At that very moment, something cut through the air.
Not a sound. Not a movement.
A flash.
Too late to react.
Kael instinctively raised his sword, but a fraction of a second was not enough. Azazel's black scythe flashed through the air like a shadow. There was a dry, metallic crack.
The blade broke.
The upper part of the sword flew off, spinning in the air, then clattered onto the stone floor of the arena.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then a thin line appeared on Kael's stomach.
Blood.
Noah stared motionless, his eyes wide with horror.
— Kael...
The cut exploded with red.
Kael staggered, his fingers clenching the remnants of the hilt, but his legs refused to obey him. He fell heavily to his knees, then immediately to his side. The stone beneath him was instantly soaked with blood.
The stands erupted in screams.
Azazel was already standing a few meters away.
Calm.
He slowly turned the scythe in his hand, as if he had just made a normal training cut.
— You were lucky. — he said coldly. — If you hadn't instinctively stepped back... I would have cut you in half.
Noah wasn't listening.
He rushed towards Kael.
— Kael! Can you hear me? Kael!
Kael coughed, blood appearing on his lips. He was breathing heavily, unevenly, but he was still conscious.
— Tch... calm down... it's not over yet...
— It's not over yet! — Noah almost shouted. —Your blade...!
Kael looked at the broken sword lying a few meters away.
There was no panic in his eyes.
There was rage.
Azazel moved slowly toward them.
— Emotions, fear, desperation... — he said. — People always react the same way when they see their own blood.
Noah slowly stood up.
The fire around him burned more fiercely.
— Shut up...
Azazel tilted his head slightly.
— Hmm.
— Shut up.. — Noah repeated, his voice low, trembling with anger. —This is not your victory.
The aura of fire exploded.
The stone beneath Noah's feet began to crack.
— I won't let you touch him.
Azazel smiled broadly.
— That's what I've been waiting for.
And he disappeared again.
Noah only had time to widen his eyes.
The blow came from the side.
An explosion.
Flames and black energy collided with a bang that shook the arena. Noah slid across the stone, but this time he didn't fall.
He blocked.
— Oh ho... — Azazel muttered, appearing in front of him. — You're adapting.
Noah was panting, fire swirling around his arms.
— I'm a quick learner.
— We'll see if you learn fast enough.
The series of blows was so violent that to the spectators it became nothing more than a chaotic dance of sparks. The scythe cut through the air, fire exploding with every clash.
Kael, lying in a pool of blood, watched through blurred vision.
He clenched his teeth.
— Noah... don't let... that monster...
In the arena, Noah was thrown back by another blow. He rolled over, stopping just in front of Kael.
Azazel stopped.
He raised his scythe.
— Playtime's over.
Noah slowly got to his feet.
Sparks began to appear around him again.
— I'm just getting started...
Azazel smiled.
— Excellent.
Their auras exploded simultaneously.