Mysterious Arrival

Artreus landed with a thud on the cold, stone floor, his body jolted by the impact. Groaning, he rolled onto his side, clutching his ribs. The air here felt thick and charged, alive with an ancient, unyielding energy.

"Ow! That hurt!" he muttered, wincing as he pushed himself into a sitting position. His eyes darted around the dimly lit space, taking in the jagged, rune-covered walls and the faint hum of power emanating from them.

"Where am I? What is this place?" he said aloud, his voice echoing faintly.

The silence unnerved him. "Hello? Helloo! Is anyone here?"

His call was met with stillness at first, but then a sound—soft, deliberate footsteps—emerged from the shadows. Before Artreus could react, a figure leaped forward with alarming speed, pinning him to the ground.

A cold blade pressed against his throat, the sharp edge biting into his skin just enough to warn him. His heart raced as he stared up at the assailant, a figure with piercing eyes and a presence that radiated danger.

"Who the hell are you?" the figure demanded, his voice low and cold.

"I… I was sent here!" Artreus stammered, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. "Please, I don't mean any harm!"

The figure narrowed his eyes, suspicion etched into every line of his face. "Where did you come from? How did you get here? Are you here to steal?"

"I-I don't know!" Artreus protested, squirming under the figure's grip. "The marble sent me here!"

"Don't lie to me!" the figure barked, pressing the blade slightly harder against Artreus's throat.

"I'm not lying!" Artreus shouted back, his frustration boiling over. "Let go of me, you bastard!"

The tension was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats. Just as the figure appeared ready to act, another voice cut through the room, authoritative and commanding.

"Enough!"

The figure froze, his head snapping toward the source of the voice.

"Let him go, Aidan," the voice said, firm yet calm.

Aidan hesitated but eventually obeyed, releasing Artreus with an audible click of his tongue. "Tsk..."

Artreus sat up, coughing as he rubbed his neck where the blade had been. He shot Aidan a glare. "This bastard…" he muttered under his breath.

The second figure stepped into the light, his presence filling the room with an air of authority. His face was etched with weariness, but his eyes held a sharpness that commanded attention.

"You," the man said, pointing at Artreus. "You say the marble sent you here?"

"Y-Yes, sir," Artreus stammered, still catching his breath.

The man sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Tsk, that kid Arthur… He keeps sending children to my home. What does he think this is? A daycare? Hays…" He shook his head, muttering to himself. "Why has my god sent me into this universe? Troubles never seem to end…"

He stepped closer, the light revealing more of his rugged features. His muscular frame and battle-worn appearance spoke of a life lived in conflict, yet his presence felt steady and assured.

"What's your name, kid?" the man asked.

"Artreus," he replied hesitantly.

The man nodded thoughtfully before gesturing to the bowl in his hand. "So, you're Arthur's brother. Want some?"

Artreus wrinkled his nose at the sight of the thick, unidentifiable stew in the bowl. "Ew… What's that? Get this thing out of my face."

The man's brows rose, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Rude. That attitude of yours... Are you sure you're his brother?"

Artreus crossed his arms, glaring. "Hey, I don't know why my brother sent me here. I don't even know what this place is! Who the hell are you, anyway?"

The man's smirk grew into a grin, his voice carrying a hint of pride as he replied, "Name's Samson. You may have heard of me—the God-chosen man from the books."

Artreus's eyes widened, disbelief flashing across his face. "Y-You're Samson?"

The man chuckled. "That's right. Welcome to my home, kid."

Artreus stood firm, his eyes locked on Samson, the legendary beast slayer. Though awe filled his voice, his words carried purpose.

"Master Samson, you're a legend! A beast slayer! I've heard so many stories about you. When you came to our world, you annihilated entire demon armies, left paths of destruction in your wake, and killed countless Demon King generals. You even trained my brother!" He hesitated, lowering his gaze briefly before continuing. "I'm sorry for intruding, sir. I haven't properly introduced myself—I'm Artreus Reigns. A marble sent me here… My brother gave it to me. There must be a reason I was sent to you."

Samson crossed his arms, leaning back slightly. "And what exactly are you getting at?"

Artreus clenched his fists, stepping forward. "I want you to train me. Make me your disciple. I want to get strong, just like my brother. I want to have my revenge on the monsters who destroyed my home and killed my mother. I want to annihilate them!"

Samson rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm…"

Before Samson could respond, Aidan, still visibly irritated from their earlier confrontation, interjected with a sneer. "He talks too much. We should kill this kid."

Samson shot Aidan a warning glance. "Now, now, Aidan. We don't want blood on the floor."

Not one to back down, Artreus glared at Aidan, his voice rising. "You look about my age. You think you're tough because you sneak up on people? You're just an a-hole!"

Aidan's expression twisted in anger. "You piece of sh—! I could take you down fair and square. You just got lucky my master stopped me from killing you!"

