Araya vs Masahiko.

The silence that hung over the square was broken only by the sound of my boots against the stage floorboards as I climbed back up. Masahiko was waiting for me in the center, his body erect, sword in hand, radiating confidence.

"I'll finish you off quickly, Araya ," Masahiko said , spinning the blade to display the technique.

— Copy Hero or not, without your skills you are nothing. — he continued Masahiko .

I gave a dry laugh, raising my swords, still stained with the guards' blood.

— Then prove it, — I told him.

The first clash was violent. My two blades crossed his in an impact that reverberated through his arms. Masahiko 's brute strength was impressive; he was taller, heavier, trained to crush any enemy head-on.

But I wasn't just strength. I was survival.

I twisted, avoiding the blade's thrust, and tried to slash at his side. He blocked quickly, countering with a kick that sent me staggering back.

The crowd held its breath with every blow. This wasn't a fight between heroes and monsters. It was man against man, flesh against steel.

I came back with a double thrust, my swords trying to force an opening. Masahiko parried, using the strength of his arm to push both blades aside, and slammed his shoulder into my chest. The breath knocked from my lungs, but before he could complete the attack, I came down with a blade against his leg.

A shallow cut. Enough to make him flinch.

— Not bad… — Masahiko said , with a smile that hid the pain.

—But you won't beat me like that. — he continued. Masahiko speaking confidently.

He lunged again, heavy blows, each strike vibrating as if it would crush bones. I blocked, dodged, using both my swords to compensate for the difference in strength. Still, each impact burned my arms.

One slip. He caught my rib with the hilt of his sword. Pain exploded through my side, and I nearly dropped one of the blades.

But I didn't fall.

"You... still think you're facing that cowardly nerd from your school, Masahiko ?" I growled, spitting blood.

— Well, you're wrong. — I said confidently.

He lunged forward again. I rolled across the ground, leaped to my feet, and lashed out diagonally. The metallic clang echoed once more. With each blow, more sweat, more blood.

The audience, the nobles, even the king… no one dared speak. They were mesmerized by the raw brutality of the combat.

I felt my body asking for rest, but my mind burned with fury.

He was my past tormentor. And now, in front of everyone, I would crush that arrogant smile.

The sound of blades slicing through the air grew more violent. Masahiko quickened his pace, blow after blow, heavier and heavier, faster and faster.

My breath began to falter. My legs trembled. The swords slipped in my sweaty hands.

He pressed relentlessly, as if he wanted to crush my resistance with the sheer weight of his brutality. Each attack was accompanied by that arrogant grin I'd hated since school.

A downward strike from above, I blocked, but the force sent my knee crashing to the ground. Another diagonal cut, parried by a thread of reflex.

And then, a punch straight to my face with the hilt of the sword. My vision exploded into white. I fell sideways, spitting blood onto the wooden stage.

— I warned you… — Masahiko said, approaching step by step.

"You've never been anything but a loser. And now this whole world will watch you die a loser." Masahiko continued, speaking arrogantly.

His blade raised for the final blow. I was on my knees, gasping, my body screaming in pain.

The crowd cheered in anticipation, some nobles already applauding, certain of my downfall. Albert watched with triumphant eyes, as if his throne were saved.

But then… something burned inside me.

My rage, my thirst for revenge. Sabrina's face, Sairo 's , the Zairos family's … all dead. Margarida's betrayal, Oliver's whipping, Wobo 's forced kiss . Everything exploded in a single flame.

I smiled, spitting out more blood.

"You know, Masahiko ... I actually like this feeling... of being treated like nothing. Because it makes me want to crush you all even more," I said to him sarcastically.

He brought his sword down. At the last moment, I rolled to the side, raised one of my blades, and parried his attack with all my remaining strength. The impact shook my bones, but I resisted.

The second sword slashed diagonally, hitting his shoulder. Blood spurted.

Masahiko recoiled in surprise, his smile fading.

I stood up slowly, my eyes burning with fury.

— Now… it's my turn. — I said, confident that I could win.

