Zeru clutched his chest, struggling for air
"Huff... huff... huff."
'I need to control my breathing before the situation escalates.'
Zeru stumbled backward in the dark and hit something solid. A massive boulder.
Without thinking, he dropped behind it.
'Breathe in. Breathe out.'
'Breathe in. Breathe out.'
Catching his breath, he pulled out Inferno and was preparing to look for Tox in the dark.
Suddenly, something zipped past Zeru's head, crashing just a step away.
Stones flew like bullets, but Zeru quickly caught on. Tox was throwing blindly, no rhythm, no aim.
'He doesn't know where I am. I need to get close and hit him as many times as I can before time runs out.'
05:45...44...43...42...41...40...
Zeru got to his feet, took a few steps forward, then dropped flat to the ground.
'No. This is a terrible idea. If there's no other boulder to hide behind, I'll be stuck in the open. If Tox throws another rock while I'm out there, it's over. I have to stay where I am.'
Suddenly, pain exploded through his lower leg as one of the flying rocks struck him hard.
"AHHHH!"
He screamed, but no sound came out.
Zeru dragged himself back behind the boulder. Above him the screen glowed, updating the score to one point for Tox.
04:47...46...45...44...43...42...
'This isn't good. If I don't counterattack, everything I've worked for will be gone. No one will respect me if I show w...'
He cut off his own thought. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself to his feet. Fire surged around Inferno as he fused it with his power.
The crystal in Zeru's chest glowed bright red as the flames around Inferno shifted to a deep, dark blue.
'This doubt... it's beneath me. The Fire Clan's name must not be shamed. Standing tall is the only choice left. Every step forward is a step toward victory.'
He spun his chain knife faster, the dark blue flames forming a barrier around him, then charged forward.
The dark blue flames flickering from Zeru gave away his position in the dark.
Tox caught sight of the glow and grinned, pulling out his daggers as Zeru charged toward him.
'Desperation has clouded his mind. Just what I'd expect from prey.'
Step by step, they closed the distance until just two feet remained between them at the room's center.
Suddenly, light filled the room, exposing the two participants and everything around them.
As soon as Zeru laid eyes on Tox, a grin spread across his face and he charged to strike, but Tox was faster, leaping high into the air and landing atop a towering mountain pillar.
He scanned the room carefully, committing the layout to memory.
'Now I can fight even if the lights go out.'
Without hesitation, he leapt down and charged toward Zeru, but the searing flames surrounding Zeru forced him to pull back.
The room dimmed as Tox shifted in the shadows, circling for an opening. The light around Zeru was fading fast.
'If I wait any longer, I'll lose my chance.'
Zeru clenched Inferno tighter and moved without hesitation. He caught the chain knife by the middle, spinning both ends at once in a deadly sweep.
Zeru sent two fiery rings flying from Inferno toward Tox. The distance closed too quickly for Tox to react.
'I'm not done yet...'
Zeru yanked on one end of the chain knife just before it hit the ground. The weapon whipped around his body, flames curling with it, as he prepared another strike.
The triple attack landed cleanly, giving Zeru the lead.
Tox staggered but refused to fall. Gritting his teeth, he shifted his grip on the right-hand dagger and slashed upward, carving a deep wound across Zeru's chest.
Zeru stumbled, his weapon slipping from his grasp.
The room went nearly pitch black again as the timer neared zero. Tox smirked, both participants now tied on the board.
Zeru crawled behind a nearby boulder, his breath shallow and uneven. His chest burned. His limbs trembled.
00:58...57...56...55...54...
'What's happening...? I'm about to black out. Is it the wound?'
'Just a flesh wound... No, wait, his dagger had to be poisoned.'
Zeru fought through the burning pain from Tox's wound, but before he could catch his breath, Tox closed in, grabbed him by the throat, and slammed him hard against the nearest boulder.
Zeru struggled fiercely, kicking and twisting, but his strength drained fast and his body stopped responding.
00:10...09...08...07...
With his last strength, Zeru pulled the dagger hidden beneath his clothes, the same one Tox had thrown at the beasts in the previous room.
He drove it into Tox's chest in a final, desperate strike.
Tox gasped and finally let go. Both of them collapsed to the floor.
00:03...02...01...00.
Suddenly, a deep rumble ran through the maze. Without warning, an explosion ripped through the structure.
Someone had broken through the maze's defenses, leaving a large breach in its walls.
YOU ARE READING
UNIFIED W
FantasyIn this world where people have crystal powers, fate chose Kai to once again reunite the seven clans, who are in a constant civil war with each other for centuries. Although Kai were chosen, his path is full of despair and pain, but a voice keeps te...
