Василиса Чмелева – Parasomnia (страница 16)

A jolt of white-hot pain seared through every nerve. I couldn't move—couldn't even twitch—as the energy pulses hammered me deeper into the sand like a nail.

"Do something already," the creature drawled, voice dripping with boredom. "Stop wasting our time, Kallinkorian. You're pathetic to watch."

The warrior's words had exactly the effect he'd intended. Blood rushed to my face as primal fury ignited in my chest – the kind of desperate rage that consumes a cornered animal with nowhere left to run. My knife slashed through the air in frenzied arcs, its blade growing hotter with each swing until it glowed a deep, ominous crimson.

This wasn't an ordinary weapon. It fed on my anger, growing stronger with every surge of emotion. Each strike left fresh scorching gashes across the warrior's armor, as if even his impenetrable metal couldn't withstand the force of my fury. Thick steam began pouring from between his armor plates, forming brief, humid clouds that instantly vaporized in the arena's blistering heat.

When the warrior finally screamed and staggered toward the exit, the crowd erupted in victorious cheers. The long-awaited gong sounded. Covered in sweat and sand – everywhere, absolutely everywhere – I approached the mantis-like creature in metal mesh who'd owned the knife.

"Keep it. Victor's spoils," it chittered.

The arena erupted into chaos as spectators began hurling objects from the stands. A rain of bizarre trophies descended – dented flasks, alien coins, what might have been a petrified fruit… and then, arching gracefully through the air, landed a lace-edged Kallinkorian corset-bra, its silver clasps glinting mockingly in the arena lights.

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