I looked around us and tried to imagine how it will look like during the tournament. The arena at the center was a few hundred meters in diameter surrounded by a seven meters high wall, above which rose tiers of seating designated for the audience. Many adventurers gathered to watch our fight, but their numbers were only a drop in the ocean compared to what the building could house.

There were four special stone structures with balconies, close to the edge near the Arena, VIP lounges of sorts. Each of them was opposite from one another and from what I could see they were spacious enough to house a hundred people, yet there was no visible entrance, probably could be accessed only from inside the guild.

When I saw a few figures watching us from there I was no longer surprised we were allowed to use the Arena for our match. It was obvious that some higher-ups from the guild wanted to see me in action.

While normally adventurers could train there, only three days were left until the tournament and the Arena should have been restricted for now.

"Wait, Nolan! What if she is really a dragon?" I overheard a dryad trying to stop the wolf as she held her hand on his shoulder, "This isn't a joke! It's a sacred battle we are talking about, you said it yourself that it forces you to fight at your full power. "

Hmm? Forces to fight? This wasn't mentioned in the books... when I saw Phoenix frowning I realized he wasn't aware of this either.

"Pff, a dragon." laughed the wolf and then looked at me with contempt, "Don't tell me you already forgot how they look like, Bay? How can you even compare this girl to that beast?"

"But even analyze isn't working on her..."

"Hey!" I shouted at them. "I think I have already told you that I am not a dragon and I have never claimed to be one!"

"It doesn't matter." said the wolf and then jumped over the fence into the Arena and a large cloud of dust raised from the impact. He didn't even bother to use the stairs.

"Even if it wasn't your intent, people still call you a dragon, and I can't allow this! You made a huge mistake when thought that sacred battle will scare me."

"Well," I smiled, "It wasn't my intent... but you should be careful, I am more dangerous than I look."

"Fry him!" shouted someone from the audience.

"Tear him to pieces!" joined someone else.

More and more have joined them and very quickly the crowd has turned into a roaring mob.

"Ten gold the dragon wins." I suddenly heard Tia's voice in the mix.

I quickly searched for her and saw only her back in the middle of a group, people in front of her were calling their bets as well.

That... traitor.

"She doesn't look like a dragon to me. Fine, ten gold the guy from Dragon End wins."

"Ha ha ha, idiot... Haven't you heard they can take any shape..."

"I think you are talking about elder dragons, as far as I am aware there are only a few of them in Lodelia. Don't tell me you think she is..."

*sigh*

How I am supposed to get rid of these rumors when my own friends encourage them...

I looked to my side. "Hey, Phoenix, could you..."

"Place a bet on you?" he looked at me with a smile and I nodded my head.

"Just try not to kill him," he kissed me on the forehead and then lifted into the air with wind manipulation and flew in Tia's direction.

I could tell he was worried about what that dryad has said, but it should be fine, I have mental resistance and my opponent doesn't look strong.

When Phoenix left, a large dome-like barrier separated Arena from the audience and I looked at fox beastkin near the panel. She was a staff member of the guild and was the one who suggested using the Arena.

The wolf released the belt holding Greatsword on his back and the weapon fell on the ground. He picked it by the handle and slowly pulled out the blade leaving the scabbard on the ground. As he did so, sparks of electricity started to dance on the metal. But my attention was drawn to his face, the color of his skin was slowly changing and soon turned completely black.

The trick with the skin was obviously from the skill 'Iron skin'. When I read about it in the books, I always imagined it turning silver or to a shade of chrome. Despite its name, the skill actually strengthens the whole body, not just the skin.

"Girl, I suggest you get ready." started to speak the wolf while getting into Ox stance, "I don't want others to say I attacked you unaware."

"You should worry about yourself, Mr. Wolf," I smiled with my hands behind the back but a moment later turned completely serious.

"I challenge you to sacred battle!"

For a while, nothing happened, but then I saw a message floating in front of me, a bit different this time.

Conditions have been met and your opponent has accepted the challenge.

The sacred battle will begin in

3... 2... 1...

I started to synthesize paralyzing gas within my body while planning my course of actions to force his surrender, but suddenly all my plans flew out of the window and I looked at the wolf as if he was my sworn enemy. The beast within me was awakened and there was only one thought in my mind.

