Chapter 23: Day in the paradise

Fifth round started shortly after we came back to our seats, with commentator’s loud speech.

“Today is still not the end of the fights, with 2 more rounds remaining. So you all should prepare as best as you can or else there might be troubles because of time, but let’s stop with such talk and let’s talk about rules of round 5. The rule is pretty easy with nothing more to it. The Arena is designed to create obstacles like before but it won’t be the same stage as before. In this stage, you will meet with marshes, sands, rivers, forests and even ice planes. Stages will be included of at least of 4 things but there can be more, but I won’t tell you how many of those there can be. You will be once again transported somewhere in the field and if you will end up in the marsh than you will probably loose by default because marshes can be quite deep. Everything else is still the same as before and there aren’t any specific conditions. Let the fifth round begin.”

After he said all these things, the roulette started again and first fight went to Irel and rank 2. It should be quite a fight.

When they came to the arena, light appeared in there and a stage was set. From our position we could see how it looked. It was filled with sand, ice, grassy plain and volcano grounds. Irel is fire mage so he has some advantages but if he were to fight in icy plains then it would be bad for him. The best place would be volcanic ground due to his opponent’s affinity.

Both of them were transported and Irel ended up in icy plains. What bad luck, but his opponent ended in volcanic ground so both of them ended in the worst spot but it did not matter anyway because both of them started to move soon after.

Irel with his full plate armor could not move on ice too well so it took him some time to get out of it meanwhile, his opponent reached grassy plains and released a water ball into the air. The water fell in a large diameter and after a while, he started to move into the direction of Irel.

They met soon after between borders of grass, ice and sand.

They immediately started to fight. Irel quickly tried to close the distance but was sent flying by water whip. He ended up on ice again and was sliding for quite some time. His opponent got to icy plains too and summoned water from his surrounding and sent it like a flood on Irel. His feet were encased in ice but Irel used his fire magic to get out of it.

They started to send magic at each other left and rights, letting them collide. Mist appeared and the visibility was really bad and even we could not see what was happening. We could just hear sounds of clashing. Then someone was sent flying out of the mist. It was rank 2. Soon after, Irel appeared with flames around his arms.

With a burst of speed enhanced with his flames, he got to his staggering opponent and punched him in his gut. It wasn’t normal punch though. It was fire blast. It was like a whirlpool that started to get bigger with distance.

At this time, everyone thought it was the end but we were surprised soon after. Rank 2 got up with no damage whatsoever. I looked carefully at his stomach and could see water dripping. He probably created water shield around his stomach before he was hit.

They both were exhausted and the next few attacks would decide it. They both prepared their strongest attacks. Irel started to gather fire between his both hands. The fire started to change color from orange to dark orange. He was increasing the temperature of the fireball. His opponent took a sword he once used already and started to concentrate his mana in it.

Soon after, Irel fired his super fireball and then, a water slash was released. Both attacks collided but they did not struggle at all. Fire ball was cut in half and even though water slash was clearly much weaker, it still hit Irel and because he had low amounts of mana and due to shock, he fainted and so he lost the fight.

One good thing is, his opponent was almost out of breath too. The only reason why Irel lost was because he was more of a warrior rather than mage and he did not have experience in fighting against mages, just like I before.

The next fight was mine and it was against some unknown guy I never paid attention too before.

Our fight was pretty anticlimactic but interesting. I, with Qwiz in my hand and he, with a staff. He fired wind blades at me and I cut through them. I was hit once when he mixed wind balls with wind blades but it wasn’t anything major.

I quickly closed distance and when I thought my next attack will be the last, he blocked my attack with his staff. He fought with his staff, parrying my attacks or attacking me. It was something I never saw before but not something I could not cope with. I soon overpowered him and when I was close to hitting him, I was attacked from the side with fire ball. I looked at my side and could see huge mole. It must be his familiar, was what I was thinking but I did something that should never happen during the fight, I stopped paying attention to my enemy and so I was hit by the staff on my head. I was dizzy but thanks to my Soul mind I quickly recuperated and it was my turn to hit him when he did not expect it and so I won my match.

Last fight was of Sani and Rank 1. This fight changed something in me, something I never thought I would experience.

