Chapter 11 - The Ninja

  Yumiko sprinted, weaving through the chaos, dodging slashing blades and outstretched hands from the other opponents. Men lunged at her, trying to grab or strike her down, but her honed instincts kicked in. She slipped through their attacks, parried their blows, and knocked out anyone foolish enough to stand in her way.

  She was almost there— But then her body froze. Every muscle screamed at her to stop. At the last second, she skidded to a halt, sandals scraping against the stone floor.

  CLANG!

  A chain with a weighted end whipped down in front of her, striking the tiles with enough force to send up sparks and even cracking one of the tiles.

  Her breath hitched. Before she could react, a small blade came whistling through the air, aimed straight for her head. She dropped—hugging the ground as the dagger zipped past, missing her by inches.

  A sharp cry echoed from behind. Yumiko turned her head just enough to see the unfortunate fighter it had struck—a man several feet away who now stood frozen, a knife buried deep in his eye socket.

  He collapsed without a sound and then was quickly teleported off stage before he could fall. Slowly, Yumiko lifted her gaze. Two men stood before her.

  The first swung a long, metal chain with a weighted end, its links clinking as it spun in steady, menacing circles. The second held a dozen small knives, each one scavenged from fallen fighters they had taken out.

  Their eyes—narrow, cold—gleamed like those of a serpent. Scarves wrapped around their heads, concealing most of their tanned faces, leaving only their dark brown eyes visible.

  A voice from the crowd shouted in excitement.

  “The Albo brothers!”

  Another spectator roared, “They’re gonna fight the ninja!”

  Above the arena, high in the skybox, Luchs watched the scene unfold with unsettling calm. Beside him, Mary anxiously chewed at her fingernails.

  “It seems some rather dangerous men have joined the fight,” Luchs mused, eyes fixed on the battlefield. “The Albo brothers have a three hundred gold bounty on their heads. They fled from their home nation and have managed to make quite the name for themselves…”

  Mary clenched her fists. She knew exactly who the Albo brothers were—had heard of them through the bounty group she is a part of.

  “Yumiko will be fine…” she muttered, though her voice wavered slightly. Then her eyes flickered toward Lukas.“…Lukas, on the other hand…” She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure about…”

  Luchs glanced at Mary, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “Ah, just as I thought. That little one is Yumiko.”

  Mary froze, realization hitting her like a brick. She groaned, dragging a hand down her face before smacking her forehead. “Great. My big mouth has done it again. All this damn worrying has me blabbing around…”

  Luchs merely shrugged, unbothered. “Relax. I have no intention of reporting her. I already had my suspicions.” His gaze drifted back to the arena, watching Lukas. “But you were right about one thing—Lukas is starting to slow down. He wasn’t in good shape before the fight even started. He was already massively burned out a few days ago.”

  Mary turned to him sharply, concern flashing in her eyes. “What do you mean he was already burned out?”

  Luchs exhaled through his nose, as if debating whether to tell her. “He was coughing up blood during training—just as he is now. Pushed himself too hard practicing his fire magic. He told me that it was getting much harder to use magic after traveling with you guys.”

  Mary’s body tensed before she suddenly grabbed Luchs by his tailored suit, yanking him out of his seat. “And you’re just now telling me that?” she snapped, her voice laced with frustration and worry.

  Luchs didn’t resist, meeting her glare, “Do you think I could have stopped him? You tried for days, and yet there he is, still in that arena. And trust me, I made an attempt. He personally asked me not to tell you—or your little friend down there about his condition.” His voice softened, just slightly.

  Mary clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening in his lapels before she finally let him go, turning away in frustration. “This is going to be worse than I thought…”

  Luchs adjusted his suit, smoothing out the wrinkles she’d left behind. “I thought so too. But then I saw the look in his eyes before the fight. That rare, determined side of him… He was ready for this moment. Besides… He has a little angel watching him.” He said, looking at Yumiko.

  Mary sighed, crossing her arms as she mulled over his words. She couldn’t deny it—Lukas had looked calm, eerily so, even now as he forced himself to stand again. But that didn’t change the fact that he was in bad shape.

  Luchs followed her gaze, his expression growing serious. “While I am confident that he will pull through and even win… His condition after this fight…” He hesitated for a moment. “I don’t think it will be good. And I am not referring to the effects of the armor.”

