"Show me, then," I said coldly. "Show me that you are more than the disgrace everyone believes you to be."

    Seraphine''s vision blurred as the tears fell freely, pooling down on the side of her face. Her mind raced with memories, each one striking her like a dagger to the heart. She saw her father, the man who had once stood as a paragon of strength, teaching her how to hold a sword, how to defend herself, how to fight with honor. She remembered the laughter of her parents, the warmth of their home, the pride they carried in the Damascus name.

    And then, the shame. Her father''s betrayal of the kingdom. The whispers. The cold stares. The life of dignity crumbled into one of disgrace. She and her mother had been left to bear the weight of his sins, condemned to live in the shadow of his actions.

    Her brows narrowed in anger, Her tears hit the flower like a stream of water, each drop louder in her mind than the voice of the crowd around her. I was slacking off, she thought, her fists clenching. All this time, I let their judgment hold me down. I forgot why I started... why I picked up this sword in the first place.

    Seraphine gritted her teeth, planting her sword into the ground. With its support, she pushed herself to her feet. The pain in her muscles didn''t matter. The shame didn''t matter.

    Only one thing did—proving that she was not her father''s disgrace, but her own legacy.

    The crowd erupted into a deafening cheer, their energy surging through the arena like wildfire. The announcer''s voice boomed with excitement.

    "Seraphine... Seraphine Damascus is still in the game!"

    Her tears continued to fall, streaking her face, but her eyes burned with determination. Her brows furrowed in focus, and her grip on her sword was unyielding. She stood straight, her back no longer burdened by the weight of her past.

    I watched her, a smile of admiration came to me. "Good," I murmured.

    The announcer''s voice faltered, his words tinged with hesitation.

    "B-but...She... she''s still crying..." He stopped as the shift in her presence became impossible to ignore.

    Seraphine''s eyes, filled with unyielding resolve, locked on me. The tears may have still flowed, but they no longer held sorrow.

    "Don''t forget why you started," I said, my voice cold yet commanding. "And don''t you dare give up now—not after everything what you''ve been through. Don''t forget the hard time you''ve been put through."

    Her lips parted, and she closed her eyes for a moment, letting my words sink in. When they opened, they shone with a renewed fire. She nodded silently,

    —and then it happened.

    The air around her shifted, crackling with raw energy. Her aura exploded into a vibrant blue light, wrapping around her like armor. Her body glowed with power, her hair swaying wildly in the sudden surge of energy. The ground beneath her cracked as stone particles lifted into the air, swirling and shattering with its force.

    The announcer screamed over the noise, his voice barely audible over the crowd''s uproar. The Queen leaned forward from her throne, her eyes wide with recognition and excitement.

    "Her father... he also..." Her lips curled into a smile as memories of another warrior, another Damascus, filled her mind.

    "It''s been a while..." Queen murmured, her tone almost nostalgic.

    Seraphine wiped the tears from her cheeks, her expression no longer burdened by doubt or fear. She stood tall, her glowing form radiating power. Her sword rested confidently at her side, its blade catching the light of her aura. The air around her pulsed, shattering loose stone particles into dust.

    For the first time, she looked at me as an equal—not with fear, nor casually as if we are playing around but with resolve. She didn''t need to speak; her determination said it all.

    The crowd erupted once more, their roars of approval shaking the arena. I met her gaze, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.

    "Now, show me what you''re made of," I said.

    I stood still, my eyes fixed on her glowing blue form. Her newfound power radiated confidence and determination, and for the first time in this fight, she felt like a true opponent.

    Seraphine took her stance, her sword held firmly in both hands. Her knees bent slightly, her body leaning forward, ready to spring into action. The vibrant blue aura around her pulsed, flickering like flames eager to consume everything in their path.

    Her jaw tightened, and she lunged at me again, her sword slicing through the air with deadly intent.

    *Thud*

    I blocked her attack and retaliated with a kick to her face, the impact sending her stumbling back. She regained her footing quickly, her eyes isn''t wavering.

    The crowd roared again, their excitement reaching its peak.

    "Yes! That''s it! Keep going!" the announcer screamed, his voice barely containing his own pleasure as he wanted fight to keep going on.

    Seraphine charged at me once more, her movements more calculated this time. She struck low, aiming for my legs, but I jumped, avoiding her blade and delivering a spinning kick to her side.

    She grunted but didn''t falter, using the momentum to swing her sword upward in a desperate attempt to catch me off guard.

    I dodged and countered with a downward slash, forcing her to block. The impact drove her to one knee, but she pushed back, her aura flaring as she forced me away.

    Our fight continued, an unrelenting exchange of power and skill. We didn''t speak, our focus entirely on the battle. The stage around us was barely recognizable anymore. Debris shattered everywhere and the arena crackled with energy.

    Despite her strength, I remained a step ahead. I could see the frustration building in her eyes, but I also saw her resolve. She wasn''t giving up, not this time.

    I blocked her sword and spun around her, delivering a swift kick to her back. She stumbled forward but recovered quickly, her sword flashing as she swung at me again. I deflected her blade and leapt into the air, bringing my foot down in a powerful axe kick that she barely avoided.

    *BOOM*

    The fight reached its climax when she launched herself at me with everything she had, her aura blazing brighter than ever.

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    —But I was faster.

    Before she could strike, I dropped low, moving like a serpent beneath her blade. Her eyes widened in shock as I surged straight, like vanishing into the black mist.

    The wind followed like a tornado and demon smiling straight at her.

    *SWOOOOOSH*

    The dust began to settle, and the arena fell silent for a moment, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade. Seraphine froze, her hand raised to deliver her next strike, but it was too late. I was already there, faster than her.

    My sword stopping just a centimetre from her neck.

    The silence was broken by the announcer''s ecstatic voice. "WHAT A FIGHT!!! This has to be the best fight of this tournament!"

    The crowd erupted in a deafening cheer, their excitement shaking the very foundation of the arena. Seraphine lowered her sword slowly, her chest heaving as she stared at me with wide eyes. She wasn''t defeated, not in spirit, but she knew the fight was over.

    I stepped back, lowering my sword and offering her a nod of respect. "Well done," I said, my voice calm but firm. "You''ve proven yourself today, Seraphine."

    Her aura began to fade, the blue light dissipating as she straightened up, exhaustion evident on her face. But there was a fire in her eyes, a promise that this was only the beginning.

    The crowd continued to cheer, their voices a thunderous wave of approval. The announcer''s voice boomed once more, capturing the energy of the moment. "Ladies and gentlemen, what a performance! A clash of titans, a battle to remember! This is what the tournament is all about!"

    And with that I saw Seraphine isn''t responding. Her eyes fading its colour and with a thud* her body fell on the ground going unconscious and her sword fell along with her.