Word traveled fast around the school's halls.
Although this was not the first case of an assault on a student, it was considered one of the strangest ones.
Walking down the hall with a slight limp, Goliath faced a door that was oddly large even for an adult.
Knock Knock
A conversation that could be slightly heard froze abruptly as the door creaked open.
A man with a huge scar over his left eye which was a deep red towered over Goliath,
"The principal wished to see me," Goliath said, unshakened by the man's piercing stare.
The door swung open as the man's entire frame came into view.
His body was tattered in scarres that ran all around his body.
Some were most likely deep lacerations that left the mark, but the rest were unexplainably large that covered his entire upper chest.
He wore a hide pelt around his waist that was an agglomeration of different animals.
Raising an eyebrow at eyebrow at the scene, the man shot an intense wave of pressure that struck Goliath, sending him to his knee which quivered in pain.
The man behind him who looked ancient who was the principal, raised his hand as another wave hit the two.
Unphased by the sudden force, the man continued to stare at Goliath who struggled under the two's unmatched force.
"Ahahaha! This one funny! I forget empty threats if I can have this one!" Said the wild man, releasing his pressure, the principal following.
"Unfortunately things don't work that way here Mr.Rakk. If you wish to support his endeavors, however, then you may sponsor him after his appraisal in two months." Spoke the principal, hand still raised.
"Bah!"
The two fell silent for a second before the wild man began to chant. Goliath's eyes widened as the Old man shook his head.
The two shook hands and the wild man left.
Still feeling the effects of the pressure, Goliath walked inside as the man lowered his hand and took a deep breath.
"Now, take a seat." Spoke the principal in a somber voice.
"Are you still hurt?"
"No sir." Replied Goliath.
The man looked at Goliath before taking a deep sign.
"Sir, did you understand what you agreed to earlier?" Asked Goliath bluntly.
"Excuse me?"
"That man chanted an old saying from the Greshin people. It a call for combat." Explained Goliath.
"My my. Color me impressed. Not only did you survive that ghastly attack, but it seems you've kept a brain intact." Said the principal
"Very well. If you're not hurt then you may leave."
Goliath nodded, leaving the room and walking towards his dorm.
Grabbing his training equipment and placing an order for a new sword, Goliath looked back at the empty bed next to his before leaving.
Goliath spent the day once more trying to overcome the wall that drove him mad.
It was as if he was growing smaller and smaller by the day. Goliath flopped backwards onto the cold cemented floor, not out of exhaustion, but from sheer confusion.
"What am I supposed to do?" Goliath thought.
A month and a half had passed as students grew louder outside the training grounds.
Goliath stood, wiping the sweat off his body before peering outside.
A huge line lengthened from the Colosseum that Goliath took his initial test.
"Dude, I told you we should have came sooner!" Said one of the students at the very back of the line.
"What do you mean!? If we had come any sooner, we would have skipped our classes!" Said his friend behind him.
"Skipping class is forgivable! Missing Shadow ain't!"
"My bad, damn."
Walking up to the two, Goliath asked what the two were talking about.
"The school hosts regulated fights in the Colosseum."
"Usually, they aren't this popular and are to settle beef but Leon's fighting Shadow today!" Said the student.
"Is anyone allowed to fight?" Asked Goliath, now curious about the event.
"I don't think your allowed if you're under the grace period, but besides that yeah." Explained the student as he was dragged back in line by his friend.
Knowing more training right now won't help, Goliath decided to stand in the line and watch a few fights.
Hours went by as Goliath finally met the front of the line.
Paying the entrance fee, Goliath took his seat in the back as hundreds were in the stands.
Although the wait nearly killed Goliath, his eyes lit up along with the arena as flames engulfed the sand around one of the fighters turning it into glass.
Goliath leaned forward.
"His swordplay is mediocre at best, but he's able to take ground easily with the flames." Goliath thought.
The fight swiftly ended with a motion as one stood over the other, sword pointed towards their throat.
