The Elemental Brawler
Chapter 9: Raising the spirit(s)
Part 1
The next day, when JB came back from work, the first thing he did was to login on the gang private server to update his information. He hadn’t done it for a long time and it was overdue. The “gang” used this server so each could keep track of the progress of the others while they were scattered all around the Royal Road world. A server could be seen as overkill but it was the server they used for their previous games and it was used to manage their guild when they had one. And, now, a server was something easy to setup and cheap to own, unlike in the early internet age.
They had agreed to improve their own character solo up to level 120 then gather and start on quests and powering as a group.
His last update was from their dinner when he said he was level 66 and jobless. From his perspective, he thought he was still probably higher level than the other since most of them had some setback or quests to resolve. He had to check the situation of everyone and let them know of his own, to know the lead he had and so, how long he could stop from purely leveling.
In his mind, a plan had been set in motion a few days ago and to not harvest its benefit would be an error, no, worse… a fault.
And so, he logged on the server and began to update his info.
Name: Cilerius Level: 83 Class: Elemental* Brawler
Title: Scourge of the westerner gnolls
HP: 19034 Mana: 22793
Fame: 1821 Infamy: 202
Str: 264 Dex: 53 Vit: 198
Int: 285 Wis: 271 Concentration: 126
Endurance: 192 Sustenance: 158
Insight: 15 Art: 55 Luck: 20 Leadership: 73
Resist: Fire: 29 Light: 4
Ice: 14 Dark: 14
Earth: 14 Poison: 14
Air: 14 Disease: 4
Spirit: 4
Done with that, he had a smirk at the thought of his friends when they would see his character info.
‘They will stop and wonder a long time how I got there.’
JB was far from being the luckiest one of the “gang”, but he was the best at taking advantage of each little things. The luckiest one was Stephane, who for some reasons, was always stumbling on rare quests or equipments in the middle of nowhere.
‘Sometime, I wonder if his innate luck stat is translated in the game datas.’
But being too lucky had also its problem. Stephane didn’t learn how to make the best of his opportunities. So, in the end, JB was usually taking the lead.
‘Ok, now that’s done, let’s go and do what’s needed for the plan to proceed.’
JB was ready for a late night play session, having already dealt with all the things that were needed in the real world.
He entered the capsule and started the login process.
* * *
Popping back in his lodging, Cilerius pulled some items from his bag. They were the items he couldn’t identify totally he had looted back during his exploration of the gnoll burrow.
There were apparently additional effects on some of them. That could prove to be a bonus or a penalty. For example, what if the gnoll bone staff had another detrimental effect in addition to the initial HP drain? Up to now, Cilerius only had used in two occasions but only for a short duration. He didn’t notice anything obvious, but the “what if” was a problem. And the problem could be worse if he was wearing all the items of the blood gnoll set. Some sets were known to provide additional effect when many parts were used at the same moment.
With his identifying skill at intermediate level, it was now time to check those items for the surprises, be them good or bad.
Facing four items disposed on a table, Cilerius first checked the Oracle cloak.
“Identify: Oracle cloak!”
Oracle spirit cloak.
A leather cloak imbued with the spirit power.
Durability: 57/80 Defense: 10
Lvl40 minimum
DEX: +5
All resists: +1%
Hiding skill: +1lvl
Special property: Oracle vision: provide 1 level increase in the spirit arts.
! Identifying skill raise.
‘So, this is perfect for a young shaman. Lucky me. Next, the Blood pact gear.’
“Identify: Greaves of the Blood pact!”
Greaves of the blood pact.
Leather greaves imbued with mysterious power.
Durability: 85/100 Defense: 25
Level 55 minimum.
FOR: +5 DEX: +5 STA: +5 Resilience: +5
All resist: +1%
Special property: Blood offering: greave's defense increase when bathed in the user's blood.
A 10% of max hp offering provide 5% increase of defense for one hour.
Special property: Blood transmutation: 10% of the blood bathing the greaves is transmuted in mana.
! Identifying skill raise.
‘Hmmm, interesting… and apparently, it doesn’t matter whose blood bathe the greaves for the transmutation. Too bad they’re low level.’
“Identify: Studded leather tunic of the blood pact!”
Studded leather tunic of the blood pact.
A studded tunic imbued with a mysterious power.
Durability 81/100 Defense: 35
Level 55 minimum.
FOR: +5 DEX: +5 STA: +5 Resilience: +5
All resist: +2%
Special property: Blood magic affinity: when wearing this tunic, the user benefit of an increase of 15% of all the effects of blood magic he use.
Special property: Blood frenzy: when drenched in blood, the user lose all sense of fatigue until his stamina run to zero.
! Identifying skill raise.
‘Likewise, this one doesn’t specify either that the blood must be the user blood. Even without set bonus, the combo of wearing all the pieces at the same time can be useful. Especially if the user know blood magic. Now let’s verify the staff, even if the effect seem obvious by using it.’
“Identify: Reinforced bones staff of the blood pact!
A bones staff reinforced by blood hardened steel, imbued with a mysterious power.
Durability 89/100 damages: 20-30
Level 55 minimum.
FOR: +5 DEX: +5 STA: +5 Resilience: +5
All resist: +2%
Special property: Blood sacrifice: upon equip the staff, the user lose half of his HP, then 1% each minute until unequip.)
Special property: Lesser vampiric effect: when fighting with the staff, one third of all damages dealt with it are providing regeneration to the user.
! Identifying skill raise.
‘So, if I were to equip the tree part of the blood pact set, I virtually could fight indefinitely. The staff, at the initial cost of 50% of my HP and then 1% per minute, can regen me as long as I fight. My blood can increase my defense, any blood can regen my mana. I just lack a way to regen the stamina. More or less, this is perfect for a berzerker. One that can use magic in fight.
Even for me, its really good. Too bad the set level is low.’
Equipment with good effects weren’t that rare at low level, but their limitation for defense and stats bonus made them almost useless on the long run.
‘But I think I did read something about salvaging the power of some armors or weapons to imbue it on others. No doubt it require some special conditions, but that’s worth checking.’
In fact, like JB would discover later, by using the experimental search engine outside of the game, that it was possible to salvage effects or stats bonus on an equipment. But a combination of factor was needed.
First, an enchanter was needed both to extract the power on the equipment and to imbue it. Of course, a high level was mandatory.
Second, a catalyst was needed for the operation. The strongest the effect, the highest quality needed. Those catalyst were alchemy products. To create them, the skill needed was dependent of the quality required, high or very high, most likely and, the basic material was of course scarce and, expensive.
Given those requirements and how those professions lacked attractivity, few were the occasions to salvage and imbue effects. Because users favor some classes when gathering a group, classes for which the lack of knowledge on their potential were ostracized and in reaction, few users chose them.
Seriously, what’s the use of a sculptor in a group? Replace sculptor by any other non mainstream profession and that’s the common thought process among players.
‘Lucky me, I have an enchantress in my acquaintances. I just must make sure Selene is motivated to improve. I guess, the fact that this could turn to a very profitable job should help. And if I ask nicely, as a personal favor, she will do it. As for alchemy, I learned some, but I’ll have to work hard to master this skill or look for an alternative.’
‘Now, the last but most important item to check.’
“Identity: Pugilist combat gloves!”
!Pugilist combat gloves.
Black leather gloves perfectly suited for combat.
Durability : 80/80
Defense: 5 Damage 3-6
For: 20 Dex: 20 Vit: 20
Durability: 100/100
Special property: Can be imbued with elemental gem to support the user magic. 0/10 slot currently used.
Special property: Grow. The user get the possibility to make his gloves evolves in certain occasions. The range of growth depend on the xp the user hoarded while using the gloves when the occasion to evolve arise.
Prerequisites: Str 40, Dex 40, pankration skill or known associate skill.
‘Uh? A growing item? Jackpot! But what are the occasions? And that does mean I must wear those gloves even if I find better ones, to maximise their grow when the moment come. As for the elemental gems, why do I guess that there will be quests linked to that. But it’s as if this item was tailored for my job. Or did the fact I own this item, impact on the job proposal? I can’t dismiss the possibility.’
