Tharnok's eyes flickered — cold, hollow, alive.
Tharnok: …Good.
Now I can take you seriously.
{Scene shifts to Orimo}
THUD.
Gorath's fist hit like a hammer, cracking stone behind Orimo as he narrowly moved.
Another punch — THUD.
The shockwave pushed dust into the air.
Orimo's breathing grew heavier.
But his smile didn't fade.
Orimo: I'm getting excited.
He stepped forward and threw a punch — THUD — solid impact.
But Gorath didn't move.
Not even an inch.
Gorath: You're finished.
His fist came down like a falling mountain.
THUD.
Orimo hit the ground hard.
Dust rose. Silence.
His fingers twitched.
He pushed himself up.
Slow. Weak. But up.
Gorath's expression darkened.
THUD. THUD. THUD. THUD.
Blow after blow.
Orimo's face bloodied.
Ribs trembling.
Vision shaking.
But his feet did not leave the ground.
He stood like a tree that refused to fall.
Gorath (rage rising): JUST DIE!
THUD.
A final crushing punch.
Orimo's head snapped to the side.
His body swayed.
For a moment — it looked like he'd go down.
And then—
The world went quiet.
No crowd.
No wind.
No pain.
Just Orimo's heartbeat.
ba-dum.
A sound like a war drum in a silent battlefield.
ba-dum.
He remembered Zonza's cracked voice.
The hunger in the villagers' eyes.
The world that refused to care.
ba-dum.
He refused to fall.
His eyes lifted, slow, steady, burning with something ancient and merciless.
Gorath stepped back without realizing he did.
Gorath: …What are you?
Orimo didn't answer.
The next punch came — full force.
Orimo raised his hand.
And caught it.
The ground split beneath their feet.
A faint, violent energy formed around Orimo's arm like a dark flame.
A small spike of shadow gathered in his palm.
Gorath's eyes widened.
BOOM.
The blast sent him flying.
Orimo didn't shout.
He simply leaped — silent and focused — like a predator.
He fell from above, driving a shadow spike straight through Gorath's Aegis Mantra armor.
Glass-like cracks spread across the ice coating.
CRACK.
It shattered.
The spike entered his core.
Blood misted the air.
Gorath fell, limp, unconscious.
Orimo stood over him.
No laughter.
No words.
Just breathing.
Deep.
Calm.
Awakened.