As we exited into the arena area, the bright light shined into my eyes. When the bright warm light cleared, I saw there must have been hundreds of people now in the stands, all various races and levels. They began cheering where I was sitting before. Looking around the arena, it was now packed. I assumed this must have been the most exciting thing to happen in the city in a while. Plus, with the tournament tomorrow, it was kind of like a trailer to it; 'this must have been a huge hype hmm' As I looked around and at the people in the stands. They suddenly all began to cheer and scream from the side as both our groups entered the center. They were all clearly delighted. I noticed as people overreacted, I saw one man. One man I swore was foaming out the mouth being all squiggly,’ As I began to think to myself, “They must not have fought anyone publicly in a while, or at least that it had been a long time since any of the former arena champions were all present in a fight. Let alone together making up this dream team.”

Each of the champions started preparing themselves in the distance, activating some magical buff abilities before the fight as I did the same. I could see the ladies were getting ready to fight together, standing and stretching, making me laugh a little as what they did was so basic. I could hear over the noise of the crowd one of the champions begin saying across from us before the fight ruining my mood I heard him say, “Those two girls won't even be able to hurt us, will focus all our efforts on the Demon, and then those two will surrender like cowards. We don’t need to hurt them, and there is no glory there.”

The woman there I heard was disagreeing with the Human man. As I continued to listen, I heard her reply, “Pay attention. The little one has a similar weapon to the Demon's left hand. Also, look at the other wand. It is weird. Focus on the weaker ones first; once they are eliminated, we won't have to watch our backs.”

As their team continued to argue before the fight on who to target clearly, one thing was for sure. I could see the Champions so used to give subordinates orders that they did not know how to take any now themselves. I knew this would give us an edge as they would more than likely act independently. However, I knew what I had to do if they decided to go for the girls.

‘I would, however, destroy them all as quickly as I could... ‘

As the Announcer began to count down from ten, our team got into our fighting formation.

The five Arena champions who stood across from us began to get into unique fighting poses, and then I started to scan each of them in the final count down for pre-flight preparations. The woman who was talking before was a human female called Frani Star, and her guild was different than the cities for it was called ‘ShootingStar.’

Frani’s class was an Acrobat, and she was a level 57 holding two yo-yo-like devices with blades on them. From what Frani was wearing a light leather coat with belts all over her body she had on a tank top and high top boots that went over her grey pants, I could tell she had on very light gear, which was similar to my own but orange and teal, and she wore a queen's crown on her head. She stood ready, weapons in her hands.

The two males standing beside her were Slayer’s, and their names were Max and Drake Julious without a guild’. They seemed to be brothers from the scans information displayed. Also, by the way, they dressed they must have had a lot of similar tastes in things. ‘That or mommy never taught them how to dress independently.’

I could see they were in similar gear head to toe, which made me giggle. They both were suited in a black set of armour, similar to the low-level Slayer who lost to Seira earlier, but their armour was a bit darker in colour than her opponents, and they had magical white capes flowing in the wind. Then looking at the male on the left, I saw he was a level 54 Mentalist, and his name was Luke Pendo. This was the man denouncing the girls beforehand. Luke was dressed in a sort of fancy clown outfit while holding a wand. With baggy bright clothing on and a weird kind of armour that was bright and very reflective, Luke had on clown-looking shoes with big long red boots. I could not put this together. This man was strange.

I could not help but think, so he was the first Mentalist I was to fight in this new world? This freak?

The Last man was a Ranger, his level was 50, and his name was Mike Low. Mike looked exactly like a medieval archer down to the tee from the armour and helmet; everything was textbook about his armour from a history book. Mike’s guild was different than the knights of Geroleo as it said that but behind it, adding ‘Royal Branch.’ Mike must have been of royalty or was the soldier of the cities elite. Just after I finished scanning our opponents, the announcer was done speaking to the crowd directly to one section, saying one last time, “Take a seat, relax our lovely guests!”

The stadium roared, and the crowd cheered as the wind picked up. I could not help but look around, and I saw the Dwarf give the man speaking a thumbs up. The man from earlier was holding a big pouch of coins now. Next, everyone drew their weapons as he began his final pre-fight speech, saying to everyone,

“Good evening, people of Geroleo. Do we have a special event here for you today? On the right are our beloved champions of the prior tournaments and Arena battles. So give it up for your champions of the city!!!”