To get the best result, Cilerius would have to use those gloves even if they were to be outclassed by his own growth. But the reward would probably be worth it. The unknown parameters were how to find the elemental gems and what was the occasion to evolve the gloves.
Up to date with his items, he thought about what was left and what he could to do before the tournament. It had been postponed due to the goblin attack and the city isolation caused, but he had received a message about this event happening one week from now. The venue address was also included.
‘I should try and think for new tricks to use. No doubts my previous performance has been analysed and counters thought of. Thinking of new moves isn’t a waste of my time for the PvE either. My clearing of the mine proved the efficiency of those tricks when used wisely. And not to forget, in addition to the last time, I have the spirits at my side now.’
Since his first tournament participation, Cilerius had gained power and new weapons. Even if his future opponents had prepared for him according to his previous record, he was ready to surprise them once again. Of course, he had to expect, and he did, that those opponents would be also more powerful and tricky.
At home, Cilerius had many others things to do. Of course, he still had to practice his calligraphy, as it promised great prospects. But he had even more need to look in another subject. He had reached the required familiarity level with all the non elemental spirits to get a spell. As seen with the elemental spirits, those spells could be great or small additions to his arsenal, but even small addition, namely the water spring spell, could be really useful if used wisely.
There was also another bonus for him to reach the next level of familiarity. If he was to learn spells related to the spirits, be them curses or heals or any others, they would now benefit from the spirit presence in the form of a percentage increase of their raw potency.
Due to his already high familiarity with the elements at the time when he visited the spiritual plane, he came back with the ability to see the elemental spirits and so, to use their full potential. Now, he had to visit, once again, the spiritual plane to get the others spirits to walk with him in the material plane. To walk with him is a figure of speech, since only him or other trained shamans could see the spirits. Spirits summoned by a shaman, were able to interact with the material plane, like kicking a troll head or carrying blood vials, but untrained and ungifted creatures couldn’t see them till it was in the power and the will of the summoning shaman. That explain why sometimes, peoples or creature could trip with no reason or why a perfectly stable water bucket suddenly toppled, just at the perfect moment to wet someone.
That’s a fact, some spirits are jesters.
The time was the beginning of the evening. Cilerius still had time to move without creating too much inconvenience for his future guest. He got into the inner room of his lodging, closed the door and then, took the key and opened the door with. The portal to the office in his library appeared and he moved through. Used to the process, he had taken paper to exercise his skill while waiting for the portal refresh. One hour later, he could open open the portal to his shamanism master house.
As the portal opened and after he walked through, he could hear many noises coming from what he assumed was the bedroom. There were whisperings and sounds of someone getting up hurriedly, followed by others that could be interpreted as the person putting on clothes.
Cilerius, as he was coming unreported, did wait exactly where he had walked first after going through the gate. Shortly after, Gurdianson exited his bedroom and came to him.
“Hello Gurdianson, sorry to intrude. I hope I’m not a bother.”
“Hey, Cilerius. Not at all, not at all.” He answered while obviously hiding something. He was clothed but minute details could tell tales. He had put on his clothes in a hurry for some reason and that was showing.
“Just when I thought it was about time for you to maybe come and see me. How do you do?”
“I’m doing fine, friend. Really fine I think. And you, how do you do?”
“As usual, I’m fine. So, what happened to you since your last visit?”
At this, Cilerius began to tell the tale of his adventure, including the whole story, unedited, of his meddling with the goblins.
“Hmmm, I know of Gunthar. He’s tricky and would search for any reason to break his agreement with you if you’re only “slightly” related. But if he come to see you as a legitimate student, he will be faithful and unrestricted in partaking his knowledge.”
“I sure hope so. This mineral has the potential to be worth more than its weight in gold. Becoming able to work it will be very profitable, both for wealth reason and for my own use.”
“That’s for sure. Also, did you realise this was a massive tomb? Basically, that’s the same as why I created to act as a medium to reach the spiritual plane. Titans were living creatures at a time. No reason for their spirits to have vanished.”
“Damn, how did I miss that. I must try to contact them. Spirits so old and originating from legendary creatures must be darn powerful.”
“Good thing you missed that then. Power mean difficulty to “harness” it. Beware not to try a feat like that before being ready and prepared for. Spirits from legendary beings are for late advanced level shaman to contract. And a fail in doing so can mean your death. Material and spiritual death. Of course, the reward for a success is so huge that many shamans tried to cut corners, failed and lost their live.”
‘Translated, failing may mean the loss of my life, not so bad considering I would revive 24h later, but also the end of my connection to the spirits. Now that would be bad. I better plan this encounter for when I’m certain or at least pretty damn confident, to succeed in contracting them.’
“I understand, master, I will postpone a contact with them till you deem me to be ready.”
“Ohohoh… that may never happen, I hope you understand that.”
“If my master and friend say I’m not ready, who am I to refute his opinion.”
“What a faithful student do I have here. Have no fear, I will train you for this objective. By the way, to contact them now, if you’re “polite” isn’t a problem. It’s even a given for a shaman to at least say hello to your, let’s say “landlord”, when you’re around. It’s for the contracting portion that you need to wait till the spirit deem you ready.”
“Oh, that’s the spirit that have to accept me? I guess I should take measures so it doesn’t irritate it that we exploit its material remains.”
“That may be wise. I’m sure, with the proper preparation, the change of tenant will surely please it much. I will teach about the way to not irritate your “landlord” as you called it”
“I don’t think it would be hard. Goblins are poors tenant to be guest for.”
“Ahahah, that’s for sure.”
After that, they both prepared for a walk in the spiritual plane. For reason unsaid beforehand, Gurdianson would accompany him for this walk. At his question for a reason, Gurdianson had answered with cryptic:
“You’ll see, it’ll be useful at a point.”
And so, they both started to meditate and then, dived in the dream to reach the spiritual plane gate. They entered and Cilerius sat, waiting for his spirits to come. They weren’t long to do so, since they were familiar with him. After some small talk, they recognized him once again as their contractor and granted him a gift that consisted of a spell that didn’t need their mediation to work. Before leaving the plane, Gurdianson intervened and talked to the owl spirit. He asked it to grant him a link with his apprentice through the spiritual plan. The answer was positive and that last point done, Gurdianson and Cilerius left for the material plane.
“What was that, master?” Asked Cilerius as they both woke up.
“That, apprentice, is a mean for both of us to contact each other through the spirits. Much like you adventurers can, for some reason, contact each others from far away once you accepted an acquaintance.”
“Oh, I see. That may turn to be useful, alright. I will be able to ask you questions from without a need to meet in person and also warn you of my coming before opening a portal.”
“Exactly, that’s the weakness in your portal system. You move in without care at the risk of… awkward encounter.”
“Oups… did I interrupt something earlier?”
“Let’s not talk about it, appart from the fact that it’s a good thing that your portal doesn’t open right through my bedroom door.”
“Oups. Again, I’m really sorry for intruding. I promise I will call you before coming next time.”
“Yes, please do that.”
That whole talk meant that Gurdianson was maybe almost an hermit, probably celibate but certainly not abstinent.
After a little more small talk, Cilerius took his leave and opened the portal. As he walked through, he heard a female voice:
“Is he gone? Come back to bed, Gurdianinou!”
The answer wasn’t heard as he was now in his office.
“Right… that was awkward. I better never forget to call him before dropping by.”
Some more calligraphy practice later, he was back in Hartburg.
There, he thought and looked in the details of the gifts he got from the spirits. The snake had granted him the spell: small cleansing.
“Skill information: small cleansing.”
! Small cleansing: a spell that heal and cure small injuries, diseases, poisons and curses on a single target.
Casting cost: 400 mana.
With practice, the potency of the spell will increase and its mana cost decrease.
‘hmm, nice one. I can picture this spell as a favorite in a short delay.’
