I wish I had some mana left.

[Warning the User will die unless immediate care is administered.]

The same warnings are probably flashing in front of Flash Gordon’s eyes too.

[Strong Spirit D is prolonging your life for a few more seconds.]

A hidden effect, huh? Too bad Flash Gordon doesn’t have a spirit, I wish I can give him some of mine.

[Requirement Met, A Rock Blessed with a Strong Spirit Unlocked]

[Commencing Evolution]

Everything is getting dark, the blood loss is getting to me.

[Recommendation: Put all unused stats into Vigor!!!]

Unused Stats? When did I level, why can I still see the system windows?

I whisper, "[Status]."

Name: Ellis Vincere. Race: Human

Nickname: The Last Winner.

Level: 11 0/1000

Class: Tamer (Rank D)

Titles: Proud Owner of a Rock, Fell the Mighty F

Health Points 0/105 0%

Mana Points 0/50

Armor Points 8 (Equipment)

~

That funky little skeleton tipped me over the limit, I should thank him… oh wait, I killed him.

I chuckle at the idea that I can live a little longer thanks to that funny-looking skeleton.

I bring my Vigor to a total of 27, giving me an extra 30 health. It starts leaving my body rapidly. It’s like the blood in my body is getting pulled out of me.

[Requirements Completed: Blood Seal Broken]

What seal?

[Unlocking Adaptability]

Humans had to evolve and adapt to any situation, to be able to live anywhere on our beautiful planet. Humans adapt on mass within a few generations, but generations take too long for this dangerous world. If only there was a way to change that. Maybe we humans can get back to the top of the food chain. - Darwin Vincere

Daddy?

~

[Flash Gordon P.O.V]

…

[Champion P.O.V]

The arena bursts into chattering, as the Champion has once again vanquished his challenger.

The Champion pities the fragile human who couldn't die a warrior’s death, instead of dying in the most humiliating way possible for a warrior, falling on their own blade.

No matter, he still deserves my honor. The Champion could feel it when he entered, his blood was coursing with the blood of a ruler. Too bad his body couldn’t keep up. The level difference was apparent the moment he stepped into my arena.

This Champion felt respect for the challenger when he challenged me to unarmed combat. This weakling, even though it was futile, still wanted to go out like a man. If I still had blood, it would be boiling in anticipation.

Humoring the challenger is the task of the Champion, if he wanted no weapons, then no weapon will draw blood.

He had potential, that common rock he threw damaged my hand when the Champion deflected it. The Champion wonders what a real attack with a weapon would look like.

The Champion fully expected his body to shatter with one attack, but he managed to take the blow and counter-attack with his strange magic, as this Champion was going to activate my skills, the rock he threw caught my eye. Let this Champion return the challenger’s possession.

This Champion manages to destroy a pillar. This Champion watches as the challenger activates his magic again.

The Champion watches as the challenger trips and falls on his blade. [Sense Life] confirms his death.

It’s the Champion’s duty to entertain the audience, I bask in my victory, and my kind’s cheers fill the arena. I turn and grab the handle of my ax.

CRACK

A mighty blow shatters my neck, my head flies off my shoulders, and the world spirals as I soar through the air.

The challenger, he lives?

The challenger walks to my decapitated head, moments before my untimely demise, this corpse asks him for his name.

My voice does not ring out, my bare teeth clack against one another in a futile attempt to hear the new Champion’s name. This is a feeling of regret.

The last thing this corpse hears is, “Flash Gordon…”

He heard my prayer and answered my question. Flash Gordon is a name worthy of being the new champion. This corpse can't hear the rest of his sentence as I return to the arms of my God in the great nothingness.

[Ellis Vincere P.O.V]

The pain of my pulling this blade from my stomach almost makes me pass out, but I need to get up if I want to get out of here.

Kuok

I wipe my lip, blood splattered out of my mouth from the exertion. I get to my feet. The [Skeleton Champion] is turned away from me, this is my chance. He’s going for his weapon, I have to act now, I grab Flash Gordon.

I lunge my entire body, my legs strain at the sudden burst of power, I slam Flash Gordon into the side of his head. [Donkey Punch] is obviously used.

[Critical Hit]

-320

The system flashes many notifications, but I ignore them for now.

The Champion’s head flies off his shoulders and tumbles to the ground far from his body. I walk over to the disembodied skull and look down at the helmeted head.

