Silence.
Deafening silence permeated the arena as everyone had their eyes on the sight below.
There had never been a time a slave fought against two fighters in the Absolution.
It was overkill to face one after all most times it would be a case of a normal person facing off against a genetically modified human.
The odds were always against them.
Anyone with sense could see that but they still attempted it, after all, the faint hope that they could gain freedom if they won would keep them moving.
For those that watched, the so-called spectators somehow derived pleasure from watching their fellow man suffer endlessly before finally breathing their last.
It was like a drug for them, an escape from their pathetic existence as slaves of the Demirs.
In any case, the fights almost always turned out the same… that is with the slave losing their life… painfully.
There had never been a situation whereby the slave won…until now, that is.
The arena was covered in a few craters and was dyed red with blood, a sign that it had experienced quite the battle.
The number of times such a spectacular battle took place in the arena could be counted on one hand.
But this was normally between two fighters.
Strangely enough, this time around it was between a slave and not one, but two fighters.
If anyone asked them, they would immediately say the match was legendary with a twist.
A twist that no one expected.
Sure, those knowledgeable enough could tell that Felix had awakened.
But he was still a newborn!
So how did he manage to defeat two seasoned fighters?
Their eyes trailed as they saw the grotesque appearances of the two fighters.
Reggie and Slasher.
They were said to be on par with Gregor.
Unlike Gregor though, they hardly spoke and enjoyed preying on the weak.
After wracking up a total of 50 kills between themselves, they met their end today.
It wasn't that they didn't fight hard enough, nay, it was nothing of that sort.
It was easy to tell as they glanced at Felix.
He was beaten and battered with several cuts on his body.
Yet he stood tall like he couldn't feel the pain.
How did he manage it?
That was the question on the minds of everyone.
Sure, genetically modified humans weren't taught professional fighting styles to avoid them getting funny ideas but they were allowed to create their own.
One would think the level of experience between Reggie and Slasher was enough to handle Felix.
In truth, some saw it as a bit too much.
Felix managed to overturn that and proved without a doubt that he wasn't a simple character.
The same character that was brutalized in this same arena not too long ago had come back for revenge and he succeeded beautifully.
Even the arena manager gulped at the sight, his liver itching at the fact that he lost three good fighters because of Felix.
Just how much loss would that incur?
He didn't dare to ponder on it as he announced. "The… Absolution has ended. Felix Anderson has won his freedom!"
No one reacted at first, still stunned by what had happened.
It wasn't until Nathan started clapping that they snapped out of their reverie and clapped as well.
A second later and the cheers as well as the boos followed.
"Amazing!"
"Unbelievable!"
"Fucking bastard!... You cut my ticket!"
"Go and die else I'll kill you myself!"
Both the good and the bad came flooding in but Felix cared less.
***
[1 Soul essence absorbed]
[+1]
[Pain resistance active]
[Recovery process will now take place]
[Notice. Congratulations to host for achieving freedom]
Felix glanced at the dead bodies on both sides of him.
It wasn't easy.
If not for his skills that were so convenient, Felix would have died.
That was a no-brainer.
It made him realize that the Absolution was a joke.
There was no way a normal human would have passed.
He barely managed to do so because he awakened with an attribute that was made for fighting.
"Disgusting." Once again, the Demirs proved why they had to be wiped out.
Starting with you… Felix glanced at Dyara in the stands.
Suddenly, his vision turned blurry.
[Notice. Host has lost a lot of blood. It is advised that he covers up his injuries as soon as possible]
Felix barely heard Aya's voice as he looked down at the pool of blood at his feet.
He attempted to take a step forward but even that was too much for him to handle as he stumbled forward.
Anticipating the dirt of the arena, Felix instead felt a gust of wind before he was caught by Nathan.
"You did well," Nathan said softly. "You can rest now, I'll handle the rest."
With that, Felix's vision turned blank as he fainted.
Nathan sighed before glancing at Dyara in the stands.
He had moved off his own Accord but his lady didn't seem to mind as she stared at Felix.
She seemed to be in deep thought.
***
[Recovery process completed]
Felix opened his eyes to find himself staring at the roof.
He blinked a few times before glancing left and then right, only to find Nathan seated on a cushion, reading a book.
"Where am I?" Felix asked.
Nathan looked up from the pages of the book. "You are awake."
"…Where am I?"
"Hah, in one of the bedrooms in Madam's mansion."
Felix furrowed his brows as he studied the room more closely.
Truth be told, he was no longer in his cell which came as a surprise.
"Are you surprised?" Nathan asked causing Felix to glance in his direction, only to remain silent with an inquiring gaze.
"You are no longer a slave so there's no need to keep you in a cell anymore," Nathan remarked.
Felix nodded. "That's true."
For a second, he forgot about the events of the Absolution.
"How long have I been out?"
"3 days."
Felix laid back in the comfortable bed. This was the first time he experienced such luxury.
"I need to get stronger," Felix remarked while looking at the piece of art plastered on the ceiling.
It was a depiction of baby angels tending to a beautiful young man.
Nathan closed the book in his hand and got to his feet. "I know which is why we are leaving."
"Huh." Felix put up a brow. "To where?"
"The surface."