As the crowd began to cheer loudly, I could hear some people above in the stands above the rest screaming for an autograph from some of their favourite champions, and I even heard some girls yelling the strangest of things, ”Luke, I love you; sign my chest!”

Just when I thought that was strange, another raved fan I heard screaming said something that shocked me, “Frani, marry me, I can’t live another minute without you!!”

Looking over at the two, I could see them waving back to their fans, and they even blew kisses. I could not help but shake my head in an attempt to say, ‘um, no, that's fucked up.’

The announcer continued introducing our side next after the crowd calmed down, saying to them all, “Facing our champions is Azurith and his party of beautiful women. He has come from afar, and he is a Demon nonetheless!!! While his two party members are the two lovely Furili sisters who are Beast people!! WHAT!!!! WHO WILL WIN!??! Let us find out today, woo!!”

As the announcer began to count down. What stood between the other group and us now were these weird magical symbols, but somehow, I understood each of them. They were counting down from ten to zero as the crowd began to scream back at the announcer, “Woo.”

10.....9....8....7....6...5...4..3...2...1..

Then just like that, the magical symbols and numbers lifted as the crowd began to scream, and the announcer said, “FIGHT!”

Jacosta and Reena quickly formed up and got ready for the incoming enemy’s, as Reena prepared a few defensive spells for her and her sister. I watched as arrows began to fly towards us all; without a moment to think, I shot forward and deflected them. Looking over, I saw the two slayers pressing forward down the right path towards Jacosta and Reena, though the Acrobat stayed back a little, standing beside her two ranged teammates, I assume to provide them with some support.

Seeing Jacosta move back a little while they charged, I decided I would help her first. The Ranger saw what I was going to do, and as I made my move getting ready to act, they fired a few more arrows at me. Once again, effortlessly, I sliced a couple more arrows that flew towards me, and as those arrows flew past me, I could feel an invisible arrow as one of the arrows grazed my face. Causing me to react quickly with my swords out, I sliced down the next incoming volley of invisible arrows and cut each of the arrows in two, coming for my teammates. 'Invisible arrows?'

Then in the distance, I saw the Ranger then began to activate some kind of magical shots as the Slayers continued to close the distance. As the first shot formed, forming at the tip of his bow, now was a large fireball. Once he aimed with his bow, he released the fireball arrow flying within it, and as it flew towards me, I activated my cross strike skill slicing the shot apart, causing a huge fiery explosion within inches of me. The Ranger Mike continued to follow up, firing arrow after arrow while the Mentalist with the Acrobat decided to push towards me.

Jacosta was trying her best to get over me, but an arrow would fly towards her every time she moved, causing her to deflect the projectile barely. I then yelled towards the ladies in the heat of combat, “ You will focus on the Slayers.” Jumping back a bit and out of the way of the next fireball shot fired from Mike, I landed right beside Reena with Jacosta; I could hear Jacosta ask me frantically out of breath she said, “So what's the plan Azurith,”

Looking over at her, with a huge grin on my face, I answered Jacosta, “The plans to dance Jacosta, I'll distract them.” Then, spinning to face the enemy, I started twirling the blades around using my wrist, and I began to charge forward while activating 'Distance-close.'

Now appearing between the two slayers who both saw me even at those high speeds stopped and began to swing at me. The crowd began to cheer for them as the announcer started commentating on the fight for them.

Ducking dodging the strikes with a lightning-like speed, I kicked one of them back a little and activated my skill 'Delorose-Swords.' ‘Swordsmanship’ A black circle appeared under me, temporally breaking the floor of the arena a little. The circle appeared, unlike the others, for this was white; the writing with numbers and letters from my world began to appear, sparking red electricity as the red swords rose from the magical circle. The swords, once formed, began to move as if they had a mind of their own. The Slayers working together got past my guard, but just as they went to strike me, the red magic sword appeared and then proceeded to swing lifelessly after them, fighting both of them back.

In the heat of the moment, I looked over and called Jacosta over to fight the Slayers, “Get over here, Jacosta.” Then, while the two Slayers were now being fought back by the red magical swords, I told Jacosta, “Jacosta, time to train' get over here.”

The mentalist began firing magical bolts of spiritual magic towards the swords to try and destroy them, but it did not affect them as they continued to attack the slayers. Jacosta was kicking ass as the Slayers cried out for help; the magical swords, with the help of Jacosta, were beginning to land strikes on the two and started slicing away at their armour and stabbed one of them in the abdomen, injuring them. The crowd slowly began to stop cheering for the Slayers as they began to fall victim to the unknown magical ability I used.