"Bring it, demon prick!" Artreus snapped.

Samson sighed heavily, his voice cutting through their bickering. "Okay, that's enough, children. Artreus, watch your mouth. Aidan, stop acting like a brat."

Artreus stood his ground, his determination unwavering. "Master Samson," he said earnestly, "please train me. Make me your disciple."

Samson studied him in silence, his face unreadable. Finally, he shook his head. "No."

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"What?!" Artreus exclaimed, his voice breaking with disbelief.

Samson smirked faintly. "I'm not going to make you my disciple for free. That's your first lesson: nothing worth having comes without a cost. You have to earn it—or pay for it."

Desperate, Artreus stepped closer. "I don't have money to pay! I'll do anything you ask. Just… train me!"

Samson's expression softened slightly as he assessed the boy's resolve. "There's one way," he said finally. "You're going to have to fight one of my students. You're going to defeat Aidan."

Artreus smirked, recalling their earlier tension. "Oh, that sounds easy. I've always wanted to punch that asshole."

Aidan scoffed, his irritation evident. "Tsk. You think you can defeat me? I'll crush you."

"Bring it!" Artreus shot back, his grin widening.

Samson raised his hand to calm them. "Oh no… No killing, Aidan." He chuckled, settling into his chair. "Here's the deal, Artreus. You only need to land one hit. Just one. Do that, and you'll be my disciple."

Artreus grinned, confident. "One hit? I can do more than that."

Samson sighed dramatically. "Maybe. Aidan, don't kill him. Just knock him out if you have to."

Aidan smirked. "Fine by me."

The Trial Begins

The air was heavy with anticipation as the two squared off in an open clearing. Artreus took a deep breath, his resolve unshaken despite the overwhelming odds.

Aidan, standing with a relaxed confidence, tilted his head. "Come on, try your best. It'll be fun watching you fail."

Artreus charged, his fists clenched. He threw a punch, but Aidan dodged effortlessly, sidestepping and smirking.

"Oh, please," Aidan mocked, catching Artreus's fist mid-swing. "You must be joking."

With a swift motion, Aidan twisted Artreus's arm, pulling him forward and delivering a solid punch to his face. Stumbling back, Artreus barely had time to recover before Aidan followed up with a knee to his stomach, sending him sprawling.

"Is that it?" Aidan taunted. "Pathetic."

Artreus pushed himself up, wiping blood from his lip. "You're fast… but I'm not done yet!"

From a distance, another figure approached, a large bundle slung over his shoulder. Mikael, another of Samson's disciples, dropped his load near the fire.

"Master, I'm back. I brought fish for dinner," Mikael called out.

Samson glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "Took you long enough."

Mikael noticed the commotion and frowned. "What's going on?"

Samson gestured lazily toward the fight. "That's Artreus. Arthur's brother. He's trying to land a hit on Aidan to become my disciple."

Mikael blinked in surprise. "Arthur's brother? Why is he getting clobbered by Aidan?"

Samson chuckled. "Because I gave him a trial. If he can't land a hit, he's not ready."

Mikael shook his head, muttering to himself. "You never gave me a trial match…"

Samson turned, his tone matter-of-fact. "Yours was different. He's rude and selfish. I want to give him a proper taste of humility through Aidan."

Mikael watched the fight unfold, bemused. "That's it? So cruel…"

Back in the clearing, Artreus lunged again, his movements fueled by raw determination. But Aidan was quicker, dodging with ease and delivering a swift kick that sent Artreus crashing into the dirt.

Struggling to his feet, Artreus clenched his fists, a fiery resolve burning in his eyes. "I'm not done yet!" he shouted, preparing for another round.

The trial was far from over, and Samson watched intently, curious to see if this brash, determined boy could rise to the challenge.

Artreus stood bloodied and bruised, swaying slightly but refusing to fall. The relentless assault from Aidan had left him battered, yet his fiery determination refused to dim. Across from him, Aidan strolled forward with an air of superiority, his smirk as sharp as the blows he'd been delivering.

He's fast, Artreus thought, his mind racing as he struggled to steady his breathing. I underestimated him. I haven't landed a single hit. Damn it, I'm getting tired.

His fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his palms as his frustration grew. But I can't stop now. I have to hit him at least once—to prove I'm worthy, to become Samson's disciple. If I can't do that… how will I ever defeat that monster?

A flicker of his brother's face crossed his mind, and with it, the overwhelming memory of his mother's screams. He grit his teeth, forcing the fire in his chest to ignite.

I have to get stronger. Stronger than anyone!

With a roar, he surged forward, adrenaline pushing him past his limits. He charged at Aidan, his movements fueled by desperation and raw resolve.

Aidan's sharp eyes tracked the incoming attack with ease. "Heh," he scoffed. "Pathetic."

In one fluid motion, Aidan sidestepped and countered with a brutal punch, his fist connecting squarely with Artreus's jaw. The force sent him sprawling to the ground, dust rising around him as he landed with a heavy thud.

