Kano took a deep breath, feeling the tension tightening every muscle in his body. Before him stood the enemy, a giant who surpassed him in every way: size, strength, experience. The orc was colossal, his skin almost glowing in the morning light, covering his massive body with layers of muscle. In his hands, he gripped a massive battle axe that could cleave a horse in half with a single strike.
Silence reigned around them.
The orcs were waiting for the spectacle. Their eyes burned with feral excitement as they gazed upon the arena they had created in the heart of the gorge.
Kano felt his heart pounding in his chest, but he did not allow panic to overtake him. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, and he assumed his battle stance.
The orc roared.
Fast.
His gigantic body moved with an unexpected swiftness for such a massive creature. The earth shook under the force of his sudden lunge, and the blade of the axe cut through the air like lightning.
Kano barely had time to leap to the side.
A whistle.
Stone shattered as the axe buried itself into the ground, creating a massive crack. The force of the strike was unreal—had he been a second slower, his body would have been torn apart.
Kano managed to thrust forward, slicing the air with his sword, aiming for the orc's arm.
The clash of steel.
The orc deflected the strike at the last moment.
His sword only grazed the orc's skin, leaving a shallow wound. Not even significant.
"Damn..."
The orc grinned.
— "You're the best fighter among them? This will be quick."
He moved again.
The axe soared high, then came crashing down like the wrath of gods.
Kano lunged forward instead of dodging to the side.
The blade slid across the orc's arm, attempting to find a weak spot between the muscles, but the monster didn't even seem to feel the hit.
Kano felt the pressure.
Every move he made required absolute concentration. Every strike from the enemy could be his last.
He couldn't fight with strength.
Speed.
That was his only advantage.
Kano pushed off the ground, sliding around the orc, forcing him to miss his strikes. His sword began to move faster, leaving deeper cuts on the orc's arms and legs.
But the orc didn't give up.
He grew angrier.
His eyes filled with blood. His aura grew heavier.
Kano felt it through his entire body.
The orc swung again—and this time, the strike was even faster.
Kano couldn't fully dodge.
The sharp wind from the axe's swing sliced through the air, and then...
Pain.
The blade nicked his shoulder, tearing the fabric and leaving a bloody scratch.
Kano staggered back, breathing heavily.
The orc laughed.
— "You're still standing? Impressive. But not for long."
Kano tightened his grip on the sword.
His body screamed with pain, but something new appeared in his eyes.
Not fear.
He saw an opening.
This battle wasn't over yet.
Kano gasped for air, feeling the blood pulse in his wound. His shoulder burned, but the pain was nothing compared to what he felt inside.
The orc stood before him, smiling. There was no fear or doubt in his eyes.
He knew he would win.
— "I hear your breath, boy, it's growing heavier. You'll fall soon enough." The orc ran his tongue over his tusks, his hands confidently tightening around the axe.
Kano didn't respond.
Instead, he closed his eyes… and focused.
He felt everything around him.
The wind's hum as it wandered through the gorge.
The earth beneath his feet, barely giving up the warmth of the sun.
His own body, exhausted, tense, yet still capable of fighting.
And the power of his enemy.
Massive. Oppressive. Incredible.
But this power had a weakness.
Kano smiled.
— "What?" The orc frowned.
Kano made the first move.
A lunge forward!
The orc hesitated for a moment, not expecting an attack after such a wound.
The axe rose high, ready to meet him…
But Kano leaped to the side at the last moment.
The axe ripped through the air, crashing into the stone and leaving a deep gouge.
Kano seized the moment.
A strike to the arm!
His sword barely avoided the recoil, but he struck hard enough to make the orc stagger back.
— "Do you still have strength left?" The orc took a step back, feeling the blood running down his forearm.
Kano didn't answer.
His movements became faster.
His attacks sharper.
He gave the orc no time to rest.
Speed against strength.
Kano began to feel control over the fight.
His sword, though awkward, no longer felt as heavy. His strikes were no longer chaotic.
He was learning in real combat.
But the orc still didn't retreat.
— "Enough playing!" He roared, pouring all his power into the next strike.
The axe came down, cutting through everything in its path.
Kano didn't move.
He didn't even try to dodge.
Instead, he smiled.
His lips curled into a strange, almost mocking grin, which the orc noticed at the last moment.
But it didn't matter.
The chieftain was sure his axe would cleave this brat in half.
The strike came.
But it never reached its target.
SWOOSH!
Black metal shot from Kano's skull, tearing through the air as it formed into a predatory, dragon-like helmet.
Delicate plates closed together as if alive. Sharp, curved horns sprouted from the sides, and glowing red symbols raced across the surface, as though reflecting his inner power.
Kano's eyes shone with a bloody gleam beneath the pointed plates.
BOOM!
A burst of power.
The orc was thrown back dozens of meters. He crashed through the rock, landing in the rubble.
Everyone around froze.
Kano slowly straightened.
His body felt different.
He touched his head.
A black helmet, forged from shadows, adorned with dragon plates, burning symbols, and horns.
His helmet.
It had always been with him.
The orc wobbled, rising from the dust.
His eyes were filled with terror.
— "What is this...?"
Kano raised his sword and calmly walked towards him.
The orc made one last desperate lunge...
And struck the helmet again.
BOOM!
He was thrown back even farther.
Now he could barely breathe.
Kano stepped closer and placed his sword to the orc's throat.
— "It's over."
The orc waited for death.
But it never came.
— "Get up, you're free," Kano said, lowering his sword.
Silence.
The orc shuddered. He didn't understand.
Suddenly, he sprang up, grabbing his axe and lunging again at Kano!
But before the blade could tear through the air, a powerful voice roared from the crowd, echoing through the gorge:
— "ENOUGH! WE'VE LOST!"
Kano froze.
The orc stopped too. His hands trembled with tension, but he could no longer make that final strike.
The old chieftain stepped forward.
His side was slashed almost to the bone, blood still dripping to the ground, but he stood, proud and unyielding.
His eyes met Kano's.
And he knelt before him.
— "Now you are our chieftain. We swear loyalty to you."
Kano froze.
What...?