"Let the spectacle commence," Sven proclaimed.
The trumpets reverberated, and the surrounding clouds began to merge with the ones beneath their feet.
The peripheral clouds hardened into a towering wall on all sides, shaping an arena. Across from Arlo, Sven sat majestically on a throne perched atop the wall.
Slowly, the wall expanded, forming seats for spectators on three sides. Clouds from all around started to gather and transform into figures resembling Sven. Indeed, each member of the audience was a cloud-formed Sven.
"WHISTLE!" "CLAP!"
The crowd burst into anticipation. Suddenly, Sven stood, raising his right hand and clenching it into a fist.
"SILENCE!"
A silence fell over the arena.
"Remember, all who have assembled here to witness this young lad gather the courage to confront me—he is one of Agnes's offspring."
"BOOOOOOO…"
Each Cloud Sven booed at Arlo. Upon closer inspection, Arlo noticed a cloud version of himself near the original Sven, holding a sign that read 'Boo that brat'.
'This ordeal is more torturous than death itself,' Arlo pondered.
"Let the Sven Games begin," Sven proclaimed.
Suddenly, a storm of thunder erupted within the arena. The cloud it struck transformed into a black cloud dusk. Arlo glanced upwards to see the clouds darkening and teeming with lightning.
"Youngster, dodge the lightning and reach me," Sven roared, all his cloud duplicates raising their hands. "Achieve that, and we proceed to the next round."
Arlo grumbled, 'Damn it, this bastard is playing with me. He doesn't even regard me as a worthy opponent.'
"CRACK!" A massive bolt of lightning materialized above him. "BOOM!" Arlo narrowly sidestepped it.
As the lightning persisted, Arlo hopped around in circles to dodge the strikes, unable to discern a path leading him towards Sven.
The cloud Svens hollered and cheered, ridiculing Arlo as he battled for survival.
Arlo finally decided to invoke Wings of Life, believing it to be his only escape from the monstrous thunderstorm.
[Wings of Life Activated]
[Duration: Unlimited]
[Weakness: Once you land, you won't be able to fly for another 12 hours.]
Arlo took to the skies, skillfully evading the clouds, gradually approaching Sven.
"Cheater, cheater," the crowd taunted Arlo and chanted.
"If the spectators label you a cheater, I have no choice but to penalize you," Sven smirked.
A thunderbolt struck Arlo's back, hurling him to the ground.
"CLAP!" Applause filled the arena.
Arlo's back seared from the thunder; he writhed in agony. Suddenly a prompt displayed:
[Protection of Life:
[Activation: Permanent]
[Weakness: When the opponent is of a higher level than you and deals damage, you take half the damage, and every status attribute will be doubled. If the opponent is weaker than you and deals damage, you receive twice as much damage, and every status attribute will be halved.]
[Duration: Unlimited]
[Temporary New Attributes Created:]
[Hp: 46
Skill Points: 62
Defense: 44 (Max: 100)
Strength: 56
Endurance: 38
Agility: 46
Intelligence: 70
Dexterity: 40
Luck: 14
Trust: 100]
Another prompt appeared:
[The Hypocrisy of Life:]
[Precondition: Only Agnes's Children can use this skill. Whenever her child is in danger, she grants a random blessing to help her child.]
[Activated: Agnes granted her Divine shield.]
[Consumed:
Luck 5 per use
Trust 100 per use]
Arlo didn't receive healing this time, so his wound remained, but he got a protective shield.
As thunder struck him again, it didn't damage him at all. Arlo slowly dragged himself closer to Sven.
Suddenly, the thunder ceased, the crowd froze, and Sven in front of him raised his hand and shouted, "Let's commence the next round."
The arena roared in response.
Slowly, clouds began to form inside the arena and took the shape of Sven with different attitudes. They resembled mindless beings like stone lions, with rage in their eyes.
"GRRRR…"
As they growled and charged at him, Arlo swung his sword and slashed through them.
Each of his slashes passed through the cloud Svens. Arlo swung his sword and cut through the cloud Svens, slightly dispersing the area his sword went through. Quickly, the clouds reformed again.
Unable to slay them and their attacks not breaking his defense, Arlo kept swinging, hoping somehow to cut through them.
"HA…HA…" Laughter erupted within the arena, mocking Arlo, as if they knew why he was unable to cut through.
Amidst this, a prompt displayed:
[A new info added:]
[The Hypocrisy of Life:]
[Activated: Agnes granted her Divine shield.]
[Weakness: With one Agnes's blessing in defense mode, the player's attack won't be able to deal damage to enemies.]
Arlo ground his teeth and, infuriated, kept swinging his sword again and again.
As the laughter increased inside the arena, suddenly Sven's voice echoed, and Arlo looked at him. Sven had a grin on his face as he added,
"There is a way to end all this. Kill yourself, slit your own throat to finish this."
Arlo stood silent for a few moments before placing his sword against his left wrist and cleanly slicing through it. He let the blood drip onto the ground.
Sven watched, puzzled by Arlo's actions, just as a huge black portal opened in the cloud before him.
"GRRR…"
[End of Chapter]