Nolan then ran toward him, his boots grinding the sand as arcs of light trailed behind every step. The air itself seemed to quake under the pressure of his intent. All the human life force Luthar had absorbed now blazed through his monstrous frame, pulsing like molten fire under his skin.

As Nolan reached him, he threw a punch, a strike that could crack the earth, but Luthar blocked it with both hands. He didn't move an inch. The sound of impact roared like an explosion, a shockwave blasting through the arena.

Everything behind them shattered.

The dungeon walls trembled, the arena's protective shield, forged by royal mages and said to withstand dragonfire, split into glowing fragments that burst apart in streaks of light. The sand blasted outward in violent gusts, engulfing the audience in a storm of grit. People screamed, shielding their faces as mana rippled through the air.

"Impossible!" someone shouted. "He blocked that?!"

High above the stands, the royal mage rose to his feet again, cloak billowing. His eyes glowed as he raised his staff, conjuring a new barrier of light to contain the destruction. The shimmering dome curved over the arena, sealing in the two combatants once more.

The royal family didn't flinch. They sat still, their gazes locked on the battle, calm but utterly focused.

Nolan exhaled, lowering his hand slightly. "How… dare you," he muttered under his breath. His eyes narrowed. That punch wasn't my first Rainbow Steel.

That attack alone was enough to pulverize steel and crush every bone in a normal body beyond repair, yet Luthar had taken it without falling.

Nolan's jaw tightened. What is this monster made of?

Luthar tilted his head, grinning through his fangs. "Now it's my turn."

With a deep snarl, he leaped high into the air, his shadow swallowing the light. He raised his leg, muscles flexing, and then brought it down in a devastating kick. The blow connected with Nolan's chest like a thunderclap.

The impact sent Nolan skidding backward, his boots digging deep trenches in the sand. For the first time, he felt the sting of real resistance.

He steadied himself, eyes wide for a heartbeat, then smiled.

"Finally," Nolan said softly, "someone strong enough to make me take this seriously."

He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, the faint aura of silver light beginning to shimmer across his body. His tone dropped, calm but edged with excitement. My steel is very weak in this state. If I go all out, even a flick of my finger could kill him outright. But not yet.

He took a slow step forward, eyes locked on Luthar. I'll hold back. Just enough. Let's make it fun for them.

Luthar growled low in his throat, muscles rippling, and mirrored Nolan's steps. The ground trembled as both warriors advanced. The air between them burned with pressure, arcs of energy flashing with each movement.

Then they clashed.

Their fists collided in a blur that defied human sight. One strike, then another, the rhythm faster than heartbeat, each punch sending bursts of shockwaves rolling through the sand.

The arena filled with the sound of raw power: the wham of impact, the crack of energy, the low, resonant hum of mana reacting to their strength.

Luthar's werewolf form towered above Nolan, twice the height of a man, every muscle carved with unnatural precision. His claws tore through the air as he swung with brutal precision, each strike enough to crush stone.

But Nolan didn't retreat. He met every blow head on, fists colliding with monstrous strength. Sparks flew from each impact as their powers clashed, light and shadow colliding in chaotic bursts that illuminated the arena.

The crowd erupted again, voices echoing across the stadium.

"Unbelievable!"

"Luthar's not even human!"

"Look at him, he's enormous!"

They watched in awe as the two figures traded blow for blow, a blur of motion and light. The speed was unreal, the strikes so fast they left streaks of afterimage across the battlefield.

Luthar roared, driving his fist into Nolan's side. Nolan countered instantly, his punch slamming into Luthar's jaw. The two combatants spun, reappearing across the arena in flashes of motion, the sand erupting beneath every strike.

And through it all, Nolan was smiling.

Even as the shockwaves cracked the earth beneath them, even as the crowd screamed and the barrier flickered, he smiled.

The barrier shattered once again, a thunderous crack echoing across the coliseum as fragments of glowing mana burst into the air like shards of glass. The very wind trembled as the protective dome dissolved, streaks of energy scattering across the sky.

