Every cut bled steam. Every step Ben took drove Kharvek closer to the edge.
The crowd was dead silent now. Kharvek's chest heaved. His armor was failing. Cracks splintered down his arms, across his ribs, through the crest burned into his throat.
Ben circled him slowly, flicking blood off his blades. "This is your best?" he asked coldly. "No other move?"
"You insect," Kharvek growled, stumbling. "I was holding back…"
Ben's gaze narrowed. "Then stop."
Kharvek roared, not with rage, but desperation. He slammed his fists together. The Molten Seal on his back erupted, breaking apart like shattering chains. The ground beneath him glowed, then split open.
From the cracks, a glowing, liquid heart surged upward, pulsing with unnatural heat and molten mana.
Ben's eyes narrowed. "That's, "
"You leave me no choice." Kharvek grinned, blood trickling from his lips. He reached out and shoved it into his chest.
The arena exploded in light.
