Chapter 14: Born Again

Continent of Baliton, City of Ardber

“Our next match! From my left side, a warrior who has been battling in this coliseum since he was a kid and had won three championships, the crowd’s favorite because of his merciless style in fighting his opponent, Rait! And on the opposite side, a new entrant in this coliseum, a young boy with strange markings on his palms, don’t be fooled by his appearance this boy had defeated three opponents from his three matches his name is Valter!

“Whooooooo!” crowd cheered wildly as I walked slowly towards the stage and saw that my opponent was first to come up and waves to the mass. I prepared for 12 years for this one day event. If I could win the championship during this specific day and month, it will help me to grow faster and stronger than what I am before.

“Hey kid, as the first one to receive my mercy in my entire life, I’ll let you surrender now, I’m a good man you know” Rait smirked at me.

“You’re afraid of me?” I smirked back at him.

“Hahahaha, I am afraid that your mother may not acknowledge you anymore.”

“You know weaklings tend to talk a lot, and they end up eating what they have said”

“This little bastard!” his face starts to turn red with just a little provocation.

“Contestants, are you ready?!” the referee asked and we nod quickly without dropping eye contact with each other.

“Begin!”

“Warrior’s Heart!” Rait was the first to activate a skill, and his whole body was steaming and I can feel that the surrounding place around us becomes humid.

“Hey punk, you’re dead! You hear me?!” he spoke menacingly with smoke going out from his mouth.

“Huh? Can’t hear ya”

“Aaaaaaghhhh!” he lunged at me with his dual sword and he managed to close the distance between us in less than a second and tried to attacked me with his left sword and I dodged it and went to his left side.

“Ash” I used a skill and from my right hand, small amount of grey ashes was blown to Rait.

“Cheap tricks won’t work kid!”

And then he tried to slash me with his left sword and I jumped backwards, in my direction I saw a sword flying towards me aimed at my chest.

‘Boom!’ the sword struck the ground as I evaded it and before I can take a moment to breath I saw another sword thrown at me I evaded it again,

‘Ugh’ I hit something at my back as I stepped back. It was the first sword that was struck, I was trapped between the two swords and instantaneously Rait is charging at me he tried to punch me in my abdomen but I invoked a skill before the impact.

“Ash Armor” another grey ash covered my upper body as I received the attack.

‘Baag’ I felt a little pain from the attack and I was thrown upwards for a few meters and then Rait jump towards me with two swords in his hands and he spin wildly.

“Ash Sphere” I tried to protect myself from the combo attack but the sphere did not hold and I receive minor wounds as I was sent down to stage with cracks on it. He landed back to the stage and immediately after that he charge towards me not giving me a chance to recover.

“Ash” grey washes targeted his eyes and for a moment he was distracted by it and roll far away from him.

“Oh running away kid?” he smirked.

“Ash Sword, nope just testing your skills”

“What you say bastard?” he lunges again and I parried my sword with his but mine was broken instantly and he awkwardly dive into the floor due to his momentum.

“Haha oopsy” I teased him.

“Whoooooooooooooooooo” the crowd yelled energetically as we fight. I did the same thing, dodge, use the ashes, and then protect myself.

“Ash Sword” I brought up the sword again.

“Bastard, your cheap tricks ends now!” he shouted with all his frustrations.

I did the same thing, parried his sword, I felt little force from his attack but was enough to break my sword and he circled his left sword aimed at my neck but I duck and his right sword came from above aimed at the same target, my neck I evaded it with breadths hair by raising my head back but the hilt of his right sword struck my abdomen, the impact was strong and I curled up due to the pain.

“Uhoo!” I coughed blood. Rait jump towards me with a devilish grin. He struck his right sword to the ground and then grabbed me by my neck and raised my childish body.

“Whoooooooooo” the crowd cheered again. They didn’t care if a child is being beaten as long as they are entertain, they will not care.

“Hahaha this is better!” his eyes was red as he stared at me.

“I see you’re left handed” I spoke to him calmly.

“What?” he was dumbfounded.

“Forbidden Skill: Ash Reaper” I activated a skill and his right hand gripping my neck started to crumble, it turned into an ash.

“Aaaaaaaaaahhhh” Rait screamed frantically.

“…………..” the crowd fell silent.

“You know those ashes were not cheap tricks, they are a part of a masterpiece. The longer you are exposed to my ashes the stronger the effect. Your right hand was just a starter, slowly I will dismember you” I grinned menacingly at the scared Rait.

‘Swooosh’ he tried to attacked me with his left sword but I just parried it my index finger and his left sword crumbled. He was trembling as he tried to get away from me.

“I sur- uggghh!” he tried to surrender but I removed his tongue and he spat ashes.

“Nope! Can’t let you do that” I moved my index finger sideways as I spoke.

He tried to jump outside the stage but I immediately destroyed his two feet with a snap of my finger.

“Mmmmmmmm! Mmmmmm!” he mumbled and raised his left hand gesturing to stop.

“What? Can’t understand ya”

“Mmmmm-“ Those were his last words as I blew him with my mouth and his remaining body, without legs, no tongue and one hand crumbled into the ground.

“The…The boy…Valter had won the match!”

“Whooooooooooo!” the crowd cheered violently.

“This is not enough, I need to get strong faster, and repay those who betrayed me after we vanquished the world Boss. Those bastards threw me in a cave with three minotaurs dwelling inside I was exhausted at that time but I gave a fight unfortunately I was overwhelmed by that giant one, luckily I have reach the top as a Force User and have returned 10 years forward. Those people from Baliton and Cayam who collaborated for my death shall pay. I lost my rings but I still know how to acquire those special items. Just wait for me.” I mumbled as I walked back to the waiting room inside the coliseum.