Ascension

Reverence watched Steelish with interest, "One of Raven Thread's top combatants. If you were to fight him how many moves would it take to for you to win?"

Akiol raised an eyebrow but answered, "One, if I hit it."

Reverence expected such an answer at least the first part, "If you hit it?"

"If I miss them it would take two, or three."

"Would you miss?"

"If everything goes as expected, no. However this game is filled with many weird abilities. Who knows what could happen?"

Reverence nodded to himself, "It makes sense."

Reverence glanced at Akiol with a complicated gaze. He originally thought them to be just some ordinary player who got lucky and became stronger than the average. However time and time again his strategies to put him in place were foiled. If anything he now owed him!

Reverence mused to himself, 'The person who was put in place was I.'

He suddenly spoke, "Have you thought about joining a Guild?"

Akiol could guess where he was going with this, "No, too restricting. I would much rather gain things with my own hands rather than them being handed to me."

Reverence expected as much, but he thought it was still a shame.

Akiol smiled faintly, "But if you ever need assistance don't be afraid to ask."

This stunned Reverence, he had never suspected the same individual he had messed with so much to offer a helping hand whenever. However he quickly shook such thought from his head, "If that ever comes to be I'll be sure you're amply rewarded."

Akiol laughed, "You're very serious on making sure I'm paid for my actions aren't you?"

"Consider it my attempt to make up for what I did."

Akiol looked at the crowd who was dispersing to get new snacks and such, "It's only natural for someone to feel confident at the top. Even overly so. Even the most humble person will feel satisfaction from having power. It's human nature. Sometimes you just need to be brought back down to earth."

Reverence joked, "Infinity Base did quite the job."

"They too experienced this. Specifically Zealous."

"You've run into him again?"

"And brought him back down to earth. Though I suppose Guild Leader True did a more permanent job than I."

"Ah, True. A man with strange morals. He deconstructed the very thing that brought his Guild to number one."

"Strange? He seemed like someone with good morals. Not accepting the power he gained through tyranny."

". . ."

~ ~ ~

"So, another has arrived."

Opportunity was breathing heavily, but a determined gleam remained bright in her eyes.

"To reach the top floor of this Tower. You are the second."

Opportunity grinned, "That would be my brother, the one who arrived here first."

"You are related? Impossible, you are not a slime."

"Not exactly through blood then."

"I see."

A giant dragon yawned and stretched its neck, "I had believed I could rest for another decade before having to stretch again. To think it would be so short."

Opportunity readjusted the grip on her axes, "So what's the plan here?"

"Survive, the longer you survive the better the reward."

The dragon paused as she thought of something, "You will also win if you land three blows on me."

"Only three?"

"It won't be easy as you think."

"I'll see what I can do."

"I shall start whenever you are ready."

Opportunity sighed in relief as she sat, quickly recovering her fatigue.

Jyolu watched her with an eye, "You have the power of a God lingering around you."

"A Chosen Blessing, one given by-"

"It would be best you keep that to yourself. Many would want to obtain that power."

"They can certainly try."

. . .

Opportunity asked, "How long did he last?"

"He did not."

"He didn't live long enough?"

"He did not die. He had struck me three times."

"There must be limitations to fighting a Dragon."

"You would be correct. I will fight you in my human form, limited at the peak of First Stage."

"Quite restricting."

"They are, but the Tower is fair in its challenges."

Opportunity stood, "Then let's test this fairness."

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

Jyolu rapidly formed into her human shape and looked at Opportunity, "Are you sure?"

"Come at me."

"A shame."

Opportunity could only see one thing. The moment Ryolu appeared in front of her. After that she immediately was killed.

She respawned outside the Tower. Staring at it she suddenly burst into laughter, "I see now! The difference is vast! But this is good!"

She immediately challenged the floor again. Ryolu looked back, as if expecting her return. Turning around she asked, "This time, are you ready?"

Opportunity tapped her axes together, "Just a little preparation this time."

[God's Avatar: Form]!

[God's Avatar: Full Release]!

A golden figure flashed behind her, no matter how hard you tried their face could not be seen.

The figure held hands to her sides, a warm golden energy enveloping her. Slowly changed began to be made.

Her armor changed into a brilliant gold one, a cape made of golden energy flowing behind her. She swung her axe and the energy dispersed, leaving no remnants.

Skill Sync!

[God's Avatar: Form]

+

[God's Avatar: Full Release]

Synced Skill-!

"God's Avatar: Descent of the Chosen"

Ryolu watched calmly, "Is this enough preparation?"

"This is the best I can do currently."

"Then shall we begin?"

"We shall!"

Ryolu vanished, but this time it wasn't so one sided!

Moving her arm she swung upwards, clashing with a single finger from Ryolu!

The recoil from the blow was intense, completely knocking her arm out of the way.

Ryolu moved her hand rapidly and flicked the forehead of Opportunity. Sending her flying into the wall of the arena.

She coughed, "Dragons are so unfair."

"It's ironic for you to say that."

"It is, isn't it?!"

Within a small scale battle Opportunity was killed.

Ryolu sighed to herself, "A mere millennium before I'm free. However this one won't let me sleep it through."

She looked towards a location, the same challenger appearing. After a moment the battle continued, only for them to die quickly again.

Over and over, challenging and dying. Nonstop, not letting her rest!

10

20

50!

The battles kept coming!

Ryolu was amazed that someone could have so much tenacity. Despite being so outmatched.

On the 62nd match Ryolu held up a finger, "This is pointless is it not?"

"I wish to improve, so I will keep challenging this until I overcome it!"

Ryolu sighed, it seemed like she wouldn't have any rest for a while now.

80

100

200!

On the 247th match Jyolu stared at Opportunity, "Is it really that important?"

"I failed to protect the ones I care about. So I decided to carry out their will and become strong enough to never go through that again."

Ryolu did not respond, simply waiting for the time to begin.

400

600

1000?

On the 1255th match Ryolu sighed, "Your progress is near none. You clearly are not ready for this."

"I'll challenge it again until I find what I am missing is."

3000

5000

9000

On the 9544th match Ryolu spoke, "Your movements lack mana. A critical flaw. Learn to control it."

10000

10500

11000

Ryolu shook her head, 'Ridiculous, throwing herself constantly at a wall. As if that would break it.'

She spoke, "Mana is at the center of all power. Once you learn how to control that, your path becomes clearer."

So it began, inspired by the human who simply never gave up she began to properly teach them. Correcting their mistakes in battle, teaching them how to control mana. As she did she couldn't help but remember the slime who had improved so much in one battle. She chuckled at the vast difference between the two. However this human wasn't that bad either. She quickly grasped the teachings and put it into effect almost immediately. Rapidly improving.

As the months passed Opportunity began to exchange blows with Ryolu. No longer dying immediately. Yet still she couldn't land a proper hit in. Something she couldn't believe James had managed in such a short time. As she trained she failed to notice something.

She was ascending beyond that of an ordinary human.

~ ~ ~

"Who's ready for the third and final match for today?!"

The crowd cheered wildly. For today had been full of excitement already.

The matches of each day were limited to three. Making the entire event last two weeks!

Not many had two full weeks of time on their hands. So the Physical Seat package was sold in different times. Allowing them to purchase tickets that fit their schedule.

Although only three official matches were to happen. They had planned a few random events during the two weeks to keep things interesting.

Two weeks was a significantly long and short time. It was wildly believed to be inefficient, something that they should work on.

However for a grand opening of the official arena, wouldn't it be wrong to end it quickly?