Chapter 1: The Last Battle
The ruins of the coliseum stood as silent witnesses to a once-glorious past, now reduced to nothing more than crumbling stone and shattered statues. Time had ravaged its walls, yet the echoes of ancient battles still clung to the air. The moonlight, pale and eerie, bathed the arena in a ghostly glow, highlighting the stark contrast between the desolation of the present and the grandeur of what had been.
In the center of the arena, Atrax hovered, his black cloak rippling faintly in the cool night wind. The weight of his presence was palpable—an almost tangible pressure in the air, as though the earth itself bowed to his power. Silence reigned, broken only by the occasional whisper of wind through the ruined columns. Atrax had planned to take rest in this desolate place
But without warning, a surge of blue light split the darkness, followed by the deafening impact of a figure landing with such force that the ground trembled. Debris flew in every direction, and the air vibrated with raw Ether.
Atrax's tired gaze locked onto the newcomer. His mind already working, quickly analyzing the figure before him.
White hair, golden eyes. A body wielding a tremendous amount of Qi paired with monstrous amounts of Aura and Mana—each coexisting within his singular power core. No doubt, this was a Magic Swordsman. His class, strength, and appearance suggest him to be Valorion, the top-ranked hero in the Ethereal standings.
Breaking out if his thoughts Atrax's voice broke through, low and authoritative. "Valorion, I presume?" Even though Atrax hadn't seen him in person, he could still recognize this legendary figure.
However without waiting for an answer, Atrax power core started gathering Ether, causing red serpents of Mana to coil around him. He had detected that Valorion wasn't alone. His honed in senses , could feel the arrival of two others more than 2 kilometers away. With a green and purple hue the figures arrived their landings were more subtle, causing only a soft disturbance in the air—a slight flutter of dust and the faintest rustle of wind.
Atrax's eyes swept over the newcomers behind him, his mind working with practiced efficiency to assess each presence. His gaze first fell upon the orc—massive and imposing, with blue hair and dark skin. The air around him buzzed with an immeasurable amount of Qi, but there was no trace of Mana, only the faintest stirrings of Aura. The orc's power core was saturated with Qi, almost to the exclusion of all else.
Qi occupying ninety-nine percent of his core...had confirmed his class as a Warrior. His appearance and the sheer strength of his Ether suggested him to be Bulk, the second-ranked hero in the Ethereal rankings.
Atrax recognizing that then' shifted his attention towards the elf. Her green hair shimmered in the moonlight, and her lithe poised form were total give aways for her identity, with a bow held gracefully in her hand. The very air around her thrummed with an almost palpable surge of Mana and Arcana, the Ether flowing around her in waves. Only had the faintest trace of Aura lingered in her presence, but that alone was enough to make her identity clear.
This was Vera. No question about it. Ranked third in the Ethereal standings.
Atrax's mind, ever calculating, continued to piece together the information before him. The weight of the moment settled over him like an impending storm. These figures, so powerful and distinct, had gathered here for a reason, and Atrax knew the implications of their arrival. This was no mere coincidence. This could very well be the beginning of a confrontation that would shake the strenght foundations of their world.
Atrax's voice cut through the stillness once more, though this time, it was edged with curiosity masking his hint of tiredness. "How did you find me?"
His question echoed, carrying the weight of years spent in the shadows. Atrax had never been one to be caught off guard. Yet, in the face of such formidable individuals, there was a lingering uncertainty. Valorion and his companions had clearly come prepared, but how? What intelligence had they gathered to track him down to this forsaken place where he planned to rest?
Valorion stepped forward, his golden eyes gleaming with quiet confidence. "Let's just say we have our ways," he said simply, his voice like steel—cold, but with an unmistakable edge of familiarity.
Atrax's gaze flickered, studying each of them in turn. Bulk stood with his arms crossed, exuding an air of quiet menace. Vera, with her bow still in hand, regarded Atrax with a steady gaze, her expression unreadable.
