After I summoned the Spectral Familiars, a palpable sense of foreboding washed over me, sending shivers down my spine. The spectral warriors I had conjured in search of the bird woman and Varga were now dismissed, and I turned my head to survey the surrounding.

Over on another floating field, members of the notorious Bloodthirsty Alliance had gathered, their presence casting an eerie shadow on the scene. Among them was Giant Alex, a towering figure with a menacing scar across his face, who stared at me with unwavering defiance.

Gena instinctively shielded his gaze with his body, while Mina leaned in, her voice a hushed whisper in my ear. “The Bloodthirsty Alliance wishes to join the surveillance,” she murmured.

“Alright,” I replied, a sly grin creeping onto my face. “The more, the merrier.”

But their arrival was intriguing, to say the least.

[Participant 137, fighter 5899 transferred to the anomalous zone. The connection with the Arena was interrupted quite recently.]

[Was she summoned during the battle?]

“According to the data, it is.”

As the creatures addressed me as the Leader of the Infernal Legion, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You came just in time,” I quipped, sizing up the newcomers.

Why can’t they ever stay in their own lane?

As the newcomers took seats on a bench, nonchalantly snacking on seeds and making casual remarks that grated on my nerves.

“Faye, listen,” Fahey chimed in, gesturing to a peculiar old man on the Grey platform, “There’s a fellow up there who seems to be your match, and I’ve never seen him before.”

The mustache on top of Faye’s head twitched, and laughter erupted from the creatures behind the bench.

Gena stepped forward, taking on a protective stance. However, I waved him off and addressed the silent Bloodthirsty Alliance members.

“Why have you been sent here?” I inquired, curiosity tinged with a hint of amusement.

Alex grinned and quipped, “Heh, getting straight to the point, aren’t you? If you’re so interested, why don’t you come down to the white section and fight us?”

But before the tension escalated further, Madeleine intervened, her voice dripping with a menacing edge as she released poisonous insects from her dress.

“Don’t even think about challenging the Leader,” she warned.

I couldn’t help but marvel at their unwavering loyalty. I had expected potential aggression as soon as I showed any signs of weakness, but instead, my own warriors, Gena, Madeleine, and Gosha, stood strong to protect me.

It was both surprising and impressive. Drumming my fingers on the armrest, I glanced up at the serene white clouds. This presented a golden opportunity to prove my mettle as a skilled fighter, while also showcasing my rapidly advancing skill level. However, I had to be cautious not to raise undue suspicion among the shadow fighters.

It was a risky move, and I had expected them to come and claim the fighters of interest rather than provoke an obvious conflict. Nonetheless, it was typical of a formidable rival like the Bloodthirsty Alliance. It seemed I was more of a suspect for possessing a rare artifact than I had thought. Another display of my skills in battle would only fuel their suspicions.

Licking my lips, I gazed at the impassive faces of the seated creatures and broke the silence after a long pause. “Why not?” I replied.

Gena stared at me in bewilderment. I couldn’t keep running forever.

[System, apply suppression.]

[Are you sure? They look so intimidating, yet oddly comical. While it will lower your basic characteristics, it won’t hide your skill level. If you use Poison Arrows, you might eliminate some of them. Besides, I suspect they have a backup plan. Be cautious.]

[Agreed. Then I’ll switch to melee.]

[As you wish.]

Alex smiled amiably, acknowledging my resolve. Our eyes locked for a moment before we both looked away. They were trying to eliminate a potential strong opponent, but underestimating an unknown adversary was a fatal mistake.

[Characteristic Suppression Applied. It will be deactivated after the end of the battle. Completion in 99, 98, 97...]

Geros, in particular, was in a dire situation. He struggled against a swamp creature, sinking knee-deep into the sludgy muck covering the field. Gasping for breath, he growled loudly, and a small ball of light materialized above his head. Tiny grains, barely visible, swirled within him, gradually coalescing into a more substantial form. The creature emerged from the swamp and hovered menacingly over the bear. A bright light enveloped it, and the shrieking creature was expelled from the section line, vanishing in the distance.

The portal opened and swallowed the defeated creature with a grotesque gurgle.

Impressive.

Geros confidently strode toward the neutral zone as the countdown continued.

[...22, 21, 20...]

Turning my attention to Mina, I instructed her, “Mina, inform Uchi about the upcoming match.” She nodded and headed towards the old man’s platform.

Uchi raised his eyebrows, his gaze locked onto mine with a hint of curiosity. Then, with a nonchalant shrug, he acknowledged the situation.

The countdown reached its climax with the announcement,

[...1. The countdown is completed. Participant 137 is in a state of suppression.]

As the countdown concluded, the fields around us began to empty out, but no one else stepped forward to engage in combat. The atmosphere was a mix of bewilderment and nervous anticipation.

