Liam stood at the entrance of the ring, draped in a dark robe that fell just past his knees.
The fabric was thick enough to obscure his frame, loose enough to allow movement.
A simple mask covered the upper half of his face—nothing ornate, just a solid piece with two eye holes that gave him an anonymity he desperately needed right now.
Behind him, Ren paced back and forth, wringing his hands together like he was trying to squeeze water from stone.
"Are you sure?" Ren asked again, his voice cracking slightly. "Are you absolutely sure you want to go out there?"
Liam didn't answer immediately. He watched the arena, watched the way the crowd moved like a single organism, hungry and restless.
"You do know once you step into that ring, there's no rules, right? No help. Nothing." Ren stopped pacing and looked directly at Liam.
