The creatures surged forward.

  Haru tightened his grip on the spear, pain lancing through his injured shoulder as he braced for the end. Blood dripped steadily onto the stone beneath his feet. Three unkillable monsters. One wounded fighter. No escape.

  His lips pulled into a defiant grin despite everything. "Guess we're doing this the hard way."

  The air shifted.

  Haru saw nothing at first. A tall shadow simply materialized between him and the oncoming beasts. Then, a silver flash cleaved the darkness.

  All three monsters collapsed in the same instant—no struggle, no clash, no final cry. Their bodies dissolved into black smoke and vanished into the night.

  Raiden stood in front of Haru, nodachi already in motion. With a sharp, fluid flick, he cleaned the blade and sheathed it. The metallic click cut through the sudden silence. He tilted his head slightly, white eyes fixing on Haru.

  Time froze. Haru couldn't process it—the impossible speed, the single stroke that ended everything.

  Haru opened his mouth, but no words came. His throat was dry, his mind reeling.

  "Leave. Now," Raiden said, voice cold and flat. "This place isn't safe."

  Raiden turned and vanished into the shadows with speed that defied his age.

  Haru remained rooted in place, staring at empty air. His heart pounded. His hands shook around the spear. He looked down—nothing remained of the monsters. Just dirt.

  He took a ragged breath and began to walk away from the square, his steps slow and uneven.

  The streets felt different now. The darkness seemed heavier, thicker. Every narrow alley looked like it hid a threat. Every faint noise made him whip his head around, his grip tightening on his weapon.

  He quickened his pace. His injured shoulder throbbed in rhythm with his heartbeat, but he didn't care. He just wanted to get home. Get inside. Lock the door. The gloves? He’d completely forgotten them.

  He reached his house, slipped inside quietly, and bolted the door. He climbed the stairs, entered his room, and fumbled for his medical supplies. He retrieved a first aid kit and began to dress the wound, applying the bandages with shaking hands. When he finished, he moved sluggishly to the bed and collapsed.

  He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to sleep, but his mind refused to settle. Every time he drifted off, he saw them. The monsters. The hollow eyes. The long claws. The way his attacks meant nothing to them. Then he saw Raiden. The silver flash. The single strike that erased them all.

  The night dragged on. He slept in fits and starts, waking with a jolt, tossing and turning, unable to find comfort. His body was tense, his mind trapped in a loop of the memory.

  By the time the pale light of dawn crept through the window, Haru was still awake. He stared at the ceiling, his face drawn and pale from exhaustion.

  He dragged himself out of bed. His body felt like lead. He looked into the small mirror on the wall. Dark circles bruised the skin under his eyes. He touched his shoulder gingerly; the wound still ached, but the bleeding had stopped.

  He dressed slowly, careful to conceal the injury, and left the room. The house was silent. No sound, no movement. He slipped out the door and headed toward the usual meeting spot.

  When he arrived at the small clearing beneath the trees, Saki was already there, idly spinning her staff as she waited.

  "Morning, Saki," Haru said, forcing a cheerful tone.

  Saki turned to him. "Hey. Ready to train?"

  Haru nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Let's get to it."

  They headed to the training grounds and began their routine, but Haru was off. He was slow, distracted.

  His mind wasn't here; it was back with the monsters. Their movements, their forms, their fighting style. He closed his eyes for a second, recalling the three fighters he had faced in the Colosseum.

  Their movements are exactly the same. Even their shapes.

  Distracted by the thought and the sharp pain in his shoulder, he stumbled and hit the dirt. He scrambled back up immediately.

  Saki noticed the awkward movement, specifically how he favored his shoulder. She stopped and walked toward him, her brow furrowed. "Um... Haru? Is something wrong?"

  Haru paused, scratching his head with a grin. "I'm totally fine. Don't worry about me."

  The fake smile didn't fool her. "You're a terrible liar," she said. "Something's eating at you. Spill it."

  Haru took a step back. "I was just thinking about... the next tournament at the Colosseum."

  Saki didn't buy it. Without warning, she reached out and squeezed his shoulder. Haru yelped in pain and recoiled. "Hey, hey, hey! What's wrong with you, Saki?"

  "What's wrong with me?" Saki snapped, her voice laced with concern. "Let me see your shoulder. I know your moves, Haru. Step for step. You aren't yourself today. What happened? Don't hide things from me."

  Haru hesitated, then sighed and revealed the injury.

  Saki gasped. "Who attacked you? That isn't a normal wound."

  Haru sat down slowly, his knees aching from fatigue. Saki sat beside him, her eyes scanning his face. "Now tell me. What happened?"

  Haru took a deep breath. He recounted the events of the previous night. Waking up. Remembering the gloves. Going to the training ground. The monsters appearing. How his strikes did nothing. How they cornered him. And finally, how Raiden appeared and ended it with one blow.