“In order to support your determination,” Uchi’s calm voice broke through the tension, “the Leader will share his experience with the core members of the Bloodthirsty.”

“YEAH!” The creatures cheered enthusiastically in response to the news.

“Please,” Alex said with a malicious sneer, gesturing toward the white section where he intended to fight. However, the other members of his alliance remained seated, showing no intention of joining the impending battle.

“What about the rest of you?” I inquired.

“Heh, trust me, I’m more than enough to deal with you,” the giant replied as he squatted down, his breath sending a wave of red-hot steam that tousled my hair.

“Everyone must participate in the battle,” I retorted. “Otherwise, our contract might be terminated.” With that, I released a portion of my aura and leaped onto the white section.

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“What? Hahaha! DO NOT REGRET YOUR DECISION!” the giant bellowed, and his twelve companions looked at me with sympathy.

A dozen screens displayed various angles of the field, capturing every detail of the upcoming clash.

“It would be a shame if the new Leader lost face in front of such an audience,” Alex commented, shaking his head while tracing his side with the blade of his axe.

“Enough with the talk. I haven’t finished my seeds yet,” Lucy chimed in, stretching her limbs with audible cracks.

“Don’t expect us to understand,” Fahey chimed in, lying flat on his stomach and lazily wagging his tail.

Ah, I remembered now. Weren’t his kind the creature I had hungrily devoured in the Forbidden Land’s forest?

The arena’s magic circles absorbed our tokens, setting the stage for the impending battle.

I propelled myself forward with a powerful kick, landing a solid punch on a charging boar’s ribs.

“Gha-ah…”

A creature with numerous holes all over its body attempted to thrust its claws into the spot where I had been moments ago.

Fahey, suspended in the air, soared toward the section line.

I deftly dodged a fiery ribbon that attempted to ensnare my head and quickly summoned the Poison Arrows. With precision, I pinned the ribbon to the floor, allowing me to ascend toward the caster at a moderate pace.

The butterfly fluttered as I grabbed her head. The whiskers on her temples twitched a few times, and she disappeared through an opening portal.

“AAARGH,” the giant roared, swinging his axe.

I caught the blade with my fingers and shattered it into fragments.

The ground rumbled beneath me as sinewy arms shot up, wrapping around my waist. The tape broke, and I descended into a dark abyss.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy, dealing 0.9 points of damage out of 64,100.]

Releasing thick smoke from my mouth, I chuckled silently. This was precisely what I needed. However, the enemy was still too weak.

Claws dug into my abdomen, causing a tickling sensation that undercut my mood. The beast’s eyes locked onto mine, flickering with emotions ranging from anger to painful gambling.

Gripping its wrist, I clenched my fingers until bone cracked, then hurled the lifeless shorthair carcass towards the overcast skies.

Pushing off with my hands, I landed on my heels. The field resembled the ruins of an ancient city, with gaps and crevices all around. However, the hulking figures of the Bloodthirsty Alliance members stood out, shrouded in the thick steam of their own breath.

“GRAAAR.”

Alex froze just a meter away from me, his axe raised menacingly.

Where had he acquired such an arsenal of weapons?

Gradually, his punch seemed to move in slow motion, the blade slicing through the air before meeting an invisible barrier and descending again. The giant’s eyes narrowed in anticipation, and wrinkles barely touched the fresh scar on his left cheek. He gaped, unable to resist a sarcastic remark.

Inspecting my palm for a moment, I retracted my right leg and, with a powerful jump, delivered a forceful punch to Alex’s abdomen. Under the force of my blow, his skin buckled, revealing gaps in his muscles and tiny specks of filth that glowed as they attempted to heal the damaged flesh.

The corners of his lips drooped, his razor-sharp fangs grazed his purple tongue and bit off the tip. Blood spurted, splattering my face. The giant collapsed to the ground, rising a few centimeters before landing on the debris once more.

Lucy initiated a tornado. Rubble and shards danced menacingly, swirling in place and gradually gaining speed. In the past, I would have struggled to discern the source of her power. However, as the transparent glove on her hand glowed scarlet, small veins coursed through the thin material, delving into her fingers and draining a significant amount of mana from her frail body.

Various orbs diminished to invisible sizes, forming a protective barrier around her and transferring a magnetic biofield to the center of the field, which began absorbing air, expanding and contracting at will.

It was clearly an artifact—something beyond the ordinary. Though not classified as rare, its entertainment value was off the charts. For a material army, having just 30 of these pieces would be more than sufficient.

With Shadow Steps, I found myself beside her and, grabbing her neck, squeezed her throat. Lucy’s pupils widened in shock, her concentration faltering, and the mana supply to her burgeoning tornado ceased.

