Both Claus and Violet were at their limits. Their mana had completely run out, leaving them unable to use magic or essence stones.
Claus, however, had the upper hand. She still held her longsword, while Violet was barehanded.
Violet's breath steadied as she took a combat stance, her eyes sharp with focus. "I have an A-grade ESR talent. My mana will recover faster than hers. I just need to stall for a bit. One good punch with mana, and I can turn this around," she thought with determination.
Claus wasn't oblivious to this plan. She could feel the tension in the air. Without hesitation, she charged forward with her sword, her movements quick and forceful.
Claus slashed, and Violet barely dodged the blade, her body twisting at the last second. But Claus didn't relent. She attacked again and again, her strikes relentless and precise.
Dodge.
Dodge.
Dodge.
Violet narrowly avoided every blow, her body moving on pure instinct. Sweat dripped down her forehead as her heart pounded in her chest. But Claus wasn't going to let up.
Then, in a sudden move, Claus hurled her longsword straight at Violet.
Violet's eyes widened in shock. "She threw her sword?" she gasped, dodging it instinctively.
But it was a trap.
As Violet dodged, her movements faltered for a split second, and that was all Claus needed. She closed the distance in a flash.
Before Violet could react, Claus delivered a powerful kick to her face. The force of the blow sent Violet stumbling back, caught completely off guard.
Claus didn't stop. She followed with a fierce punch to Violet's abdomen, knocking the air out of her lungs. A pained gasp escaped Violet as she felt the impact deep in her core.
Without missing a beat, Claus grabbed Violet as if embracing her and executed a flawless judo throw. She slammed Violet's head into the ground with a heavy thud.
Violet's vision blurred. Her head spun, and her body felt like it was on fire. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, each one heavier than the last.
But Claus wasn't done. She leapt onto Violet's prone body, pinning her down. Raising her fists, she began punching Violet's face without mercy.
"Just give up already!" Claus shouted, her voice filled with frustration and pride. "There's no way I'm losing to someone like you! Your A-grade aptitude and gravity magic are the only reasons you've lasted this long!"
Violet winced as she tried to block the punches with her arms. Her body ached, her strength was failing, but deep in her heart, she refused to give up.
Violet's vision blurred as her consciousness wavered, but a memory from her past kept her from slipping into darkness.
Years ago, when she was still a child and hadn't awakened, she was just a little girl trying to navigate a harsh world. On one particular day, a group of bullies had cornered her. They laughed cruelly as they taunted her, shoving her around. Fear gripped her small frame as she tried to hold back tears.
But suddenly, a fist came out of nowhere, landing squarely on one of the bully's faces and knocking him out cold. The others froze for a moment, startled by the interruption.
It was a boy, about her age, with vibrant blue hair and eyes as deep and clear as the ocean. He stood defiantly in front of her, his small body shielding her from harm. His face was both cute and determined, a mix of innocence and courage.
"Leave her alone!" he shouted, his voice unwavering despite the odds.
The bullies, however, weren't intimidated. There were too many of them, and he was alone. They quickly regained their composure and lunged at him.
Punch after punch, he fought back, his small fists landing wherever they could. But for every punch he threw, he took several in return. The bullies' strength and numbers were overwhelming.
Violet watched in fear, convinced he would be beaten down. Yet, even as blood dripped from his lips and bruises formed on his small frame, he didn't back down.
"Stop! Just run! You can't win against them!" Violet cried out, her voice trembling with worry.
But the boy didn't retreat. His determination was like a blazing fire. One punch, then another—he kept going. His movements were clumsy and untrained, but his will was unshakable.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he managed to knock out four of the bullies. The remaining two, panting heavily and clearly shaken, began to hesitate.
"Damn it… this kid just doesn't know when to quit. Let's go—I'm done with this!" one of them muttered, trying to mask his fear.
And just like that, the bullies ran off, leaving Violet and the boy alone.
Violet stared at him, wide-eyed and amazed. Despite his injuries, he stood tall, wiping the blood from his lip with a small, triumphant grin.
