CHAPTER 84: HER CHAMPION [5]

Alaric stood tall, crimson eyes fixed forward. Across from him, Asher waited in still silence. They faced each other like statues. Neither flinched nor looked away.

"Hey, that is the champion of house Glimor, right?" One of the spectators whispered to their companion.

"Yeah, he’s young, handsome and also looks strong."

"You think he can win against Asher?"

"I don’t so, but who care who win. We’re just here for the show."

"Hahaha, yeh."

The murmurs spread through the Crowd.

But Alaric didn’t pay any mind.

Then, the announcer’s voice rang out...

"Begin."

The moment those words left, they both moved and circled each other like predators, boots scraping against stone as they closed the distance.

Then Alaric struck first.

A testing jab.

But Asher deflected it with his forearm and countered with a swift uppercut that Alaric barely twisted away from.

The crowd leaned forward as the two men exchanged a flurry of strikes.

Alaric’s movements were fluid and precise, while Asher’s blows carried the weight of raw power behind them.

Each connection of flesh against flesh rang out, as they were testing each other’s limits without committing to anything decisive.

Crack!

Asher’s fist grazed Alaric’s ribs, sending a jolt of pain through his side.

"Argh!"

He spun away, creating space between them as he reassessed his opponent.

He’s stronger, Alaric thought grimly, rolling his shoulder to work out the sting.

Both men stepped back simultaneously, chests rising and falling.

The brief exchange had told them everything they needed to know.

Steel sang as they drew their weapons in unison.

Alaric’s blade emerged from its sheath with whispered menace, the familiar weight settling into his grip like an old friend.

Across from him, Asher hefted a massive war axe, its double-headed blade gleaming with lethal promise, the weapon’s size speaking to the man’s immense physical strength.

And without warning, they charged.

CLANG!

Sword met axe in a shower of sparks, the collision sending shockwaves through both fighters’ arms.

Alaric’s blade skittered along the axe’s edge as he pivoted, seeking an opening, while Asher pressed forward with relentless aggression, his weapon’s weight turning each swing into a potential killing blow.

The arena erupted in gasps and shouts as the true battle began.

"Damn, he sure is strong."

"Yeah, I thought he would be fumbled in just few minutes, but..."

"Heh, never underestimate young ladies."

CLANG!

They clashed again, steel ringing against steel in a deadly dance.

Alaric’s blade moved like liquid mercury, finding gaps in Asher’s defense with surgical precision.

He ducked under a massive axe swing that would have taken his head clean off, the wind from the blow ruffling his black hair, and riposted with a cut that drew a thin line of blood across Asher’s forearm.

But Asher didn’t even flinch, he just pressed forward relentlessly, his war axe carving through the air in devastating arcs.

Alaric sidestepped another crushing blow, his boots scraping against floor as he spun away.

Use his momentum against him, he thought, watching for patterns in Asher’s assault.

The crowd held its breath as the warriors circled each other once more, both bearing minor cuts, sweat gleaming on their faces in the eternal flame’s glow.

Then something changed in Asher’s stance.

The older man’s muscles began to swell visibly beneath his clothing, veins standing out like cords along his arms.

His eyes took on an unnatural gleam as power coursed through his body. The war axe, already massive in his grip, now seemed almost weightless as his enhanced strength took hold.

Alaric’s eyes widened slightly.

Damn.

Then Asher moved with frightening speed for his size, the enhanced muscles propelling him forward faster than before.

His axe crashed down where Alaric had been standing, cracking the floor, and swept sideways in a blur that forced Alaric to throw himself backward.

Stumbling slightly as he regained his footing, Alaric felt his usual fluid grace falter for the first time.

The enhancement had shifted the balance completely, Asher now possessed both overwhelming strength and dangerous speed.

Alaric gritted his teeth, deflecting blow after crushing blow as Asher’s enhanced assault intensified.

CLANG!

CLANG!

Each parry sent shockwaves up his arms, the force behind the war axe now threatening to shatter his guard entirely.

His blade trembled with each impact, and he could feel his shoulders beginning to burn from the strain.

CRASH!

Another overhead strike nearly drove him to his knees. Alaric rolled sideways, his scarf whipping behind him as he barely avoided the follow-up swing that split the air where his head had been.

