Arc 3: Choosing Reality by Embracing Life
Under the cheering crowd, within the center of the arena, and staring up at the massive roaring humanoid beast, was Gray Kyojin and his band of friends.
Gray: "THIS GUY'S BIG! WE NEED A PLAN!"
Soku: "I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS!"
The Ogre swings at them wildly, though luckily it's easy to dodge. The chains barley holding it back. Still, they won't be able to do it forever. As the overseers gave the giant beast some more slack, letting it rush forward and slam its massive foot down.
Gray {THINK, THINK!}
The sight of such a massive beast had sent Grays mind splintering. Soku dashed back, Rosemary activated her stages and dove forward, Edward twisted around it, and Gray found himself frozen. Completely unable to move.
Musashi {Come on dammit!}
Watching from above, separated from the main stands and looking straight down at the arena, where the candidates for the throne. Musashi stood behind them invested in the match and quickly regaining his composure. Kioshi was trembling with fear for Grays group, Arthur was laughing and eating a massive turkey leg, and Elizabeth was angrily glaring forward.
Elizabeth: "These brats are far too weak to be entertaining. I can't comprehend how you're interested."
Arthur: "They're supposed to be the upcoming greats, not great already."
Musashi continued to think to himself as he looked down on his students, hoping for their safety and wishing for their triumph. Knowing that as long as they got out of their own heads and began to work as one single sword, they could cut down any problem the exam threw at them.
Gray: "DON'T USE MANA, OGRES HAVE THICK SKIN THAT IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE MANA!"
Grays scream had stopped Sokus charging wind and Rosemarys flinging fist, however caught them off guard enough to be thrown back against the Ogers mindless quakes. It stopped and stopped and screamed and screamed and tried to hard to get free. But the mana dampening crystals within it's tightly bound, extremely dense chains, held it back enough to give the heros a chance if things got dire. And gave them the chance to win.
Soku: "Oh yeah that guy in the alley told us that!"
Rosemary jumped away from the beast while Edward leapt toward it, slamming his large blunt blade against it's ankle. While a small burst of force was sent out, it was not nearly enough, being smacked away and slams against the stone wall of the arena.
Rosemary: "Then what to we do!?"
Rosemary struggles to stay calm, the sight of her injured friend making her feel completely useless. And the many eyes peering through her only felt like metal bats to the back of the head. Forcing her to move and fight no matter how much fear eroded her. Gray was similarly flooding with fear but used the mana flowing widely flowing out of his feet and the pain that came with it to stay sane, moving forward and taking everyone's attention.
Gray: "I'M GONNA DISTRACT IT, ROSEMARY AND EDWARD SET IT UP, THEN SOKU, YOU GO FOR THE EYES LIKE BEFORE AND SEND IT CRASHIN DOWN, MOST THINGS ARE WEAK TO THE EYES!"
Without wasting a second Soku flowed wind out of her OD and around her body, heightening her speed. Rosemary instead took a deep breath before forcing her left left into the fourth stage. The air pressure that came with it was flung out, her body erupting forward while her blazing golden aura ignited. This took all of the eyes scattering between the boy with impossible mana, the rising Helsing, the glowing elf, toward the eyes of a Golden Knight. The last glimmering light of the fallen militia, a band of warriors held fondly in the hearts of Walgonia people.
Edward {Why am I letting them move forward why I sit here beaten!}
Gray starts waving his arms while letting mana leak out of them, getting the Ogre's attention. The Ogres head jerked between Grays deliciously corrupted mana and Rosemarys impressive empowered pure mana. She was rushing toward the Ogres left leg, slamming her powerful fists into it and shattering the spirit beasts limb. It roared in pain and stepped back while Rosemary was left in a similar state, backing up to let the others finish this. Edward then swungs Bjørn at the right leg, causing the Ogre to lose balance and begin fall. Then Soku laughed, uses wind magic to speed forward, and leapt. Then glowing brightly she fell through the air, focusing and taking everything she'd gathered and forced it forward. It all fell down, blasting against Ogre's eyes before slashing through them.
Soku {Even though I didn't do much training, my mana control still got a lot better! I won't need saving ever again!}
Edward jumps into the air, slamming Bjørn into the Ogre's bleeding and crying skull, crushing it, and killing the monster.