  Mary didn’t need convincing, but she still asked, “What makes you say that?”

  He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his eyes remained fixed on Lukas, watching as the blonde warrior struggled to steady himself. Finally, he spoke.

  “I think Lukas has the Silent Cough.”

  Mary’s breath hitched. She had thought so in the past, but Lukas denied it. “And what makes you so sure?”

  Luchs’s gaze lowered slightly, something shifting in his usually composed demeanor. “Because my wife has it,” he admitted. “That’s why she isn’t here with me today… She is at home, resting.”

  Mary stiffened. She hadn’t expected that. Luchs always seemed so carefree, always wearing that composed, almost smug expression. But now, for the first time, she saw something else—something real. Even if only for a second, mentioning his wife had unsettled him.

  Remo cut through the rising tension with his booming voice, his excitement stoking the flames of the already frenzied crowd. “The golden fighter will be taking on none other than Benny the Boulder! And in another thrilling match, the Albo brothers will face Justin Schwag, the Ninja from the far East!” He raised his arms as the audience roared, their cheers shaking the arena.

  From below Mary and Luchs’ seats, a voice rang out. “HEY! That’s me! I’m in the fight!” Justin shouted, his bruised face barely dampening his enthusiasm.

  “Brilliant work, sir!” one of his lackeys chimed in, nodding with admiration. Justin puffed out his chest, folding his arms with a smug grin as if he was the one out there.

  Remo continued, his voice effortlessly commanding the crowd’s attention. “Less than twenty-five percent of the fighters remain! Make your final bets now!”

  The arena erupted with mixed shouts, each person passionately placing their bets on their favored fighter.

  “Kick Benny’s ass, Blondie!”

  “Are you blind? He’s finished! Benny’s got this in the bag!”

  “That little miss running around and wrecking everyone? She’s got my money! The Ninja’s taking it all!”

  “I’m backing the Albos brothers… Those guys give me the creeps, and they’re strong.”

  High above, Mr. Kenwick grinned as the matchups solidified, his arms stretched wide as if embracing the spectacle before him. “Yes! This is what it’s all for! The thrill of the fight, the clash of strength and will!” His gaze drifted downward, locking onto the wolf still trapped in its cage. It thrashed and clawed at the bars in a desperate struggle, its wild eyes fixed on the arena.

  Kenwick’s smile deepened, his voice dropping into something almost tender, yet laced with cruel amusement. “Now watch, little one. Watch as your friend is taken from you.”

  Yumiko exhaled slowly, steadying herself as she studied her opponents. Both men looked strong, their stances poised and confident. They wore distinct head coverings—one with a white scarf, the other with red. The man in white twirled a heavy chain between his fingers, its links clinking ominously, while his red-scarved brother held a pair of sharp knives at his sides.

  “Walk off the stage, and we will not harm you,” the chain-wielder said calmly, his voice devoid of malice but firm in its intent.

  Yumiko shook her head. “Sorry… This fight means more to me than just some money.”

  The man with the chain sighed, nodding at his brother. “So be it.”

  The moment the words left his lips, the red-scarved fighter reached for his hips, whipping out two knives in a blur. With a flick of his wrists, he sent them flying toward Yumiko. She reacted instantly, rolling to the side as the blades whizzed past, slicing through the air where she had stood. Before she could regain her footing, the chain came crashing down, striking the ground with a force that sent shards of stone flying in all directions.

  Yumiko barely had time to process before the knife-wielding brother was upon her, closing the distance in a heartbeat. His knives gleamed as he lunged, aiming for her ribs. She swung her wooden staff downward in a swift counter, but he twisted at the last second, narrowly dodging the strike. Before she could follow up, his brother’s chain came whipping toward her again. The deadly arc forced her to leap backward, retreating just as the heavy weight smashed into the space she had just occupied.

  The knife-wielder pressed forward again, trying to exploit the opening. Yumiko spun, meeting his charge with a quick strike. He barely evaded the blow, but the tip of her staff cracked against his knuckles, forcing him to drop one of his knives with a sharp yelp of pain. Gritting his teeth, he retaliated with his remaining blade, slashing toward her midsection. Yumiko raised her staff just in time, wood clashing against steel as the crowd erupted into cheers.

  The arena roared with excitement, the audience enthralled by the fast-paced exchange.

