Coming out from my icy cocoon, I took in the scene before me, scanning the scarred stones and obstacles of the area, eyeing the banners of Khazud-Tharik as they flapped with the wind of magical battle, their gold and crimson hues dancing to a mana-swept beat. Lightning forked across the darkened sky, illuminating the arena in brief, stark flashes, casting long, menacing shadows that seemed to dance in anticipation of the battle to come.
In other words, things looked wildly dangerous. Nursing my wounds and keeping my hit points up, I stood back and watched the fight continue. Jeldorain raged inside of me, wanting to join the fights, but it felt silly to do so when I could instead just let them kill each other.
Especially since I didn’t know where the Shadow Warrior had melted off to.
Instead I kept myself standing ready in a warrior’s stance, watching the combatants as they fought their battles and waiting for the next challenger to come my way.
My attention was drawn to the sky, the crackling of ice and lightning by far the most interesting matchup in the area. The Azure Lightning Wyvern and the Frostwing Harpy circled and spat, the Wyvern unleashing torrents of electric breath into the cold air, each bolt illuminating the dark, crackling clouds that had gathered above. I could see that the Harpy was listing, smoke trailing from her feathered side, and felt a bit of sympathy for her as she darted and weaved through the storm, her ice-blue feathers shimmering in the erratic light.
Another bolt of light struck her in the chest, and she cried out, responding with a gust of hail-laced wind. Continuing her dips and swings, the Harpy's agile maneuvers in the air were a dance of survival, narrowly evading the Wyvern's electrifying assaults.
I could see that it wouldn’t matter though. The Wyvern was relentless, its massive wings stirring the foggy battle clouds of steam and ice into a frenzy, its eyes locked onto the Harpy with predatory precision. Both dove and swooped, striking out again and again.
Are those attacks using mana? I asked Jeldorain.
They are, Jeldorain responded cheerfully. It will win this battle, only to be devoured by us.
Swinging out and up, the Wyvern shot forward with a strategic burst of speed, tucking into a sudden dive as a cloud of electric mayhem rose out and shrouded its form. The desperate Harpy unleashed a torrent of icy magic, but the Wyvern easily pierced through the barrage, its talons outstretched for the capture.
The Wyvern's talons found their mark, gripping the Harpy about its shoulders and squeezing as hard as it could. A surge of electricity coursed through the Harpy's body, its ice-based defenses shattering under the overwhelming power, followed by the detachment of its arms from its body, a sparkling froth of sub-zero blood spraying down over their fellow combatants. The Harpy flew away a hundred yards before it dropped like a stone into hardpacked dirt of the arena floor.
The wyvern roared, turning towards me . . . and then began its own death wail as the Shadow Warrior appeared on its back, striking it through the spine and finishing it in one fell swoop.
What a show! Jeldorain cheered.
Meanwhile, as the Wyvern’s body dropped to the dust, the Flame-Tongued Serpent and the Ironhide Boar continued their fight. Both of the beasts bore heavy wounds, but torn gaps in the Boar’s almost impenetrable hide showed quite clearly who the winner would be. The serpent, agile and deadly, coiled and struck quickly from this angle and that, while the boar attempted to maneuver out of the way of each of the strikes. When it could, it would charge at the serpent’s immense body, tearing bloody holes into its thick muscled flesh.
A slap of the serpent’s tail sent the boar rolling to the ground. Rearing up to arch over its prone enemy, the serpent hissed before unleashing a torrent of fire that enveloped the boar. The boar's iron hide, though resistant, could not fend off the intensity of the flames forever. It rolled back to its feet and charged, tusks aimed with lethal precision. As it ran at the serpent, a circle of light rose from the ground, immobilizing it before exploding the air around it. Bawling, trapped in writhing, coiling flame, the Ironhide Boar dropped into a smoldering heap.
