They Called Me Forsaken, Not Knowing I Was the Dragon God

Chapter Eight

Ria watched the exchange in silence, her eyes moving between them as she began to understand that there was far more history between the three people standing before her than she had initially assumed.

Cassius stepped forward.

“Aeron.”

Aeron turned toward him.

“You seem to have forgotten who you’re speaking to.”

A sneer formed at the corner of Aeron’s mouth.

“Then remind me.”

Cassius’s jaw tightened. The atmosphere changed instantly. He really wanted to deal with Aeron!

Even Ria’s eyes sharpened. She clearly didn't tolerate disrespect.

Cassius stared at Aeron for several seconds before a slow smile appeared on his face, and although the smile looked controlled, the tension in his fingers betrayed how deeply the casual dismissal had irritated him.

“You survived one execution and suddenly believe you’re important.”

“I didn’t say that,” Aeron hissed, feeling irritated.

“You don’t need to.” Cassius glanced toward the arena. “If you’re determined to embarrass yourself, at least make it entertaining.”

Ria folded her arms and asked, “Are you planning to bet?”

Cassius looked at her, shrugging, “Obviously.”

A bookmaker immediately hurried forward.

Cassius placed a heavy pouch of coins onto the table.

“All of it on Ria.”

The bookmaker’s eyes widened. “All of it, Your Highness?”

“Did I stutter?” Cassius gave him a cold look.

Ria laughed quietly. “ You have that much faith in your cousin?”

“I know exactly what you’re capable of.”

Cassius looked at Aeron.

“And he doesn’t.”

Ria stepped into the arena.

Aeron followed silently, lowering his eyes. He didn't came here for a bet but refusing it would allow more mockery from Cassius and Elara. He had enough of them! Since they want it, he might as well give it to them! If things go well, he might even earn some coins….

The noise inside the fighting ground rose immediately, with gamblers shouting numbers, coins changing hands, and several fighters pushing closer to the railing because everyone wanted to see the supposed Forsaken get crushed by the woman who had never lost a serious fight in the arena.

Ria stopped several feet away from Aeron.

“You can still leave.”

Aeron shook his head vehemently. Leaving would only make things worse for him! Besides, it was already too late.

“You’re stubborn,” the lady commented with a huff.

“So I’ve been told.” He straightened himself, mentally preparing for what was coming.

Her mouth curved faintly. Without warning , she leaped and attacked!

Aeron barely raised his arm before Ria’s fist slammed into it, and the impact forced him several steps backward as pain shot from his forearm into his shoulder!

The crowd roared, cheering loudly!

Ria did not wait at all. She crossed the distance immediately, struck toward his ribs, changed direction halfway through the attack, and drove her knee into his stomach when he moved to block.

Aeron’s breath caught, almost wheezing! His eyes dimmed.

Before he could recover, she seized his shoulder and threw him onto the ground!

Gbam!

The impact rattled his bones!

The crowd erupted even more!

“He’s finished!”

“That’s the Forsaken?”

“Three minutes? He won’t last thirty seconds!”

Elara smiled with satisfaction. In her mind, she was already thinking ‘ serves you tight!’

The same goes for Cassius as he leaned back comfortably. It seemed like he has already witnessed the scene of Arron’s skull been crushed!

Jace gripped the railing, shouting and urging Aeron to not give in..

Finally, Aeron pushed himself up. He sucked in a deep breath and squinted his eyes…

Ria was already waiting, confident she had things under control like always.

She moved again, but this time Aeron anticipated the first strike and twisted away, allowing her fist to pass his face before he stepped inside her range and struck toward her ribs.

Ria blocked quickly but Aeron struck again.

She dodged that one too!

For the first time, the crowd became quieter…

Aeron pressed forward, while Ria gave ground. His third strike nearly connected.

She snorted, then disappeared from his sight.

Aeron felt the blow before he saw it! Her fist struck his side.

His body twisted violently. A second blow hit his shoulder and the third caught his jaw! He stumbled instantly , almost losing his balance.

Ria swept his legs out from under him and brought her heel down toward his chest.

Aeron rolled away at the last possible second.

The ground cracked beneath her foot!

He stared at the mark, his face a mixture of hidden horrow and disbelief. Nonethless, he managed to conceal it. .

Ria straightened herself and marched forward.

“That was close.” Aeron wiped blood from his mouth. “You almost missed.”

The curve on Ria’s face widened. “I don’t miss twice.” She attacked again.

