Greco

The noise in the underground arena swelled, the crowd's shouts merging into a chaotic symphony of bloodlust. The air was thick with the metallic tang of sweat and blood, and the dim, flickering lights made every shadow seem alive. All eyes were on the ring where Nacthan and I faced off, their anticipation feeding the frenzy.

I kept my gaze locked on him, my jaw clenched tightly as he smirked at me from across the ring. His arrogance was infuriating, but I refused to let it rattle me.

He doesn't understand. He doesn't know what he's walked into.

Even if I wanted to, I couldn't save him now.

"You've made a mistake, Nacthan," I said, my voice low and devoid of emotion. "This isn't a world you should've stepped into."

His smirk deepened, his confidence irritatingly unshaken. "I knew exactly what I was getting into, Greco," he shot back, his tone laced with smugness.

I shook my head, letting out a slow, measured breath. "No matter how prepared you think you are, it won't be enough. I'm not just anyone in this world. You can't win against me. You know how this ends."

"Don't be so sure of yourself," Nacthan spat, his tone sharper now. His grin faltered slightly, but the determination in his eyes blazed.

Before I could say anything more, he moved. Quick and precise, his leg shot toward me in a high kick aimed at my chest.

I caught it with ease, gripping his ankle tightly before twisting it with calculated force. His body followed the motion, and he slammed into the ground with a heavy thud.

A pained grunt escaped his lips, and his face contorted in agony as he tried to push himself up.

The crowd roared in approval, their chants of "Greco! Greco! Greco!" pounding in my ears.

I didn't acknowledge them. Their cheers meant nothing to me.

He rose again, slower this time, but his eyes still burned with resolve. He rushed at me with a series of rapid punches, each aimed with precision. I dodged, stepping back with each strike, refusing to counter.

I didn't want to hurt him.

"Stop this, Nacthan," I said, sidestepping another punch. "You're going to get yourself killed."

His only response was a snarl as he lunged forward, his fist connecting with my stomach. The impact made me stagger, and before I could recover, his foot slammed into my chest, forcing me to take several steps back.

The crowd erupted again, their voices like a storm.

My head snapped up, and I locked eyes with Nacthan. He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his face, but his smirk had returned.

I could end this in ten seconds. Less, even.

But I didn't.

He charged again, his punches wild and frantic now. I dodged most of them, but his fist clipped my jaw, splitting my lip. The coppery taste of blood spread across my tongue.

"You think you're untouchable, Greco?" he spat, his voice rising with each word.

I stayed silent, my eyes scanning his movements.

When he grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back, pain shot up my shoulder. I gritted my teeth, letting him drive his knee into my thigh. My leg buckled slightly, but I forced myself to stay upright.

He was good. Strong. Determined. But he was nowhere near ready for this.

Not for me. Not for this world.

When he shoved me to the ground and pinned me, his fists rained down on my face, each hit weaker than the last. I could feel the anger behind every blow, the frustration driving him.

"Die, you f*cking monster!" he screamed, his voice cracking with raw emotion.

My chest tightened at his words, but I didn't fight back.

Is that what he thinks of me? A monster?

I let him continue, my mind racing. The crowd's chants grew louder, and I caught a glimpse of the red flags being raised around the arena.

The flags.

My stomach churned.

When the red flags went up, the fight wasn't just about winning anymore. It was about survival. One of us had to die.

Nacthan was too consumed by his anger to notice, but I saw the faces in the crowd, their bloodthirsty anticipation. They wanted a show, and they wouldn't let us leave until they got it.

"Nacthan," I whispered, barely audible over the din.

He didn't stop.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I prepared to end it.

"I'm sorry," I murmured, more to myself than to him.

Using all my strength, I drove my knee into his stomach, throwing him off me. He landed with a gasp, clutching his side as I stood.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices echoing in my head like a cruel reminder of what I had to do.

I moved toward him, my steps heavy, each one feeling like a betrayal.

Nacthan coughed, blood trickling from his mouth as he pushed himself up again. He refused to stay down, his stubbornness almost admirable.

"Please, Nacthan," I said, my voice cracking. "Stay down."

But he didn't. He came at me again, his movements slower, more desperate. I sidestepped his attack and brought my fist down hard on his shoulder, forcing him to collapse.

He tried to get up, but his body betrayed him. I kicked his legs out from under him, the sickening crack of bone reverberating through the arena.

The crowd screamed, their excitement reaching its peak.

I pinned him to the ground, my fist poised for the final blow.

And then I saw her.

NM.

She stood at the edge of the arena, her hands covering her mouth as tears streamed down her face. Her eyes were wide with horror, her body trembling.

Fuse was beside her, gripping her arm tightly to keep her from running forward.

My breath hitched, my body freezing.

Her face—her eyes—they weren't just filled with shock. They were filled with disgust.

With fear.

Of me.

I dropped my fist, my hand trembling as I stared at her. The room seemed to fade, the noise of the crowd muffled as my focus narrowed to her face.

I've lost her.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision as I turned back to Nacthan.

He was barely conscious, his breaths shallow and uneven.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, lifting my hand one last time.

But before I could strike, a strong grip yanked me backward.

I stumbled, spinning around to face Tac. His face was set in a grim expression, his voice low but urgent.

"Save yourself, Greco. Save him too. Run as fast as you can. We'll handle this," he said, his words cutting through the fog in my mind.

I blinked, looking around. The ring was surrounded. Macro members clashed with the Mera, their bodies colliding in a storm of blood and violence.

"Tac, I—"

"What the f*ck are you waiting for?!" he roared, shoving me hard. "RUN!"

His shout snapped me out of my daze. I turned, catching one last glimpse of NM's tear-streaked face, before bolting toward the edge of the chaos.