[ Last Stand (Level 5) ]

[ Description: When Health drops below 50%, the user’s Strength and Endurance increase by 50%. Damage taken is reduced slightly, allowing the user to continue fighting even when heavily injured. This effect lasts until the user’s Health recovers above the threshold. ]

Alfie’s passive skill had triggered the moment Kai’s gauntlet blow connected.

He could actually block that move and avoid getting damaged.

However, he needed to trigger the Last Stand if he wanted to match Kai’s stats!

After all, Kai was already Level 30, and he was missing five more levels to match that.

With that in mind, he took the blow head-on, and soon, Alfie straightened. His breathing became steady, his grip on the Crimson Battleaxe tightened as he prepared to strike.

His body seemed heavier as if his muscles had locked into place.

Kai narrowed his eyes. "So that’s your passive... Last Stand. I heard it from Farrah..."

Alfie grinned. "Exactly. You thought you had me, but this skill makes me harder to knock down. You’ll need more than brute force."

Kai flexed his gauntlet. "Then I’ll just hit harder."

The sparring resumed.

Alfie swung the Crimson Battleaxe in a wide arc, aiming to force Kai back. Kai’s Keen Sense sharpened his perception.

He caught the subtle shift in Alfie’s stance... He saw tense movement of his shoulder muscles, and he moved before the blade could connect. He sidestepped, then drove his gauntlet into Alfie’s ribs.

Bang!

The strike landed cleanly, but Alfie barely flinched. He even smiled at that strike!

His enhanced endurance absorbed the blow.

’Is that chainmail?’ Kai wasn’t sure but he knew that he had just hit something.

It wouldn’t even be surprising if Alfie had another Gene Weapon hidden in his body.

"You’re tough... I’ll need to take this more seriously." Kai muttered.

After the cooldown was over, he activated the gauntlet again, channeling Spirit Energy.

This time, he moved faster and his fist slammed into Alfie’s shoulder, the force drove him back several steps. The crowd gasped at the sheer impact, but Alfie steadied himself, refusing to fall.

Alfie laughed. "Fine! That’s two solid hits for you. One more and you win. But I’m not going down that easily."

Alfie knew it himself. The Brutal Impact didn’t just affect his external body. There was a hidden force behind it that was making his internal organs shake.

Still, his Gladiator Talent wasn’t just a name...

It gave him high vitality, endurance, and physique that other would die for...

Soon, he swung the Crimson Battleaxe overhead, aiming for Kai’s head. Kai raised his gauntlet to block.

Bang!

The impact rattled his arm, but his Bronze Skin and Physique boost held firm once again...

He pushed back, forcing Alfie’s weapon aside, then struck again.

Alfie turned, letting Kai’s last strike glance off his armor. "Close... but not enough. My turn."

He shifted his stance and activated the axe’s secondary effect. The Crimson Battleaxe carried extra force and its edge was sharpened by the weapon’s resonance!

"Ha!"

Alfie swung low and this time, it happened so fast that the blade scraped across Kai’s left shoulder.

It was not an injury that Kai would be bothered with since his Bronze Skin would just close it up like always.

However, this time, the strike that cut shallowly into flesh didn’t close. It wasn’t deep, but apparently, it was enough to trigger the weapon’s effect.

Kai frowned as blood began to flow from the wound, staining his shirt.

"That’s Blood Rend," Alfie said with a grin. "Once it cuts, it bleeds."

Kai stepped back, wiping the blood quickly. His Keen Sense kept him alert, tracking Alfie’s movements even as the bleeding drained his stamina.

The Gladiator pressed forward, swinging in horizontal and vertical slashes trying to overwhelm Kai with sheer power.

Kai dodged left, then right, conserving his Spirit Points.

He waited for Brutal Impact’s cooldown to reset.

Alfie pressed harder, and each swing of the Crimson Battleaxe carried the weight of his Gladiator Talent, forcing Kai to stay mobile.

The crowd watched in silence as they didn’t expect this result.

Kai smirked. "Now."

He then charged forward, activating Brutal Impact once more. His fist slammed into Alfie’s chest, harder than before.

The Gladiator stumbled, and his axe dropped slightly as the force drove him back.

Just like that, Alfie dropped to one knee, panting. He couldn’t help but laugh as he knew that he had fought really well against the Guild Leader.

"Three hits. You win."

Kai lowered his gauntlet. "Your axe is powerful..."

Alfie stood, resting the axe on his shoulder again. "True. But in a real fight, I’d use everything... My talent, my full skills. You’d have a harder time then."

Kai smirked. "Then we’ll save that for the battlefield. For now, this sparring was enough."

Alfie let himself drop to the ground, landing on his backside with a heavy exhale.

He leaned against the wall as he retracted his Gene Weapon.

"Whew... That was awesome..." he admitted.

Seeing this, the crowd finally began to disperse. The fight was over, and the entertainment had ended.

Survivors returned to their tasks, though many still talked about what they had just witnessed.

***

Soon, Kai was about to head back to his quarters to rest when he stopped in his tracks.

Sera and Althea were waiting near the corridor. Both looked healthier than he remembered, their complexions were clear, and they looked more confident...

They had changed into fresh clothes, and judging by the faint scent of soap, they had just finished bathing.

Sera’s ash‑blonde hair and pale brown eyes made her really attractive. Then, Althea’s long dark hair framed her pale skin, giving her a calm but striking presence.

"Kai," Sera said softly, "we need to speak with you. Privately."

Kai blinked, confused. "Privately? Now?"

Althea nodded. "Yes. It’s important."

Though puzzled, Kai agreed.

He led them into his workshop. The room wasn’t much... shelves stacked with loot, crates of supplies, and a desk cluttered with notes. Most of the heavy work was done elsewhere. Kai mainly used this place to organize and plan.

He gestured for them to sit. "Alright. What’s happening?"

The two exchanged a glance before Althea spoke. "We heard something... Victor has already fixed the Dragoons."