463 Glow like None Other
With the fights having been announced, Bella couldn’t help but feel giddy at the prospect of fighting a proper foe. She knew that Lady Evelyn was honorable enough to be a proper opponent, and she was honestly raring to go even as she held her breath in anticipation of being announced.
“And with that, we now return to our regularly scheduled bouts!” the announcer cheered, stirring the crowd above her into an excited frenzy. “First off, we have Lady Bella entering the arena!”
And with the sound of her name being called out, Bella nodded to herself before she strode forward. Walking into the open arena once more, she couldn’t help but wave at the crowd as she let herself go. There was no risk of dying in this one fight, so she didn’t need to be too tense.
In fact, now would be an excellent time to show off.
Her eyes scanned through the crowds, she couldn’t help but smirk as she saw Osman keeping an intense eye on her. Their eyes met, and she instantly blushed despite having seemingly prepared for such an occasion. After all, why else would he be here except to watch over her like he said he would?
[You must really like him enough to think that.]
Bella ignored her wolf’s teasing. How could she not like him when he was constantly trying to ingratiate himself to her? She’ll acknowledge his persistence at the very least. That, and the necklace he gave her was something that she should really thank him for.
[Look at you still running in circles around your own feelings,] Poona scoffed.
[I’m not running away from it,] Bella quickly defended herself. [I’m just observing, that’s all.]
[Keep telling yourself that after you just admitted to yourself that you wanted to show off to Osman,] Poona pointed out with a laugh.
“And now for her opponent, Lady Evelyn!”
Bella shook away the burning blush off her cheeks as she turned her gaze back down onto the arena. Right in front of her, Lady Evelyn strode forward, a confident gait in her strut as she brandished the same sword that she used just a while ago. Her opponent didn’t seem too serious like an hour ago, but it was clear that she was going to take this fight seriously.
“Lady Bella.”
“Lady Evelyn,” Bella respectfully replied. “I hope you’ve recovered well from your injuries.”
“I could say the same for you as well,” the older woman chuckled. “You took that lightning attack right in the chest. Are you sure you should be fighting?”
Bella scoffed. “I’m here now, right? I’m pretty sure I can handle it.”
The crowds seemed to cheer louder as they both nodded at each other, the show of respect getting great reviews even as the announcer began talking again.
“Now, with both contenders present, the fight will begin as soon as our King gives out his signal!”
At that, Bella assumed her fighting stance. Her claws bared ready, her opponent did the same as they eyed each other’s stance and gait for any weaknesses. Inevitably…
“Let the battle begin!”
***
At Darius’s signal, the two contenders darted across the arena. All the while, Osman couldn’t help but feel nervous as he watched Bella launch herself at her opponent. Even while barehanded, the sheer bravado that she displayed almost made him lose his breath with both admiration and worry.
‘I really hope you know what you’re doing…’
With bated breath, Osman gritted his teeth as the two women below began trading blows. While he knew that Bella could very well hold her own in a fight, that didn’t mean that he didn’t worry about her well being. She was unarmed, after all. And against a sword, she would have to rely on her speed and agility to get around the inherent weakness of not having a weapon.
Unlike the previous battle royale where two groups merely circled each other until an opportunity presented itself, this one-on-one battle had gotten into an explosive start as sparks flew between the two contenders. And of course, the crowd ate it all up as they cheered with each blow exchanged.
“Look at them go!”
“Now this is a fight!”
Osman shook his head as he heard some of the audience members beside him. To the untrained eye, it might seem that the fight was equal, but he could tell that one side was starting to win over the other.
Thankfully for his nerves, Bella was starting to gain ground as she began to push her opponent to the brink, putting on as much pressure as she could using her bare hands and feet while making sure to avoid the deadly blade hoping to swipe at her. It was almost a dance even, and Osman couldn’t help but watch as he saw Bella’s graceful yet ferocious movement, her enjoyment seeping through each and every one of her attacks.
“Woah! Lady Bella’s so fast!”
“She wasn’t that fast earlier…”
And wasn’t that the truth… Osman agreed with that one audience member. Bella wasn’t this fast when she was up against Pinra and her minions. In fact, she was a lot more defensive back then than how she was doing now.
‘She’s really letting herself loose,’ he inwardly commented, his eyes glued to Bella as she observed her. ‘Her attacks… Her stance… It all screamed confidence and sheer self-assurance that she would win…’
It was honestly a massive turn on, and Osman couldn’t help but blush as his eyes began wandering towards her lithe legs and strong arms. The way her body moved was like the ocean in a storm; deadly, and yet still showing the grace and elegance that was befitting of its stature.
Even as the match ended, the announcer’s words regarding Bella’s win didn’t even register in his ears as all of his attention remained solely on her sweaty form. The victorious grin on her face made her glow like none other. And seeing her move like that while she fought…
Against his own better judgment, he couldn’t help but imagine if he could make her replicate such moves in a more intimate setting.