The crowd fell silent again, as if sensing the tide of the duel had turned.

Blood ran down my face, every breath burned like fire. But hatred kept me standing.

Masahiko , sword raised, roared and advanced once more. I didn't dodge. I let him come, my eyes locked on his. At the last instant, I raised both my blades in a cross motion.

The shock broke his rhythm. The gun slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor.

Before he could react, I plunged one of the swords into his thigh. He screamed. I yanked him up by his hair and smashed his face into the stage floor.

The crowd fell silent, horrified.

"Where's... all your arrogance now, bully?" I growled, pressing his head against the bloody wood.

"Where's the bully who laughed at the weak?" I asked mockingly.

He tried to get up, but I plunged the second sword into his back, running him through. His scream echoed like a symphony to my ears.

I raised the blade and brought it down again, brutal, without mercy. His body shuddered, then went still.

Masahiko 's corpse by his hair before dropping him to the ground.

— This… is the fate of those who dare to face me!

The people burst into screams, some of fear, some of hatred, a few of astonishment.

My body couldn't take it anymore. I staggered, sweat and blood mixing on my skin. My legs were barely supporting me.

Then I felt it: the barrier dissolved. The air felt lighter. My abilities returned.

Masahiko 's dead body and laughed, with venomous irony.

— You did a good job, boy… you eliminated someone useless for me. — King Albert said mocking Masahiko .

His words were like knives. He didn't care. To him, neither Masahiko , nor Ayano , nor Yukiko … no one was more than disposable parts.

I tried to concentrate, to activate the Teleport skill . But my body didn't respond. I was too exhausted, too torn apart.

I knelt down, gasping. My eyes turned to Yukiko .

—Help … me … — I asked, my voice weak, almost a whisper.

Yukiko trembled, pale, her eyes watering. Then, to everyone's shock, she hurriedly descended from the stage and ran through the crowd, disappearing like a coward.

A murmur spread among the nobles and commoners. No one could believe what they had just seen.

Albert stood up, his dark gaze fixed on me.

—Your end has come, Araya , — said King Albert.

I took a deep breath and staggered forward, trying to get up for another fight. But my body couldn't take it. My strength left me, and everything went dark.

I fainted in front of everyone.

My mind returned slowly, as if emerging from a dark sea. First, the cold of the ground. Then, the sensation of something heavy on my chained wrists.

I opened my eyes slowly. The ceiling was stone, lit by torches that cast distorted shadows across the walls. I was in a luxurious room.

And then I heard the voice.

— Well… the beautiful lady finally woke up.

My heart froze. I slowly turned my head and saw Albert sitting in a high chair, one leg crossed over the other, his eyes fixed on me.

“ Lady?” — I thought, confused.

I looked down. My chest felt different. The weight was there. I instinctively touched it and felt the soft skin. My body shivered.

I lowered my hand further… and my world fell apart.

— No… it can’t be… — I murmured.

Something inside me had disappeared.

Breathing quickened. Dread took over.

— DNA Flower… — I murmured in a trembling voice.

— You used it on me… — I said with a trembling voice.

I looked up and stared at Albert with pure hatred and disgust. He just smiled calmly, as if he relished my despair.

— Beautiful lady… — Albert said in a soft, almost ironic voice.

"You don't have to look at me like that. I haven't even laid a finger on you," Albert continued , speaking ironically.

I swallowed hard, my whole body trembling.

"So... what do you want with me? Why didn't you kill me?" I asked him.

He tilted his head, and his smile widened.

— Because you're all mine now. — Albert said.

A shiver ran down my spine.

“Never!” I screamed, pulling the chains hard, the metallic sound echoing through the room.

—I will never be your toy! — I continued screaming.

Albert's laughter filled the room, deep and cruel.

"If you don't accept, beautiful lady... I'll be forced to enjoy your body by force," Albert said , his eyes sparkling.

My heart raced. The chains weighed even more heavily. The nightmare I'd feared so much was back, bigger, more suffocating.

