The referee gestured for them to come together. The bell rang three times again, signaling that the match began, and stepped away.
Hektor and his opponent circled each other, biding their time. He was obviously a professional, but Hektor knew making the first move would be a mistake. However, they couldn’t just move around each other forever.
I’m stronger and faster, I can end this quickly.
Then he could show Zara that he was worthy of her.
That he could protect her and their children from any danger.
So, he lunged forward without any real plan or strategy, just hoping to catch Calway by surprise. But Calaway seized him instead, his massive arms wrapping around him before using his own weight and momentum to plow Hektor down on the mat.
Stars burst in his vision as the back of his head slammed on the ground. The crowd went wild.
I underestimated him.
Groaning, he scrambled to his feet.
He would not make the same mistake again.
With a loud cry, Hektor surged forward again, this time, using more of his strength. It was Calaway who was stunned this time and they both crashed down on the mat.
The two of them clashed like gladiators of old, and the audience was whipped into a frenzy. Hektor still held back his true strength, but Calaway still managed to pin him down twice, but thankfully not long enough. He was also a slippery son of achitine,managing to escape Hektor’s grasp a few times.
Frustration grew in him, and all he wanted was to end it. So, he rushed forward. However, instead of knocking Calaway downor trying to capture him, Hektor bent down low, grabbed him by legs. He flipped the human over his head, tossing him high in the air before he landed with a thud behind Hektor.
The audience cheered, then began to chant his name. As he scanned the crowd, he stopped short, shock filling him, but not because of the adoration.
No, it was something else.
Or rather, someone else.
In the sea of people, right in the very front row, was Zara. Her beautiful face was inscrutable, but she didn’t turn away.
She really was here.
Pain shot through his skull, and he let out a bone-rattling roar. Slowly and deliberately, he pivoted on his heel to face his opponent.
Calaway stood there, a bent metal chair in his hands, a shocked expression on his face.
“What the fuck?” Calaway exclaimed. “Why aren’t you on the floor?”
His anger began to simmer. “You will find that it is very hard to knock me out, you puny human.” Diamond skin, after all, was impenetrable. “But you, on the other hand…”
Heat built up from within his chest involuntarily, which began to glow. He was tempted to release the holy hell of his fire on this fool. However, he wasn’t in Vale Crossing, so he inhaled a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
“Stop!”
Huh?
He spun around.
Zara.
“Stop!” she repeated, scrambling into the ring. “Are you insane?”
“What?”
She jabbed a finger at his chest, which still glowed with dragon fire. “We’re on the Upperworld and he’s a human,” she hissed. “You can’t just burn him up like you did Lord Eros!”
