The crowd cheered louder as Zaria and her unit entered the Battle Arena, it all made sense to her when she finally saw who they were going up against. It was none other than Varix and his B Rank unit The Braves.
She instantly understood that the cheering wasn't for them but it was the cheering of a blood thirsty crowd that was about to witness lambs being sent to the slaughter. Zaria took a step back, turned around and began to run back to the entrance. As she was reaching it a magic imbued gate began to fall and closed her path off, she was now trapped in the arena.
The people above her witnessed this and started to boo and mock her.
"You useless coward you think we gathered here to watch you scurry off, go back there and fight!". One spectator shouted throwing a stone at her, hitting her in the head, the people around her started throwing stones as well, she immediately ran back to where to where her group was, shocked and shaking in fear.
The people in the Coliseum began to laugh in mockery at this embarrassing scene, as it was the first time they had seen anyone who called themselves a knight run away from a battle.
Keldorna and Max pulled Zaria between them in a desperate attempt to show the onlookers how united they were.
"So these are the infamous Black Rose Knights!?" Varix shouted from a distance dropping his halberd to the ground, he slowly began to approach Zaria's group dusting off his hands.
"Honestly to think I would need a weapon to go against such pitiful trash is beyond me" as he approached the group Max took a step forward to challenge him. Both men had similar builds and were tall and masculine and formidable.
Varix immediately laughed throwing his head back holding his waist. "Big Boy over thinks he can stand toe to toe with a real man!?"
With a swift motion Varix lunged forward head-butting Max causing a sound clap that sent the sound of Max's cracking skull echoing throughout the arena. Max was instantaneously thrown back.
"ENOUGH!" the crowd instantly went silent and directed their eyes to the Oracle who had just spoken. Max was on the ground bleeding but sat back up with an angry vengeful grin on his face as he blood trickled down from his forehead, Anna quickly began to cast healing magic on him to close the wound.
Varix smirked and turned back to go return to his group, as he walked back he shouted to Zaria's group. "Patch big boy over there for me, I have a lesson I'd like to teach him...."
The Oracle shook her head but was not phased by what she had just witnessed. She began to address the crowd and both groups.
"Greetings brave Knights and all who are gathered here today, welcome to the Coliseum or what we call the Battle Arena!, before you stands two very differently ranked Knight Factions The B ranked group The Braves" as soon as she mentioned their name the crowd went wild, people started cheering and chanting "The Braves!" non stop.
The Oracle then pointed to where Zaria's group was standing "And their challengers the F ranked division The Black Rose Knights...". The crowd began to laugh mockingly throwing whatever they held towards the group.
Keldorna stood there with a straight face not phased by the ridicule they were experiencing as if it was all noise to her, she kept her focus on the Oracle.
The Oracle raised her hand in the air, the Coliseum grew silent and with a snap of her finger a holographic screen appeared in the air above the Battle Arena with the words written "JUDGEMENT".
"Today is a special occasion, I created this arena long ago with ancient magic that is connected to the gods of this world" as she spoke, mummers could be heard from the crowd.
"Today these brave knights face each other for the favour of the gods, for in this world celestial gods rule creation and ethereal gods are beings just like you and I who have surpassed all limitations and have ascended to the ethereal realm, today these warriors will sign contracts with these beings and those who are granted favour shall inherit their blessings!"
The crowd absolutely went wild, it had been years since the last awakening ceremony took place. Aris and Avaris standing beside her were also in shock to what the Oracle was saying because this was no ordinary ceremony. This is where even the weakest become stronger.
"Hush now my children, for those unaware I shall explain, each knight before you will touch a magical crystal imbued with arcane magic, if any diety is interested in the knight the contract will be shown on the screen above, to receive the blessing the knight has to fight with all they have and they will be awakened. Hence why I have paired the strong with the weakest today, in hopes to raise their potential, for this will benefit the strength of not only the knights but of our kingdom as a whole"
The crowd applauded as the Oracle gave her speech. "This is also punishment for what The Black Rose Knights did the night before, on their first day they decided to go and have some fun drinking mead and sharing a meal, I am amused and appalled by such insubordination, but in our kingdom the only entertainment we allow as knights is the clashing of skin against steel, so for their Judgement there will be no time limit, there are no rules, each knight will fight until I tell them to yield so prepare yourselves brave knights and may the divine light of Solaris who watches over our kingdom lead you to the path of a true Knight!" gracefully taking her seat she crossed her legs and with her telekinesis spoke within the minds of everyone present "May the JUDGEMENT begin"
Chaos in the arena ensued, people jumping and applauding. To be graced by the magic of the Oracle like that was a blessing that most would kill to experience, her voice was soothing yet powerful, it was a dream come true for most.
