"Boom!"
Xander snapped his head towards the explosion, eyes wide. "What the hell?"
The colosseum, which had been a roaring sea of chaos, was now eerily silent. The crowd held their breath, and the fighters froze, a stark contrast to the pandemonium moments before. Xander's heartbeat pounded in his ears as he scanned the arena, searching desperately for his only friend, Russell.
He spotted him across the sand, unharmed. Relief surged through him, and he sprinted over. "Russell, what's going on?"
Russell's eyes were sharp, a mixture of fear and determination. "Somebody's attacking the colosseum. But forget that—this is our chance to escape."
"Boom!"
Another deafening boom echoed through the colosseum, and Xander felt a strange sensation around his wrist. He looked down to see the cursed bracelet, designed to suppress his strength, fall off and clatter to the ground. He glanced around and saw the same had happened to the other warriors.
"Come on!" Russell shouted, urgency thick in his voice as he spun towards the nearest exit.
Xander, driven by instinct, bolted after him. But then, a sudden thought brought him to a halt.
"Wait!" he yelled, causing Russell to skid to a stop and look back, confusion etched on his face.
"What!? We need to leave now!" Russell's impatience was clear, the other warriors already streaming past them in a frantic bid to escape.
"I have to get my spatial ring back," Xander said, desperation creeping into his voice. The jade slip he needed to give to the head priest was still inside the ring, taken by the guard who captured him. Without it, the trial couldn't continue.
Russell's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you crazy? What could be more valuable than your life?"
Xander's resolve hardened. "I'm sorry, Russell. This is more valuable than my life. Without it, I'll die anyway." If he failed the trial, death was inevitable.
Russell sighed, then said, "I told you I had your back, and I don't go back on my word. Let's go find him."
"Thanks," In that moment, Xander knew Russell was someone he could trust.
The two turned around and ran toward the prison cells.
"Do you know where he could be?" Xander asked, his voice tight with urgency.
"Yeah, I think I do. He's a guard, so he'll have to fight. We just have to go where the noise is the loudest."
"Great," Xander replied mockingly. The best thing they could do was jump into the middle of a huge battle.
They continued to run until they reached the colossal stone wall of the colosseum.
"Come on, I'll help you climb up," Russell said, crouching down to offer his back as a step.
"Okay," Xander ran up to the wall, and with Russell's help, the two managed to scale the imposing barrier.
They landed on the other side and pushed through the crowd that surged against them, moving directly opposite to the panicked throng.
The noise grew louder as they neared the center of the chaos, where the clash of steel and cries of battle filled the air.
As they sprinted through the dimly lit corridors, the echo of their footsteps was swallowed by the oppressive silence. Turning a sharp corner, the scene of the battle finally unfurled before them. To their shock, the attackers were clad in the distinctive garb of the Order of Death.
Russel's eyes widened as he turned to Xander. "These are your people, right? You're a member of the Order, aren't you?" He flashed a relieved smile, confident that the attackers were allies.
"Yeah, you could say that," Xander replied, his tone tinged with complexity.
Russel scanned the chaos. "Do you see the guard with your ring?"
Xander's gaze darted across the battlefield. After a tense moment, he spotted the man at the rear, barking orders to another guard. "Yeah, I see him," he said, pointing the blonde haired man out.
[Human - G-rank - Peak]
"Great, he's a peak G-rank," Russel muttered, a hint of resignation in his voice.
"Are you sure you want to come?" Xander asked, concern lining his face. He wouldn't blame Russel if he chose to turn back, but he hoped his new friend would stay. In Xander's eyes, Russel was the stronger of the two, and he needed all the help he could get.
"Of course. I've got your back as long as you've got mine," Russel declared, pride evident in his stance.
"Thanks, man. This is way more than I should ask for," Xander said, sincerity clear in his voice.
Xander summoned his spear, the weapon materializing with a quiet hum. He moved with catlike grace, his eyes locked on the guard who had taken his ring. Every step was measured, deliberate, as he crept closer to his target. When the guard was finally within reach, another guard emerged from behind a pillar, his eyes widening in surprise as he spotted Xander.
The new guard drew his sword, but Xander was faster. He parried the incoming strike with his spear, the clang of metal echoing through the corridor. In one swift motion, he drove the spear into the man's throat, ending his life in an instant. The guard crumpled to the ground, his weapon clattering uselessly beside him.
Xander didn't hesitate. He yanked his spear free and turned to face the guard with his ring. The man had heard the commotion and was beginning to turn, his hand reaching for his own weapon. Xander sprinted forward, his movements a blur. At the same moment, Russel appeared beside him, his trait enhancing his speed. They struck in unison, their attacks a deadly synchronized dance.
The guard barely had time to react. He managed to block Russel's strike, but it left him vulnerable. Xander's spear found its mark, piercing deep into the guard's side. The man's face twisted in agony as he staggered back and clutched his wound. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining his uniform. He retreated, trying to create distance, but his movements were sluggish, his strength waning.
"What the hell!" the guard roared, his anger echoing off the stone walls.
"Did I not treat you good?" he asked, a sneer twisting his features.
"Treat me good? You knocked me out, threw me in a cage, and forced me to fight for my life. Now, give me my ring or die." Xander's voice was cold and steady as he and Russel launched a synchronized attack, their movements a deadly ballet that kept the guard on his toes.
The guard dodged to the right, evading Russel's sweeping and blocking Xander's piercing strike. "If you wanted it, all you had to do was ask," he said, pulling a ring from his pouch and tossing it to Xander.
Xander caught it with a quick snap of his hand, his eyes narrowing as he inspected it. 'This isn't my ring,' he thought, feeling a mental barrier. At that moment, the guard lunged forward, the earth beneath Xander's feet shifting, knocking him off balance.