Gray: "DAMN! Nice Edward, gross though, really, really gross."
With a sudden shout of joy from Musashi followed by Kioshi, and then the rest of the crowd, Gray and the others couldn't help but shutter with fear. Turning bright red and sticking their arms in their for their victory.
Announcer: "THE WALGONIAN GROUP HAS FINISHED THE FIRST TRIAL, IN JUST UNDER TWO MINIUTES AND THIRTY SECONDS!"
Rosemary: "That plan worked perfectly!"
Edward: "Yeah thanks for that, it got our minds back in order.
Gray: "Well you guys did everything, and I just did what Soku did when I first met her. This just repeating an old strategy with new players."
Soku: "I'll take all the credit then."
Edward: "Alright, now we gotta go wait up there with everybody else."
They all walk up into the stands, sitting down beside Musashi and Ophelia while the Ogres large body was taken away.
Musashi: "Good job, quick work. And good team work. Sorry I didn't prepare you for that yet but we didn't have a lotta time and there are different trials coming forward."
Gray: "Thanks! if this tournament works as it does in the things I've seen, they're gonna make us fight so I don't want to use my strength too soon."
Musashi: "Nice for you to think ahead."
The others looked toward him in surprise, unable to understand just how many tournament arcs Gray had watched and read through in his time on Earth. They then began to look around, Soku playing with with cheering Ophelia, but were pulled away by a large number of guards from each nation.
Musashi: "They're with me."
The Walgonian guards froze, the Valatroctius guards doing the same, as the fear that came from Musashi's suddenly harsh aura send surges of panic through their hearts. The hearts of the Ravorian soldiers hadn't moved, only doing so when their far scarier queen Elizabeth waved them away. Down below the crowd focused on the small group of water mages stepping down, holding their hands out and focusing their mana toward the water spirits mana in the air.
"Wignis!"
Small streams of rushing water was then sent out, spraying over the arena's floor and washing the blood into the cracks and veins of the tan stone floor. Any chunks of torn flesh were gathered by the guards, placing it in large sacks before stepping out of the arena through the few stairwells and doorways around it. And then opened the large wooden door, flinging out just as the announcers loud old voice exploded through the halls.
Announcer: "NOW MAY THE VALATROCTIUS GROUP PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO BEGIN THE FIRST TRIAL!
Julius, Roy, and Lloyd enter the arena. Dressed in the same attire they wore during their dinner with Gray and the others. The doors then shut while the iron gate rises, revealing a slithering figure jolting forward. With red scales, two glowing purple eyes, and massive dripping fangs, hisses and roars at the group, with the chain still attached to its neck.
Announcer: "THE SPIRIT SERPENT! ANOTHER MID-TIER SPIRIT BEAST BROUGHT BY VALATROCTIUS THEMSELVES TO TEST THEIR FIGHTERS! THE ADOPTED SONS OF KING CORNELIUS THE THIRD!"
Announcer: "NOW BEGIN!"
The Serpent spits out it's acidic venom, forcing the others to dodge. But while Llyod and Julius bolt to the side, Roy smirked with dirt and grime on his face before flinging his hand forward.
Roy: "DIGAL!"
The tan stone floor, like all other things in this world, had mana enriched within it. It was both spirit mana and, due to it's earthly nature, earth spirit mana. Following Roys words and the influx of mana, his mana connected with the mana and caused the stone to curve upward. The acid was barley pushed back, splashing and burning through the stone with ease. Then Julius pulls out his rapier, running around it before jumping toward the Serpent's head. Watching a man leap to high so easily after moving so fast, even if it was quite tame to the strengths of this world, was enough to make Grays hindered psyche flutter with joy and awe. Lloyd takes his staff out of its holster, aiming the bright red gem toward at the serpent.
Lloyd: "EL-IGNIS!"
He had flown a mass of mana into the gem and caused it to glow a bright red before shooting out a dense stream of bright orange fire. Gray instinctively backed up even if the eruption of flame was still far away, feeling a bit embarrassed and envious while never breaking his sight. The bright flame quickly took the Serpents attention, engulfing it's face and causing it to scream wildly. It's venom went spraying around, Musashi and Kioshi's lightning fast blunt slashes of wind moving it away from the observing crowd. Then, still falling through the air, was Julius, ready to stab his blade into the neck of the monster. He pulls the blade around the head of the Serpent, slicing through all of the scales with ease, blood spraying all over the place while he spun around its body. The head of the Serpent falls to the Ground, dead within seconds.
