Chapter 88 - 088: The day....

The final day arrived sooner than Anaria expected.

Wolfrine had been unusually busy since morning. Beastmen moved through the settlement toward the royal fighting ground, while others gathered in smaller groups to discuss the challenge. Everyone seemed to know that the day’s fight would decide who had the right to rule Wolfrine.

Anaria stayed with Rylan, Kenai, Kai, and Ana for as long as she could.

Rylan was already dressed for the challenge. His injuries had improved considerably, but Anaria could still tell that his body had not completely recovered. She had helped him throughout the past few days, treating the remaining wounds and making sure he rested whenever he could.

Ana was awake against her chest, moving her little hands while Anaria adjusted the cloth around her.

Rylan looked at the child before turning his attention back to Anaria.

"Part of me still wants to leave," he admitted.

Anaria looked at him. "I know."

He lowered his gaze. "If I walk away now, none of this becomes my problem."

Anaria didn’t argue with him. She understood why he felt that way.

"You don’t have to pretend that you want the throne," she said. "Just do what you have to do today."

Rylan looked at her for a moment.

"And if you lose?" she added.

"I won’t."

The answer came quietly, without boasting.

Anaria nodded. "Then come back to us."

Rylan reached out and briefly touched Ana’s head before looking at Kenai and Kai.

"Take care of each of other while I’m gone."

Kenai gave him a firm nod. "You know we will."

Kai folded his arms. "Just make sure we don’t have to drag you back."

Rylan gave him a faint smile.

Anaria watched him closely. She wanted to say more, but she knew nothing she said would make the coming fight easier.

Whatever happened, they would be waiting for him.

A short while later, Rylan left for the fighting ground.

Zane had already arrived on the other side.

He stood among several of his supporters, looking completely prepared for the challenge. Unlike Rylan, there was no sign of hesitation in his movements.

The crowd gradually became quieter as the two brothers entered the fighting ground.

The cabinet members stood at the edge of the stone-covered arena.

One of them stepped forward and announced the challenge, confirming that the fight would determine the rightful ruler according to Wolfrine’s royal tradition.

Neither brother spoke.

Rylan lowered his body slightly.

Zane did the same.

The moment the signal was given, they moved.

Zane attacked first.

He crossed the distance between them quickly, throwing a heavy strike toward Rylan’s side.

Rylan blocked it and immediately countered.

Zane stepped back.

Rylan followed.

Their movements were fast enough that several members of the crowd struggled to follow them.

Zane relied on speed and aggressive attacks, constantly changing his direction whenever Rylan attempted to predict him.

Rylan fought differently.

He watched.

He waited for openings instead of wasting energy.

For the first few exchanges, neither gained a clear advantage.

Then Zane suddenly changed his approach.

Rylan barely raised his arm before Zane’s strike connected.

The force sent him stumbling backward.

Anaria’s grip tightened around Ana.

Rylan steadied himself.

Zane didn’t give him time to recover.

He rushed forward again.

Rylan blocked the next attack, but the impact forced him several steps backward.

His injured side protested.

Zane noticed.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"You’re slower."

Rylan ignored him.

He shifted his footing and waited.

Zane attacked again.

This time, Rylan moved before the strike reached him.

He twisted away and countered toward Zane’s ribs.

Zane blocked it.

The two separated.

For the first time, Zane’s expression changed slightly.

Rylan was still injured.

But he wasn’t fighting the same way he had years ago.

Part Two

Zane rushed him again.

Rylan met him halfway.

Their fists collided before Rylan ducked beneath another strike and drove his shoulder into Zane’s chest.

Zane staggered backward.

Rylan immediately followed with another attack.

Zane blocked it.

The two exchanged several blows in quick succession, neither giving the other enough space to recover.

Rylan’s breathing became heavier.

Anaria noticed.

His movements were becoming slightly slower, especially whenever he turned toward the side that had been injured.

Zane noticed it too.

"You’re still protecting that side," he said.

Rylan didn’t answer.

Zane attacked it deliberately.

Rylan moved away, but Zane followed.

He struck again.

Rylan blocked the blow, but the force pushed him backward.

Zane pressed forward.

"You always did that," he said as he attacked again. "Whenever you were injured, you protected the same side."

Rylan caught his wrist.

For a brief moment, the two brothers stood close.

"You talk too much," Rylan muttered.

He shoved Zane away.

The crowd reacted as Zane stumbled.

Rylan moved after him.

Zane recovered quickly and swung at his head.

Rylan ducked.

The strike passed above him.

He twisted around and struck Zane across the jaw.

Zane’s head turned sharply.

For a moment, the fighting ground went quiet.

Rylan had landed a clean hit.