This fight was……….something I never want to see again. When the fight started, it was like always before, getting transported but Sani was unlucky because she was transported to the same place as him. He just was looking at her and doing nothing, just waiting for her with his hollow eyes. Sani once again used her signature move, wrapped her fists in flames and attacked him. He did not even inched one bit. Sani was flabbergasted but continued. She summoned her pet and attacked together. It worked because he smiled a little and started to move. One punch, he just used one punch and Sani was sent flying. When she finally stopped with destroying trees by her flight, she was an all fours and started to cough blood.

At this time, my chest hurt. I did not mind that she was attacked or hurt. What hurt me was the fear of her death. When I saw that, I really thought she would die if it would continue. For her to cough blood her lungs must have been punctured by her ribs and the pain must be great. I was really afraid. She grew into my heart.

She drank health potion and color returned to her face. She drank 4 more potion and took out gauntlets. It looks like she used everything she could, but it was worthless. She attacked, used her surrounding and was punched time and time again. The pain in my chest was growing more and more rapidly. I clenched my fists and I could feel someone trembling at my side. I looked and saw Lili, pale and trembling. She was afraid too and so I relaxed my hands and put my hand on hers. She looked at me and calmed down a little.

We both believed that she will be okay.

How horribly wrong we were. When the last struggle of Sani started, she attacked him with her strongest spell. All her limbs were surrounded by flames and her partner used some kind of support ability and strengthen her flames. She moved and I lost a sight of her, a feat not easy to do. She attacked him by punching several times at one spot and for the first time in the competition, he was sent flying but he just got up and started to smile. He smiled with vicious smile that wanted to fight more. His fighting spirit started to gather almost making it visible and for the second time today, I lost sight of someone.

What happened after will stay in my mind forever. My heart started to beat loudly and slowly, my surroundings almost stood still and I understood my concentration reached its peak so I could see what would happen.

He moved to her and started to punch her. Her arms, legs, just everywhere. I could see it all, her anguished face, the pain she felt, punch after punch, I could see it and until it stopped and the time started to run again.

We all just saw Sani collapse and her arms, legs completely broken. There was great silence and soon after commentator started to shout to get healers. They took her and the fight was won by rank 1.

He won fair and square. The only thing you can’t do is kill your opponent but you can half kill them. I looked at him and his hollow eyes at me. I did not fear rage or hate for him at all. He just turned around and went his way.

Lili started to cry and I hugged her so she would calm down and quickly left with her and Irel to see Sani. When we got to the medical ring, they would not let us see Sani but I saw her through the door. She was lying on the table, her face pale, beaten, bleeding, cut. When I saw that and the expressions of the doctor, I started to feel anger, rage and hate. Not to the one who did that but for myself. Rage of seeing someone close to me get hurt and not doing anything to stop it.

This experience forever changed me and I hope I will never experience something like this. If only I would know what would happen soon after.

We got back to our seats and heard that there is 2 hours left. My rage was seeping out of me and so I ran outside the stadium, Irel and Lili calling me but I did not hear anything and just run outside. Kristy called to me too but I just ran. I ran for some time until I reached a secluded place and just destroyed it with my hands. For my own weakness someone was hurt. Hate for myself started to grow, my breath was rugged and tears started to seep from my eyes but a warm, soft feeling enveloped my back. I looked back at to see Lili hugging me.

She was crying too and was hurt too but even so she went to help me. The warm feeling in my chest started to grow for her and I calmed down. Rage and hate for myself started to disappear and changed to resolve to protect those dear to me. With a smile back on my face, I hugged Lili and we both got back soon before the final round,round 6 started.

As we sat down, Irel looked at us with troubled expression. He was getting worried about us. Even though he was not in the competition anymore, he still was with us. He really is a good friend.

Round 6 started and new rules were prepared. The rules and stage could be described with one word. Fear. The stage was made as murky, scary place with tombstones, marshes, skeletons and mist. There weren’t any undead or such things mind you. It was just to see if we can concentrate in such environment. We are just 12 years old, so dark places are scary for us, but not for me. The thing that scares me the most is seeing someone close to me get hurt. This is what I understood.

First fight started and it was me versus rank 2.

When fight started, we appeared surrounded with trees filled with spider threads, mist, marshes and tombstones. Movement would be difficult but not impossible. Spooky sounds were heard around us but we just looked at each other. I brought Qwiz out and prepared for what comes next.

