The Return Of The Exiled Villain

The arena's doors groaned open behind him as the echoes of the crowd cheering his nickname, "FINGERCRUSHER!" still bounced off the walls.

Gray walked slowly, his boots leaving a faint trail of crimson across the white-stone floor of the coliseum's corridor.

His breathing was steady but strained, and the blood on his arms had already begun to dry, leaving his skin tight and itchy beneath the sunlight.

[You know... you're starting to enjoy this a little too much~]

Jasmine whispered sweetly in his ear.

Gray didn't reply.

He just stepped out into the open courtyard near the waiting chambers, lifting his gaze to the wide sky.

The air was hot, and the sun was even hotter, but somehow he liked that. The heat made him feel alive.

But before he could even take a full breath...

CLACK.

The sound of polished boots on stone.

"You're quite the performer."

Gray slowly turned his head.

There she was.

The petite girl from before.

Short, maybe no taller than his chest. Straight brown hair tied back in a simple braid, and hazel eyes that stared at him with a mixture of caution and sharp interest.

Her military-style coat, dark blue with white accents, bore the unmistakable insignia of the Virelian First Order on the shoulder.

Gray's eyes immediately narrowed.

"...You again."

"You remember me?" she asked, sounding more amused than surprised.

"I remember insignias," Gray replied flatly. "You're from the Order. Means you're strong, even if you look like a kid..."

The girl's lips pressed together, but not in irritation. However, she was a bit annoyed that he didn't mention their alley meeting.

She stepped closer, her boots tapping softly.

"You're bleeding from four places and limping slightly. And you've got a broken rib. And yet… You still had the energy to torture your opponent after knocking him out."

Her eyes studied him for a long moment.

"...Why?"

Gray didn't answer right away; instead, he looked away, shrugging a little.

"Because I felt like it."

"And you think that's normal?"

He turned back to her, his black eyes dark and unreadable.

"No."

"But I never claimed to be normal."

A long silence stretched between them.

The wind tugged lightly at the girl's coat.

"...What's your name?" she finally asked, folding her arms.

Gray scoffed, starting to walk past her.

"I don't hand that out for free."

But just as he passed her shoulder, she spoke again.

"Gray Vireux D'Aurélion, Exiled Noble of D'Aurélion."

Gray froze mid-step.

She smiled slightly, turning her head just enough for him to see the curve of her cheek.

"I looked into you after your first fight. I make it a habit of watching monsters closely… before they're leashed."

"...Is that what you came to do?" Gray muttered.

"Put a leash on me?"

"No," she replied.

"I came to see if you were worth keeping alive."

"...And?"

The girl turned fully toward him now, her hazel eyes flicking across his face.

A faint blush crept up her cheeks.

"...You're prettier up close."

Gray blinked.

[Ooooh~, my, my, what a lady killer!]

Jasmine giggled in his head.

The girl's face quickly hardened again, and she straightened up her shoulders.

"…Rest up, 'Fingercrusher'... Although now I won't be able to catch you... I'll do it soon enough..."

With that, she turned and walked away, her braid swaying behind her.

Gray stared after her in silence for a few moments.

"Tsk..."

"Annoying little brat."

But despite his words, a faint grin tugged at the corner of his lip.

"At least she knows that she won't be able to catch me that easily," Gray muttered.

"But... It's quite annoying that she knows my identity. But how? The last time I showed my face in public was like three years ago, and I've changed a lot. How come she recognized me?" He added thoughtfully.

[Just relax for now~, don't waste your thoughts on those little things.]

Jasmine's voice echoed through his mind.

Gray just nodded slighly, although he kept thinking about a reason.

He spent around fifteen minutes taking a breather before returning inside the arena and getting to the rusty gate.

"..Three years in hiding. No portraits. And still... she recognized me." His voice was barely a whisper, eyes half-lidded in thought.

"Which means someone's been watching me... Closely."

[Ohoho~ You've got fans, Gray. Secret ones~]

"Or stalkers," he muttered dryly.

[Same thing, darling.]

'...But I doubt that, my reputation was worse than shit.'

Gray rolled his shoulders, ignoring the sharp sting in his ribs.

The wounds had been wrapped hastily with a bandage he had bought before, but he still hurt a lot.

And right now, he didn't want to spend his money on potions.

Crrrrk… CRASH!

