The beam faded and two individuals were shown.
Erupting Volcano examined his body, "Lost some magma in that. What even was that?"
He looked over to Holder of Trinity. They lied motionless on the ground. He grunted, "Took my kill. So be it, I'll do with the sorcerer's life."
Thunder Beckoner was filled with despair upon seeing Erupting Volcano's survival. That spell had taken the majority of his mana! He had only a bit for some mediocre spells.
Erupting Volcano moved towards Thunder Beckoner. The latter retreated, attempting everything they could to create distance between them.
Thunder Beckoner began to panic, he needed a way to finish this, and fast.
. . .
Flinnder smashed his chair as he stood up, he stomped over to the screen to see if it also turned red. A flicker of hope appeared in his heart, they had broken through their limits time and time again. This time would be no different, right?
His hopes were dashed as the screen shown a red color. As it reflected off the screen he couldn't help but feel a pain in his heart, did he really fail?
. . .
Thunder Beckoner cast several spells in defense. Every spell only seemed to delay the inevitable. His mana reserves were running extremely low, he had no final card. He had placed all his bets on the spell finishing off the two. Yet it seems that it wasn't a successful gamble.
Erupting Volcano grew frustrated and sent a wave of the substance towards Thunder Beckoner.
Thunder Beckoner spent the last of his mana to defend himself against this. As he stood there, essentially defenseless he had a halfhearted smile on his face, "This is the end for me. You monster, why didn't you just die. . ."
Erupting Volcano gripped their head, "I can never die."
They crushed their hand, eliminating Thunder Beckoner. He tossed the corpse aside and raised his arms, "I have completed your little game! What does the Royals have to say?!"
Lord Giften stood confidently and arrogantly, "Indeed, the competition has finished. I do believe I am the victor!"
A Duke stood up, "The Royal competition for Duke is complete! Marquees Giften has clearly shown that they have the Resources, Strength, and Luck to procure a strong Champion. With this, we nearby grant Marquees Gift with the power of the Abyss. . . The Title of Du-"
Something caught the Duke's eye. A small smile appeared on it, "Interesting, to fool even this sacred place."
~ ~ ~
Travis' eyes opened. All he saw was an endless darkness. He sighed, is this how his account will be wiped?
Footsteps sounded, Travis looked in the location it came from and a figure emerged. Strangely Travis was able to see them clearly despite the dark surroundings.
It was a man dressed in all black. Boots with buckles, black jeans with a chain. A black leather jacket with a black shirt underneath. They seemed like an emo teen.
The emo spoke, "Oi, do you know what danger you're putting us in?"
Travis was confused, "What do you mean?"
"By you dying idiot. Have you any idea on what might happen to me?"
This did not clear up any confusion, "I'm sorry, who are you?"
The emo kid made an 'O' face, "Allow me to introduce myself. The name's Harbinger of the Abyss, though you can call me Abe."
". . ."
". . ."
"The sword?!"
"Bingo, that's me."
"You can talk? You have a human form? I thought only the upper four have such an ability!"
"Ugh, let them believe that. All twelve of us do. However only the upper four have the ability to talk with whoever they want. We lower eight have a. . . requirement."
"What's the requirement?"
"Oh it's- Wait I'm getting off track here. I'm supposed to be mad. Yes, you died idiot! In the competition for Duke! Your soul is a good as dust!"
"I-"
"No excuses! Once your gone I will become decoration for a Royal for who knows how long! I'm a legendary sword! Not some decoration!"
"What was I supposed to do?!"
"You're thinking of this wrong. It's not what you could have done, or should have. It's going to be what you're going to do."
"I failed, what can I do?"
"Become my wielder. It's your only hope."
". . .What do you mean?"
"I become yours, you become mine. Simple."
"I need you to be more specific."
Abe sighed, "Listen, I choose you as my wielder. I shall become a perfect fit for your hand, your inseparable sword. However you cannot change weapons At. All. Even if you find Peerless Edge. You're stuck with me."
