24.The Arena of Darkness

Merslin and his party decided to investigate the underground Arena of Darkness in Sairent. This secretive coliseum was funded by the Merchant Guild but was actually controlled by a rising force—the Shadow Guild. Inside, high-stakes gambling and brutal battles to the death took place, and at the center of it all was Lisa.

To uncover the truth, she infiltrated the arena as a gladiator, while Serena disguised herself as a wealthy gambler to observe the betting system.

The arena was a grand and lavish building, illuminated by eerie lights that gleamed in the darkness. The central stage was surrounded by an eager crowd of spectators, and banners bearing the Shadow Guild's insignia lined the walls. High above, the VIP section housed nobles and wealthy merchants, watching the bloodsport unfold with cold amusement.

Serena, dressed in an elegant gown, moved cautiously through the throng of gamblers, listening closely to their conversations.

One of the gamblers, a burly man reeking of alcohol, sauntered over to her.

Gambler 2: "Well, well, what's a beauty like you doing here all alone? Care to join me for a drink?"

Serena kept her voice cool and composed.

Serena: "I'm here to test my luck, just like everyone else."

Using his distraction to her advantage, she continued gathering intel. From the way the Shadow Guild's agents occupied the VIP section and how the odds shifted suspiciously before each fight, Serena realized the battles were rigged.

The Bloodstained Arena

Meanwhile, Lisa stood in the center of the arena, gripping her twin swords. The crowd roared as the first challenger, a towering brute of a warrior, entered the ring. He was a seasoned gladiator, his muscles rippling beneath his armor.

Lisa smirked, her stance light but unwavering.

Lisa: "You're not even worth my time."

The warrior charged, his massive sword slicing through the air. But before it could land, Lisa sidestepped with Tactical Leap, instantly closing the distance and landing a brutal gauntlet strike to his side.

Lisa: "Take this!"

The warrior crumpled, knocked out cold in a single devastating blow.

The crowd erupted in cheers, but Lisa wasn't finished yet.

The second round pitted her against a feral beast—a monstrous bear, its golden eyes glowing with primal fury.

The beast roared and lunged at her. Lisa dodged nimbly, using her combat boots to amplify her speed. She slashed at its flank, but the beast's thick hide barely showed a scratch.

Lisa narrowed her eyes. This one's tough…

Drawing upon her strength-enhancing effect, she leapt high and brought both swords down onto the bear's skull with full force. The beast collapsed with a final, agonized growl.

From below, Aria stood ready, her hands glowing with healing magic.

Aria: "Lisa, hang in there! We're supporting you!"

Lisa, panting from the exertion, touched her bruised arm, only for Aria's warm light to wash over her.

Lisa: "Thanks, Aria. I needed that."

The third battle was against a pack of wolves led by a hunter. The wolves circled her, their fangs bared.

Hunter: "Attack, my beasts!"

Lisa moved like a blur, cutting through the wolves one by one. The hunter tried to strike from a distance with his bow, but Lisa activated Tactical Charge, dashing at an inhuman speed. With a single hilt strike, she knocked him unconscious.

Lisa: "This arena belongs to me now."

The crowd went wild.

The Champion's Duel

Finally, the arena's reigning champion entered the ring. He was an armored colossus wielding a massive sword, his face hidden behind an iron helm.

Champion: "No one has ever defeated me in this arena."

Lisa dodged his heavy swings, searching for weaknesses. The longer she fought, the more she analyzed his attack patterns.

Lisa: "You may be strong, but I'm faster!"

With a precise leap, she aimed for his side, but the champion reacted swiftly, blocking her strike with his shield and delivering a devastating counterattack.

The impact sent her skidding across the ground, her armor cracking under the force.

Champion: "Disappointing. I expected more."

The crowd gasped as Lisa pushed herself up, her breathing ragged. Her shoulder armor had shattered, leaving her upper body exposed.

Spectator 1: "Wait… She's a woman?!"

Spectator 2: "Look at that! Hahaha!"

Lisa ignored the crude remarks, her focus solely on the battle.

She dodged another strike, moving behind the champion, and finally found an opening—a weak spot in his armor.

Lisa: "Got you."

She drove her sword into his side, making him stagger in pain. But he wasn't finished yet.

With sheer willpower, the champion forced himself to stand once more.

Champion: "It's not over yet…!"

Lisa gritted her teeth and charged. This time, she didn't aim for his armor—she aimed for his legs, knocking him off balance.

The champion fell to one knee, gasping.

Lisa: "This is the end!"

With a final, sweeping strike, she shattered his defenses, sending him crashing to the ground.

The once-mighty champion lay motionless.

Lisa lifted her sword high, victorious.

The Shadow Guild's Betrayal

Lisa made her way to collect her prize, but as she entered the arena master's chamber, chaos erupted.

The Shadow Guild had bet everything on their champion, and now that he had lost, they couldn't afford to pay out. Furious, they tried to eliminate Lisa before she could claim her reward.

Merslin and Serena, sensing danger, rushed in.

From outside, Aria and Elena remained on guard.

The crowd, initially believing this was part of the show, quickly realized the guild was rigging the fights.

Spectator 1: "They're cheating! This arena is a fraud!"

Gambler: "I'll never bet here again!"

The Shadow Guild's enforcers stormed in, surrounding Lisa and Merslin's group.

Merslin reacted instantly, chanting a spell.

Merslin: "Wall of Fire!"

A towering wall of flames erupted, cutting off their attackers.

Serena: "Merslin, we need a way out!"

Merslin controlled the flames, creating an escape route. The party sprinted through as the Shadow Guild's men scrambled to put out the fire.

As they ran through the streets of the city, Aria checked Lisa's wounds, ensuring she could keep going.

Aria: "Lisa, just a little further! We'll find safety!"

Lisa: "I'm fine… We won."

Finally, reaching a safe house, they took a moment to catch their breath.

Lisa, still bearing the scars of battle, clenched her fists.

Lisa: "We did it. The Shadow Guild will never control this arena again."

Merslin nodded. "This is just the beginning. We need to prepare for what comes next."

Serena smirked. "They won't go down without a fight. We'd better be ready."

Lisa sheathed her sword. "Then let's get to work."

The Arena of Darkness had fallen, but the war against the shadows was far from over.