The arena was nothing but absolute chaos.
The air itself seemed to tear under the violence of the impacts. Every movement of the three fighters distorted space, as if the world struggled to contain such intensity.
And yet—
the audience remained silent.
A heavy silence. Oppressive. Almost unreal.
In this tumult, Kert rose slowly into the air.
He extended his hand toward the sky, a smile stretching his lips.
— Good…
His voice resonated, calm but charged with excitement.
— So, shall we get serious?
Hinata and Zerath looked up at him, without responding.
Then—
something changed.
An overwhelming heat invaded the arena.
In Kert's palm, a sphere of fire formed.
But it wasn't simple fire.
It was… a thermal aberration.
An incandescent mass, compact, unstable, whose heat was so intense that it seemed to suck in all humidity around it. Even the sea, in the distance, seemed to recede, as if refusing to approach any further.
The atmosphere became suffocating.
Even the arena's protections trembled.
In the stands, worried murmurs emerged despite the imposed silence.
— Wait… weren't they supposed to avoid killing each other…?
— What is Kert doing?!
— He's going to kill them!!
But in the arena—
Zerath did not move.
His gaze remained fixed on the sphere, cold, analytical.
Without fear.
Hinata, she leaped backward.
Her body curved slightly, still with her eyes closed.
Then—
her mana exploded.
A green aura burst around her, dense, vibrant, almost wild. She concentrated this energy in her fist, compressing an unstable power, ready to be released at any moment.
Zerath turned his head slightly toward her.
A lack of understanding passed in his gaze.
— What is she…?
In the air, Kert burst out laughing.
— Perfect!
His smile widened, almost mad.
— You might be a girl… but you're way more interesting than most guys I've faced!
The sphere in his hand pulsed.
Again.
Again.
Then—
he prepared to throw it.
But at that precise instant—
A siren sounded.
Strident.
Brutal.
The signal for the end of the duel.
Time seemed to freeze.
Kert stopped abruptly.
His expression tightened slightly.
Then, with an annoyed sigh, he released his hand.
The sphere of fire dissipated instantly.
Hinata, for her part, also released her concentration. Her mana disappeared, and her eyes opened slowly, as if returning from a distant state.
Zerath, he remained motionless.
Lost.
— …What is this?
A silence weighed on the arena.
Then—
footsteps.
Slow.
Controlled.
A silhouette appeared.
The Grand Mo-Zus.
Dressed in a robe with complex patterns, he advanced calmly, softly clapping his hands, a composed smile on his face.
— You have been… remarkable.
He stopped in front of them.
— So I have made a decision.
A slight silence.
— You are all three declared winners.
Kert immediately frowned.
— What?
Mo-Zus continued, unperturbed:
— And you will have the privilege… of facing me in the next duel.
A silence.
Then—
— Seriously?
Kert crossed his arms, clearly annoyed.
— I was this close to finishing off those two… and claiming a nice sum from you for the show.
Mo-Zus nodded gently.
— Yes… this isn't the first time you've done something like that.
His smile accentuated slightly.
— That's precisely why I changed the rules.
He looked at them one by one.
— If you want money, Kert… you'll have to beat me...with the help of the other two.
Then a pause.
— Me.
Kert let out a sigh.
— Great… they'll just slow me down.
Mo-Zus tilted his head slightly.
— Let's see… you seem to underestimate them.
He then turned to Hinata and Zerath.
— You have fourteen days.
A slight gesture of the hand.
— During that time, you will be housed, fed… and have access to everything you desire.
A tranquil smile.
— Training room included, of course.
Hinata remained silent.
Zerath as well.
Kert, he raised an eyebrow.
— Everything we want?
A provocative smile.
— Even… company?
Mo-Zus closed his eyes for a moment, amused, then shook his head slightly.
— Kert… your sense of priorities leaves much to be desired.
Then he reopened his eyes.
— But keep this in mind.
His tone changed slightly.
Deeper.
— These fourteen days could be… far more grueling than the fight itself.
Kert frowned.
— Huh?
Mo-Zus sketched an enigmatic smile.
— Just a figure of speech.
Then, after a short pause:
— Let's just say it will all depend on your choices.
He turned slightly.
— If you enjoy the comfort… you will be safe.
A sidelong glance.
— But if you choose to train in my room…
A silence.
— Then you might discover… something far more dangerous than me.