Water balls, lances, blades ranged on me but I was just with least amount of movements dodged them. Than his special ability of his sword was fired at me and a strong water slash went straight on me. I did not budge an inch and just coated my Qwiz with mana and cut through it. I slowly, step by step went to him. Water pillars, water bombs, water prison and much more were used to entrap me but none of it worked. I used my full strength. I won’t hide it anymore. I won’t allow such things anymore.

I still did not shake up the experience and did this mistake. Master always told me to not show my full strength before it is absolutely necessary and I blew it up. I really have many things to learn.

I stopped with pointlessly using my strength and started to use it in the best way I could and it proved correct because when I reached 5 meters from him, from all directions water missiles were fired at me. It was impossible to dodge it and mana shield would not be able to withstand such attack. I could not even jump out from it and so I just prepared for what was to come. I waited until it was just meter from me and at that time, I released mana blade and destroyed 3 water missiles. They are too nimble and fast for me to be able to hit them from large distance but with just a meter and straight line it was easy. If you can’t block the full attack, then just destroy portions of it. That’s what I did. I destroyed several missiles to create a gap to get out of but even so they would still hit me because they are homed at target, but I timed it so they would hit ground and disappear.

With my specific timing, I got close to rank 2 and ended it with Void blade. By coating my void mana with blade, I can cut anyone's soul and weaken the enemy. I created this technique when I learned how to coat my blade with mana. To coat some material with mana is not easy at all. Mana is in everything and so mana is like magnets. Two same poles will repel each other and the same goes with mana but there are ways how to get out of it and that is mana coating. Enchanting works in a different way if you think it’s the same.

I cut through him but it did not hurt physically and he was still standing. He fired another water lance at me and I was grazed at my side, blood gushing out of it.

I concentrated mana at the spot and filled my cells with mana and let them repair the damage. The reason why potions are not used too much is because of this technique. By using mana you can quickly heal your wounds but it costs mana so potions are always at hand but not wide spread. I read in books about this technique but the technique used throughout the whole world is different than mine. Normally you just ‘order’ your cells to fix the wound but your cells will deplete their service life, meaning, your life span plummets. I fill my cells with mana and they will use mana as energy source, so my lifespan is still the same but I can’t use it to increase my lifespan because mana can’t stay in cells forever.

My wound disappeared and I cut through his neck with my void blade and then he fainted and so I won.

Next fight started and it was Lili versus rank 1. Fear was once again gripping my heart but when I saw Lili’s expression filled with resolve, I calmed down.

Lili form the start used everything she had. She summoned her partner, drank potions, used enchanted equipment and attacked with everything. He was once again delighted when he was pushed around and hurt,thus he started to attack her. She was hurt but not as serious as Sani.

The Fight continued and Lili was able to hold the ground until his fighting spirit and bloodlust started to rise again.

Lili was prepared for this and started to channel her mana through her enchanted staff. She pointed her staff at him and small wind blades started to be fired from the staff at incredible rate and her partner strengthening them even more. He just pushed through them, cuts appearing on his whole body but still going at it.

Lili started to look exhausted but continued until he reached her staff and grasped it. He gripped the staff and destroyed it with his bare hands. The staff exploded and Lili was blown away. She got up, still in her eyes, a burning will to win. He smiled again and once again started to move incredibly fast. He pushed all his strength into his punch and I could see in my mind Lili’s rib caged being crushed to dust.

My mind started to work once more and I started to be scared once again but my resolve still there. I shouted in my mind NO MORE and whole world was filled with some kind of violet light, my head hurting and the feeling like with Soul mind appeared again. I did not pay any attention to it and wanted to help Lili. The world started to be filled with more violet light and I appeared before Lili and I captured his fist with my bare hand.

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One more thing, I don’t have much time like before so releases will be done when I will have time. Since last chapter, I spend 3 days working without break, one day baby sitting and I even went to ride a bike on mountain with friend and my work will pile up even more, just so you know.

Hope you enjoyed.

P.S Anyone knows some RPG like Dragon’s Dogma but for PC? Thanks

PR: Wake up in the morning to start proofreading this chapter,Great start (^^;)