"Fuck..." Anna uttered under her breath, visibly sweating and shaking barely able to hold her staff , she dropped to her knees. Valor quickly rushed to her side trying to quickly pick her up. "What's wrong Anna!, shake it off" he said in a panic.
"I'm low on mana, I used most of it healing Max from what happened earlier on, I don't think I can do this please guys, I'm sorry please don't make me do this!" Anna's voice cracking, tears welling up in her wide open eyes. As the group huddled around her trying to make her come to, a woman dressed in a priestess robes and a thin white translucent white veil approached them. Her moves silent and her presence non detectable it's as if she appeared from thin air, in her hands she was holding a padded golden case inside rested a transparent round crystal.
On the opposite side of the arena a similar being was also standing with Varix's group holding the same thing.
In unison the two strange women spoke.
"We are the disciples of the White Flame Oracle please place your hand on the crystal to be chosen by the gods" They stood motionless waiting for the knights to proceed.
On the other end Varix quickly placed his hand on the crystal, a bright red glow emanated from he smirked and as he looked up the screen above the arena read
'Varix has been Recognised by the former Hero and the War god of Rage The Crimson King
Special Skills:
• Blood Lust – increases attack power attack power by 50%
• Berserk – doubles strength and defence but will not stop until targets are neutralized [automatically activates when user has reached 1 Health Point] negative aspect the caster becomes consumed by rage
• Primal Instinct (passive) – Increases Evasion rate allowing user to evade 50% of critical Hits
Ultimate skill:
••• Fists of Despair – when fighting bare handed this skill crystallises the blood of your enemies into invincible gauntlets lasts up to 30s and when applied drenching yourself in the blood of your enemies will summon the impenetrable armour of The Crimson King, lasts 30s)
The crowd went bat shit crazy when they saw this, everyone in the Coliseum was shocked even the Oracle herself stood up when she saw this.
"Impossible!" she exclaimed even Aris and Avaris were taken aback seeing this as well.
Down below the other members of Varix's unit were too excited and approached the priestess pushing each other. The first laid his hand and excitedly turned his gaze upwards to see what the screen wrote.
'REGISTERED'
Is what appeared on the screen, he was confused and getting agitated the another member eagerly went and tried his luck and the screen reflected the same message. Varix stood there also confused to what was going on up till all four of his other members held the crystal and the screen reflected the same message.
The Oracle still on her feet shouted to the crowd directing her hand towards Varix, "Behold!, this brave knight has been recognised by the Crimson King and if he is awakened and receives his blessing all of his unit who have been REGISTERED will be granted the blessing of the Scarlet Legion. Knights who stood with the Crimson King when he still walked on this planet, their power will surpass even those of A rank Knights and all of their attributes from strength and magic will be doubled!"
She held her face slowly pulling her hair back and laughed in excitement. "And if they succeed all Legionary Knights will receive the full battle armour of the Scarlet Prince." she sat back in her chair and with a smile she applauded Varix, the crowd began cheering once more.
Zaria and her group were still standing there, treated by the crowd as if they didn't exist, as if they were mere specs of dust in the unravelling of legends.
Max was anxious and angered by how they were treated, by how he had been brutally attacked without warning, the flurry of emotions caused him to push against his group and lay his hand on the crystal which the priestess in front of him was holding. The crystal turned to a mixture of black and red like a lava stream on dark Earth, he gritted his teeth In anticipation whilst looking up on the screen to see what it read.
'Max has been recognised by the Elemental 'Dark Obsidian Dragon god' 'Dragons Bloodline Blessing'
Special skills:
• Dragons Vein – smashes the earth around you releasing a flurry of rock and magma to your surrounding area.
• Dragons Roar: a scream that sends a shock wave that damages and stuns an enemy damage hit is 20%
Ultimate skill:
•• Draconic Rite – this skill turns the casters skin into dark volcanic Obsidian dragon scales and increases defence and attack by 80% this skill lasts 30s)
Max shouted out in joy, as he was a descendant of the dragon kind he was happy that he got recognised by a god close to his bloodline. Zaria and the others joined him in celebration as they were celebrating but their celebration was cut short when Avaris broke the silence with a laugh, everyone within the Coliseum looked in his direction seeing him and Aris laughing together, the Oracle was seated in her chair with her hand covering her mouth trying to suppress her laughter.