The bat had presented him with the spell: cursed vines.
“Skill information: cursed vines.”
! Cursed vines: a spell that summon invisible vines that cling on the target. The vines will slow the movements of the target while sucking its vitality.
Casting cost: 500 mana.
With practice, the potency of the spell will increase and its mana cost decrease.
‘Very nice this one. That may help for crowd control.’
From the rat, he got : suffocating cloud.
“Skill information: suffocating cloud.”
! Suffocating cloud: a spell that conjure a cloud of low potency disease agents. While the lasting effect on ones health is small, its concentration will reduce the breathing capacity of those in the targeted area, increasing greatly their stamina use proportionally to their physical efforts.
Casting cost: 500 mana.
The size, concentration and movement control of the cloud will increase with the raise of the caster expertise.
The last of his offensive spirit, the scorpion, gave him: painful sting.
“Skill information: painful sting.”
! Painful sting: a spell that deal no real lasting damages but induce intolerable pain that will radiate from the targeted area in all the body. This excruciating pain will impede the focusing of the target, resulting in fizzling spells and failed precision tasks.
Casting cost: 600 mana.
As the expertise of the caster raise, the pain strength and duration will increase.
‘Ok, now that’s spell tailored for use against casters. I will have to focus on this one.’
His other spirits all granted him with lesser buff spells of their respective forte. Cilerius was now able to increase some stats. Not by much, given those were lesser buffs, but a 5% increase of one strength could prove very nice in many situations. Also, he didn’t miss the fact that those were the first of their spell line. As he kept increasing his intimacy with the spirits, he would be granted more spells. Having the spirits walking by his side also meant a permanent buff, as the elemental spirits provided him already in their respective forte.
Earlier, Gurdianson had given him an advice and, he wasn’t one to simply ignore it. Cilerius walked toward his mansion, then entered.
He got in the building and descended in the mine. The ropes he had used last time with his “army” were still there, so he didn’t have any difficulties. He even attached a rope ladder that would make climbing back easier.
Now standing on the highest platform of the well mine, He climbed down the stairs, looking for something, his senses, even more so his spiritual sensibility, open to the surroundings.
After a while, he found a place he deemed suitable. Here, he stacked some rocks and stones to build a makeshift shrine. Gurdianson had told him that it didn’t need to be luxurious nor even very elaborate at first, but built with conviction and reverence. He could make a more suitable shrine later. He just had to make sure any of the mine visitors paid respect to the spirits inside. Spirits weren’t usually jealous of their remains, save for some special cases, if only those who salvaged them were showing proper deference. Done with his construction, he sat down and started his dive into the spirit world.
After the usual flight through the bright and colored world, he pushed the doors, sat and waited, his full attention turned toward the faraway. He had been warned about them, so he didn’t try actively to draw the titan spirits. He just sat, in spiritual form and, sort of paid his respect to the inhabitants of this gigantic tomb.
At first, he felt a oppressive atmosphere, but slowly, as if the spirits wandering the place were beginning to accept him, the pressure lightened. He formulated thoughts, about their resting place and their remains, about how he had eradicated the filthy goblins that roamed the mine before and how he wanted to honor them by using their remain in a noble way. His thoughts about Gunthar and his passion for the titanium helped a lot.
After a long meditation, he raised and after a last thought about how he would come back to show them his advancements, left the spiritual world. When he emerged from this dive, more time had passed than he expected. It was past midnight.
Cilerius climbed up back to the last platform then up the rope ladder. Out of the mine, he then left the mansion after closing the doors, and headed toward his flat.
On his way back to his flat, he thought about what was to come.
‘Tomorrow, I’ll have to enter the underground fight tournament. I better prepare for it.’
Preparations were indeed needed. Not as much for the fights than for the negotiations he planned to have with the management.
‘Like in judo. If the opponent is strong, I just have to move him until he overhang. Timely attack at the right moment and he fall.’
Just like that, he thought of the movements he could use and the responses and then, what he could do next, and so, and so. He wasn’t a very good chess player, but in regard to moves in real life, he was experienced enough to plan ahead.
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Part 2
The following day passed with him testing his shamanic spells on some unfortunate mobs in the forest outside oft he city. Then, the promised night came. He headed to a back alley where bouncers were guarding a door. That was the same as in Nivese with only minute details different. He did show the paper that was his summoning as well as the instruction for direction and, they let him pass through their checkpoint.
After the walk through the now usual long hallway, he reached a room with four entrances. The one he came by, another one facing it and leading to stairs with a curtain hiding it more or less and, two others, one on each side, that probably lead to the fighters waiting rooms.
In the room, a man was waiting. That was a bulky guy. In fact, that was the same guy as in Nivese. He seemed to move with the circus. Recognizing him, Cilerius called:
“Hey, Lazyo! You’re in charge again?”
This man who was apparently an overseer, gazed at Cilerius and answered.
“Humf! Of course I am. Who know what troublesome peoples like you would do if I wasn’t here.”
Cilerius tried to recall if he had caused troubles before but without success.
“So, I guess you’re in charge of the roll call and the bets.”
A little more than two months had passed since the previous meeting, so Lazyo wasn’t aware of Cilerius’s actual strength but recalled perfectly how this classless guy, with lower level than all his opponents, had won against all odds.
“Yes, I’m in charge. Do you want to bet on yourself again?”
“Ahahahah… of course I want to. But what are the odds?”
“Show me your strength so I can estimate it.”
At this request, Cilerius opened his status window for this npc to see and waited for the result.
“Hmmm, you didn’t level much since the last time. And is that your fighting equipment?”
That was new to Cilerius. From here and on, contestants were to fight with their own gear.
“Well, yes, mostly.”
“So, that make you level 86 with a level 50 gear… the odds should be high, despite your victory in the Nivese preliminaries.”
“What level are the others as an average?”
“The average is 105. And they have a gear up to date.”
“So, the audience should think they have an overwhelming advantage on me.”
“They should, yes. Of course, some have seen you fight in Nivese and may think you can do it. So, don’t expect a 1:10 odd.”
“Whatever. Just tell me where is my waiting room and come back later with the odds so I can register my bet.”
Cilerius walked away in the direction he was given. Of course, being underestimated was working in his favor in this case, but it still hurt his pride.
In the waiting room, he sat down and began to think about strategies. There were two opposing desired results. One was to keep the odds high the longest time possible so he could win big. The second was aiming at efficiency. Winning with a big move to make sure of the victory. But ultimately, both way had to get the same place. For his plan to work, he had to show his overwhelming power before the final.
‘The bettors must be convinced of my capacities before placing their money for the final. That way and that way only, I will have a pull on the promoter.’
A few minutes later, Lazyo came to tell him the odds and take the bet. Cilerius took a look at his remaining money and placed a 10kGP bet on himself at the 5:1 odds. 150000GP, that’s what he had left from the wealth he had amassed in Nivese underground arena. One could say he was still rich, but most of it was to be invested in operations that would take time to be ripe for the harvest. He was planning to build an industrial empire with a large income potential, but he knew that was dreams build on sand for now. Everything could fall into pieces if bad circumstances were to pill up.
‘I better earn the most I can here, just in case, but I can’t risk to lose everything.’
With that decision, he had to seal the flashy moves that were also those with the less risk for him. To show himself struggling, he had, in fact, to struggle by holding the sure win techniques hidden.
‘That mean I won’t be able to use most of my magic. Let’s hope there isn’t a close and personal specialist in the roster.’
Techniques sealed, equipment lacking, fighting trained opponents with adequate gear wasn’t without risk. His only ace was they probably weren’t ready for someone who would come close and stick to them.
‘Tch… this is going to be tiresome.’
While thinking that, Cilerius was selecting the skills he could use.
Soon after, Lazyo came back to call him for his first fight. He lead him to the room he was before and pointing at the curtain, said:
“You know the drill. Go down the stair and up the arena, wait for the annoncer to finish the introduction speech and then… well, toor a new one to your opponent, I guess.”
