The meteor is now barely few meters above Samael! Is this the end of him?
Suddenly, everything stopped. Time is frozen by an unknown person. The meteor pauses above Samael. He is the only one who comes in senses in the frozen place.
What in the world is happening right now?
Footsteps can be heard behind him. He faces behind to look. A very beautiful woman wearing exposed clothes walks slowly towards him. Samael's jaw dropped as he sees the woman's horns, bat wings, and long tail.
She points her index finger at Samael. Small violet magic circle is formed in front of the finger. It cleanses Samael's negative status. He can now move freely, despite being affected by slight injuries.
"Thank you for saving me, pretty one. Who are you...?" Samael asks the mysterious demon-like woman.
"Izquierda. Third ruler's servant. I am interested in you." Izquierda shoves herself close into Samael. Her voice is so strange and oddly beautiful that it managed to enchant him.
Samael blushes as he looks at her chest bumping into his body. He then looks away to avoid eye contact.
"Heh, the womanizer is innocent after all. Now I'm more interested. I'm craving for your lust." Izquierda giggles and slowly walks away.
"Do you want power?" She asks him.
"What do you mean..?" Samael is confused.
"Do you want to be defeated here? Right now, you cannot win alone. That friend of yours cannot do much either. Look at your surroundings."
It looks like the time stop spell reveals every stealth fighters that are in their Shadow Step spell. Samael sees Rein standing quite far away from him. Astha and Izun are behind Exion, probably waiting to backstab him. Both Samael and Rein will make a good fighting duo, but it will not be enough to take out their strong opponents.
Samael looks at Izquierda. So she is the third ruler's servant. What is she doing here, suddenly helping him out?
"The greatest honor in Colosseum is winning every fighting chance you have. For that, a strong power is needed. I can give you exactly what you wanted. A power that surpasses your combat limits. With power, comes the desire to fight. With power, comes vengeance. Think about it. Either you want me to help you out, or you want to be defeated by the other fighters."
Samael looks down and thinks about Izquierda's offering. If what she said is true, then there is no other choice but to accept it. Even so, should he believe her?
"It's hard to believe you, demon woman. You are not planning to use me, are you?"
"First of all, it's rude to call me a demon, even though I am one. I prefer to be called a succubus, a tempting seductress. If I am using you, I will surely curse you with my spell, Temptress Eyes. The fact that I don't use it means that I am interested in you. Hurry up and decide now. The time spell won't last forever, you know."
Samael slightly blushes. He is a womanizer, but one look at Izquierda, he loses his cool.
"Do you want me?" Izquierda smiles seductively at him.
"Okay...I accept your offer. I thought saving me is enough, but offering me power? I...don't know...but I'll accept and see what you can do to me." Samael shows his serious face, although it seems way too red, probably due to blushes.
"Really? Yay." Izquierda purposely makes an innocent, cute smiling face. She then walks towards Samael and whispers into his left ear.
"Desire for power is inevitable, for you are still a training fighter. When a high ranked succubus offers you power, you are one lucky man. Bind your soul with my presence, and you will receive great strength. Together we shall battle, and forever shall I have your soul. I will stay inside you, until your death do us part."
Again, Izquierda's voice is strangely odd when she said those whispering words. Unlike an angelic choir club singing voice, hers is way beyond that. Samael is too mesmerized, rendering him speechless for a while.
Izquierda walks behind Samael and embraces him. A violet aura surrounds them.
"Forbidden Love."
Izquierda vanished after the odd spell. Time is resumed. The meteor crashes the ground where Samael was at before. Exion is smiling. He then notices Samael and shows a surprised look on his face.
"How the hell?"
Samael regains his senses and feels slightly stronger now. His wounds and bruises do not hurt anymore. Did Izquierda really helped him? Samael cast a spell at Exion to test his powers.
"Swarm my enemies, Riot Spikes!"
Normally, Riot Spikes lets out small sharp earth spikes in a straight line to deliver small damage to enemies. Now, huge pillars of obsidian spikes come forth from the ground and pierces into everything in front of Samael. One of the spikes thrusts into Exion's right leg and immobilizes him. The crowds are superbly amazed by Samael's advanced Riot Spikes.
"Holy moly, now that's what I call power. Thank you, succubus!" yelled Samael.
"It's my biggest pleasure." Izquierda's whisper echoed in his mind.
"Whaaaaa...!?!? What are you doing in my mind?" Samael whispered back in his mind.
"I'm in your pure heart, not in your dirty mind. Although I love dirty thoughts, pure hearts are much more delicious."
"Ugh, then, what are you doing in my heart?" Samael blushes.
"Just feasting your lust. Don't mind me." Izquierda giggles.
Melisa and Elina looks at him.
"Why is Samael blushing?" Melisa asked Elina.
"I don't know. Maybe he feels too good and drunk after casting that advanced spell?" replied Elina.
"Anyway, listen to me, Samaestro. You have a unique incantation ability. Try casting fireball and impress the female crowds by saying times ten afterwards. Before that. I will give you a new spell. Cast the spell right away after this. Say this incantation and the spell will surprise you." Izquierda suggested him.
"The name is Samael, not Samaestro! Yeah I will try to do the multiply effect on the fireball spell. Okay, let me hear the incantation of this new spell."
Izquierda says the incantation. Samael memorizes it easily. He then looks at the deserted arena and takes a deep breath.
"Truth behold, reveal any lurking shadows in my vision, True Sight!"
Samael's eyes emits radiant white lights for a moment and reveals all other fighters who are in their Shadow Step Spell. Samael is the only one who can see them right now. The three stealthy fighters including Rein are shocked.
"Amazing!" Samael whispers to Izquierda.
"I know. Cast your fireball now. Remember, times ten."
"Burn them away, Fireball...times ten!"
Samael cast a single fireball, followed by another nine fireballs. The fireballs spread their ways and aim everyone except Rein. Izun dodges a few and cast a barrier to deflect the unavoidable fireballs. Astha deflects all the fireballs chasing her using her dual daggers, taking slight damage due to the continuous impact.
"Interesting powers." Samael seems rather happy now.
"I'll be heading off to somewhere now. Enjoy your fight." Izquierda's voice vanished from Samael's mind.
"That was great, Samael! Lets team up now and win this Colosseum!" Rein disables his Shadow Step and arms his bow with an arrow, ready to fight alongside his trusted comrade.
Now that all stealth fighters are revealed, a fierce battle is about to begin.
End of Chapter 18