I watched from high above in the stands seating area as the Slayer made its move and ran forward towards the Ranger with their sword and shield drew. ‘I looked around for something to snack on, but it seemed it was to no avail.’

As I watched the action unfold before my eyes in the arena below, I noticed the Ranger did not move an inch while the slayer ran forward. They were standing there twirling an arrow which struck me as odd. ‘I would be running back right about now if I had a bow and saw that barrelling towards me.’

[https://i.imgur.com/9xNAI2Ih.jpg]

Suddenly the Ranger drew their bow and loaded a single arrow. Using some magic next, they fired that single shot above the Slayer. I watched as the arrow then turned into a magical circle. It forms high above their head in the sky. Now appearing out of the thin magical circle that was gold in colour, hundreds of arrows started to rain down from it, which surprised me. I turned to Reena, who was sitting beside me. While the arrow rain was going on, I turned quickly and asked her a question about what I had just seen, “What was that move they just used?”

Jacosta was up at the front of the stands, too busy cheering on the Slayer to be bothered. But Reena happily turned her head and faced me. With the soft look she usually had, her teeth were poking through the corner of her bottom lip as she answered me, saying in an unsure tone, “That’s Ranger magic.”

Confused, I followed up with another question asking Reena, still unsure,” And what is Ranger magic?” I could see Reena crack a smile with her usual warm smile as she pulled her hair back a bit behind her ears. She then looked over and said to me, “You are funny. Are you trying to test me? Anyway, an Archer can only use rangers' magic while they fire projectiles. They can manipulate the magic they have available in their body to unleash their magical attacks from their bows. It always depends on what their teacher has taught them. They may even have some skills others don’t have from their own class, each teacher is different, and good students learn from them all.”

‘That sounds very interesting,’ as I watched on from the stands watching area at the battle down below. It was beginning to look like a live-fire drill as the magical in the arena raged on. The arrows continued to rain on the Slayer's location. It did not look too good for him; that much I could tell from playing enough games.

It was then I remembered I had placed a bet, and at this rate, I was going to win my bet, which did not bother me whatsoever. ‘I kind of hope he does lose. Is that mean?’

The Slayer was standing their ground on the spot, deflecting arrow after arrow away. They proceeded to defend themselves very proficiently, slicing the incoming arrows and shots from the Ranger while managing the falling arrows the magic was launching towards them. With their right-hand shield, I could see them blocking each shot with unimaginable speed.

[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/805227107860348990/888538815717863434/20210917_163302.jpg]

‘What incredible speed,’ The Ranger was also firing at them with arrows shot at lightning speed one after another shot after shot. I could tell this would end soon, but then with his next move I saw, the Slayer started to crouch down, then jumping upwards towards the circle in the sky. They propelled themselves, launching high above into the air. As they did, they began to slice and dice every arrow as it flew towards them. I could see the Slayers fly up like a bullet as their sword began to glow. As they flew through the air, I could see they were heading towards the magic source, and when they struck the circle floating above, that was causing the effect of the raining arrows down.

The crowd and I could hear the sound of broken glass as the glowing sword shattered the magical arrow circle. Caught up in the spectacle of the raining down parts of the magical circle, I watched as it disintegrated back to mana and, with the next wind gust, blew away like dust.

I noticed the Slayers shield began to glow brightly as the magical text this world used for its magic ran down his arm like a band. When the text connected to the shield, his entire arm glowed as he threw his shield at the Ranger; catching them off guard, I watched it smashed into the chest of the ranger, sending them flying back. Then, with a boomeranging-like effect, it is returned to the slayer after it smashed into the Ranger’s body. The force causing the Ranger to drop their bow and fall back a bit down to their knees as they held their gut.

When the Slayer landed on his feet, I watched the Slayer secure his shield to his forearm; he then continued to run forward towards the Ranger. A single bolt of energy as he shot forward in a glow. The ranger I could see was now getting back up after being struck with a heavy shield in the gut. I could tell that hurt the Ranger as they were slow to get up and stumbled, noticing their bow ahead of them. I watched as the Ranger started running for it as the Slayer was closing in. I could see the Slayer beat the Ranger there as their skill was a lot like mine and was used to close distance.

The Ranger did not let up, and they went to reach for their weapon; I saw the Slayer’s blade hit the Ranger across the shoulder as they began following up, swinging right and left at the Ranger. The Ranger, I could tell, was doing their best to dodge the strikes, but it was not long before they got hit by one again, and some blood flies into the air with the Slayers' next move.

