The battle that had started in the early evening had stretched far into the night. By now, it was close to 7 PM, but the dense forest surrounding the arena made it feel much later. Darkness cloaked the area, shrouding everything in shadows as if it were midnight.
Esdeath stood victorious, but her victory ca at a steep cost. Her mana was completely drained, and her body had been pushed far beyond its limits. The final kick she delivered with her **Lightning Charge** had created a powerful shockwave, but it left her right leg in ruins. Her shoe had exploded from the force, leaving her barefoot, and the bones in her leg were shattered, unable to support her weight. The muscles felt as if they were tearing apart with every slight movent.
Her outfit, once functional and sleek, was now in tatters. Her mini shorts were torn, exposing raw cuts on her thighs, and her sports bra barely hung on, frayed from the intense battle. Bruises and scratches covered her exposed skin, painting a grim picture of what she had endured.
As she finally took a mont to breathe, relief washed over her—but only for an instant. Her body, unable to bear the strain, gave out. She collapsed onto the cold ground, unable to stand. Pain surged through her mangled leg, and despite her iron will, she couldn't move it. She could only crawl.
"Predictor…" she murmured, her voice strained. Her hands clawed at the damp earth as she dragged herself forward, ignoring the agony that wracked her body. She couldn't see anything. Both of her eyes were gone, lost in the heat of the battle, leaving her in complete darkness. The forest, the arena, everything had disappeared from her world. All she had now was touch and sound to guide her.
Still, she pressed on, crawling in random directions, desperately feeling the ground in search of Maruti.
"Predictor?" she yelled hoarsely, her voice echoing in the empty arena. "Predictor, have your dreams ended yet? Answer !" Her tone was a mix of anger and desperation. She wanted to scream in pain, but the urgency of finding Maruti forced her to hold it in.
The silence stretched, broken only by her labored breathing. Her body throbbed with pain, her movents slow and uneven. Every inch forward felt like a mile.
And then, just as her hope began to waver, sothing cold touched her hand—a single droplet of water.
"Water?" she whispered, confused. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Before she could react, more droplets began to fall. Within monts, the heavens opened, and rain poured down in a torrential shower. The cold water drenched her battered body, washing away so of the blood and gri. It was as if the earth itself was showing rcy, offering her a brief respite.
Unbeknownst to her, the rain wasn't just falling on her—it was also soaking Maruti's unconscious form. The cold droplets splashed against her skin, stirring her awake. A faint groan escaped Maruti's lips as her eyes fluttered open, the rain pulling her back to consciousness.
"The world's greatest hitman is eeeeeee!" Maruti scread at the top of her lungs as she jumped to her feet, her voice echoing through the arena like a war cry.
For a brief mont, she stood there, her fists clenched triumphantly. But as her eyes adjusted to her surroundings, the excitent drained from her face. Reality hit her like a brick.
The arena was utter chaos. On the audience's side, soldiers clashed against one another, the tallic clang of weapons and the grunts of combat filling the air. Fists flew, swords clashed, and the entire scene looked like soone had thrown a wild party with way too many uninvited guests.
Above them, atop the spectator stands, Maurya was surrounded by hundreds of soldiers. Maruti's mories ca flooding back like a poorly edited flashback montage. She gasped and imdiately looked down in front of her.
Ujjain's lifeless body lay sprawled on the ground, motionless and battered. A few ters away from him was Esdeath, crawling on the ground like an injured cat. Her clothes were in shreds, her right leg looked like it had been through a at grinder, and her overall state was… well, a complete disaster.
"Whoa… Whoa… Whoa!" Maruti shouted, her hands flailing dramatically. "Fable! You are completely fucked up!
"Finally awake, huh?" Esdeath said, her voice hoarse but steady. "Take on your back, and let's get out of here before things go from bad to worse."
Maruti didn't reply. She didn't need to. She already knew what she had to do. Without wasting a mont, she crouched down and hoisted Esdeath onto her back.
"Geez, Fable, you're as light as feather, Do you even eat anything?," Maruti muttered as she adjusted her grip, though the faint smirk on her lips betrayed her teasing tone.
"Shut up and run," Esdeath growled, though there was a hint of amusent in her tired voice.
Maruti wasted no ti. With Esdeath clinging to her back, she bolted toward the exit, weaving through the debris and chaos of the arena. Her heart pounded in her chest, but adrenaline pushed her forward. The rain pouring down made the ground slippery, but she didn't slow down.
Suddenly, an overwhelming pressure slamd down on her like a mountain. Maruti gasped as her knees buckled under the weight, and she collapsed to the ground. Esdeath groaned in pain as they fell, but before Maruti could even think about what was happening, a deafening shockwave ripped through the arena.
*BOOM!*
The upper section of the arena split cleanly in two as if a giant sword had sliced through it like butter. Dust and debris rained down around them, and Maruti instinctively shielded Esdeath with her body. Her breath hitched as she turned her head to see what had caused the destruction.
Maruti's instincts scread at her to run, but her body trembled, frozen in place. There was no fear in her heart, yet her muscles refused to obey her.
When she finally looked up, her eyes widened. A blazing red aura erupted from Maurya's body, swirling around him like a raging inferno. The sheer intensity of it made the air crackle and shimr, and the shockwave had been just the *initial release* of his energy. His aura rose majestically, reaching over forty ters into the stormy sky, as though challenging the heavens themselves.
Maurya stood in the center of the chaos, his eyes fixed on the stormy clouds above. His voice echoed across the arena, deep and resonant, as though the rain itself was listening to his words.
"Years ago, it was a day just like this," he said, his tone heavy with nostalgia. "The rain poured down, and I was nothing more than a fierce beast—unrestrained, untad."
"But then my brother died," Maurya continued, his voice tinged with regret. "I was forced to take up the mantle of leadership. I beca a calculating man, a leader burdened with responsibility. I married, had children, and thought my ti as a warrior was over."
Maurya tilted his head slightly, his eyes gleaming with renewed determination. "But now… now I think the ti has co to reclaim what I once was."
The sheer force of his voice shook the arena, and Maruti's heart skipped a beat. She gasped, her voice trembling. "What… what is this level of power? Is this what it ans to be an A-rank?"
Esdeath let out a dry chuckle from behind her, though her voice was sharp with urgency. "Idiot. This isn't even ten percent of his true aura. If he unleashed it all, we wouldn't even be alive to see it."
Maruti's eyes widened in disbelief. "Not even ten percent?!"
Esdeath's tone grew harsh. "This isn't the ti to gawk! Before the battle starts, you need to get out of here. Run as fast as you can!"
Snapping out of her stupor, Maruti nodded. Her legs shook as she stood up, but she tightened her grip on Esdeath and began running again, faster than ever before.
The pressure from Maurya's aura made every step feel like she was wading through a storm, but Maruti pushed forward, her determination unwavering. She didn't dare look back, even as the sounds of crackling energy was continuously echoing in her ears.
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