Aditya stepped into the registration chamber, expecting the usual routine. But this time, the arena master, looming like a mountain of muscle, was already waiting for him. His scarred face was a permanent reminder of the brutal fights he had overseen, and his steely gaze could make anyone second-guess their decisions.
"Silent Poison," the arena master said, his voice as gravelly as ever, "today's match is... special."
Aditya raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a grin. "Special? Does that mean a treasure chest of gold, or just more 'funny' people trying to kill me?"
The arena master didn't smile. "You'll be facing three fighters, one after the other. And they're not your usual opponents."
Aditya casually ran a hand through his hair, mentally preparing for whatever nonsense was about to unfold. "Let me guess, they're not the type who'd politely ask if I prefer to be stabbed in the left or right kidney?"
The arena master's lips curled slightly. "No. They're Balance Seekers. Stronger than anything you've faced so far. And they're out for blood."
Aditya tilted his head, the mask still hiding his smile. "Oh, Balance Seekers, huh? That sounds... terrifying. And let me guess—if I survive, you'll give me a shiny gold coin and a pet dragon?"
The arena master's eyes twinkled with something approaching amusement, but it was short-lived. "If you survive, you'll get one hundred and fifty celestial coins and a storage ring bag."
Aditya grinned. "Well, at least you're speaking my language now. But if I die—" He raised an eyebrow. "—I'm haunting your miserable life forever. Fair warning."
The arena master's expression didn't change, but a slight nod acknowledged the unspoken understanding. "Deal."
The Rules of the Match
An official appeared at Aditya's side, looking like he'd been dragged out of a nap, disheveled and grumpy. He waved a piece of parchment in front of Aditya.
"Thee opponents. One at a time. The fight ends only when all of them are incapacitated. No leaving the arena, no mercy. No external weapons."
Aditya raised a hand dramatically. "Wait. No external weapons? Does poison not count as external? Because I thought we were all about fair play here."
The official stared at him, stone-faced. "Poison is allowed."
Aditya's grin deepened. "Perfect. I like to keep things toxic."
The first fight
The gates creaked open, and the crowd erupted into a frenzy of excitement. Aditya stepped into the arena, the sand beneath his boots crunching as he flexed his fingers in preparation. His eyes scanned the arena, alert for any signs of danger. Out stepped the first opponent—a wiry figure, his eyes crackling with a fierce energy, holding two whips that seemed to shimmer with the power of a storm. Thunder rumbled in the air as blue lightning sparked from the tips of the whips, their tips glowing like storm clouds on the brink of release.
Rax, the Stormwhip.
Aditya raised an eyebrow. "Whips? Really? What are you, a storm god's apprentice?"
Rax's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You think you can stand against a storm? These whips are my conduit to the very sky. They'll shatter you with a single strike."
Aditya crossed his arms, unfazed. "A storm, huh? I've danced with worse weather than your tantrums. Let's see if you can handle the heat."
With a crack like thunder itself, Rax lashed one of the whips, sending a bolt of lightning arcing through the air toward Aditya. He ducked just in time, the whip missing him by a hair's breadth, leaving a faint scorch mark in the sand. Rax swung the second whip in rapid succession, the thunderous crack echoing as the bolt of energy struck the ground where Aditya had been standing moments before.
"Faster, Rax!" Aditya taunted, effortlessly dodging the whipping lightning. "I've seen more precision from a drunken archer."
The crowd cheered as Rax's rage mounted. With a furious roar, he swung both whips at once, the tips crackling with violent energy, creating a wave of thunderous sound that reverberated through the arena. Aditya leapt high into the air, narrowly avoiding the whips as they slashed the ground, sending sparks and thunder crashing through the sand.
"Is that all you've got?" Aditya smirked, landing gracefully behind Rax. "I was expecting an actual storm."
Rax turned, his eyes blazing with fury. The air seemed to grow heavier as he summoned the full force of his storm-infused whips. The sky darkened slightly, and a low rumble of thunder followed him as he lashed out with a series of vicious strikes. Aditya dodged, his movements fast and fluid, but the bolts of lightning were relentless. One of them struck him on the shoulder, surging through his body with a jolt.
Aditya winced but didn't falter. "Nice try. I've taken a lightning strike before."
With a swift movement, Aditya reached into his pouch and pulled out a small vial of shimmering blue liquid. He tossed it at Rax's feet, and the vial shattered, releasing a burst of blinding light. A cloud of shimmering mist poured out, hanging in the air like a thick fog. Rax's vision blurred, and the storm-infused whips grew sluggish, their lightning crackling less intensely as his senses dulled.
"What is this?" Rax gasped, stumbling back, his movements suddenly slower, heavier.
Aditya grinned. "A little gift from me. I call it Tempest's Veil. It's like a thunderstorm inside your head. Hope you don't mind the rain."
Rax swung his whips again, but now his strikes were erratic, the lightning fizzling out before it could reach Aditya. With a leap, Aditya closed the distance, grabbing one of the whips and pulling it from Rax's grasp. He spun it once, expertly, sending a burst of thunder crackling into the air as he twisted it around Rax's legs.
"You really should've stayed home," Aditya remarked, as Rax struggled to rise, his strength drained by the mist. Aditya landed a precise kick to his knee, sending the Stormwhip crashing down to the sand, unable to rise.
With the crowd roaring in approval, Aditya walked up to the fallen man. He delivered a swift, lethal punch to Rax's temple, knocking him out cold.
"One down," Aditya said, brushing his hands off. "Two more to go. Let's hope the next one's a bit more... engaging."