"The barrier has shattered again!" the emissary shouted, his voice almost lost under the roaring crowd.

High above, the royal mage rose from his seat, robes fluttering violently. His eyes glowed with radiant mana as he raised his staff toward the heavens. "Barrier Recast!" he commanded. A spiral of golden light swirled downward, forming another shimmering dome around the arena, the third one that day.

And inside it, chaos continued.

Nolan and Luthar clashed with unrelenting fury, fists and kicks meeting like colliding meteors. Each impact burst with light, sending shockwaves through the sand and shattering the air itself.

Nolan darted to the left, lightning trailing his movements, and spun with incredible speed. His leg snapped upward.

Wham!

He kicked Luther square on the head, the force so great it distorted the air in a ripple.

Luthar stumbled backward, his claws digging deep into the ground as he tried to regain balance. The world spun around him for a split second, but he shook it off, growling deep from his throat. His eyes glowed red with fury.

He roared, leaping high into the air. The ground cracked beneath the force of his jump, sending dust spiraling. In a single bound, he came crashing down toward Nolan, his fist blazing with dark purple energy.

But Nolan didn't flinch.

He raised his hand mid air, caught Luther's wrist effortlessly, and twisted. The sound of the twist echoed like a whip crack. Then Boom! Nolan slammed Luthar into the ground, the impact creating a massive crater that split the arena floor.

Sand and mana light burst upward, forming a tornado like swirl.

"I think playtime is over," Nolan said, his voice calm, steady, but carrying a sharp edge. His shadow stretched long under the golden glow of the barrier. "Now let's talk about what I was telling you."

He stared down at Luthar, his eyes cold yet heavy with something deeper, pity maybe.

"Are you going to change? You've done enough. You made your wife suffer. You destroyed everything that ever cared for you. Stand up." Nolan's voice hardened. "I want to talk to you."

Luthar breathing grew heavy as he slowly rose, muscles twitching, fur matted with sweat and blood. He snarled lowly and then, with a feral roar, charged toward Nolan again.

His fist flew forward, but before it could connect, Nolan moved like a ghost.

Bam!

With one swift swing of his arm, Nolan's hand connected with Luthar face, knocking him sideways mid charge. The werewolf's massive frame spun through the air before slamming into the arena wall.

BOOM!

The shock of impact rattled the stands, dust and stone raining down. The ground itself trembled beneath the sheer violence of the hit.

Luthar groaned, his body half buried in the cracked stone. He pushed himself up slowly, coughing, staring in disbelief at the blood dripping from his claws. "Wh… what is happening?"

He looked down at his trembling hands. His body, which had felt invincible moments ago, now pulsed with pain. Even his wounds, once healing instantly, began to close sluggishly.

"It's like his strength," Luthar gasped, "has increased."

He gritted his teeth, blood running down his temple. How? How am I losing? We were trading blows just moments ago!

Then realization hit him like cold steel. He was holding back all this time.

"This can't be true," Luthar whispered, panic flickering in his eyes. "Who is this person? Who is he really?"

Nolan stood across the battlefield, expression unreadable. The faint aura around him shimmered, golden, calm, divine.

"Don't behave foolishly," Nolan said, his voice low but carrying through the arena like a command. "Come to me. I want to talk to you. Tell me why you've become what you are."

He took a slow step forward, the air bending slightly around him.

"You created the Courts because you wanted to end humanity," Nolan continued. "You wanted chaos. You even planned to make the hero join your cult when this tournament ended. Didn't you?"

Luthar eyes widened, rage mixing with confusion. "How the hell do you know about that?!" he shouted. "Who told you this?! Tell me!"

Nolan looked at him, his expression softening for a moment. "You really want to know?"

"Yes!"

"Your brother, Lucan," Nolan said. "He's the one who told me everything. He's the one who sent me to stop you."

Luthar froze, his pupils contracting. Then his expression twisted in fury. "That bastard," he growled. "I should have killed him the last time we fought.

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