Before the battle commenced, Xander found himself lost in thought. Could he really trust this stranger standing by his side? He didn't know the man, yet he needed allies. The odds of surviving this arena without help were dismal. With twenty people having a chance to make it out alive, betrayal seemed unlikely, but Xander resolved to keep a wary eye on him.
The tension of the impending fight dissipated slightly as Xander's focus shifted to their competition.
He and Russell were positioned in the northwest corner of the arena, their backs against the rough stone wall, a mere ten yards apart.
Directly ahead, a low G-rank warrior stood, wielding a spear mirroring Xander. According to Russell, this opponent possessed a fire trait and used a fire cultivation manual.
With a final, cautious glance at his newfound ally, Xander prepared himself for the chaos to come.
As Xander steeled himself for the battle ahead, the announcer's voice echoed through the arena, "Let the battle begin!" With a swift motion, Xander summoned his spear, pointing it directly at the scarred warrior in front of him, signaling his challenge. A surge of strength coursed through his veins, fortifying his resolve.
The warrior, noticing Xander's bold declaration, approached with a leisurely gait, a menacing grin spreading across his scarred face. "Little boy, it's time to die," he sneered, his voice dripping with overconfidence.
Xander dismissed the taunt, focusing instead on his strategy. As he began to advance, his eyes darted to Russell, ensuring he was not in immediate danger of betrayal. Fortunately, Russell was fully engaged in his own duel, battling a hulking opponent wielding a massive halberd, a mountain of a man who towered two heads above the already tall Russell.
Xander quickened his pace, charging toward the towering warrior. The enemy loomed a head taller, a seasoned fighter with countless battles under his belt. As Xander closed the distance, he launched a piercing strike, hoping to end the fight swiftly. Yet, his opponent was no novice; he parried the blow with practiced ease and countered with a sweeping attack.
Noticing the parry, Xander swiftly retreated, evading the warrior's reach. 'This won't be as easy as I'd hoped, but I can still do this,' he thought, feeling the first drop of sweat roll down his face.
Determined, Xander advanced again, this time slicing to the right with his spear. The warrior met his attack, their weapons clashing. Anticipating the parry, Xander skillfully deflected the warrior's spear to the side, just out of reach. With the enemy's weapon momentarily diverted, Xander lunged, landing a precise stab to the gut. Though shallow, the wound drew the first blood of the fight, a small but crucial victory.
The man, instead of wincing in pain, lowered his guard and glanced down at his fresh wound. His off-hand moved instinctively, fingers tracing the gash before lifting to his face, where he then licked the blood with a feral glint in his eyes.
"Congrats on the first blood, little guy," he growled, a smirk curling his lips. "But the rest of the fight won't be so easy."
Xander refused to rise to the bait, maintaining his silence to avoid being drawn into his opponent's rhythm. He began to move, stepping forward and slightly to the left. With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged, meeting the man's spear with his own. The clash of metal rang out as they engaged in a rapid exchange of strikes and parries, each testing the other's skill. Their spears danced, moving with deadly precision in a battle of wills and technique.
Sweat beaded on Xander's forehead as he parried another strike, only to feel a sharp sting as the man's spear found its mark, slicing into his side. He winced, the pain sharp and immediate.
"Haha!" The man laughed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now this is getting fun."
Xander retreated, his eyes flicking over to where Russell had just finished his own fight and was now scanning the battlefield. Their gazes met, a silent exchange passing between them. Russell nodded, a brief but reassuring gesture, before Xander turned back to his own opponent, ready to continue the fight.
"Okay, as much as I'd like to continue this little fight, I have better things to do in this battle. So, I'm going to end it," the man said, his relaxed demeanor giving way to a steely determination.
Xander stared back at him, realization dawning that their clash was nearing its climax.
The man let out a fierce yell and charged forward, fire blasting from his feet and elbows, propelling him with a speed no human could naturally achieve.
He lunged, spear aimed directly at Xander.
Feigning weakness, Xander adopted a frightened expression. As the man grinned, misinterpreting Xander's fear, Xander dipped beneath the spear at the last moment, sidestepped, and struck at the man's leading foot.
Thrown off balance, the man awkwardly dodged to the right, stumbling mid-air. Xander seized the opportunity, sprinting forward and slicing deep into the man's thigh with his own spear.
The man crashed to the ground, a wince of pain crossing his face as he struggled to bear weight on his injured leg.
Anger twisted the man's features, the overconfidence that had cost him dearly now replaced with a grim realization of his mistake.
Xander smiled for the first time in the fight, a fleeting grin that held the hope of victory. He stepped forward with his spear in hand, ready to end the battle once and for all. The clash resumed, a whirl of strikes and parries, but this time, Xander was winning. His strikes landed true, pushing his opponent back with relentless precision.
Then, just as he closed in for the final blow, a sudden flash of steel burst from the front of the man's face, nearly striking Xander. A sword had pierced through, its hilt quivering as the body fell limp.
"Splat!"
Blood splattered across Xander's face, the warmth and metallic scent a grim reminder of the interrupted fight. He staggered back, wiping his eyes clear of the stinging blood, realizing that a third party had intruded.
"Shing!"
The newcomer, a short man wielding the bloodied sword, withdrew it from the corpse with a casual flick.
"Ha! He was always an arrogant bastard," the man sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "I can't believe he lost to a little boy."
"Dammit!" Xander thought, his heart pounding as he recognized the man before him. Russel had warned him about fifteen people to watch out for, and this guy was near the top of that list. A high G-rank warrior with good traits and a cultivation manual, Xander had no chance against him.
"Okay, come on, I don't have all day," the man said with a smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Xander glanced back, searching for Russel, hoping he could come to his aid. But all he saw was Russel's back, fully engaged with his own opponent. Fear tightened its grip on Xander as he faced his challenger.
"Can't you let me go?" Xander asked, desperation edging his voice. "I'm just a kid."
"You might be young, but you're no kid," the man replied, his tone tinged with regret. "Only twenty people can survive this battle, and I'm sorry, but you're not worthy to be one of them."
Xander's eyes darted across the arena, frantically seeking an escape route.
"Look, kid, either fight or run, but here I come," the man warned.
Without hesitation, Xander turned and bolted. He didn't want to run, but he had promised his brother he would do whatever it took to survive. And if running was what it took, then he would run every time.
Just as Xander took off searching for a path of escape, a deafening "Boom!" echoed through the colosseum. A burst of lightning, fire, and wind slammed into the arena, causing every person in the stands to whip their heads toward the source of the noise. The once lively atmosphere turned tense, eyes wide with shock and curiosity.
Xander skidded to a halt, his heart pounding as he took in the scene. The colosseum, moments ago filled with the roars of spectators and the clash of weapons, was now shrouded in an eerie silence. Sparks of lightning still danced across the scorched ground, tendrils of smoke rising to meet the gathering storm clouds above.