“Breakfast!” The sound startled Phoenix awake and she opened her eyes to see Becca grabbing both their plates. To her surprise one of them had what looked like bread and some sort of egg on it. Becca handed that one to her.
“You get it for winning a fight the previous night, keeps you motivated to win.” She stated, and sat down to eat her kindly poured slop. Phoenix’s stomach turned at the memory of the previous night, but survival took over and she scarfed her food down. An angry red light flashed at her so she opened her notifications.
Alyssa (F)
Essence 11 Defeated!
Essence Col- Cannot collect essence — Prisoner’s Culling in effect, successfully stored essence.
ERROR Race Attribute in Effect +100%…
Prisoner’s Culling cannot store…
ERroR…
Outside Forces Intervened…Overwritten
Input Accepted
Formulating…
Race Attribute overrules Prisoner’s Culling. +100% Pure Essence
Brawling Skill Learned!
Faced with no choice, you fought and defeated an opponent in hand to hand combat. Good Job.
Brawling I (Common)
The system seemed to understand her mood, leaving the snarky comments out of the notification this time. What the hell is pure essence? The system responded to her inquiry.
Pure Essence
The truest form of essence and acquired through months of refining one's inner and collected essence.
Despite not fully understanding, Phoenix could feel the difference in the density of the essence she had just collected versus that of which she got from the monsters in the forest. It seemed, somehow, that the shackle had purified the essence for her before entering her body. I can get stronger. The realization washed over her and a spark of hope was ignited. She continued through her notifications.
Howl of the Alpha Skill Leveled Up!
By using your inner primal rage, you activated this skill at the perfect moment stopping your opponent from killing you.
Howl of the Alpha I -> II (Legendary)
Phoenix closed her notifications and found Becca staring at her. Knowing that she knew something was up, she hesitated to say anything. Becca shook her head.
“No, I don’t want to know, not yet. We could still be pit against each other in the arena and we can’t know each other’s secrets, not yet. However, if you have a chance to get stronger, use it. Get out of here, run and don’t look back.” Phoenix agreed, and decided to ask a question that could increase her strength greatly.
“Do you know what a lot of the combat skills are called and what they look like when activated?” Becca looked at her like she was crazy, before seeming to remember that she grew up in a world where none of this existed.
“Yeah, it’s fairly common knowledge. You have your main types of skills like ranged, hand to hand, healing, weapons, and elements. In each of these categories are a multitude of subsections. For example, in weapons you have knives, swords, clubs, spears, and more. Most of those have names like Spear Wielding, or Knife Wielding.” Phoenix thought back to her mimic skill and realized how overpowered it was. Finally, maybe something is going right. Light, if you can hear me I still want to punch you in the face, but maybe just slightly less so now.
For the next couple of hours Phoenix listened to Becca describe as many skills as she could in detail and list off all the names she could remember. Finally getting annoyed, Becca called off their conversation right as dinner came sliding through the bars. They both wolfed their slop down and winded down for the night.
----------------------------------------
Two days later Bento came up to the bars along with another man she assumed was Hunter as Becca approached the bars as well.
“You’re up against another Essence 11, this time a close combat brawler. They saw how well you did in close quarters and want to see if you can survive against a bigger guy. From what I’ve heard this guy has quite a few close combat skills, be ready. Last fight.” Bento left immediately and Hunter followed close behind.
Becca hit the bars with her fist and cursed.
“Essence fucking 30! That’s 5 levels above me, and a fucking fire mage nonetheless.” Phoenix raised her eyebrows, she wasn’t aware Becca was that high level. She saw the look and ran her hands through her hair.
“I’m an Essence 25, Ice Mage.” Shit. That’s a big problem. “It’s like he wants me to die. He’s probably tired of me, not making as much as he used to on my fights because I’ve been a consistent winner for so long. They can only ever have one fighter at a time to lessen the odds of cheating in the arena.” Phoenix sat back down contemplating what she said.
“You might have a weakness to fire, but he has one to water if the elements here are the same as back on my planet. You don’t have to win using your specific element, if I recall common sense is, when ice heats up it evaporates and becomes water.” Becca only nodded.
“Yeah, that’s how it works here too, however the issue is that my ice won’t melt against fire, when cast from a mage any element can stand against another, the issue is outlasting the other mage. Every level above me means more endurance and stronger essence to cast spells with. So that results in problems with the power of the elements.” Becca was still mumbling to herself as the first Culled was led from the cell.