Gray: "NOWAY, THESE GUYS ARE PROS, AND THEY ARN'T EVEN KNIGHTS!"
Edward: "Yeah, moving without speaking, with full trust in one another."
Gray: "And Lloyd has a magic staff! A real magic staff! He's a damn mage! That other guy used magic too! And Musashi just threw the wind! And -"
Soku: "Yeah we get it this is all cool!"
Rosemary: "Yeah, especially Julius, that sword work, speed accuracy, and force with such a thin blade. He destroyed the body of that Serpent!"
Rosemarys praise caused Grays heart to burn a bit, causing him to set his fangs toward Julius immediately. Then ringing out and hurting the ears of everyone was the announcers voice, triggering Julius and his brothers to wave and bow to the crowd.
Announcer: "THE VALATROCITUS GROUP HAS COMPLETED THE FIRST TRIAL, IN TWENTY-SEVEN SECONDS!"
Under the loud booming cheers was the observing Musashi, glaring through it all and noticing Julius' shining golden monocle.
Musashi: "I don't know what it is, but Julius monocle…. it looks familiar…"
Edward: "It does look strange."
Gray: "Why does he have his eyes barely open? Or fully shut?"
Musashi: "It's a dumb training thing. It helps you maintain your composure, while also teaching you to be able to understand your surroundings quickly. Though he seems to be using it to hide his emotions rather than train."
With the completion of the trial, the Valatroctius guards and nobles began tossing out flowers and handing out food, blowing a mix of instruments, and even Arthur himself landed in the center of the arena to cheer on his companions.
Arthur: "That's my squires!"
He had leapt with a burst of black flames, landing with a loud thud. As they gathered and cheered Gray and Soku could only grown, watching the large snakes body be pulled away while the arena was cleaned up.
Gray: "So what's Arthurs deal anyway?"
Rosemary: "Yeah he seems a bit, much."
Soku: "Yeah you could say that."
Musashi: "He is. To be honest the dudes quite the mystery. It's a famous but weird story, since nobody knows where Arthur is from. He joined the Dragon army about twenty years ago, and he climbed the ranks with his corrupted flames, flames like resembled King Cornliues brother, Zue Cromwells own black flames. A fairly well known anarchist. Though he seems to be natural compared to the Sect, which have their corrupted mana awakened."
Appearing out of know where with the same power as another corrupted person, along with the surprised looks of his friends nailed in the idea that Arthur Williams may in fact, be from Earth just like Gray.
Gray: "Nah, he couldn't be from where I'm from."
Soku: "And that is?"
Gray: "When I figure out how to tell yah I'll do it."
The idea that somebody else was sent to this world aside from him made Gray click his tonged, like the thought itself was disgusting. That nobody else should have been given this chance, that nobody else should be as special, as lucky as him. The crowds cheers finally began to die down for the Valatrocitus group. They walked up to the stands, the arena cleared and clean, sitting down beside Arthur. They stood on the opposite side from Gray and his group, looking over at them.
Announcer: "NOW, FOR THE FINAL FIGHTER OF THE FIRST TRIAL, THE SINGLE RAVORIAN CONTESTANT, since they could only one. SO LET'S HOPE SHE'S UP TO THE TASK!"
The crowd cheers while the woman enters the room. The doors shut while the other doors open Reviling what looked like a decaying, zombified wolf Demi-human. Taller, twitching, it's boiling cursed blood spilling out, thick hair and decaying skin, showing it's bones and flesh under its torn skin.
Announcer: "OUR LAST MID-TIER SPIRIT BEAST FOR THE DAY! A LYCAN! BROUGHT BY RAVORIA THEMSELVES!"
Gray: "Is that a Lycan? Seems easier than what we had to do."
Edward: "Well Ogres aren't like Dragons; they aren't smart. Though Lycans are pretty intelligent, for just being a monster."
Rosemary: "Yeah though it's weird, Lycan's are seen as taboo right?"
