Rian watched the ongoing matches from the sidelines, his face remained blank, showing none of the thoughts running through his head. The sounds of clashing weapons and magic filled the arena, creating a noisy backdrop to the action.
Every now and then, Rian glanced at the other competitors, some of them exchanging words or sharing stories. Despite their attempts to engage him, Rian kept to himself, not interested in joining their conversations.
A few competitors, however, persisted in trying to talk to him. One of them, brash and bold, stepped up and tried to provoke Rian with taunts. "Hey, why the silence, huh? Think you're too good for us?" they jeered, their frustration evident.
Rian stayed quiet, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of a response. But the competitor wasn't having it. They grabbed Rian's shoulder roughly, demanding answers.
"Why are you so rude? You think you're better than everyone here?" they pressed, their voice rising.
Rian's jaw clenched, but before he could react, the announcer called out his name, signaling his turn to fight. He shrugged off the competitor's grip and muttered, "I don't have time for this."
With that, he headed towards the arena, leaving the confrontation behind. The cheers of the crowd washed over him as he focused on the task ahead, determined to face whatever challenges awaited him in the upcoming battle.
As Rian stepped into the arena, he glanced across to see his opponent, a burly figure with muscles rippling beneath their armor. The opponent, sensing Rian's presence, approached with a challenging look in their eyes.
"You there, Rian, let's settle this with a simple fist fight, no magic or weapons," the opponent proposed, a cocky grin spreading across their face.
Rian nodded in agreement, accepting the challenge. He had always preferred hand-to-hand combat, relying on his agility and speed rather than relying on weapons or magic.
As soon as the match began, Rian's opponent wasted no time closing the gap between them. With surprising speed, they lunged forward, their leg arcing in a powerful roundhouse kick aimed straight for Rian's head.
Rian didn't have enough time to dodge completely. Instead, he instinctively moved in the direction the kick was going, dulling the impact but still causing him to stumble slightly but quickly regained his footing, his reflexes kicking into high gear. Despite the stumble, he managed to avoid the full brunt of the blow, his agility saving him from a potentially devastating hit.
As Rian's opponent closed in, they attempted a swift calf kick aimed at Rian's legs, hoping to disrupt his balance and gain the upper hand. However, Rian anticipated the move and sidestepped with lightning reflexes, evading the attack with ease.
Seizing the opportunity, Rian retaliated with a powerful punch aimed squarely at his opponent's liver. The blow landed with precision, eliciting a grunt of pain from his adversary as they staggered backward, momentarily stunned by the unexpected strike.
But Rian wasn't finished yet. Before his opponent could fully recover, he followed up with another devastating punch to the same spot, doubling the impact and sending a surge of agony coursing through his opponent's body.
As Rian's opponent staggered backward, clutching their wounded side, Rian didn't relent. Channeling all his strength and focus, he delivered another punch to the same spot, but this time, it was no ordinary strike. With a sudden burst of speed and power, Rian executed a perfectly executed one-inch punch, driving his fist into his opponent's liver with incredible force.
The impact was devastating. A guttural cry escaped from his opponent's lips as they doubled over in agony, coughing up blood from the sheer force of the blow.
As Rian's opponent doubled over in agony, coughing up blood from the force of Rian's one-inch punch, they gasped for air, their strength waning with each passing moment. With desperation in their eyes, they managed to lift their head slightly, locking eyes with Rian.
"P-please... stop," they pleaded, their voice barely above a whisper, strained with pain. "I give up... I can't take anymore."
Their words were barely audible amidst the cheers of the crowd, but Rian heard them loud and clear. Pausing for a moment, he regarded his opponent with a steady gaze, assessing their sincerity. Seeing the defeat etched on their face, Rian nodded, acknowledging their surrender.
Without another word, Rian stepped back, giving his opponent the space they needed to retreat from the fight.
As Rian's opponent lay on the ground, defeated and gasping for breath, Rian reached out a hand to help them up. Despite the intensity of their earlier battle, Rian's gesture was one of respect, offering his opponent a sign of sportsmanship.
