- Back Alley -

  Walking through the alleys with his sack over his back, Sen entered a back alley fighting pit. The air was thick with sweat and the raw energy of a restless crowd. Onlookers shouted, fists pumping as two battered fighters struggled to knock each other out in the center of the pit.

  "Yosh! Tsudzukete!" someone yelled, urging them to continue.

  (Perfect. Just the pce I needed to be.)

  Sen’s sharp gaze scanned the pce. Some were here purely for the thrill, others to bet, and a few had different motives—scouts, recruiters, or debt collectors lurking in the shadows. It was a mix of desperate souls and predators, each looking to take or make something from the bloodshed.

  His attention locked onto the bookkeeper sitting behind a short wooden desk. A heavy-looking pouch rested beside him, undoubtedly filled with tonight’s bets. The man’s fingers twitched as he calcuted odds and scribbled down numbers, his eyes darting between the ongoing fight and those pcing wagers.

  Sen adjusted the strap of his sack, smirking slightly. (If I’m going to make money, I might as well start here...).

  Taking a seat among the rowdy crowd, Sen leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he analyzed the fight.

  The fighter on the left was a lean human, whose movement was fluid and flexible, delivering blows while weaving between incoming attacks.

  The fighter to his right was a humanoid frog, muscur and stout, with bulging limbs that seemed to absorb the blows with ease. His movements were more predictable but packed a punch, his heavy fists hammering toward the human with brutal intent.

  "Ikuzo!" someone shouted, their voice ced with excitement.

  The human darted back, narrowly dodging a massive fist. His breath came in quick bursts, but his eyes remained sharp. He was on the defensive, waiting for an opening.

  The frog, sensing an advantage, lunged forward with a roar.

  "Uoooo!"

  The crowd roared, pushing to the edge of their seats.

  Sen's smirk deepened. (This one’s gonna end quick.)

  With a sudden move, the human dropped low, sweeping the frog’s legs out from under him. The crowd gasped, but the frog quickly caught himself, rolling back to his feet with surprising agility.

  However, in the same fluid motion, the human unched a powerful back kick aimed at the frog's chest.

  "Uooo!" the frog grunted, his body jerking from the impact as he staggered back, eyes wide with the shock of the unexpected counter.

  "Yō! Sō datta ka?" The human mocked, grinning as he shifted his stance, knowing his quick footwork was his edge.

  The frog, bellowing with rage, unched himself forward again, but this time, he aimed for the human’s legs with his massive fists.

  The man sidestepped the sweep, but the frog seized the moment, quickly shifting into a spinning swing that caught him by surprise.

  "Urusai!" a voice shouted from the back of the crowd, someone clearly frustrated with the constant noise.

  Sen’s eyes narrowed as the frog’s fist made contact with the human’s side, sending him crashing into the dirt. The crowd erupted in cheers, but the fighter on the ground wasn’t done yet. With a sharp grunt, the human rolled, managing to get back to his feet, his breathing ragged but focused.

  "Chikushō!" someone from the side cursed, clenching their fists.

  Sen leaned back in his seat slightly, his sack pressing against his side, but his focus never wavered from the pit. The crowd’s noise didn’t bother him; it was like white noise, drowned out by the adrenaline in the air.

  He could see how the human fighter was adapting, shifting his tactics, waiting for that one moment when the frog would overcommit.

  The frog pretended to throw a hammer fist, aiming to nd a devastating hit to the man's liver.

  As the haymaker from the amphibian nded on the abdomen, the force knocked the breath out of the man.

  But that was just the beginning. The creature grabbed the man with its powerful grip, hoisting him up and preparing to unleash a fierce uppercut directed at his vulnerable back.

  As Knuckles hit spine, a sharp crack rang out.

  The crowd's roar shifted to a mix of shock and excitement as the human crumpled to the ground, motionless for a brief moment.

  A medic came rushing to the man's side, pulling out a small vial from his pouch. Without hesitation, he dropped the contents of the vial into the man’s mouth.

  The liquid shimmered as it took effect, visibly sealing up the fighter’s wounds and stabilizing his breathing. Within seconds, the man’s body jerked, recovering from the brutal impact, though he still struggled to push himself up.

  Sen didn’t pay attention to the defeated man or the medic. His focus remained on the bookkeeper, who continued scribbling notes, his eyes darting between the combatants and the betters.

  (Opportunity’s right in front of me.)

  "Sa, sore wa subarashī!" someone cheered from the crowd, impressed by the frog's power.

  The bookkeeper, still scribbling furiously in his ledger, gnced over to the pit, a slight smirk on his face as he calcuted the odds. "Tōjō shita mono wa sorezore kōdo o mi ni tsukatte iru na," he muttered, his eyes darting over the combatants.

  Sen’s eyes flickered to the desk. He could smell the opportunity here—fights like this attracted the desperate and the broke, but it also meant there was money to be made for those who knew how to py the game. His lips curled into a grin as he finally broke his focus on the fighters.

  (These idiots think they can bet it all and fight for scraps.)

  He leaned back in his seat, gncing at the crowd that had already gathered their bets. Some were sweating, others gring at the combatants, while a few exchanged gnces as if sizing up the odds.