  Yumiko seized the momentum, driving her foot into her opponent’s gut. The force sent him staggering back, his last knife slipping from his grasp as he tumbled across the arena floor. She moved to capitalize on this moment, but the white-scarved brother intervened, swinging his chain in a brutal arc. Yumiko raised her staff to intercept the blow—

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Snap.

  The wood shattered in her hands as the weight crashed into her torso. Pain exploded in her ribs, the impact knocking the air from her lungs as she was hurled backward. She hit the ground hard, skidding across the stone floor before coming to a groaning stop.

  The chain-wielder turned toward his fallen brother. “Brother!” he called out, concern evident in his voice.

  The red-scarved fighter coughed, a trickle of blood staining the fabric around his mouth. “Her kicks… they’re strong…” he wheezed.

  “Can you still fight?”

  The man trembled as he pushed himself up, determination burning through the pain. “Yes…” He reached for his waistband, drawing two more knives, his grip tighter than before.

  Yumiko groaned, forcing herself upright despite the sharp pain in her ribs. The ground trembled beneath her—not from injury, but from the deafening roar of the crowd, eager for the battle to continue. She locked eyes with the man wielding the chain. The two inspected one another, waiting for the other to make a move.

  Yumiko winced, clutching her side where the weighted chain had struck. A sharp ache pulsed beneath her fingertips, but she knew it could have been far worse—if her staff hadn’t absorbed most of the blow, she might not be standing. Gritting her teeth, she lifted her gaze toward her remaining opponents. They were already preparing for their next move.

  Her eyes flicked around the arena, searching desperately for a weapon. Nothing was close enough.

  “You’ll pay for that kick!” the red-scarved fighter snarled, his voice laced with both fury and lingering pain. His glare burned through the throbbing in his ribs. “Now that your staff is gone, you’re going to lose!” He let out a triumphant laugh, masking his struggle to stay upright.

  With a sharp flick of his wrist, he hurled another knife at her while charging forward. Yumiko ducked just in time, the blade slicing through the air above her head. By the time she looked up, he was looming over her, already drawing another knife from his hip.

  “So long!” he roared, plunging both knives downward in a brutal strike.

  But Yumiko was faster. She twisted her body with fluid precision, slipping out of his reach as the knives slammed into the stone floor where she had been. The impact sent cracks sprawling across the surface. The man rolled through his failed attack with practiced ease, but when his eyes found her again, they widened in disbelief. She had moved too quickly—faster than he had thought possible.

  “Brother! Get out of there!” the chain-wielding fighter shouted in panic, his voice cutting through the chaos.

  The red-scarved man snarled, lashing out with a wild slash. Yumiko blocked it effortlessly with her kote wrist guards, steel ringing against steel. Without hesitation, she stepped in close, driving a fist straight into his ribs—the same spot where her kick had landed earlier. He lurched forward with a choked gasp, the pain surging through his body.

  She didn’t stop.

  Before he could recover, her next strike crashed into his face, snapping his head back. He staggered, his footing faltering—but somehow, he remained standing. Yumiko narrowed her eyes as she readied her fists.

  In quick succession, she unleashed a flurry of precise blows, each strike hammering into him with relentless force. His body recoiled with every hit, his breath escaping in ragged gasps. The crowd roared in approval, the sheer intensity of the exchange sending energy surging through the arena.

  “Move!” his brother bellowed, desperately whipping his chain toward her.

  Yumiko caught the motion in her peripheral vision and darted back just in time, the weighted end whistling past where she had been.

  The red-scarved fighter swayed on his feet, his body trembling. Then, at last, he crumpled, falling backward onto the arena floor. Before he even hit the ground, his body flickered—vanishing in an instant, teleported out of the match.

  The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices shaking the very walls of the colosseum.

  The remaining Albos brother turned toward Yumiko, his glare burning with fury. “You’ll pay for that!” he spat, swinging his chain with renewed aggression.

  Yumiko remained light on her feet, weaving between the attacks with effortless grace. She was closing the distance, making it harder for him to use his weapon effectively. Just as she prepared to strike—

  A sudden torrent of water blasted into her, sending her hurtling backward. The impact slammed her into the ground twenty feet away, knocking the breath from her lungs.

  She groaned, pushing herself up, only to see the white-scarved man standing tall, his breathing heavy. But something had changed. Three massive water whips now coiled around him, shifting and twisting like living serpents. Droplets dripped from their fluid forms, shimmering in the sunlight.