"I trust you're not here just for a sightseeing tour, what do you want," Atrax said, his tone shifting, a subtle challenge threading through the words as he started levitating.
Valorion met his gaze unflinchingly. he replied. "We're here to kill you."
The words were a promise, one that hung in the air like a palpable threat. Atrax felt the weight of them, the challenge implicit in every syllable. But even in the face of such confidence, there was no fear in him. Only calculation.
He tilted his head slightly, his cloak swirling as he prepared for whatever would come next. "Very well," he said, his voice a low hum of anticipation. "Let's see if you have the ability too".
A/N : I don't know which kind of fights readers prefer between long and short so I just made it in between.
~CONTINUING THE NOVEL
After those words silence fell in the colosseum.
The tension in the air was thick, as if the very fabric of reality trembled in anticipation of what was about to unfold. Valorion, Bulk, and Vera stood in perfect triangular formation, each a living embodiment of power. Atrax hovered in the center of the arena, his black cloak billowing around him like the wings of some dark bird of prey. The moonlight cast long shadows, making the scene feel like something torn from the pages of an ancient legend.
Without warning, Valorion moved.
He blurred into motion, his white hair trailing behind him like a comet's tail, and in an instant, he closed the distance between himself and Atrax. The sound of his sword being unsheathed echoed across the ruins, a high-pitched shriek that cut through the silence. Atrax's eyes narrowed, his mind already calculating.
Valorion was fast.
But Atrax was faster.
With a flick of his wrist, red serpents of Mana coiled from his body, intercepting Valorion's blade before it could touch him. The collision of power was explosive, sending shockwaves through the arena. The ground cracked beneath them, and dust exploded into the air as the forces clashed.
Atrax's eyes glowed red with a dangerous light, his Ether energy swirling around him in an intricate dance of Mana and Qi. He had not expected Valorion's speed to be so overwhelming, but his body moved instinctively, each counterattack flowing seamlessly from his muscles. His energy surged as the Mana serpents retracted and morphed into jagged blades, aiming directly at Valorion's chest.
Valorion, however, was no mere hero. He leaped into the air with a graceful spin, avoiding the strike by mere inches. The tip of his sword shimmered with a powerful, ethereal light as he swung it downward in a deadly arc toward Atrax's exposed flank.
But Atrax had already anticipated the move. He vanished in a flash of red light, reappearing behind Valorion, a wicked smile curling his lips. "Is that all, Valorion?"
Before the swordsman could react, Atrax unleashed a wave of Mana, the Ether forming into a massive vortex that pulled at everything around it. The ground trembled as stones, debris, and the very air were sucked into the swirling maelstrom. Valorion grunted as he struggled against the pull, his feet digging into the shattered ground to anchor himself.
Bulk, watching from the sidelines, was the next to act. With a roar, the massive orc lunged forward, his arms swinging with such force that the air itself seemed to bend around his fists. His Qi flared, crackling with raw power, and his fists collided with the vortex. The impact sent ripples through the Mana, disrupting Atrax's concentration just enough for Valorion to break free.
In that moment of distraction, Vera released an arrow aiming for Atrax heart, its shaft glinting with an unnatural green light. The arrow sailed through the air with incredible speed, cutting through the Mana vortex as though it were nothing. Atrax's eyes widened whilst dodging slightly just enough for the arrow strick his shoulder instead of his heart.
Nevertheless the impact was devastating, and Atrax was forced to stumble back, his cloak catching on the wind as he reoriented himself. The force of the arrow had left a deep wound, but Atrax barely flinched. Instead, he growled in fury, the wound already healing as his Mana surged.
"Impressive," he muttered under his breath, though his voice betrayed a growing sense of admiration.
Valorion, ever the tactician, took the opportunity to attack once more. With a sweeping motion of his sword, he unleashed a blade of pure Mana, sending a wave of cutting energy hurtling toward Atrax. The attack was faster than any mortal strike, aimed directly at Atrax's heart.
But Atrax was no mortal.
