Chapter 9: Underground Arena
"Kahahaha! Go kill that bastard!"
"Fuck! I bet my money on you. You better not lose or I'll go broke!"
"Stabbed that bitch!"
Vince could hear the crazy shouts of the audience. The elevator directly went towards the inside of the arena. It seems to be the only entrance in here.
It's like a Colosseum where gladiator's fight, but with a modern touch.
At the center, there are two players fighting with each other. One of them seemed to be a warrior based on his build and weapon while the other is a shapeshifter or is it a beast tamer? Since there's a wolf.
But he can't see the one that should be controlling it so it should be a shapeshifter.
"Let's first go to the office to register you for a duel," his guide whispered in him. She leaned closer due to the noise coming from the crowd.
"I'm a healer though..." he couldn't help but mention. The receptionist seemed to be expecting his reaction as she only smiled at him.
"Members of the Mercenary Guild should at least be capable of defending his life. You wouldn't die inside of the arena so don't worry. And since you're a healer, as long as you stay alive for ten minutes, it will be your win," she reassured.
Vince was about to nod his head when he remembered something. His fist clenched when he remember a certain skill.
Last night, after organizing his thoughts, he checked his status window and skill panel.
Name: Vince Stade
Age: 21
Level: 6
Rank: Common
Class: Priest
HP: 300/300
XP: 0/600
SP: 150
Strength: 17
Agility: 15
Stamina: 20
Vitality: 15
Divine Energy: 25
Charm: 15
Innate Attribute: Unconquerable
-The player's stats will be boost by 300% whenever someone try to subdue or dominate you in any way.
-The player's rewards will be boosted by 50% whenever you had a hard time completing it.
Skills:
Analysis [A]: Allows you to get information from items, weapons etc.
Healing [S]: Allows you to heal any type of wound. External or internal.
Enhance [S]: Allows you to enhance players, monsters and item's abilities.
*Condition for players: You need to know their class, level and stats.
*Condition for monsters: You need to know their race and level.
*Condition for items(weapons, potions etc.): You need to know their rank and effects.
Last Wish [S]: Allow you to inherit the skills of a marked player.
*Condition for marking: You need to touch them in any part of their body while saying the word 'die'.
*Condition for inheriting: First of all, the player need to be dead. The dead player need to be around your rank, if the player rank higher than you, the succession rate would decrease by 50%. The skill should be about SSS-rank and below. If the skill's rank is higher, the succession rate would decrease by 50%.
Wall of Darkness [S]: A wall made of darkness would be formed when use. The durability depends on the darkness around the target.
Cruel Blade [SS]: Blades made from the player's hatred would be formed. Durability depends on the level of hatred the player is currently feeling.
Void Sphere [Legendary]: Allow you to create a small sphere made of void. Anything the hit it would ceased to exist in the world.
Divine Punishment [Mythic]: The target will slowly lose their limbs, their senses and would slowly die by suffocation.
Inherited Skills:
Lightning Manipulation [C]: Allow you to summon lightning element at will. Either to stun or kill your enemy.
He noticed something was wrong. 'Inherited Skills? Wait. Lightning Manipulation?!'
The scene when the mage controlled the lightning to fight suddenly appeared in his mind. He scrolled through his skill panel and found the specific skill.
[Last Wish [S]: Allow you to inherit the skills of a marked player.
*Condition for marking: You need to touch them in any part of their body while saying the word 'die'.
*Condition for inheriting: First of all, the player need to be dead. The dead player need to be around your rank, if the player rank higher than you, the succession rate would decrease by 50%. The skill should be about SSS-rank and below. If the skill's rank is higher, the succession rate would decrease by 50%.]
He suffered a great shock from it. 'D-did this skill activated?! And he...'
Vince closed his eyes and shook his head towards the woman. "No need. There's a skill that I wanted to try. I also want to fight. Will that be okay?"
The lady were a little surprised but didn't found it weird. Officially, the only skill Vince have was 'healing'. But players not registering some of their skills were not rare.
A player's level will be updated in real time but skills needed to be registered to be added on their license. The license is an electronic device so no matter how many skills a player registered, it wouldn't change in size and you can still read the words just fine.
Some other guilds may be suspicious but this is the Mercenary Guild. Everyone have their own secrets. There's no need to feel surprised about this insignificant matter.
"I understand. Then shall we register now?"
-
The receptionist registered him for a duel. The process was quick and only took a few minutes. Vince wouldn't be able to find out his opponent until he set foot into the arena so he's a little nervous.
"Your number is 047. Just go to the arena after you hear your number and give them this," the person at the registration booth gave him a badge with his number on it.
Vince nodded. He put the badge in his inventory to keep it safe. He didn't want to lose it.
After some time, he was already getting more nervous. He was biting his nails, while anxiously wating. Some players had already been called. He could see their duel at the large screen inside the waiting area.
At some point, he walked towards the lady who guided her here. "May I ask the requirements to pass this test?" he curiously asked.
'Maybe it's not all about winning?' Actually, he wasn't that confident to win against other players. When he fought with that Orc yesterday, it felt like a dream. He's even wondering if he really killed that monster or he's just dreaming.
"I'm sorry. But we're not allowed to share that information," the woman gave an apologetic look on him.
Vince just smiled, assuring her that it's fine. He was just testing his luck anyway. He wasn't really expecting an answer from her.
"Number 047 and 089. Please come to the stage to prepare. TThe duel will start in ten minutes."
Vince flinched when he heard the announcement. 'Oh my god! It's finally here!'
He took a deep breath to calm himself with his eyes closed.
When he opened his eyes, the woman was looking at him, waiting. "Are you ready? Let's go now. I'll guide you there."
Vince nodded his head with a determined expression on his face. 'He can do it. It's just a duel. Nothing more, nothing less.'
"Huuu..."
They stopped just outside the arena. He could see his opponent's figure at the other side.
Time quickly passed as the ten minutes was immediately consumed. "Players, please enter the stage."
He could hear the announcement.
The woman beside him blankly stare at this overly nervous player. 'Will he be okay? He look so nervous.' She decided to give him some encouraging words.
"You can do it. I'm going now."
Vince looked at her with burning eyes. "Yes! I'll do my best!" he loudly shouted before bravely taking a step forward towards the arena.
His opponent did the same thing.
"The fight will end after your opponent surrender, knock out of the stage, or incapable of fighting. Killing your opponent is strictly prohibited."
The rules were announced from the speakers placed somewhere inside the arena.
"The match will start in ten, nine..."
The two players met each other for the first time.
Vince observed his opponent. He was wearing a white sweater and black pants. 'He must be a newcomer like me.'
"Eight, seven..."
'Hmm? He seems to be saying something?'
"Six, five..."
He narrowed his eyes as he tried to make sense of the words his opponent just mouthed.
"Four, three..."
'Watch, err... huh? I can't understand it.'
"Two, one..."
He could see his opponent grinned. "Watch your back."
"...!!!"
"Begin!"
The man disappeared in an instant and...
BOOM-!
Debris scattered towards the arena as soon as the match started. They could see that a crater has formed on Vince's previous location.
Yes. Previous location.
Vince was now standing far from it, breathing heavily, as he intensely stared at the man.
Standing on the crater was his opponet who's fist were imbedded on the floor. He forcefully took out his fist with a smile.
"Heh," a grin appeared on his face. He seemed to be mocking Vince from running away.
Their gazes met and the atmosphere quickly turned heavy and tense.
"Not bad."
-
Weekly Power Status
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