The Uprising (The Mamluks Saga: Episode 2) Read Online Free

sides.
    The screens were being projected from a set of hovercrafts that were mounted on the perimeter of the arena. In the distance, I could see another series of holographic screens going around the stadium on the outside. Clearly, those screens were for the hundreds of thousands of spectators who couldn’t get in.
    I checked nearby and saw Ignas a few seats up. I smiled and waved. He smiled back and gave me a kind nod. I turned and studied Dalia. She was so calm, looking on with a loving stare.
    “How are you feeling, Great Dalia?”
    She glanced at me and beamed. “I have ruled for a long time, Emily. To see us come this far fills my heart with joy.” She reached down and gripped my hand.
    I held on tight and looked down at the stadium floor, feeling a burst of adrenaline.
    Fight well, Juozas.

Chapter 9: Juozas
    I was standing in the challenger’s tunnel, waiting for the first horn to sound, listening to the crowd roar. My palms were sweating and my heart rate rapidly increased with every passing moment. I took deep breaths and tried to relax. I rolled my neck and practiced a few moves.
    This is my time. My destiny. My fight to win.
    Finally, the first horn went off. I faced the light at the end of the tunnel and walked forward. As I passed the darkness and stepped into the stadium, the deafening applause nearly shattered my eardrums. Still, I smiled and waved at the crowd as I marched to the center of the stadium.
    At that moment, the adrenaline sparked and engrossed my body. I stood completely still and stared at the other tunnel.  Moments later, as I waited, I bounced on my feet and threw some light punches, trying to shake off some nerves. At last, the second horn sounded. 
    I clenched my fist as I watched Father come out of the tunnel. He was glaring at me, disregarding the crowd. Father stopped about ten feet away. I stood tall and glared back at him. Then slowly, the crowd silenced.
    The third horn sounded. The fight had begun. We started circling each other and the crowd erupted into an uproar. Father was moving carefully, walking with his hands down. I knew he was trying to lure me, so I moved in cautiously and prepared to strike. Father froze and grumbled. 
    I went in for a punch but he leaned back and dodged the shot. Still, I didn’t charge him. Father’s only advantages were strength and experience. He wanted me to attack so he could grab me and pin me to the ground.
    Father backed away and pretended like he wasn’t watching. I edged forward and tried to kick his leg, but he side-stepped me. Obviously, he had examined my fighting style well. Even so, all I needed was one good shot, and my speed would eventually catch up to him.
    I inched close and finally caught his chin with a quick jab. The shot did nothing. Father smiled, backed away, then stood still and put his arms out.
    He looked at me with seething eyes and screamed, “Attack!”
    Once again, I didn’t accept the lure. Instead, I planned to toy with him until he made a mistake.
    I ran at him and quickly stepped back before getting too close. Father tried to grab me but missed badly. I did it again, but this time I narrowly slid through his legs, surprising him. He tried to turn around but I got up before he could face me.
    I jumped high and delivered a front kick to his face. The strike knocked him to the ground. The crowd rose like a wave in the ocean, cheering loud as I moved in. Father quickly stumbled to his feet and backed away. I attacked him with a swift combination. He tried to grab me but I was able to elude him.
    I followed up with a devastating kick to his leg that buckled him. Without pause, to capitalize on his moment of weakness, I sent a vicious spinning kick to the side of his head. Father fell down again, bleeding now. The crowd went crazy as I hurried to him. I dropped a knee into his chest and battered him with punches.
    Father desperately tried to get up but couldn’t. After struggling for a while, he let out a