Avaris stepped forward and pointed at Max, "You are a disgrace to the dragon born bloodline, to be recognised by a dragon god of the earth is shameful to our kinds blood line!" he shouted removing his helmet, revealing white draconic scales that layered his face and glowing golden eyes. People were in shock and awe to see his face for the first time, as he was the King's Sword the Captain of the King's Guard, the most powerful knight in the kingdom who had never revealed his face to the public. He quickly hushed the crowd and continued to speak.
"My brother!, step forward and reveal to this filthy half blood what a true dragons descendant looks like" Aris stepped forward, and as he slowly removed his helmet, red glistening scales could be seen on his face as well, his face was full of scars but his eyes were as golden as his brother's. He stood there holding his helmet looking at Max in disgust. The crowd knew that these were no ordinary knights and kept quiet in fear of what they might do.
"True dragon bloods are blessed by sky dragons and earth dragons are mere lizards that crawl the earth to celebrate such is appalling, If you were not a knight I would behead you myself for taking pride in such a mockery to our kind, you're merely filth...", Avaris quickly pointed at Anna and with his hand and directed her to touch the crystal.
In fear Anna quickly approached the priestess and laid her shaking hands on the crystal, it illuminated with a faint green glow.
The screen above them read
Recognised by the lower echelon Ethereal goddess of healing 'The Forgotten Saintess'
Special Skills:
• Empower – strengthens party members with 5% strength and casts 10% healing
• Fast Recovery – Casts instant healing on an ally at the cost of 50% of Mana points.
Ultimate Skill:
••Martyr – This skill is able to instantly heal and regrow severed limbs of an ally at the cost that all damage taken is transferred to the caster)
Avaris looked at Anna with a pitiful gaze, "Pathetic as expected, a Felari who isn't even recognised by her own gods but those of fallen heroes..." he then pointed at Valor to go next.
The old man slowly approached the priestess with a calm and proud grin on his face, he laid both of his hands on the crystal and instantly the crystal turned a dark black, a black so dark it even seemed to swallow the light refracting on the crystal itself.
He let go of the crystal and smiled stroking his white beard walking away as he looked up.
Recognised by the Ancestral Spirit of Chaos 'Dark Elves Cursed Lineage'
Special Skill:
• Dark Bind – Summons chains made of dark manna from the ground that bind the target for 10s
• Veil of Darkness – temporarily blinds the target for 5s
Ultimate skill:
•• Chaos Grasp – When holding an opponent the caster is able to steal 15% of the opponent's health and Mana points, skill stays active for 10s failure to steal the Dark Chaos will withdraw the same points from the caster as punishment)
"Impressive..." The Oracle said as she sat on her chair, "To think that the dark elf race still survive, no gods will take you but chaos favours you, I am truly impressed, this group may be more interesting than I anticipated."
Avaris continued the instruction and Keldorna was next, the short dwarven girl approached the priestess laying one hand on the crystal and streaks of light danced within it.
The screen above them suddenly blinked and read
Recognised by the Ancestral Spirit of the 'Fallen Dwarven King'
Special skill:
• Dourhand Smash – summoning the ancient strength of the Dwarven bloodline the caster can use their hammer to attack with 40% increased attack force
• Thunder Forge – super charges the casters hammer with lightning magic attack points increased by 35%
Ultimate Skill:
•• Storm Strike – a sudden electrifying strike from a distance)
Avaris smiled and began nodding "Impressive a female dwarf that is recognised by their former King...", as he spoke he was interrupted by the sight of Keldorna grabbing her great hammer spinning it around in her hand and pointing it at him.
Keldorna shouted at the top of her voice "Listen to me you lizard faced shit heads, I don't care who you are or what you think you are, I've stood here listening to your insults over and over again, I've had enough!" Tears streamed down her eyes, the crowed watched her in silence stunned by her sudden outburst.
"I'm a Black Rose Knight and I will be damned before any one of you spew that shit to any more of my comrades, so you there!, yes you big shot!,You talk a whole lot of shit up there come down here and face me! I challenge you!"
