**Volume 2: Upper World**

  **Chapter 75: In Between**

  January 3rd, 9:02 p.m. – Central Arena (Mara vs Jane – Continued)

  Everything went white.

  Mara blinked — slow — like waking up from a dream he didn’t remember falling into. The roar of the crowd, the burn of the floodlights, the copper stink of his own blood — all gone. Just white. Endless. Quiet.

  Then shapes formed.

  His mom — standing in the kitchen doorway, apron dusted with flour, smiling the way she used to when he came home with a busted lip from some kid who thought he could push him around. “You okay, baby?” she asked, voice soft like summer wind.

  His dad — behind her — tall, broad, arms crossed, same proud look he gave when Mara brought home his first hunt trophy. “Told you you’d get through it.”

  Mara looked down.

  Sky was there — kneeling in front of him — gray hoodie torn, blue eyes steady even through the tears.

  “You did it,” Sky said — voice cracking just a little. “You really did it.”

  Mara shook his head — slow — throat tight.

  “The fight isn’t even over. This is all in my head.”

  Sky stepped closer — wrapped his arms around Mara — hugged him tight like he was afraid Mara might disappear if he let go.

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  “I believe in you,” Sky whispered against his shoulder. “Keep going.”

  Mara closed his eyes — felt the warmth of the hug — the steady heartbeat against his chest — the way Sky’s voice shook but didn’t break.

  Then the white cracked.

  He snapped back.

  The arena rushed in — floodlights blinding, crowd roaring, blood on his tongue, Jane standing ten feet away — core scar pulsing brighter, black-red energy coiling around his fists like smoke. Jane’s arm was still gone — stump smoking — but the wound was closing slow, black-red flesh knitting like it hurt more than he’d admit.

  Jane clapped once — sharp — and a massive cut began to build — air splitting, space itself tearing open in a long, glowing red line aimed straight for Mara’s heart.

  Mara ran — off the wall — kicked Jane in the face.

  The hit landed clean — boot to jaw — Jane’s head snapped sideways — blood sprayed in a bright arc. He didn’t even see Mara move. The speed was too much — too clean — too fast.

  Mara landed — spun — started boxing Jane up.

  Fists blurred — left-right-left — ribs cracking, cheek splitting, Jane’s head rocking with every hit. Jane blocked some — took others — black-red aura flaring brighter with each impact. Inside his head, Jane thought: *This guy is getting stronger than me? No. I can’t let that happen.*

  Jane’s aura surged — black-red turning thicker, hotter — power growing. He made a new technique — **Crimson Collapse** — fist glowing molten red — punched Mara with every ounce of will energy he had left.

  The hit landed like a freight train.

  Mara flew — body twisting mid-air — slammed into the far wall so hard the stone shattered outward in a cloud of dust and debris. Metal bars bent backward. The impact echoed through the dome — crowd gasping, some standing, some screaming.

  Jane fell to one knee — coughing blood — looked at Mara’s crater in the wall.

  Then he stood — slow — formed a small fireball — crimson, spinning — and threw it.

  Mara pushed out of the rubble — blood running from his mouth, ribs cracked, void eye dim but still glowing. He raised one hand — palm out — will energy surging blue-white.

  **In Between Colors.**

  The barrier shimmered again — between light and shadow — heat haze over pavement — catching the fireball mid-air. It exploded against the barrier — flames roaring — but the barrier held. Mara focused — half on holding it, half on breathing.

  He got up — slow — legs shaking — blood dripping from his chin.

  Jane waited — smiling — core scar pulsing brighter.

  Sky watched from the stands — heart in his throat — Frosty gripping his arm so hard her nails dug in. Max shadows curled around his fists — Hiro’s hands glowing faint gold — Mira’s crow on her shoulder — Aoi’s spatial cracks flickering — Kira katana ready — Taka silent but tense.

  The announcer’s voice cut through — calm, mechanical.

  “Update: Mira is in critical condition. Hospital staff are attempting to keep her alive. Severe burns. Unstable.”

  Sky’s breath caught — eyes snapping to the screen — then back to the pit.

  Frosty whispered — voice shaking — “She’s alive…”

  Sky nodded — slow — tears in his eyes.

  Jane stepped forward — black-red aura rolling — building something bigger.

  Mara stood — shaky — void eye glowing one last time.

  The chapter ended.

  To be continued…