He raised his hand, the red serpents of Mana slithering from his fingers to form a protective shield. The wave of Mana crashed against the shield with a thunderous boom, but Atrax stood firm, his cloak swirling in the shockwave. The shield held, though it trembled under the sheer force of Valorion's attack.
"This has gone on for longer than enough ," Atrax said, his voice rising with intensity. His eyes glowed a fierce red, and the energy in the air shifted, becoming oppressive.
With a single motion, Atrax slammed his hands to the ground. The earth beneath him cracked and split open, sending massive columns of stone shooting upward like jagged teeth. Mana surged through the earth, and the stone columns became twisted pillars of red Ether that shot out in every direction, aiming to impale his enemies.
Valorion leapt into the air, his golden eyes blazing as he twirled mid-flight, narrowly avoiding the columns. Bulk charged forward, his muscles rippling with power as he cleaved through the stone pillars with his massive fists. Vera's bow hummed as she fired arrow after arrow, each one imbued with a different magical property, seeking to overwhelm Atrax.
But Atrax wasn't finished. With another flick of his wrist, the red Mana coiled around him like a serpent, creating a barrier that blocked Vera's arrows. At the same time, his power surged outward in a shockwave, sending Valorion and Bulk skidding backward.
Atrax's voice echoed, calm and deadly. "You cannot win."
But then, something changed. Valorion's golden eyes narrowed, and he locked onto Atrax with renewed focus. "We're not here to win," he said, his voice steady and full of determination.
Atrax's eyes flashed with realization. Just as he was about to react, Bulk and Vera attacked in unison. Bulk barreled toward him, his fists a blur of motion, while Vera loosed a volley of arrows, each aimed at critical points.
In that split second, Atrax's mind raced. There was no time to dodge them all. Instead, he raised his hand and invoked his ability—the one he had kept hidden for so long.
A massive surge of energy erupted from Atrax's core, the force so intense that it bent the very fabric of space around him. The red serpents of Mana wrapped around his body, forming a shield that expanded outward, colliding with the oncoming attacks.
The explosion of energy rocked the entire arena, sending shockwaves that shattered the ground and sent debris flying in every direction. The once-pristine coliseum was now a warzone, a landscape of destruction and chaos.
For a moment, the world stood still.
The air in the coliseum was thick with dust, the battle's intensity leaving the surroundings eerily silent. Then, as the cloud of debris slowly began to settle, the figures of the combatants emerged from the haze.
Atrax stood tall, his body battered but unbowed, his stance a testament to his resilience. He looked as if the battle had done little more than irritate him. Valorion, Bulk, and Vera, though injured, were far from defeated. Their resolve remained unbroken, their faces etched with determination despite the pain.
A taunting smile twisted Atrax's lips as he straightened himself. "Seems like I'm fully awake now," he sneered, his voice dripping with dark amusement. His words were laced with mockery, clearly aimed to provoke.
The three heroes exchanged a silent glance, their thoughts a mirror of the confusion that clouded their minds. Valorion's brow furrowed as he looked at Atrax, uncertainty creeping into his voice. "Has he gone local?" he muttered, his words barely audible as he questioned the sudden shift in Atrax's behavior.
But that confusion quickly transformed into dread when Atrax raised his hand, a cold, calculating look on his face. "Gravity Manipulation, First Stage: Crushed Horizon," he announced in a tone so subtle it barely registered as a command. The ground trembled as a crimson domain began to unfurl around him, swirling with intricate patterns. In the blink of an eye, a red field expanded, rapidly covering the entire 5-kilometer expanse of the coliseum.
The pressure was immediate and overwhelming. All of the heroes, save for Valorion, were forced to their knees, their bodies trembling under the crushing weight. The force of the gravity was suffocating, pushing them down with a weight equivalent to 500 tons, as if the very earth itself had turned against them.
Valorion's eyes widened, his mind racing as he realized the severity of the situation. He understood that Atrax's gravity manipulation was far beyond anything they'd encountered before. He clenched his fists, determination flaring in his chest. There was no time to waste—he had to act.
