Chapter 51: Chapter 51 - This is what People call a 'Monster'.
Zeph and his companions arrived at the arena during their break time. With class gaps lasting a whole hour, they had plenty of time to spare before their next lessons.
The battle arena was a mesmerizing sight, with its pristine white surroundings that seemed to have a magical quality.
A transparent barrier enclosed the central fighting stage, ensuring that the audience remained safe from any stray attacks while adding a mystical atmosphere to the arena.
In addition to the main fighting area where Zeph and Kael were, the arena had multiple raised platforms arranged like steps around it.
These platforms hosted various challenges for participants, such as magical duels and sword fights. Contestants could be seen getting ready for their own battles on these platforms.
The whole place felt like a blend of dreams and enchantment, where warriors and mages tested their skills. All of this took place under the watchful eyes of an awed audience, protected by the shimmering barrier.
As they arrived zeph saw many students were arrived
Zeph and Kael made their way towards the battle arena.
The battle arena was ready, with Zeph and Kael standing at opposite ends, their determination evident on their faces.
Zeph took a deep breath, wondering if it was time for a new strategy in this duel.
'Should we try something different?'
I pondered as I moved forward, questioning the tactics that had worked well for me so far.
As the duel began, I reached out with my hand, a brilliant shimmering aura surrounding it. With a swift, fluid motion, I transformed the mana within my body into a blazing sword of pure energy.
The crowd, initially silent, erupted with astonished gasps at the intricate magic unfolding before them. They hadn't expected my ability to create a materialized weapon from my mana.
People commonly believed that Mana Transmutation drained one's mana reserves entirely.
But I defied that belief; my mana seemed limitless, always replenishing, and I wielded it with great skill.
"Look at Kael"
a voice in the crowd whispered, drawing my attention to the mysterious figure on the other side of the arena.
Kael exuded a mystical presence, his Archangel Bloodline evident in the radiant wings unfurled behind him.
He effortlessly ascended into the air, leaving the ground beneath him. Graceful and composed, he summoned a radiant bow into his hands, and arrows of holy light formed, ready to be unleashed.
"I should at least test his swordsmanship"
I thought as I sprinted toward Kael, who hovered five meters above the ground. My blazing sword extended before me, but I soon found myself facing a barrage of arrows.
Swiftly, I cut through each arrow, determined to close the distance between us.
In response, Kael transformed his bow into a sword, thanks to his angelic bloodline, which provided him with a wide array of stored weaponry.
The two warriors clashed fiercely, generating powerful gusts of wind that rippled across the arena.
'He's formidable'
I had yearned for peaceful life, but what I found was a savage reality, not unlike the one I had escaped.
My emotions swirled and churned, threatening to consume me entirely.
Rage bubbled up from deep within me, and I couldn't contain it any longer.
'Zendal, remove all restrictions!'
I commanded, my voice laced with fury.
With those words, my sword dematerialized, leaving me standing alone on the stage.
My face, marred by burns, and my heart, shattered by the onslaught of emotions, were laid bare for all to see.
I was overwhelmed, drowning in a torrent of emotions, each one more painful than the last.
This world... it was no different from the one I had desperately tried to escape.
It was a harsh place where you had to fight for your place, where compassion was a weakness, and where cruelty reigned supreme.
I clenched my fists, my muscles tensing, and small veins became visible beneath my skin.
Slowly, I lifted my head, which had been hanging low, my heart heavy with the realization that in this world, you had to seize what you wanted, not beg for it.
.
.
.
*SWISH!*
In an instant, Zeph vanished, leaving the arena in stunned silence.
*GASP!*
A collective gasp erupted throughout the arena as everyone witnessed the unimaginable.
A boy with striking green eyes was violently expelled from the arena, obliterating the once-unbreakable barrier.
He crashed through the protective field, which now lay in ruins.
All eyes were now fixed on this boy, his angelic wings brutally severed, their radiance snuffed out, and his gaze hollow, as though he teetered on the precipice of death.
He sprawled on the shattered wall, the destruction around him serving as a gruesome testament to the impact.
A deep, ominous punch mark marred his chest.
It was as if he had been struck by a cataclysmic force, one so relentless that it defied comprehension.
"Now, this is what they mean by 'monster,'"
A voice thundered throughout the arena. A chill swept over everyone, their fear deepening.
They turned their gaze toward the source of the voice, locking eyes with a figure whose golden, merciless gaze seemed to pierce their very souls.
His face bore a cruel resemblance to a devil, a visage that sent terror coursing through their veins.