When they kicked the Ranger and sent them flying back further from their bow, it was at this time, and I was getting ready to count my gold lost. ‘Good, game.’

But the Ranger was not out of the fight yet, and I saw them gathering their strength together for one final attack. I was surprised when I saw the Ranger start full-on sprinting towards the Slayer. I leaned forward on the edge of my seat, knowing this was it; this move determined the winner. When they met at the bow, the Ranger ducked the strike and jumped kicked the Slayer flying back. The crowd and I all stood up when we saw this. Now everyone was on their seat’s edge.

The kick was so unexpected nobody saw it coming, let alone the Slayer. ‘I mean, I did but still. After all, what kind of Archer knew hand-to-hand combat?’

The kick was actually strong as it sent the slayer flying back a good distance. Head held back arms low; they flew backwards through the air with their weapon in air and shield. Now rolling as the Ranger fell on their back and hit the floor, I watched as they spun around doing a cartwheel. Spinning and getting up as they did a back-flip, now standing on their hands, I noticed that they were now holding the bow and arrow in their feet. What came next caught the crowd and even myself off guard as I had never seen this performed anywhere before. I could hear everyone began cheering and screaming. “No way!”

[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/805227107860348990/888538815344566322/20210917_163322.jpg]

I heard everyone screaming, even Reena; Jacosta was standing on the railing kicking it. It was funny. I was caught up in the show below, screaming like the crowd at the fighters to do this or that as well; it was exciting.

When the slayer got up, The Ranger shot them with one magical shot after another. Now using their feet to hold the bow, they began firing a final and new shot. I watched as a new magical circle now forming at the tip of their bow and arrow began to appear. The magical powered shot they fired at the Slayer, who was getting up from being struck over and over again, could not move out of the way. The Ranger fired.

Five glowing arrows propelled forward from the magic circle at the tip of the arrow. Now, as the Slayer went to hold his shield up, the five arrows bent around it, striking him in all of his joints with all five of the glowing arrows in various spots on his body. I saw the slayer drop his shield and sword and fall onto the floor face down. The Ranger then stood up properly, holding their bow now with their hands above their head. As the Slayer was coughing up blood, I could see a pool of blood from under him, ready to lose. ‘I looked as his HP.’

He could barely hold himself up with his sword, and I noticed that his (HP) was under a quarter. So I assumed the five shots hit him in all the nerves and pretty much disabled him.

‘Is that how damage works below a certain point,’

I saw walking up to the Slayer slowly now was the Ranger. The Ranger fired two more shots into the Slayers' body, sending him into an unconscious state within life points of death. The arena glowed then, and the ground shook a little like a strange magical circle formed under the Slayer. Suddenly they vanished from sight. The crowd then began to cheer in disbelief that the Ranger had defeated the Slayer. As the announcer awarded them the victory, without any words spoken, they left the stage. I could not but turn to ask Reena what happened to the slayer after the fight,” Hey Reena, what happened to the Slayer? know where did they go?” as she said, “That’s the Arena’s magic seal ‘anti kill.”

Then being interrupted by the announcer before I could reply, I heard him say to everyone, “Did you see that, folks? My goodness, he did not see that coming. THE RANGER WINS!!”

I could hear everyone who bet on the ranger next cheered as they won their gold back at 3:1 odds; everyone who lost their bet at the same time could be heard booing them and the Ranger.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Not soon after, I heard the familiar voice of the Dwarf call me over to hand me my winnings, saying as I walked up to him, “Well, you win some, you lose some. So here you go, Azurith 1500 gold, say you wouldn’t be willing to make another bet?”

Jacosta looked over and answered for me, “Sure, Azurith is always down for a bet; what's the bet?” The only words managing to leave my mouth at that moment were, “Jacosta!”

After I finished saying that, I could see the Dwarf turning to call one of the former arena champions over who was looking to fight a strong opponent today, I assumed. Then all these unknown champions decided to walk over once the one called Frani was called down to talk, as all of the other former champions came over. Now around us, a huge crowd started to form. As the Dwarf then went on to say to me when they all arrived, “From the moment they saw you, they wanted to fight you, I bet on it, and I was right, which reminds me, pay up Koi.”

