As I walk out into the arena, I can feel something is off about the crowd. Instead of clapping and cheering like they usually do, they are there silently whispering to each other actually trying not make eye contact with me.

What is going on? Is it something to do with my opponent or something?

The gate on the other side of the arena open up and my opponent walks out. It's a little girl maybe no older than 6 years old.Her black hair his into two twin tails, wearing a long pink frilly dress and on her waist is a small bag. My opponent is this little girl.

I look at the announcer he just averts his gaze from the entire field I have finally figured out what the feeling is it's fear it's oozing from every person in this arena but it's not directed at me but instead at the little girl.

"Awww you look, strwong mister, please go easy on me..."

Damn it... The girl's even giving me the puppy dog eyes I am going to find it really hard to take this little girl down but that raises some good questions like: ‘How did this little girl even get this far in the tournament?’

"... Begin."

So the announcer can talk. The little girl grabs something from the little bag then throws it into the arena sand I don't get too see what it is before it disappears beneath the sand. I start walking towards the little girl when I notice she is smiling now her smile is so innocent and pure. Why do I have to fight a kid?

I take a step closer then I feel of dread washes over me like a dagger is placed right across my back but I can't tell where the danger is coming from it feels like it's all around me. 

Something shoots out from the sand and strikes me in the back it slashes apart my new clothes the only reason I'm still alive right now is because of all the enchantments I placed on the clothes when I got them.

I look behind me and see nothing then I look over at the little girl her innocent smile has now turned into a bloodthirsty grin that sends shivers down my spine. I can now see why everyone was scared of her….

"Hey little girl, I hope your parents give you an allowance because this shirt was brand new and I expect you to pay for it."

"Sorry mister, but after I'm done pulling your body apart limb by limb, your clothes are definitely going to be ruined."

"Wow... Those aren't very nice words little lady, I'm going to have to give you a nice spanking."

"I'm going to enjoy killing you, mister. In fact, I might not even kill you just cripple you so bad you pray for death every second of your life."

"Hey now little missy, didn't your parents ever teach you manners it's not nice to make threats to your elders?"

I get the feeling of danger again but this time, I knew where it was coming from. The whatever it was again popped out from behind me but this time, when it tried to slash me all that happened was the sound of it metal hitting metal.

"Hey, little girl... Did you think the same trick would work again?"

"How did you stop my attack?"

"Let me show you..."

My skin starts to turn to a blood red color my clothes and hair then my entire body becomes a blood red color. This is my new blood armor! It covers everything on my body and it's as strong as steel.

"You're a blood mage!"

"Yes, now the question is what are you?"

Again it pops out of the ground but this time, I spin and catch it at just the right time. I pin it to the ground and finally get a good look at what has been attacking me.

It is a giant metal centipede. It's as long as me, the pincers are sharp and look like they could cut men in half. I quickly crush the things head before it can wriggle out of my hand.

"You big meanie! Don't destroy my toys!!"

I turn to the little girl she starts thumping her feet and shouting like she was throwing a temper tantrum.

I dash at the girl. Before I can reach her, she grabs four little dolls from her bag and throws them into the sand in front of her.

The ground under my feet start to Shaw then four giant bronze knight statues burst from the sand each one carrying a big sword and shield.

"Kill the bad man!"

The giants move to their master's wishes as they begin swinging their massive swords at me.

Surprisingly, they are incredibly fast. I block with my forearms I hear a screeching sound when the swords clash into my blood armor their swords aren't able to break through it. 

I push the swords away from myself then dash to the side of one of them and punch through their side. I expect the knight to fall down but instead, it continues to swing it's swords at me I block the assault then jump back putting distance between me and the bronze knights.

I  thought they would follow me instead they keep their position. I guess they girl isn't an idiot... She knows I can't get to her without going through her bronze knights.

'Drake what are those things?'

'Magic puppets.'

'What the fuck are magic puppets?'

'There puppets design for combat typically made from magical beasts or material.'

'Great... Now how do I destroy them?'

'Destroy their heads, that's where the receive their commands from.'

Now I have a target all I have to do is hit it. I sprint forward, the knights raise their shields to protect themselves. I shoot off some blood bullets mixed in with blood grenades they slam into the shields but are not able to puncture through their shields.All right so that strategy is out so let's try another.

I pull my sword from my hip belt then activate my [Sword mark] I feel the energy rush into my body and harmonize with the sword.

"Reaper’s crimson slash!!"

The arc of red slams into the knights’ shield. It pushes the knights back further and further even being able to crush their shields lightly but eventually the slash disappears and the knights shields still hold.Dammit! I sheathed my sword back.

Alright, screw it!

Since I'm wearing the blood armor might as well take advantage of it. I start to circle more and more blood around my hands until I have successfully formed giant rock like gauntlets made out of blood on my hands. I punch my gauntlet into the closest Knight near me the knights shield crumbles under my punch. The knight draws its sword to strike me but before it struck I land strike to the head causing it to shatter.

