In front of Onima lay an assortment of different weapons, ranging from swords on his left to maces on his right. Axes spread around leaned against walls. Spears, halberds, and staves along with other long weapons stacked side by side in the back of the room.

Each weapon was stained by both scent and sight, covered with a thick layer of rust and blood. Each blade duller than a butter knife. Even sitting on the blade wouldn’t cause much discomfort.

Every weapon had its story, all the stories were dark and bloody. Their aura radiated a blood thirst that would fire off the danger instincts of any animal that came near. This room he was in was one that many had stepped in before they died.

…

(Onima POV)

My noise soured up as I inhaled the stale air wretched with the smell of iron. I’m sure that the only reason fear has not paralyzed me is solely because of my mysterious cheat menu.

Every time I looked at a weapon, I could feel an option to open up extra information about each weapon. Testing it on a small sword nearby, I willed the option to activate.

+++

Name: Rusted Short Sword

Durability: C+

Quality: C+

Description: A rusted short sword created en masse that has been used countless times to slay.

Abilities: None

Enchantments: None

+++

Looking around the room, showing the details for every weapon, there were none with durability or quality over C+. They were all of the same quality and durability. I decided to just pick up the closest sword that I had inspected earlier.

The guard from earlier told me to move on to the next room after picking my weapon, it looks like there’s a door behind all these weapons piled on the side. I carefully moved all the weapons blocking the door to the other side of the room, so they don’t fall and create a large amount of noise.

The door itself was a very simple looking wooden door with single handle and had no lock. I moved to pull the door open when the handle popped straight off.

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“...eh?”

I tried to put the handle back on, but every time, it just fell straight off again. I gently set the handle on the side of the door hoping that no one would notice and directly pulled the door open using the hole now inside of the door.

CRREEEAAAAK

The hinges of the door were rusted as well, causing it to squeak abnormally louder than usual. Short sword on my side, I took a long, deep breath as I walked through the door.

♦♦♦ In a grandly decorated room near Onima

“Who is the next champion that is facing ‘The Giant’?”

“It is an unknown male who was found sprawled in the streets of the city. None of the local residents had recognized the unidentified male, your majesty.”

“Is he strong enough to provide me entertainment at least?”

“Even our strongest mages were unable to identify his skill level or name. His status menu could not be opened, although he looks weak as well. It is uncertain how strong he is, your majesty.”

“Oh? Then I shall pray that he is not a bore to watch. Send him in.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

Two men were talking from within the room. One was sitting on a tall throne wearing a long decorated down and a crown studded with 4 different colored jewels in a rhombus pattern in the center and smaller jewels studding evenly along the sides of the crown.

The other man was standing with his head bowed before the first man, feeling slightly oppressed. The man in the throne seat was the current tyrant of the Draiven Kingdom, King Helkrem. The man below him was his royal advisor, Marquis Zamur.

They were discussing a monthly event that occurred within the kingdom, hosted by the king's order to provide him entertainment and money from the payment of admission from the citizens. The Giant was the reigning champion that had defeated every last champion before him and every last challenger that has ever been brave or foolish enough to battle him.

A king that ruled by fear, there has been no king like that who has had a peaceful end...

♦♦♦

Achoo!

Uh, someone must be talking about me.

Crossing the door was pretty anticlimactic, it just led to another room that seemed like a reception room, well, minus all the blood and gore along the walls.

On the wall across from the door that I just walked through was steel grating that only had a single unlockable door. The room was void of anyone else, with a single bench on the right side of the room facing me.

It was really weird feeling nothing, having suppressed emotions when in a situation that would normally excite many emotions is, quite frankly, disturbing. However, that was suppressed as well.

I took at a seat down on the uncomfortable wooden bench. It was stuck to the ground somehow as if it was glued, but there were no traces of glue anywhere around the bench.

This room tugs on something in my memory, but I’m not too sure what it is. It feels familiar, but I can’t recall why.

Slosh, slip, slosh.

I hear footsteps coming closer to here. Is something going to happen? I’m still curious where I am and what I’m doing here. Maybe these guys can answer my questions.

A big burry man in partial armor covering mostly his chest and groin area stopped outside of the door. He opened the door silently and motioned for me to follow him as I did. I tried to communicate with him during the journey to wherever we were going, but he ignored all my questions and stayed completely silent the whole trip.

The tunnel he led me through was quite narrow, the man leading me could just barely fit through. As we walked, it gradually grew wider and taller as it opened out into a... coliseum?