Gray: "Why would they be?"
Musashi: "I'll make it short since I'm gettin tired of explaining stuff. When you get sick you can develop a curse. When humans are afflicted they become ghouls, and for Demi-humans, they become Lycans."
Down below stood Ravorias single shining fighter, holding her helmet and stomping the floor.
Rosine: "I am Rosine Voria! A future member of the Ravorian Imperial army, the future queen of this country! And I will slay this Lycan to further that goal. So please watch me do so! FOR THE GREAT SPIRITS!"
Soku: "Well she's soft-spoken."
Rosine placed her helmet on, filled with joy to kill the Demi-human. Then, before the announcer called out, she held the small, black, egg shaped charm hanging around her neck and silently prayed to herself.
Rosine: "Please dear spirits, grant me a safe passage through this trial. So I can step forward and bring this world into a new era."
Announcer: "NOW BEGIN!"
Like the other monsters, the Lycan gets some slack for the chain to move. Biting at her with foam, blood, and slime flowing out of its body. Though it seems to not lunge at her. Just staring with its blank white eyes.
Gray: "It's thinking!"
Rosine runs to the Lycan, pulling out her spear. Then, breaking the stone beneath her armored clanking foot, dashed forward while shoving her spear forward. The moment she lunged forward the Lycan stepped to the side, throwing its razor sharp claws forward.
Soku: "What's with the weird necklace she's wearing?"
Gray: "Yeh looks like a Behelit, with an egg-shaped bird face."
Musashi: "Oh that? It's Pandoras cursed charm, the Voria keep sake."
Gray: "What? You guys gotta start realizing I'm gonna have to ask what you're talking about every time you say it."
Musashi: "Nope no more Edward you do it."
Edward sighed, staring toward the fight as he spoke. Watching the Lycan leap and miss, leap and miss, roar and growl and scream, and miss.
Edward: "In legend, A long time ago in Alfheilm, multiple weapons were made for King Godrick. However they were cursed, each godly tool corrupting and becoming far stronger. A ring that lets you change domains, a scythe that damages the soul of the person you hurt with it, an armor that grows around you. A cloak that can be moved and stretched to the will of the user, and an egg-shaped jewel that can seal away ones mana. Pandora was the first to use it after Godrick, the first queen of Ravoria.
Gray: "Doesn't seem like much of a curse."
Musashi: "I didn't say them yet. The ring will alter your mind, separating your soul between the domains and making you immortal. Each time the scythe is used, your body will become more skeleton-like until you become an undead monster. The Armor will pull out your worst tendencies, the cloak will try and make you depressed, and overcome with darkness in your heart. And the egg-shaped charm will overwhelm you with sin, basically making you evil."
Gray: "So why is she using it?"
Edward: "It's said in legend that you can control it if your mind is sound. My father used the Godricks Armor and he even managed to control it for a time, but it was too much for him, taking his life. After that one of the nicknames given to the Armor was the "Helsing Armor". Kinda like how the egg shaped charm is called Pandoras charm."
Gray: "Oh, sorry for your loss."
Edward: "It's fine."
But the look in Edwards eyes, the weights holding them down, they were all such obvious notions against his own words. Down below Rosine continues to battle the Lycan. And when she felt the deepening resentment from her mother growing she pushed herself further, leaping over the beast and spinning mid-air. Then, landing with her spear drawn back, threw it out with everything she had. That shining spear then erupted through the beasts skull, ending the Demi-humans torture. Rosines bow to the crowd and spit at the beast being the last act of round one.
Announcer: "AND SO YOU HAVE IT, EVERYONE! WITH THE LAST MONSTER SLAIN IN EXACTLY ONE MINUTE, WHICH BRINGS AN END TO THE FIRST TRIAL! SINCE IT FINISHED QUICKLY THE NEXT TRIAL WILL START SHORTLY, SO GO THE THE RESTROOM, BUY YOUR FOOD, AND GET BACK QUICKLY, THE NEXT TRIAL WILL BE HELD IN THIRTY MINUTES!"
This time it was Ravoria that let out applause so loudly that their hands began to bleed, due to Elizabeth's freezing looks after Valatrocitus' showy celebration.
Edward: "Alright then let's go back downstairs."