As he looked around the plain, stone arena, his eyes landed on a weapon rack. It had only a few types of weapons in its wooden rack. A dagger, a sabre, a one-handed sword as well as a spear and a battle-axe.
Seeing them as well as the arena Rukku quickly put two and two together. "So the test is a fight huh. I had hoped my first instinct was wrong. But it seems not…" Still talking to himself, Rukku had walked over to the weapons and gone through each one, ultimately deciding on the use of the sabre.
The slightly curved metal blade was going to be useful. In Rukku's mind at least, he figured that he could still slash with the weapon. A sword would have needed a bit more training to use than this and a dagger and battle-axe had too little range. The spear was the best in terms of range, but he would be forced to keep distance and in an arena that was only so big, that was going to be more of a hindrance.
Then after giving the weapon a few swings, Rukku started to look around a little more. It was also around this time that he finally noticed the clothes that he had on, just a simple tunic and trousers made of cotton. Not the best clothing for a fight but well what choice did he have.
Then after a few more seconds had passed, a single figure appeared before him. The person in question was just a generic-looking man, the man though was holding a falchion. A simple one-handed weapon, Rukku seeing the man, griped his sabre with both hands and looked a little worried.
"This is a game. This is a game. This is a…" He was carefully mumbling the same mantra over and over again to try and calm his nerves. The nerves themselves led to the sabre wobbling and shaking in his hands, from his shaking arms.
His opponent seeing this smiled a little. Then with a loud roar, he charged forwards with the falchion raised up, to strike down quickly.
At that moment, everything seemed to slow down for Rukku, the charging man. His breath. Everything.
Then almost as if he was in a trance, Rukku stepped forwards and slashed vertically out. The sudden calm attack caught the attacker as well as Rukku off guard.
In an instant, the fight was over.
His sabre now glistened with the red tint of blood. His opponent faded away as he collapsed to the floor, his neck glistening red just like Rukku's now unclean weapon.
"System announcement. Round one over. You are now eligible for the minimum level bloodline. Would you like to continue the test? Or end here and claim the bloodline."
"Player Notice. The tests can be different and will not always be combat based."
The new information caused Rukku to unfreeze as he reminded himself that this was just a game, as soon as this information had crossed his mind once again, his weird state was forgotten about completely.
"I wish to continue." His voice echoed around the arena before it faded away just like the of the slain man had.
The new system, being colder than the earlier one, did not reply again. This time, two combatants appeared before him. Both using the same weapon as the previous opponent had done. Rukku seeing this, was feeling a little more confident this time around. Quickly he started to get ready once again.
Then the both charged, Rukku noticed one big change compared to before, time did not slow down again, though his sabre was still in his hands this time.
It did not take even five seconds for the fighters to arrive, both attacking with a slash to differing parts of his body. Rukku suddenly having the scare of his life at their speed jumped backwards.
"AHHH!" The sudden burst of pain in his arm, caused him to lose his earlier won calm as hid blood now was silently snaking its way down his arm.
"You dam developers! You did not even turn down the pain settings! I was just nicked by the blade and it hurts so dam much!"
His complaining and yelling did not slow down the fight though. His opponents were soon on to him again. There falchions slashing around, forcing him back over and over again.
Each step back though, brought him closer and closer to the arena wall. Then with a small thud, Rukku found to his horror that he was at the boundary wall. The two opponents smiled evilly. Their blades both aimed for his head.
Rukku his mouth wide open in shock, just did not know what to do. He only helplessly ducked down.
CLANG!
The sudden loud clash of metal and stone was soon heard.
Opening his slightly closed eyes Rukku saw that the attacks had just hit the wall instead of him. Not missing his chance he attacked!
The sabre slashed out cutting whatever he could as quickly as possible. Blood squirted out everywhere as their legs were soon cut up and as they fell to their knees, their heads and chests soon were given the same treatment.
"System announcement. Round two over."
The announcement played out similar to before but gave no indication of any higher bloodline level being achieved. Rukku was just left panting. Blood now slowly dripped off of his weapon and clothes. Though Rukku had a big smile on his face, completely ignoring the blood splatters all over himself.
Yelling happily, "This game is so good!!! I have not felt this alive in so long! Hehe, maybe I should play for fun…Though dam it. I need the money more. I need to do better!"
His mini pep talk over.
"Player Notice. Do you wish to continue?"
Rukku felt pumped up and excited. "HELL YES!" His voice seemed to pierce the darkness of the arena stands, though no crowd would be able to hear him.
Just like before the system went silent, then this time five fighters appeared in front of him.
Rukku could not help but tremble at the increase in people. Then he focused up. Only one thing in a game would cause a greater fight. A better reward. If he succeeds here, a better bloodline would await him!
This time Rukku charged forwards first. He wanted to win after all.
His opponents seeing a blood-covered crazy man charge forth hesitated for a bit. Not that Rukku noticed. To him, these were just mobs that he had to kill so that he could advance forwards.
In no time at all the battle had begun, his wild slashes once more dominating his fighting style allowing for his opponents to simply be overwhelmed in attacks. One after another they all fell down to their deaths.
Rukku now looking around was smiling happily. The fighting was not actually that hard. He just needed to attack more quickly than them. They seemed to be worse at fighting compared to him and that was saying something.
His thoughts this time were right on the mark though. These were low-level mobs. They only had very basic intelligence for the fights and if Rukku lost. It would show he was not even needed for the bloodline he was fighting for.
"Player Anncounemt. Round three is over. The next level of the bloodline is available."
"Player Notice. Do you wish to stop or carry on?"
Rukku again did not hesitate at all. "I wish to carry on!"
Then suddenly the environment in which he had found himself changed once more. Now as he looked around Rukku found himself within some sort of dojo? Maybe a training hall? In front of him sat an old man. The man was just looking at Rukku up and down.
"Hmmm. You have no style. You need style young man! You bring disgrace to the way of the blade."
Rukku just stood there stunned. Where were the mobs? How was he meant to advance in this round? Looking around dumbly, Rukku completely ignored the old man.
Seeing this the old man had some mock amusement within his eyes, then with a flash, he appeared before Rukku. His fist pummelled into his chest.
Rukku at the sudden assault bent over choking. All of the wind had been knocked out of him in that one move.
"Young man. When your elder talks to you. You greet him and then you at least pretend to listen rather than outright ignore him!"
Rukku managed to nod a little at the old man, his breath still weak. Just how had that old man moved so quick and his strength was on another level!
"Good. Now stand up. You want to use a blade and do not know how to even swing it."
Rukku just numbly stood up and after a few hours of practice and training, he had finished. The old man just smiled at him.
"You are a quick study. That is good, the mind is just as strong as the body. Remember that." Then the old man vanished into thin air.
"System Announcement. Round four over. You are now eligible for a better bloodline."
"Player notice. Do you wish to continue or stop here?"
Rukku this time did not reply as quickly. He was thinking hard on this one. Should he continue? Or should he stop? He now knew how to fight with his weapon, well at least the basics but who knows what the next round will be?
"I will…"