I have to kill him!

I summoned my phantom claws and stabbed to the ground. In the meantime, the wolf was preparing his attack and sparks of electricity started to increase in density on the sword.

Just as I summoned my phantom beast fully, lightning launched from the tip of the sword.

It was almost like a real lightning, only heading horizontally instead from the skies. A strong attack, but my phantom beast blocked it without any problems.

As if that lightning strike was a signal to attack, I charged forward with all my might, and a large crater was left behind me. I reached the wolf in a blink and swept at him with my massive claws. Despite my speed, he somehow managed to react and dodged to the side, but... it wasn't enough to evade the attack that followed right after.

*BOOM*

With a swing of the tail, his body crashed into the barrier thirty meters away with incredible force and his sword was sent flying high into the air, leaving a trail of sparks behind. Just as the wolf bounced off the barrier, I was once again upon him and caught his body with my phantom claws.

I brought him slowly to my jaws and released a loud roar.

I could hear his bones breaking from the pressure of my grip and even his iron skin was powerless to stop it. I lifted him high into the air and then smashed with full force to the ground.

*BOOM*

A cloud of sand raised in the air screening mangled body of the wolf at the center of a large crater. The color of his skin was slowly returning.

I had no plans to stop there and the jaws of my phantom beast opened wide. The air around us started to vibrate with power and blue light illuminated the wolf as I started to charge my attack to finish him.

"I... surrender." a silent whispered reached my ears.

You have won your first sacred battle. Two more remain to break the barrier.

My reason returned just as suddenly as it left and I stopped the attack I was about to unleash.

What the hell was that?! I breathed heavily and dropped to the ground near the wolf when my phantom beast vanished.

Sacred Battle? There is nothing sacred about it! All this time I was fully aware of what I do. I even avoided using my blink during the battle, as I was aware it's forbidden to use teleportation within the city. But at the same time, it felt like I was someone else. So this is what the dryad has meant then.

I should never use it against someone I have no intent to kill!

And what was that attack at the end? Almost one-third of my mana was used to fuel it, and it wasn't even ready... I have a nagging feeling that my phantom beast would have reached another level if it was completed.

There was a complete silence in the Arena and the cloud of dust from my sprint was still in the air. As if to conclude the battle, the sword, that was spinning in the air all this time, finally reached the ground and stabbed all the way to the hilt.

"Nolan!" shouted his companions and quickly rushed in my direction but were stopped by the barrier. The fox at the control panel finally came to her senses and started to work with enchantments.

As I heard the name I looked at the wolf and could barely recognize him. Arms and legs twisted in unnatural shape and the body at the waist crushed completely. Remains of the armor were probably the only thing connecting his upper body with the legs. Yet somehow he was still alive.

I have no idea how he managed to keep his consciousness when I drained all of his mana, but I am glad he did. I have no illusions what would have followed if he was in no condition to surrender.

I should hurry, he will not last for long.

A green glowing tattoo started to spread over my body and I reached with my hand for his chest. I marked his armor with my mana and used metal manipulation to turn it into a liquid. It was only a pile of scrap now anyway, and it was in the way for what I planned to do.

I wasn't stranger to the carnage but I still winced at the sight that followed. Once again I started to wonder how is he still alive.

I reached with hand, and the tattoo on my skin started to glow even brighter.

"Lesser Heal!"

Light Magic has been acquired. Light Magic has reached level 2.

When I obtained the class of warlock, on the same day I also received all the knowledge of magic Phoenix knew at that time and Light Magic was among them. But this was the first time when I actually used it.

Wounds of the wolf started to heal but it was slow. Way too slow. The progress was hardly even noticeable.

"Heal!" I activated the spell of a higher tier.

Light Magic has reached level 3. Light Magic has reached level 4.

Even if I knew everything there is to know from Phoenix, his Light Magic was meant for wizard class. Only by analyzing the difference in our fire magic as a reference I was able to apply this to other magic as well.

But it was taking time.

With the new spell, the speed of healing has increased significantly and finally, I saw hope. Suddenly, with a loud bang, Phoenix landed near me, apparently, he jumped from the seats all the way there. He placed his hand on top of mine, and I could feel his mana flowing within me.

