[@Sanity43217] - Asset Goal - ?
[@CorvianMERCDB] - Asset Goal - ?

The sand takes it all and gives nothing back.

At the red line the shield thug snaps a feint high and chases with a board charge. Don slips by a hair, shoulders brushing wood. The rim scrapes his sleeve instead of his ribs. He answers on instinct with a short, mean shot as he passes. Knuckles thud against cheek strap. The thug rocks back a half step, eyes wide behind the slit. Blood beads under one brow. He is still up, but only just. The board hangs a finger low as his breath rasps. [b][Shield Thug takes 1 damage][/b]

Across the ring Varius shifts the lane on the dockside bruiser. The net is gone, the hook is low, and then the world flips. A hard step, a turn of hip, and the bruiser hits the sand with a flat smack that draws a full-body groan from the cheap seats. He scrabbles up fast out of pride more than sense. The rise is shaky. He plants the hook and steadies, shoulders heaving, color gone from his face. One more hard kiss of the sand will finish him. [b][Dock Bruiser takes 2 damage][/b]

The knife runner steals a bead while the throw happens. A twitch of the wrist paints a fast line across Varius’s side as he reenters. It is not deep, but it stings wrong. Heat spreads along the cut, sharp and mean, like pepper ground under the skin. The runner’s mouth curls as he shakes the blade once. The crowd hisses at the taste of blood and the promise of more in a moment. [b][Varius takes 1 damage and will take another point of damage next turn due to poison if not treated: 4/5 HP][/b]

Up in the boxes Magnus Salinator remains a statue. Grand Mayor Maffeo leans his knuckles to the rail, eyes bright, as if admiring a tide about to turn.

[center]Neco-Arc[/center]
[center][img]https://ik.imagekit.io/maxxo/La%20Creatura%203.jpg?updatedAt=1758233464283[/img][/center]

On the tunnel lip Neco Arc funnels tiny paws to a tiny mouth. [b]“Good footsies, Red. Keep the buns in, fangs out. Watch the spicy knife, nya.”[/b]

The drumbeat holds. The shield man blinks through sweat and steadies his board. The bruiser squares, hook twitching. The runner dances one step left to test the sword line again. The next choice is yours.