Zushio fought hard, his face bruised near one eye, while his arms and legs were covered in dark welts — the kind of raised marks left by hard blows from a quarterstaff.
"Are you sure you don't want to yield?" Pietro asked, resting his staff at his side while gripping it tightly.
"I…" Zushio hesitated. His ragged breathing echoed across the training grounds as he glanced back at his comrades.
"…I yield."
Hearing those words, Pietro lowered his staff and extended a hand, helping Zushio back to his feet.
With that, the first round came to an end.
Zushio was immediately handed a healing potion. *Glug~* Warmth spread through his body from the red liquid as the potion began to take effect.
Queena stepped forward and cast a healing spell on both of them. A soft purple magic circle bloomed beneath their feet, radiating a gentle glow.
The bruise around Zushio's eye, the welts across his body, and the burn marks on Pietro's arms and back gradually began to fade.
