「Welcome to the Duel Arena.」
The message popped up, right in front of Yoon Seok's eyes. Because of it, his mind that was muddled by the dreamlike scenario; became clear.
「In the name of fairness, both challengers ability will be adjusted to F-rank.」
Yoon Seok blankly stared at the blue sky and blinked.
The sunlight pouring into the blue sky was dazzling, and the air that filled his lungs was cold.
「Get ready for the duel.」
It was too realistic to be a dream. But Yoon Seok couldn't be at ease, thought, 'Oh, it's not a dream!'
'What the hell is this place? Why is there a weird creature in front of me?'
Scared, Yoon Seok closed his eyes.
If this wasn't a dream, how could one explain the creature standing in front of him?
"AArghh, argh!"
Hearing a scream, Yoon Seok briefly took a glimpse of what was in front of him.
The monster was about 20 meters away from him.
He looked closely, a green-skinned monster, looking like a pig, puffed mouthful of air out of his nose.
It looks like an orc, creature that often appeared in movies and games.
"…."
The monster, himself was confused. He smelled his surrounding, sniffing for a familiar smell, found Yoon Seok looking at him.
"Human, argh! These humans have set me up!"
For the first time in his life, Yoon Seok was grateful that he could understand a different language.
Looking at the orc-like creature Yoon Seok ceased his breathing.
He saw a pair of calculative eyes right at him.
Pair of predator's eyes.
His instinct took over.
RUN.
"W-what… what the hell…?"
His leg felt heavy but still, his feet unconsciously stepped back.
"Huh?"
It was then that Yoon Seok realized.
His legs won't take his command. They were frozen-stiff.
He frantically tried to move, but it was like his whole body has gone numb.
All he was able to do was breathe and feel his surroundings.
Looking at the unfamiliar place…
It was a circular stadium reminiscent like that of the Colosseum in Rome.
But, except for him and the monster, there was not even a single soul in here. The whole space was void of any living being except the two.
Realizing it, he had goosebumps all over his body.
"You don't want me to fight a monster, do you?"
Well, this place didn't feel like a place where one would come to make new friends.
But still, he tried to deny it.
The monster in front had to be at least 2 meters tall.
Muscles so tight, it looked like they would burst at any moment.
Anyone near him would shiver in that pressure, let alone a human.
"As expected, it must be a dream…?'
Contrary to what he wanted, his heart ached as soon as the message popped up in front of him.
Yoon Seok already knew the answer.
「Countdown starts now.」
After facing such unrealistic scenes, any man would try to deny this new reality.
It must be a dream.
Repeating over and over again like a prayer for hope.
「3.」
But on the other hand, Yoon Seok felt adrenaline rushed through his whole body, confirming his inner thoughts.
Yes, this is reality.
「2.」
Reasoning and instinct both at its contrast.
While his head says it's a dream, but the body was constantly shaking with fear.
「1.」
The circular stadium that looked like a reenactment of the Colosseum, with two warriors in the middle.
Yoon-Seok and the green orc-like monster.
What will happen after the countdown? It was too obvious.
「START!」
And as soon as, the message appeared it was the marking of a new beginning. A start of a duel.
All the restraint that was holding both the competitors disappeared, making them regain their senses.
"Kill, kill!"
The green monster rushed at Yoon Seok as if he was waiting for this moment.
'Do you know, how in dramas when the characters stay frozen stiff even if a truck was about to hit them?'
'Huh, uh…?'
Yoon Seok was frozen at the same spot.
But, when he came back to his senses. The green monster had already covered a lot of distance between them.
But then something unusual happened.
Was it the so-called intuition one displayed at the time of crisis?
His body got insanely sensitive to the surrounding.
Just like in slow-motion, every action was captured through his eyes. Everything including the breath that his opponent took, could be felt.
Thanks to this, Yoon Seok was able to see vividly.
The monster's fist was aimed right at him.
"Growl!"
Still, he didn't know what to do.
He was thinking if I get hit by this monstrous fist, he might wake up from this nightmare.
Or maybe his opponent might just crush him to death.
But his physical instincts knew better.
Woosh!
As soon as the fist was thrown at him with unimaginable strength.
His stiff body suddenly ducked down and rolled on the floor.
The moment his shoulder hit the ground and his hands touching the dirt, he knew that this 'nightmare' was a reality.
There was no doubt left in the fact that this monster standing right in front of him was his reality.
" A dream…Huh!.'
It's clear.
This was not a dream.
Even if all these are unrealistic.
But the pain he felt in his shoulder, as soon as he rolled down was undoubtedly real.
'I wish it was a dream.….'
Yoon Seok thought almost in tears.
The situation itself was against him.
If this is not a dream, it can only mean one thing. He had to win this fight and survive. But what was the chance that Yoon Seok could beat this monster?