The arena hadn't fully recovered from Gigantose's defeat.
Cracks still webbed the stone floor. Burn marks from lightning crawled along the walls like scars that refused to fade. The air itself felt heavier—charged with expectation and something closer to fear.
High above, Elder Harns sat calmly, fingers folded, expression professional.
Behind him, attendants rushed in with reports.
"Fifty-four," one whispered, barely containing disbelief. "Giant ships," another added. "Fully intact."
The Zaiton Empire had just received a fleet that could change the balance of seas forever—something no empire of humanity had ever possessed.
And then—
A voice echoed from the medical wing.
"ELDER HAAARNS!"
Gigantose burst into tears.
The massive giant clung to the edge of the wall, face red, snot running freely as he bawled with zero dignity. "PLEASE! PLEASE ADD ME JUST FIVE SHIPS! FIVE! HALF MY ARMY CAN'T SWIM BACK! THEY'LL DIE, HAAARNS! DO YOU WANT THAT ON YOUR CONSCIENCE?!"
The arena went silent.
Then laughter exploded.
Dragons snorted. Orcs slapped their thighs. Even a few elves failed to hide smirks.
Elder Harns didn't even look at him. "Bet lost," he said calmly. "Next challenger."
Gigantose collapsed dramatically. "CRUEL OLD MAN—"
The gates thundered open.
The ground shook as Lord Orcas stepped forward.
He was taller than most orcs, built like a walking fortress. Pale red skin, stretched over cords of muscle. Two massive lower tusks curved upward past his cheeks, etched with tribal carvings. His eyes burned with joy—not rage.
Joy.
This was a man who loved battle.
Across his back rested a gigantic machete, dark and jagged, its surface matte and unassuming. But the moment it scraped against stone, a pressure rippled outward—mental, invasive, suffocating.
Whispers spread instantly.
"A mind weapon…"
"That thing breaks warriors."
"Some surrender before the first blow."
Orcas grinned wide, showing tusks. "Kaizen of Humanity," he said, voice deep and amused. "From the Grom'Thar Continent, land of High Orcs. I hear you break giants."
Kaizen stood across from him, freshly rested. Four hours of meditation. Mana circulation stabilized. He swallowed the healing pill, warmth spreading through his limbs as his wounds sealed and muscles tightened.
"Only the loud ones," Kaizen replied.
Orcas laughed loudly. "GOOD! I HATE QUIET DEATHS!"
The moment the match began, Orcas moved.
Not fast.
Influence activated.
Kaizen thrust Voultron——and the spear missed.
Not barely. Completely.
It struck the stone beside Orcas' neck, as if reality itself had nudged the attack aside.
Kaizen's eyes narrowed.
"So that's it," he muttered.
Orcas swung.
The machete didn't strike the flesh—it strikes the memory.
Kaizen's vision blurred. For half a heartbeat, he smelled blood. Heard screams. Not his.
Someone else's.
Kaizen gritted his teeth and slammed the butt of Voultron into the ground, Zero Aura Domain flaring violently. Crimson dust swallowed the intrusive thoughts, converting pain into energy.
"You like that?" Orcas laughed, slamming his blade again. "That's the memory of my first war!"
Kaizen dashed in, activating Eighth Form: Elongate.
The spear shot forward, its length snapping out like a thunderbolt—with a terrifying speed. The tip of the spear pierced straight through Orcas' shoulder , he only survived because he used his influence skill . otherwise kaizen had aimed for his neck. and believe me it had never missed a kill.
thick red Blood sprayed from his shoulder.
Orcas roared—. and said, wow you almost got me there Young emperor but not so fast.
"YES! THAT'S IT!"
He forced himself forward and headbutted Kaizen square in the face.
And with an earth shattering sound,
The arena shook.
The fight didn't slow at any point.
.But instead got more furious .
Orcas' Influence twisted attacks mid-flight. Fire grazed stone. Thrusts curved off course. But Kaizen adapted—shorter movements, predictive angles, Elongate strikes that were too fast to redirect.
Voultron absorbed shock and Released force. Impact stacked lethality.
Still, the machete landed and causing damage.
Each hit carried mental weight—memories of slaughter, defeat, despair. Kaizen bled from the nose, vision shaking. Orcas' chest was carved with spear wounds, blood running freely down his abdomen.
Minutes passed.
until Mana thinned.
Breathing grew heavy.
Finally—both stopped.
Orcas rested his machete on his shoulder, chest heaving."You've earned it," he said, grinning. The "Emperor of Mankind."
The crowd leaned in.
"In my tribe," Orcas continued, "we settle true respect with brawling. No blocking. No mana. Just bodies."
Kaizen wiped blood from his mouth—and laughed.
"Yeah," he said. "Let's do it."
The arena erupted.
They stepped close and then threw their weapons away respectfully, kaizen thrust Voultron in the ground.
And then—
BOOM.
Punch met jaw.Elbow met ribs.Headbutt met forehead.
They moved too fast.
Dust exploded upward like smoke. Wind roared outward, blasting weaker beasts from the front rows. Stone cracked under footwork alone.
Seven minutes of punching each other in the face with out blocking.
Seven brutal minutes.
Fatigue crept in.
Orcas slowed first.
Kaizen didn't.
He could go Four days fighting puppets with just his physical strength.
His body had long adapted to such an easy task..
With an earth-shattering blow, Kaizen's fist slammed into Orcas' face.
The orc staggered—then fell.
Silence.
Then—
"KAIZENNNNN WIIINNNSSSS!"
The arena went insane.
Elder Harns smiled faintly as reports flowed in: three thousand tons of precious herbs. two hundred high-quality forged weapons, twenty giant ships.Alliance secured.
When Orcas woke, he laughed and pulled Kaizen into a crushing hug.
"You're my big brother now!"
Kaizen smiled—and shook his head."No. You be mine."
He handed over a ring.
"Endless Storage Ring. Feed it mana. Nothing spoils."
Orcas' swollen face met kaizens face using one eye, the other one was closed due to the swollen face. kaizens both eyes were closed, purple eyes but he used his ki sensing ability to know where orcas was standing.
Pride met respect.
And kaizen gained another brother.