The arena's trees dissipated, returning to its original sandy state. Rain readied his stance as his foe began to materialize. A humanoid figure appeared before him. It had a slender frame with thin arms, and its body seemed to have tree-like skin with leaves on its head instead of hair.

Its eyes locked onto Rain as it shifted into a stance and spoke. "You are rather young, frogman. You don't even have your tattoos yet, but you've already made it through multiple trials. Unfortunately for you, I am cursebound to fight, so prepare yourself, young one."

Rain was taken aback by the sudden monologue. He had figured all the creatures so far were created by the trial, but maybe not—this guy seemed knowledgeable. Rain didn't want to fight him, but he didn't have a choice. Not planning on ignoring the man, he spoke. "I don't really want to fight, but you seem pretty determined, and I don't plan on dying here."

Water surged around Rain's staff, and a torrent of water carried him toward the man. He launched a strike, but the man simply raised a hand, blocking the attack and swiftly countering. Rain was sent tumbling across the arena. The wooden man shifted his legs into a wide stance and thrust his fist forward, sending a shockwave toward Rain. Rain quickly projected a shield, blocking the shockwave, but before he could recover, the man blitzed forward faster than Rain could perceive. Shattering his shield and following up with a kick, sending Rain flying once more.

The man attempted to continue his combo, dashing at Rain. However, as Rain hit the ground, he torrent dashed to the side, escaping into the air. Rain summoned a shield above him, turned his body toward the ground, jumped off the shield, and dashed at the man with surprising speed.

The man was surprised by Rain's boost of speed and got tackled to the ground. Rain, however, didn't stop he rolled forward clearing some distance, and used aqua vortex trapping the man in a vortex of water. He took the time he had while the man was stuck to create a water clone and activate adaptive defense. Rain watched as the man was thrown from the vortex and rolled across the ground. Rain Rushed toward the man while he was disoriented and surged into a fierce combo of blows along with his water clone beating the man not giving him a chance to attack.

The beating continued as Rain and his clone never let up. The man endured the relentless assault until an angered scream burst from his mouth. A wave of tree roots shot up from the ground, forcing Rain backward and destroying the clone.

Rain slid across the ground and spun his weapon, preparing to charge in again. Before he could move, the man began to speak. "I see how you made it this far, boy. You're a skilled combatant for someone so young. I don't know who taught you, but I give them my compliments."

Rain contemplated the man's words. He had a teacher lined up, but he was never formally taught anything. In his past life, he was never a fighter. He hadn't really thought about it until now, but it was strange how skilled he had become. Was it because of his blessing or because he was an anurasapien? Those questions would have to wait until after the fight.

Rain ran forward, feinting a swing and then launching an upward strike that sent the man into the air. Jumping up after him, Rain then torrent dashed into a downward kick, planting the man firmly into the ground. However, as Rain landed, roots twisted around his legs, holding him in place.

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a panicked look crossed Rain's face as the man stood up from the ground. "you didn't let me finish." The man spoke harshly and punched Rain in the chest ripping the roots from the ground and sending him flying. "You wield your staff like a long hammer, you don't take advantage of its full capabilities." The man rushes forward again punching Rain to the ground and taking his staff.

The man let Rain get up before hitting him with a vicious six-hit combo launching Rain again. The man walked back to Rain and handed him back his staff, "It requires fluid movement, you just swing it around like a hammer."

Rain torrent dashed away from the man, he was annoyed at how he was disrespected, the man seemed much stronger than he was before, it was strange they were relative before but now the man had the upper hand. But Rain was still going to take the man's advice.

He summoned a water clone and burst forth once more. Rain attempted to copy the man's fluid technique and was mostly successful, releasing three attacks in a short burst. He jumped back to avoid a counter-attack, and his clone attacked the man from behind, sending him towards Rain. Rain used a torrent dash and kicked the man in the chest, sending him rolling across the ground. Rain then jumped into the air, using hydro shields to build momentum. The man moved to jump into the air but was caught by a sudden Aqua Vortex, pulling him in and sending him flying. Rain followed up by jumping toward the man before he could recover, hitting him towards the ground with his staff. Finally, Rain used a torrent dash straight down, bringing his staff down onto him again.

Rain kicked the man forward across the ground and sent another Aqua Vortex at him. The man created a wall of wood, blocking the vortex, but Rain expected this. He jumped over the wall, delivering multiple swift attacks, and then used a Torrent Rush at close range, dragging the man back to his clone. Letting the clone knock the man upward, Rain jumped into the air, grabbed him, and threw him to the ground. In one final movement, Rain created a Vortex Strike and brought the point down onto the man, drilling a hole through him.

Rain gasped for air still focusing on the man waiting for a trick, and he was lucky he did as a vengeful purple aura surged violently from the man. and he stood up from the ground. The hole in his torso suddenly closed and he began speaking in a warped voice. "You have released my sealed attribute and for that, I thank you, Now My name is Eldros. And that is the last name you will ever hear. what is your name young one I will remember it."

Rain gasped for air and then spoke. "My name is Rain, and I don't plan on dying in this place." Eldros simply nodded in response before he materialized before Rain. Rain didn't even see him move. Rain jumped back in surprise but was grabbed and thrown to the other end of the arena. Rain couldn't react to the next attack either as he was Knocked to the ground. the man lifted Rain and threw him into the air before suddenly appearing above him and spiking him back down.

the blow knocked the air out of Rain's lungs and he tried to regain his breath. Rain stood to his feet before getting attacked by a wave of tree roots. holding him hostage Eldros walked toward Rain slowly his arm forming into a blade. He was preparing to run rain clean through before chains surged up from the ground of the arena and seized Eldros. before a green sigil formed behind him and attached itself to his body before dissipating. The chains then proceeded to drag Elders down into the ground of the arena.

The roots disappeared and a notification appeared in Rain's view "Congratulations on completing the trial. god servants awarding stat points."

Rain looked blankly into the artificial sky. That didn't feel like his win at all. pretty much the exact opposite, he almost died and he was being awarded for it? the lights flowed into his body

"twelve stat points awarded, please allocate"

Rain put six into constitution and another six in agility and prepared for his next fight.