Chapter 44: Akane VS Belgaroth (Final part)
Belgaroth slowly approached Akane’s battered body, lying almost inert on the hot sand of the arena. Every breath was an unbearable pain, her body trembling from the effects of her countless wounds. Even so, a fierce glint still shone faintly in his determined eyes, his spirit stubbornly refusing to break completely.
The humanoid dragon stopped just in front of her, his amber eyes shining with perverse, unhealthy satisfaction. With cruel slowness, he crouched beside her, calmly observing her pained face, a sinister smile floating on his thin lips.
- I admit you were impressive, Akane," he murmured slowly, almost like an intimate whisper. A human like you is rare... you almost made me doubt you. Almost.
He brutally grabbed the warrior by the neck, lifting her violently off the ground with one hand, like a common hunting trophy. Akane’s broken, bloodied body was brandished towards the bleachers, exposed to the greedy, unhealthy gazes of the dragon spectators. The crowd immediately erupted in hysterical roars, exalted by this merciless triumph of draconic superiority.
From his cell, Mordred felt his heart clench painfully at this atrocious spectacle, his breath cutting off abruptly in his chest.
A cold, intense, burning rage exploded abruptly inside him, every muscle in his body clenching furiously under the effect of uncontrollable anger.
- Akane..., he murmured painfully, clenching his fists violently against the bars of his cell until he felt his own bones crack. You monster... I’ll kill you, Belgaroth...
In the arena, Belgaroth slowly raised Akane even higher, slowly spinning around to make his victory clear to every corner of the stands. He finally stopped, staring intently at the royal tribune with an arrogant, defiant gaze.
- According to the ancestral traditions of our people," he proclaimed in a loud, regal voice, "the victor has every right over the vanquished. I claim my right over this human warrior. From this day forward, Akane becomes my personal slave.
The crowd immediately erupted in frenzied cheers, wildly applauding this humiliating and cruel declaration. Belgaroth, slowly savoring his total triumph, slowly lowered his gaze to Akane, a cold, perverse smile appearing softly on his lips as he slowly licked the edge of her upper lip:
- I’m going to enjoy training you, warrior. Soon, your insolent courage will become perfect submission to my power.