Aidan stood over him, shaking his head. "You're all talk. Look at you now, lying in the dirt like a worm." His tone turned colder as he sneered, "You think you can beat me just because you're the brother of Arthur Reigns? You don't deserve that name."

Turning his back, Aidan began to walk away. "Get out of my sight, you piece of shit."

Samson, seated on a nearby rock with his arms crossed, sighed. "Well, I suppose that brings this to a conclu—"

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing as he noticed movement.

Artreus, with trembling arms, pushed himself off the ground. His legs wobbled as he stood, but his gaze burned with an intensity that hadn't been there before.

"Hey, demon prick!" he shouted, his voice raw but defiant. "Where do you think you're going?"

Aidan froze, then turned slowly, his expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance.

"Huh?"

Artreus stood tall, despite his battered frame. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, which he wiped away with the back of his hand. His lips curled into a defiant grin.

"It's not over yet," he said, his voice shout firm. "Not as long as I'm still f**king standing!"

The fire in his eyes was unmistakable, and for the first time, Aidan hesitated.

From the sidelines, Samson leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Well, this is getting interesting."

Mikael, who had been lounging nearby, straightened up. His earlier amusement faded into quiet respect. "He's got guts. I'll give him that."

Artreus's body ached, but his spirit burned brighter with every moment he spent on his feet. He could feel his brother's legacy in the back of his mind, urging him forward.

Aidan, now visibly irritated, dodged another charge with ease. He sneered, his frustration spilling into taunts.

"You just don't know when to quit, do you?" he spat, his voice laced with mockery.

"Quit?" Artreus shot back, his eyes blazing. "It's not in my vocabulary. My brother always said, 'Fight till I die.'"

With a battle cry, Artreus lunged forward again, putting all his weight into the attack.

Aidan smirked, his stance shifting as he prepared to deliver the finishing blow. "Then die!"

But just as Aidan swung, Artreus stumbled—feigned, calculated. In one fluid motion, he scooped a handful of dirt from the ground and flung it into Aidan's eyes.

The dirt hit its mark. Aidan reeled, momentarily blinded. "What the—?!" he snarled, wiping at his face.

Seizing the moment, Artreus closed the gap and delivered a fierce punch directly to Aidan's jaw. The sound of the impact echoed across the grounds.

From the sidelines, Samson leaned back, the faintest trace of a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Hmm…" he murmured approvingly.

Artreus didn't let up. Fueled by adrenaline and sheer determination, he knocked Aidan to the ground and pinned him, one knee pressing down on Aidan's arms. With unrelenting force, Artreus unleashed a flurry of punches to Aidan's face.

"What did you say to me?!" Artreus shouted, his voice ringing with fury. "You disgust me. Now look at you!"

He leaned in, his face inches from Aidan's, his eyes burning with righteous anger. "It's my turn to look down on you!"

Aidan's Retaliation

Furious and humiliated, Aidan roared, his body erupting with fiery energy. A shockwave of heat blasted outward, forcing Artreus back.

The impact sent Artreus stumbling, but he managed to stay upright, his resolve unshaken.

On the sidelines, Mikael winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh boy… this isn't going to end well."

Aidan rose slowly, flames licking at his skin, his face contorted with rage. "You're dead!" he bellowed, charging at Artreus like a wild beast.

Aidan's fiery charge was seconds away from striking Artreus when a thunderous crack split the air. In an instant, Samson appeared between them, his movements faster than the eye could follow. With a single, precise strike to Aidan's midsection, the young fighter crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

The sheer force of Samson's intervention caused the earth beneath them to fracture, cracks spreading outward like a spiderweb.

Samson sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced down at Aidan. "How many times have I told you not to kill? I don't want blood on the floor."

He turned toward Mikael, who had been watching with a mixture of amusement and concern. "Mikael. Get Aidan to his room. And clean up after him."

Mikael groaned, shaking his head. "Argh… Come on, Master. Can't you give me a break? You're always giving me the dirty work."

Ignoring the protest, Samson gestured toward Aidan's limp form. Mikael muttered under his breath as he hoisted Aidan onto his back, his steps heavy as he carried him toward the barracks.

With Mikael and Aidan gone, Samson shifted his attention to Artreus. The boy stood swaying on his feet, his body covered in bruises, his breathing ragged. Yet, even in his exhausted state, his spirit remained unbroken.

"Welp," Samson said, his tone light despite the intensity of the moment. "Looks like you've won the match. I'm true to my words. You've now officially become my disciple."

Artreus's lips twitched into a tired smile, his chest heaving as he forced out a single word.

"Huff… Great…"

With that, his body gave out. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious from the strain of the fight.

Samson stood over him, his expression unreadable. After a moment, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Not bad, kid," he murmured, his voice carrying a hint of approval.