“Well… I didn’t get hit too much on the head lately, so I remember how this does work, thanks. Hmmm, by the way, will the owner of this venue be here?”
“He’s supposed to show up for the demi and final. Why?”
“Curiosity, only simple curiosity.” ‘Negotiations will be easier easier this way. Now, let’s show them a performance.’
To better stage his act, Cilerius had removed his leather tunic and only had a white shirt. There was a point in doing so. He descended the stairs then climbed on the sand circle that was the usual fighting ground. All the while of his descent, he could see his opponent and tune up his strategy.
‘Hmm, given his weapon, coming without the tunic is a lucky move.’
His opponent was a barbarian with a gigantic two handed axe. He was currently juggling with it as a show for the audience.
‘If I want to act as if I’m struggling before this guy, I can’t just let myself hit by this axe. That look painful. And the tunic would take a lot of damages. Right, they will see blood but not at the expense of my life.’
Cilerius was blessed with an high agility due to his training and had, of course, called upon the spirit for some more buffing. With that and, looking at his opponent, he was pretty confident he could do what he had planned. He was facing the muscular archetype, who would swing his axe with strength and speed but only minimal control. Given that and Cilerius’s high agility, avoiding the strikes wasn’t too hard a task.
The annoncer was finishing his intro. Supposedly, the barbarian was the champion of one of the northern cities of the western continent, a level 110 axe dancer, from what Cilerius could hear. He was himself introduced as the champion of Nivese, a level 86 brawler that had won the city title against all odds.
At the mention of his level and class, the audience let out surprised exclamations and showed obvious lack of interest. In their mind, this was going to be a one sided massacre that wouldn’t entertain them much.
‘Not like I can blame them. Brawler class is almost unknown and lack shine. Had to that my level that is low. Only the craziest bettor, or one who already know of me, would think I have a chance. I better keep them in this mind state a little if I want to fill up my chests a little.’
The announcer left the ring and then, sounded the beginning of the fight.
Immediately, Cilerius retreated on the furthest side of the ring, away from this barbarian with his gigantic axe. At this action, his opponent laughed openly and the audience was balanced between booing and understanding comments.
“Me too I would cower in front of this axe, ahaha. Hang in there!”
“This is going to be a slaughter. It will go down as the most gore fights ever.”
“Hey man! Do you want some help down there?”
“The only challenging bet we can do here, is about how long he will survive.”
“Did he already raise the white flag?”
Amidst this clamor, the barbarian was now swinging his axe while moving forward. In response, Cilerius choose a direction and began to slide on the border of the ring. His opponent moved closer and closer and his swings started to aim at him.
Cilerius, at a swing even closer than the previous one, did show hesitation in his reaction and leaned backward enough to let about 20cm between the weapon and his chest. While the momentum of this swing moved the the axe further, he then ducked, dashed and did strike three time at the barbarian abdomen.
He didn’t show any discomfort and Cilerius let his disappointment show on his face while rolling past his opponent as he was about to launch a kick. He renewed the same serie a few times without any more success. Instead, the axe was now grazing his chest and his dodges were more and more a kind of last minute save.
The northman was grinning while balancing his axe, sure of a promised victory. Cilerius’s strike were for him, more annoyances than real damages. His axe was now shaving closer and closer of the insect that was facing him. And what everyone expected happened. The axe cut the shirt and the flesh. Soon, the white shirt was colored in red along a line barring Cilerius’s torso. He raised his hand to his chest and looked and when his head faced the barbarian again, panic was reflected on it.
The audience cheered at the blood sight. The expected scenario was followed and soon would be slaughtering time.
The same effect repeated more times, with resulting wounds appearing at Cilerius’s abdomen and shoulders. Then the axe didn’t touch the flesh anymore. Was it the target getting instinct reactions thanks to the fear? Who know. But after a few minutes, the northman began to lose his patience and moved forward with more will than before.
Just as he stepped forward and doing so, included the Nivese’ s champion in his striking zone, Cilerius moved forward as well, as he was doing to repeat his serie and, with a raising palm, striked the hands holding the axe, upward.
The barbarian, suddenly suffering a strong hit on his hands, saw his horizontal movement change in a vertical one and couldn’t hold his weapon anymore.
The axe flew high, rotating at an high speed.
As if losing his balance, Cilerius leaned toward the northman, his leg crooking the barbarian’s and his open palm now falling toward the northman face.
Gradouble, the barbarian, was arm raised, saw the palm coming at his face and felt his leg crooked. Still surprised by the loss of his weapon and sure of his superiority, he didn’t react in time to protect his face.
All the audience could see was, a sudden uppercut that by luck hit the hands, an axe fly high, then the underdog falling forward, his leg crocheting the barbarian’s one and, in the same movement, Cilerius’s hand coming down at his opponent face.
Arms up, leaning a little backward due to the momentum, his leg crooked, Gradouble had almost no balance remaining. And the slap came. With a very loud sound, the palm striked his nose, the fingers covering his eyes. The strike was strong, heavy. Heavier than anything he could expect from the insect he was facing. His nose brook. He felt himself fall backward fast. His head hit the ground with force. Such force that he almost lost conscience. And the nose pain came. Tears filled his eyes. And blood flowed from the nose and came in the eyes also. He felt his opponent moving away and was glad. He could wipe his eyes to see. He would make the insect pay. He would crush it!
He heard scream from the audience. His forearm moving away after wiping his eyes, he saw.
After falling, his leg entwined with his opponent, his palm on his face, Cilerius looked up, saw something, repressed a vicious grin and moved away from the barbarian on all four.
The spectators had seen the fall and saw Cilerius covering and moving away fast. Then their eyes caught a glimpse of reflected light coming from height.
He saw. But he didn’t move. He couldn’t move. His head had hit the floor with violence. He probably suffered from the concussion effects. And he saw. It was coming.
Cilerius, now away of his opponent, looked up and watched it fall. It was still rotating at a high pace. He saw the barbarian not moving. ‘Not like you can defend well against blunt trauma.’ He was thinking that and waiting for the inevitable to happen.
The audience, after the previous scream, had like one man, hold its breath. They couldn’t understand why Gradouble wasn’t moving. They couldn’t figure what dumb luck made the axe flaw high, the northman fall so hard that he was out of it and the falling axe coming right at him. Less than one second now and he would be hit by his own weapon. And that happened. Until the end, he didn’t move. The axe still rotating, stroke him with lethal force, creating a vertical section of his abdomen. It was as if legs were originating from his rib cage.
Just like that, the barbarian died, not even understanding what had happened. The annoncer was still outside of the ring, looking at the unbelievable scene that happened. Cilerius was showing an naive and happy face that screamed “Lucky!”. Regaining his wits, the annoncer climbed on the ring, looked a few seconds at Gradouble body then, took Cilerius’s wrist and raised it.
“And with this, I guess we have our winner. That was sure a strange conclusion but let’s applaud the one that luck favor.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Silence subsided a moment then applauses came. The spectators still didn’t understand everything that had lead to this conclusion, but victory had been decided. They had seen blood so they were happy despite the strange ending.
Cilerius left the ring and climbed toward the hall then walked to his waiting room. Only when he got there and closed the door, he let his face show his real thoughts.
‘Yes! Everything went perfectly. I’m lucky this guy was so simple he didn’t knew to change his pace even a little.’ Then looking at his chest, abdomen and shoulder: ‘Still, that sting. That was hard to stay just at the range limit to allow the blade to cut my skin.’
He was about to make use of his healing spell when decided against it and in place, used bandages. He wrapped his body with linen fabric, just enough to keep the injuries close, but not enough to activate the skill and heal himself.
‘After all, looking at my damaged body, they will not get their hopes high for me later on.’
Then, he took a look at the multiple information windows resulting of his fight that he had discarded previously.
!You have slain a powerful opponent that was much higher level. XP raise greatly.
Level up!
!You have won in a PvP fight against a powerful opponent. Brawling skill +35%.
