Looking at the stadium filled with over a hundred men and women, I felt a rush of excitement. I had originally thought that I was invincible in my realm but yesterday proved differently. Fighting Style, speed, Intelligence, and Tactics are all a part of combat. It was arrogance to believe I was invincible in my realm.
Taking a deep breath, I calmed my raging emotions as I stepped on stage with the other three contestants. There was no disdain present within any of their eyes but a powerful battle intent and respect.
"Ramsy Lamonet, Arsene Snow, Alister Vargis, and Dromark Vargis, Congrats on making it to the finals." Grimlor gallantly shouted, "However, there can only be one,"
With a flourish of his cape, he sprang high in the sky as an eruption of Qi shot forth from his body. A heavy pressure surrounded our bodies, but none bent a knee.
Growing grim, Grimlor snapped his fingers as seven young men and women appeared, all radiating a profound earthly qi. Dense and thick, my eyes grew wide as I saw Yura standing in the air alongside Nora.
"Unlike our past tournament, this will be different," Grimlor stated as multiple heavenly experts shattered the void taking a step out. "This will be a battle royal, but in a secret realm, we discovered fifty years ago. From the reports, time seems to move faster there, so you can stay an entire month there, and only one hour will pass here." He explained
Nodding towards the five Heavenly masters, a massive boom shot forth, blasting me alongside my competition away. Turbulent winds stabbed like knives into my skin as I pushed my qi forward to guard.
Gulping, I witness a massive black gate materialize. Shimmering with crimson light that seemed to consume the very light around Pendragon. Sending a bewildered glance at Yura, I could see astonishment as she clenched her fist, taking a step back.
Fear gripped my heart as I could see Grimlor eyeing me with a cruel gleam that didn't seem like his own. Million of thoughts pinged in my mind, but the mark of Sacrilege began to pulse as the doors of the gate shot open.
Space began to twist as everyone at Earth Realm and lower was sucked in before we could speak. Wailing, I clenched my teeth as my skin began to peel. Yet, before I could do anything, a comforting sensation flooded out from the Mark of Sacerlage protecting me.
Suddenly a bright light filled my vision as I bellowed in a fury, "FUCK YOU GRIMLOR."
Free-falling from the very heavens, I screamed as I could see the ground approaching ever so slowly. Pushing the element of darkness into my back, I imagined wings only to fail as they failed to materialized.
Gritting my teeth, I pushed qi and darkness to my feet as I tried to jump. Brightly beaming at the resistance, I sent all my qi to my feet before jumping. Blood ruptured from my legs, but I had completely stopped falling, allowing my body to reach a zero velocity before it fell again.
Lightly jumping every so often, I smiled as I landed gently. While some of my veins had ruptured, they had already healed. Looking around, I frowned as a deep feral growling sounded from behind.
Quickly ducking, a massive fist shot down as a powerful shock wave shot into my body, drawing blood from my mouth. Standing over three meters tall stood a brawny beast completely covered in fur. While its head was that of a skinned skull, its eyes gleaming with a crimson hue.
Beating its chest like a gorilla, the demon shot towards me, "SHEREE!!!" it shrieked, sending out a massive shockwave with its roar.
Blood gust like raging rivers from my ears and eyes; in comparison, my very bones began to break apart. "WHAT ARE YOU!?" I shouted, consuming my body in black qi.
Pushing the illusionary step to the max, I dodged its erratic charge while my clones confused it. At a safe distance, I swallowed some pills before nocking my bow. Sending a few arrows towards the beast, yet all that followed was a black ooze that slowly began to dissolve the graze around me, sucking all the life away.
Like a black hole, the bone-like skull began to grow as a massive exoskeleton appeared, resembling a dragon. With its mouth wide open, I shot away as a massive beam of death exploded.
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!
Not daring to turn back, I fled like a bat out of hell as a heavy shockwave sent tremors throughout the area. Vanishing into a mist of darkness, I ran a few hundred kilometers before I felt I was safe.
With a cold gleam, I smiled, "It was a stage two demonic beast, yet I was defeated..." Laughing wildly at my own incompetence, I peered up at the crimson crescent moon that appeared to be bleeding crimson light.
Taking a deep breath, the Demonic Sacerlage Mantra activated while I attempted to recover my lost qi mending my injuries. Hours began to pass, but my guard never wavered. The stench of death hung deeply in this world. Yet, there was something that seemed to grip my very soul the longer I stayed.
"We are in Danger," A soft familiar voice sounded. I did not look surprised at Yura's appearance but fairly intrigued by her words as she continued in a cautious pitch, "This is the world of Drar'ethiul. While only an Illusionary zone, we are in mortal danger the longer we stay. "
Fear was all but visible on Yura as she gazed up at the bleeding moon, "Drar'ethiul, Lord of Betrayal, King of Deceit and Schemes..."
"And one of the Princes of Hell," I stated absentmindedly as the mark of sacrilege pulsed, sending knowledge deep within my soul, "Residing on the six Layer of Hell, Drar'ethiul, The Profane Prince."
"I don't know how Oswin found this place, but this kingdom is done," Yura muttered, "Once the Holy Order hears of this, Asterion will fade away like a fleeting memory. "
"We need to find Nora," I hastily proclaimed, "The more people, the better; this place is far too dangerous."
Sweat was already present amongst my brow, as Yura agreed. Blasting off the ground like rockets, we shot through the forest, avoiding every monster we could. Unfotually the deep feeling inside the pit of my stomach continued to worsen the longer I remained within this realm. As if something was clawing itself deep within me.
"Arsene, Arsene," A soft call would occasionally ring softly in my ear.
Stopping, I fell to my knees as the voice continued to grow stronger and stronger. "ARSENE, ARSENE!!" Like loud explosion sounding in my head, blood pooled from my ears as a demonic laugher sounded, "HALF-BLOOD, HALF-BLOOD, HALF-BLOOD, HALF-BLOOD, HALF-BLOOD! HALF-BLOOD! HALF-BLOOD!" Over and over, the cries of demons sounded consuming my very spirit.
Dark, complex marking abruptly began to materialize around me as the noise slowly faded. Yet this change did not bring joy as I felt my body adapted differently than average.
"...I'm fine, Yura," I calmly said, turning to the young girl holding her longsword, "my physique took care of whatever that was."
"What is that divine Physique," She softly muttered, "...how could it stop the Mark of Sacrilege."