“Well, back home one of my closest friends always said, ‘There’s a weakness to everyone, sometimes you just gotta get up close to find it.’ If you can’t defeat him element wise or on a power level, maybe you can find some other way.” Becca nodded again, but remained silent taking her place in a corner of the cell. Phoenix took a seat as well musing over another issue she was facing.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
If I can become stronger, that’s great, however, if I do, my level will reflect that if anyone can analyze me. Because I’m wearing this stupid shackle, how will I ever going to hide the fact that I’m leveling up?
The question seemed like it had no answer. Becca was led out shortly after, being the second fight of the night, and Phoenix gave her a “Good luck” before she disappeared from view. She was starting to like her and didn’t want to see her killed.
Over half an hour later the doors slammed open and Becca was dragged back into the cell. Phoenix rushed over to her. She was barely conscious, cuts riddled her body, and a long gash ran down her right shoulder. Dried and fresh blood alike mixed and caked the rest of her body. A flashback to the battlefield on Earth of her friends lying helpless while she couldn’t get to them flashed in her mind. Phoenix shook her head trying to clear the image. She’s alive and that’s what matters. Light, if you can hear me I’m really screwed here.
Phoenix moved Becca away from the middle of the cell and propped her up against the corner. Without water she couldn’t wash out any of her wounds, so she had to let them be. Phoenix could only think of what shape she would be in if Bento hadn’t had her after her first fight.
Two more Culled were led out while she waited, only one came back. I have to find a way out of here, and I’m taking Becca with me, otherwise we’ll both be killed, but first I have to get stronger.
Phoenix walked between the guards and saw a familiar outline standing at the Arena entrance. Bento’s smile never got less sickening but she steeled herself against him.
“Alright little girl, win this like you did a couple days ago and you can ask me for one thing, within reason, this can even include a weapon for your next fight. Unlike the others I know the value of my Culled and if you can’t win, I don’t make money.” Part of Phoenix wanted to spit in his face, but she refrained.
The arena was the same, loud crowd and cheering. The arena master riled up the crowd but she tuned him out, focused on the opponent to the other side of the arena. He was big, at least 6 ft all, and lean muscle. He wasn’t outfitted in rags like everyone else she had seen, he had some decent clothes on and it looked like he had bathed recently as well. Is this guy even here to fight for his life or for his enjoyment? The answer came soon enough from the arena master.
“In the left corner we have Rand, The Fist! He’s here after he lost a bet to a senior officer! Can he win his honor back in tonight’s fight? We will see!” Rand held up his wrist with his Prisoner’s Culling like it was a medal, drawing cheers from the stands.
“And in the right we have Phoenix, a newcomer whose debut showed her viciousness and cunning in battle. Taking down her last opponent by getting past her defenses can she win again? Bets are now closed, Fighters please approach the middle!” She began to walk forward and assessed her opponent. He was big, yes, but that meant his agility was lacking. He was the complete opposite of Alyssa.
“The rules are simple, everything is legal. You may use whatever skills or abilities you have available to you. The fight ends when the other is dead. You will know because the shackle will be released from the other’s wrist. May Shadow favor you! 3…2…1…FIGHT!” Rand jumped off his back leg and cleared the 10ft gap between the two in one stride. Phoenix’s eyes widened as she saw his fist come down to meet her. She swiftly jumped to the side narrowly avoiding the meat pulverizer that this man called a hand. Gotta keep him occupied and use a skill.
She turned and ran the opposite direction, leading him around the arena like Alyssa did her to her the previous fight.
“Come and fight me you coward!” He roared pursuing her, however each step he took, she got two ahead of him. Deciding to taunt him, she threw back,
“I’ll fight as soon as you give me a reason to!” The words had barely left her mouth, and she saw a red haze gather around him. Berserker, increases strength, close combat, duration 10 to 30 seconds depending on level. She thought, assessing him. She did not want to get hit by him, he would kill her almost instantly.
Berserker Skill Learned!
You worked so hard for this skill, like so hard. You didn’t cheat at all using your obviously not broken skill.
Berserker I (Uncommon)
She took the opportunity to let him get a little closer, hoping that his momentum would work in her favor. As Rand lunged forward again, Phoenix pivoted, using his own weight against him. She ducked under his arm, her heart racing as she felt the rush of air from his fist whoosh past her ear.
“Is that all you’ve got?” she taunted, adrenaline coursing through her veins. The crowd roared, their energy feeding her resolve. Rand growled in frustration - he was used to finishing his fits in one hit - face contorted with rage, he turned to face her once more.