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The serpent, hissing loudly, turned towards the T-Rex fight just in time to be splattered by dinosaur brains, the golem’s fist driving them across the arena and its unexpecting face. The serpent slithered forward, then dropped to the dirt as the Shadow Warrior revealed itself atop its skull, a shimmering black blade of night driven all the way through to the roof of the mouth.
That monster there, it knows the score, Jeldorain enthused. I hope it wins.
We’re in this too, you know, I said. Jeldorain shrugged.
Seems like we’re kinda boring, just sitting here and watching. I like monsters who fight.
I grinned. “Yeah, you’re right. Standing here isn’t winning us any accolades after the fight. Let’s step back in and finish this thing.”
Facing the Crystal Golem, I stepped forward. As I did so, I called to mind SIZE OF A TEMPEST. As my form began to swell, towering above the arena, a collective gasp rose from the crowd. The moment of stunned silence was quickly broken by a thunderous cheer, echoing off the arena's walls. Faces that were moments ago tense with anticipation now glowed with excitement, their bearded chins frothy with spilled bear, their drunken screams a vibrant tapestry of enthusiastic cursing that filled the air with palpable energy
The Crystal Golem stopped, staring up at me with uncomprehending eyes while the ground beneath my feet vibrated with the steps and I moved in on my prey to snatch him off the ground, and dash him hard against the arena floor. The golem had been a towering mass of shimmering crystal, but now I was well taller than he was, well stronger as well, and his body cracked as it slapped into stone and dirt.
Hells yes! Joldorain cried inside me. I could feel Jeldorain's excitement radiate through me, sweeping me along with its fervor, some Metallica playing in my head as I blocked a feeble attack and rag dolled the golem once again, snapping off some crystal in the process.
“I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY!” I bellowed, kicking the golem into a wall.
This time the golem got up and bellowed, a barrage of laser beams shooting towards me. I raised my shield, the runes etched upon it glowing, absorbing the impact and redirecting the energy back towards the golem. The beams refracted, creating a dazzling light show that momentarily blinded me.
Sensing that this was the perfect moment for the Shadow Warrior to attack, I jumped back and channeled my mana into the air in front of me in a Ball Lightning attack. Sure enough, the shadowy monster appeared suddenly, arching with the volts until, with a shudder, it crackled into non-existence.
Without pausing, I attacked the Crystal Golem with Winter Gale, blasting frost towards it. The crystal under its feet crackled and groaned, the cold seeping into its structure, creating fractures.
With each spell cast, I felt a surge of energy coursing through my veins, a tingling sensation that was both exhilarating and draining. The weight of Frostchain in my hands felt more pronounced, its icy surface pleasantly chilling my skin.
Play time was over. It was time to finish this.
With a final, powerful swing of Frostchain, I swung my gargantuan weapon with all of my might, striking the golem with a resonant crack and shattering its body into fragments that flew a wide arc through the air.
Victorious, I stood amidst the wreckage, the cheers of the crowd a distant roar in my ears. Jeldorain's laughter echoed in my mind, a note of triumph in the cacophony of battle.
Notifications rolled over my sight.
VICTORY! 10000 XP rewarded!
[Achievement Unlocked: Gladiator Supreme]
+1 level
Objective: Win a Battle Royale versus multiple high-level monsters.
Level Up! Welcome to Level 14
Well done, champion, he praised, and I couldn't help but agree. I was almost tempted to gloat, standing there in front of them configuring my new level up choices and making them wait, but instead I stomped over to the King of Khazud-Tharik, to Jeldorain’s obvious dismay, and bowed. “I have passed your test of arms, oh lord of the dwarves. Now may we free the families and have your pledge of allegiance?”
The king stood and he bowed. “We shall have a meeting in the morning, Infernulgar. Tonight you and your companions may rest. On the morrow, we shall discuss terms of alliance.”
“Agreed,” I said. “But first I feast.”
With that I gave Jeldorain control over his body and lay back as he gorged himself on the remains of monsters, to the absolute delight of the dwarven crowd.