Gorath’s leg tensed. The ground beneath him cracked as he blasted forward with insane momentum, his right knee screaming toward Malakai’s face.

But before it could land, Malakai’s body jerked to the side, evading the attack.

Goralth didn’t miss a beat. He skidded across the ground, killing his momentum before launching back in with a sweeping kick aimed at Malakai’s lower torso.

But again, Malakai shifted back just as quickly, evading the strike.

He roared. “Stop slipping away, you damned roach!”

Goralth erased the distance between them, arms flying to his chest before his fists blurred forward, unleashing multiple crushing punches at once.

But no matter how fast or how brutal, Malakai’s legs moved rapidly, his body shifting with him.

Goralth’s blows tore through the air in blurs, missing Malakai by mere inches.

His balance was perfect. His technique, elite. All those years of moving through the balance course back at his makeshift training course were now showing.

Goralth was livid. He couldn’t believe what was happening. It was supposed to end with the first punch, on the first second!

But he couldn’t even land a hit!?

He could feel the eyes on him again. The cold gazes. The darkened expressions. People had bet their life savings on an easy win.

If he lost here, he wouldn’t live to see tomorrow.

He gritted his teeth, and the sweat around his body turned searing hot. Steam radiated from him in waves as an overwhelming surge of power roared through his body.

Goralth stomped forward, the ground beneath him exploding from the force. His fist blasted out, roaring toward Malakai’s chest with more power than he had ever shown before.

‘I’ve got him!’ Goralth’s eyes glinted, certain of his victory.

But at that moment, a thought passed through Malakai’s mind.

‘That should be enough.’

His figure vanished to the side. Goralth’s punch screamed into empty space.

Before Goralth’s eyes could widen, Malakai closed the distance, fist tearing toward Goralth’s chin.

‘Shit!’

That was his last thought before the punch connected.

The force of the blow lifted Goralth clean off the ground, but before he could even fall, Malakai’s leg crashed in from the side, slamming into his chin and rattling his brain.

Goralth’s vision blurred. His body weakened. He could’ve sworn he saw the street rat’s eyes flash crimson before everything went black.

THUD!

The heavy sound of Goralth’s body hitting the floor echoed through the arena. Malakai slowly turned his calm gaze up toward the audience.

Silence.

No one spoke. Not a single sound was made. The audience stared as if they had just witnessed the impossible.

“Hahaha! Yes! Five hundred thousand! I’m rich! I’m rich!”

Rhett’s excitement couldn’t be contained. He turned toward Whiteshade and stretched out his hand for a handshake.

But Whiteshade wasn’t looking at Rhett. Despite the excitement in the air, his gaze hadn’t left Malakai for even a second.

All the guards in the room had tensed.

Five hundred thousand points was a massive loss. Far too much for them to let go easily.

Hands reached for weapons. Cold gazes turned toward Rhett. He might be a Bloom, but in the eyes of the city, he was still a well known waste.

They waited for Whiteshade’s order.

“Huh?” Rhett turned and noticed the guards looking at him coldly. He chuckled. “Aren’t you guys cute?”

A grin stretched across his face. He looked at the guards as if he were staring at a flock of chickens.

“Don’t tell me…”

The grin vanished. A chill spread through the room.

“You’re going back on your word?” he asked, tilting his head slightly.

The guards felt their hearts pounding, legs trembling. But before the matter could escalate, a loud thump of a stick striking the ground echoed through the room.

“That’s enough.”

At Whiteshade’s command, the guards instantly bowed and stepped back. Whiteshade turned toward Rhett.

“I apologize for the rudeness once more, Captain Rhett. We will keep our word.”

Rhett fixed his gaze on Whiteshade. The man clutched his cane with both hands. Though Rhett couldn’t see his face, he could feel it, Whiteshade was pissed.

But did he care? No! All he heard was: We will give you the money.

Rhett smiled wide. “All is forgiven. All is forgiven.”

They were both about to shake hands when a cold voice drifted from the stage.

“Is this all you’re capable of?”

Rhett and Whiteshade froze. They slowly turned their gazes downward, to where Malakai stood, looking directly at them.

‘Oh, what are you doing, my sweet money maker?!’ Rhett was confused as he stared at Malakai.

But it was Whiteshade who broke the silence.

“What?” His cold eyes bore down on Malakai.

But Malakai’s gaze didn’t flinch. “Coming to the Red Maw, I expected more. But if this is all you have, then I’m very disappointed.”

The underground den fell so silent that a pin drop would’ve sounded like a bomb. Many in the audience couldn’t help but gulp.

There was one rule everyone instinctively followed in the Red Maw: do not cross the man in white. Yet, this street rat had done just that.

Whiteshade’s voice finally came again, low.

“You won one fight. Don’t let that little rush fool you into thinking you’re worth anything. Know who you’re speaking to.”

“I’m speaking to you.” Malakai’s voice was unnervingly steady. It looked like a child challenging a dragon.

“I came here searching for a fight, but all I got was useless trash who couldn’t even land a hit. I’m disappointed, and I’m expressing that disappointment to you. Who do you think you are that I can’t speak to?”

Whiteshade clenched his cane, fingers tightening hard. His eyes were glacial.

“The only reason your head is still on your shoulders is out of respect for the Captain.”

“You sound confident,” Malakai said suddenly, a cold smile appearing on his lips.

“Then why don’t we increase the stakes?”

Rhett’s eyes widened in horror. ‘No, no, no… what are you doing, my money maker!?’

He could feel it. Something bad was about to happen.