. "Superhero? Seriously? He's got the power of literal gods. He's way cooler than that."

Kaito shrugs. "I'm just saying, he's got style. You're just jealous you don't move like him."

Raiden rolls his eyes, flicking a tiny zap in Kaito's direction, which Kaito dodges while laughing.

Back on the battlefield, Zohar dashes forward, dodging Connor's sweeping claw strikes with ease, each movement precise and measured. As Connor lunges with a devastating punch, Zohar jumps onto his arm and vaults over him, sending a streak of lightning down Connor's back.

Connor roars, the electricity sizzling against his armor. His eyes darken, the whites turning black as he begins to channel his rage.

"You think you're fast, lad?" Connor growls, his Irish accent thickening as his claws scrape against the ground. "Let's see how long that cocky speed lasts!"

Connor slams both fists into the dirt, causing a shockwave that sends sand and debris flying in every direction. Zohar shields his face but is caught off-guard when Connor charges through the dust cloud, slamming into him with the force of a freight train.

Zohar is sent skidding across the arena, leaving streaks in the dirt as he struggles to regain his balance.

"You okay, Zohar?!" Raiden shouts, his voice tinged with concern.

Kaito, undeterred, yells, "Get up, man! You've got this!"

Zohar smirks as he wipes a trickle of blood from his lip. His hands spark with electricity again, his eyes locked on Connor, who is pounding his fists together, an aura of shadowy energy flickering around him.

"Fast or not, I'm not losing to you," Connor says, his voice low and menacing.

Zohar stands tall, rolling his shoulders. "You'll have to do a lot more than that to take me down, big guy."

The crowd roars in approval as the two warriors charge at each other again, the ground trembling beneath their feet.

Connor barrels forward, claws extended, as Zohar suddenly drops low, sliding under his hulking frame with precision. The sudden maneuver throws Connor off balance, causing him to stumble.

"Quick little bugger!" Connor snarls, turning sharply.

Zohar smirks, already charging his lightning-infused energy. He slams his hands into the ground, using the electricity to repel himself with explosive force. The surge launches him high into the air, flipping backward in a dazzling display that draws gasps from the crowd.

Raiden, watching intently, grips the bars of his chamber. "That's what I'm talking about! Style and power!"

Kaito nods enthusiastically. "It's like he's a lightning ninja or something. Connor doesn't stand a chance!"

Raiden glances at Kaito. "Lightning ninja? That's...actually not bad."

In the arena, Zohar twists mid-air, his body crackling with energy. With another powerful burst, he propels himself forward, lunging at Connor like a lightning bolt. Connor raises his gauntlets, bracing for impact, but the sheer speed of Zohar's descent catches him off-guard.

Zohar slams into Connor, electricity surging through the larger fighter's armor. Connor grits his teeth as the shock courses through him, his feet digging into the ground to hold his stance.

"Not bad, thunder boy!" Connor growls, smoke rising from his armor. "But I'm just getting warmed up!"

Zohar lands gracefully, his hands still sparking as he prepares for the next round. "Then bring it, big guy. Let's see what you've got."

The crowd erupts into cheers, the tension between the two combatants electrifying both the arena and the night air.

As the horn blares across the coliseum, a flash of blinding lightning streaks toward Zohar, materializing into his armor piece by piece. The sleek yet rugged design crackles with energy, glowing faintly with runic patterns gifted by Thor and Odin. His weapon follows—a massive axe with a head shaped like a hammer, its long handle resembling the shaft of a spear, shimmering as if it were forged from pure lightning.

Zohar grips the weapon tightly, its power surging through him as he shifts his stance, eyes narrowing at Connor. His vision sharpens, analyzing the battlefield and scanning for any vulnerabilities in Connor's form. The faint cracks in his armor, the stiffness in his movements from earlier injuries—Zohar locks onto them.

"Gotcha," Zohar mutters to himself before bursting forward in a flash of lightning, zigzagging unpredictably toward Connor.

Connor braces himself, his claws extended, his gaze tracking Zohar's erratic movements. "Come on, then!" he roars.

Zohar strikes with pinpoint precision, slamming the flat of his axe against Connor's shoulder guard, then sweeping his leg with a charged strike. Each hit targets a chink or weak point in Connor's armor, the sound of metal and electricity clashing echoing through the arena.

The blows stagger Connor, forcing him to step back as sparks fly. He growls, his frustration building with every hit.

"Hold still, ya lightning pest!" Connor snarls, swiping wildly as Zohar ducks under his claws and delivers another calculated strike to his exposed side.

Raiden leans against the bars of his chamber, laughing. "Look at him go! He's got the big guy spinning in circles!"

Kaito pumps his fist. "Zohar's gonna take him down!"

Zohar leaps back, smirking. "What's the matter, bear? Can't keep up?"

Connor's eyes narrow, his fury bubbling over. "Oh, you'll regret that, lad," he growls, slamming his fists together. The ground beneath them trembles as Connor's shadowy aura intensifies, black smoke-like energy leaking from his form.

Zohar readies his weapon, his grin fading as he steadies his breath. "Bring it."

Connor extends his palm, his claws gleaming under the arena's dim light. The bear-themed bagh nakhs unfurl from his gauntlets, adding a menacing edge to his stance. He spreads his arms wide, taunting Zohar with a grin.