  He was using magic now.

  Yumiko exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders as she felt the cold seeping into her soaked clothes. With a small annoyed sigh, she shook her leg trying to remove water from her tabi socks. “Great… Now I’m soaking wet.”

  The chain-wielding fighter let out a low chuckle, his voice dripping with confidence. “You actually forced me to use my trump card… You should be honored, girlie,” he sneered. Then, with a fierce glare, he raised his arm, the three water whips coiling and writhing around him like living serpents. “But this is where the fight ends!”

  With a sharp flick of his wrist, the whips lashed toward Yumiko.

  She sprang into action, rolling just in time to avoid the first strike. The second came down a split second later, the weighted end of the chain smashing into the stone where she had just been. She narrowly dodged again, her movements fluid and precise. The crowd erupted, their cheers echoing through the colosseum as they watched her dance through the relentless assault.

  From the stands, Luchs observed with growing admiration. “She can handle herself well,” he mused, impressed by her agility.

  Mary, however, remained silent, her hands clenched as she watched in quiet concern.

  The remaining Albos brother was losing patience. His attacks weren’t landing, and with each miss, his frustration grew. His teeth clenched, and his eyes burned with fury. “Enough!” he roared, his movements growing more erratic. He launched a faster, more vicious series of attacks.

  One of the water whips finally struck home.

  It slammed into Yumiko’s shoulder with a violent force, making her stagger back as pain jolted through her body.

  “I got you now!” he howled triumphantly, bringing his chain down in a crushing blow.

  But in the blink of an eye—she was gone.

  His victorious grin vanished. His eyes darted frantically across the arena. “Where did she go?!” he shouted in panic.

  A voice called out from his side.

  “You’re not the only one who can use magic.”

  The chain user whirled around, his gaze locking onto Yumiko, now standing a short distance away. A whirlwind of air coiled around her, lifting dust from the arena floor.

  Before he could react, she thrust her hands forward, unleashing a powerful burst of wind. The gale surged toward him like a raging storm.

  Thinking quickly, he reshaped his water whips into a towering wall of liquid, bracing himself as the powerful gusts crashed against it. The wind howled through the colosseum, kicking up dust and sending hats and food flying from spectators’ hands.

  Behind his watery shield, the Albos brother gritted his teeth. Even with his defenses up, he could feel the raw force of her magic pushing him back, his boots sliding across the dampened stone. “Such power…” he growled, straining to hold his ground.

  Then, just as suddenly as it came—the wind stopped.

  He blinked in confusion. As he glanced at his water wall, he noticed that she was now gone.

  To his right, he heard the faintest shuffle of footsteps. His instincts screamed at him to react. He swung his chain toward the sound—

  Too late.

  Yumiko was already inside his guard. She drove her fist upward with all her strength, her knuckles slamming into his chin in a brutal uppercut.

  His head snapped back as his body lifted off the ground. For a brief second, he hung in the air before crashing down hard onto the stone floor, landing flat on his back.

  The colosseum erupted in an earth-shaking roar.

  Above them, the announcer’s voice boomed over the magical speakers. “The Ninja from the East is victorious! Give it up for Justin Schwag, everyone!” His excitement fed into the crowd, sending them into an even wilder frenzy.

  Yumiko blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sheer energy of the spectators.

  Meanwhile, up in the stands, the real Justin Schwag sat back, folding his arms with a self-satisfied grin. “That’s right! Remember that name! That’s me out there!” he declared proudly, soaking in the cheers as if he had been the one in the fight.

  Yumiko’s gaze darted to the center of the stage where Lukas was locked in combat with Benny. She was about to run toward him when a weak, rasping voice from the ground caught her attention.

  “Y-you… You think you’re going to win…?”

  The last remaining Albos brother lay sprawled across the floor, his face twisted in pain, but his lips curled into a spiteful grin.

  “Here… Have this… On the house.”

  With a weak flick of his wrist, he rolled a small object onto the platform. A split second later, his unconscious body was teleported away, removed from the battlefield.

  Yumiko’s breath hitched. Her eyes locked onto the object—a grenade!

  Acting on instinct, she lunged forward, throwing herself into the air just as the device detonated.

  A deafening explosion rocked the arena, sending a massive shockwave across the battlefield. Smoke and fire erupted outward, catching several fighters in its blast radius. The force hurled Yumiko midair, her body twisting as the concussive wave crashed over her.

