And just like that, I know.

"Let's go." I motion them to the bleachers, my eyes still on Vlad's almost naked body. "Trust him," I tell them when I see them hesitate.

"Sisi…" my brother groans, but I quickly shake my head.

"Think about this." I try to be as rational as possible. "Your men are coming here. In fact, as we speak they are on their way. If anything were to happen." I pause, because I can't fathom anything happening to Vlad. Now or ever. "They will have our backs."

"Fine…" he reluctantly agrees, and we all head to the seating area of the arena.

My hands in my lap, I'm trying my best not to show just how much I'm worried about this upcoming fight. Because while my trust is fully placed in Vlad and his abilities, this is Miles we're talking about. The same Miles who's been eluding Vlad for the past ten years.

He's bound to have something under his sleeve, and I know he's going to play dirty.

Alone in the middle of the field, Vlad looks like a barbarian warrior with his inked body and rippling muscles.

"I didn't know he packed that under his clothes," Adrian remarks, admiration in his eyes.

Truth is that Vlad's body is a work of art.

Not one ounce of fat, every muscle is defined, some better emphasized by the presence of the jet black ink against his pale skin.

The tattoos make him look even more dangerous if one pays attention to the details—the war scenes beautifully depicted on his flesh, the demons fighting to get out of him and lay siege to the world.

And as I watch him take his stance, I know he's ready to unleash them on whoever Miles will send.

"He's going to win," I state confidently.

"Of course he's going to win," Bianca snorts. "The guy's a war machine. I don't think there's anyone who can best him…" She abruptly stops as the doors in the arena open to reveal Vlad's opponent.

"I think I misspoke," she amends, blinking in surprise at the newcomer.

As he steps further into the arena, I get a good look at him.

He's massive.

That's my first thought as I take in his monstrous frame. Whereas Vlad's built is muscular but lean, his opponent looks like he's had his muscles pumped with air.

But it's not the way he looks that has me freaking out. It's what he's wearing.

His entire chest area is covered in some sort of armor with spikes protruding from within. It seems that the armor covers every weak spot in his body, thereby making him really indestructible.

He's holding a battle axe in each hand, wielding them around as if they're an extended part of his body.

"Dear God." The words slip from my lips.

He looks anything but human as he advances forward. And as I get a better look at him, I realize he has the same blank gaze as the soldiers we'd fought earlier.

"How can he get past that armor?" Bianca shakes her head, echoing my own thoughts.

There are very few open spots in the armor where the pieces meet each other. But other than that, there's absolutely no place Vlad could hit without hurting himself first.

The warrior smirks at Vlad, and that's when I realize he's holding something else under his armpit.

A helmet.

"My god." I can't help the way my body starts to shake, anxiety clinging to me like a second skin as I look between Vlad, all but naked, and the newcomer, all but armored.

He puts his helmet on, and just like his armor, it has spikes all over the top surface.

"I don't think I've ever seen an armor like that," Adrian notes, frowning at the metal piece.

"It must be heavy, right?" I ask, my eyes glued to the arena. When they agree, I continue. "Then Vlad has the speed advantage. I'm sure he can work something out. You know him," I half-turn, a feeble smile on my lips, "he's unbeatable."

"I wish I could share your enthusiasm, Sisi," my brother comments, his features grim.

The moment they are both within a few feet of each other, the battle's already begun.

I try my best to make out Vlad's expression, curious how he feels about his opponent. But then I remember.

He doesn't know fear.

And so my anxiety sparks up, because I don't want him to have reckless confidence. Not in the face of that.

They circle around each other, and Vlad seems to be assessing him, his eyes roving over the armor in what I can only guess is an attempt to find a weak spot.

"How do you even fight something like that…" Bianca mutters, getting closer to her husband.

"I don't think you do," he answers grimly.

His words worry me since he has years of experience as an underground fighter. So if anyone could gauge the odds of the match it would be him.

Yet the more he speaks, the more agitated I get.

Calm down.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath.

This is Vlad we're talking about. He's not only physically unbeatable, but he's also a genius. And if someone can beat the armored guy weaponless, then certainly it's him.

The giant charges him first, thrusting his armor-clad body into him and hoping to penetrate him with the spikes. Vlad is indeed faster as he ducks, rolling down on the floor toward the man's feet.

Gripping his ankles, one of the only areas not covered by spikes, he flexes his muscles to throw the man forward.

Vlad's entire face turns red from the exertion, and as much as the giant struggles to get out of his grasp, he can't. Instead, I watch dazed as Vlad uses his unnatural strength to lift him off the floor enough to catapult him forward.

The giant loses his equilibrium, the momentum causing him to fall face forward, his helmet slapping his face from the inside. No doubt, at the contact with the ground, the spikes also reverberate through his whole body. He reels back in pain, sluggishly trying to get up.

"No way," Bianca curses.

"How much do you think that man weighs?" I ask, still shocked by what I'd just witnessed.

"At least four hundred pounds. More with the armor," Marcello mutters an answer, his eyes fixed on the fight, his expression showing the same type of wonder I'm feeling.

"It's the angle that baffles me," Adrian comments, "that was one hell of a throw."

"I told you he can do this," I repeat, my confidence now stronger than before.

He can do it.

Just as the man tries to scramble up, Vlad quickly jumps up, managing to snatch one of the battle axes from the giant.

"Now they're a little more evenly matched," Bianca says, her eyes glued to the middle of the arena.

This time, it's Vlad who tackles his opponent, barging into him with his axe raised. The other man parries the blow, trying to land one of his own on Vlad's body.

Their movements are in sync as one hits and the other deflects, axe hitting on axe. Still, I can see that the other man is trying to get Vlad closer to him, so he can get crushed by his armor.

But as they continue to duel, it's pretty clear that their skills are on a similar level in that area.

"You can do it," I whisper a prayer to help him win.