!For enduring damages willingly, your endurance raise. Endurance +1.
!For avoiding powerful strikes with the minimal margin, your agility raise. Agility +1.
!You have improved your dodging skill. Dodging +10%.
Lazyo came a few minutes later with his betting gains. 50k GP.
“Ahahaha! That was a good performence down there. I bet even among those who saw you fight in Nivese, few corrected their feeling of you.”
“Ah! Don’t you go and spoil it.”
Cilerius didn’t try to deny it against the guy that had given him his new job. He was too knowledgeable to be fooled.
“Of course I won’t. That’s not my place to give those insights… for free. And no one, not even your next opponent, will pay to know after the show you did earlier. If you don’t succeed in your venture, I know a few peoples in shady business that would welcome your talents.”
“Hahaha. Thanks but no thanks. If I can’t succeed in my current profession, I doubt there won‘t be better than me in the underground. Now, let’s stop with the pleasantries and tell me. What are the odds for the next fight?”
“As expected, they did lower. Few have placed their hope on you, but adding those who now remember your feats in Nivese and the ones who expect a result from a crazy bet on the underdog, that enough to get you at 2.5:1. Still a good odd if you like to take a risk for a big gain. Don’t you think?”
“I think so. I feel like making a crazy bet.”
“50k GP I presume?”
“Yep, that should do it.”
“Then I’ll pray for your success.”
“I bet you do. I don’t even want to guess how much are your gains when I fight.”
“Enough to make us happy and keep needless knowledge to be disclosed.” He answered with a grin.
On those words, the underground clerk left and Cilerius was once again alone, free to think about his next fight.
‘I can fool them maybe once or twice more, but not much longer. Dumb luck can’t explain everything on the long run.’
He would have loved to keep the charade up for four or five fights, but the limit was probably three.
‘After that, they would bet on the dumb luck. And I will probably run out of schemes to make it look like accidents.’
There is only so much situations that will result in fatalities after successive coincidences. The law of Murphy isn’t provoqued. It happen.
Moments later, he was called for his second fight. Like before, he didn’t equip the leather tunic and he just got there with his bloodstained shirt covering his bandages. The audience reaction was as expected. They, in large majority, saw a guy that had escaped from russian roulette with 5 out of 6 chambers loaded, come for another round.
Facing him was a lean guy with a foil in hand. He was looking at him with curiosity and even talked to him.
“I guess I should thank you for removing the muscle mountain before. My foil would have been ruined if I had to thrust in all that flesh again and again.”
Cilerius was a little surprised but answered.
“It was a pleasure to help. I hope I will be lucky enough to see what destiny hold for you.”
This time, it was Espadon, the foil user, turn to be surprised at this many meanings phrase. With grace, he smiled and bowed his head.
Espadon was a lean man, as was said before. But that doesn’t mean he was stunted. This was the body of someone who honed it in search of the perfect stance for a mean. He was only equipped with leather protection that didn’t hinder his movements. His face was gentle and he was smiling. He had a neat mustache with whirling ends. In fact, this guy had a look that Cilerius had seen in many capes and sword movies. It was a picture of a musketeer. He probably just lacked the musket to roleplay at the perfection.
At the annoncer signal, he even performed a salute with his foil, with three words in french but with an accent.
“En garde, monsieur.”
The common start for swordfighter as a sport. As one who spoke this language originally, Cilerius answered without accent and with a bow:
“je vous en prie.”
And just like that, the fight started.
Given the weapon, a foil, almost all the strikes were thrusts, with few turning to slashes as Cilerius retreated from Espadon range. This time, it was an agility and speed fight. Of course, it proved even more difficult for Cilerius to control the flow.
At first, he avoided the blade by large margins since he didn’t know the skill level of his opponent. Then he let it come closer and closer with each thrust. His aim was to test the real striking range of the man he faced. It would be deadly to take it certain that the range he was displaying was his ultimate one. He had, of course, to keep some card up his sleeve.
Also, he didn’t let himself be lead like the barbarian in the previous fight. He was patient and slowly reducing the distance without leaving himself open for a counter.
‘This one is going to be a difficult customer. If I try and miss, he wont let himself be caught in my scheme a second time.’
One try, that was all Cilerius had to make this fight another “chance victory”. If missed this one opportunity, he would have to use his real skills and drop the mask. That would mean that this fight would be the last with favorable betting odds.
‘I can’t have that. I’d really like to refill my chests a little more, just in case I have to invest more than planned.’
And so, he let his opponent close the distance and thrust his foil while he avoided and launched some punches that didn’t hit.
‘Well, no other way, I’ll have to bleed again.’
His bandages were covered by the bloodstained shirt. For a good effect, he had to make it so the shirt would be torn. The perfect thrust came, just enough to pierce the fabric of the shirt but too far for the flesh to be touched. This strike, as expected, turned immediately in a slash that cut the fabric.
With a wide cut, the shirt was almost useless and let everyone see the bandages under. Exclamations resounded.
“Hey, he didn’t even get properly healed?”
“What the… they send damaged products fight here. Is it a slaughterhouse or an arena?”
“Well, whatever it is, it alway turn in a slaughterhouse. That’s exactly why we come, no?”
“True.”
It was exactly what Cilerius was looking for. To be seen as weak.
Espadon, after this slash, let a smile show on his face and said:
“Sorry for your shirt. I hope you have others to wear. I’d hate to let you leave this place dead AND half naked.”
“No problem. I’m sure I can mend it.”
Espadon didn’t seem to let himself get over optimistic. Again, Cilerius was reminded that he wasn’t facing a hot head anymore.
During this short talk, both fighters didn’t stop moving. It wasn’t a break. They were both circling around each other, looking for an opening. From this moment, the thrusts came even closer to Cilerius’s body and he seemed to have lost all means to escape in the long term. And soon, the flesh was touched and blood flow. This was just a little puncture in the upper arm, but it meant for everyone that Cilerius wouldn’t escape for long.
As he had experienced before, letting himself be lightly hit was harder than avoiding a strike. Accordingly, since he was letting himself hit on purpose but only lightly, his endurance and sustenance stats benefited, as an information window popped to inform him. Surprisingly, he also gained a little experience in the esquive skill. It may seem counter intuitive, but apparently, countering the skill effect and being hit on purpose was also a way to raise it. Of course, that meant one had to plan for that, not simply stay put and be hit.
This unexpected benefit was welcome, but it came at the expense of exhausting concentration. It wasn’t a method fit for extended use.
‘I guess that’s what call learning by suffering. But those informations windows are sure distracting in a PvP fight.’
This combat was now reaching its peak. Two of three thrusts were now touching the flesh and Cilerius seemed doomed to finish as a sieve. Seeing the opportunity, the previously prudent and methodic fencer added more strength and was more pressing in his strikes.
‘Now is the occasion.’
Cilerius, in reaction readied himself to enact his plan. He had to select the perfect thrust and strike immediately. Soon, it came.
The spectators were looking at the ring and were excited, expecting the conclusion to happen soon. The Nivese’s brawler was outclassed and didn’t achieve any meaningful result since the start. Nones of his punches had landed as he was being kept at bay by the foil reach. And then, it happened. The conclusive strike happened. Espadon launched a powerful thrust with his whole body following, as Cilerius had retreated one moment too late after the previous strike. Unable to esquive this time, Cilerius was seen raising his hand in front of him in a desperate effort to parry the foil. And then, they were both on the ground, Espadon laying on Cilerius, blood gushing forth from the melee. Cheers were louder than an instant before but then, a scream was heard, louder than the cheers, and the the audience noticed the strangeness. The foil was pointing upward.
After, on purpose, delaying his retreat on a strike, Cilerius saw coming the next strike. It was heavy. It was perfect. He raised his hands as for parrying the foil but instead, caught it at the base of the blade with one hand and the wrist with the other. Then, he pulled and twisted. He pulled the wrist to him and twisted the blade up. He let himself fall, backward, on the ground, driving Espadon along who couldn’t do anything but fall forward on him. With his strength, he overpowered the fencer and made the foil point toward him as he was falling. Gravity and his foot blocking the fencer ones, made the rest.
