Chapter 18: A Divided Choice & The Final Battle
The coliseum trembled with anticipation. Thousands of spectators filled the stands, their roars merging into an unholy symphony of bloodlust. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, sand, and something else—fate, waiting to be decided.
Nile stood at the center of the battlefield, his breath shallow. His body bore the scars of every trial, every battle, every deception the gods had thrown at him. Across the arena, the remaining 19 contestants—Ethan and Aron among them—stood ready. Ethan noticed the paper towel clutched by another survivor—Nile.
A sudden blur of movement—Aron. Aron rushed to the center, his eyes locking onto the weapon rack. Without hesitation, he grabbed a pair of double daggers, their sharp edges gleaming under the arena lights.
With a double dagger in each hand, he moved like a storm. In a single fluid motion, five warriors fell, their blood spraying across the sand. The crowd erupted, their bloodlust matching his. Aron didn't stop, his blades singing through flesh, carving a path toward Nile and Ethan.
Ethan lunged to intercept him, but Aron was too fast, sidestepping his attack with practiced ease. Gritting his teeth, Ethan quickly adjusted, shifting into a defensive stance, preparing for another counter.
Nile gritted his teeth. His fingers curled around his weapon as the dice materialized before him—five rolls left, gained from the death of a survivor slain by Aron.
He rolled.
A flicker of light. 6 Choices:
Talk to the gods.
Check the stats of the gods.
Evade Aron's attack and reposition.
Counter with Ethan's support.
Use terrain to gain an advantage.
Lure Aron into an ambush with the remaining survivors.
The dice tumbled.
It landed on 3.
As Aron lunged, Nile twisted his body, narrowly dodging the deadly slash. Aron's momentum carried him forward, leaving him momentarily stunned. Two other survivors leaped at him, but Aron swiftly dodged and dispatched them with brutal efficiency.
"Now!" Ethan shouted, seizing the opportunity. The remaining two warriors barely had time to react before Ethan struck. His sword flashed, and in mere seconds, they fell.
The battlefield was drenched in blood. Only twelve survivors remained—Nile, Ethan, Aron, and nine others.
A hush fell over the arena as Lunara stepped forward, her voice commanding. "All of you, remove your masks," she ordered. One by one, the survivors obeyed, revealing their faces. As the last mask fell, an eerie silence settled before chaos erupted.
Lunara, Goddess of Serendipity.
Her piercing gaze swept across the battlefield, her expression unreadable. "I seek Zeraphis," she declared, her voice carrying an unnatural weight. "There was once a man named Zeraphis who ascended to godhood, a testament to this truth."
A ripple of tension spread among the remaining survivors. The weight of her words took only seconds to ignite chaos—nine warriors lunged at her, driven by greed and desperation.
Lunara merely smiled.
With breathtaking speed, she beheaded all nine in a single movement. Blood misted through the air, and in an instant, the battlefield was silent once more.
Lunara turned to the remaining three. "Remove your masks."
Ethan, Nile, and Aron hesitated for a moment but obeyed.
She studied them before speaking. "If you can guess which goddess I am, I will spare you."
Ethan, Nile, and Aron exchanged wary glances, their minds racing. None of them knew the answer.
Lunara's smirk grew wider. "Then you leave me no choice."
She raised her hand, dark energy crackling around her fingertips. Just as she prepared to strike—another presence manifested.
A radiant light erupted beside them, and in a flash, Vaelora, Goddess of Fate, appeared.
Vaelora's voice rang clear through the arena. "You are Lunara, Goddess of Serendipity."
Nile's fingers instinctively tightened around his weapon as the dice materialized before him again. Without hesitation, he rolled.
A flicker of light. 6 Choices:
Talk to the gods.
Check the stats of the gods.
Ask Vaelora why she interfered.
Challenge the gods to a duel.
Request divine intervention.
Attempt to leave the arena.
The dice tumbled.
It landed on 2.
A surge of energy coursed through Nile's body as divine knowledge filled his mind. He turned his focus toward Lunara and Vaelora. Their stat screens flickered before him, but something was off. Almost every attribute was obscured, replaced by seven question marks. The gods' true power remained veiled, an enigma beyond mortal comprehension. Frustration bubbled within Nile as he clenched his fists. 'Why is everything hidden from me? Am I truly this weak?' he thought. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of fear, curiosity, and anger swirling inside him. He was standing before divine beings, yet he couldn't even grasp their abilities. The realization stung—he was insignificant compared to them.
Lunara's expression darkened, and without another word, she vanished into the ether—taking Vaelora with her.
Nile exhaled sharply, his mind racing. He glanced at his dice counter—six rolls left. Zero remaining for the day,
and all remaining dice rolls converted to luck.
Then, a pulse of energy surged through his body. A notification flashed before his eyes.
Side Quest Fulfilled.
Side Quest Activated – "Survival Gamble"Objective: Ensure you reach the Top 5 survivors.
Reward: Luck +10
Current Stats:
STR: 10 | AGI: 10 | VIT: 10 | LUCK: 26
The coliseum fell into a stunned silence. Gasps rippled through the audience, murmurs of shock and disbelief spreading like wildfire. Even the king, who had watched countless battles, seemed momentarily shaken by the brutality and sheer dominance displayed before him. When the dust finally settled, only three figures remained standing—Ethan, Nile, and Aron.
To Be Continued...