A shield rose up, bashing against Zarek's head as he tried to pin the lance to his side. The world spun, and he was broken out of his Core Harmony state—the impact far too much for his brain to withstand as it rattled around in his skull. In fact, Zarek was half sure his head had suffered several fractures just now, his nose having certainly done so.
There was a limit to what determination alone could do…
But it was a good thing that Zarek never planned to rely on determination alone.
A flood of information filled his mind once more, coming in waves that superseded his pain.
Zarek took advantage of the pain management. It was something maybe no one would think of—and something that, even if they could, most would never consider doing.
No matter how used to battle one became, pain was an innate human reaction. Even the Turned reacted viscerally to pain after completing their evolutions. There was no escaping that pause, that hollow, slowed reaction when suffering a sharp, acute blow—that was true even for the most hardened veterans.
However, Zarek reacted this time as though he hadn't felt anything at all—and that was because he hadn't. Harmonic Recall had activated at the same moment his side was ripped into.
Two pulses of information—one of pain, the other a dense packet of memory—clashed against one another. The winner, in the end, was all too obvious.
The system took precedent.
It was exactly this that allowed Zarek to overcome the heart-rending pain shuddering through his body and pin the lance to his side, his own lacerated flesh now serving as an anchor.
His whip had lashed out and wrapped around it, its own stickiness increasing the friction on the lance until it felt immovable.
The seventh Gladius had only just bashed Zarek's head with his shield, but what he had forgotten was the second crossbow-shield Zarek had formed—one he hadn't used until now.
He could have blocked the blow to his head, avoided the fractures to his skull. With his combat experience, even if he couldn't match Gladius' speed, he could still move first to the critical location.
But he didn't.
And that was because he had already prepared to do the one thing he hadn't done all battle.
His wrist twisted, and a bolt appeared on the crossbow-shield. Gladius had just pulled his shield back to bash Zarek's head in again, only for a flash of black to pierce through his throat.
There had been a minor sliver in his armor—so inconspicuous it seemed impossible anyone could find it in the heat of battle, let alone aim and fire through it while disoriented and suffering what was more than just a severe concussion.
But once again, as he gasped for breath and yet another Gladius faded away, Zarek felt that familiar heat clawing its way through the depths of his throat.
He hadn't realized there was still one more opponent. All he knew was that another was forming—he sensed it even before it fully appeared.
It didn't matter if there were two more, or three more, or ten, or even more than that. He would face whatever came, however many came, no matter how strong they became, no matter how power.
Victory.
That was the only thing on his mind. That was the only thing that would ever be on his mind, the only thing that mattered. It was his one singular focus no matter the life.
So long as she was alive, it was all he cared about.
Victory.
—
Name: [Hero Gladius of Arcona]
Role: [Hero]
Core Stats:
>[Strength: D+]
>[Dexterity: DD]
>[Intelligence: D+]
>[Endurance: DD]
>[Charisma: D+]
Talents:
>[Valiant Shield: C-]
[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]
[Abilities: Absorption]
[Swallow several attacks in the row, storing up their energy and then readying them with an explosion of force. This Ability works well with shield type Skills and can synergize them into a single blow to conserve energy or explosively increase power]
[Abilities: Swallow]
[Reabsorb energy you've placed into your shield or use your enemy's attacks to replenish your own energy reserves]
>[Empty]
>[Empty]
Skills:
>[D Class Shifting Shield Smash: D+]
>[D Class Shifting Lancing Thrust: D+]
>[D Class Hero's Might: D+]
—
Zarek's deep breathing fell on deaf ears. The world had fallen silent as he circled his last opponent. His steps were slow, but the final Gladius didn't move an inch—only his eyes tracked Zarek's path.
Kill.
The echo of the world came from nowhere, roaring through Zarek's skull like a siren.
He had already been snapped out of his Core Harmony state, but right now, slipping back into it seemed impossible.
Kill.
The word came again. Blood ran down Zarek's nose, his brain matter shaking in his skull.
Kill.
Zarek coughed up a mouthful of blood.
By this point, he knew this had to be the final Skill of the Gladiuses—Hero's Might. It assaulted his mind, not only disrupting his attempts to cast Skills but also flooding him with loathing and self-doubt.
How could he possibly hold himself in high regard when facing the majesty of a Hero? Who did he think he was?
"Watch me."
A brazen blaze lit in Zarek's amber eyes.
Kill.
The fire was snuffed out as the word echoed again. Zarek's vision spun, and he stumbled back a step. His eyes barely cleared in time to see a shield flash before him.
He raised his arm to block with his crossbow-shield, only for the final Gladius to activate his lance Skill and shift to the side.
The whipping winds cut against Zarek's side, and then Gladius swung his lance out.
The body of the lance cracked into Zarek's torso, bending his elbow into the ghastly wound at his hip and shattering his arm.
Zarek's eyes bulged. A mouthful of blood burst from him with the acceleration of an arrow, as though it had been ripped straight out of his lungs.
He tumbled across the arena—this time, not landing on his feet.