While still asleep, I was startled once again by the loud sound of a baton striking the iron bars. When I woke up, two guards immediately roused me and escorted me out of the underground prison. Was it morning already?
The guards brought me to a fairly large room with a downward-sloping passage. Instantly I remembered that this was the transfer chamber before entering the arena directly. Oh no, I was going to face David right now!
The guards immediately pointed at a table with angry expressions and left me there. I saw that there was a cloth outfit, a real sword, a shield, and a tray of food. I noticed that the outfit was exactly the same as the one I had worn the first time I was in the colosseum. The food served also looked quite luxurious. I knew they considered this to be the last day of my life. While eating first, I thought about what Glynpatra had told me the previous night: that no matter what happened later, I would remain alive regardless.
After eating, changing clothes, and equipping my weapons, I was startled again when soldiers suddenly entered and pointed their weapons at me. They barked orders for me to immediately walk toward the arena gate. I obeyed, and the gate opened at once. When I stepped out, I saw the atmosphere of the colosseum was incredibly festive, exactly like during the duel between Hellraider and Gruzhnil; the arena decorated with scattered blue flower petals, flags hanging all around the colosseum, the luxurious emperor's stage, and shuttlecraft flying back and forth. I briefly looked toward the stage, where only Gregustus was seated without Glynpatra beside him. Why did this seem so strange after she had visited me last night?
I continued walking toward the center of the arena, and the gate opposite me immediately opened and someone walked in. The entire audience instantly stood up, shouting loudly and chanting "Great Lord David" over and over in unison. I saw David wearing cloth garments along with a sword and shield exactly identical to mine. Instantly I felt Gruzhnil's position back then when he faced him in his still-brutal state. We both stood in the center of the arena, facing one another. David merely stared at me expressionlessly, and so did I. I was already too exhausted to demand that he tell me the truth anymore. A long trumpet sounded, signaling the start of the fight.
"Draw your weapon!" David said quietly while glaring at me.
I was instantly confused by his behavior. But without giving me time to think, David immediately raised his weapon and swung it at me. I was shocked and lifted my shield just in time. I noticed for a brief moment that his sword swing slowed as it neared my shield. Even so, his divine strength sent me flying a considerable distance away from him. The spectators immediately erupted in loud cheers.
"KILL... KILL... KILL..."
As I lay on the ground, I immediately felt immense pressure throughout my body from David's seemingly slow sword strike. I truly had not expected that I, who had spent the most time by his side, would only now experience such terrifying power for the first time! With great difficulty, I rose again, but David had already begun running, leaping, and swinging his sword toward me. Instantly I remembered David when he was still Hellraider, performing that same attack several times against Gruzhnil. I immediately ran and jumped to the side. I briefly saw David descend in slow motion as he approached me. When David landed his sword strike, the effect was like an explosion. I saw a large crater in the ground and could only stare in disbelief.
David turned toward me, preparing to charge again. I had no opportunity to run or jump when he began rushing at me. I immediately raised my shield, but once again he seemed to slow down as he approached and swung his sword toward me. Even so, just like before, he hurled me backward a great distance. I immediately coughed blood and felt something running down my forehead—it was blood as well. Damn it, did he actually want to torture me first?!
"Execute that blasphemer right now...!!! Why are you taking so loooong...?!?!?!"
I heard spectators shouting things like that, accompanied by jeers. As I struggled to get back up and looked at David, he was standing motionless, glancing slightly left and right. I found myself wondering whether he was reacting to the crowd's taunts. What exactly was David planning to do?
I stood up again, and he was directly in front of me. He looked at me once more and spoke softly.
"Point your sword at me!"
My eyes widened when I heard David say that. What was the meaning of all this? I was truly frustrated by everything. He glared back at me as though mocking me. I immediately became angry and swung my sword at him. But David simply blocked it with his shield, and the hand holding my sword was thrown back by the impact. Something very strange happened again when I suddenly saw David give me a faint smile. I knew it—he was truly making a fool of me in front of all these people!
"Again!" he said quietly.
I was furious with David and launched my sword at him once more, and each time he blocked it with his shield. The crowd's jeers grew louder. I felt that David was deliberately doing this for some specific purpose. When David finally stopped one of my attacks with his sword, he immediately slammed his shield into my chest, sending me flying once more. I spat out blood and felt intense pain and tightness in my chest.
I tried to sit up despite all the pain. I no longer had the strength to stand, let alone attack him again. David was now standing before me. He then raised his sword high above his head, stared at me, and remained in that position. I had completely surrendered myself to his treatment on me.
"DO IT NOW, DAVIIIDDD...!!!" I shouted.
Suddenly I saw, from the distance, a man running down toward the lowest section of the stands near the arena, with his back turned toward David.
"KIIILLL HIIIMMM NOOOOWWW...!!!" the man shouted.
David then turned around with his sword still raised. To my utter shock, David immediately hurled his sword at the man. The sword pierced straight through the man's head, and he dropped dead instantly. The entire audience fell silent at once upon witnessing the horrifying sight. David walked forward briefly, dropped his shield, and slowly turned around to face every side of the arena. When he stopped turning in one direction—which happened to be where the camera crew broadcasting the event—David began speaking in a thunderous voice.
"YOOOUUU... TRAITOOORRRSSS...!!!!!!"
Some spectators immediately looked at the others with deep suspicion, and suddenly attacked the ones who had looked at them without mercy. They beat them savagely, and some even drew weapons and fired wildly. The situation became truly horrifying and chaotic. In the sky, I saw several shuttlecraft suddenly lose control and crash outside the arena, followed by the sounds of explosions. What exactly was happening now?! Why had they become so savage and brutal after being labeled 'traitors' by David?!
David immediately turned around, walked toward me, and suddenly knelt before me, extending his right hand.
"Come on, let's save the Emperor!"
I truly no longer knew what to say about everything that was happening. I grabbed David's hand, and he immediately helped me to my feet. I looked toward the luxurious stage and realized that Gregustus was no longer there. I became even more confused. One of the arena gates was suddenly smashed open, and many elite soldiers entered together with... Gruzhnil. He immediately approached us with an anxious expression.
"Let's get out of here first!" said Gruzhnil.
We left the arena together. However, I could not run because I was still in pain from my duel with David. Gruzhnil immediately ordered one of his soldiers to carry me. As we made our way out of the colosseum, many traitorous troops attacked us. But the elite soldiers accompanying me managed to eliminate them. I even saw David draw his magnum pistol and help shoot traitors who suddenly ambushed us from behind walls. It was the first time I had seen him pull out that weapon in a very long time, and its effect was immediately devastating—the traitor's chest was blown open instantly.
Once we reached the outside of the colosseum, I saw the cityscape in chaos, with black smoke everywhere. A shuttlecraft landed near us.
"I will handle things here! Lord David, please chase Emperor Gregustus and Princess Glynpatra! They may be in danger because Tiberos is pursuing them!" Gruzhnil pleaded to David.
"W-wait a minute, Commander?! What do you mean being pursued by Tiberos?! Does that mean all this chaos is his doing???" I said in disbelief.
"Johann... I will tell you, yes. But we don't have much time. Grelmure will explain everything inside. Get on the shuttle quickly!" Gruzhnil panicked.
David and I immediately boarded the shuttle and were greeted by Grelmure. He hugged me while crying and asked me to sit down first. The shuttle then took off.
"I'm so grateful that you survived another tragedy, Johann! Thank you so much, Great Lord David!" Grelmure sobbed.
"Please, Sir Grelmure, explain what actually happened! Why did I know nothing about all this?!" I demanded the truth.
Grelmure then began recounting the chronology of events from about two days earlier.