"Who… who are you? Why did you help me? What if they had hurt you even worse?" Violet asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and gratitude.
The boy turned to her, his ocean-blue eyes shining with warmth. He smiled brightly, revealing all his teeth, as if the pain didn't matter to him.
"I'm Ethan," he said proudly. "And I'm a hero. Heroes don't give up. We're meant to protect everyone."
"A hero doesn't give up?" Violet repeated softly, the words echoing in her heart.
In that moment, something shifted inside her. A sense of righteousness, a desire to be strong, began to stir in her young heart.
From that day on, Ethan and Violet became inseparable friends. As the years passed, things began to change. Violet awakened at the age of eleven, her status as a Baroness granting her privileges and power. But Ethan, to her surprise, had yet to awaken.
The roles reversed. The boy who had once stood up to protect her now found himself being shielded by her.
Whenever someone tried to pick on Ethan, Violet would step in without hesitation. Her strength and status made sure no one dared harm him.
"You don't have to do this," Ethan would say, his voice tinged with frustration. "Even though I'm not awakened, I can protect myself!"
But Violet would only smile brightly, her eyes full of the same determination she had seen in him years ago.
"Don't worry," she'd say confidently. "Aren't heroes meant to protect everyone? From now on, I'll protect you."
------------
Remembering those moments, a surge of fire ignited inside Violet's heart.
Her tired eyes widened, blazing with a fierce resolve as though she had seen a ghost.
"Heroes don't give up!" she screamed, her voice raw and filled with everything she had left. Her clenched teeth dug into her lip as she pushed past her exhaustion, channeling the last remnants of her strength.
Her fist crackled with dark violet energy, glowing with an faint glow.
With all her might, she swung her mana-infused fist and landed a devastating blow on Claus's jaw.
BAM!
The sound was deafening. Claus's body was sent flying backward, her head snapping to the side as her momentum carried her. She hit the ground hard, her body sprawled out as two of her teeth broke instantly, scattering onto the arena floor.
"Cough… cough…" Claus gasped, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth as she struggled to breathe. Rage flared in her eyes as she managed to push herself halfway up, glaring daggers at Violet.
"A lowly baron dares to do this to me?!" Claus yelled, her voice trembling with fury and humiliation.
Violet, panting heavily, struggled to sit up. Her body screamed in pain, but her resolve didn't waver. She knew she didn't have the strength to keep fighting. Every inch of her ached, and her legs felt like they could give out at any moment.
But she wasn't done yet.
Ignoring the pain, Violet forced herself to her feet, staggering toward Claus's discarded longsword. She reached it, her trembling hands wrapping around the hilt as she picked it up. The weapon felt heavier than ever in her exhausted state, but she tightened her grip, willing herself to move.
Claus, still on the ground, tried to rise, but before she could fully get up, Violet was already standing over her. The blade of the longsword now rested firmly against Claus's neck.
The crowd fell silent.
Claus froze, her body tense and shaking with anger. Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, leaving red crescents on her skin. She glared at Violet with pure hatred, her lips trembling as she felt the cold steel against her throat.
Her face was contorted with rage and humiliation. She wanted to scream, to fight back, to do something—anything. But deep down, she knew.
It was over.
She had been defeated.
Claus's vision blurred, and for a moment, she thought she might cough up blood from the sheer frustration choking her.
The referee raised his hand, his voice cutting through the tension. "Winner: Violet Vondarion!"
The announcement echoed across the arena.
For a brief moment, there was silence. Then, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, their excitement filling the air. The match had been breathtaking, thrilling to the very end. No one had been able to predict the victor until the last moment, and now they celebrated the triumph they had just witnessed.
Violet's chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as she lowered the sword. Her body felt like it was about to collapse, but she stood tall, her pride shining through the exhaustion. Slowly, with unsteady steps, she began to walk away from the battlefield. Her legs trembled with each movement, but she held her head high.
Claus, still on the ground, clenched her teeth, her fists trembling. She had no choice but to accept defeat.
Both combatants left the arena, their bodies broken but their spirits unyielding.