Zarek's vision cleared and he found himself heavily restricted. The air was heavy, breathing was difficult, and taking a step felt like he was stuck in quicksand, his legs marred by a pasty energy that seemed to want to latch onto him and never let go.
However, when he looked around, there was nothing odd about the world around him at all—well, other than the scent of blood in the air and the arena of ancient stone he stood on.
The circular platform of grey and black etched stone was large, being what must have been at least 200 meters from one edge, across its diameter, to the other. However, the bounds beyond it were like a vast chasm of nothingness, an endless black that extended into infinity without any sign of slowing or stopping.
There was nothing else beyond this.
At the moment, Zarek stood on an elevated pillar. Well, a short one that was only about three feet off the ground. To his right, there were three more, and to his left, there were four.
'Eight total? Was that the real entry cap of the Tear?'
Up ahead, right across and vaguely outlined at the opposite edge from him, there were another eight elevated pillars, but they were all empty. The obvious conclusion was right there for the taking.
'A battle royale? A one-on-one cycle tournament of some sort?'
These were the two answers for what was going on that came to mind. If it was the former, Zarek would most definitely have quite some trouble getting out of here.
A one-on-eight in a D-Class Godsfall Tear with this sort of power behind it was nigh suicidal. A round-robin sort of system would be easier to manage, but it would also likely put him on the brink nonetheless.
This environment was too plain, and there was nothing to take advantage of. This would make the situation far more reliant on raw power and ability, and it would be more difficult for Zarek to take advantage of his combat intelligence and various experiences.
After analyzing the whole situation, though, Zarek was still quite calm, his amber eyes waiting silently.
Rumble.
The arena shook as though it acknowledged that Zarek had been foolish enough to enter alone, and then one of the pillars across from him began to glow.
Slowly, a figure took shape, looming with a height of over two meters tall.
—
Name: [Hero Gladius of Arcona]
Role: [Hero]
Core Stats:
>[Strength: D-]
>[Dexterity: D-]
>[Intelligence: D-]
>[Endurance: D-]
>[Charisma: D-]
Talents:
>[Valiant Shield: D-]
[Abilities: Reflection]
[Repel a deadly blow with your aura, forming a devastating counter. Follow up to crush your enemy and force them to feel despair]
>[Empty]
>[Empty]
Skills:
>[D Class Shield Smash: D-]
—
The so-called "Hero" took shape, his body wreathed in shadows of black and red that formed the vague outlines of a knight's armor. In one arm, he held a lance, and in the other, there was a shield about half the height of an enormous tower shield, shaped like an embroidered badge.
The restrictions on Zarek loosened, and he found that he could easily take a step forward.
'Round robin, is it then…'
Zarek's eyes sharpened, and a deathly coolness came from his gaze.
'Let's see if… I can take those treasures.'
BANG!
Zarek shot off, and Gladius was actually slow to react—almost as though he hadn't expected Zarek to take the initiative so boldly.
Even so, the distance between them was too large. As great as Zarek's stats were, it would still take him more than ten seconds to cross a 200-meter distance. In that time, Gladius had more than enough room to sink into a stance, his lance resting in the curved grooves of his shield.
The instant Zarek was in range, the Hero took a sharp step forward, Godsfall twirling around his lance as he suddenly accelerated.
There was a deathly stillness in Zarek's eyes, as though even an opponent of this level wasn't capable of lighting the fire he hid within.
With a flick of Zarek's wrist, the Lurker's Whip snaked forward, latching onto the shield with a sticky pulse.
Zarek pulled the shield to the side, and because Gladius had rested it within the groove, the lance shifted as well.
The timing was perfect, and the lance's tip missed over Zarek's shoulder, opening up Gladius' side to an eruption from Zarek's fist.
The crossbow-shield unfurled and its edge became a coating blanket for Zarek's power. All of his EEE-limit-broken Strength was focused into that razor's edge, slamming into the side of the Hero's liver with a forcefulness that could snap trees and bend steel.
BOOM!
The Hero shuddered, the momentum of his forward pierce having added to Zarek's strength so much that he had practically presented himself to be killed.
Did it matter if Zarek didn't have an environment to work with? He could use the strength of these Heroes against themselves just the same.
With a wrenching motion, he ripped his shield out from Gladius' liver, the creaking and crunching of broken bone echoing through the silent scape as the Hero slowly fell to the ground.
Chi.
The Hero collapsed and his body dissipated. Zarek could only shake his head as the lance and shield disappeared along with him.
'It seems that things won't be so easy after all.'
Zarek felt this was doubly true after he didn't receive a boost in energy or a heal either.
A second platform glowed, and yet another knight began to appear from the next pillar.
—
Name: [Hero Gladius of Arcona]
Role: [Hero]
Core Stats:
>[Strength: D-]
>[Dexterity: D]
>[Intelligence: D-]
>[Endurance: D-]
>[Charisma: D-]
Talents:
>[Valiant Shield: D-]
[Abilities: Reflection]
[Repel a deadly blow with your aura, forming a devastating counter. Follow up to crush your enemy and force them to feel despair]
>[Empty]
>[Empty]
Skills:
>[D Class Shield Smash: D-]
>[D Class Lancing Thrust: D-]
—
Gladius landed on the ground with a heavy thud, his aura sharper than it had been just moments ago.