The gate suddenly creaked open again.

Light poured into the waiting chamber, and the heat of the afternoon sun spilled over his skin.

[It's time for your final fight~]

He stepped out slowly, his boots crunching against the arena sand, where dried blood formed dark patterns underfoot.

The cheers spiked again at the sight of him.

"FINGERCRUSHER!"

"FINGERCRUSHER!!"

He didn't raise a hand or do anything to reply to their words.

His eyes were already locked on the far gate, where his supposedly next toy was supposed to appear.

"And now…!!"

The announcer's voice suddenly boomed even more dramatically than before.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…!"

"HE'S BACK!!"

"A FAN FAVORITE, THE SILVER SHADOW, THE SMILING KILLER, THE YOUNGEST 'TWINS-STYLE' DUELIST IN THE CITY—KAEL OF THE TWIN FANGS!!"

The moment the name dropped, a roar unlike any before erupted from the coliseum.

Gray's eyes narrowed instantly.

From the opposite gate, loud mechanical clanks echoed, followed by the heavy rattle of chains being drawn open.

A thick mist poured out, artificial, Gray could tell from the faint alchemical scent in the air.

A silhouette appeared within.

He walked out slowly, deliberately, his two short swords glinting in the light like polished fangs.

Kael.

He was young.

Maybe eighteen at most, with silver hair tied loosely behind his back, strands falling over one eye like a lazy veil. His face carried a permanent smile, not warm, not kind, but sharp… crooked.

He wore no armor. Just tight black training gear wrapped around a thin, almost feminine frame.

But his every step was laced with grace. Fluid and lethal, like a snake that knew it didn't need to strike to scare you.

The crowd screamed for him.

"KAEL!!"

"SLICE HIM!!"

"SHOW US THE FANGS!!!"

Gray tilted his head slightly as Kael entered the arena floor. Their eyes met for only a second, and Kael's grin widened.

Like he'd already seen the future, and it was painted in Gray's blood.

[Ohohohoho~!]

Jasmine giggled in his mind, practically purring.

[Now this one's interesting. Look at that face~ He's been close to death many times… I can smell it.]

"He's one of the Silver Class duelists…" Gray muttered under his breath. "Didn't think they'd throw me in against one..."

"I'm fucked."

[Yes, you probably are.]

The announcer spoke again:

"AND HIS OPPONENT—THE MAN WHO SENT RUFAR TO THE HEALERS WITH TEN SHATTERED FINGERS—GRAY! A.K.A... FINGERCRUSHER!!!"

The cheers mixed this time.

Applause and admiration, yes, but also fear.

And disgust.

That name was already gathering weight.

Gray stepped forward from the gate, his rapier on his hand, his black boots dragging faint lines in the sand.

He only stared.

Kael bowed slightly, one sword behind his back, the other raised across his chest in an elegant, mocking salute.

"Gray, right?" Kael called out softly, his voice oddly sweet.

"You made quite the mess in your last fight. I like it."

Gray said nothing, stepping into the center of the blood-soaked stage.

[He's analyzing you already…]

Jasmine whispered, her tone darkening slighly as she remembered that if Gray died, she would also die.

[Watch his feet. He dances, that one.]

Then, the final command came.

"BEGIN!!"

Kael vanished.

He didn't even blur in Gray's eyes; he simply vanished.

Gray twisted instantly, raising his rapier...

Clang!!

Twin short swords clashed against his rapier from both sides.

Kael had moved behind him with silent steps, his blades crossing to clamp Gray's weapon like a pair of scissors.

"So slow~" Kael whispered behind his ear, making Gray feel his breath,

PLOP!

Gray's foot slammed backward, aiming for his shin, but Kael was already gone, flipping backwards midair.

Sand sprayed from the landing, light and graceful.

And Kael had the same stupid smile.

Fwip...

He threw his blades into the air, starting to play around as he stared into Gray's black eyes.

"Mhm... you're much weaker than I thought. I guess... rumours definitely can't be trusted~" Kael grinned slighly.

In response, Gray raised his rapier again, now watching more carefully. But of course, he didn't reply to Kael's mindless words.

[This is going to be a tough fight...]

Jasmine muttered, her tone had changed a lot now as she knew that Gray could potentially die.

But to her words, Gray only smiled.

His signature smile, the devilish smirk.

"Nah... people like him are easy to deal with."