The dagger was fine—but I preferred a sword, large and broad.

So my first target was the humanoid bird.

I wanted something bigger than that silver dagger in my hand.

I ignored the heavy presence seeping from the open gate across the arena. Whatever was inside, it wasn’t coming out yet.

Flipping the dagger in my grip, I turned toward the bird.

[It looks like his first opponent will be Pepper!]

The massive humanoid bird flapped violently on the ground.

Even with its claw impaled, it was enormous, and its pain-filled wingbeats were still threatening.

[Can a rookie Badger of less than six months face Pepper with just a dagger?]

Honestly, I’m more comfortable with a sword than with a gun.

The drugs still lingered faintly in my system, but tension sharpened my senses.

With one corner of my mouth raised, I ran straight toward Pepper.

[The rookie steps on Pepper’s thigh and climbs up!]

Going for the head!

Thud.

It went in cleanly.

A familiar sensation. I knew that if I kept the motion flowing, the creature’s death would follow.

Riding that flow, I swung the blade.

Bone and muscle cracked beneath the impact.

[Ahh! Pepper’s neck has been severed!]

As I jumped down, gripping its face with my left hand, the announcer screamed,

and the cheers from the stands stabbed at my ears.

[That makes two down! And he’s holding a head like some kind of grotesque war trophy!]

Boos and cheers rang together through the arena.

I glanced at the severed head in my hand—its lifeless eyes, the blood pouring from the cut surface. I looked like a general holding the head of a conquered foe.

Just like back then.

I let out a small laugh and raised the head high—

then hurled it at the fake Taleb approaching me.

Smack!

The impostor’s head half-collapsed.

[Oh my!]

“Tasteless...”

The announcer sighed in mock despair, while Ricardo, calm behind the fence, remarked,

“Did you hate the sight that much?”

“It was unpleasant.”

I answered without looking back.

I ignored the faint laughter in his voice and focused on the Creature writhing, regenerating before me. A stream of silver fluid flowed toward me—refusing to mix with anything, like mercury spilled on the floor.

When I dropped the dagger into the silver puddle at my feet, it dissolved instantly.

[Ah, now Fuu is forming Pepper’s face!]

Fuu had grown more grotesque.

[The rookie Badger’s body... with Pepper’s face!]

“Gross.”

I muttered flatly and extended my hand.

The sword Ricardo had made for me back in the waiting area was now growing again from the silver pool. Slower this time, but steadily taking shape—

down to the smooth handle.

As soon as I gripped the completed sword, Fuu lunged.

Its arm—hook-shaped, like Captain Hook’s—swung back.

I drew my blade as well.

“Thank you,” I said, feeling my senior’s gaze pierce me from afar.

“This one’s better than the last.”

[Fuu raises its arm!]

The Creature halted right before me.

I’d finish this in one strike.

As it tried to cut my neck the same way I’d severed Pepper’s, I swung.

Vwoom—

The sword slash sliced through Fuu, the blow crashing against the far wall and scattering in fragments.

Boom!

Ah.

So physical force does work, if you put enough strength behind it.

I could feel a life flicker out.

I looked down blankly at the Creature spilling across the floor.

A heavy, brute-force strike had been the right answer.

Refined swordsmanship didn’t suit this thing—

try something delicate, and it would just imitate me.

It reminded me of the fight against a being like Rei.

Lost in thought for a moment, I realized how strangely quiet it had become.

What the...?

The instant I looked up, a spotlight hit me.

[Fuu down!]

A roar of cheers exploded like fireworks.

I squinted at the announcer standing on his hoverboard above.

[Did you see that, everyone? Fuu dies like nothing! What a devastating loss for our side!]

Was he so smug because a Badger couldn’t lay a hand on civilians?

Or because he was certain the fourth Creature would finish the job?

I looked down again as the announcer’s voice climbed higher with the crowd’s excitement, and I lifted the tip of my sword from the floor.

From the dark tunnel opposite, that heavy presence grew stronger.

These show-business types would have saved their best Creature for last.

As I stepped toward the entrance—where the air itself seemed to draw inward—

a voice called from behind me.

“Hilde.”

I turned my head slightly.

“Who taught you to use a sword?”

There was no humor on Ricardo’s face.

I knew well enough—sword users were rare in this world. And Yun wasn’t the kind of person who’d teach swordsmanship.

No wonder he was ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) surprised—

a man who once swung a kitchen knife was suddenly throwing out cuts like this.

But now wasn’t the time to explain.

Besides, I couldn’t have answered even if I wanted to.

“I don’t remember.”

I smiled faintly, bitterly.

“I’ll tell you when I do.”

Ricardo stared at me, unreadable again.

Then gave a short nod.

Woooooo...

A low, sorrowful wail echoed from beyond the tunnel—like someone covering their face and sobbing.

Woooooo...

The lament grew louder and sharper.

I waited for it to emerge.

The cheers and boos that had filled the colosseum went silent again. Even the announcer said nothing. Maybe he was saving his commentary for when it appeared—or maybe that mournful cry had stunned him into silence.

The weeping turned into a shrill, knife-edged whimper.

Then it crawled into view.

Huge hands—

bony, desiccated—dragged across the ground as it pulled itself out.

[No matter how many times I see it, it chills me to the core.]

The announcer’s voice dropped above me.

[The Hollow Man—Arthur!]

It raised its upper body.

From the chest up, it looked vaguely human—except for the fingernail-shaped bones jutting from its sides like ribs.

