The roar of the crowd rose as the next round began, and it was clear that everyone was expecting a swift end to the duel. Yet the first surprise came when Gray started countering his opponent's strikes with clever evasions, slipping aside with quick steps and using small openings to land sudden, precise counterattacks. His blows were weak, but accurate enough to throw the assistant slightly off balance now and then—much to the audience's astonishment.

Whispers rippled through the stands.
— "Unbelievable… the boy won't go down!"
Others began to shout encouragement, as if Gray's sheer determination was starting to inspire them.

Then, in a sudden burst, Gray slashed at his opponent's shoulder. The strike left only a shallow cut, but it was enough to make the assistant pause, his brows knitting in anger. Gasps spread across the arena, followed by cheers as the realization struck: this boy was no ordinary challenger.

But the moment his pride was wounded, the assistant's expression darkened. His demeanor changed completely. For the first time, he unleashed his true strength. His strikes grew faster, heavier, the clash of steel ringing out like thunder across the dueling ground. Gray, who had been darting about with agility, now found himself pushed back step after step, his breath ragged, fatigue weighing down his every move.

And yet, despite the exhaustion written all over his frail body, he refused to yield. He clung to his sword with everything he had left, his eyes burning with fierce resolve. A voice screamed inside him, echoing through his very core:
"I will not fall… I will not give up… for my family… for my future!"

The assistant, however, gave him no chance to recover. He descended with a relentless flurry, like a raging flood that could not be stopped. Strike after strike came from every angle, leaving Gray cornered with nowhere left to turn. At last, the assistant gathered his strength into a decisive blow and drove it straight toward Gray's chest. The impact sent the boy staggering back before he collapsed to the ground.

His sword slipped from his grasp. Silence hung for a heartbeat before part of the crowd erupted in laughter and mockery, while others rose to their feet, clapping in respect for his courage and endurance.

Up in the stands, Ken watched in silence. He showed neither shock nor disappointment; instead, a faint smile touched his lips—one that carried quiet satisfaction. It was as if he had foreseen this outcome from the start, and yet he had found in Gray exactly what he'd been searching for.

Before the exhausted boy was dragged from the arena, he lifted his head weakly, his eyes scanning the crowd. When they found Ken, it was as if they asked a trembling question: "Was I enough?"

Ken answered without words—only a reassuring smile and a slight nod. A brief, human moment, yet more than enough to fill Gray's heart with pride… even as he lay defeated.