Bloodbath I

"The winner gets to become a rights holder?"

Deathly silence enveloped the crowd. Some clenched their fists while staring at the arena, while others stared in utter disbelief. A few had predicted the battle wasn't the typical arena match, but none expected such a reward. And, unlike typical arena battles where only one combatant remained standing, one would only have to kill the person named Kaleb to reap a bountiful harvest. Everyone present, including the slaves, knew the significance of being a rights holder. A few cursed their luck. If they had known, they would have volunteered to take part in the battle. While some had urges to jump into the arena. The value of the reward exceed all expectations.

"That brat is going to die." Haider snickered. Even before Piri's declaration, he had little faith in James's survival. He curled his lips as he thought of their previous altercation. Now that the reward stirred the greed of everyone present, he was certain James would meet a brutal end. To his side, Kirby and Ainsley Hall watched with keen interest. They too had little expectations of James, however they were interested to see how he would fair with a massive bullseye on his back.

Meanwhile, Pope Enel's countenance had turned unsightly. He gnawed on his fingers while muttering incoherent words to himself. His eyes constantly shifted between James and a silver barrier at an obscure section of the coliseum.

In the caretaker's section of the coliseum, although seated apart from each other; Uzor, Sarkis, and Rowan stared at the arena with savage grins. They each had a bone to pick with James. Although they would rather see him fall at their hands, they would enjoy his demise, no less.

While different thoughts flowed through the minds of the spectators, the combatants remained motionless. However, the seven stared intensely at James while often glancing at their fellow combatants guardedly. James, on the other hand, slowly retreated. He knew how precarious his situation was. Without the system to aid him in analyzing his opponent's stats, he couldn't jump gun-ho into the battle. Coupled with him, not daring to use his Grim Reaper form in front of thousands of spectators.

Two minutes passed. The excited crowd had gone restless. Because the situation remained unchanged. Contrary to their expectations, the combatants continued staring at each other cautiously. None had made an attempt on James.

"What the fuck is this? Do something!" A Beastman roared. A few had grown impatient with the continued standstill. They hurled insults continuously at the combatants below, while a few turned towards the silver barrier hiding the headmaster's private room. However, neither Piri nor her executioners made any further declarations. Their actions, or rather inactions, only stroked the flames in the already irritated crowd.

Higgins momentarily turned towards a few soldiers insulting him. The soldiers instantly averted their gaze while a few lowered their heads. 'These idiots! They don't even understand how delicate the situation is...' As much as he would love to pounce on James, tearing limb from limb, he knew how dangerous it would be. While others saw it as a free opportunity to become a right holder, he knew how deceptively brutal the contest would become. Anyone who showed the slightest sign of attacking James would become the target of the other combatants. Although he had absolute faith in his strength, he wasn't confident of killing James before the others could react. While it seems James had a bullseye on his back to the spectators, Higgins knew they all shared a similar faith. If one didn't act carefully, they would find themselves mercilessly cut down by the others.

The same thought flowed through the minds of the other combatants, and only a few spectators had deciphered the peculiarity of the situation.

Just then, Ecnaba, the oldest of the twin dark elves, nocked a Dimiri arrow on her bow. Her younger sister, Esaso, unsheathed her daggers, holding one in both arms.

Higgins and the other combatants panicked. "Stop her! Don't let her shoot him!" Filore screamed. However, his cry came too late. A mighty twang reverberated throughout the coliseum, and the Dimiri arrow wheezed through the air. It unleashed a sonorous cry, akin to the call of a thousand birds. The countenance of the other combatants darkened. Only twenty meters separated James from the twins initially. With the pace of the arrow, it would arrive before James could even move a muscle. The crowd erupted in cheers. Finally, someone had broken the standstill. Naturally, none expected James to avoid the arrow, especially one shot by an Elf. However, a few were disappointed that the battle would end in merely a few seconds. Meanwhile, Ecnaba and Esaso wore cold smiles which betrayed the jubilation in their hearts. They took advantage of their rare ability to communicate with each other via their eyes. They had noticed Higgins and Filore's momentary lapse in concentration, and without a shred of hesitation, they used the most efficient method to eliminate James. Ecnaba took pride in her archery. Even some elites of the High-Elves couldn't compare to her. She aimed her arrow directly for James's forehead. She didn't aim for the heart, because she had encountered several humans who practiced abnormal modifications, and those with birth conditions which placed their hearts on the right side of their chest instead of the usual spot. An arrow to the brain, however, would kill any human. No matter how much they altered their bodies.

