The arena grew louder as the twelve volunteers gathered near the ring.
Some of the spectators had already noticed Osric.
Whispers spread quickly.
"It's him again."
"The kid from yesterday."
"The one who beat Branik."
Several fighters standing near the ring glanced toward him as well.
Unlike the night before, Osric was no longer ignored.
Now he was being evaluated.
Measured.
Some of the elite fighters looked interested.
Others looked annoyed.
A few simply smirked.
One man cracked his knuckles slowly.
"Well, looks like the newcomer came back for more."
Osric remained calm.
His gaze stayed on the ring.
The referee stepped forward and raised his voice.
"Same rules as always!"
"Elite fights begin now!"
"You step in — you choose your opponent."
He looked at the volunteers.
Then he pointed.
"You. First."
Osric stared at the finger pointing at him.
He was surprised to go first, but it made sense.
He was the newest fighter in this category.
The moment he entered the ring, Osric looked at his eleven potential opponents more closely.
'I've seen eight of them fight before, so I'll pick one of them.'
'I also want to fight someone I am confident against.'
Osric hadn't become arrogant with his improved skills.
He knew that he was better than a lot of elite fighters.
But he was still confident against most.
'There are five that I am positive I can beat.'
The spectators were starting to get impatient.
"Why is he taking so long to choose?"
"He might be scared."
"Yeah. He's young and new to this category."
One of the older elite fighters looked amused as he rolled his eyes.
'Idiots. Anyone who picks someone without taking their time first, doesn't have a brain.'
'From where that kid is looking, it seems he has already narrowed down the ones he is more confident against.'
'I like him. Maybe I should recruit him into my mercenary band?'
Osric finally made his decision.
He pointed at a man in his late twenties with a buzz cut. He was the same height as Osric but slightly more muscular.
The man looked annoyed.
"You picked me huh?"
"Do I look weaker than these fuckers?"
Osric had seen him fight before.
He had the worst foundation of the elite fighters, but his instincts and natural physical abilities were amazing.
It was also obvious that he was a gangster from the slums by his behaviour and supporters in the arena.
"You got this Lanor!"
"Fuck him up!"
"Kill him."
"Do it for us babe!"
Among his friends were quite a few women. Lanor was rough looking but also somewhat handsome.
"Haha. Of course!"
"This pretty boy won't last a minute."
Osric didn't react.
The other elite fighters just looked at Lanor irritated or amused.
No one really liked him.
'Idiot.'
'Why is he so loud?'
'They're both fucking handsome and it annoys me.'
'Why didn't he pick me?'
Lanor finally stopped talking and stepped in front of Osric.
The referee glanced between them.
"Ready?"
Lanor cracked his neck.
"Oh, I'm ready."
Osric simply raised his guard.
"Start!"
Lanor attacked first.
His foot slammed into the ground as he lunged forward with surprising speed.
A kick shot toward Osric's ribs.
Osric shifted his weight and blocked with his forearm.
The impact was solid.
'Strong.'
Lanor followed immediately with a punch aimed at Osric's head.
Osric slipped it and stepped back.
The crowd reacted instantly.
"Lanor's fast!"
"Don't let him breathe!"
Lanor grinned.
"Thought you'd be tougher than that."
He rushed forward again.
Punch.
Kick.
Hook.
Lanor's attacks came quickly and with confidence. His movements weren't refined, but his instincts made them dangerous.
Osric blocked another strike and slid sideways.
'Fast reactions…'
Lanor kicked again.
Osric stepped just outside the range and answered with a quick jab toward Lanor's face.
Lanor tilted his head and the punch barely missed.
He laughed.
"You're not bad."
He lunged forward again, this time throwing a heavy right hook.
Osric raised his guard.
The punch slammed into his arms.
The force pushed him half a step back.
The crowd roared.
"That's it!"
"Break him!"
Lanor pressed forward.
Another punch.
Then a kick toward Osric's thigh.
Osric shifted his leg and let the strike glance off instead of landing cleanly.
Lanor's instincts were sharp.
But his movements were wasteful.
His balance shifted too much when he attacked.
His guard dropped whenever he threw his strongest punches.
Osric's eyes sharpened.
'There.'
Lanor threw another kick.
Osric stepped inside the attack.
His fist drove into Lanor's ribs.
Lanor grunted and jumped back.
"You little—"
He attacked again, faster this time.
Punch.
Punch.
Kick.
Osric slipped the first strike.
Blocked the second.
The kick brushed his leg as he stepped away.
Lanor was adapting too.
But Osric was adapting faster.
Lanor rushed forward again with another heavy hook.
Osric ducked under it.
His elbow slammed into Lanor's side.
Lanor staggered a step.
The crowd erupted.
"He hit him!"
Lanor growled and charged again.
This time Osric didn't retreat.
Lanor's punch came.
Osric slipped to the side.
Then stepped inside Lanor's guard.
A sharp strike landed on Lanor's jaw.
Lanor's head snapped back.
Osric followed immediately.
Punch to the ribs.
Kick to the thigh.
Lanor tried to grab him.
Osric twisted away and stepped back.
Lanor shook his head.
The grin on his face had disappeared.
"You're annoying."
Osric didn't answer.
Lanor rushed him again.
A powerful kick flew toward Osric's torso.
Osric blocked.
But this time he didn't retreat.
Instead he stepped forward.
Lanor expected him to move back.
The hesitation lasted only a moment.
But it was enough.
Osric's fist drove into Lanor's stomach.
The air rushed out of Lanor's lungs.
Before he could recover, Osric's elbow slammed into his jaw.
Lanor staggered.
Osric stepped forward once more.
A final straight punch crashed into Lanor's chin.
Lanor's eyes rolled back.
His body collapsed onto the arena floor.
For a moment the entire arena went silent.
Then the crowd exploded.
"Holy shit!"
"He knocked him out!"
"Lanor's down!"
The referee stepped forward and raised a hand.
"Winner!"
"Osric!"
Osric stepped back and steadied his breathing.
The fight had been fast.
But not easy.
Lanor had real strength.
Real instincts.
But instincts alone weren't enough.
Technique.
Observation.
Control.
Those decided the fight.
As the crowd continued shouting, Osric briefly glanced toward the other elite fighters.
Several of them were now watching him very carefully.
And among them…
The woman was still there.
Silent.
Watching him with the same calm expression as before.