  The crowd erupted in a chaotic mix of exhilaration and terror.

  Up in the stands, Mary shot to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. “Yumiko!” she screamed, her voice barely audible over the roaring crowd. A thick cloud of black smoke now obscured the battlefield, and she felt her stomach twist in fear.

  Without thinking, she turned to rush toward the stage—but a firm grip caught her arm.

  “Where are you going?” Luchs asked, his voice calm but firm.

  Mary spun toward him, her expression filled with anger and panic. “To check on my friend! That bastard knew he was going to lose and tried to take her down with him!” She wrenched her arm free and started toward the arena.

  “And what?” Luchs called after her. “Do you want Lukas to be disqualified? You’ll make both their efforts for nothing!”

  Mary froze mid-step, standing on the colosseum stairs.

  Luchs continued to speak, staring at her back. “Be patient,” he said, turning his attention back to the battlefield. “Your little bee of a friend is tougher than you think. Have some faith.”

  Down below, the thick smoke began to thin, swirling as the dust settled.

  Remos, the announcer, pressed his face close to the magical crystal, trying to get a clearer view. His voice boomed over the arena. “The Ninja was just hit by a surprise illegal attack from one of the Albos brothers! That explosion could have taken her out—” He suddenly stopped, his breath catching as movement stirred within the smoke.

  From within the fading cloud, a figure slowly rose.

  The crowd gasped.

  “No! She’s up! The Ninja is still standing! Is there nothing that can stop her?!” Remos bellowed, sending the stadium into an uproar.

  In the stands, Kenwick leaned forward, a smirk creeping onto his face as he watched Yumiko rise to her feet, legs shaking beneath her.

  Down on the battlefield, she gritted her teeth, readjusting her mask on her face. Her entire body ached, and she could already tell the explosion had done more than just rattle her. A sharp pain shot through her ankle as she shifted her weight—she had landed wrong. It was bad.

  “Damn…” she muttered under her breath. Her ankle throbbed fiercely, and she could barely put weight on it.

  Before she had time to fully recover, a sudden yell snapped her focus back to the fight. A fighter rushed toward her, blade raised.

  Yumiko reacted immediately, attempting to dodge—

  Her injured foot gave way.

  She nearly collapsed, but at the last second, she forced herself to plant her foot down despite the pain, pushing through the sharp agony as the attacker’s sword came slicing toward her.

  With a swift movement, she twisted, narrowly avoiding the blade, and struck the man at the base of his skull with a precise, calculated chop. His body went stiff before crumpling to the ground, unconscious.

  Remos’ voice rang out once again, electrifying the crowd.

  “The Ninja is still in the fight! Only ten percent of the fighters remain! But it’s not looking good for her—or the Golden Warrior!”

  Yumiko blinked, realizing the dust lingering in the air wasn’t the dark smoke from the explosion—it was white.

  Why…?

  The blast should have settled by now. Her gaze drifted across the battlefield until it landed on the other side of the arena, where Lukas stood locked in combat with Benny.

  A steady stream of white smoke poured from his body.

  He was hunched over, his breaths ragged and uneven, his chest rising and falling like a man on the brink of collapse. Sweat dripped down his face, his limbs trembling as if his body was moments away from giving out.

  Up in the stands, Mary had returned to Luchs’ side, her eyes locked onto Lukas with growing dread.

  “Is he doing any better?” she asked, though she already feared the answer.

  Luchs shook his head. “That armor… I don’t know what it’s doing to him, but there’s a lot of steam coming off it.”

  Mary’s fingers clenched tightly around the railing, her knuckles turning white. “That’s not just steam…” she whispered. “It’s his life force. That thing is draining him—he’s got nothing left. No magic. No stamina…” She swallowed hard, her voice barely above a plea. “C’mon, Yumiko… Please stop him before it gets worse.”

  But Yumiko wasn’t in much better shape. She limped across the stage, weaving between the remaining fighters, her movements sluggish yet determined. Every step sent pain lancing up her injured ankle, but she grit her teeth and pushed forward.

  Meanwhile, on the edge of the arena floor, Snow had gone still inside her cage. She no longer bared her fangs. No longer struggled against the bars. Instead, she simply watched.

  Her icy blue eyes remained fixed on Lukas, something shifting in her gaze. It was as if, in that moment, she understood that something was not right.