Stone chips scattered as the axe bit deep into the arena floor.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he backpedaled, his crimson eyes darting for any opening in Asher’s relentless advance.

But the enhanced warrior gave him no respite, each recovery was met with another bone-jarring assault, the war axe moving in deadly patterns that left little room for counterattack.

I can’t keep this up,

Alaric realized grimly, his breathing growing labored.

His sword arm ached, and a thin line of blood trickled down his cheek from a near-miss that had grazed him moments before.

Meanwhile at the elevated seats, Selene’s tense expressions were tense, her knuckles white as she gripped the marble armrest. Across from her, Varell’s grey eyes gleamed with satisfaction, while Caleb leaned forward with predatory anticipation. Though Livia clutched her tear-shaped pendant hard, holding her breath.

Back in the arena Asher pressed his advantage ruthlessly, his enhanced muscles rippling as he launched into a devastating combination.

The axe whistled through the air in figure-eight patterns, each swing designed to corner Alaric further against the arena’s edge.

Can’t even use my blade arts yet, Alaric thought desperately.

The enhanced speed made Asher capable of matching even his swiftest techniques, he would need the perfect moment, a split-second when his opponent’s guard dropped completely.

But that moment seemed impossibly distant as Asher closed in for what looked like the finishing blow.

The war axe rose high, enhanced muscles coiling with lethal intent.

In desperation, Alaric’s consciousness reached inward, Shop.

The translucent shop window materialized before his eyes.

Based on the provided sources, here is the most recent shop interface available to Alaric:

🛒 System Shop – Basic Tier Items

- Minor Healing Potion – 50 DP

Accelerates recovery from minor wounds, bruises, and fatigue. Standard limit: 5 per week.

- Adrenaline Pill – 100 DP

Temporarily boosts any one stat by 2x for 10 seconds.

Limit: 3 per week.

- Focus Elixir – 55 DP

Sharpens mental clarity. Ideal for deep focus during study, meditation, or tactical planning.

- Shadowstep Token – 90 DP

A single-use token that grants a burst of speed and near-complete silence for 5 seconds. Perfect for escape, stealth, or quick repositioning.

- Charm Enhancer (Temporary) – 105 DP

Temporarily boosts charisma by +5 for 1 hour. Warning: May produce exaggerated social effects when combined with high base Charm.

- Steel Blade – 500 DP

Basic but reliable blade. Durable, balanced, and sharp enough to be deadly in the right hands.

🗓 MONTHLY SPECIALS – LIMITED STOCK

- Intermediate Flame Spell Pack – 1500 DP

Grants three Intermediate-level fire spells. Requires Flame Affinity to use.

- Mystic Gear Pack – 5000 DP

Contains: Reinforced Cloak, Storage Ring, Essence Crystal.

Only 1 pack available per month.

- Beginner Combat Manual (Weapon Style Selection) – 800 DP

Grants user a basic weapon style proficiency. Choose one: Dual Daggers, Longsword, Spearplay, Unarmed Combat: Brutal Style.

Buy three Adrenaline Pills.

[x3 Adrenaline Pills cost 300 DP.]

[Do you want to purchase?]

Just as he was about to confirm the purchase—

Everything stopped.

The world didn’t slow.

No.

It ceased entirely.

Asher’s axe hung froze mid-swing, droplets of sweat suspended in the air like crystal beads.

The crowd’s gasps died in their throats, their faces locked in expressions of anticipation.

Pure darkness swallowed the arena.

Alaric found himself standing in an endless void, the familiar weight of his sword gone from his hand.

His breath came in sharp gasps that echoed in the absolute silence, the only sound in this place beyond time.

Then—

A flicker of flame danced before him, small and delicate as a candle’s light.

But as he watched, it began to grow.

Larger, brighter, more magnificent with each passing heartbeat until it towered above him like a living mountain of fire.

Then the flame reshaped itself.

Whoosh!

Wings of pure light spreading wide enough to eclipse the darkness.

A majestic head emerged, with eyes burning with fury of divine judgment.

KYAAAARRRHH!

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Chapter End-

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New goal, since the book ain’t performing well:

+1 Extra Chapter (Every 75 Power stone)

+1 Extra Chapter (Every 25 GT)