Throughout the arena, adjusting belt clicks resonated until one last locking sound. Holden's uniform suited his enlarged figure, tightly showing his muscled body.
Shay's gaze was locked on his oversized character, taking in details without moving a muscle.
Although his sense thundered him with danger signs, a red aura surrounding the opponent, excitement rushed through his veins.
Each heart beat, new sweat condensed on his skin, yet his focus and calmness skyrocketed. He clenched his fist and let out a heavy sigh. His breathing stabilized, sharpening his perception and deafening the distracting audience.
"Three!"
Boom!
With a quick motion and reflexes, Shay attacked first, launching himself toward the giant.
The enhanced ground, firmer than the previous material, dented under his feet, leaving behind a small dimple. Wild gales originated from his afterimage, waving the spectators' hair and forcing them to cover their faces.
Before they even stepped back from the force, the deep sound of collision confused their occupied mind.
Whomp!
He threw a direct punch toward the abdomen, disallowing his guard to alter.
Since Holden's posture was straight, the impact sent another wave of gales that knocked him off balance.
His multiplied weight made his blow to look like an ordinary push, falling backwards with a leading step.
However, Shay's swift movement was enhanced with daily improved technique and high dexterity. He dashed under his back, prepared to throw a vertical spin kick, trying to nail his thorax.
Thud.
During his rotation, Holden's firm grasp caught on his flying leg, sending out an immense shockwave as he stabilized himself.
"You think someone as weak as you can beat me? Don't make me laugh!" With a raging face, his facial muscles stiffened, hinting his intention.
'Well, that's not fucking good!' Shay thought, his vision waved until distorted lines of colors narrowed his eyes.
Bang! Splash!
Like a wet towel, he slammed into the wall headfirst, his water pockets bursting and completely drenching his clothes.
Thump! Thump!
Holden approached him, shaking the arena's floor while leaving behind massive foot marks. The vibrations traveled through the walls, sending shivers to those who watched.
They all gazed at the brutish abomination reaching his prey within an arm's length.
Shay was glued to the wall, hiding a bright green light below his stomach.
"Hehe, I'm not done with you until I cripple you entirely." He said, lifting his lip corner to show a creepy smirk.
But, before Shay got clenched, he turned his head to say a single sentence. "Fuck your gremlin face!"
His power surged through his limbs, bouncing himself off the wall and aiming at his enemy's skull.
[Mana: 0/10]
He used his Bullet Punch skill, building up air pressure while pivoting.
Just before being hit, he lifted his palm to catch the small limb, blocking the blow.
"Didn't you learn…"
Without finishing his speech, surging power was released from Shay's fist. Holden, stunned in place, looked at his own hand flying toward his face. He punched himself so hard; it sent him sailing with the streams of powerful wind gales.
Bang!
High pitched creaking noise reverberated from where he touched down as mists of dust surrounded it.
Concrete debris and steel chips scattered from the obscuring mess, landing in a semicircular pattern on the ground.
Shay landed and grasped his knees, swiping his glance at the cloud.
"You should learn to not underestimate the enemy, bitch." He said, sucking on his cheeks to collect his saliva, spitting on the floor.
After a while, the spectators switched their observing looks toward him, all wandering about his Bloodline Mastery. The thoughts traveled around as whispers filled the silence.
"Argh. When…" Cough cut Holden's sentence in half, his voice got even deeper.
The scene cleared out, revealing a partially naked ogre. His skin, height, and every other feature changed.
'That's…' Shay looked for words, finding his situation difficult to believe as his pupils scanned the gigantic guy.
The audience, standing in the amphitheater, were almost able to touch his head, towering right below their feet.
Holden's bright purple surface felt intimidating, seemingly more unnatural below the beaming yellow sunlight.
His face changed the most, as two sharp teeth grazed his upper lip, close to poking the void black pair of eyes.
Shay kept his composure and swept his attention toward the system interface before they went into another brawl.
'I don't plan on dying by this shithead.'
[Skill Merger]
[Fire Hide's Resilience + Camouflaged Hide + Sturdy Skin]
[Compatible - Name preview: Infernal Beast's Skin]
'Just merge it quickly, for fuck's sake!'
Holden noticed his stare at nothingness, saying. "What, did I daze you? Are you filled with fear and agony?"
"Does my forehead have 'scared' written over it?" He asked rhetorically, still gazing at the transparent prompt.