  (I suppose I can take my time figuring out their nguage and how things operate here.)

  -Csh of Beasts-

  After a while, two fighters stepped into the pit: one was a bear-like humanoid, and the other was a lizardman covered in scales.

  The crowd’s energy surged again as the two new fighters stepped into the pit.

  "Minna, junbi wa ī ka?" the bookkeeper called out, his voice carrying over the restless murmurs. Coins clinked, hands exchanged betting slips, and tension crackled in the air.

  Sen watched closely, noting how the humanoid bear cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders with the ease of a seasoned brawler. His fur was coarse, his physique a mountain of muscle, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly.

  The lizardman, in contrast, moved with a deliberate grace, his lean frame adorned with battle scars. His yellow eyes were cold, calcuting, as his forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air.

  "Kaishi da!"

  A gong sounded, and the two fighters circled each other.

  The bear struck first, lunging forward with a powerful haymaker. The sheer force of his swing was enough to make the air whistle.

  But the lizardman was fast.

  He ducked low, sidestepping the strike before countering with a sharp kick to the bear’s ribs. A dull thud echoed, but the bear barely flinched.

  Sen smirked. (Tough bastard.)

  The lizardman clicked his cws together before dashing in, aiming to strike at pressure points. His fingers moved like daggers, targeting the bear’s joints, his speed making it difficult for the rger fighter to counter.

  The bear growled in annoyance. Instead of dodging, he let the lizardman get close—then *boom!*

  A heavy knee smmed into the reptilian warrior’s gut.

  "Ugh!" The lizardman’s body jerked, the breath knocked out of him.

  But as the bear attempted to follow up, the lizardman twisted his body unnaturally, slipping away like a snake.

  Sen chuckled under his breath. (Not bad. He’s quick, but that won’t matter if the bear catches him again.)

  The lizardman hissed, wiping his mouth, and then shot forward with a sudden burst of speed.

  This time, he aimed lower. His cwed foot swept beneath the bear’s ankle, throwing off his bance.

  "Yare yare..." the bookkeeper muttered, watching the fight unfold.

  The bear stumbled but didn’t fall. Instead, he roared and smmed his foot down, shaking the ground.

  The crowd erupted.

  "Oi! Mō sukoshi da!"

  Sen tapped his fingers against his knee. The lizardman had the upper hand in speed, but if he made one mistake, the fight was over. The bear just needed one good hit.

  (How’s he gonna py this?)

  The lizardman knew it too. His movements became sharper, more precise. He weaved through the bear’s attacks, delivering quick, punishing strikes to the ribs, elbows, and neck.

  The bear grunted, his patience wearing thin. With a sudden shift in stance, he let the lizardman strike—then grabbed him by the wrist.

  "Nigeba wa nai zo."

  Before the lizardman could react, he was airborne.

  The bear swung him like a ragdoll, smming him into the dirt.

  *CRACK!*

  The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps as dust flew into the air.

  The lizardman twitched, struggling to push himself up, but the impact had rattled his bones. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he gred up at the bear, who stood towering over him, breathing heavily but still firmly pnted.

  "Fuhaha! Mō owarida!" the bear bellowed, flexing his cws before stepping closer.

  Sen exhaled through his nose, his eyes locked on the lizardman. (He’s got one st chance.)

  The lizardman’s fingers curled, cws digging into the dirt. His tail flicked, signaling something—a feint.

  The bear lifted his foot for a crushing stomp.

  Just as the heavy paw came down, the lizardman twisted his body unnaturally, bending like a whip. His tail shed out with deadly speed, striking the bear’s knee.

  "Ugh!?"

  The bear staggered, his massive body faltering for the first time. The lizardman didn’t waste a second—using the momentum from his tail strike, he sprang up, cws gleaming under the dim underground lights.

  *SLASH!*

  A deep gash tore through the bear’s chest.

  "UOOOOHHH!" The beast roared in pain, stumbling back.

  The crowd erupted into a frenzy, some cheering for the unexpected comeback, others cursing their lost bets.

  Sen chuckled under his breath, watching the shift in energy. (This bastard was waiting for that one moment.)

  But the bear wasn’t done.

  Even with blood soaking into his fur, he let out a deep breath and cracked his neck. His wild eyes locked onto the lizardman with renewed fury.

  "Temē… yoku mo…"

  The lizardman’s stance was lower now, poised to dodge. His tongue flicked out, tasting the air, sensing the adrenaline.

  "Korosu ka?" the lizardman taunted, a sharp grin spreading across his face.

  Sen’s smirk widened. (This shit just got good.)

  The bookkeeper, barely keeping up with the shifting odds, scribbled furiously on his ledger. "Kore wa omoshiroi na... Dō naru ka?"

  The bear charged, his massive frame moving faster than before. His raw strength could shake the pit, but the lizardman was lighter, sharper, and completely locked into the moment.

  The crowd leaned in.

  "Sa… saigo da!" someone yelled.

  Sen exhaled, eyes narrowing.

  (This is it. Who’s gonna break first?)