However, Aeron was ready. He blocked her first strike, slipped beneath the second, and struck her stomach hard enough to force her backward.

The crowd gasped!

Ria touched the spot he had hit and she looked up. Her expression changed.

“Interesting.”

Aeron’s chest rose and fell heavily. He was still trying to catch his breath..

Ria came forward again!

Their attacks collided in rapid succession, and for several seconds neither of them gained clear control, with Aeron dodging, blocking, and countering while Ria kept changing her rhythm so that he could never settle into a pattern.

Aeron landed another strike but Ria answered with two!

He ducked beneath one attack. However, she caught him with the next.

He staggered, almost losing his footing.

She pressed forward, determined and her expression became fierce!

Aeron retreated……one step, two,,,……three….till his back finally struck the arena wall!

The crowd exploded!

Ria stopped several feet away.

Elena’s smile returned, appearing confident.

Cassius leaned forward, anticipating the final ending..

“It’s over.”

Ria raised her hand, aiming to struck it towards….

Aeron’s breathing had become heavier now, his ribs aching with every breath, and for the first time the strength he had awakened that morning seemed painfully distant as he stared at the woman standing before him.

Valeor stirred around his arm.

‘Do not force the power through your body’

Aeron swallowed.

‘I know.’

‘ stop trying to overpower her.’ Valeor invaded his thought.

It was at this moment something changed…..

Suddenly, Aeron’s eyes became sharper than before!

Ria charged again, preparing to deliver the final blow.

Seeeing this, Aeron moved!

Her fist missed, which made her turned. Regardless she didn’t stop and struck low.

Aeron jumped immediately, blocking it! Her elbow followed but he twisted away.

The sequence was fast enough that the crowd could barely follow it, but Aeron was no longer watching her hands.

He was watching everything else; Her feet, shoulders, breathing.

The way she shifted her weight before every heavy strike. And then he saw it - the opening. Not once, not twice.

Every time she committed to her strongest attack, her right side remained exposed for less than a second before she recovered.

Aeron waited this time while Ria attacked. He retreated and she followed.

Her confidence grew because she believed she had finally forced him into a corner.

Aeron allowed her to believe it.

Then, Ria drew her fist back. The crowd started screaming again. Even Cassius was almost to stand up to claim victory.

Elena raised brows, her eyes glinting. She couldn't to see Aeron losing so bad and proving her decision to leave him was right..

Aeron’s fingers curled into a fist.

Now!

He drew only a tiny amount of Valeor’s strength into his body, enough to sharpen his movement without unleashing the frightening power hidden beneath the ancient beast.

Ria’s fist came toward his chest. That kind of blow wss enough to shatter his chest bone!

Aeron stepped aside, allowing her attack to miss again. Afterwards, he caught her wrist immediately!

Ria swiftly trued to twist her body and drove her knee toward his stomach, but Aeron had already anticipated it. Although the strike grazed his side, he kept his grip, stepped across her balance point, and turned with her momentum.

Ria’s eyes widened, disbelief ans shock etching on her face…

For the first time, she realized what he was doing.

Aeron used her own force against her.

He pulled, turned and threw her!

Ria crashed onto the arena floor hard enough to send dust into the air!

Bang!

Silence swallowed the arena. The crowd stood frozen. It felt like time had stopped!

Cassius’s smile vanished.

Elara’s face went completely still, almost cracking…

Aeron remained standing, his chest rising and falling as he fought to control the strain burning through his muscles.

Ria slowly pushed herself upright. She looked at him, drawing her brows together. Then, she laughed once.

A dry one.

Not because the defeat was funny but because she finally understood it all

“You weren’t trying to beat me.”

Aeron said nothing, turning away from her. He wiped the blood from his mouth.

“You were studying me.” Ria stood up, dusting herself. Her pride had clearly taken a hit, but her eyes were alive with something else now ….interest.

She looked toward the betting table, before shifting her gaze to Cassius.

“You just cost my cousin a fortune.”

Aeron glanced at Cassius, his expression unreadable but calm.

“I didn’t ask him to bet.”

Cassius’s fingers tightened around the crushed betting slip in his hand!!

Elena watched Aeron walk away, and for the first time that evening, there was no smile on her face. This was not what she had planned! Aeron was supposed to beg!! Her fingers clenched so hard, the skin turned red!

No! She wouldn't take this!

Meanwhile, Ria’s eyes remained fixed on Aeron’s back.

“Find out who he really is….”