Osric didn't move right away.
His stance stayed low.
Tighter now.
More deliberate.
Across from him—
Garrick watched.
Still relaxed.
Still waiting.
But no longer idle.
Osric stepped forward.
Slow.
Not committing.
A slight shift of his shoulder—
Then he stopped.
Garrick didn't move.
Didn't bite.
Nothing.
Osric stepped again.
Then—
he went.
Fast.
A direct entry—
Garrick's hand snapped forward—
Too early.
Osric wasn't there.
He had already shifted.
Cutting the angle.
Inside.
Not clean—
but closer than before.
His fist drove into Garrick's side.
A real hit.
Not strong—
but undeniable.
The crowd reacted.
"He got through!"
Garrick stepped back once.
Just once.
His smile didn't fade.
If anything—
it sharpened.
"…There it is."
Osric didn't respond.
He moved again.
But not straight.
Not obvious.
A step in—
then out—
then in again—
different angle.
Garrick adjusted.
Slightly.
Too slightly.
Osric didn't hesitate.
He stepped through the gap.
Closer.
A second strike landed.
More solid this time.
Garrick's body turned with it—
and his hand came back.
Fast.
Short.
A counter.
Osric barely slipped it.
It brushed past his cheek.
Close.
Too close.
They separated.
Breathing steady.
But the distance had changed.
It wasn't safe anymore.
Osric stepped in again.
And this time—
he didn't stop.
A feint—
a shift—
then he committed.
Garrick moved to intercept—
but Osric changed mid-step.
Again.
Inside.
Another strike.
Then another.
Short.
Tight.
Not wasting anything.
The rhythm broke.
Garrick gave ground.
Two steps this time.
The crowd felt it.
"He's pushing him!"
Garrick exhaled slowly.
Then chuckled.
Low.
"…You're annoying."
Not irritated—
amused.
Interested.
He stepped forward.
Meeting him.
For the first time.
Not waiting anymore.
Osric saw it.
'Good.'
They closed distance—
at the same time.
No hesitation.
No space left between them.
Garrick stepped forward.
Fully now.
No more control.
No more distance.
He met Osric head-on.
Their movements collided.
Fast.
Close.
Garrick's strike came clean—
perfect timing—
Osric moved—
too late—
it hit.
Not fully—
but enough.
His balance broke.
For a split second.
Garrick saw it.
Took it.
Stepped in—
to finish it.
And—
Osric moved.
Not clean.
Not controlled.
But immediate.
His body twisted through the opening.
Through the mistake.
Through the moment Garrick thought he had it.
Inside.
Too close.
Garrick's eyes widened slightly.
Osric's shoulder slammed into him.
Breaking everything.
Structure.
Timing.
Control.
Gone.
His hand came up—
not perfect—
but fast.
It struck across Garrick's jaw.
Crooked.
Ugly.
Effective.
Garrick staggered.
Didn't fall.
Yet.
But something changed.
His eyes locked onto Osric.
Clear.
Focused.
For the first time—
not analyzing—
not controlling—
just seeing.
Osric moved again.
No hesitation.
A short, brutal strike followed—
driving through what was left of Garrick's balance.
This time—
he fell.
Heavy.
Final.
The arena went silent.
Then—
it erupted.
Osric stood still.
Breathing heavier now.
But steady.
His eyes remained on Garrick.
On the ground—
Garrick let out a low breath.
"…Hah…"
He turned his head slightly.
Looking up at Osric.
No anger.
No bitterness.
Only clarity.
"…You're strange, kid."
A faint smile returned.
Different this time.
Not empty.
"…You control everything—"
He exhaled slowly.
"…and then you throw it away."
His gaze stayed on Osric.
Clear.
Certain.
"…You're not chasing power like others."
"…You're doing something else."
A pause.
Then—
quietly:
"…Maybe that's what I've been missing."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Not in doubt—
in decision.
"…Fine."
"…I'll follow you."
For a brief moment—
no one spoke.
Even the crowd hesitated.
Like they weren't sure how to react.
This wasn't just another victory.
Not just another knockout.
Something had changed.
The way Garrick looked at Osric—
It wasn't the same as before.
Not as an opponent.
Not as a rival.
Something else.
Recognition.
Around the pit, the remaining elite fighters stayed quiet.
Adam's eyes narrowed slightly.
'He actually did it.'
Alice crossed her arms.
A faint smile on her lips.
'So that's your answer.'
Even the ones who had doubted him before—
said nothing now.
There was nothing left to say.
Osric didn't look at them.
Didn't look at the crowd.
His attention stayed on Garrick.
That was enough.
Osric smiled faintly. Garrick noticed.
The referee stepped in.
Checked—
then raised his hand.
"The winner— Osric!"
The arena exploded.
But the fight—
had already ended.