Chapter Nine: The Final Confrontation
Page 1
The black knight advances toward the killer. Steady steps. No hurry.
The killer watches him. Smiles with complete confidence.
"You think you're strong? Then… stop this."
He raises his hand. The firestorm launches — a wall of flame that fills the entire arena.
The announcer: "Fire and wind combined! The same strike that ended the water fighter! Will history repeat itself?!"
Page 2
The crowd holds its breath.
The flames swallow everything. Thick smoke fills the arena until nothing can be seen.
One second.
Two.
Three.
The announcer swallows: "Where… where is he?"
Page 3
The sound of footsteps.
Slow. Certain. Coming from the heart of the smoke.
The smoke clears gradually.
The black knight walks toward the killer at the same pace as before — his armor scorched at the edges. But he walks. As if nothing happened at all.
The announcer, voice trembling: "He walks out of the heart of the storm… as if it were a gentle breeze."
Mabu rises from his seat without realizing he's done it.
Page 4
The killer's face breaks: "Impossible. How?!"
He tries again. Raises his hand. The fire is gone. He tries the wind. Another gust — but the knight doesn't shift a single inch.
The announcer: "He spent everything on one strike — and it wasn't enough."
The killer stares at his hands in panic. Then raises his eyes.
The black knight is two steps closer than he was.
Page 5
"I… I surrender."
The killer's voice is shaking.
The black knight doesn't stop.
"I surrender! Get me out of here!"
A pause — then desperation takes over completely:
"You're a good person, dear knight! I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry!"
The announcer: "He's begging now! The man who was laughing at everyone moments ago is begging for his life!"
The crowd laughs. But the laughter dies quickly when they see the black knight hasn't slowed a single step.
Page 6
In an instant.
The armored knight seizes the killer by his armor and lifts him with one hand. The killer dangles in the air like a doll — then yanks a knife from his belt and drives it into the knight's neck.
The blade doesn't break the skin.
The black knight drives his sword into the killer's stomach and slams him into the ground with force that shakes the arena floor.
The body hits. Silence drops over the arena like a stone.
The announcer — in a voice quieter than anyone has heard from him: "…It's over."
Page 7
Then he remembers his job.
"And now — the moment everyone has been waiting for! The black knight faces the beautiful knight! Raw body against conjured steel — who will prevail?!"
The crowd explodes.
Mabu sits back down slowly. His eyes stay on the black knight. On his hands. On his scorched body that is still standing.
He whispers to himself:
"That entire storm… and it didn't touch him."
Page 8
The black knight leaves his sword buried in the ground.
He turns toward the beautiful knight with both hands empty.
The beautiful knight smiles: "Come to me, burnt one."
But his fingers are already moving. He conjures a spear from the air. Then another. He holds them ready.
And waits.
Page 9
The announcer: "The beautiful knight isn't advancing! He's building his weapons and holding his ground — he wants distance between them!"
Mabu looks at the old man: "He's afraid of close range."
The old man gives one single nod.
The black knight begins to move forward. Slowly.
Page 10
The beautiful knight throws the first spear.
The black knight sidesteps. It pierces the ground behind him.
The second. He catches it with his hand and snaps it.
The beautiful knight builds faster. One spear. Two. Three — all in the air at the same time.
The announcer: "A volley of spears! Three at once!"
Page 11
The black knight stops for the first time.
Three spears closing from different angles.
He dodges the first. Blocks the second with his forearm. The third grazes his shoulder.
The crowd screams. The beautiful knight smiles:
"Finally… I hit him."
Page 12
The beautiful knight focuses. He builds something larger this time.
A massive bolt takes shape from the air — an iron arrow the length of an arm.
He draws it back. Releases it.
The announcer: "An arrow — not a spear! Larger, faster, heavier! Is this the end?!"
Page 13
The arrow arrives.
The black knight swings a horizontal punch downward.
The arrow deflects into the ground and buries itself with a crash.
Silence.
Then the entire crowd at once: "How?!"
The announcer, voice cracking: "He saw the arrow… and changed its path with a single punch. I cannot believe what my own eyes are showing me."
