Arrovon casually swung his pole. A humongous force followed tearing the stone floor and slamming into Travis.
Travis slid back, taking a bit of damage. He had a wide grin on his face. This was great! He could test his limits even further! A dark mist extended from his body, his stats skyrocketed to a level he had never seen before. This was [Abyss Release] tied with [Averoth's Lust for Battle]. His stats were now more than fifteen times greater than before.
Such a level was unheard of in the beginning year of A World's Legacy. Since Travis obtained top skills and raised his stats to an abnormally high level, he would be the first. With this alone he stepped into a realm many would fail to.
Travis took a single step, he vanished from sight and reappeared behind Arrovon. This wasn't a skill, but rather Travis' pure speed! After less of a second the sound of him moving could be heard! Travis had broken the sound barrier, his speed was unimaginable!
Arrovon remained unmoving as Travis swung towards his back. A moment before the sword hit Arrovon was in the air three afterimages of his staff was heading towards Travis.
Dang-Booom!
Travis blocked the attacks and the force caused the air to move from the impact. Shattering more of the stone. Arrovon landed and the two were three meters apart, watching the other for any movements.
Then they vanished, periodically sparks was seen appearing throughout the arena.
Flinnder was able to see it, this speed wasn't out of his own range. Both candidates were attacking at incredible speeds as they moved. However most of the attacks were evaded, only some were blocked. Yet there was one important thing to note, they were even.
~ ~ ~
When the two vanished the dev team immediately was shocked. This speed was reached already? One of them quickly ordered, "Adjust the filter!"
A few hurried taps and clicks was heard, then the screen showed the two. The filter simulated having higher stats than the ones they were spectating, so they could see high speed battles without issue.
But for a player to reach such a level already?! What is this?
~ ~ ~
As Arrovon fought something was nagging him. It wasn't the fact that his opponent had reached his strength level, it was what occurred during battle. A strange aura leaked out of his opponent as they battled. It slowly was increasing in volume. Arrovon had ignored such an incident, it didn't affect him much. However he noticed that the strange aura was. . . leeching his strength. The affect was minor, barely any amount. Yet it was growing. . .
Travis was exhilarated, this strength! As he fought he could physically feel himself growing, not in stats but in skill. Every exchange sharpened his reflexes, every dodge attuned his senses. He could feel it all as it flowed through his body.
Arrovon clicked his tongue and thrust his pole skywards. A force of wind pushed Travis back. As Travis slid to a stop he saw a bright golden ball headed his way. Travis cut the ball in half, the two halves passed by his sides and exploded behind him.
Arrovon was annoyed that he attack didn't work and immediately began exchanging blows again. As Travis fought back he spotted an opening and took it. His sword slashed across Arrovon's chest, the same place he slashed before.
Having the wound reopened Arrovon winced, leaving another opening for Travis. Arrovon's chest was slashed horizontally and blood began flowing even more. Gritting his teeth he yelled, "Begone!"
The pole smashed into Travis' face, making his mask shatter and sending him tumbling back. Recovering quickly he looked up to see Arrovon's pole enlarged. Swinging the pole down Arrovon yelled, "[Muteki Ancient Art: Heaven Falls]!"
Travis saw the sheer power behind the move and knew he would be unable to block it. The size of the pole made him unable to dodge, and he couldn't see the opposite side of Arrovon. Making him unable to teleport away.
He grit his teeth and his ring flashed. A standing ghost silhouette stood there. A handsome muscled and scarred man stood crossing his arms. He looked up and saw the falling pillar, a grin spread on his face as he extended a hand up.
Booom~!
Arrovon was shocked, the mysterious man had stopped his ancient art with one hand! The man then said, "One. . ."
Pushing with his hand he sent the pillar upwards he vanished and reappeared in front of Arrovon. Both Travis and Arrovon were shocked, they couldn't see him move!
The figure slammed his fist into the stomach of Arrovon. Causing him to cough blood and slide back, along with dropping his pole. The figure calmly said, "Two. . ."