Not paying too much attention to the arrows flying at us any longer slicing the odd one that would have hit anyone or land close to any of us, I hastily looked over and told Jacosta, ”Now work with the swords and finish these two Slayers off. Reena, stay with me.”

We started walking past the two men who couldn't stop defending the attacks from the skill ' Delorose-swords.'

I could tell as I watched the attacks from the swords that they were fast and consistently accurate while being able to move freely; at the same time, it was devastating to witness. The sword's ability changed here; it was as if now were magic in nature as I had to select targets in-game.

Reena and I proceeded to walk casually past the two Slayers who Jacosta was fighting. We acted like we owned the arena as we continued to move forward towards the Acrobat, the Ranger and the Mentalist, who I could see in the distance begin sweating a little upon noticing their melee users were out of the fight. Jacosta raised her sword to the sky and began to activate the only skill she knew, Celestial blade. Just like the Slayers blade before their fight in the arena, Jacosta’s sword now started to begin to glow as bright as the sun. Her white hair was now becoming consumed in magic as she glowed gold. Then she lunged forward as the ground broke, and with a bolt of gold light, she created a crater as she charged forward with the Delorose swords supporting her. The swords did a good job blocking any strike Jacosta would miss, and none of the other Slayers could get past her.’ The announcer now turned and started saying to the crowd commentating Jacosta’s fight.

“WHAT A TURN OF EVENT’S. THIS UNKNOWN DEMON’ AND HIS MAGIC SWORDS HAVE OUR CHAMPIONS ON THE RETREAT. FROM THE LITTLE WHITE-HAIRED GIRL NONETHELESS, WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED THIS!!”

The crowd was losing their minds. I could hear screaming in anger and cheering a mix of emotions, as they could not decide what to do or who to cheer for anymore. Reena and I continued to walk forward and were met by the Acrobat now standing across from us. The Acrobat crouched and then jumped high into the sky before throwing both of her yo-yos towards me, targeting me with her skill. As they flew through the air, the blades opened up, creating a circular blade-like saw effect. Once they impacted, they would retract a little and begin bouncing off the floor like a ball. Not realizing this at first, one of their weapons flew up at me while redeploying their circle blades. Dodging the first one and smacking away the second, I looked up at the Acrobat and said,” That’s cute.”

As Frani replied towards Reena and myself, she said short of breath,” Retract,” A magical circle formed around her wrists and the blades began to fly back to them, sparking on the floor behind me, acting like two flying saws now they started flying through the sky like two cordless circular saws. ‘Oh my.’

Reena and I began to look at the two saws flying at us. She continued to stare as the image grew bigger in her wide eyes. Finally, I pushed her, sending her flying out of the way. Seeing one coming, Reena landed on her but skipped a little like a rock on water. The yo-yo began retracing using the exact path back they took to get back to the Acrobat. I could tell there was a pattern to her weapon now. ‘Good game.’

One of the yo-yos sliced my sides on the way back as I was too slow to move. Frani continued throwing the yo-yos at me while I smashed each one of them away and sent them flying back in opposite directions, causing them to retrace their path then back to me, striking me over and over again constantly.

Reena seeing I was slowly taking damage, yelled out,” Regenerate.” As a green circle appeared below the two of us. Suddenly flowers began to bloom from the stones under where I stood. The cuts on my body slowly began to close up, and I could feel my energy being restored.

Feeling better now, I thanked her and briefly said while I turned my head, “Thanks, Reena.” But it was at that moment the Ranger looked over at her charging an arrow and shot a magical shot towards her, saying out loud, "Sniper" The arrow flew through the air silently, and it was invisible to the naked eye; all I could do was watch as Reena tilted her head and just as she went on to say, " No problem" the "snipe arrow hit her. I watched in horror as the arrow hit her in the chest and her eyes lit up; Everyone could hear the Announcer as he called out, commentating on the play,

“And that's all she wrote for the first combatant. So down goes the beast girl from the rangers sniper skill.”

Coughing up blood looking into my eyes, reaching out with her hand, I saw as she fell over and pass out. I quickly ran over and saw the white in her eyes before scanning her; I saw she was left with 1 hp. A magical circle began to glow under her transferring her out of the ring.

I began to cry and screamed out in anger towards the Ranger,” You’re dead!” The Acrobat, now throwing her yo-yos, said to me while she attacked, “Bring it on. Is this is all you got?”