  Saki listened in silence, her expression shifting from worry to shock. When he finished, she stayed quiet for a moment before speaking in a hushed tone. "Monsters... that don't die from normal attacks?"

  Haru nodded. "Yeah. I stabbed them over and over. Nothing happened. They didn't bleed, they didn't stop."

  Saki looked at the ground, her knuckles white as she gripped her staff. She looked up at him, her gaze hardening. "You are a complete idiot. Who goes out alone in the middle of the night?"

  "Saki, I—"

  "No." She cut him off, her finger leveled at his face. "You could have died! If that old man hadn't shown up, you'd be dead right now!"

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  Haru lowered his gaze. "I know..."

  Saki fell silent. She let out a loud sigh and punched his uninjured shoulder lightly. "Stupid."

  A moment later, her voice softened. "At least... you're okay now. That's what matters."

  Haru looked at her and offered a weak smile. "Thanks, Saki."

  She blushed slightly and turned her head away. "Don't thank me. Just... don't do anything stupid again."

  They decided to skip the rest of the training and walk through the city to help Haru clear his head.

  They strolled through the streets. The morning was quiet. Vendors were just beginning to open their stalls, and the scent of fresh bread filled the air.

  Saki glanced at Haru from time to time, worry still lingering in her eyes, but she said nothing. They walked in silence for several minutes until Saki stopped abruptly.

  Haru looked at her. "What?"

  "Shouldn't we tell the Knights?" she asked seriously.

  Haru blinked. "The Knights?"

  Saki nodded. "Monsters in the city at night... I've never heard of anything like that before. Even if that old man killed them, more might come."

  Haru thought for a moment. She was right. This wasn't normal. He nodded. "Alright. Let's go."

  They arrived at the Knights' headquarters in the city center, a large stone building with imposing pillars at the entrance. Guards stood at the door.

  Haru and Saki entered. The knights inside turned toward them, some eyes widening in recognition.

  "Haru!" one called out enthusiastically. "The Colosseum Champion!"

  Another knight approached with a broad grin. "What brings you here? Looking to join the ranks?"

  Several knights chuckled.

  Haru gave a tired smile. "No, I have something to report."

  The laughter died down. The knights looked at him with interest.

  "Last night," Haru began, "I was attacked by monsters near the Colosseum. Three of them. Tall, hunched, sharp claws, completely empty eyes."

  The knights were silent for a moment. Then two of them exchanged a glance.

  The first, a man in his thirties with a short beard, scratched his head. "Excuse me, but are you sure?"

  Haru looked at him earnestly. "Yes. I'm absolutely sure."

  "Honestly," the knight said, "we received a few reports from three fighters from the Colosseum. We searched everywhere, but we found nothing."

  "He paused, then added, "There are no missing persons cases among the city's residents. No reports of any local citizen dying or vanishing."

  The second knight, a younger man with brown hair, smiled and joked, "Even if the city was full of monsters, we're sure you'd handle them easily. You're undefeated, after all."

  A few other knights chuckled lightly.

  Haru didn't laugh. Something stirred in his chest. A feeling he couldn't quite describe. Not anger, not sadness. Something else. Something heavy.

  Undefeated.

  The word echoed in his head. Yet he had nearly died last night. If Raiden hadn't appeared, he would be a corpse right now.

  "Right," Haru said quietly. "Thank you."

  He turned and walked toward the door. Saki followed him in silence.

  Outside, the sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon. Saki looked at him. "Haru..."

  He shook his head. "I'm fine."

  She wasn't convinced, but she didn't push.

  They walked through the streets as the sun began to set. People were heading home, and the noise of the city was fading.

  They were passing a small fountain in a public square when they heard a voice. A young man was speaking to a middle-aged man.

  "Excuse me, have you seen a girl with golden hair wearing a kimono?"

  The older man stopped, thinking for a moment. "Yes... that girl saved me. Two days ago, I was walking in the city at night, and monsters attacked me. She saved me and then vanished."

  Haru froze. He turned toward the man and the stranger, then approached them. Saki followed close behind.

  "Excuse me," Haru said. "Could you describe the monsters?"

  The older man turned to Haru. His eyes went wide, and his jaw dropped slightly. "You... You're Haru! The Colosseum Champion!"

  The man stammered, his face flushing with excitement. "I... I watched you in the last tournament! You were amazing!"

  Haru smiled wearily. "Thank you. But please, the monsters... what did they look like?"

  The man struggled to regain his composure. "Oh, yes... the monsters." He thought for a second. "They were tall, hunched, with very long limbs. Their eyes... their eyes were completely empty. Black. Nothing in them. One carried a sword, the other an axe."

  Haru's heart clenched. The same monsters.

  The man added, "They didn't bleed. I hit them, but nothing happened. Then that girl appeared and killed them easily. I couldn't understand how she did it."