The opponent hesitated for a moment before grasping Rian's hand, allowing him to help them to their feet. With a nod of thanks, the opponent leaned heavily on Rian as they made their way to the healing mage waiting in the corner of the arena.
Rian escorted his opponent to the mage, ensuring they received the care they needed before stepping back to give them privacy. With a final glance at his defeated adversary, Rian turned and made his way back to the waiting room.
The room was empty when he entered, the sounds of the ongoing matches muffled by the thick walls. Rian took a seat on the bench, feeling the fatigue of the battle begin to settle in his muscles.
Elara returned his flask to her pouch and approached him with a roll of bandages and some ointment. "I'm here to help," she explained, her voice soft but determined. "I got the chance to work the tournament, earning some coins by helping to patch up any injuries that may occur."
Rian nodded in understanding, a sense of admiration swelling within him. "That's... noble of you," he murmured, his tone sincere.
Elara smiled, her eyes meeting his with warmth. "Just doing what I can," she replied modestly, beginning to inspect Rian for any injuries. "Hold still, let me patch you up."
As Elara began to inspect Rian for injuries, her gentle touch sending a shiver down his spine, Rian couldn't help but feel a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks. Her proximity, her warmth, it was all too distracting, especially after the adrenaline rush of the fight.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Rian mumbled, trying to focus on something other than how close Elara was to his face. He shifted uncomfortably on the bench, suddenly acutely aware of every tiny movement.
Elara glanced up at him, her eyes twinkling with amusement at his flustered state. "Relax, Rian," she said softly, her voice soothing. "I'm just checking for any injuries."
Rian nodded, forcing himself to take a deep breath and calm his racing heart. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to center himself as Elara continued her examination.
Just as Rian started to relax, a notification popped up in his mind, breaking his concentration.
[Mission
Objective: Kiss Elara
Reward: 1 fighting technique and 1 random Dagger]
Rian's eyes widened in surprise as he read the mission objective. Kiss Elara? The thought sent a jolt of nerves through him, but at the same time, a spark of excitement ignited within him.
Glancing at Elara, who was still focused on patching up his wounds, Rian's mind raced with conflicting emotions. Should he act on the mission or ignore it? What would Elara think if he suddenly kissed her out of the blue?
Before he could come to a decision, Elara finished tending to his wounds and looked up at him with a smile. "All done," she said, her voice warm and caring. "You should be good to go now."
Rian opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. His heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to find the right thing to say.
In that moment, he made a choice. Ignoring the mission for now, he simply smiled back at Elara, gratitude and admiration shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Elara," he said sincerely. "I appreciate everything you do."
As Elara finished patching up Rian's wounds, she smiled warmly at him before standing up. "All done," she said, her voice soft but cheerful. "You should be good to go now. I have others to tend to."
Rian nodded, watching her leave the room with a sense of gratitude. Alone once again, he decided to take advantage of the quiet and closed his eyes, intending to take a short nap before his next match.
Thirty minutes later, Rian was stirred awake by a piercing scream echoing from the arena. His eyes snapped open, heart racing as he recognized Elara's voice. Without a moment's hesitation, he bolted out of the room, his senses heightened with adrenaline.
Bursting into the arena, his worst fears materialized before him.
Elara, stripped and held down by two men, struggled against their grip, her cries for help drowned out by the raucous cheers of the crowd. The third man, the one Elara was supposed to heal, approached her with malicious intent, pulling down his pants.
Rian saw red.
In a blur of motion, he appeared behind the third man, his dagger flashing in the dim light of the arena. With a swift and decisive stroke, he severed the man's head clean off, the crowd's cheers turning into gasps of shock and horror.
Throwing his robe over Elara to shield her from view, Rian's focus narrowed to the two assailants still holding her down. With a primal roar, he launched himself at them, his fists becoming blurs of motion as he unleashed a torrent of fury upon them.
