The arena trembled.

  Before the first strike, before the roar—

  Shura glanced sideways.

  Yura was watching the arena quietly, hands folded, eyes shining with curiosity and restraint. For a moment, he forgot the noise, the crowd, the pressure.

  He looked away the instant she noticed.

  "…Hey," Shura asked, pretending to focus on the arena, "do you know why Zenkyou is banned?"

  Yura blinked. "Hmm… it's my first time in the colosseum."

  Shura turned, startled. "What? Why?"

  She hesitated, then answered casually, like it didn't bother her.

  "My parents don't allow me to come."

  "…Why?"

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  Yura smiled faintly. "We're very rich. They want me to stay safe. In a cage."

  Shura swallowed.

  He almost asked—Then how did they allow you now?

  The words stayed trapped in his throat.

  Before he could speak—

  The announcer's voice exploded across the arena.

  "THE BATTLE HAS BEGUN!"

  The First Clash

  Two giants moved.

  Steel screamed.

  Ren and the Black Knight collided head-on—

  two massive swords crashing together, the impact ripping through the colosseum like a thunderstrike.

  The ground cracked.

  Shockwaves rippled through the stands.

  People gasped. Some stumbled back, hearts pounding.

  Shura felt it in his bones.

  Ren didn't hesitate.

  He stepped in and kicked.

  The Black Knight was launched backward, his armored body flying through the air before crashing into the arena wall.

  Dust exploded.

  The crowd roared.

  But the Black Knight laughed.

  Using the rebound, he twisted midair, boots scraping stone as he jumped back in, sword already swinging.

  Ren barely raised his blade in time.

  CLANG—!

  "Ahhhhh—you—!" Ren snarled, veins bulging as he forced the blade aside.

  The Black Knight pushed harder.

  Steel pressed against steel. Muscles strained. Sparks flew.

  They separated—

  Then charged again.

  Slash. Block. Counter.

  Ren's sword cleaved the air, missing by inches. The Black Knight ducked low, sweeping his blade toward Ren's legs.

  Ren jumped—barely—and brought his sword down with full force.

  The Black Knight caught it with both hands.

  The arena held its breath.

  Two warriors locked together.

  Two wills refusing to break.

  Yura gripped the edge of her seat.

  Shura couldn't blink.

  This wasn't just a fight.

  It felt like something ancient—

  a collision of pride, duty, and survival.

  The Black Knight leaned in, voice low, distorted behind his helm.

  "So… you're Ossuarium's answer?"

  Ren smiled.

  "Try harder."

  The ground cracked again as they pushed off—

  And the outcome of the battle hung, razor-thin, in the space between their next strikes.