  The young stranger, Hikari, nodded. "Thank you."

  He said it in a calm but firm voice, then turned and walked away.

  Haru watched him go. Hikari walked slowly, hands in his pockets, head slightly bowed.

  "Her disappearance wasn't by choice," Hikari thought. "Something happened to her. Maybe it's related to what Raiden said."

  He disappeared into the crowd.

  Haru remained standing there, staring at the spot where the young man had vanished. His mind was racing.

  Saki stepped closer. "Haru?"

  He looked at her. "The monsters... the same type that attacked me attacked that man two days ago. axe and sword, different weapons from the ones I fought, but the physical description matches."

  Saki frowned. "So... something is happening in this city."

  They stood in silence for a moment. Then Haru spoke quietly. "It's late, Saki. Let's go home and rest. We'll finish talking tomorrow at training."

  Saki nodded in agreement. They parted ways at the intersection, each carrying the weight of what they had heard.

  The night passed slowly. When the sun rose the next day, Haru was the first to arrive at the training ground under the trees. The air was crisp and cool, a stark contrast to the gloom of the previous night.

  Minutes later, Saki arrived. She looked more serious than usual. They didn't waste time talking; they began their warm-up exercises in silence, as if both were waiting for the other to bring up yesterday's discovery.

  But before they could start the actual training, they heard footsteps approaching. They turned toward the sound.

  Valdor was walking toward them. His black cloak fluttered behind him, but what caught their attention immediately was the broad grin on his face. A bright, beaming smile.

  Valdor stopped in front of them and threw his hands up in an energetic greeting. "Good morning, Haru! Saki!"

  "Morning, Valdor," Haru replied.

  "I have fantastic news!" Valdor announced. He paused for dramatic effect. "We've decided to move up the date of the next tournament!"

  Haru blinked. "Move it up?"

  "Yes!" Valdor's eyes sparkled. "Instead of waiting a whole week, we've decided to hold the tournament in just two days!"

  Saki exchanged a quick glance with Haru. Something felt off. Why the sudden rush?

  Valdor noticed their looks and added quickly, "It's for a special occasion! A significant event in the city. We want to celebrate with an exceptional tournament!"

  He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper of excitement. "And because of that, the prizes this time will be... very generous."

  Valdor raised a finger in the air. "The winner will receive fifty thousand gold pieces!"

  Haru's eyes widened. "Fifty thousand?!"

  "Yes!" Valdor said proudly. "But that's not all." His smile widened. "Even if a fighter doesn't win, just participating will grant you one thousand gold pieces!"

  Even Saki couldn't hide her astonishment. "A thousand... just for entering?"

  "Exactly!" Valdor said, his hands moving animatedly. "We want to see the strongest fighters! That's why we're encouraging everyone to participate."

  Haru looked at Saki, then back to Valdor. "Just two days?"

  "Yes, two days!" Valdor confirmed. "So get ready!"

  He turned to leave but stopped and looked back. "Oh, and Haru... I hope to see you in the ring again. The crowd loves you."

  Haru smiled weakly. "I'll think about it."

  Valdor flashed another wide grin, then turned and walked away until he disappeared between the buildings.

  Haru and Saki stood watching him go until he was gone. The silence between them was heavy, but it didn't last long.

  Saki let out a long breath and crossed her arms. "Fifty thousand? And a thousand just for signing your name?" She shook her head sarcastically, tapping the ground with the tip of her staff. "Is he really that desperate? I don't think he makes enough money to cover those payouts."

  Haru didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on his fist, which he clenched so hard his veins bulged. The image of the silver flash from the night before wouldn't leave his mind.

  "Haru..." Saki said, watching him out of the corner of her eye. "Don't even think about it. You're injured."

  "I'm participating."

  He took a step forward, looking at something she couldn't see. "I'm the Colosseum Champion, right? But last night... I felt like a child holding a matchstick in front of a storm."

  He raised his head and looked toward the distant Colosseum. "I'm going to fight with everything I have."

  Saki stared at him for a moment. She knew that look well. There was no point arguing when Haru decided something on instinct.

  She sighed deeply and face-palmed. "Ugh... you're a disaster on two legs. Not that anyone can stop you. Your brain is nothing but spears and fighting. But fair warning—if I see you getting wrecked, I'm jumping into the ring, and I don't care about the rules."

  Haru smiled, a small, genuine smile this time. "So? You're going to watch the disaster?"

  Saki punched him lightly on his good shoulder. "Like it or not... I'll be there to carry your corpse."

  She turned and started walking. "Come on, let's finish training. You're going to need it more than ever."

  Haru followed her, his blood boiling in his veins once more. The fear of the monsters lingered, and his shoulder still throbbed with pain, but nothing would stop him from stepping into the ring again.

  (To be continued)