Khan stood over the barely conscious Lucas, breathing heavily through bloodstained teeth.
His own body was in ruins.
His ribs ached.
His face was swollen beyond recognition.
One arm hung almost uselessly at his side.
Yet seeing Lucas brought to his knees by the corruption filled him with a twisted satisfaction.
He laughed.
A harsh, rasping laugh that echoed across the silent arena.
"So this…" he sneered between breaths. "…this is Lechia's great champion?"
He drove another fist into Lucas's face.
THUD!
Lucas's head snapped to the side.
Blood splattered across the broken stone.
The crowd erupted into furious boos.
"Khan!"
"Monster!"
"Coward!"
The insults poured down from every corner of the arena, but Khan ignored them completely.
He crouched in front of Lucas until they were eye to eye.
His smile twisted into something cruel.
"Look at you."
He grabbed a handful of Lucas's hair and forced his head upward.
"The mighty hero…"
He laughed again.
"…reduced to this."
