The next statue moved his hands groggily, almost robotically, and then his feet began to move.
He left his platform and sighed sharply, grabbing the hilt of his sword as he slowly opened his glowing white eyes.
The statue was draped in armour that covered his torso and lower body made of steel. His sword was also abnormally curved and shaped like Nico's with a cross guard.
His eyes fell onto the players and a gust of wind flew around them, causing their hairs and clothes to sway in the direction of the wind.
After a few seconds, it settled and the giant smiled.
"My name is Theseus, and I am the next pillar of Poseidon. Show me that you are more than bones and flesh and I shall let you ascend!" Theseus declared as he drew his sword and pointed it at the players.
"One by one, five at once, I don't care! If you want to live, you'll make sure you land a devastating blow on me!"
Victor put his boxing gloves back into his inventory and cracked his neck before taking a fighting stance and channelling his mana.
Sophia conjured more of her tendrils as her eyes turned pink while the energy buzzed reverently around her.
Veronica, somehow more determined to fight than she was when she first entered the tower, also turned herself into a phantom and prepared for battle.
Nara chuckled and summoned shadows that covered both her arms and made them longer with large hands that had sharp claws.
Nico detached the Steel Blade from the Voided Xiphos and conjured a fire that covered the blade. He put the Steel Blade back into his Inventory and took a stance.
Theseus smiled and dashed for the players, and the players charged for him as well.
Taking the lead was Nara as she began brawling with Theseus. A crazed smile plastered onto her face as she went blow for blow with him.
Theseus blocked and deflected her massive class attacks with his sword and managed to parry her hands.
With the opening presenting itself, he shoved his foot towards her, only for his leg to get wrapped around by Sophia's tendrils.
Sophia pulled and caused Theseus to split his legs. Without reacting, he simply tugged and broke the tendrils effortlessly.
Then, he spun around and got on both feet before charging ahead once again. With a loud scream, Victor punched the ground as hard as he could and caused the terrain to shift, sending the ground flying towards Theseus.
Theseus used his sword to cut the debris, and then cut through the air, sending a wind blade in the player's direction.
Veronica appeared in the air and extended her arm towards the blade.
She opened her hands and channelled her mana towards the attack. Then, she absorbed it and prevented everyone from getting hurt.
"You mortals are good. But, you have yet to land an attack," said Theseus. He then lifted an eyebrow and looked around.
"Weren't there 5 of you?"
Suddenly, his senses tingled and he quickly turned around, where he saw Nico holding up his Voided Xiphos with a serious look on his face.
The blade was getting closer and closer to piercing Theseus.
'This'll work!' Nico said confidently.
"That sword of yours..." Theseus began as he swiftly swung his sword towards Nico, shocking him at how expeditiously Theseus had moved.
"Achilles has one that's just like yours... But, from what I can tell, yours is nothing but a sloppy copy," he continued as he blocked the attack.
Not only did he block it, but surprisingly enough, he cleaved through Nico's Voided Xiphos and broke the blade, shocking Nico.
Time moved in slow motion as he saw the blade get split into two parts. Then, his body violently hit the wall, where he gagged and vomited blood simultaneously.
His body fell and hit the ground. Before Theseus could finish the job, Sophia wrapped her tendrils around him and managed to pull him back.
Then, she conjured up a pink mana ball and fired it towards him. It exploded in his face and Victor swooped in and picked up Nico.
"Hey, you alright, Nico?" Victor asked as he set him down.
Nico couldn't respond. Instead, he kept staring blankly at his broken sword, which was now 20% blade and the rest was a guard and hilt.
{ Your weapon, Voided Xiphos (Unknown Rank), has been shattered }
Nico felt his heart break as he read the system screen's message. This was the first weapon he earned after dying and the one he had used for the longest time.
It was strong and resilient, and he had grown fond of it. And yet, Theseus shattered it like it was nothing.
This was the difference in strength and technique between the both of them.
'They say that if you know how to properly wield a blade, it won't shatter under your use... I fucked up...' he said to himself as he picked himself up.
"You good?" Victor inquired.
Nico held his shoulder and cracked it. Then, his red eyes began glowing and an energy of the sand colour cracked around him.
"Yeah... Just needed a few seconds to catch my breath," he answered bitterly. "I'll create an opening for you. Make sure you bring him down."
"You ain't gotta tell me twice," Victor responded with his eyes turning gold.
The duo then ran towards Theseus, who was still scrapping with Veronica, Sophia and Nara.
Nara managed to land 3 punches on Theseus, causing him to stagger backwards but maintain his footing.
He swung his blade 3 times and sent 3 wind blades their way.
'I can't vacuum all 3 at once!' Veronica panicked.
Without warning, Victor punched the ground and lifted a portion of the floor with one hand, using the other to throw it towards the wind blades.
Once they came into contact with the rocks, the blades disappeared and Theseus tore through the wall.
"You're smart, alright! But I need to see more! Show me, mortals!" he taunted as he continued his attack.
Theseus quickly lifted his head and smiled as Nico was descending towards him, using the same attack as before, this time with a broken blade.
"You don't learn, do you?" Theseus asked as he tried swinging his blade, only to find out that Sophia and Nara were using their tendrils to hold it down.
Veronica possessed Victor once more and leapt for Theseus, who struggled to free his sword from Sophia and Nara's hold.
He gritted his teeth and locked eyes with Nico.
"What are you going to do with a broken blade?" he asked as he smirked.
"A new blade may cut faster..." Nico began as the broken Voided Xiphos was engulfed in bright orange flames.
The flames consumed it and created a larger and broader sword, surprising Theseus as his eyes widened.
'He used the same technique as that shadow manipulator woman... But, how...?' he said internally.
"But an old blade has mastery in the field," Nico concluded as he cleaved Theseus while Victor punched him.
When Nico pierced his head, Victor punched him in the gut and opened a huge gaping hole.
The two landed on the ground and took a deep breath.
"My blade's not broken; it's just trimmed, that's all," Nico added as he watched Theseus fall to the ground, their battle concluding in a measly 2 and a half minutes.
Sophia and Veronica looked at Nico and their eyes widened.
'He utilised Nara's skill with a broken blade. But, how? How did he manage that?' Veronica inquired as she floated next to him.
'He mastered his flane control to the point of him being able to create the perfect blade... This is...' Sophia said as she looked at Nico in shock.
"That was awesome, you two!" Nara exclaimed as she jumped up and down. "Especially you, Nico! Who knew that you could do that with your fire?! You can manipulate your flames the same way I manipulate shadows!"
"I never knew I could do that... Guess I'm outta practice," he answered honestly.
"Sorry 'bout the sword, man," Victor apologized.
Nico smiled softly and simply put the broken sword back into his Inventory. "Don't be. Besides, it still works, doesn't it?"
{ Theseus has chosen his people!
5/5 players have proved themselves to be worthy of the next phase!
Reward: Instant Heal }
{ Bonus Rewards:
- New Skill: Fire Control (D-rank)
- æ150,000
- New Title: The Compass }
{ +100 Mana has been added! }
{ +15 Strength has been added! }
{ +15 Dexterity has been added! }
Nico looked at his system screen and realised that he had not only received a bonus, but his stats went up quite a bit as well.
'A new title huh? The Compass?'
{ The Compass: It's simple, yet super versatile and reliable. It adapts to any environment, always pointing you in the right direction, whether you're lost in the woods or navigating uncharted waters. A tiny, unassuming tool, but it's got your back like a boss }
Nico smiled to himself and closed his system screen. 'I don't like it, and I don't think it fits. But, I'll gladly accept it!'