Chapter 154: That Burning Feeling On My BackAfter that fight, I was sent back into the waiting room again. I was just about to sit down on a bench that I randomly decided was my "usual" spot, the uniformed man approached me.

    "This is for you." [Uniformed Man]

    He handed me a glass vial that was closed by a cork. Inside was a red liquid that sloshed around.

    "...What''s this?" [Solace]

    "A healing potion. Please take it before your next match." [Uniformed Man]

    I accepted the potion.

    "Thank you." [Solace]

    "No need. I am only doing my job." [Uniformed Man]

    He gave me a polite nod and took his leave.

    ("...A potion, huh.") [Solace]

    I sat down on my usual bench and inspected the potion.

    ("|Analyze|.") [Solace]

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

    Item Name: Minor Healing Potion

    Description: A glass bottle containing a liquid that can accelerate healing by skin contact or consumption. It has a bitter taste that a select few can enjoy.

    Effects: Target receives 200 points of health.

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

    ("I guess he wasn''t lying.") [Solace]

    I popped open the bottle and downed the entire thing.

    "Alert: You have gained 200 health." [Spirit Guide]

    I felt much better. There was also a mild bitter taste in the back of my throat. It reminded me somewhat of bittermelon.

    ("Now, I wait.") [Solace]

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

    My next match began two hours later. I was called up along with a girl wrapping her brown hair into a ponytail.

    "Sir Alt Account and madam Rila B. Colders. Please follow me." [Uniformed Man]

    The longer I sit here, the more I realize that the people here have weird names.

    ("It really is a different world.") [Solace]

    We followed the same procedures of the last fight. I went up to the arena and honored my opponent.

    "You may begin." [Wilharrow]

    Unlike Dilyan, this girl didn''t use a melee weapon. Matter of fact, I don''t think she was going to go for close range at all since she just took out a bow. It looked quite fancy as well since it was black, gold, and laminated.

    "|Burst Arrow|!" [Rila]

    She summoned transparent arrows into her hand before flinging them at me with the bow.

    "Three arrows at once?" [Solace]

    It was impressive that she was able to shoot a handful with such accuracy. In any case, I snatched them out of the air.

    "That was eas-" [Solace]

    Was what I said before the arrows exploded in my face. It wasn''t very harmful. It was just super dusty.

    ("That''s what "Burst Arrow" meant?!") [Solace]

    I honestly thought it meant she was going to shoot arrows in bursts of three or something.

    "|Root|!" [Rila]

    I heard something cut through the air before hearing a sharp thunk by my feet.

    "Huh?" [Solace]

    I fanned the dust away to see an arrow laying by my feet.

    ("Yep, that''s a trap.") [Solace]

    Vines sprang out of the arrow, reaching for my legs. Luckily, I reacted fast enough to jump away at the last second.

    ("Isn''t this tricky? I should close the distance.") [Solace]

    I knew that being far away isn''t going to do a thing for me against a long range combatant. Therefore, I ran straight at her.

    "E-Eek! |Stone Golem|!" [Rila]

    She looked a bit scared of me as I made a mad dash for her. Perhaps Rila was caught off guard by how fast I was.

    ("Almost there.") [Solace]

    Rila tried to create distance by leaping backwards, but I was already right on her. Just as I was about to grab her bow, I was pulled back.

    "Eh?" [Solace]

    Next thing I knew, I was slammed into the arena flooring.

    "Urgh!" [Solace]

    I let out a groan as the sun hit my eyes. I shielded my face from the light, allowing me to see the perpetrator that grabbed me.

    ("...The hell is that?") [Solace]

    A rocky figure, kind of like a mannequin, had a hold of my leg.

    ("|Analyze|.") [Solace]

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

    Name: N/A

    Race: Golem

    Class: Stone Golem Sёarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Gender: N/A

    Age: N/A

    Level: 26

    Health: 2000

    Mana: 0

    Strength: 600

    Agility: 100

    Intelligence: 11

    Willpower: 0

    Status: Stable

    Skills: |Hammer Swing Lv. 5| |Tenacity L.v 8|

    Unique Skill: |Self Destruct Lv. 2|

    Titles: N/A

    True Titles: N/A

    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

    ("Ayo?!") [Solace]

    The stats weren''t even noteworthy. It was just |Self Destruct| that terrified me.

    ("That thing is definitely going to latch on to me.") [Solace]

    The first thing I needed to do was to get it to let go of me. So, I shattered its arm with a kick.

    "There we go." [Solace]

    I got up quickly as it tried to grab me with its other arm.

    ("At least it''s slow.") [Solace]

    As I began to move out of the way, I noticed a few arrows coming my way.

    ("Not again!") [Solace]

    This was giving me flashbacks of fighting Dilyan. Dealing with both long range and close range is annoying on a whole ''nother level.

    "|Earthen Shield|." [Solace]

    I made a dirt wall that caught the arrows. On the other hand, I still had to deal with the golem.

    "|Wind Edge|." [Solace]

    I cut off the golem''s legs, forcing it to crawl. It was then that I realized it had begun to regenerate.

    ("Oh. So THAT''S what |Tenacity| does.") [Solace]

    "|One Shot|!" [Rila]

    Is what I heard before an arrow pierced my |Earthen Shield|.

    "Woah!" [Solace]

    Thanks to my quick reflexes, I ducked under it.

    ("I think I''ve had enough of this.") [Solace]

    I grabbed and pulled the wall of dirt off the ground. I know this may sound like a "Jukhan" kind of move, but I kind of just threw it at Rila.

    "You''re kidding!" [Rila]

    She jumped out of the way, only to find me standing right in front of her.

    "Hi." [Solace]

    Rila quickly raised her bow at me and knocked an arrow.

    "Nuh uh." [Solace]

    To put it simply, I yoinked the bow and snapped it in half.

    "Game over." [Solace]

    She had a stunned expression, which changed into determination as she stepped back.

    "|Self Destruct|." [Rila]

    "...What?" [Solace]

    I felt something heavy place itself on my back. What do you think it was? That''s right, it''s that stupid golem.

    "Crap-" [Solace]

    That damn golem blasted itself to bits in an attempt to take me down with it.

    "Wow! I never expected such a turnaround!" [Urth]

    "It was a very clever display." [Ross]

    At this point in time, my ears were ringing. I had asked Master what they said so I could write it down instead.

    "I believe we should call the healers." [Grotto]

    Master raised a hand.

    "I disagree. Let it play out." [Vincent]

    "Vincent, I understand your faith in your student. However, he needs treatment." [Grotto]

    "Actually, I agree with Vincent. I don''t think it''s over yet." [Wilharrow]

    "What? Sir Wilharrow, how can you agree-" [Grotto]

    "Just watch. You will understand." [Wilharrow]

    As the smoke cleared, and the ringing in my ears subsided, I found myself face to face with Rila wearing a stupefied expression.

    "Good to see you again. By the way, that frickin'' hurt." [Solace]

    "You have gained |Experience|. |Experience| limit reached. |Temperance| has gained a level." [Spirit Guide]

    I was pretty damn pissed.

    "I... I..." [Rila]

    Rila stuttered as she tried to convey something to me. In the end, she gave up on that and raised her hands.

    "I... surrender." [Rila]