Then the Dwarf looked up and down at me and then followed up with, “Pick one. You seem to have attracted some attention from all of these champions; you look like you can handle yourself, which does not happen often.” Looking at the group as they had cocky grins on their faces, I replied, “I don’t care to pick one.” The dwarf walked over and came back a few minutes later and answered, “Apparently, each one wants a fight with you, and if you win, I will double the gold you have won here now. Double or nothing, what say you, Azurith, how about Frani?”

I looked at the woman called Frani and told him in an arrogant tone of voice, saying to them all, “How about all of them at once.?” Looking at them, I scanned them, and there were roughly five 57-50 level ranged champions here. The champions were various classes, I quickly remembered I'd been ganked by far worst while separated from my party in the past while playing as Azurith, but would I be able to fight off five decent-level people at once in this place? These classes were new. ‘Would I be able to defeat them after all?’

This was not a game anymore, everything I did had a consequence, and until I learned how to fight properly, each of my attacks on lower levels may end up killing them like before in the alley. Only by chance, none of the attackers before who fought me had died, being the low levels they were. ‘This was just the other day.’

Zoning back, I could tell after hearing what I said; the Dwarf cleaned his ears and then replied to me saying in a weary, confused out of breath tone,” Wait, what. You want to fight all five of them at once....?”

Instantly I could hear the crowd began to lose it upon hearing that I'd take on all five and started cheering as people began running out. I imagine they started telling people passing by on the streets, “The five former arena champions, we’re going to 5v1 a new guy.”

Looking at the Dwarf now. I pulled in the ladies with each of them around my arms. I felt confident with my party members, and I said to him, “How about us three verses those five. The winner gets 4500. Take it or leave? And you handle the bets?”

‘After all, I did not want to make this day to be all about me.’

Today was meant to be a training day for everyone so that I could gauge their abilities; being out levelled and classed would give me a good sense of what they were capable of in the worst-case situations. But, instead, all Four of the men and the one woman looked at me like I was crazy, and one of the men in the group even said, “Are you seriously going to fight us five with those two as your supports? You do realize how low of a level they are, or should we tell you. They may have some new gear on, but that doesn’t change the fact they haven't been on a quest or dungeon run in ages. Plus, the little one and older one have no real combat experience. Most times, the little one is used as a lure when she's hired, and the taller one is a healer. So you can’t be serious about fighting us with them.”

Looking over, both ladies looked a little embarrassed now as they did not tell me their situation faces red they looked at the dirt, which was upsetting to me, but there was nothing wrong with a lure or healer in a large party. They can be just as useful as any damage per second or area of effect caster. The girls just needed to be treated with respect and as equals; I looked over at both of them, and I asked them, “How about after the tournament we enter in tomorrow? I will try and help you two level up a bit. Does that sound like a fair deal in return for you two helping me out here for the last few days?”

The man who was talking before screamed over the crowd who was cheering at the gesture, listening in on our conversation; unable to contain his frustration, he screamed at us,” Don’t Ignore me, demon, you and those ladies in your party can rot in hell.”

I watched and listened to him next order the Dwarf to start accepting bets for the fight. I saw the other four champions went down the steps, and the female they were with shook her head. Now they all started to walk off into an area leading towards one side of the arena.

Jacosta angrily grabbed her sword from its holster, muttering some interesting words. “Stupid bitches” then she walked down the steps with her sword ready in her hand in the opposite direction.

I could not help but look back at the Dwarf while being carried away by Reena, and I could see the little man tried his best to contain the large crowd that was flooding to the arena stands and overwhelming him. ‘I felt bad for him.’ Next, the Dwarf raised his hands and shot out some magic into the air, and a giant clock appeared with a timer as it began to count down above the arena. I saw it was giving us roughly ten minutes to prepare. I could hear Reena yelling at her sister, “Jacosta, wait up for Azurith and me,” I could do nothing but walk; I was limp being dragged by Reena.

Reena then looked back over at me when she finished speaking to her sister while I was looking around and then went on to say to me, “You really did not have to stand up for us. You know it is true what they say. We are what we are,”

I quickly answered her and replied to Reena with a decisive tone, “Hush, you can be whatever you want to be,” Smiling with a gentle look on my face, I told her next. “I think that timer says we have roughly ten minutes to get prepared. After that, we should find Jacosta and form a plan for our fight.”

Reena agreed with me and said, “Right.” W continued to follow Jacosta, who was far ahead of us by now, as we started to walk down a corridor hallway and took a right.

