Fwang!
[Battle Quest: Win the tournament. Rewards: 10+ Strength, 2.5+ Stamina, Standard Ability Upgrade (1+),100 Battle Points]
[Special Conditions: Your finishing move against your final opponent must come from your fists.]
Standing at the gates of the arena, a system notification suddenly went off, catching me by surprise. The quest notification appeared on my screen, and I couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect of testing the limitations of the system points if I win.
Creaaakkkk
The gates began to creak open, and I assumed it was my turn to walk through. As the bright lights of the arena shone upon me, a man wearing a quirky bow tie and an all-brown outfit stood before me with a cocky smile.
"Hello, ShadowWriter," he sneered, a smirk playing on his lips. "Prepare to be humiliated in front of everyone. I hope you've practised losing."
I chuckled, readying my bow. But his remarks weren't enough to shake me; this guy was simply a nobody in this world of my creation.
The holographic announcer's voice echoed through the arena, "Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for an exciting match in the D-League tournament! In the left side of the arena, we have ShadowWriter! And in the right corner, his opponent, who's on a 15-game win streak for the D-League Regular Season and now here for promotion to win the arena tournament, BlazeBringer!"
The countdown initiated, and as the signal chimed, BlazeBringer surged forward, executing a powerful downward slash imbued with his flame attribute. His movements exuded confidence, convinced of an impending victory.
With calculated precision, I skillfully evaded his strike, but a lingering feeling persisted. Was he genuinely weak, or was it just his sluggishness?
He followed up with another series of slashes, each one missing its mark – once, twice, thrice. His attacks lacked speed, and I effortlessly dodged them without even needing to rely on my enhanced abilities.
BlazeBringer's frustration surfaced, his attacks growing more erratic. "You're just lucky! Luck won't save you!"
In response, I seamlessly disarmed him, tossing my bow into the air before delivering a swift one-two punch directly to his face. The crowd erupted in surprise as the tide turned decisively in my favor.
ACK!
A well-timed kick followed, and with the bow back in my hand, I took careful aim. Launching three arrows towards him, two found their mark, but it was clear that my strength in dealing with damage was lacking.
Undeterred, BlazeBringer rose once more. Determination flickered in his eyes as he extended his hand, summoning his sword back to him with a mesmerizing grace.
"It seems I've underestimated you, Little Marksman," he laughed, attempting to regain the upper hand.
"You talk too much," I remarked.
"Tch, I'll shove these words I have up your ass."
He lunged towards me with ferocity, unleashing a flurry of slashes that seemed to come from every direction - left, right, center. It was an onslaught that I couldn't avoid. To create an opening, I charged a shot in the middle. But BlazeBringer wasn't done yet. Within the flames that obscured my vision, he launched a relentless assault that caught me off guard.
I acted quickly and activated the Clockwork of Time. Time seemed to slow down and everything around me appeared to be in slow motion. With a burst of speed, I narrowly dodged his arcs of slashes and pushed him back. I then resumed normal time and showcased an awe-inspiring reversal that left the audience stunned.
The holographic announcer's voice echoed through the arena, "A stunning turn of events! ShadowWriter dominates the match! Can anyone stop this marksman's advance?" The crowd erupted in cheers, and I knew that victory was within my grasp.
I activated the Vulnerability Reader and spotted small sparks of light that revealed a potential weakness - his ankle. With BlazeBringer pushed back, I swiftly shot arrows towards his sides. BlazeBringer, charging up his sword for another attack, found himself vulnerable once again.
I activated the Vulnerability Reader a second time, spotting small sparks of light indicating a vulnerable spot - his ankle. With BlazeBringer still pushed back, I quickly shot arrows towards his sides. As he charged up his sword for another attack, he found himself exposed.
I took advantage of the opportunity and aimed for his ankle, exploiting the weakness. The crowd gasped as the calculated strike hit home. BlazeBringer's movements faltered, and I could see the tide of the battle tilting further in my favor.
The holographic announcer's voice echoed with excitement, "ShadowWriter continues to capitalize on every opportunity! The match is firmly in his control! Can BlazeBringer mount a comeback?" However, there was no reprieve for BlazeBringer. I followed up with a series of meticulously planned moves, dodging his desperate attempts to regain momentum.
BlazeBringer stumbled backward, and I closed the distance between us. In a sudden burst of agility, I aimed a precise kick at his lower ankle, causing him to lose balance and fall to the ground.
With BlazeBringer now on the floor, I pointed my bow at him, asserting my dominance. The holographic announcer's voice filled the arena, "A stunning turn of events! ShadowWriter wins!"