Espadon was laying on Cilerius, his foil entering his mouth and exiting from his neck. He had stabbed himself as he tried to conclude the fight. That’s how the audience saw it. As Cilerius broke away, Espadon was laying prone, blood flowing from his mouth and gushing from his neck.
Cilerius looked at his opponent, dumbfounded. Then he raised, whipped his brow with his forearm in a gesture that signified that he had a narrow escape. For a vigilant observer, this could seem forced, but the audience was too shocked to judge an acting performance at the moment.
The announcer finally climbed on the ring, looked at Espadon and, raised Cilerius’s hand, proclaiming his victory. As the Nivese’s brawler walked away, in an effort to play down, he joked about how Cilerius should play in the lottery with his luck.
Back in his waiting room, Cilerius leaned backward on the wall and let himself fall. It had been tiring, both physicaly and mentaly. There were many punctures in his body, for whose he applied the smallest healing before wrapping himself in bandages.
Lazyo came with his gains and the news for the next fight.
“And here are your 125k golds. For the next fight, the odds have fallen to 1.5:1, only. Your performance was apparently enough to fool some of the audience. But those who won their bet and some others who have seen the gains, have bet on you again. Your next fight should be in 30 minutes. Are you sure you don’t want to buy informations on your next opponent?”
“No, thanks. That would be expensive, I suppose. Very expensive. Surprises are welcome sometimes. So, as usual, I bet the whole sum on myself.”
Cilerius wanted to keep the exchange short to rest.
“Understood. 125k at 1.5:1. For your information, your opponent paid for informations.”
“Hmmm. What did he want to know?”
“Everything, but he’s cheap, so he only paid the minimal amount and got basics informations. Nothing he wouldn’t know by just looking and listening attentively.”
“So, my level and equipment.”
“That’s about it. And some basics on the brawler class. Like how you can use anything as a weapon with a skill much different than a beginner.”
“If that’s all, it will mislead him.”
“Yes. Not like I can disclose the secrets of your particular profession. That would go against even my deontology.”
“If you say so. I’ll wait for your call on the next fight.”
Cilerius ended the talk here, wondering how the developers had programed the personality of this npc. He was holding the path to an hidden class, yet ready to sell informations.
‘Balancing the secrecy side and the divulging side must have been difficult.’
JB couldn’t have know that it was the work of an AI, the goddess Versaille, and not of humans.
Later, when the time came for the next fight, Lazyo notified him and Cilerius moved toward the arena. There, he was welcomed by silence and scorn. Most of the audience had lost their bets in a surprising way. It wasn’t strange for them to be resentful toward the man who only had won thanks to dumb luck.
In the ring, his opponent was waiting. It was a short creature with most of its appearance concealed under a wide cloak. He was croaked and his face was covered with pustules.
At this look, Cilerius immediately sensed a threat.
‘He can conceal anything under that cloak. No way to know how he fight. I better stay on guard.’
At the starting signal, Cilerius immediately retreated and took a defensive stance. His opponent, Maniak, leaned forward, his hands still concealed by his cloak and began to move on the ring. This statu quo couldn’t remain for long and Maniak attacked. He ran toward Cilerius, hands still concealed. Then, as he approached, there was a sudden movement of his arm throwing something then retreating under the cloak. On guard, Cilerius dodged the object coming with a jump sideway. A jump, because the object was coming at his feet and instinct dictated to take move away.
The object fell on the sandy ground and shattered. A liquid splashed. Where the liquid touched, bubbles and smoke appeared.
‘Ouch, corrosive liquid. I better don’t be touched. Now, that’s a worrisome opponent. But surely interesting.’
Facing someone using this kind of weapon was new for Cilerius. He himself made use of smoke screen, but he was now facing someone who pushed the use of chemicals further. Interesting but dangerous. The diversity of means and effects was potentially huge. And Maniak dropped the mask and let a weapon show. This was a weight at the end of a chain. he started to move it like a pendulum then made it swing, faster and faster.
Cilerius planned to grab the chain and block this weapon, but as he thought about it, he saw droplets coming from it and decided against. Landing on the ground, the droplets also induced smoke.
“AHAHAHAHA! If you thought about grabbing my chain, you’re welcome. But be advised it’s deadly. The chain itself is very cutting and it was soaked in a mix of my composition. AHAHAHAH. Come on, come on!”
This Maniak was acting like a psycho and had seen Cilerius’s little movement forward then retreat. Droplets were also hitting him sometimes but his cloak was probably specialized to counter poisons and acids, as a green glow appeared on the part touched and there were no other reactions.
As Cilerius thought that it would be a troublesome fight, Maniak yet took the next step. Still swinging his chain with one hand, with the other, he launched another vial in Cilerius direction. The target dodged again but before the vial could hit the ground, it was hit by the chain and the liquid inside splashed toward Cilerius who couldn’t then esquive the toxic rain coming his way.
!You have been hit by acid. Corrosive damages cause immediate loss of 1342 HP. Until you wash away the acid, 349 damages per 5 seconds will be added.
!Poison hit your wound and enter your bloodstream. 200 direct damages. Until a cure is applied, cumulative damages will stack, doubling each 5 seconds.
!You have been poisoned. A 20% slowing effect will remain until you cure it.
Just for a few droplets, Cilerius suffered more damages than he had in the previous fights.
Maniak let a sadistic smirk show on his face as the audience hold its breath. Cilerius retreated away then, took a decision.
“Ok, no more games. I don’t have the means to deal lightly with you and seriously, you annoy me.”
Both his opponent and the spectators thought that as empty threat and bragging, but Cilerius was really annoyed. As he said, he didn’t see a way to deal with this combo without his weapons and while concealing his most efficient skills.
“Oh well. Not like I could keep it a secret way longer.”
After this second line, Cilerius removed his shirt, then the bandages. Not even fully closed wounds were show and smoke was coming from the place where the droplets had touched his skin. Straightening his body while facing his opponent, he whispered a few words.
“May the blessing of the snake protect me: Small cleansing.”
At his actions, everyone had a surprised look. The Nivese’s brawler was pretending to use magic? But the result displayed the reality. It wasn’t a pretense. The wounds closed, the smoke subsided and the green glow of his skin, the showing effect of the poisoning, dimed then vanished.
Maniak was shaken by this development but soon regained his confidence and shouted:
“AH! If you think some healing magic will save you and win the fight, you’re wrong!”
“Of course, healing magic will not win the fight. But do you really think it’s all I have?”
Cilerius had retorted. Since it came to this, he wouldn’t limit himself. It was time to show to the spectators who he was. It was time to reverse totally the image they had of him. Time to carve in their mind that he was strong, probably the strongest fighter present in the arena tonight.
Maniak was now hesitating to approach and Cilerius had all the time he needed to think about a method to destroy this opponent. Killing monsters or each other, he was okay with it, but taking pleasure in the pain inflicted, he abhorred it. At least when he was the target.
“I’m sure you will do perfectly as a guinea pig to test something new I learned not long ago.”
Cilerius thought this was the occasion for a live test of his newly learned spells, when applied on player opponent. The cleansing had already proven efficient. Now was the moment to test his offensive spells.
Raising his arm and pointing the finger toward his opponent head, Cilerius recited his spell:
“May the scorpion punish you: painful sting!”
From his finger toward his opponent, a black thread appeared. The target was one of Maniak’s eyes. At this sight, he tried to dodge and to block the luminous thread, but it was too late. At the moment the finger was pointed, a target designed and the spell chanted, it was finished.
For a fraction of second, Maniak thought he had blocked it or that it misfired, but then, he released his chain, dropped on his knee and screamed while holding his face in his hands. The pain was everything he could think of. Nothing did matter anymore but this intolerable pain in the eye. There was almost no damage, but the effect was something beyond numerical value, even more since the targeted area was something unprotected and untrained.
