Silence.
A silence so complete that it felt unnatural.
The Grand Arena, which had been filled with the voices of hundreds of thousands only moments ago, had fallen into a stillness that seemed to consume the world itself.
Lucas's body hung limp in Khan's grasp.
There was no movement.
No resistance.
No breath that anyone could see.
The only sound was the faint whistle of the wind passing through the shattered arena.
No one wanted to believe what they had witnessed.
No one wanted to accept it.
Yet before the eyes of the ancient laws…
Before the sacred Trial by Combat…
The outcome appeared to have been decided.
The gods had rendered a cruel judgment.
Khan…
Had survived.
Lucas…
Had fallen.
Why?
No one knew.
Lucas had dominated nearly the entire duel.
He had overwhelmed Khan.
He had stood on the verge of victory.
Then, in a single unforeseen moment, everything had changed.
The corruption.
The relentless assault.
The final, brutal twist of Khan's hands.
