Norbert having completed several more bouts after his loss with the 101 man, they swarmed to have their turn with him. All being pointed, as the man said in a gruff voice, "Those who defeat him can then challenge me."
Those above him in the ranks challenge Norbert first, just for the challenge of ranking up and the chance to face 101. The first several being cocky, thinking that someone of such low rank would be an easy feat. This resulted in Norbert quickly gaining ten ranks.
The rest is more hesitant, the number few and far between. As those ahead of him dwindled, already not wanting to lose their ranking to him, those underneath him rose. Norbert was swarmed in fight after fight, becoming a challenge for those new rankings.
He did not even have time to leave the dome; in the end, he just stood in the middle as a line formed on the outside. As he went further along, he saw that those in the queue were just idly chatting to each other, like waiting in line at a fast food restaurant before getting your order taken.
As Norbert saw more and more people joining the line, it grew as more people came to add themselves to the tournament. Most of the people he fought could not leave a scratch on him.
Their magic could be crushed with a single fist, and whatever physical strength or speed they had was ultimately useless compared to him. Norbert watched as people tried different tactics against him—the meta-changing on how to take him best down.
As it went further, it started to be only range attacks, his opponents trying to unleash as much as possible on him before he caught them. Ultimately, it was useless, as everyone would get caught, slammed against the dome as it turned red, signalling another defeated foe.
As time passed, Norbert saw people leaving for some time, returning cycles later. Norbert started to count these as he continued, pushing back any sleepiness he would have experienced from it, recognizing his energy intake slowly tick more and more for him to continue dominating his opponents.
The last one finally came through, Norbert swaying on his feet, waiting for someone else to enter his dome. When none did, Norbert looked around, seeing the line that had been there for so long disappear, everybody going elsewhere for their fights.
Norbert, breathing a sigh of relief, walked out of the bloody dome, his feet squelching in his blood, sweat, and the opponent's fear. Spotting Lily, Count von Count and Obsius sitting on a bench to the side of his dome, not knowing where they acquired a bench in the first place.
Walking forward when he was several meters away, Norbert saw Count von Count pinching his nose as he talked to Lily, waving his other hand in front of his face. Lifting his arm, Norbert smelled where his pit was, the stench wafting out of the area. Slightly gagged at the smell, Norbert dismissed it from his mind and continued walking forward, watching Count von Count lean backward, wanting to escape him.
Norbert continued to walk forward; about to open his mouth, Lily held out her hand, watching as a rune appeared before she tapped it. An onslaught of water gushed over him, pushing him several steps back.
The water was waning; as he blinked the water out of his eyes and began to open them, gusts of warm wind hit him. Feeling like he was standing before an air dryer, Norbert slowly spun around, ensuring he was dried.
After completing two spins, the air died down. He opened his eyes and saw the pool of water still on the stone floor behind him. Those in the area have moved away, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire.
Turning back around, Norbert sees Lily scooching to the side, allowing him to sit down. Unbuckling his sword, Norbert sat on the bench, draping the weapon over his legs. Having not used any of them in the fights after the man that used darkness, Norbert did not even check to see their condition.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Sitting down, Norbert closed his eyes, the dome events rushing together. Having versed so many opponents, he couldn't put his finger on one of them anymore; it was just a big blur.
Feeling himself sway slightly, leaning to the left, Norbert felt sleep take over him. He accepted it as it embraced him, a warm blanket to cover his body.
***
Stretching his arms above his head, Norbert opened his eyes. He twisted his head around and felt his neck pop from his sleeping position. He yawned almighty as he dropped his hands to his lap, banging against the sword still there.
Opening and closing his mouth, hearing his lips smack against each other, he looked at his neighbour, Lily, just staring at him. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he asked her, "So, how long was I asleep for?"
Lily looked around, the ground in front of the bench still wet. "Only several cycles."
Norbert nodded his head in response, his brain starting to wake up. Nodding in response, Norbert asked, "And how long had I been in the dome for?"
Count von Count chuckled, interrupting Lily before she could respond, "Three weeks, dude."
Norbert nods his head before twisting his body around. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah, three weeks. People made it a game to see who would stop first, the contestants or you. And guess who won." Count von Count said.
Obsius chirped from the vampire's shoulder, the vampire nodding in response as he brought out a pouch from Norbert's backpack. I saw it bulge, knowing that the little bird had somehow made even more cash out of setting up the bets.
Turning to the bird, who puffed out her chest with pride, Norbert questioned her, "And I thought you were meant to be the responsible mum of the group. And I'm your child that you criticize?"
Obsius spent staring at Norbert, giving a sharp tweet in return before turning to Count von Count, continuing to chirp in the vamp vampires. Norbert shook his head at the attitude. Lily looked at Norbert as he sighed, letting the bird's response out.
"She said she is the parent, but that doesn't mean she can't have fun. Before turning to Count von Count and saying how much trouble I would be in, I'm the only one to have fun around here." Norbert said to Lily.
Lily stared at the bird. "Is that right?" She asked Obsius.
Obsius nodded in response, still not looking at Norbert as she went to the other side of Count von Count's shoulder, hidden from Norbert's view.
Chuckling to himself, the secret that Norbert could talk to the bird was slowly becoming known by others. Turning to Lily, she asked, "How did I outlast everyone? Wouldn't they go again?" Norbert asked.
"Rule states can only fight an opponent once," Lily responded.
Norbert nodded. "And as someone above cannot challenge in that sort of scenario, did I just clean out everyone below me in rankings?" Norbert asked.
Receiving a nod in return, Norbert whistled to himself, not believing the outcome of what happened. Shaking his head, still not believing the following question on his mind, "So, what now?" he asked her.
"Now, with the trials nearly over, most people are doing a last bit of study before going to the next floor above us." She said.
Norbert looked at her, a quizzical look on his face. "Next floor?" he asked her.
Lily nodded in response, "Yes, the next floor. That's where the tournament is held."
Norbert stared at the ceiling. "Inside a mountain?" He questioned her. The thought slipped from his mouth, "Then what about the roof collapsing?"
Lily just stared at him in return, shaking her head before clapping her hands together and opening them apart. "Magic" she whispered to him.
Norbert nods along, her actions reminding him of a particular yellow sponge in memes with a rainbow.
Turning to her questioningly, Norbert asked, "How do you know about memes?"
Lily looked around before turning back to Norbert. "What?" Norbert asked her. "Not like anyone is going to know what that is. Just going to sound foreign to them." Norbert told her.
Lily just shook her head, not even responding to Norbert's antics. "We will be moving to the top floor in several cycles." She said.
Norbert put his game face on as he removed his mask, placing it on his knee. He removed his gloves and placed them on the other. Rubbing his face, getting the wrinkles out and moving the muscles around, feeling the skin touch skin after so long of neither having appropriately breathed.
He looked down at his clothes, surprised he hadn't felt any chaffing from his con. He looked worn, taking it up with the purple healing factor he now had, repairing anything.
Stuck in his musing, Norbert felt movement on the bench. Seeing Lily stand up and head to the stairwell, most others were already heading in that direction, and everyone else was starting to move. The only ones not moving were those still looking at the leader board.
He stood up, donning his gear as he picked up his backpack from Count von Count, feeling its increased weight from before. Curious, Norbert opened it up, seeing several sacks inside and rustling his hands between hearing the jingling of coins. Shocked, Norbert looked at Obsius, sure he saw the bird sticking her tongue at him. Shaking his head, Norbert slung it over his shoulder, wondering what the bird could need too many coins for.