"No mercy," he growled, his voice dripping with rage. "You touch her again, and you'll suffer the same fate!"
"You thought you could defile her?" he spat, his voice low and dangerous. "You thought you could touch her without consequence?"
The assailants begged for mercy, their cries falling on deaf ears as Rian unleashed his pent-up fury upon them. With every punch, every kick, he channeled the depth of his rage, his onslaught unyielding and merciless.
Blood sprayed across the arena floor, painting a macabre tableau of violence and retribution. The assailants' screams echoed off the walls, their pleas for mercy drowned out by the roar of Rian's righteous indignation.
And then, in a final, brutal act of justice, Rian delivered the decisive blow. With a swift and lethal strike, he ended their torment, his dagger plunging into their hearts with deadly precision.
As their lifeless bodies slumped to the ground, Rian stood amidst the wreckage, his breaths ragged and labored. The air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat, a grim reminder of the violence that had unfolded.
Stepping away from the dead bodies, Rian's chest heaved with exertion, his eyes ablaze with a mix of fury and disgust. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his fire magic, engulfing the three corpses in flames that danced and crackled in the darkness of the arena.
Turning to face the crowd, Rian's gaze hardened as he addressed them with a voice laced with contempt. "You sickening cowards," he spat, his words cutting through the tense silence. "Cheering on such depravity, reveling in the suffering of others. You're all complicit in this brutality!"
With a snarl of anger, Rian unleashed a fireball and a crackling bolt of lightning, sending them hurtling towards the crowd with deadly precision. The spectators scattered in panic, screams mingling with cries of pain as they fled from the sudden onslaught.
As the chaos unfolded around them, Elara's cries reached Rian's ears, cutting through the tumult like a knife. He turned to see her covering her ears, tears streaming down her face, her eyes wide with fear.
"Stop, Rian, please!" she pleaded, her voice strained with desperation. "Don't hurt them! We have to go!"
Rian's expression softened, his heart aching at the sight of her distress. Crouching down in front of her, he reached out a hand to gently wipe away her tears. "I'm sorry, Elara," he murmured, his voice thick with regret. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Elara's sobs grew louder, her fear and relief washing over her in waves. "I was so scared," she cried, her words muffled against her hands. "I thought... I thought I was going to..."
Without hesitation, Rian enveloped her in a tight embrace, lifting her off her feet and holding her close. "You're safe now, Elara," he whispered, his voice soothing. "I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
"Elara, hold on tight," Rian said softly, his voice gentle yet firm as he held her close. With a concentrated effort, he summoned his fire magic, channeling it into his feet to lift them off the ground.
As flames enveloped their bodies, Rian and Elara soared through the air, leaving the chaos of the arena behind them. The crowd's panicked screams faded into the distance as they flew towards safety.
Arriving at a nearby tavern, Rian gently set Elara down on her feet, his arms still wrapped protectively around her. "We'll stay here for the night," he said, his voice reassuring.
He quickly paid for their room and guided Elara inside, making a beeline for the bathroom. Carrying her effortlessly, he set her down gently in the tub, ensuring she was comfortable before speaking.
"I'll go get you some clothes while you wash up," Rian said softly, his voice filled with reassurance.
But as he turned to leave, Elara's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Please, Rian, don't leave me alone," she pleaded, her eyes pleading for his presence.
Rian's expression softened, understanding her fear. "I won't leave you alone, Elara," he promised, determination in his voice. "I'll summon one of my shadow knights to look after you while I go get some clothes for you. I'll be back in three minutes, I promise."
With a reassuring smile, Rian activated his magic, summoning one of his shadow knights to stand guard outside the bathroom door. The shadow knight materialized silently, its presence offering a sense of security.
Elara's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the shadow knight, but she offered Rian a grateful smile nonetheless. "Thank you, Rian," she said softly, her voice filled with relief. "I'll be waiting for you."
With a nod, Rian left the bathroom, closing the door behind him. In just a few minutes, he returned with a fresh set of clothes for Elara.