Goliath leaned back as the arena repaired itself automatically as the two contestants left.
A short intermission took place as Goliath collected himself.
The bright purple flames that escaped both Warren and Valk's blades suddenly entered his mind.
The crowd roared as Goliath snapped from his trance.
A man around Goliath's age suddenly entered the room, his long blond hair following him.
He wore no armor and instead opted for a black training long-sleeve with a shortsword on his hip.
He waved at the people in the stands as they shouted,
"LEON! LEON! LEON!"
As he took a bow, he stared at the opposite side of the arena as a figure in a cloak entered.
The cloak was black as the night sky and a glimmer of a weapon shined like the stars in his cloak.
"SHADOW! SHADOW! SHADOW!" The crowd shouted as the person glared at the stands, two red lights following that resembled eyes.
"I respect your urge to avenge your friend, but you need to rethink who you group with." Said Leon as he placed his hand on his grip.
"???"
Shadows tilted their head.
"...You are fighting for your friend right?" Leon questioned Shadow.
"No," Shadow said in a robotic voice.
"Wait so why are you fighting me?"
"Just because," Shadow said, pulling out a long sword, its blade a dark black.
Leon dashed forward as the two's weapons.
Although Leon seemed to have exceptional swordplay, Shadow reacted, countering every time.
Taking an odd stance, Leon drove his blade forward.
As Shadow dodged the attack, Leon's body radiated with aura as a swift piercing attack sent Shadow back.
His heels dug backwards into the sand as it finally stopped in place.
Dashing forward Leon sent a barrage of attacks that clanked over what sounded like metal. Shadow was getting overwhelmed by Leon's new speed.
A Giant wall suddenly appeared over the two as Shadow disappeared.
Looking everywhere, Leon took his odd stance more, yet it seemed different.
Goliath couldn't describe what he was witnessing, but it was powerful.
A Shadowy figure exited a shadow formed by the arcing sun and walked towards Leon. Locking his legs and taking a deep breath, Leon raised his sword over his head as a cosmic blue color extended from the tip and formed a great sword.
It looked at Leon for a second before circling him.
The crowd watched in awe as the shadowy figure picked up its pace rapidly to the point where you couldn't even make out her figure anymore.
WOOSH!
Leon swung his sword with ease, cutting through the air itself and with that, the shadow.
It crumped into its own shadow, leaving nothing remaining as Leon took another deep breath.
Lunging from Leon's shadow, he gripped his throat and swung down a dagger.
Flinging Shadow over his shoulders while gripping his throat, Shadow once again dusted the sand off itself body and stared at Leon.
Although weaponless and standing still, the energy he let off was suffocating even to the people in the stands.
He walked up to the now-shaking Leon as it placed his hands on his shoulder.
"This was eventful." Said Shadow in his cold and robotic voice, swinging his fist into Leon's gut.
Blow after blow, Shadow repeatedly punched Leon's body.
Leon getting ahold of himself blocked his gut as he then stared at the fist approaching his face.
It was a brutal and bloody display of power that sent shivers through everyone's spines except Goliaths, who watched the match intently.
Blood and teeth flew from Leon's face as he laid helplessly on the warm sand.
For what felt like an eternity, a barrier formed and separated the two as a man appeared from the Colosseum halls.
"Shadow has won this match!" shouted the man as he then checked on Leon.
The crowd roared and cheered as Shadow and Leon left the Arena, one heading towards the infirmary.
"I see... She was carried hardcore by her ability." Mumbled Goliath to himself.
"Excuse me?" Said some random dude besides him.
"Shadow dominated him in strength and skill too. Leon was only able to land shots due to his aura's speed." Explained the man.
"Even if that was the case, Shadow WAS relying on her ability hardcore."
The two stared down each other in pure hatred. Goliath although not one to hate people for their opposing opinion, this man had a hateable face and just didn't like him.