"I doubt I'll find anything better, but what are the benefits of this?"
"Your strength will increase. You'll have access to some of my power that you didn't before. A permanent link will form so you will never lose me. Honestly the list goes on.
"Isn't this a waste? Since I am going to be wiped anyway."
Abe reached out a hand, "That's the thing, will you do it?"
Travis pondered for a moment, but he accepted anyway. He had nothing to lose.
After shaking hands Abe smiled, "Great choice. I do hope you repair me, but first. . . You have forty seconds, end it quick."
Before Travis could ask what that meant the surroundings changed and he found himself back in the arena. He immediately was bombarded with system notifications.
<[Abyssal Retry] has refilled player HP and MP. Every second this will be reduced by 2.5%>
Travis stood up and used [Abyss Release]. The effect of [Averoth's Lust for Battle] remained and his stats skyrocketed. After skimming through the notifications Travis now understood the situation.
He had forty seconds before he died. He will end it now.
Erupting Volcano and the Royals noticed the interruption. Erupting Volcano looked behind him to see a standing Holder of Trinity.
Travis unleashed his War Sight and condensed it on Erupting Volcano. He dashed forward and swung several times. Tens of cuts formed on Erupting Volcano.
He was surprised, "You're alive?! Very well! I'll kill you too!"
Travis slammed his knee is Erupting Volcano's jaw. He no longer cared for taking damage, he was on a time limit anyway.
His arm blurred and several more cuts formed across Erupting Volcano.
Travis was amazed, his strikes have never felt so smooth. No, he had felt this once before. When he was practicing some image training, he felt this sensation. It was fantastic, he felt that with this alone his damage increased by another 10-20%!
Erupting Volcano grunted, how had they surpassed his strength?! To such an extent no less!
Travis kicked Erupting Volcano back. Immediately he raised his arm and used all his newly gained Tokens plus his own MP into a [Depth's Beam].
Erupting Volcano raised his arms to defend. Yet the strength of the beam had surpassed the last ones. He roared, "What did you do?! How are you able to hurt me?! How are you still alive?!"
The beam faded, Erupting Volcano was heavily injured. Immediately he searched for his opponent.
A sword pierced his back. Travis had stacked [Depth's Edge], [Abyssal Enhancement], and [Truth Twofold: Revealing].
The damage was immense, finishing off Erupting Volcano. The magma humanoid turned into ordinary magma. It fell into a puddle and began to cool.
Travis took a deep breath, "Done."
He then collapsed, while it hadn't been forty seconds he took some damage from Erupting Volcano's heat. His HP dropped to zero and he collapsed.
~ ~ ~
Flinnder's face was filled with a grin. He was filled with an inexplicable sense of joy. He looked over to the Dukes and asked, "What is the outcome now?"
Lord Giften smacked the stand, "This is against the rules! Holder of Trinity had died, it was clearly shown! It is not valid!"
Flinnder retorted, "This was my Champion's ability. It is not my fault that this place was unable to realize this."
"Nonsense! I was about to be titled Duke! This is my victory!"
The Duke from before spoke up, "Silence! Even though Marquees Flinnder's Champion had died. . . twice. It is irrefutable that it died last. Revival amongst Champions is extremely rare but not unheard of. This sacred place has made this mistake before. By the old Duke's rules, Marquees Flinnder wins."
Lord Giften ground his teeth in anger. Such nonsense!
The Duke continued, "By the power given to me by the Abyss, I grant Marquees Flinnder. . . The Title of Duke!"
Flinnder grinned, "I promise to serve the Abyss with my utmost ability."
Three days later. . .
Travis sighed, he had respawned back at the portal in which he entered the Abyss from. He considered leaving and never returning, but he felt like he should at least thank Dimitrin.
Approaching the manor he had spent so long training in. He couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic.
Taking a deep breath he shouted at the door, "Yo! Any of you miss me?!"