Arthur looked like a plague-ridden corpse—or a newborn thing that had just clawed its way into the world.

But it had no face.

No—its head was human-shaped, but a round hole gaped where the face should have been.

Its lower body was a twisted knot of tangled organs.

How did the mafia even capture something like this?

I lowered my stance, readying my sword—

right before it tilted its head back and screamed through that hole.

Ah, ah, ah, ah, aagh!

A shockwave.

It swept across the arena.

My sharpened senses caught the oncoming pulse precisely.

Adrenaline surged, slowing the world around me.

The wave shattered the tiles as it came, sharp and deadly as a sword slash.

Its range wasn’t that wide.

A roll to the side could’ve dodged it.

If no one were behind me, I would’ve.

I didn’t want to face that thing head-on—

but I had no choice.

[Hildebert Taleb swings his sword!]

If I didn’t block it, my seniors would die.

I swung my right arm; the moment my sword stroke met the air, I knew it lacked power.

Boom!

My strike met the wave—and broke apart.

My skill had dulled, and the sword was too light.

[Failed to cancel!]

I raised the blade flat, bracing.

[Arthur’s scream flies forward!]

The shockwave struck me.

Boom!

“Keugh.”

A mouthful of blood burst out.

I staggered, leaning on my sword like a cane.

Clang. The tip dug into the ground, and time sped up again.

Heavy pain spread through my chest.

Sounds rushed back into my ears—cheers, gasps, the announcer’s voice.

[My word! He took Arthur’s scream head-on!]

He shouted triumphantly.

[No one’s ever been foolish enough to try that—or survived it afterward!]

Fair.

Anyone skilled enough would’ve dodged.

It wasn’t an unavoidable attack—most would’ve deflected or sidestepped it.

But sometimes, you can’t.

I drew in a ragged breath that smelled of iron and forced a small smile.

Arthur lifted its bone-blade arm like a saw.

“So that’s your sword?”

More like a cleaver than a blade, really.

“Nice to meet you. It’s been a while since I fought someone armed.”

Not that this was an opponent I could afford to be casual with.

Bang!

The claw-shaped blade struck the floor.

I was a moment too slow—the pain in my chest delayed me—and my left arm was slashed open.

[Arthur swings the bone blade!]

Thud! Thud! Boom!

Ignoring the stabbing pain, I rolled, dodging as the bone weapon tore through the floor, the arena walls, the corpses of the other Creatures.

Both its strength and speed were formidable. Tiles shattered, walls crumbled, and the ruined remains of Nemalda and Pepper painted the ground.

Rolling across the filthy floor, I searched for an opening to counter.

Its speed was insane.

Hard to believe that huge body could move like that.

It crawled on its hands alone—no legs—and still outpaced most four-legged beasts.

If this had been a while ago, that blade would’ve sliced me in half without resistance.

But after sparring with Yehyeon, I’d trained to focus on speed.

Thanks to that, I found my chance to strike back without further injury.

Circling behind Arthur, I lifted my sword in a straight line.

Boom!

I hadn’t forgotten this sword form after all.

The heavy blow pierced the arena floor, sending a shockwave through it that traveled straight into Arthur.

The Creature screamed, toppling forward.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Behind the barrier, Ricardo muttered, dumbfounded, “What the hell...”

But I didn’t have time to react.

It wasn’t dead yet.

I yanked my sword free and stepped onto its lower body.

[How rude!]

Let’s end this.

[Looks like he’s going to behead Arthur just like Pepper!]

Standing on its shoulders as it pushed itself upright with both arms,

I raised the blade high again.

Its neck would be harder than the bird’s—better to drive the weapon straight down than try to slice.

Arthur lifted its face-less head toward me on its shoulder.

The moment our gazes met across that hollow, I drove the sword down.

Ah, ah, ah, ah, aagh—

The blade sank into the hole.

I immediately released it.

Something dark red and foul crept up along the metal—poison of some sort.

Its final act, perhaps.

Arthur’s arms went limp.

Standing atop its collapsing upper body, I watched the sword stain crimson-black.

Probably best not to touch that again.

Thud!

Arthur fell with a heavy crash.

I turned my head toward Ricardo.

The green-eyed senior stood with arms crossed, staring at me in disbelief.

Ah...

“Senior,” I said, voice small and apologetic, guilt washing over me.

“I contaminated your weapon. I’m truly sorry.”

It must’ve been expensive.

My polite apology didn’t seem to land.

Ricardo unfolded his arms, expression incredulous.

“That’s what you have to say right now~?”

“Huh? Uh... I thought so...”

If that was the wrong answer, what was the right one?

I could feel my pupils trembling.

I looked at him, thoroughly intimidated, and spoke in a weak voice, forcing down the pain that came crashing back as the adrenaline faded.

“I... I’ll file a damage report and get you a new one...?”

“When we get back, you’re going to plant your head in the floor.”

[Match over!]

The announcer’s booming voice drowned out Ricardo’s terrifying tone.

[Unbelievably, the rookie Badger has achieved an overwhelming victory!]

Pop! Fireworks exploded in midair.

I flinched, terrified, while glittering lights burst above my head.

A shower of cheers and jeers.

The announcer’s manic excitement.

Colored confetti cascading over my white hair.

And beside me—my furious senior, and me, glancing nervously at him.

The announcer’s thunderous voice shook the arena.

[Victory goes to Hildebert Taleb!]

And just like that, I won the match.