"I guess someone weak as hell could only see such a retarded view of the fight." Spoke Goliath.
Gripping his sheathed sword, the man took a deep breath before looking back at Goliath.
"I ain't letting that slide. In one week, lets duel." Spoke the man.
"Sure. Sounds fun." Relpied Goliath, walking out of the colloseum towards his dorm.
Laying down on the bed, Goliath watched the match over and over in his head, remembering Leon's amazing swordplay and Shadow's dominating power.
"I have much to improve on." Thought Goliath as he closed his eyes and slept.
~One Day after the battle, outside the Colosseum,~
"Excuse me, is this where you sign up to fight?" Asked a man with a hat, a mask, and sunglasses on.
"This is registration yes. What's your name?" Asked the worker.
"...K-Kilian." Mumbled the masked man.
"Alright. First year, 173 lbs, alright you're good to go. Just listen out of your number."
The masked man nodded and entered the waiting room.
Taking off the mask and hat, Goliath wiped the sweat off his head.
"I'm sorry Kilian, but I'm not gonna be kicked out." Thought Goliath, taking a seat as he looked at the paper he was handed.
62
"Well, I guess I have to wait."
After waiting for what seemed like hours, Goliath excitedly stood as the intercom called his number.
Putting on his disguise once more, Goliath stepped out onto the sand as blinding lights shined upon him.
A magic orb appeared in front of Goliath as it displayed himself and his opponent.
"Mister Killian! Since this is your first fight, it is mandatory from my creator that I must explain the rules to you!~" Spoke the orb.
"The rules are quite simple. There is to be no outside help during a fight, A fight must stop after the match has been called, and finally, have fun!~"
The orb flew away back inside, leaving Goliath alone to a screen in his face.
Opponent: Jin Kifa, First year.
Looking in front of him, a scronny guy stood in front of him.
He wore glasses and had an energy around him that felt off.
Goliath stared for a moment before taking a deep breath.
"Fighters! Take your place!" Spoke what sounded like the orb from an intercom.
Both took their stance as an eerie silence held.
"Go!" Shouted the intercom.
Running across the sand, Goliath unsheathed his blade and focused his entire attention on Jin.
Thud!
Goliath had collapsed onto the ground suddenly.
Trying to stand, Goliath looked at a vine that protruded from the sandy terrain and gripped onto his ankle tightly.
"Keh Keh Keh!"
Jin giggled to himself as he walked towards the incapacitated Goliath.
"Unfortunately, your game ends here!" Said Jin in a raspy and high-pitched voice, placing his hand over his face and striking a pose.
Ripping the Vine off of his leg, Goliath thrusted his sword towards Jin who had finally entered close proximity.
A bundle of vines formed, gripping around his sword.
SNAP!
The sword broke into two right in front of his eyes.
Backing away, the vine instantly swamed him, whipping and grabbing him.
The more he destroyed, the more regrew and took the other's place.
A punch from out of nowhere struck Goliath's stomach, sending him tumbling over onto the sand.
Looking over his shoulder, a tree-like monster with a humanoid figure stood firm.
Its fist bore branches thicker than metal plating, and its body held even thicker.
Although it was incredibly painful at the second, the pain that lingered slowly faded.
Looking over his shoulder, Goliath stared at Jin who was not moving.
Standing up once more, Goliath Ran away from the two as fast as he could.
Sending out his hand, the tree monster made chase after the evading Goliath.
"Planning on running away? Don't even tr-"
Jin's eyes widened as a dagger flew towards him, merely inches away from his face. Ducking as fast as he could, Jin looked back in fear as Goliath stood in over him.
"So I was right." Said Goliath, gripping Jin's head.
Slamming his head down into the ground, Goliath pulled him out to stare at his face for a second before slamming it once more.
After 7 tries, Jin was finally unconscious.
A screen appeared in front of Goliath.
Winner: Killian!
Releasing Jin's head, Goliath left the arena as the people sitting in the stand cheered.