[New Skill: Infernal Beast's Hide]
[Description: A powerful protective layer envelops the user, granting exceptional resistance against flames and quadrupling endurance. It also provides further protection against melee attacks. Drawing from the Forest Troll's properties, it enhances Player with stealth capabilities. The skin becomes so tough, piercing it with a needle proves impossible.]
[Endurance reached over 100 points. New skill category unlocked: Combat]
[New combat skill: Guarding Thornmail]
[Description: When the user holds a defensive stance, this skill partially deflects damage against the enemy and increases protection when standing still.]
Thump.
Holden became more sluggish, moving toward the ring's middle. His destination was seconds away, giving Shay a limited time to check his stats.
[Strength: 35 (19%)] - 4x
[Endurance: 30 (8%)] - 4x
[Agility: 38 (78%)] - 4x
[Dexterity: 38 (74%)]
[Intelligence: 28 (27%)]
Roar!
A deafening tone bounced from the dome, stunning the audience with a puzzled expression. Despite witnessing his previous battles, this technique was new to all of them.
No one dared to move a muscle, neither did their mouths let out a single sound.
The earth, unable to hold his raging dash, crackles spread through the ground, rising platforms above surface level.
'It's time to try something different!'
With his raised endurance and even tougher skin, he leaned forward, taking a guarding stance.
"You dare to face me?! Then die you insect!" Following his illegible deep voice, the air surrounded his heavy fist.
His expression revealed blazing killing intent, covered by anger and revenge itself. The intense performance drove some from the arena, incapable of watching another murder.
"Say goodbye to your hand!" Shay shouted, waiting for the upcoming force.
Frshhh.
He slid back a couple meters, stopping until reaching the end of his opponent's reach.
The punch's aftermath left his arms numb, barely able to hold his stance upright.
"How the…"
Holden loved to yap, even during his fights. However, yet again, he couldn't finish his sentence as a drawback force crushed bones in his arm.
"Argh!!!"
His mind shattered to pieces as agony pierced his consciousness, leaving him in shambles. A turmoil of regrets turned him upside down, throwing himself on the ground while rolling.
'If his attack was stronger, I'd see light at the end of the tunnel even before actually dying.'
Shay sighed, looking at Holden's shapeshifting body, returning to his weak and slim state. His injured hand moved around like a worm, bone fragments sticking out of it.
"Now it's your turn to feel the pain, idiot."
While he massaged his ant swarmed limbs, he noticed the utter shock in the audience's faces.
Clap! Clap!
One sharp sound resonated through the silence, originating from a blonde tender girl.
'Catherine? She was watching all along?' His jaw dropped from the unexpected twist of events.
She created a cheering train until the whole arena was filled with whistles and screams. A green ember healed his feelings, wrapping his spirit with a warmth of success.
He used this moment to rise his feeble hand, clenching the victory shouts and intensifying his beating heart.
"Ehm. This unbelievable matchup resulted in Shay's victory, earning him the 60th position. With that, Holden Salas loses all his points!" The announcer said, anticipating everyone for the final cheer.
Shay left through one of the tunnels leading to the preparation room, passing by medic staff members. They rushed toward the injured fellow, lying on the ground with his absent mind.
The corridors, which he squeezed through, were filled with hoards of people, sizing up the updated leaderboard.
"Who is he?"
"Nobody knows, he just appeared, challenging the previous holder of the 60th position and won."
"I once heard he was some no name from the boondocks."
Such conversations didn't end, more folks connecting to random croups, discussing the newbie's glow.
The area got so busy, teachers passing by had to break the ruckus, sending everyone outside.
After a while, he escaped the suffocating crowd, heading toward his dorm room.
"Hey! Wait!"
A familiar feeble voice traversed through his ears, forcing his fast-paced steps to halt as he turned around.
"Phew. Even though you merely walked, it was difficult to catch up with you." She said, gasping for air to calm her future dialogue.
Shay scratched his scalp, letting out an awkward laugh as he continued. "Haha. Sorry, I am simply too tired after that fight."
"Well, that's a shame. I wished to have a friendly chat, but I won't hold you back from the rest. Just one thing though, Congrats."
He was flabbergasted by her change of demeanor, not expecting her to be so kind and caring.
"Thanks Cath, and we can talk any other day, you know?"
She nodded at his answer and waved at him as he continued his stride toward his slumber.