“Test 1, successful.”
Cilerius was now walking without care on the ring, around his opponent.
“The curse of the crow take its root and bind you: cursed vines.”
Maniak, who was kneeling, suddenly crouched like if he was roped and pulled. The vines were only visible to Cilerius, as well as the red flux that was coming from their prey and going to their roots. Maniak was visibly losing vitality. An informative window displayed to Cilerius the HP sucked by the vines.
“Test 2, successful.”
The HP tapping effect was low but enough for an extra to the rooting effect.
“May the plague of the rat take you: suffocating cloud.”
A purple cloud formed where Maniak was crouching and screaming. Soon, his screams became more and more hoarse and he coughed as he was about to spit his lungs.
The resulting effects were, once again, displayed for Cilerius as he watched the scene.
“Test 3, successful, I guess.”
The results of his testings were good enough for a first.
“Now, to put an end to your miseries, sort of… May winds restrict my prey: Zephyr of Restriction…”
There wasn’t a need to stop his opponent movements as the cursed vines were still in effect, but it was a part of one of his combos.
“The purifying fire burns my enemy: fire finger.”
The wind tornado that had enveloped Maniak just before, was strike by fire balls and came ablaze. Inside, Maniak now could forget about the pain in his eye, as the one from burning replaced it. Trapped, he couldn’t do anything. Worse, the flames got under his cloak and touched vials and pouches he hided there. One must have contained black powder as a big explosion happened, even blowing out the burning tornado.
After the blast, only a smoking mass of flesh remained. The victory was overwhelming and the spectators knew it. They cheered and had forgotten Cilerius’s previous fights. It was not a matter of luck, it was total domination. Annihilation of his opponent.
One man here still remembered what happened before and was reflecting. The announcer climbed on the ring and proclaimed the victory of Cilerius, as if it wasn’t an evidence, and as the Nivese’s brawler was walking away, commented on this fight and how the previous ones were not, in the end, resulting of dumb luck. He even called for replays of those fights and along his listeners, analysed what had really happened then.
Accordingly, when Lazyo came with the gains for the next round, he also reported the new odds. It had fallen to 1.2:1. Cilerius thought it was about right for the moment. One fight using a fraction of his real potential and they understood. No more a dark horse nor even a challenger. He was a serious contender for the final victory.
There were two fights remaining before the finale. Cilerius got to the arena and finished his opponent in a very short time and showy manner. His gains after the demi finale only amounted to 247.5K golds due to the odds lowering to 1.1:1. The spectators were sure of his victory now, with the show he had displayed. And now, for the final, Lazyo had told him the odds were at 1.05:1.
‘Well, I have already replenished my chests. Now, let’s prepare for the meeting with the boss.’
Just before Lazyo left, he had requested to meet with this underground fighting organisation boss. He was told that the request would be forwarded, then Lazyo had come back to tell him he was to expect the boss in a few minutes, before the final as requested.
Cilerius was waiting with expectations. He had one card to play in the negotiation. A few moment later, Lazyo came again but he was leading the way for someone else. An elegant man entered the room and spoke.
“Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m The Boss.”
And in fact, his name was on display above his head: The Boss.
Cilerius snickered at this but regained his composure and answered.
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Cilerius.”
Lazyo left the room and closed the door.
“I understand that you requested this meeting. Not that it pose a problem. I like to meet my best fighters. So, what have you to tell me.”
“Hmmm, how to say it? Well, since you’re forthright, I will try to do the same. The spectators expect to see my victory and their bets are now massively in my favor. This is a pull I intend to use in our talk right now.”
The Boss frowned at this declaration and asqued:
“Must I take it as you intend to threaten me with the menace to go in the arena and lose on purpose?”
“Worse, I guess. I could go in the arena and shout that I will lose on purpose.”
The Boss, at this answer, displayed now a very serious face.
“I don’t have for habit to negotiate under duress.”
“Then you understand my feeling when I’m told that my involvement in the fight is mandatory else I would regret it dearly.”
“...”
“...”
A long silence followed as The Boss heard that and understood what Cilerius aimed for. After a long sigh, he asked:
“What are your demands?”
“Not much. I don’t want to be bound by some obligations with you. I’m not a fighting dog. I’m an adventurer. I don’t want to cut all contacts but I expect the freedom to choose when I fight. I guess you can understand that I can’t rush back for some fight while I’m in the middle of a quest. In fact, the status of free agent would be perfect. Even your advertising department could make use of it. Special guest or wild card or something alike.”
The elegant man facing him was listening what he had to say with attention. He didn’t like to be threatened, but in case Cilerius acted as he said, the loss of money due to the bettors reclamations and more important, the loss of his reputation and credibility would be disastrous. That was a very strong pull. And the fact that he was himself under threat was also true. The Boss could understand that. His closed face relaxed as he heard the demands. It wasn’t abusive. They could come to terms. That’s what he truly thought.
“Those are demands you could have made without taking this very tournament hostage.”
“Probably, but since I’d really like to get what I want and this was the best occasion, I acted.”
“...”
Another long silence. The Boss was coming to a decision.
“Your demands are acceptables. What we would lose on exposure could be largely compensated by expectation. But what would be acceptable on your side regarding the frequency of your participation?”
“Seriously, as adventures and quest goes, I have no clue. A solution could be that, you message me to ask if I’m available for a said date and I answer, accordingly to what I do at the moment.”
“That’s a lot of freedom, but with some serious planification ahead, this is acceptable. But since you’re a “free agent” from now on, our protection will not be extended to you anymore.”
“Protection? Ah, you mean that’s what this guild was trying to do by following me?”
“Oh, you did notice?”
“Well, they are not bad, but my skill set is good enough to notice this kind of things.”
“Is that so? Hmmm, it’s true we don’t know much about you.”
“And I intent to keep it that way. But don’t be too hard on your employee in this city. It isn’t like there are many with better skills here.”
“You care about them? AHAHAH! I don’t know why you care but don’t worry. Like you said, it isn’t like we have much choice around here.”
“Not that I care. But don’t go and take them responsible for my own skills. Not like I needed protection either.”
“Well, you sure are more powerful than a common level 80 or so, that’s for sure. The guy’s you faced in the arena are a testimony to that.”
“Good, if we reached a common ground, I guess I should get ready to go and please your customers.”
“Just do that. Be showy. The more the better.”
The Boss left Cilerius alone in the room. While walking away, he thought:
‘Too bad he isn’t on our payroll. But the agreement isn’t bad. We could even propose the same arrangement to some other fighters. The terms are not bad and we even could make use of those free agent to set spot tournament instead of the current. But this guy, if he were to settle for business management, he would be ruthless.’
Little he knew that Cilerius already had planned to establish his own line of business. It was still virtual, but who know how things develop.
Cilerius was called a few minutes later to attend for the next and final fight. As he was approaching the ring, bathed in the cheers of the spectators, he saw his new opponent. It was a knight. A fully armored knight, with a tower shield and an heavy morning star. At the aspect of his armor, no error could be made. It was a complete set of the knight order of some kingdom. To complete the set at early level 100 was no small feat.
‘This one is going to be troublesome. How do you defeat a tortoise?’
Cilerius wondered by which side he should start to peel this guy. Climbing on the ring, he looked puzzled at his opponent, his head tilted on a side. Then as the annoncer stopped talking and was leaving the stage for the two performers, he shouted:
“Does someone have a can opener to lend me? This one is going to be difficult to eat if I can’t open the shell.”
His words had a joking tone and the audience took it likewise and erupted in laughs. Even the armored knight couldn’t hold a smile behind his full face covering visor.
Then, now looking at the knight, Cilerius asked loud enough for everyone to hear:
“Won’t you make it easy for both of us and drop the towel, will you? No? I thought so. Too bad. Well, let’s get on with this then.”
And just like that, without the signal of the annoncer, they started the bout, circling the ring. The armored knight, his name was Meiolan, was obviously planning on a defensive tactic, his morning star ready to strike if his opponent was to come close enough. Given his presence at the final, this seemed to have been successful up to now.