And for the first time in a long time… I felt real fear.

My mind whirled like a storm. The chains tightened around my wrists, and the weight of the body that was no longer mine suffocated me. I could resist. I could scream. But what then? Albert was king. He had all the resources, all the strength. If I refused, he would only break me until I had no choice.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and made the bitter decision.

— … I accept. — I replied in a soft voice.

Albert raised an eyebrow, surprised by my quick response. A satisfied smile played across his lips.

"Excellent choice. Then, as my first order of business… you must abandon the name you bear. From this day forward, you are no longer Araya . Your name shall be Anika ," said King Albert.

My heart sank. The name echoed like a sentence. I grimaced in disgust, but I knew I had no room for refusal.

— … Yes. — I agreed.

He tilted his head theatrically.

—So tell me… what's your name again? — Albert asked mockingly.

I closed my eyes for a moment, swallowing my pride. When I opened them, I replied in a low, bitter voice:

— My name… is Anika . — I replied.

Albert's smile widened. He stood, took the key from his belt, and released the chains from my wrists.

— Very good, Anika . You are a very obedient girl. — Albert said mockingly.

I felt my skin burn with hatred, but I kept my expression neutral.

Albert came closer, and his voice took on a lower, almost intimate tone:

"Now prove you're loyal to me. Give me a kiss on the mouth. That way... we'll prolong the effect of the DNA Flower on your body," Albert said .

My stomach churned. Memories of Wobo and Oliver came back like knives. But if I refused, he might force me anyway. At least if I obeyed, I'd have a chance to buy time.

I took a deep breath, feeling my face burn with embarrassment.

— … Understood. — I told him.

Albert leaned back in his chair, satisfied.

—Come to me, Anika . — Alber ordered.

My feet felt like lead. Each step was an insult to my existence. But I moved forward, one after the other, until I stopped before him.

I leaned in slowly, closing my eyes. Our lips met. The kiss was cold, calculated, but to Albert it felt like a victory.

When we parted, he smiled like a sated predator.

—Excellent, Anika … I see you finally understand your place. — Albert said sarcastically.

I was still speechless, my mind spinning, trying to absorb the humiliation I had just experienced. It was then that Albert broke the silence, his voice thick with irony.

— Anika , I don't know if you noticed... but this room you're in used to be Margarida's. — Albert said, gesturing around as if he wanted to remind me of every detail.

"And it can be yours too. You just have to tell me the truth about what I'm about to ask you now," Albert said, as if he were offering me something.

I swallowed, looking up at him.

—I will answer… anything you want to know, sir. — I said like an obedient servant.

His smile widened, satisfied like a child who had just received a new toy.

"Very well. So, my dear Anika … tell me. You and my worthless daughter hatched this plan to tempt the three heroes… and me. But why did she agree to do this? And… was she under the influence of some ability of yours?" asked King Albert.

I hesitated for a moment. This was my chance. I needed to choose each word carefully. I took a deep breath and spoke, trying to sound firm.

Slime 's Pleasure . But she was bold... and proposed an alliance," I said.

Albert frowned, but kept the smile on his lips, listening to every detail.

"She went further. She gave her own body to me as proof of her loyalty. On stage, however… I betrayed her. Margarida was furious. It was at that moment that I used the ability on her," I continued.

I paused briefly, watching his reaction. King Albert looked intrigued, his gaze cold, calculating every word that came out of my mouth.

"The truth is, Margarida is very clever. She devised the entire plan to take down you and the three heroes. I just took advantage of the opportunity," I concluded.

Silence fell for a moment. Albert's laugh came soon after, low and sarcastic.

— Hahahaha … so that's it. My daughter, always dreaming big… but always too naive to understand who she's dealing with.

He got up from his chair and walked over to me. He cupped my chin with his fingertips, forcing me to look him in the eye.

"And you, Anika ... you told me everything so... obediently. I like that about you," King Albert said happily.

My stomach churned. But I kept my gaze steady, knowing any weakness could be used against me.