CHAPTER 59: DESTINED CLASH OF TWO RIVALS!!

We were locked in close combat — Saddler and I.

No magic — just fists and feet.

A deadly duel, sentenced by Sid, yet nothing more than a passing amusement for him.

SMACK!

We struck each other in the face and leapt back.

I was panting hard. So was Saddler. How long had we been fighting?

Sid, seated on his throne, watched us from above, yawning in boredom.

"I can guess what you’re thinking," he said in that harsh, gravelly voice. "You’re stalling. Hoping your little friends will come and save you if you just waste enough time? Hah. That’s not happening.

You’ll fight here until I’m bored enough to kill you both.

Or are you really that stupid — swearing to kill each other one moment, then flinching like cowards the next?"

Truth is, I never thought I’d see the day I’d kill a man with my own hands.

"This fight will be buried in time. No one will ever know what happened within these walls.So if you want to live—fight to the death!"

...

Taking a deep breath, Saddler steadied his stance. Doubt faded from his eyes.

WHOOSH!

He charged in with a furious flurry of attacks!

A spinning kick slammed toward my side — I blocked with my forearms.

Agh... That bastard — was his leg made of steel?

Before I could raise my eyes, Saddler vanished — it was as if the ground itself had launched him forward.

A turning side kick whistled toward me — I barely ducked. The wind trailing the strike whipped past my hair like a lash.

Fast...!

Before his feet even touched the ground, he twisted midair into a 360° spin — a jumping back kick aimed right at my chest!

I rolled to the side, but he wouldn’t relent — a pivot on his hip, heel flashing again, then a brutal axe kick came crashing down, splitting the smoke-shrouded floor.

’Magnificent,’ Sid observed. ’One of them has gotten serious. Once they both realize what’s at stake... their thirst for blood will be inevitable!’

I kept dodging. Saddler refused to give me space.

He kicked relentlessly, breaking through my blocks more and more often.

This can’t go on forever...

"Why aren’t you fighting back, huh?" he roared with a manic grin. "Still don’t get where this is going? Don’t tell me you’re letting me win on purpose! Come on! Fight me!"

I held my defense.

Yes. There was only one outcome. One of us had to die.

Saddler... the rival I’d longed to face again. But now... he was my enemy!

CRACK!

I lunged in with a wide hook. Saddler blocked, and the impact burst through the air.

He sprang up again, twisting midair — a double kick!

One to my ribs, the other to my shoulder — sent me flying backward.

Before I could even get up, Saddler was already slamming into me with a spinning knee — crashing into my chest midair!

I grit my teeth and slid beneath him — but even then he didn’t slow. He twisted in the air and kicked my shoulder, breaking my stance.

Spit flew from my mouth. My arm was burning red from his attacks.

He wasn’t letting me gain a single inch of ground.

We both panted, blood pumping wildly, slowly healing my wounds.

No... This wasn’t hopeless. This is exactly the kind of battle I wanted.

To feel the razor’s edge of death. When my life’s on the line — that’s when I truly come alive!

I took my stance again. Fists clenched. Mind cold. Focus sharp.

You’ve accepted it too, haven’t you, Saddler?

Our fight had to continue. And this is the chance.

I won’t hold back anymore.

BAM!

We clashed with a flurry of lightning-fast blows!

I hammered his torso, aiming for his face — I had to catch him off-guard!

How do I break his stance...?

Think. Last time, he charged like a rhino. If his attacks explode forward... then there must be blind spots behind them!

WHOOSH!

I dashed behind him just as he launched a front kick — wrapped my arms around his waist and slammed him in a suplex!

I heard a crack in his neck.

He grabbed my collar with such force I couldn’t pry him off —

Then hurled me down, crashing his full weight into the ground.

I kicked him off, ducked under his spinning kick — too late. His heel scraped the air just above my ear.

’This Saddler...’ thought Sid. ’He fights like a dancer teetering on madness... but each strike carries the weight of a pack of wild beasts. His brute strength is his path to victory!’

I struck with a jab — left fist to the chin.

Then followed with a right cross. Saddler staggered, but I was already there.

My palm slammed into his chest. The echo of the impact rippled as sweat burst from his body.

A direct palm strike — stole his breath.

A shoulder thrust forward — broke his balance.

I slipped behind him.

All my weight in my hips — arms wrapped around his torso.

I spun backward and hurled him!

BOOM!!

Saddler hit the ground with a thunderous slam.

I clutched his throat and locked my legs around his body.

He gasped, trying to shake me off.

Come on... just a little more! Until his spine snaps, until his neck cracks again!

Saddler... one of us has to win! I get it now — I wanted to fight you to the death.

And no matter what you try — you’re going to die!!

CRASH.

The arena walls collapsed into the smoke-filled earth.

As I realized the battlefield had expanded without limit—

Saddler struck me across the jaw, splitting my lip.

We stood. Trading twisted strikes. Our attacks felt more precise — but slower.

It was a war of endurance now.

But that gave me the edge.

The passive ability of a dragonslayer — it was healing me, little by little.

In a fight like this — that was gold.

He slammed a side kick — I blocked with my arm.

The impact buzzed through my forearm.

Next — a slow, almost lazy high kick to the head. I blocked again.

We slowed down. Regaining our breath between attacks.

I’d watched his fights last year. He won without even using magic. Even so, how is he still not tired—

BOOM.

His body twisted in a storm—

Before I could react — a heel smashed into my temple with full force.

The world flipped. I didn’t fall — I was driven into the ground.

His heel thundered into the dirt. The shockwave rattled through me.

I dodged with a head tilt.

I countered with a side kick to his pelvis and jumped back.

Can’t take my eyes off him for a second!

This brute... I forgot what he was. He loves fighting on the edge of exhaustion!

His eyes burned with rage, his pupils turned white. Veins across his body.

"Hey, bastard! Wanna tell me why all your wounds keep healing?!"

"Oh? You just noticed? It’s my innate ability."

Saddler spat blood.

"Fucking high spirit."

We lunged at each other like needles, clashing again.

We grappled — anchoring each other to the ground.

Sid lit up with delight.

’Now it makes sense! That summon can fight endlessly at range. How will fate twist if I change the rules?

Two lost souls... Show me what your powers are worth!!’

Click.

Sid unlocked a portion of our spiritual energy.

And the moment we felt it — Saddler clapped his palms together!

BAAAM!!!

A beam of pure magic, faster than sound, exploded into me — blowing the air apart!

I didn’t even understand what had happened — only felt the searing heat burst before me.

It took Saddler only 0.58 seconds to react and unleash his signature move!!