The beautiful knight's knees begin to tremble.
Page 14
The black knight breaks into a jog.
Then accelerates.
The beautiful knight conjures a spear in desperation. Throws it. The armored knight sidesteps without slowing.
The distance between them collapses in a second.
The beautiful knight throws himself sideways.
The punch misses — and connects with the wall.
Page 15
An explosion.
The wall shatters. Dust swallows everything.
When it clears — the beautiful knight is on the ground. Shaking. Unable to rise.
The armored knight pulls his hand from the rubble. Slowly. Stands.
Dark smoke rises from him. As if he has stopped being entirely human.
The announcer, barely audible: "…He didn't even hit him. The shockwave alone put him down."
Page 16
The beautiful knight crawls backward: "No! I don't want to die!"
The armored knight walks toward him. Slow. Without mercy.
The crowd is completely silent.
The knight bends down. Grabs the beautiful knight by his hair. And drives his head into the ground — once, twice, again — until the screaming stops and the blood is everywhere.
Page 17
The announcer opens his mouth. Nothing comes out for a full second.
Then: "…It's over."
One second of silence.
Then the entire crowd at once.
The stands shake as if the earth itself is breathing.
The announcer shouts at the top of his voice:
"The winner of the Bloody Wedding Festival — the Black Knight!"
Page 18
The armored knight walks toward the minister and his daughter. He drops to one knee — in the middle of the fallen fighters — and removes his helmet.
A young man. Dark complexion. A face that gives nothing away.
"Hello, princess. Did you enjoy the show?"
The princess meets his gaze steadily:
"No. I did not. It was far more bloody than necessary. You killed everyone in front of you."
She turns her thumb downward.
"I will not accept a man who knows nothing of mercy."
The armored knight's eyes ignite. For the first time, something real crosses his face.
Page 19
A sudden crash.
"Oww… my head… pfft—!"
The armored knight turns.
Mabu is face-down on the ground in pain — he fell from the stands during the shaking.
He looks up. Sees the armored knight staring down at him.
He smiles — a smile that convinces absolutely no one:
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to ruin your moment."
The announcer: "A child falls from the stands at the most critical moment! What timing!"
Page 20
The armored knight says nothing.
He walks toward Mabu. Grabs him by his shirt with one hand. Lifts him. Looks at him with empty eyes.
Mabu smiles nervously: "You're very angry. I completely understand. I—"
A powerful kick sends Mabu flying backward.
He crashes through the wall of the stands and disappears to the other side.
The announcer: "The child is airborne! That was extremely harsh!"
Page 21
The armored knight walks toward the hole in the wall.
Mabu pushes himself upright with difficulty. Blood running from his eyebrow. He wipes his mouth.
He raises his eyes. The armored knight is standing in front of him.
Mabu's face changes.
Page 22
"You coward."
Mabu takes his fighting stance. Hands raised. Teeth locked.
The armored knight watches him in silence.
Mabu waits. Breathes. Focuses.
His hands tremble slightly. But he doesn't step back.
Page 23
The armored knight arrives.
He raises his fist.
Mabu raises his hand to block.
And then he sees it.
On his hand. The darkness. Coiling slowly around his fingers — as if waking up.
Page 24
Mabu freezes.
Inside his head — the sound of the bandit falling in the forest. His hand against the man's body. The blood.
The power grows across his hand.
The armored knight doesn't stop.
Mabu closes his eyes for a fraction of a second.
Opens them.
Pulls his hand back.
The armored knight's punch launches forward—
Then. Pressure.
The air itself solidifies around the armored knight's fist.
He stops where he stands. Time slows. His face shifts — he looks at his suspended hand with complete disbelief.
"What is this… Zuu?"
He turns.
The old man is standing there. Hand raised. Face completely calm.
"I apologize for my grandson's foolishness."
The old man releases the knight's hand.
The armored knight's voice drops low:
"How dare you stop my punch."
The pressure between them rises. The air warps around them both.
Mabu looks at his grandfather.
For the first time in his life — he doesn't know who is standing in front of him.
Continued in Chapter Ten