Esaso chuckled inwardly as the arrow approached James. "Sister, we did it. The right is..." Before Esaso could finish her statement, the unbelievable followed. The Dimiri arrow arrived before James, and he showed no intentions of dodging. Before the arrowhead burrowed into his skull; however, a beautiful white mask covered his face, and two unusual daggers appeared in his hands. At that same moment, the arrow crashed against the mask, shattering into countless pieces. Silence followed. Neither the spectators nor the combatants could believe their eyes.

"A mask shattered my Dimiri arrow?" Ecnaba took a step back. The durability of the Dimiri arrows had reached the four corners of the great kingdoms of Skyhaven. Never had she heard or seen anything capable of breaking it like mere glass.

"Sister, watch out!" Esaso suddenly screamed. Ecnaba woke up from her stupor only to see a large serrated long sword slicing through the air towards her direction. Wasting no time, she unsheathed her daggers. With nimble grace, both dark elves parried the blow of the long sword. However, their visage had turned unsightly while their breathing turn haggard.

"I knew I should have handled you bitches before the others. Over my dead body will I let you two become right holders." Higgins declared. His muscles bulged as he raised his long sword once more. He exuded a frightening bloodthirsty aura, which only sent the crowd into murderous bliss. The bloodbath they expected was finally on the way. While Higgins contented with the two dark elves, Liko crouched on all fours, before charging towards Dolroth, the only Demon in the group.

"You filthy animal, you dare attack me?!" Dolroth's face contorted in fury. As a proud member of the Demon race, he hated the fact that a mere Halfling would target him among other combatants. The tip of his silver sword turned blood red while unleashing a blistering heat. He had heard several tales of the lava abomination; however, he didn't believe his heat eater sword was anyway inferior. He held the sword's hilt with both hands while horizontally raising the sword above his head. He sneered as Liko gradually approached his strike zone. He had zero intentions of engaging in a long-term battle. He couldn't allow others to steal the fat lamb that was James.

Meanwhile, Liko's fur had turned charcoal black while the heat hazes warped the surrounding air. Two thick, segmented horns shot out from his avian skull. While purplish red liquid poured from the corners of his mouth. His claws had expanded twice its size, and from a single glance, one would know it could rip through steel.

With barely ten feet separating Demon and Halfling, Dolroth screamed while fiercely swinging his sword in a cleaving motion. The air combusted. Unleashing a linear, flaming sword light, five inches thick and equally five inches wide; traveling at a frightening speed towards the feral Halfling.

Liko's body twisted in midair. He vomited mouthful after mouthful of the purplish red liquid. At that same moment, he unleashed a series of sickening howls. The purplish red liquid vibrated, contorting according to Liko's howls. It swallowed parts of the earth while sucking air in vast quantities. The exact moment Dolroth's attack arrived, the liquid combusted. A deafening series of explosions rocked the arena. A crevice, nine meter wide, and filled with scorching magma appeared.

Liko continued unabated. However, deep burn marks covered his body while the smell of burned flesh filled the arena. Wasting no time, he dove into the magma pool. Meanwhile, the shock wave of the previous explosion sent Dolroth flying. Unlike Liko, a small section of his gauntlet and breastplate had melted. While half his face had turned into a cauterized mess of flesh. He barely contained his screams and shrieks. He held his sword with his right hand, while his free hand clenched his right eye. He couldn't see anything through it.

"Where the hell is he?" Dolroth's gaze shifted between the magma pool and the other combatants locked in battle. Although he saw Liko diving into the magma pool, it had remained inactive since.

"Are you sure you can afford to turn away?"

Dolroth shuddered as he heard the unfamiliar voice. He twisted his sword while unleashing another flaming sword light behind him. Without hesitation, he rolled to the side. 'Who was that? Where did he come from?' Dolroth's chest thumped as he stared at the blazing inferno in front of him. That someone could sneak up on him despite being guarded left him horrified.

"Are you looking for me?"

Dolroth's heart sank. He twisted his sword once more. Before he could unleash another flaming light, he felt a sharp fiery sensation course through, and his arm went limp. At that same moment, another sharp pain followed. This time, his right hand dropped. Revealing his mutilated eye.

"W-Who...? H-How…?" Dolroth could see a dagger sticking out of his stomach. He still did not know who wielded the dagger or how they got behind him. His vision slowly turned blurry, and a sweet coppery mixed with ash smell filled the remains of his nose. The last thing he saw, however, was his body rapidly swelling. A second later, a rain of flesh and blood followed a loud explosion. The chaotic battle between the Damak twins and Higgins came to a stop, and so did the battle between Filore and Uzerith, another Halfling. They stared at the bloody mess that was Dolroth's remains, and their countenance darkened. Because James stood at the center. Covered in blood and ash, with Nightbane in his hands, while the Mask of the Dead covered his face. A thick, purple mist slowly appeared out of thin air while the dusty earth slowly turned pitch black. He then turned towards the group. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. Let's begin!"