"Keldorna!!!" Zaria shouted quickly grabbing her and covering her mouth, the group also was trying to pull her hand down which was still pointing at Avaris. "Let me go!" Kel kept screaming flailing around as they tried to gain control of her.
"Hahaha!, magnificent!, now this is the bravery of a true Knight, I already knew that dwarves were foul mouthed but this young one has peaked my interest, a true warrior indeed!.." Avaris said with an entertained smile on his face which quickly turned to a brutal stare "....Unlike that one over there who tried to run..." pointing to Zaria.
"You come to our Arena with no armour but dirty shabby clothes and to add further insult you wield a wooden sword, child do you think this is a game!?" he said as his eyes began change colour into a dark red hue.
"Touch..The..Crystal!" he spoke with a deep powerful voice that even instilled fear in the Oracle herself and even Varix put his guard up fearing what might happen sensing the bloodlust coming from Avaris, even he knew that if this man stepped off from the terrace into the arena none of them would survive the backlash.
Zaria couldn't stop trembling, a primal fear had now gripped her, the wooden sword slid from her hand as she was failing to grip it from how badly she was shaking, she approached the priestess and as she raised her hands to touch the crystal, the priestess kicked her in the gut and tore off her veil revealing a face of pure beauty that could rival even the Oracle.
The pope who had been a silent observer suddenly stood up, "What is the meaning of this!?"
The priestess pointed at Zaria who was now on her knees wheezing from the blow which had winded her. "Your holiness forgive me but I will not allow such a creature to lay her hands on such a holy relic, this wench insults us by showing up here dressed like this!?, forgive me my lord but allow me to end her life!".
Aris was about to speak but the Oracle suddenly spoke up. "Priestess, do you know who allowed this so called wench you speak of to become a knight, It was I, so do you challenge my authority?"
The priestess suddenly kicked Zaria in the head who was trying to get up causing her to fall to her side.
The Oracle saw this and stood from her chair. The priestess cried out "Please Oracle of The White flame please, I implore you to reconsider! This is a mockery of our kingdom such things should not be allowed to be called knights!...."
"Insolence is a sin my eyes, know your place..." the Oracle whispered in the priestesses ear, she had appeared behind her without warning, even Avaris, Aris and the pope were shocked how she reached the Arena in an instant.
The Oracle pulled her hand back and pointing her fingertips forward drove it at the back of the priestesses skull pushing her index fingers through the young girls eye sockets. Her eyeballs burst instantly from the impact.
She started to lift the young girl up using that one hand with such ease as if she were weightless, the young girl screamed "Stop ! Please I beg you ! Please!" she cried out in agony, her screams blood curdling.
Zaria sat on the ground in shock as she watched this happen, the explosion from the girls eyeballs had splashed blood on her face, Zaria too afraid to move thought to herself 'How is she even alive!?....'
The Oracle quickly gazed at Zaria as if she had read her mind. The Oracle responded to her "Its because I'm constantly using healing magic on her, my hand might be between her brain but she doesn't have to die just yet..." the Oracle spoke but then said more speaking directly into Zaria's mind, "...because i'm having so. . . Much . . .FUN!"
Zaria's face turned pale, she was frozen in time unable to move from the sensation she was feeling, she felt fear that left her paralysed. Within that instant Zaria finally understood why people feared the Oracle as one of the most strongest beings in the continent.
The Oracle took her other hand and drove through the young girls back as a fist that exploded through the girls stomach in front of Zaria splashing blood and viscera on her face, the young girls screams began to die out as she was choking from the gushing blood escaping from her mouth, as Zaria began wiping her bloodied face she saw a menacing evil grin on the Oracle's face, she was smiling, she was happy, she was engrossed in this moment of pure carnage.
The Oracle suddenly clasped her hands together, the hand in the skull and the fist protruding through the girls stomach came together in a clapping motion splitting the girls top half in two, the severed corpse fell on it's knees in front of Zaria, the Oracle suddenly nonchalantly licked her fingers that went through the girls stomach, "Oh my. . .such a shame she was no longer a virgin, I guess I killed two people today".
She bent over and picked up the crystal that was laying on the ground. She crouched down in front of Zaria holding the crystal in one hand and began to gently stroke the side of Zarias' face removing the remaining blood off it. "Shhhh there there my child, the bad girl is gone now" with a loving expression on her face she placed her hand with the crystal in front of Zaria.
"It's your turn now...."