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Before I can notice it, one of the knights hits me in the ribs with a sword sending me flying across the arena.

I'm about to land but before I do another knight slashes their sword into my back, my blood armor still holds.

I continue to get hit around like a tennis ball by the knights.

"Hahaha! I really like this game mister!! It's so much fun!!!"

I'm not glad she's enjoying herself. I am sent flying again but this time I spin my body so I can see the next strike coming. 

I reach my hands out before it can hit me. I grab hold of the sword and land my feet down. With the extra leverage, I lift the knight and its sword over my head and throw it onto it's back before it can move then I smash my foot down on its head.

The remaining knights charge at me so I jump to the closest one. Once my body hits it, I make my entire body shoot out long red spike the pierce every spot on the knight's body including the head. 

One knight hits me with its shield I'm sent rolling onto the floor. I see one of the knight's boots coming for my head but before it hit, I push off the ground high enough to reach the knights head I make a blood sword in my hand and use it to split the knights head in half.

I look over at the last knight. It's positioned itself in between me and the little brat. I make fifty blood bullets around myself, I shoot them off one at a time at the knight like a machine gun. They obliterate the knight in seconds. Looks like the Knight's are not so hard to kill without their shields.

I see the little brat shaking, her face has gone red and they're even tears in her eyes.

"You big fat meany! I'm going to kill you, kill you-you broke my toys! N-now I have to make new ones!!"

"You ruined my new outfit so I think we're even."

"You're wrong! We're not even until I get your head!"

Before I can see anything I feel something sharp enter into my shoulder, I look down and see a jet black dagger in my shoulder it's cut through my blood armour and gone right through my shoulder, I see a cable attached to the end of the dagger I follow it with my eyes it continues to the girl the cable goes inside her arm,her hand is gone and all that's left is a hole where the cable is coming from. 

She's a puppet herself. I can now see it there are tiny screws and bolts throughout her entire body. But if she's a puppet, does that means my opponent is someone else and she's only a weapon? 

No... It can't be everyone's fear was aimed at her and no one else so what is she a puppet who controls other puppets dammit I can't worry about that now all I need to worry about is how I'm going to win this fight.

I pull the dagger from my shoulder but before it hits the ground, the cable comes to life and whips aiming for my head. I move to the side it just slightly cuts into my cheek.

"Hahaha! I got you now you meanie mister!!"

Shit, I’m dancing around trying not to get cut from this dagger but it's incredibly hard.

I dash forward towards the little girl the dagger follows I'm side stepping and dodging while running for my life towards the girl.

The dagger comes closer slicing lightly through my rib cage, barely missing my lung. I jump into the air ready to superman punch. The girl on other hand falls off then long black tentacles come out and wrap around my arms and legs holding me up in the air.

"I've got you now… Let's have some fun!!"

The dagger slices through my leg tendons then my arm tendons the pain is excruciating.

"Did you like that mister? Well… Because I am going to give you a lot more."

It starts to pierce random parts all over my body. Thankfully, it's not in the man jewels. 

I cough up some blood and I spit the rest onto its face. It get's enraged grits it's teeth it's eyeballs almost pop out.

"YOU SCUM!"

It starts so slash and hacks at my body in a bloody rage. The only reason I'm even still alive is because of my blood magic that gives me incredible regenerative abilities.Soon, it has cut me so many times that there's a pool of blood under both of our feet.

"Stop the fight! This is just cruel!!"

"Yeah!! Stop the fight!!!"

"Stop the fight!!!"

"Stop the fight!!!!"

The crowd starts to cheer for the announcer to stop the fight.

I would like to think it's to save me but it's probably more accurate to assume that these people find my current state to sick to look at.

"SHUT UP!!"

The entire stadium silences.

"You insects will not stop my fun!!!!"

She brings the dagger right in front of my face.

"Any last words mister?"

"... Burn..."

I connect to the [Dragon mark] and set all my blood that’s infused with fire mana ablaze.The blood under our feet quickly turns into an inferno.

"AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!"

The puppet little girl starts screaming as her entire body is being burnt alive by my fire. I use my pyrokinesis to form flame swords that cut apart the tentacles that bound me. I land on my knees since I can't stand. I look over at the once little girl, all the flesh has been burnt off now all there that's left is a puppet skeleton with a beating heart in its chest. I form one last flame sword and send it through the heart.The puppet falls to its knees its eyes are just in front of me. I see the last spark of life live it's body then fall to the floor completely dead.

My eyelids start to feel heavy I can't keep them open much longer my body sways to the side and I collapse onto the ground unconscious.

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Author:HazeyKnight

Editor:Senizal Fi Chrora

ProofReader:Senizal Fi Chrora