Not caring what any of them had to say any longer. I snapped as the voice inside my head started activating, 'Demonic eyes-skill buff.' This was the buff that gave me the demonic red and black eyes, and it doubled my strength. My eyes now began to glow red and black as I began to boil with anger and hate as well next activating my 'Demonic-Presence.' I started to think to myself, “You may not die, but you defiantly felt the pain, and an arrow through the heart was cold.”

Dropping down onto a knee in a crouching position, my swords began activating magical circles around the blade guards glowing in a red mysterious aura. I charged my strike up. As I concentrated on my twirling strike skill, it began to activate when the next barrage of yo-yos came at me. Twirling around like a helicopter with an insane speed, I knocked the yo-yos hundreds of feet into the air making her weapon useless. I heard her say, “Wait, what how?” I then stopped in an instance and followed up with a jump towards her. I jumped high into the air towards the Acrobat, who was also in the air. I reached forward with my two blades. Catching her off guard, I pierced her right out of the sky.

As I flew towards her, the Ranger shot an arrow at me. The Ranger fired some kind of magic. I only managed to deflect the magic encasing it, but the arrow still managed to go right through my leg. It began hurting like hell and pissing me off in the process.

Still in the air, I pulled my swords out, and I struck the Acrobat over and over again with the bud end of my sword before stabbing her in the back with both of my swords in her I started whispering in her ear, “How does it feel? I bet you wish you were dead.”

As my sword's enchantment activated, it continued to drain her health to 1hp as the ring fought to keep her alive. Finally, Frani screamed out in pain. Lifeless for a moment, there she laid. Then the arena's magical circle activated, and then the Acrobat was teleported out while still screaming in pain while bleeding out. The crowd watched on in horror as the announcer said in a grim voice, “Well, that’ is the end for our lovely Frani.”

The crowd began to boo me while the announcer saying next instantly, ”Oh no, Max and Drake just loss as well!! Our champions seem to be up against the wall. Is this the end? Can Luke and Mike bring it back,”

Mike now began activating another magical shot and aimed. He played it off like he was ignoring Jacosta first and was aiming for me. Then he quickly changed targets last minute and fired down an arrow rain towards Jacosta's position. I could not warn her or do anything, and she could not dodge the area of effect attack. I had used the Delorose swords up at this point, and as the arrows rained down, I could hear for a few seconds the noise of metal clashing, then Jacosta cry out in pain. Next, I could hear the sound of someone coughing on blood in the distance, and then next, I saw the light. Jacosta was teleported out of the ring.

Looking back at the Ranger, I screamed towards him,” Why!?” The crowd started cheering Mike on, screaming, “Kill the Demon, don’t let him off easily for what he did to Frani,”

Luke now started stepping up, looking back at Mike. I overheard him say in the process, ”Guess I am next.” Then he continued to walk forward-facing me down in the destroyed arena; rocks and broken tile lay split and cracked. I could see him giving Mike some more room to work as he regenerated his magic and reloaded. The mentalist began to fire spells at me, summoning all kinds of magical circles on the floor and in the air. Next, he began firing a wide variety of offensive spells towards me, chanting away like a maniac. Now everyone had been cleared out of his way. Finally, he started to unleash his full strength. Giving me a taste of what a mentalist was capable of.

I noticed some of the spells he used I had seen from the game I had played, and I was familiar enough with them to counter almost every spell or just flat out run for my life. All the lady's in the crowd began to cry out in excitement as that clown of a man who attacked me with the announcer shouting and hyping up the magical spells continued to rain hell down on me. Luke unleashed a monster of spells at me in the area destroying everything it hit, creating large craters everywhere. He only stopped once he was out of mana. Finally, the dust and smoke settled.

I was now standing in a crater covered in thick smoke, blinding everyone, including myself. Some of the spells consumed me in fire, ice, and electricity, and it hurt like hell, but I managed to block most of the heavier spells. Each of the spell's effects either burned me or froze parts of my body while electrifying me. I walked forward through the smoke now, with blood running down my ears and eyes from the shock and awe he unleashed.

Muttering, “You’re a dead man Luke!”