“Flash Gordon, are you alright?”

I examine Flash Gordon first, he seems to not have taken damage from that attack. I bend down and remove the skull from the horned helmet. I limp over to my backpack, so I can store my loot inside it. The great-ax is something I want as well, but I’m too injured to carry it with me. I look at the arena’s audience, and the skeletons that sit in the stands stare blankly at me like they are in shock.

The Champion’s headless body collapses to the ground, Dust flies everywhere as the armor disintegrates into nothing, and the helmet in my bag seems to stay in one piece. Bones fly everywhere, like a house of cards collapsing on its own weight, My eyes are protected by my safety goggles.

The exit to the fracture opens before me, like God unzipped the space in front of me, before I jump in, I spot an odd-looking bone, it’s completely clean of any [Grave Dust] and seems to glitter slightly.

Activate [Scientific Insight+].

[Strange Bone]

This is the first time my insight failed me, I store the bone in my bag anyway.

Clatter Clatter Clatter

The previously passive audience falls from their seats down into the arena, they don't have eyes, but if they did, they would be filled with fervor. I check my health.

Hit Points: 10 (Major Bleeding)

Good, I have just enough health to get the fuck out of here. The only thing I’m missing is the Might needed to bring that ax out of here, I can sell it for money.

I hobble into the rift before any of the skeletons can get the final hit on me. The strain that is put onto my wounded body almost makes me pass out, I hold on until I'm safely on the other side.

I come out of the sliver facing a brick wall. You never know how much of life you take for granted. I realize now the real world doesn’t suck that much, The sun is rising over the city, and I hear the beautiful sounds of the city fill my ears.

“WE HAVE CONTACT.”

I slowly and deliberately turn and face the entrance of the alleyway. I see the welcoming party of what looks to be seven enforcers pointing their standard-issued automatic rifles at me. Even in this time of magic and discovery, humans will still make guns relevant.

I’ve seen enough media to know what to do, I put my arms up in the air. The effort reminds me of my broken ribs, and the state of my fingers causes me to drop my father's blade. I wince in pain.

“Sweet Ceartas, what are you doing Johnson, are you going to shoot a kid, an injured one at that?”

“Yeah, Johnson, what are you going to do, shoot me?” I really hope he doesn’t. Even if a bullet deals only one damage, there would be enough bullets to kill me before I can do anything.

“Ellis, baby, is that you? Oh my Gods, look at the state you are in, what happened to you?”

Oh no, my mother is here, why is my mother here. I quickly look down at my chest. Thank the Gods that my D pin is still where my mother left it, it's just on bloody clothing now. Good, now her son only made her worry for his life. Adding ‘also broke a promise’ would be bad as well.

Obviously, the enforcers have already put their guns down. A few people in hazmat gear approach me and start waving a wand that looks like a handheld metal detector over my body.

“What do you mean I cannot go get my son?! Look at him, he needs to be taken to a healer right away!” I have never seen my mother look so angry before, the captain of the enforcers, the one who mentioned Ceartas, Goddess of Justice, seems to be failing to calm her down.

“Mam, the fracture your son accidentally fell into was marked as highly dangerous.”

The skeletons weren’t that bad. I can feel blood pooling in my boots. I only have 5 health at this point.

“The scouts reported dangerous miasma, our B rank scout could only last for a few hours before activating emergency evacuation, and she needed immediate healing.”

Why is he telling a civilian all this, what's the point?

“You should prepare for the worst.” the unnamed enforcer caption has a somber expression on his face. My mother starts crying.

“My Ellis is a strong boy, he’ll be fine.” she muffles her own sobs with her hands.

I won't be fine, if I can't get some treatment, that is. I turn to one of the two hazmat guys.

“I need a healer, I don’t care if it's a doctor or a priest.” He seems surprised that I spoke up.

“We are almost done checking if you're contagious or a general danger to society in your current state, stay calm sir, help is already on its way!” a male muffled voice replies from the confines of the suit.

“Sounds good enough for me, I’m going to take a nap, don’t touch my stuff.” One of my greatest skills in life is my ability to sleep anywhere at any time. I lay down and close my eyes, it’ll be annoying if they start asking questions, and since running is out of the question the only way to avoid this interaction is not being conscious. The last thought in my head was a mental note to find out that captain’s name, he made my mom cry.