To prob this defense, Cilerius launched his magic missiles and even tried the earth needles, without visible effect. The missiles just crashed on the armors and dispersed, as the rock needles broke in contact of the legs armor. This made it obvious that this armor defensive effect was tremendous for the level of the fighters.
It was also probably the effect of the set being complete. Additional bonus are given in most case. Here, apparently, the magic defense was boosted and the defense high enough to make rock shatter against the metal. A proof was the absence of even dents where the needles had touched the legs.
“I need a can opener, indeed.”
Cilerius commented the results of his probing.
“But then, I better try to heat it before eating.”
At those words, Meiolan raised his shield and crouched behind, waiting for the attack. He was not stupid and had seen reports of the flame tornado that had been used by Cilerius.
“First, let’s heat it slowly.”
Cilerius then cast the zephir of restriction and launched many fireballs. When the tornado vanished, the knight was still standing and even banging his shield with his weapon as a demonstration of his vitality.
“Hmmm, this can is resistant… let’s try an higher temperature.”
Cilerius raised both his arms and pointed his palms toward the tortoise.
“Flamethrower!”
That was a spell he never used yet with audience but his targets or the npc soldiers that had come with him on the siege breaking mission. That was a very graphic offensive spell. As a result, the spectators cheered even louder than before. A stream of flames befall on the tower shield and enveloped Meiolan.
Cilerius kept the spell running, providing as much mana as was needed. With effort, he even tried to concentrate the stream, reducing the angle of the cone in which the flames were bursting. The more he concentrated the stream, then more the heat raised at the impact point.
But that wasn’t enough. The shield was glowing red but resisted.
‘I guess that’s the limit with my present skill. I’ll have to train more. This kind of defense will be defeated with an even higher heat.’
Cilerius pictured in his mind, a plasma torch, then a plasma beam. But that was for a far away future.
‘If heat didn’t work, let’s try cold.’
The knight armor was red hot but Meiolan was still alive inside. He was about to turn in some kind of charcoal but alive and showed so by again, striking his shield with his morning star. He thought the worst was behind him and now, he could as always, slowly wear down his opponent and pound him. But Cilerius had other plans.
In the aftermath of this attempted barbecue, he called forth the spell granted by one of his elementals.
“May the undines bless us with fresh water stream.”
This spell would be deemed useless in combat by many, but here yet another way Cilerius made use of it. Water appeared on Meiolan armor. Water poured on an extremely hot armor. The result was as expected, an huge and thick cloud of steam. He made use of it to move stealthily behind the knight and whispered:
"Cold grabs my prey: Glacial Palm!”
Since the armor had been cooled by water, the effect wasn’t lessened. Since water was still pouring on the said armor, ice formed easily on the whole surface, then even invaded the inside. It was a multi pronged attack.
On the ring, when steam dissipated, the audience could see something they didn’t expect so soon after a flaming inferno. An ice statue was there. Inside a big chunk of ice was the armored knight, still crouched behind his tower shield in his defensive stance.
With only one glance, Cilerius confirmed that his opponent was still alive.
‘I could hold him inside this ice coffin and make him suffocate, but it lack the flashiness needed for a good ending worth of the final.’
When one work in the show business, he must think of the customer service. And virtual ultimate fighting is one kind of show business. Just like is catch in the real world.
Focusing his whole strength in his fist, Cilerius launched a strike against the frozen shield. He had focused a lot of power in his icing before. The result would show now. Under normal conditions, this shield would be very durable. But after an extreme heating followed by the sudden cooling to a temperature far below 0°C, it was weakened. Metal tend to be easier to break when extremely cooled.
The result was as Cilerius expected. He did hurt his fist. Well, try to strike a concrete wall and say you’re fine afterward. But also, the ice fissured from the impact point and part of the shield with it. Pleased with the result, Cilerius then launched more strikes, targeting the limbs of Meiolan.
The cracks followed the easiest line and cut between the armor joints. Soon, the ice statue was laying on the floor in five parts. The limbs and the torso with the head. Looking at the result that was already signaling his win, Cilerius thought a few seconds for a suitable ending and smiled.
He grabbed the iced torso and making use of his full strength, he did throw it up toward the ceiling. The fall would be an end as it would shatter on impact, but that wasn’t enough. As the ice block started to fall, he jumped with the full extend of his strength toward it. Halfway from the highest it had reached, he meet it with his fist. The result was a hail of ice fragments.
He landed then in the middle of the ring, looked around at the remains of the armored knight, bowed facing the four corners of the arena then shouted in a loud voice:
“Please, a round of applause for my valorous opponent, who to the end, never lost his cool.”
Cheers had been present for the whole fight, but it was now pandemonium. The spectators were ecstatics while applauding.
‘I suppose that the management will find this show proper. I did my part, so they shouldn’t have anything to say.’
To please the customer and the employer. That’s one of the basics in work. His show finished, Cilerius climbed the stairs to go back to his waiting room. He still had to collect his gains. Lazyo came to him as he had in Nivese a little more than 2 months ago, pulling a cart loaded with chests full of golds. He first presented Cilerius with his betting gains. It didn’t grow much with the low odds, but the final result was 259875 GP. If he was to add what he didn’t bet, he was at more or less 400k GP.
“And with that, I bailed my chests.”
In addition, Lazyo presented him with a choice.
“As a reward for your victories, you can either take the cumulated diamonds I have here in this bag, or discard them for an unknown item. What will you choose?” Asked the attendant, rubbing his hands. He was displaying a mischievous face, obviously taunting Cilerius. This was another bet. The cumulated diamonds won this time could be moneyed for almost 20k golds. On the other hand, he had no informations on any alternative reward.
‘Damn, he got me here. I didn’t research the rewards awarded in those fights. I assumed it would be golds or gems but now there is that?’
With no lead on what it could be, any fighter would select the sure gain, that is, if he didn’t already win big by betting on his fights. Cilerius had won big. He could take the risk.
“Then I’ll take the unknown item.”
Lazyo didn’t flinch at all. Be it the good or the wrong move, he didn’t let it show.
“Then take this casket.”
He handed Cilerius a wooden case with a peculiar lock. Looking at this lock, Cilerius couldn’t see any keyhole.
“Identify: casket!”
!Casket of the unknown reward. A level of 100 is required to open its sensitive lock. You can’t open the casket now as you aren’t high level enough.
At this result, Cilerius frowned and said:
“You are really a jester. Not only the item was unknown, but it’s in a case I can’t open before training more. Nice going here.”
“Why, thank you. Always a pleasure to make someone happy.”
Did he take it at first degree on purpose while ignoring any irony? Probably. But Cilerius had made the choice and the level restriction was his own fault. The average level of the combatants this time was 105. This reward was something that any other fighter could have opened if he had choose to discard the sure golds gain for a mysterious award.
Cilerius was done in this place. He left the room and the underground arena after being added to the friend list of one of the freedmen acting as managing staff. That was so they could contact him with the propositions to participate in another tournament.
Cilerius walked back home at dawn. The event had lasted the whole night. He was tired and had to sleep in the real world as it was late and had to head to work. Accordingly, he pushed to his next gaming session his actions in regard to the mine. There had been no incident up to now, so he wasn’t worried. At his apartment, he organised his inventory, putting the mysterious casket in the bottom of his bag, to collect dust until he was eligible to open it.
Then, Cilerius disconnected from the game.
This chapter, that I release for my 41th birthday, was part of a much longer one. On the advice of my PR, I did cut it in at least 2 parts (we’ll see if the remaining of the huge chapter make one or more chapters) and rearrange it since the parts from this were all over the huge chapter.
As for when the next one come… that depend on my readings. With the many novels that I actually read, either the translated one or their GT’ed chapters, I find it time consuming and of course, my writing time is reduced.
Add to that, that I started another project, but in french… well, expect months hiatus between my releases.
btw, plz take a moment to write a review and give some cookies ;p
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