With great effort, Valorion pushed through the immense gravitational pressure, his movements slow and labored, but he was undeterred. He rushed toward Atrax, every step a battle against the crushing force that threatened to break him.
"It's futile," Atrax's voice came, almost mocking, as his hand shifted from one to two,
"Stage two: Dominion" Atrax voice was more subtle but commanded more power. The gravity pressure surged instantly, intensifying by an unimaginable 1700 tons. The air seemed to grow thick with the sheer force, and even Valorion, with all his strength, found himself forced to the ground, his knees buckling under the oppressive weight.
But Valorion wasn't finished yet. He had prepared for moments like this. With gritted teeth, he activated his trump card: Mind's Eclipse. The ability was devastating. As long as the target was within range, no matter how strong they were, a major memory of the last five years would be erased.
The world around Valorion seemed to bend and shift as the ability took effect. The power wasn't a typical weapon—no blast or strike—but a subtle intrusion into the mind. Atrax's expression faltered for a split second, his eyes narrowing as the effect began to unfold. It was as if a fog began to cloud his memories, a sudden emptiness that he couldn't ignore. But the true devastation wasn't in what he forgot—it was in what the ability could do.
Valorion knew that even if Atrax didn't lose everything, the confusion would be enough to slow him down. The force of the attack was enough to alter someone's perception of reality, making even the most dangerous foes hesitate.
As the seconds dragged on, Atrax's once-unshakable grip on his powers began to falter. Valorion's Mind's Eclipse was working its way through his psyche, and the effects were immediate. Atrax could feel his memories slipping away, like grains of sand trickling through his fingers. He tried to fight it, to resist the creeping fog that clouded his mind, but it was futile. His mind, usually a sharp and unyielding force, was now gripped by an unfamiliar weakness.
His hand, which had been raised in the air to maintain the oppressive gravity field, trembled and slowly began to lower. The steady focus that had kept his abilities at their peak was slipping through his control. His breathing became labored as the fog in his mind thickened, causing his thoughts to scatter like autumn leaves in the wind. He could no longer remember the specifics of the plans he had crafted, nor could he recall the details of the overwhelming power he had harnessed with such precision.
Atrax's eyes narrowed, his thoughts frantic as he struggled to push back against the mental intrusion. His instincts screamed at him to escape, to distance himself from Valorion's reach, but his body felt sluggish, like a marionette whose strings had been cut. Despite the intensity of the force pulling at his consciousness, he managed to focus on one singular goal: survival.
Without a moment's hesitation, Atrax propelled himself into the air with a sudden burst of speed. The air around him crackled as he flew toward the horizon, desperate to break free from the disorienting effects of Valorion's ability. His movements were frantic, a blur of motion as he tore through the sky, leaving a trail of disturbance in his wake.
But the farther he flew, the harder it became to maintain control. His memories were slipping faster now—fragments of his past and his purpose were vanishing, dissolving into nothingness. The deeper the influence of Mind's Eclipse, the more he felt his own sense of identity unraveling. His powers, once so precise and calculated, were now unpredictable, slipping out of his grasp.
It wasn't long before Atrax began to feel the weight of his own weakness. The edges of his vision blurred as the full impact of the memory loss took hold. He could no longer maintain the altitude or the control he once had. His body, exhausted from the strain of fighting both his own fading memories and Valorion's overwhelming gravity, began to betray him. He faltered in midair, his energy completely drained.
The wind howled in his ears as his flight slowed, his movements becoming erratic and uncoordinated. His muscles, once imbued with an almost supernatural strength, were now useless against the growing fog in his mind. He stumbled, his flight faltering before he plummeted toward the ground like a stone cast from a great height.
The impact was hard, the earth beneath him cracking as Atrax crashed to the ground with a sickening thud. His body was limp, his once-vibrant energy drained to the point where he could barely stir. The weight of his fading memories was too much for him to bear, and in that moment, his mind finally gave way to the pressure. He lay motionless, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths, unconscious from the overwhelming strain of both his powers and Valorion's mental assault.