Tuesday night. The "Rusty Rat" Underground Arena, Dark Town District.
Fyar stood in the dark corridor that led to the arena. The air here was hot and stuffy, carrying the smell of sweat and a faint, subtle scent of blood. From the arena, the roar of hundreds of spectators could be heard.
After staying up all night studying his opponent, Fyar decided to use poison. With his Neutralize power, as long as he could slash his opponent just once, victory would be in his grasp.
He took out a clean cloth from his pocket and a small bottle containing a thick, dark purple liquid. With slow and careful movements, he poured the liquid onto the cloth, then wiped the tip of his katana’s blade. A faint, slightly sour aroma was barely perceptible.
Good thing Kail was willing to tell me where to buy this, Fyar thought to himself. He then put the cloth into his pocket and started walking out to the arena.
"NEXT UP!" the announcer’s hoarse voice resounded. "THE CHAMPION FROM THE WILD DOGS GANG... THE UNDEFEATED... CRIXUS ’THE RED WALL’!! "
The roar from the crowd grew louder.
"AND HIS CHALLENGER!" the announcer shouted. "THE FALLING STAR WHO SHOOK THE BETS... STARFALL!! "
Fyar stepped out of the dark corridor and into the bright firelight. The arena itself was a circle of packed dirt, surrounded by crowded stone stands. In the center, a large bonfire blazed, its heat palpable even from several meters away. In the VIP stands, a private stone balcony jutting out over the arena, Kail grinned widely while waving his hand at Fyar.
"YOU CAN DO IT, KID! BEAT HIM UP!!" Kail shouted.
In another VIP balcony, a brown-haired man dressed in a clean white military-style uniform with a matching white cape observed Fyar calmly. The man was Wilas.
"The boss is betting on this person. Hm, hm, hm... interesting. I’ve bet on you too, you know, kid," Wilas murmured with a smile on his face.
On another side of the stands, a dark-skinned woman with black hair, dressed in all white, watched the arena with a calm expression.
"NEXT UP!" the announcer’s hoarse voice resounded from the arena. "OUR CHAMPION, THE DESTROYER FROM THE WEST... WELCOME... CRIXUS ’THE RED WALL’!! "
The roar from the crowd grew louder. Fyar walked out of the dark corridor and into the bright firelight.
A man 2.3 meters tall with long, wild red hair stepped in from the opposite gate. He was bare-chested, his muscular body covered in scars and circular black tribal tattoos. He shouldered a double-bladed battle axe of an unreasonable size. He was Crixus.
This person is level 16... with the berserker class... The most troublesome thing about a berserker is their ability to harden their skin... even though he’s only level 16, that man’s physical ability is no joke, Fyar thought.
He walked slowly to the center of the arena, stopping a few meters in front of Crixus. He took a deep breath, then with a single smooth motion, drew his katana from the sheath at his waist. He held the sword with two hands in front of his body, the blade pointed down, his stance low and balanced.
"LET THE FUAAACKINGGG FIGHT... BEGIIINNNNNNNN!!!" The announcer shouted.
Crixus immediately charged forward. His giant axe was raised high, ready to split Fyar in two.
THE FUCK This guy wants to kill me?! Fyar thought. He quickly sidestepped.
THUD!
The axe blade slammed into the ground where he had been standing. Crixus turned, swinging his axe horizontally. Fyar ducked and avoided the attack. The wind from the axe’s swing could be felt in his hair. Crixus attacked again from the right side, but Fyar deftly dodged and parried the attack with his katana.
For a full minute, the scene repeated itself. Crixus attacked brutally, his axe slashing, thrusting, and smashing with incredible force. Fyar just kept moving, maintaining his distance, and subtly herding Crixus to keep circling near the bonfire. His movements were efficient, using only the minimum energy necessary to avoid each deadly attack. However, the pressure from the relentless assault began to wear on him. Several times he was forced to block the axe swings with his katana.
CLANG!
The impact between the giant axe and the slender katana produced a deafening sound. Fyar felt a powerful vibration travel up his arms to his shoulders. The force of the blow pushed him back several steps. His feet slid on the dirt, but he managed to keep his balance.
Not yet... not yet... not yet... Fyar thought to himself.
In the VIP stands, one of Kail’s associates sneered. "What’s the hell he doing, Kail? he look stupid! Hahaha, looks like you picked the wrong fighter today!"
Kail bit his lip slightly, leaning his body forward, his fists clenched. "Come on, kid... you can do it... come on."
In the other VIP balcony, Wilas rested his hand on his chin. "He’s only been dodging this whole time. Hmm... what is he planning?" He then leaned back slightly in his chair and took a sip of his wine. "Well, I’ve already followed the boss and bet on that person. Nothing to be done now."
The audience began to jeer. "FIGHT, YOU COWARD!" "FIGHT HIM! WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?!?!"
"HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO RUN, KID! WHY DID YOU COME HERE IF YOU DON’T INTEND TO FIGHT, HUH FUCKING LOSER!" Crixus shouted, his breathing starting to get heavy with frustration.
He reminds me of Rasie. Fyar smiled faintly behind his mask.
Crixus closed his eyes for a few seconds and muttered something. A moment later, his eyes glowed red and his skin seemed to harden and darken in color.
Finally, he’s using it... now I just have to dodge properly for one minute! Fyar thought, seeing the man’s transformation.
Crixus then charged forward and attacked Fyar blindly with increased speed.
CLANG! CLENG!
Fyar struggled to dodge and parry all the wild attacks. Crixus’s attacks were now faster and stronger. Fyar was thrown back again until his body hit the arena wall.
Damn... Too fast! Too fast! Fyar thought.
Crixus wasted no time. He ran toward Fyar, swinging his axe. Fyar quickly rolled to the right. He kept running, creating a considerable distance again. He was looking for the right moment to use Neutralize and slash him with his katana.
Seven more seconds!!
As Crixus ran toward him again, Fyar stopped. He took a stance, his eyes focused forward.
In the stands, Wilas looked surprised. "Hooh? He intends to receive the attack?"
When Crixus’s distance was close enough, Fyar murmured, "Neutralize." Instantly, his katana was coated in a purple aura. Just as the axe was about to hit his head, Fyar ducked and moved forward, slashing straight at Crixus’s leg. At the moment his katana blade was about to touch Crixus’s skin, the effect of his Berserker rage disappeared. His skin returned to normal.
Ssst!
Fyar successfully landed a single, swift, shallow slash on Crixus’s thigh. The poisoned tip of his katana managed to graze the Berserker’s skin.
Crixus laughed, as if not feeling the wound. "FINALLY, YOU FIGHT BACK!" He ignored the cut on his thigh and charged forward with a final, vertical axe swing.
Using the last of his Neutralize power on his katana, Fyar stepped forward, thrusting his katana straight into Crixus’s chest.
SREK!
The tip of Fyar’s katana managed to penetrate a few centimeters into Crixus’s chest. Crixus roared in shock. He felt a portion of his strength vanish for a moment, and his body felt weak. Fyar immediately pulled out his sword and jumped back.
Crixus, beginning to feel the effects of the poison, went berserk. He chased Fyar blindly. But his movements were now slightly slower, slightly stiffer. Fyar went back to dodging. He kept moving backward, occasionally landing a quick kick to Crixus’s liver to wind him.
After nearly a minute of pursuit, Crixus began to look unsteady. The swings of his axe slowed. His feet stumbled. He stopped, panting heavily, his rage-filled eyes staring at Fyar in confusion. He lifted his axe again, but his arm felt incredibly heavy.
Thud!!
The giant fell to his knees. He tried to stand, but his body wouldn’t obey. He collapsed forward, his face hitting the hard dirt. He was still alive, his breathing heavy, his body twitching slightly.
A total silence enveloped the arena.
After a few seconds, the stammering announcer finally shouted, "THE WINNER IS... STARFALL!!! THIS IS INSANE, EVERYONE! INSANE!!!!!!!! HE’S THE FIRST FIGHTER TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP 8!!!!! WHOOOOOOO!!!!!!"
An explosion of joyous cheers and disbelieving curses filled the room.
"What FUCK JUST HAPENED?!?!"
"What the hell was that?!?!"
"WHOA WHOA WHOA?!?!!"
"FUCKK MY MONEY!! MY MONEY FUCKKKKKK"
"I’m rich, boys, I’m rich WHUUUU!!!!"
"Hell YEAHHHHH!!??!!!!!"
Fyar stood in the middle of the arena, his breathing slightly heavy. He looked up at the collection of stars in the night sky.
I did it... he thought.
From the VIP stands, Kail was jumping up and down with joy at what he saw. "Look at that!!?! Look, bakail!!! Hahh??!! What?!! You said I picked the wrong fighter?!!! Hahahahahahahaha hahahaha!"
Kail’s associate named bakail couldn’t hide his shock, his mouth agape in disbelief at what he saw. "W-who is he?!"
Wilas laughed out loud. "Boss!!! You were right!!! He really is interesting!!! He really is interesting!!!!" He drank his wine and said, "I have to persuade him to join!"
In the arena, Fyar walked calmly toward the downed Crixus. He knelt beside him. From one of the pouches on his belt, he took out a small glass bottle containing a clear liquid. He forced Crixus’s mouth open and poured the bottle’s contents down his throat.
The bottle was an antidote.
After that, Fyar stood up. He looked at the now-silent crowd, who were staring at him strangely. He turned and walked out of the arena, leaving behind Crixus, whose convulsions were beginning to subside, and hundreds of spectators who didn’t understand what they had just witnessed.
I’ve made it to the top 8... now I just have to observe my next opponent... Kail said he’d treat me to a VIP seat if I won... Fyar sighed.