Pain and sorrow, those inseparable companions, wove a tapestry of experience. Arriving hand in hand, they took turns weakening and strengthening the soul. In my case, I navigated the uncertain path of adversity, grappling with its weight.
An agonized cry tore from my lips, a primal scream of suffering that seared through me. In an instant, it felt as if my very being was shattering into pieces, only to be stitched back together by some mysterious force. As the ground beneath me lost its pull, I was lifted by an enigmatic surge of energy.
The earth trembled beneath my feet. A mighty wind roared, summoning clouds into a furious dance around the sun. Thunder growled, and lightning lanced through the tumultuous sky. Chaos erupted in a symphony of nature's power.
Within the gauntlet on my hand, I sensed forces awakening. Each surge of energy connected with my veins, and I alone held their reins. From these minuscule threads, I wove something grander—a hundred blades conjured from their essence.
I did it!
Raising my hands, I conjured the blades from the ground, as if plucking roots from the soil. The earth and rocks cracked open, yielding forth an arsenal of blades. With a gesture, a torrent of a hundred swords surged toward the unsuspecting foes.
This was my reckoning!
Despite Kenru and Killan's combined assault, most of Lady Montay's warriors stood resolute, untouched by the chaos they witnessed. They were likely legendary combatants, their might impervious to the combined force of Kenru, Killan, Borracho, and Rouma.
Though they may not have sensed imminent danger, it lurked like an abyss, waiting to consume them whole.
"Take that girl!" Lady Montay's voice sliced through the tumult, her finger pointing at me. Her eyes blazed with fervor, a volatile rage on the verge of eruption.
Her forces sprang into motion, the scene unfolding rapidly. From every corner of Meridio, nearly thirty adversaries sprinted and leapt toward me. All eyes were locked onto me.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I slammed my palm onto the ground. Threads of energy extended from my hand, linking with concealed blades and weapons amassed earlier.
The resounding clash of metal against unyielding surfaces reached my ears. The blades were ready.
Springing from my crouched position, I leaped upward, left palm raised as a signal to unleash my counterattack. High above the ground, adversaries surged forth, armed with a deadly fusion of blades and energy spheres.
With a resolute cry, I unleashed a torrent of energy, propelling a barrage of blades from the earth and boulders. The blades sliced through the air, transforming into a lethal hailstorm.
The charging foes, as well as Rouma, Borracho, Kenru, and Killan, faltered in their advance.
My controlled armament hurtled toward the opponents. Spears and blades found their marks, energy-infused daggers and arrows struck true. Blood spurted as warriors were impaled in the head and chest. A deluge of crimson erupted before they crumpled to the ground, lifeless forms resembling shattered puppets.
The power of the winter gauntlet...
Their advance halted abruptly, as though halted by an unspoken command. Death clung to them, painting the ground red. This was the genesis of my battle.
"I will never find closure for Bonbon's death until every last one of you ceases to breathe!" I proclaimed, locking eyes with Lady Montay.
"We're with you, little gauntlet. For Bonbon," Sir Borracho's voice echoed from behind. He wielded the colossal war mace, now stained with traces of blood.
"We'll deal with the remaining troops. Lady Montay is yours," Rouma's tone was somber, his eyes reflecting tears held at bay since earlier. "But exercise caution. She is known as The Miss for a reason."
From her position, Lady Montay erupted into laughter, her form untouched and pristine. She grinned recklessly, a façade masking the fear clawing at her core. "Just because you wield the winter queen's power doesn't mean I'm afraid." Her laughter crescendoed, a blatant show of apparent fearlessness. "You're just an old tale, Idrish. A relic of magic. You're obsolete!"
"Then why did my existence terrify you?"
Her eyebrow arched, leaving her seemingly without words. It was evident that she couldn't answer my question. I yearned to know her motivation, the source of her venom towards the gauntlet heiresses. What lay beneath her anger?
Before she could respond, the remaining adversaries lunged into action, their weapons aglow with formidable energy. Four high-ranked warriors stepped forth.
Rouma and Sir Borracho subtly shifted backward as the frontliners readied for battle.
"Who are they?" Killan inquired.
"T—they were the most notorious champions of past Solstice and Equinox arenas. T—They're the top champions from previous arena seasons," Kenru's voice quivered, his anxiety palpable. He held intimate knowledge of everyone in the arena. His uncertainties were worth trusting.
Killan turned his gaze to me, his expression grim as he moved closer. He gripped my shoulders, his eyes locking onto mine with intensity. "Their sole objective is to capture you. So, stay close."
I nodded, though beneath my agreement brewed doubts. He was unaware of my ulterior plans, ignorant of the fact that I couldn't remain by his side indefinitely. If The Miss intended to evade justice, I would relentlessly pursue her until she met her end.
If I succeeded in eliminating The Miss, her followers would crumble. It was nearly certain.
"Don't let her escape! Kill them all!" Montay's command reverberated with power. My target turned away and retreated, vanishing into the throng of remaining warriors.
And then, the four formidable ikons stood before us: a fair-skinned elven woman adorned with intricate tattoos, a one-eyed man in a leather suit, and two colossal figures resembling living stone statues due to their immense size.
The four ikons smirked with arrogance. Each flaunted their weapons and abilities with a smugness that radiated overconfidence. The woman, with eyes ablaze in red, her body adorned in tattoos, wielded her double swords with deadly grace. The man with the eye-patch summoned a massive rifle out of thin air, while the two stone-like men gripped colossal swords.
"I'll take the sorceress," the female adversary declared confidently, her crimson swords whirling in her hands.
"I will shoot whatever is left," the rifle-wielding man announced, his gaze shifting between us.
My attention remained fixed on the immediate confrontation, my gaze locked onto The Miss, who was steadily making her way toward an exit.
Perhaps she was confident that the four ikons blocking our path were enough to repel us, deeming her intervention unnecessary.
I couldn't permit that.
As Lady Montay retreated from Meridio, I quickly harnessed the gauntlet's power to craft a formidable weapon. I would divert the crowd's attention with a barrage of stones, all while I pursued their queen. My gauntlet held the power to resurrect not only the living but also the inanimate.
As the four powerful adversaries advanced toward us, I channeled the gauntlet's energy to forge a formidable dominus. I assembled colossal stone fragments hidden beneath the earth, molding the dominus with my thoughts. The ground quaked as Mors once again emerged. In a matter of moments, the dominus stood prepared.
Drawing on the surge of adrenaline within me, I readied myself to spring into action. "Take down the long-range rifle user first! Sir Borracho, pull him closer with your hook!" I commanded as I strode forward to confront our adversaries.
"Idrish! What are you doing?" Kenru's voice was a mix of disbelief and incredulity as he began to channel wind energy into his sword.
"I'm doing what I should have done before we lost Bonbon!" I didn't await my companions' responses. I surged forward. "Charge!"
"Idrish!" Killan's voice echoed.
I didn't look back. Calling upon the gauntlet's power, I summoned the dominus to rend the ground beneath our four enemies. The earth split open, and the adversaries leaped aside as a colossal serpent-shaped entity of stone emerged.
Leaping onto the dominus's head, I swung its tail to knock away the remaining foes around me.
Killan, Kenru, Rouma, and Borracho sprang into action, each engaging a threat. My gaze shifted back to where Lady Montay was headed.