Chapter 11- The Path of Champions
Helios lay motionless on the bed, his body broken, his mind reeling from the sheer brutality of his battle against Angulus Avaritiae. Every fiber of his being ached. The marks on his cheeks, the three lines that now scarred each side of his face, burned with an eerie sensation. His body had changed, his soul had darkened, and his heart pounded with a resolve sharper than any blade.
Bow and Prometheus stood over him, the full-body elixir in hand, their expressions tense. "We need to pour this down his throat," Bow muttered.
"You sure this will work?" Prometheus asked, eyeing the shimmering golden liquid.
"Worked before, didn't it?" Bow sighed before uncorking the bottle and slowly tilting it into Helios' mouth.
The moment the elixir touched his tongue, Helios' body convulsed. His veins pulsed with raw power, his wounds stitched themselves shut, and his bones mended with agonizing speed. Within moments, Helios shot up, gasping, his golden eyes burning like miniature suns.
"Shit… that was rough," he muttered, rubbing his head.
"You're awake," Bow exhaled in relief. "How do you feel?"
Helios clenched his fists, feeling the strength surging through him. "Stronger. But... I lost myself back there. I let my rage take over."
Bow smirked, crossing his arms. "Man, that was some pretty insane shit you pulled. A fifteen-year-old taking out an angel like that? Diabolical."
Prometheus blinked. "Wait. You're fifteen?"
Helios nodded.
Prometheus scoffed, shaking his head. "I'm around the same age as Bow, and I can't even do half the stuff you can. That's... unreal."
Helios chuckled before standing up, his joints popping. "We need to prepare for our descent. The heavens are going to send more. We're marked now."
Bow and Prometheus exchanged glances before Bow pulled out a map. "Then we go here—" he pointed at an island engulfed in green. "The Island of Champions. It's home to the greatest gladiators, warriors, and fighters in the world. If we're going to get stronger, we have to refine our skills there."
"Gladiators, huh?" Helios muttered. "Fine. But I need a new sword. Mine broke against that greedy bastard."
"We'll figure that out when we get there," Bow assured.
A week later, the trio stood before the grand gates of the Island of Champions. Towering stone walls surrounded a massive coliseum at the island's heart. The scent of sweat, blood, and metal filled the air as warriors of all kinds trained relentlessly.
The upcoming tournament was the highlight of the year—an event where only the strongest survived.
The prize? Gold. Twenty pieces for the first-place winner, ten for second, and five for third.
They signed up without hesitation, paying the entry fee, and spent the following days training. Bow honed his Apex Gem techniques, Prometheus refined his swordsmanship, and Helios crafted a new fighting style entirely—his own.
On the day of the tournament, the brackets were drawn. Over two hundred fighters had entered, each one hungry for victory.
The first fifty fights were brutal, setting the tone for the carnage to come. Then, Prometheus' turn arrived.
With his twin blades flashing like lightning, he shredded through his opponent in a whirlwind of steel, leaving nothing but mangled flesh in his wake. The crowd roared in approval.
Next came Bow's turn. His opponent? A massive, demonic gorilla that could adapt mid-battle.
The beast lunged, but Bow stood firm, reeling back his fist. "SMASH!" he bellowed, swinging his fist into the gorilla's chest.
The impact was catastrophic. The gorilla exploded in a shower of blood and gore, its remains splattering across the arena.
"Overkill much?" Prometheus muttered, wiping a chunk of flesh off his shoulder.
Bow grinned. "Had to make sure it stayed down."
As the tournament raged on, Helios finally stepped into the ring. His opponent? Last year's champion—a tall, imposing woman wielding a greatsword with masterful skill.
She regarded him with cold eyes. "I am a warrior of strength. Do not hold back because I am a woman."
Helios leaned forward, eyes burning. "I wasn't planning to."
In the blink of an eye, he was upon her, his arm pierced her like spear. His hand impaled her chest, piercing through her heart before she could react.
Blood dripped from his fingertips as she fell to her knees. Yet, she smiled. "Thank you... for treating me as an equal."
She collapsed, lifeless, as the crowd gasped in shock.
Bow and Prometheus stared at Helios, wide-eyed.
"Dude… that was messed up," Bow muttered. "You did that to a girl."
Helios turned to them, his expression cold and unshaken. "She came here to fight. Every warrior deserves to die with honor and fairness."
The arena fell silent.
And the tournament... had only just begun.
With one hundred fighters remaining, the next stage loomed ahead.
Helios, Bow, and Prometheus stood side by side, ready to carve their path through the bloodbath to come.