Minutes passed.
The world around Alex blurred, the chaos reduced to muted embers and broken stone. His body screamed with every heartbeat, every twitch of movement. Consciousness dangled by a thread, and only sheer will kept him from collapsing.
He didn't move—couldn't, for a while.
But then… he did.
Slowly.
Each step forward felt like dragging his soul through broken glass, but he walked—toward the man still on his knees, the so-called champion of the Earth God.
Khepri.
He hadn't stood.
Not once.
The disbelief carved into his face was still etched deep like a scar that refused to heal. His hands trembled at his sides, dirt and blood smearing the remains in his once-pristine armor. His lips moved constantly, muttering, babbling, ranting to no one—except maybe himself.
"I can't lose," Khepri spat, his voice hoarse and cracking. "I was chosen by the Earth God. Their champion. How could I lose… to a boy who isn't even in the same rank!?"
