The rain of arrows soon came to an end as a loud screech came from the source. The sound of dying screams and laughter followed. Lefu who didn’t rush over stood there waiting for the last one to appear. His current thoughts were, ‘Why should I work to track down the last ones when they will come to me?’

Lefu wasn’t sure why, but his thoughts and action craved for battle. His value for other lives diminished as he wouldn’t care for his opponent lives. Lefu felt outside source influence him though that intensify negative emotion though. “Does this prison increase negative emotions the longer we stay here?” Lefu said looking around him.

The time limit came to the end and the remaining nineteen dropped to six. The map appeared once again with the circle gradually closing in. Lefu attempted to do quick calculation on the circle size, but estimated twenty mile radius around him.

The others should either be hiding or hunting down the others, Lefu thought as he began stretching out. After warming up his body again as stood still to long, he began heading towards sound of battle.

“...Lizard bastard...I wi-”

Lefu approached the scene when the lizard man crushed a man head. The sadness of not joining the battle left Lefu disappointed. “Why didn’t I follow them?” Ledu pouted reminding him of Clare. “If Clare was here, she probably try to protected me or grip me tightly.”

Lefu watched the Lizard man climb out of the corpse he current wore. It seems during the last battle most of it skin was ripped off. “How are you going to watch!” the lizard shouted towards Lefu. “Just because you have insane defense don’t think I won’t kill you.”

Not wanting to resist the taunt, Lefu yelled back in arragants. “Try it if you can,” he wasn’t afraid. Lefu didn’t wait for the reply as he began sprinting toward the lizard. Upon reaching the lizard man, Lefu ripped the Lizard man arm out.

“Bastard, how dare you rip the great Brokenfang arm out,” he roared as green blood gushed out. “I’m going to kill you and wear your skin.”

Lefu ignored Brokenfang threats and swept kick Brokenfang’s legs. Brokenfang easily dodged and launched his counter attack.

“It over,” Brokenfang yelled as his claws landed on Lefu’s neck.

Ding!

The sound of metals rang out as Lefu couldn’t dodge in time. Both of them took a step back and glared at the other. The fight has came to a standstill as Lefu had the power and speed, but lacked experience against Brokenfang.

Brokenfang seemed to have rich fighting experience against foes stronger than himself. So, he can easily counter Lefu attacks, but he carelessly underestimated Lefu earlier. He swore to himself he won’t make the same mistake again as it cost himself an arm.

“Perfect, two prey I was looking for,” a sinister voice came from the side. A man covered in wounds was laughing. He had a large cut diagonally down his chest deep enough to see bone and organs. “With you two I will be able to repair my body.”

“Don’t interrupt our fight!” both Lefu and Brokenfang yelled. Lefu pact his fist full of Aether while Brokenfang swung his tail. Unable to react to their shocking response, the man evaporated from the attacks.

Not pausing between their attacks, Lefu fist collided with Brokenfang claw. Lefu felt a small tingling feeling in his hand, but brokenfang hand was limp. “What are your hands made of!” Lefu shouted shaking his hand.

“I should be saying that,” Brokenfang angrily shouted. “All the bones in my hands are dust.”

Lefu taking the chance while he talk to strike, but Brokenfang used his tail and redirected the attack. Attempting to trade blows, Lefu’s attacks kept being redirected and Brokenfang was breathing heavily.

“How much energy and Aether does he have?” Brokenfang wanted to scream. Lefu’s attacks carried nearly four times the Aether he had in total and it kept increasing. Brokenfang nearly ran out of Aether and energy as redirecting the attack drained his energy rapidly.

One punch after another, Lefu’s fists shot towards Brokenfang. When Lefu noticed Brokenfang slowing down and breathing heavily, he sped up. After few more strikes, Brokenfang couldn’t keep up and allowed the strikes to land on him.

“You have won,” Brokenfang said as his breath became weaker. Brokenfang knew that he lost and didn’t even stand a chance now. “Are you going to kill me?”

“Why would I do that?” Lefu questioned. “You’re strong to last this long, so lets make a deal.”

“A deal?” Brokenfang said.

“Become my servant for life,” Lefu casually said. If I’m going to survive here and someday escape, it won’t be a bad idea to have my own group of servants.

“What use am I going to be? You literally turned me into a cripple, yet now asking me to follow,” Brokenfang replied as if he heard a joke.

“What if I told you I have a way to heal you?” Lefu asked. Lefu didn’t know if his Aether would heal Brokenfang, but it was worth a shot.