Fluttering like an insect trapped in a glass jar, Lucy struggled to free herself from my grip. The glove had disappeared, replaced by purplish skin and short nails that had transformed into claws, tearing at the flesh of her fingertips.

Though her claws gnashed at my dark skin, they did little harm, and I hadn’t even summoned the General’s Armor. Tightening my grip, I heard a sickening crunch. Colorless saliva oozed from her mouth, tracing an arc along her plump cheeks before dripping onto her chin. Her irises turned a more vibrant shade of yellow as she underwent a transformation.

The ground quaked beneath my feet as a horde of vicious creatures lunged at me, their collective assault threatening to overwhelm me.

With a resigned sigh, I swiftly propelled Lucy over the edge of the section and braced myself to confront the relentless onslaught from Many-Eyed and Alex, using both hands to meet their blows head-on.

The impact was thunderous, shattering the stone floor beneath us and creating a chaotic battlefield littered with jagged crevices. The air itself seemed to mourn the impending bloodshed, humming a mournful melody. Every movement was accompanied by the squelching sound of blood.

I grabbed both combatants by their fists and, with determined steps, moved towards the edge of the stone field. With a powerful throw, I hurled them into the gaping maw of the ominous central portal that had opened to devour them.

Turning to face the remaining seven adversaries, I observed the magician thrusting his staff into the stone, but no immediate attack followed. It dawned on me that this magician served as an auxiliary member of the team, boosting the attributes of their fellow fighters.

At this moment, the other six combatants radiated energy, their auras forming a tangible layer around them, akin to a protective barrier.

[Participant 137, enemies have activated a seven-layer barrier around you that reduces your abilities by 70%.

The enemies activated a multi-faceted combination of Ten Mortals.

Explanation:

The five senses will be disabled:

1. The sense of touch.

2. Vision.

3. Hearing.

4. Taste.

5. Sense of smell.

The following skills will be deactivated:

1. Perception of mana.

2. Regeneration.

3. Speed increase.

4. Berserk mode.

Time of action: 9 minutes and 50 seconds.]

As the barrier descended upon me, my body felt as heavy as lead, and I lost all the advantages I had taken for granted until now. It was as though I had been erased from my surroundings, transformed into an inert stone devoid of sight, sound, and sensation. I existed solely in the realm of emotions—anguish, confusion, doubt, awe.

The last sensations I lost were the rhythm of my breathing and the steady thud of my heart. I pondered what was happening to my body in that moment, feeling like a forsaken soul adrift in a void of emptiness.

I couldn’t ascertain whether I was swallowing saliva to drown out my thoughts or if it was the echo of agony resonating from beyond the mental prison. Numbness enveloped me, and time seemed to come to a standstill, where everything either made perfect sense or faded into oblivion without the need for conscious thought.

I made several attempts to extend my mental tendrils into the surrounding void, but I couldn’t even detect my own mana. Was I truly dead? I longed to scream, but my voice was absent. Trapped within the labyrinth of my own thoughts, I became a captive of self-inflicted suffering.

Who was I? What was my purpose? Surviving was challenging—why not simply embrace the end? I couldn’t sense my own body.

This internal monologue stretched on endlessly, without answers or significance. Nine minutes? It felt more like 900 years.

System. 605. Deceived. Me.

I want to escape from this mental abyss.

If I had lips, I would have laughed; if I had eyes, I would have met death with defiance; if I had ears...

“My Lord.”

The first sound that reached me was Yuna’s voice from afar.

The dark void gave way to a blurred haze. My ankle throbbed with pain, and the scent of blood filled my nostrils as I greedily inhaled the cold air.

Gazing up at the sky, I watched as pristine snowflakes gently landed on my face.

“My Lord,” Yuna’s voice persisted.

I stood amidst shattered bones, their jagged edges cutting into my flesh in various places.

“Damn it. Why is he so tenacious?” Someone muttered nervously and hastily behind me.

I turned to face the speaker, straightening my hunched form, and a grin formed on my battered face.

[Enemy trap deactivated. All skills and side characteristics are updated.

Regeneration of all torn tissues and muscles begins.

Total damage inflicted by Ten Mortals: 42,900 points.]

So much damage.

Surveying my surroundings, I realized that they had unleashed Explosion and Fire Talismans, perhaps even banned poisons. What a pity—I had an Iron Stomach.

I first dispatched the long-armed creature, sending it crashing face-first onto the ground. Its skull split open, releasing a soft brain that quivered in an attempt to escape the pooling blood.

“He’s awake! Everyone, get ready!”

[Participant 137, enemies...]

Before 605 could finish the sentence, I seized the crippled creature’s leg and hurled it toward the magician, disrupting their summoning of the magic circle and sending them sprawling.

Brushing aside my tangled hair, I rasped, “Well, well! Weren’t you taught to behave more politely at a party?”