As BlazeBringer lay defeated on the arena floor, I maintained my stance, bow aimed and victory undeniable. The crowd erupted in cheers, witnessing the unexpected conclusion of the battle. The holographic screens updated with my victory, solidifying my position in the D-League tournament. BlazeBringer, humbled and defeated, gritted his teeth, knowing that he had been outmatched by a superior opponent.
"This... this doesn't count! It was a warm-up!" he protested, attempting to salvage some semblance of dignity.
The holographic screens updated the leaderboard, displaying my decisive victory. The crowd erupted in cheers, and I acknowledged their support with a nod.
The holographic announcer's tone turned firm, "There's no warm-up in a tournament, BlazeBringer. You faced an archer as a swordsman and fell short."
I raised an eyebrow, firing a parting shot. "I never knew you were so good at losing!" I smiled as I walked looking at the holographic screen displaying the tournament bracket.
As BlazeBringer begrudgingly accepted his defeat, the holographic announcer's voice filled the arena once more, "An impressive display of skill and strategy from ShadowWriter! Can he maintain this momentum in the upcoming rounds?"
The anticipation in the air was evident as the crowd eagerly awaited the next bout. hearing all sorts of chatter walking back from where I came from.
"This is surprising who knew an archer could beat a swordsman like him in the tournament."
"ARGHH I LOST MY $165!!! THAT WAS A SURE FIRE WIN."
"Truly impressive for an archer of his caliber indeed."
I acknowledged the cheers with a nod and headed off the arena floor, back to the waiting area. The worker who guided me earlier approached with a congratulatory smile.
"Well done, ShadowWriter! That was quite a performance out there. Your next match will be within the D-League section. Follow me, and I'll take you to the corresponding waiting room," the worker said.
I followed the worker through the labyrinthine corridors of the arena, catching glimpses of other battles and the diverse array of participants. The waiting room in the D-League section was equally luxurious just as the other rooms.
A worker handed me a tablet, displaying the available weapons for my next match. Staying true to my archer skills, I opted for an enhanced bow with improved accuracy and fire rate. The worker then directed me to my waiting room, complete with a comfortable bed, a desk, a fridge stocked with various foods and drinks, and a large screen broadcasting the ongoing matches.
Settling into the room, I glanced at the leaderboard displayed on the screen. The names and rankings scrolled by, and I noted a few familiar usernames, including those from the D-League battles. It was clear that the competition would only intensify as I progressed through the tournament.
With time to spare before my next match, I decided to review the abilities and stats of some notable participants in the D-League. The arena was a battleground where heroes, mercenaries, and adventurers clashed for supremacy.
The holographic announcer's voice echoed once more, signaling the commencement of the next set of D-League matches. The crowd's cheers and the electrifying atmosphere was amazing who knew this many people were such gamblers? as I stepped onto the IDS platform and was immediately transported to the arena.
***
After a series of hard-fought battles within the D-League, I found myself standing at the threshold of the quarter-finals. Victories had marked my standing in this tournament, each match was just as easy as the other, The holographic announcer's voice resonated in the arena, narrating the recap of my conquests.
"Incredible performances from ShadowWriter have defined this D-League tournament. From the initial clash against BlazeBringer, where he showcased unparalleled skill and adaptability, to a series of impressive victories against formidable opponents, ShadowWriter has emerged as a force to be reckoned with."
The recap displayed the names of my defeated adversaries: SwiftStriker, a lightning-fast dual-wielder whose agility proved no match for my precision; IronWall, a heavily fat tank who crumbled under the relentless barrage of arrows; and PhoenixBlade, a fire-wielding swordsman whose flames were extinguished by the calculated shots from my bow.
The holographic screens updated the tournament bracket, showcasing my progression to the quarter-finals. The anticipation in the arena reached a fever pitch as spectators eagerly awaited the next match in the D-League tournament.
As I prepared for the upcoming battles, the worker who had guided me before approached with a congratulatory smile. "You've shown remarkable skill and determination, ShadowWriter. The quarter-finals await, and I'm sure you'll continue to captivate the audience with your prowess. Follow me, and I'll take you to the next level of the tournament."
With a nod of gratitude, I followed the worker, my mind focused on the challenges ahead. The D-League had been a testing ground, but the quarter-finals promised even greater trials. The cheers of the crowd echoed in the corridors.
As I stepped into the arena for the quarter-finals, I was taken aback by its size. It was much larger than any of the ones I had fought in before. The stands were crowded with anonymous people, and many were placing their bets. It was clear to me who my opponent was, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness.
It was one of the main characters of the story.
[Urgent Storyline Change!]
[Change: Main character member Bazz Wong is now in the tournament!]
[A Quest Has Been Added...]
[Main Story Quest: Knock Bazz out of the tournament! Rewards: 1+ Across All Stats!]
I'm screwed...