“Why should I believe you?” Brokenfang asked, but Lefu seen he wanted to accept.

Lefu simply smiles while he replied. “Well you don’t have a choice anymore.”

Confused by Lefu’s answer, Brokenfang suddenly felt an immense flow of Aether. The Aether seemed to be controlled nearly perfectly as it didn’t ruptor or explode his body. The flow of Aether slowly expanded his own Aether reserve by nearly two times it original size. But the most amazing feature is it merged into his cell and his wounds healed. Brokenfang’s arm which was torn off earlier slowly grew back.

[Aether Heal: Beginner 31%]

Lefu watched the number increased quickly as he poured his Aether into Brokenfang. He also learned that he could scan Brokenfang’s entire body and instantly felt disgusted. I would rather look at woman’s body instead of another man.

After few minutes has passed, Brokenfang was fully healed, but his scales became brighter. When Brokenfang realized that he was healed, he bowed his head to Lefu. He felt fear on a cellular level towards Lefu. Anyone capable of healing and regrowing other arms so quickly is differently an expert.

“If you dare think of betraying me, I will kill you,” Lefu said not caring for the response. “It definitely not going to be quickly either.”

Brokenfang began trembling when he heard that and shook his head.

[Congratulation, Host has gained his first loyal servant.]

[Reward: any skill of choice directly upgraded to Mastery.]

Mastery? I could directly upgrade on of my skills and skip over intermediate. Lefu wanted to shout in joy as progressed slowed way down in intermediate level. The urge to use it immediately entered Lefu’s mind but he was clueless on what skill to use it on.

Unable to make up his mind, Lefu decided to hold off until he knows which skill he wants. His current options were mediation, acting, ancient Kung Fu soft and hard, Aether reinforcement, and Aether heal.

[Brokenfang loyalty: 100% Fear: 80%]

Why does he fear me so much? Where did his backbone disappear too. Lefu frowned as he thought. “Why are you trembling? Where did you strong and arrogant personality disappear to? How am I going allow you to command others if you tremble at the mere sight of me?”

“I-I sorry, master,” Brokenfang said.

Lefu kicked Brokenfang in the head. “Am I so scary you tremble? Beside I’m only eighteen so call me young master until i say otherwise.”

“Yes Young Master,” The trembling stopped, but Brokenfang didn’t seem to have confidence.

Sigh, I guess I take it one step at a time until he gains it back, Lefu glanced up at the remaining contestant number. Why is does it only say one left?

“Congratulation, you are the last one standing and has earned the right to ascend to floor two,” the mechanical rang out. After the announcement was made, a white pillared gate raised out of the ground. The pair of stair lead upwards but doesn’t seem to end.

“Let’s go, Brokenfang,” Lefu commanded casually walking up the steps.

“Yes, young master,” Brokenfang replied staying five steps behind. He didn’t stand too close or far at the risk of annoying the young master.

After the walking up an unknown amount of steps, a portal opened up. Upon stepping through the portal the cold climate disappeared and replaced with extreme heat. The barren land filled with snow disappeared and replaced with sand. Lefu scanned the surrounding only to see sand.

“From one wasteland to another,” Lefu grumbled. “Where are we anyways?”

“I believe it a desert. In the past I heard rumors that the prisons layers are in dangerous and different spots in the world. The prisoners are enclosed in a special array, so if you walk north the array will redirect you back towards the center. There is a special feature that redirects anything from getting near or scanning,” Brokenfang explained. “It also been said that the array been around thousands of years. The current theory is a great expert created as a joke, but was later turned into a prison.”

“Put it in simple terms,” Lefu complained as Brokenfang explained chaotically.

“Anyone one or thing will not be able to find where the prison floors are located,” He said quickly.

“Say that in the first place,” Lefu complained. “Now let find a spot to get some shade, or I might go blind from the sunshine.”

“Young Master, it impossible for you to go blind. The amount of Aether you’re using in reinforcement will stop it,” Brokenfang whispered.

“What did you say,” Lefu asked.

“Nothing, young master,” He replied in a panic.

Lefu slowly nodded his head as he shrugged. He was more worried about find shelter than his servant mumbles of worry. Lefu figures that his Aether can protect him against external, but not basics need like food or water.

“How long is it until the next game to ascend to the next floor?” Lefu asked as he wanted to pick up his pace.

“It should start in twenty four hours, as the last one just ended,” Brokenfang replied. “But the challenge this time will be different from the last one. The oppentants won’t be as weak as last time either.”

“Well we can deal with them when the times comes.” Lefu said after some thought.