Seraphine stood at the corner of the arena''s passageway, shrouded in shadow. She clutched her sword with a grip that seemed both effortless and immovable. Her blue hair swayed faintly behind her, illuminated by the dim flickers of torchlight. Her eyes, void of any emotion, bore into the battlefield ahead.

    No one noticed her.

    Every pair of eyes in the vast arena was glued to me and Orcas, our clash at its center. The air was thick with anticipation, the crowd''s cheers echoing like thunder across the stone walls. The announcer''s booming voice fueled their excitement, narrating the fight with dramatic flair.

    "Orcas the Merciless!" the announcer screamed, his voice cutting through the air. "A warrior known for his brutality, his relentlessness! Can anyone stand against his wrath?!"

    The crowd roared in unison, though it was clear who they were truly rooting for.

    "CUTIEPIE! CUTIEPIE! CUTIEPIE!"

    My name was on everyone''s lips, chanted over and over like a battle hymn.

    I stood calmly in the center of the arena, with a sword in my hand and other hand in my pockets, chewing a piece of bubble gum like I didn''t have a care in the world.

    In the opppsite side, Orcas was already drenched in sweat, his aura flaring with a dark, menacing energy. His chains rattled ominously, the blade at the end gleaming like a predator''s fang.

    But none of it fazed me.

    "You''re toying with him!" the announcer exclaimed, almost laughing as he spoke. "Oh, what confidence! What bravado! Ladies and gentlemen, this isn''t just a duel—this is a show!"

    The crowd erupted again as Orcas lunged at me, his chain whipping through the air like a serpent. The blade sliced through the space between us, aimed directly at my throat.

    *CLANG!*

    In one fluid motion, I use my sword, the blade intercepting his attack with pinpoint precision. The clash of metal echoed like a bell, and the sheer force of the strike sent a ripple through the ground.@@@@

    "Ohhoho! Cutiepie BLOCKS IT AGAIN!" the announcer shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the deafening cheers of the crowd.

    I smirked, tilting my head slightly as I stared at Orcas. "That''s it? Come on, big guy, I thought you were supposed to be scary."

    Orcas growled, his black eyes narrowing as he swung his chain again. This time, the blade at the end spun like a whirlwind, creating a deadly vortex aimed to tear me apart.

    But I was faster.

    With a slight shift of my weight, I dodged the attack effortlessly, the blade missing me by a hair''s inch. I spun around him, my movements so fluid they almost seemed like a dance.

    "Too slow," I teased, tapping the tip of my sword against his shoulder before leaping back.

    "UNBELIEVABLE! Cutiepie''s agility is unmatched! Look at her go, folks!"

    Orcas roared in frustration, his aura flaring brighter. The ground beneath him cracked as his power surged, and the chains in his hands seemed to take on a life of their own.

    "You won''t mock me, little girl!" he groaned, his voice echoing through the arena. "I''ll crush you!"

    Orcas''s tongue lolled out of his mouth as he gasped for air, his entire body trembling from exhaustion. But despite his obvious fatigue, he refused to back down.

    I smiled at him, my expression sighhing. "Come on...."

    The crowd''s thunderous cheers filled the air, the sheer energy of the arena vibrating in my chest. Orcas was in front of me, panting heavily, clutching his chains like a desperate animal backed into a corner.

    –But then, my focus wavered for the briefest moment as my eyes caught something—someone—on the move.

    Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed her.

    Seraphine.

    She emerged from the shadows of the passageway, stepping into the crowd''s view with an air of quiet intensity. The blue strands of her hair swayed behind her, catching the golden light of the torches as she moved. Her sword gleamed in her hand, its sharp edge reflecting the chaos of the battlefield.

    But it wasn''t the weapon that drew attention—it was her presence.

    She climbed the stairs of the crowd''s stands with deliberate steps, her eyes fixed ahead. The noise of the crowd began to slow down, a ripple of confusion spreading through the masses.

    My gaze lingered on her for a moment, a faint smile curling my lips. "So, you''ve made your decision at last..." I murmured under my breath, almost to myself.

    The crowd''s energy dimmed, their cheers dying out into a confused murmur. The announcer, who had been narrating the fight with such fervor, paused mid-sentence, his voice faltering in disbelief.

    "What''s this...? What is she doing?" his voice echoed uncertainly. "Damascus girl... is going to the stands with a sword in her hand?!"

    Even the Queen, who had been intently watching the duel, shifted her gaze. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her interest piqued as she leaned forward in her seat. "What is she upto there?"

    The entire arena turned its attention to Seraphine.

    She ascended the steps, her boots clicking softly against the stone, and stopped when she reached the stand where Darius sat. Her sword hung loosely at her side, but her grip on its handle was firm. Her icy silver eyes met his as she came to a halt directly in front of him.

    A hush fell over the crowd.

    "Where is she going?" someone in the audience whispered, their voice barely audible over the quiet.

    "What''s Damascus girl doing?" another murmured, their words carrying an edge of unease.

    "Is she...going to attack her guardian? Darius?"

    The whispers spread like wildfire, each spectator leaning toward their neighbor, their collective confusion thickening the silence.

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    Darius leaned back slightly in his seat, his usual expression replaced with a flicker of intrigue. He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head as he looked up at her.

    Seraphine stops in front of him and their eyes met each other. The usual cheerful demeanor of Seraphine was nowhere left to be found.