I was shaken. This was nothing like any game; I felt everything even while blocking the force of the spells, and it left a ring in my ear. It was like someone literally bombed me in real life. Now looking like the devil with my eyes glowing black and red from the Demonic ability, I started to run forward without a moment to lose. Now using 'Distance-Close.' I closed in too fast on the Mentalist named Luke to react as he could not move out of the way in time. I began to slash at him once I was in range, cutting him in an upwards motion with the first strike slashing away his armour. I kicked him around punched him in the throat with the end of the hilt of my sword. He could not avoid the strikes after that as he held onto his throat. So I went for his shoulders and legs with each strike before stabbing him square through the heart. Kicking him to the side like a bitch he laid on the floor lifelessly now to the right side. I then looked at Mike and said, “Your next, mother fucker.”

I could tell the Ranger standing before me began to get worried as the announcer said while the girls in the audience were crying, “Lady’s calm down. There still is Mike in this epic one versus one.”

Mike now fired as many arrows as he could with what little mana he had left. Avoiding them all or destroying the odd incoming arrow spell, I walked towards him like the grim reaper. Once I was within striking distance. Mike then activated the same kind of shot Seira used while on her hands. Now charging up the shot, the magical circle formed at the tip, and he shot it at me. Looking at the arrows, I decided to take them head-on to see if my assumption of damage was right. There was a giant impact as I felt the arrows pierce my arms and legs and one slamming into my chest. When the smoke settled as the crowd cheered, coughing up some blood, I continued slowly walking towards him unphased as my armour withstood the shot. The announcer and crowd were left in disbelief and now silent as I walked up towards him, dragging my swords behind me and creating some sparks. I could see Mike had visible sweat running down his face. I could hear him go on and say to me, “That's impossible nobody stands after that...That's my strongest shot. What Level are you!?”

As I walked up to him, now standing right in front of him, I whispered into his ear, “99.” His face dropped, and he began to run away from me like a scared child, dropping his bow in the process. Now activating my skill 'Assassinate,' Everything slowed down the cheers boo's Mike was slow. I could see him spinning still while looking over his shoulder. That was when I jumped over him. While I flew high above him, I snapped his neck. Just as I went to stab him still in slow motion, I saw He had 1 (HP) handshaking the screams and chants of the crowd becoming quieter as new voices began to fill my head. It was around this time I began hallucinating humanoid forms. They started to form in the arena, and even in the crowds, everything now swallowed the light in the darkness. One of the shadows standing beside the Ranger now appeared in my vision, telling me, “kill him.” Once I deactivated my Demonic ability, and my eyes returned normal again, the voices stopped, and the shadows disappeared.

Time returned to its normal passing, and I could hear the crowd again. Looking at Mike, he fell over. I could hear them all booing me now, as they booed me for my un sportsman-like behaviour towards Mike, who had apparently surrendered. I did not give a shit and left the stage. Walking away from the arena's battle area, I started to walk towards the changing rooms for the arena. While in the background, the announcer was talking to the mob. I could hear the announcer was trying to calm the large group of fans down who was throwing garbage at me and into the arena littering the floor.

“Hey, know they aren’t dead. Behave yourselves.” said the announcer as I left. When I entered the change room, Jacosta and Reena were lying down on a bench. Beside them was a male human battle-mage on the bench who was healing both the girls' wounds. As the girl’s opened their eyes, they were met with the sight of me beside them holding their hands, saying, “You did amazing, and we won. I am so sorry I did not think you would get this hurt.”

They looked awful, like they were inches from death. With tears running down my face and eyes, I truly was sorry. Never did I expect the arena would have been so real-life-like for this world modelling a video game. But, being so much like the video game I played, this was new; I could not do anything to save them, even as strong as I was. ‘That was a little too intense.’ Holding them both closely in his arms, it was now when the Dwarf came walking into the room and handed me the winnings we had won, saying to us, “Ruthless, but you are a Demon. Why are you upset you guys won.”

Looking at the Dwarf, I answered him and replied, “Tell your champions I apologize for taking it too far, and I guess I did not react well to seeing these two get hurt.”

I then asked him, “What was your name, by the way?” He responded.”Urek bald. Nice to meet you, Azurith, right?”

“Yessir,” I replied. Then quickly, I took my left hand and began wiping my eyes clear. While we both laughed a little, he walked away and wished me a nice evening as I heard the footsteps he made on the stone as he left. I sat there stroking the hair of Jacosta and Reena while the Medic healed them. With their heads on my lap, I would patiently wait however long it took them to heal those two. I continued to relax, and as I sat there waiting for them to wake up, I continued to stroke their hair back and forth, now truly getting a chance to enjoy their soft hair and ears while they laid helpless.