The entire coliseum fell into a hushed, almost sacred silence as Shae's body crashed to the ground, blood unfurling beneath him like a crimson stain of finality.
A cold dread swept through the crowd—silent but tangible, crawling under their skins like a second, colder wind. Eyes widened. Mouths parted, soundless. Disbelief collided with horror, and neither blinked first.
It was more prominent among the students, but even the mundane spectators—those untrained in battle—felt it. A collective shiver rippled across the audience, born not from empathy, but something far more primal.
Even Northern's battles—domineering and ferocious as they were—had never unsettled the crowd like this. This… this was different. Twisted. It felt less like a duel and more like an execution.
The girl... she might actually kill the vice president.