Zane slowly touched the side of his face.

Then he looked at Rylan.

"You’ve changed."

Rylan remained silent.

Zane wiped the small trace of blood from his lip.

"But I still know you."

He charged again.

Rylan braced himself.

Zane’s attacks became more aggressive.

He knew how Rylan moved because they had grown up together. He knew which direction Rylan preferred to dodge, which attacks he used when pressured, and how he reacted whenever he was forced backward.

Rylan realized what Zane was doing.

He wasn’t simply attacking.

He was trying to force Rylan into the movements he already knew.

Rylan stopped following his instincts.

When Zane expected him to move left, he went right.

When Zane anticipated a counterattack, Rylan stepped back instead.

It confused Zane for the first time.

Rylan saw the opening.

He struck.

Zane blocked.

Rylan struck again.

This time, Zane barely moved out of the way.

The crowd grew louder.

Anaria watched without taking her eyes off Rylan.

She could see that he was tiring, but he was no longer allowing Zane to control the pace.

Kenai stood beside her, his expression tense.

Kai remained silent.

Neither wanted to distract her.

On the fighting ground, Zane suddenly changed direction.

Rylan reacted immediately.

Zane’s fist grazed his shoulder.

Rylan turned and caught Zane’s next strike.

He twisted his arm and forced Zane down.

Zane broke free before Rylan could follow through.

Both men stepped apart.

They were breathing heavily now.

Rylan wiped sweat from his forehead.

Zane stared at him.

"You learned."

Rylan raised his hands again.

"So did you."

Zane’s expression hardened.

He rushed forward.

Rylan waited.

At the last moment, he stepped aside.

Zane’s attack missed.

Rylan turned with the movement and struck him across the ribs.

Zane staggered.

Rylan followed with another strike.

Zane blocked it, but the force still drove him backward.

The crowd erupted.

Anaria’s eyes widened.

Rylan had finally pushed Zane back.

But the fight was far from over.

Part Three

Zane straightened slowly.

He looked down at the spot where Rylan had struck him before looking back at his brother.

There was a small cut along his side.

Rylan had finally injured him.

Anaria released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Kenai glanced at her. "He’s holding his own."

"For now," Anaria replied quietly.

She knew Rylan’s condition.

He could fight, but he couldn’t afford to take too many more heavy blows.

On the fighting ground, Zane rolled his shoulder.

Rylan kept his distance.

Neither moved for several seconds.

Then Zane rushed forward again.

Rylan met him.

The two collided in the center of the fighting ground.

Zane threw a punch.

Rylan blocked it.

Rylan countered.

Zane moved aside.

A second attack came from Rylan.

Zane caught his arm.

Rylan twisted free.

They separated.

Rylan was breathing harder now.

His earlier injury was beginning to affect his movements again.

Zane saw it.

He moved toward Rylan’s injured side.

Rylan anticipated him and shifted away.

Zane followed.

Rylan blocked another strike, but the impact forced him down onto one knee.

Anaria instinctively took a step forward.

Kenai caught her arm.

"Wait."

Rylan pushed himself back up before Zane could reach him.

He steadied his breathing.

Zane watched him.

"You should have stayed away."

Rylan raised his hands again.

"I’ve heard that before."

Zane attacked.

Rylan blocked.

The force sent pain through his side, but he refused to retreat.

Instead, he changed his footing.

He stopped trying to overpower Zane.

He watched his shoulders.

His feet.

His breathing.

Every small movement gave him information.

Zane swung.

Rylan moved.

Another strike came.

Rylan avoided it.

Zane tried to trap him against the edge of the fighting ground.

Rylan turned before he could be cornered.

He remembered what Zane had said.

He knew Rylan.

He knew how Rylan fought.

But that was exactly why Rylan had to stop fighting the way he used to.

Zane came in again.

Rylan waited until the last moment before moving.

Zane’s fist passed beside him.

Rylan drove his own fist into Zane’s ribs.

Zane grunted and stepped backward.

Rylan didn’t stop.

He followed with another strike.

Zane blocked it, but Rylan caught his arm and pulled him forward.

His knee struck Zane’s stomach.

Zane stumbled.

Rylan stepped back before Zane could counter.

The crowd erupted again.

Zane straightened.

His expression had changed completely.

The amusement was gone.

Rylan had managed to hurt him, and now Zane was taking the fight seriously.

Anaria saw the change immediately.

She tightened her arms around Ana.

Rylan also noticed.

The brothers stared at each other across the fighting ground.

Neither spoke.

Then Zane lowered his stance.

Rylan did the same.

The next exchange would be different.

And Anaria knew that the hardest part of the challenge had only just begun.