The wind blew softly in the arena.
And for the first time since the start of the fight—
a different tension appeared.
Not that of the duel.
But that of what was to come.
After the Grand Mo-Zus's announcement, the agitation gradually resumed around the arena.
In a calm but authoritative voice, he specified one last thing:
— You have thirty minutes to prepare. A car will come to escort you to my residence.
Then he turned on his heels, as if everything was already decided.
Hinata, she wasted no time.
She quickly left the arena, still imbued with the vibrations of the fight, and headed outside, where Sally, Mayohi, and Bakuran were waiting.
Around her, the crowd murmured relentlessly.
— Did you see that fight?!
— They're going to face Mo-Zus… it's unprecedented!
— It's going to be a massacre…
The excitement was palpable. No one could ignore the magnitude of what was being prepared.
But Hinata was no longer listening.
As soon as she passed through the arena doors, her gaze fell on them.
They were there.
A smile lit up her face.
— Sally!
She started running toward them without thinking—
and immediately took her in her arms.
Sally, surprised, took a moment to react.
— Well… you seem in good shape.
Hinata released the embrace, still smiling—
but she didn't even have time to say a word.
— HINAAAAA !!!
Mayohi surged forward and hugged her with overflowing energy.
— You were incredible! As always! I'm so proud of you!!
Hinata blushed slightly, a bit embarrassed but touched.
— Th-Thank you so much, Mayohi… that's too kind…
A bit in the background, Bakuran crossed his arms, serious gaze.
— The hardest part is yet to come.
He fixed Hinata.
— I hope you're ready to face Mo-Zus.
Hinata shrugged slightly.
— Honestly… I don't know.
She sighed softly.
— But we have over two weeks… so I guess it'll come down to that.
Sally placed a hand under her chin, thinking.
— Knowing Mo-Zus…
Her gaze became more serious.
— This time is not a gift.
She paused.
— It's a trap.
Hinata looked up at her.
— The training room he mentioned…
Sally crossed her arms.
— You should spend at least twelve days there.
— And keep the last two to recover.
Hinata nodded.
— That was my idea too…
She clenched her fist slightly.
— I hope it will be enough to master this mana…
Sally's gaze then slid to Mayohi—
who was still refusing to let go of Hinata.
A small amused smile appeared on her lips.
— Mayohi…
She raised an eyebrow.
— Can you maybe let her breathe?
Mayohi jumped slightly.
— O-Oops! Sorry!!
She backed away immediately, a bit red.
Hinata patted her head gently, reassuring.
— Don't worry, it doesn't bother me.
Then, with a lighter smile:
— And after all this… with the money I'm going to earn—
She looked at Mayohi.
— We can go shopping like you love.
She glanced at Sally.
— All three of us.
Then to Bakuran.
— And you too, if you want.
Bakuran recoiled, shocked.
— Huh?!
He frowned.
— I'm a man! That kind of stuff doesn't interest me at all!
Sally shrugged, perfectly calm.
— Exactly.
She crossed her arms.
— We need someone to carry the bags.
Silence.
Then—
— WHAT?!!
Bakuran exploded immediately.
— Are you crazy?!
He stepped back, panicked.
— After this duel, I'm going to be extremely busy!
He raised a finger, as if to emphasize his argument.
— I have… I have a very important appointment!
An awkward smile.
— With a very charming woman… from downtown!
Sally stared at him, impassive.
— You can reschedule.
— What?!
— It's not like she's the last woman on Earth.
Bakuran nearly choked.
— But that's not all!
He continued rapidly:
— I also have my classes! I remind you that I'm a teacher!
— On the Nemesis system!
Sally nodded calmly.
— We know.
Then, with a slight smile:
— And we also know you don't work seven days a week.
Bakuran started to panic.
— Yes, but… but I also have—
He searched desperately.
— Research!
— Very important!
— On… uh… energy stability!
Sally raised an eyebrow.
— Interesting.
Then, without breaking eye contact:
— You can do that in the evening.
— But—
— Or at night.
— BUT—
— Or not do it at all.
Bakuran froze.
Completely destroyed.
— …It's a conspiracy.
Hinata and Mayohi exchanged a look—
then burst out laughing.
Their laughter echoed softly in the air, contrasting with the tension of the past fight.
For a moment—
everything seemed normal again.
But deep down—
they all knew.
That these fourteen days…
would change everything.