At the end of the corridor, Jacosta was nowhere to be seen, but there was an open door. Opening it with Reena beside me, the door led into a small changing room. We saw the Ranger from the last round sitting, and I could see the Ranger was almost finished changing.

I blushed when I saw the Ranger was almost out of their gear and was dressed in some more basic clothing, but they still did not have their shirt on. I could see Jacosta was sitting down beside them, making some small talk with the Ranger cooling her jets. I noticed an Elven woman who was the Ranger in the green and black tight spandex armour with silver armoured bracers and was wearing a hood with a mask over it. I could not have guessed what sex they were. ‘Not up until that point at least,’ As they had the body of a boy.

I said to myself under my breath, “No chest sigh.” She looked over at me like a shampoo commercial waving her black long hair back and forth in what seemed like slow motion at first, and then she said to me, “No chest, hey...So your the guy challenging all the champions of the last tournament's party leaders? Your rather brave, or either really dumb with the small chance of being strong. I have yet to figure you out, Mr. Demon, my name is Seira leaf little, and I am an Apprentice enchanter.”

‘Well, this woman is so polite...Now I kind of feel bad saying that comment out loud.’ I now started covering my eyes as I noticed she was still naked from the waist up as she walked over towards me, and then I replied. “Nice to meet you Seira, I am Azurith Baldarren, I suppose, and I also am an Enchanter.”

Then the little elven girl called Seira asked, “Are you a Master or an Apprentice enchanter, or are you like me just a normal enchanter?”

Without thinking, I replied to her, “Master Enchanter.” Right after I said that that was when Seira looked at me rather fascinated-like and began to tilt her head back and forth before she continued to say, “A Master, huh, are you Demon royalty by chance Azurith? Or do you work for the Demon-prince in his court? You also have a rather strange name for a Demon. Besides, I know there are only five master enchanter’s in this world at the moment,”

She asked many questions and seemed to know more than the ladies I was with about Demons and perhaps this world; however before I could respond. Reena and Jacosta interrupted us and asked Seira and myself, ”What do Enchanters do even?” We both turned to her with unimpressed looks on our faces and said the same thing at the same time.”Enchant things..duh...”

Then, Jacosta began to laugh as she usually did, cheering up from her sour mood, saying to both of us,” Is that page one for responses in the book.”

Answering Seira’s first question from before, I told her,” No, I am not royalty or nobility or whatever. I am just another Demon who just so happens to be a Master enchanter, that's all.”

Seira looked at me like I was lying. I could tell she did not believe a word I was saying and answered saying, “Well, after your fight, I will see if you are telling the truth. I'll be cheering you three on. Good luck,” Seira then walked over to a black tight tang-top, and she put on then grabbing her green cloak she put it over her shoulders, then turning around, she left the room we were in. Not much soon after she was gone from our sight, I began to think, 'That girl left me a little dumbfounded for words.'

Getting ready with the ladies, I sat down beside them and started thinking how this would work. I remembered all my skills names from pulling up my skill list, and I had about 15 that I could use, and what seemed to activate them was just the thought of it with my sword out seemed to be enough. I could not track how much (HP) I had or (FP) I lost, which was very concerning but today was a test. However, the only person who could tell would be Reena, but she already told me she could not see (FP). Reena was able to see (HP), (MP) being a healer; I assumed she would have seen (FP) but sadly, no. Sitting there next to the girls, I began to speak towards them both; turning towards them now, I started saying,

“Listen closely; I will take the point and try and tank for us all the incoming damage. You two need to stay behind me, and I will do my best to protect you; Jacosta will trade out with me when I make some openings for you to strike. While Reena sits back and remains on guard and provides the necessary magical healing spells for support. If you get targeted, form up behind me on the left and right, form a V pattern, and break their lines. That is when you will switch to using your dagger from the flower wand, if necessary. I am not sure how this will work for you two, and this is why we are practising, so stay close to me, alright?”

I could hear both of the girls answer me and say, “Right.”

Continuing, I said, “I mean, The new weapons I gave you should hurt them even at your level, so be patient for when to attack and focus on defence.” After I had finished saying that, before the ladies had a chance to reply and give me their honest opinion, I could hear an announcer in the distance speaking again, as they now started saying in a loud voice, the walls rumbled a bit as they said,

“All contestants, please report to the arena now for your battle; let us get this show on the road!”