With a quick glance at the arena's edge, Phoenix spotted the shimmering outlines of the barriers surrounding them. The walls were high, and there was little chance of escape. If she was going to survive, she needed to end this quickly. She drew upon the skill she had just learned from Rand, feeling the power surge through her.
“Time to turn the tide,” she whispered to herself, recalling her Drill Sergeants advice about finding weaknesses. Rand was strong, but he was reckless, and that was her advantage. As he charged again, Phoenix channeled her inner power, and roared.
Skill Activated! Howl of the Alpha I (Legendary)!
Momentarily stunning Rand, he froze midstep. The crowd fell silent, caught off guard by the sudden shift in momentum. Now was her chance. With a burst of speed, she closed the distance between them, aiming for the soft spot below his ribs. She struck with precision, her fist connecting hard enough to knock the wind from him. Rand stumbled back, shock written across his face.
“Come on, big guy! Show me what you’ve got!” She danced back, taunting him further, and he howled, charging again, desperation fueling his rage.
As he lunged, Phoenix sidestepped him, this time activating Brawling to deliver a swift knee to his gut. The force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground. She could see the struggle in his eyes as he tried to regain his footing, but she wasn’t about to give him the chance. Blows rained over his body, each one hitting a soft mark, Brawling helping her identify each one.
Solemnly she stood atop his now broken body, tuning out the crowd who had now erupted in cheers, the noise swelling around her. The primal instinct inside her took over, fangs bared and she sunk them deep in his throat. Like Alyssa before him, she felt the life drain from him in the form of a flowing river underneath her fangs.
The arena fell silent and Phoenix released his neck as soon as she heard his Prisoner’s Culling unlock from around his wrist and thump faintly to the ground. The reality of her victory washed over her, and the unsettling feeling of taking yet another life so she could live rose up again. At least back home she could justify the ending of a life in the Army. The shackle around her wrist pulsed ominously, and she could feel the weight of the eyes upon her as the arena master approached with a gleeful expression.
The crowd began to chant her name, but Phoenix felt no glory, all she wanted was to find a way to save Becca and herself. She turned, ready to face whatever came next, but deep down, she knew she had only just begun to uncover the true depths of her power.
“Well, congrats little girl, you’ve proven yourself again.” Bento grinned and rubbed his grimy hands together. “I’m a man of my word, what would you ask of me?” Phoenix hesitated, knowing she had to do for her own safety, and what she had to do for her friend.
“Healing for Becca, my cellmate.” She said after a few more seconds of deliberation. Her heart and her loyalty ran strong, and some part of her knew she had to save Becca. Something of surprise crossed Bento’s face, but he nodded.
“I can do that, but this means for the next fight you will be without a weapon or any means of defense, which means I will lose a lot if you die.” He replied. That’s my opportunity. I have to tread carefully with this. She let out a breath and began her proposal.
“Then here’s my other ask, though I know you said only one. After every two fights take off my bracer and allow me to collect the essence so I can get stronger and continue to make you money. I’ve tried to analyze you, I know you’re more powerful than a measly few levels. You can even do it while I’m in my cell so I can’t try anything.” Phoenix held her breath while Bento considered the offer. She was trying to appeal to his greed and need to win, she knew her captor well enough even in the couple days she had known him. A skill she had gained in the Army. Always know your opponent, especially if you are a prisoner of war, they will eventually let something slip that you can use against them or to your advantage.
“I will think about that, but you will have your first ask. I will speak with Hunter now. Escort her back to her cell.” He nodded at the guard by the healing tent and Phoenix was grabbed by the arm. He pulled her along as she tried to see anything outside that could help her, but the streets were still crowded and it was impossible to see past them.
Phoenix was shoved back into her cell, and went straight to Becca. Feeling for a pulse, She let out a breath of relief as she found one, and Becca let out shallow breaths. She was still covered in blood, and it was clear she hadn’t woken since Phoenix had left. A couple minutes later a healer appeared tailed by two guards.
“Over in the corner, and don’t try anything or your friend won’t be helped. Do you hear me?” One of the guards said banging on the bars. She glared at him.
“It’s hard not to hear you, I’m not fucking deaf you idiot.” Phoenix shot back, while moving to the other corner of the cell. He went to retort but the other stopped him. As the door opened, the one who hadn’t said anything grabbed me and held me in place as the healer entered after.
A couple minutes later all of Becca’s cuts had been closed, and Phoenix could tell she was breathing better too.
“She should wake up in a few minutes.” Was all the healer said before he turned and walked out leaving the guards behind. Phoenix was shoved to the back of the cell, and the door was slammed shut behind her. Phoenix sat by Becca and waited for her to wake.