As the moonlight illuminated the massive arena, the battles raged on, one square at a time. Liam stood at the edge of the platform, observing a fight between a heavily-armored fighter and a mage.
The fighter charged forward, his sword gleaming as he swung it with immense force. The mage, clad in flowing robes, stepped back swiftly, his staff glowing with magical energy. A shield of light materialized, absorbing the brunt of the attack before the mage retaliated with a barrage of fireballs.
"He should've won by now," Liam muttered, crossing his arms.
Ray's voice sounded in his mind. "Technically, yes. Fighters excel in close-range combat, but look closer. The mage's mana pool is enormous. He's deliberately stalling and spamming magic to wear the fighter down."
Liam's eyes narrowed as the battle continued. The fighter's movements slowed with each attack he blocked, his stamina dwindling. Meanwhile, the mage maintained a relentless assault, switching from fireballs to blasts of wind and shards of ice.
Finally, the fighter collapsed, his armor battered and scorched. The mage stood tall, his breathing steady despite the ferocity of his attacks.
"He's strong," Liam said, impressed.
Ray responded with a note of caution. "Stronger than he looks. That's no ordinary mage. He's wearing a disguise, concealed by a Level 7 Dark Magic Mirror. That man is the third strongest person in Befardo."
Liam's eyes widened slightly at the revelation. His gaze fixed on the mage as he walked off the platform, his robes trailing behind him. "A potential opponent, huh?"
Before Ray could respond, a booming voice announced Liam's name.
"Guess that's me," Liam said with a shrug, stepping forward toward the square.
Ray spoke up, his tone lighter now. "You've been looking bored. Good news—your next opponent might pique your interest."
Liam raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
As he entered the square, he caught sight of his challenger: a tall, graceful elf with silver hair tied back in a braid. She held a pristine white bow in her hand—but there were no arrows in sight. Her emerald eyes gleamed with confidence as she stepped onto the platform.
Liam's interest was instantly piqued. "Now this is interesting," he said, a grin spreading across his face.
The elf raised her bow, notching an invisible arrow as she took her stance. The crowd fell silent, anticipating the clash between the mysterious archer and the ever-confident newcomer.
Ray chuckled in Liam's mind. "Don't underestimate her. That bow is no ordinary weapon."
Liam's grin widened. "Good. I wouldn't want this to be boring."
The referee raised his hand, signaling the start of the match.
The massive crowd in the arena roared as the fight began, their excitement echoing in the evening air. Liam stepped into the square, his confident smirk belying the caution brewing in his mind. Across the battlefield stood the elf archer, calm and composed, her radiant white bow shimmering faintly under the arena lights.
Liam's eyes fixated on the bow. "Ray, what's the deal with that thing? No arrows, but it looks deadly."
Ray's voice resonated in his mind, sharp and analytical. "That's Forest Eyes, a legendary bow. Its arrows are homing—they'll chase you until either they or you are destroyed. And here's the kicker: she's not using regular arrows. She's using magic arrows."
Liam frowned. "Magic arrows?"
"They aren't physical, so your Auto Counter won't work. They deal a lot of damage and disintegrate after some time, but they're easier to destroy compared to normal arrows. Oh, and she can summon fifty-seven of them at once. If she wanted, she could just fire and watch you dance while they do the work."
"Fifty-seven?" Liam muttered, his grin fading momentarily. "This just keeps getting better."
The elf drew her bowstring, and shimmering green arrows began materializing, their tips glowing ominously. Liam raised his voice. "You're just going to start without introductions? A little rude, don't you think?"
The elf paused, her gaze unwavering. "Carol," she said simply. "That's my name. And please, for your own good, surrender now."
Liam chuckled, his smirk returning. "Surrender? You'll have to earn that."
Without hesitation, Carol released her first arrow. It streaked through the air with deadly precision, curving unnaturally toward Liam even as he sidestepped. Instinctively, he swatted it aside, shattering the glowing construct into harmless sparks.
"Well, that's annoying," he muttered.
Carol didn't miss a beat, unleashing a volley of arrows. The air filled with shimmering projectiles, all honing in on Liam.
"Ray, I'll need an edge here," Liam said, his tone sharper now.
"Use Brew of Forbidden Arts," Ray advised. "Increase your dodge rate, but it'll drain your stamina. Also, remember: those arrows are magic. Auto Counter is useless here."
Liam nodded. "No counter? Guess I'll have to do this the hard way."
Activating Brew of Forbidden Arts, a surge of vitality coursed through him. His movements became faster, sharper, and more precise. Each arrow seemed to slow in his perception, giving him just enough time to react. He weaved through the storm of projectiles, deflecting and dodging with flawless precision.
Carol's eyes narrowed as she watched him close the gap between them. "Impressive," she said, her voice calm despite his relentless advance. "But you can't keep this up forever."
"Who said I plan to?" Liam quipped, his grin widening.
Sensing his approach, Carol drew her bowstring again, summoning a fresh volley of arrows. This time, she didn't release them immediately. The projectiles hovered around her, forming a protective barrier.
"Ray," Liam murmured, "what's she planning now?"
"She's setting a trap. Those arrows will cover every possible escape route. You'll need to disrupt her rhythm."
"Got it," Liam replied, darting forward with renewed vigor.
As he closed in, the arrows shot toward him in unison. Liam twisted, leaped, and deflected, his enhanced agility allowing him to navigate the storm of glowing projectiles. With each step, he moved closer to his opponent.
Carol's composure faltered as Liam entered melee range. With a sudden motion, she bent low, drawing a concealed dagger from her leg. She lunged at him, the blade flashing in the light.
Liam's reflexes kicked in. The moment the blade came within reach, his Auto Counter activated, disarming her effortlessly. The dagger clattered to the ground as Liam's smirk grew wider.
"You're going to need more than that," he teased.
Snarling, Carol swung her bow like a club, aiming for his head. Liam ducked and caught the weapon with ease. With a quick twist, he yanked it from her grasp and tossed it aside, leaving her unarmed.
Carol stumbled back, her confidence shattered. Liam stepped forward, his fingers poised just above her throat. His eyes locked onto hers, daring her to make another move.
"I suggest you surrender," he said, his voice low and confident.
Carol hesitated, then raised her hands in defeat. "I yield," she said, her voice barely audible over the roaring crowd.
Liam stepped back, his grin widening as he turned to leave the square. "That was fun," he muttered to himself.
"Told you she'd be interesting," Ray chimed in, his tone smug.
"Yeah, yeah," Liam replied, his excitement bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "Now, who's next?"