Lythana watched as the goblin consumed the human female who had finally stopped screaming. She had grown up in the streets and slums after her mother's death, witnessing the terrible depravity of both the rich and the poor. But this was on another level of gruesome, though her previous experiences had steeled her for moments like this.
She glanced at Finn, observing him closely. It was interesting to her how he could be so ruthless in battle, yet so visibly unaccustomed to this level of brutality. His face was stoic, but she could see the tension in his posture, the way his eyes darted away from the horrifying scene before them.
"Hmm," she mused to herself, continuing to watch.
Ten thousand fights were taking place simultaneously in the massive coliseum. As soon as one fight finished, another would start. The arena was a cacophony of screams, roars, and the clash of weapons. Despite the chaos, Lythana felt a strange calm settle over her. She had faced horrors before, and she would face them again.
Her system alerted her that she was next. She took a deep breath and accepted the alert. It felt like a vacuum pulling her into herself, and
Lythana watched as the goblin consumed the human female who had finally stopped screaming. She had grown up in the streets and slums after her mother's death, witnessing the terrible depravity of both the rich and the poor. But this was on another level of gruesome, though her previous experiences had steeled her for moments like this.
She glanced at Finn, observing him closely. It was interesting to her how he could be so ruthless in battle, yet so visibly unaccustomed to this level of brutality. His face was stoic, but she could see the tension in his posture, the way his eyes darted away from the horrifying scene before them.
"Hmm," she mused to herself, continuing to watch.
Ten thousand fights were taking place simultaneously in the massive coliseum. As soon as one fight finished, another would start. The arena was a cacophony of screams, roars, and the clash of weapons. Despite the chaos, Lythana felt a strange calm settle over her. She had faced horrors before, and she would face them again.
Her system alerted her that she was next. She took a deep breath and accepted the alert. It felt like a vacuum pulling her into herself, and suddenly, she was standing in one of the battle rings. In front of her was an unarmed, feral, starving goblin. The creature was hunched over, its skin a sickly greenish-gray, and its eyes burned with hunger and madness. Its muscles were taut, and it moved with a desperate, predatory grace.
Lythana pulled her daggers from their sheaths, the familiar weight and balance of the blades bringing her a sense of comfort. She had focused on dual-wielding, a style that felt natural to her. The master who had helped her choose a weapon had initially recommended starting with one, but he had a feeling that dual-wielding would suit her best in the long run.
The goblin snarled and charged at her with a ferocity born of starvation. It moved swiftly, but compared to Finn, the goblin's movements were slower and more predictable. Finn's attacks were deceptive, with subtle shifts and feints that kept his opponents guessing. In contrast, the goblin's wild lunges telegraphed its intentions, making it easier for Lythana to anticipate and evade.
She danced around the goblin, her movements graceful and precise. She waited for it to overextend in its wild attack. The goblin lunged at her, and she deftly sidestepped, her dagger flashing as she hamstrung the creature. It howled in pain and fury, stumbling as its leg gave way.
With a fluid motion, Lythana spun and slashed the goblin's jugular, blood spraying in a crimson arc. She danced out of its reach as it clawed at the air, its life ebbing away in a pool of its own blood. The fight was over in moments, but the adrenaline still coursed through her veins.
She stood over the dying goblin, her breath steady, her heart calm. The creature twitched once more before going still. Lythana wiped her blades clean on the goblin's ragged clothing, her mind already shifting to the next challenge.
She glanced around the coliseum, seeing other battles still raging. Each fight was a test, a trial to weed out the weak and hone the strong. Lythana knew that every moment of combat was an opportunity to grow, to become stronger. She embraced the challenge, feeling a fierce determination burning within her.
The coliseum roared with the sounds of battle, but Lythana felt a moment of clarity. She had survived another trial, and with each victory, she grew closer to her ultimate goal. They were all fighters here, all striving to survive and excel. The path was brutal, but it was the path they had chosen.
Immediately after the goblin died, she was teleported and standing next to Finn. He looked at her and simply stated, "That was impressive."
Lythana met his gaze, her violet eyes unwavering. "Thanks," she replied, her voice steady. "Sparring againest you helped immensely." The acknowledgment was brief but sincere. They were both kids wanting to be warriors, and in this brutal world, respect was earned through strength and skill.