Our connection has increased in strength and I was even closer at grasping the secret of his magic.

"Greater Heal!"

Light Magic has reached level 5.

"Get away from him, you..." his friends have reached us as well, but I had no time to deal with this.

"Ahh!" shouted the elf and dropped on the ground when collided with a green barrier.

It was 'Arcana Defense', the third level spell of dark magic. Unlike with healing magic, I used it a few times in another world, so I was able to apply chantless incantation when I cast it.

With the help of Phoenix, the healing started to progress smoothly and soon we recovered the spine and most of the organs that were crushed. There was still a lot to deal with, but his life now was no longer in danger. All this time we used transmutation and it was invaluable in observing the process.

That was... close.

"... nonsense, just imagine what would have happened if she used that breath..." I heard someone from the crowd.

Now that I no longer raced against the time, I could afford to pay more attention to my surroundings. Friends of the wolf were standing nearby, watching. A dryad sorceress, archer elf, and two dwarfs, one of them a warrior while another some kind of mage. They have already realized what we do and no longer tried to stop me.

*

"I think I was in a better shape after our encounter with that dragon." said the wolf as we left the building together, no, I should call him by the name, Nolan.

"I think I start to understand why they call you as one." he continued.

"Don't you dare to start calling me as one too," I spoke and then glanced at Tia, "I already have trouble with some of my friends."

"Hmm?" Tia looked at me surprised, "You heard that?"

"Oh, you don't need to worry about that," chuckled Nolan, "Thanks again for fixing the armor," he said and looked at his gauntlet, "When I saw what was left from it I thought I was in a deep shit, there was no way I could find a blacksmith that could fix in time before the tournament, they have orders piled up for a few weeks."

"It's the least I could do..." I started to speak.

"Nonsense," interrupted me Nolan, "I was the one who challenged you first..."

"Yes, but I doubt you meant mortal combat when you did..."

As we reached the rest of our team waiting outside, I saw a small group of people arguing with Darson. Judging from their attire, most of them were servants or guards, and the elf in front of them was obviously a noble.

"...don't think that just because you released your slaves, it's over. We have other means to make you fulfill your duties. The money you used..." continued the elf.

"My duties?!" glared at him Darson, "My duties?!" he stepped forward shaking from anger and the man stepped back a few times. This was the first time I saw him like this.

"My duty was to avenge our sister!" continued Darson, "But I have obeyed when was ordered to not act rash. I was aware that my actions could lead our family to ruin. But if you think that just because 'the times have changed' I will marry anyone from their family..."

"There is no evidence Mullan's have anything to do with her death. Anyone could have been behind that attack..."

"Enough!" roared Darson, "Everyone knows they were against our union with Sarhal. I can't believe that even you defend them, Belar, she was your sister too!"

They looked nothing alike, but from this conversation, I could guess that the elf was a brother of Darson...

"Listen now..." his brother was now getting angry as well.

"No, you listen." continued Darson, "Tell Father that I will never agree to this and if he is not happy can take away my title and name. It will only free me to do what I should have done a long time ago..."

"Hmm, I don't think it's appropriate for us to be there." Nolan weakly smiled and his friends nodded their head. "We will take our leave. I hope that the next time we meet, it will be under better circumstances, namely with less broken bones in my body."

"If it's during the tournament, I can try, but no promises," he laughed in response and then walked away, and I followed them with my eyes for a while.

A few minutes later Belar with his company marched away with unhappy expression.

"I am sorry about that," said Darson while looking at his brother.

"Not a problem," smiled Phoenix, "There wasn't even need to heal anyone. Ah, speaking of healing, we are about to visit Sage of Silver Sword Order. Anyone interested in joining?"

"I will pass, but I am sure my cousin would like to join." smiled Tia.

"What?" looked at her Jack, "How come?"

"Don't you always shout 'by the tits of Goddess?' " she grinned, "It's a perfect chance to know everything about her from her servant..."

"I would like to see her as well," after a quick look at Darson, Miriel joined the conversation, "But is it really alright if we come?"

No one noticed a deep frown on my forehead.

Yes, I have agreed to meet with her, but with what I learned about Lariel from Phoenix, I hadn't the slightest desire to do so. But I guess there was no point to delay inevitable.