Gripping his stomach Arrovon looked up to see a foot traveling towards his face. The kick landed and Arrovon did several flips back and slammed into the ground. The figure then said, "Three. . .", and vanished.
The two got up from the floor, their breathing heavy, blood dripping off their body. Yet. . . the began to clash once again.
As Arrovon ran he commanded, "Return U'gur." The pole shrunk and flew into his hand. Then the weapons began to clash. The weapons sparked and flashed. Every swing aimed to take the other's life.
The battle progressed for several minutes, each second made the other more tired. Travis was only able to hold on due to [Averoth's Lust for Battle], for his level wasn't high enough to increase his fatigue bar.
Occasionally they would land a hit on each other, however Travis hit more. Their HP each dropped dangerously low. Their Berserk skills were running out.
Arrovon's golden headband flickered and began to dim, he cursed and began to swing his pole even faster. Travis' dark mist began to retract he similarly began to attack with everything.
Arrovon yelled and stabbed Travis' shoulder. Travis received the blow and thrust his sword into Arrovon's heart. A split second later both their berserk skills ran out, and Arrovon slumped. Travis received a notification that he had killed Arrovon. Immediately his levels began to skyrocket. He had singlehandedly defeated an extremely high level BOSS on his own. So the Exp reward would not be low.
Travis freed his sword and Arrovon fell to the ground unmoving. His own HP was dangerously low, he took a deep breath. He had won.
Schlick-
A pair of claws slipped through Travis' stomach. Immediately his senses were assaulted, his body became numb and nearly fully unresponsive. Travis dropped to his knees to see a crocodile grinning evilly, "Kekeke, I survived your monstrous battles. Now that I have somewhat recovered I stealthily came to finish you off! Since my claws have fully stabbed you the poison will progress much faster than an ordinary cut. I will be the victor here!"
Flinnder nearly got out of his chair, such an underhanded method! This wasn't strength! This wasn't ability! This was pure schemes and lies! This isn't what we wanted!
Yet he calmed himself, he made it clear that the victor would be the chosen one. He wouldn't go back on his word.
Travis was overcome with rage, he had let his guard down! He had failed the basic teachings of Dimitrin! At the most crucial moment, at the very point of his own weakness. He had let his guard down!
Travis' HP dropped to 0.5%. The lowest it has ever been. The crocodile freed its claws and pointed them at Travis' neck, "Tell me, any last words?"
Travis was shaking, was this really it? After everything he obtained he would die by this underhanded plotting crocodile? He wouldn't accept that. Not after all this!
A pressure leaked from Travis, it began to grow exponentially. The crocodile took a step back warily, "What are you-?"
Travis hand grabbed the claws. He clenched and the claws shattered. He shakily stood up, a scary look on his face. The crocodile began to stammer, "Y-you. . . your supposed to be unable to move!"
Travis gripped the crocodiles throat. Try as it might it couldn't seem to free itself, its strength was failing it.
Travis murmured, "I would never fall to the likes of you. . . !"
He gripped his hands and crushed the throat of the crocodile. The once tough scales easily bent. The remaining HP of the crocodile dropped. Travis received the notification for killing the crocodile, so he tossed the body aside. He looked at his hands and gave a weary smile, he had truly won this time. Travis then collapsed.
Flinnder had the widest grin on his face, the ending he wanted. The potential of that candidate. . . no, his champion. It had truly shone bright, he could see it.
He flew over and landed, with a wave of his hand the corpses of the previous two contestants were removed. The arena was repaired. He lifted Travis with a mysterious force and teleported him to a recovery room.
. . .
Travis woke with a start, he was inside a strange room. His sword lied next to him, leaning on the bed. He adjusted himself to his surroundings. Then he looked at his hands, he had won. . .
He clenched his hands in excitement, he had won! All of his efforts have not been wasted! He had succeeded!
Flinnder walked in, "Well, it looks like my Champion had awoken. Tell me, how do you feel?"
Travis responded, "Never felt greater."