Renes

The moment the fist made contact, it went through the man's head, phasing through it. Lucian gasped and looked back at the man; this time he saw himself, still about to be impaled, the spear going just as slow.

"Oh…"

Lucian chuckled.

"It's like when you die… And you are forever stuck in that moment." His eyes fell, and he felt on the verge of tears.

"That's not quite correct." Another man appeared before Lucian, one that gave him a profound sense of relief just by looking at him.

The man appeared just like the average person, besides his white hair with dark purple strands… And just like Lucian, a pair of majestic purple eyes. He was rather tall compared to Lucian and had a darker skin complexion, not to mention rather handsome even compared to most nobles.

"I am Renes… Your, uh… Guardian Angel? Yeah, I'm your Guardian Angel."

Lucian looked more relieved but was now in a deeper state of panic.

"I'm not dead?"

Renes had a playful smile. "Of course not! But you will be soon if you don't follow my instructions."

Lucian nodded and focused while wearing a grim expression.

"Ahah… That was a joke, of course, but I'm curious. What are you?" Renes looked at Lucian with a curious expression.

Lucian, confused by his statement, gazed into the eyes of Renes.

"I'm just a regular person."

'Actually… I'm not.' He inwardly thought right after his statement.

"That's interesting because despite being at the near pinnacle of the Hollow class, I'm suppressed by you in every way. In fact, looking at you feels like looking at a God in the flesh, and I can't help but want to kneel to you, which means you're someone much greater than me… Which is nonetheless impossible."

'Hollow… That's right! The closest thing this world shares in common with Earth is religion! The orthodox faiths here were all cults on Earth! My mother worshipped a God called the Hollow Lord. I was never one to have faith in my past life… But this must mean something! The only thing that's strange is that the worship of a Hollow Lord doesn't exist here… Or at least in Arindor.'

"You've been thinking for quite a bit, come up with a conclusion yet?" Renes asked. "You should know… My ability has a time limit, soon it will resume. Of course, I'll save you, but this is our only time to converse."

"Do you know a Hollow Lord?" Lucian asked.

"The Hollow Lord is the God I worship," Renes responded briefly, looking slightly annoyed. "You should feel a slight connection to the Hollow Lord if you're a Hollow Conduit. I'm curious about whatever tool, or artifact you're carrying around that suppresses me. You know-"

Renes paused, turning around to point at the hundred-eyed monster. "That guy was most likely looking for me, but that intense power you're freely letting out alerted even me. Have you ever been to a church? Whatever tool you're carrying is dangerous… And with those purple eyes, you should be at least a tier 5 Conduit… No, that's impossible."

Lucian cleared his throat, causing Renes to cease his thoughts. "I'm gonna be honest with you, I have no clue what a Conduit is. I do not carry any artifacts, and I'm just a regular guy."

After hearing Lucian's declaration, Renes rubbed his temples in deep thought and then suddenly looked up at Lucian, opening his mouth and closing it a few times before saying:

"You're…! Hehehhe… After this ends, I'll give you an interesting-looking worm. If you eat that, your fate will truly begin! Hehehe, I'm sure you'll eat it. If not, I'll simply kill you and absorb you; after all… Your fate is truly one to die for. Also, I'm not your Guardian Angel, so don't expect me to help you in the future!"

Lucian gulped hearing the man; if he seemed like a nutjob to Lucian earlier, he seemed like a psycho now.

"I Ac-"

Before Lucian could even finish his sentence, Renes appeared before him, but his position was now different, and there was a profound hole in the wall. Just as Renes promised, a black worm instantly appeared in his hands, and at the same time, Renes left.

Lucian cringed looking at the worm squirming in his hands, but not taking any chances with the statement Renes earlier said, he placed it into his mouth, instantly swallowing it.

'That wasn't that bad.'

Right after those thoughts, Lucian lost consciousness.

***

Renes stared at the fiend who was looking at him unfazed. Instantly, millions of indescribable colors and feelings assaulted Renes, and just as it instantly assaulted him, it was gone.

The setting had completely changed to a world completely cut out from the outside. Renes looked around in astonishment. The battlefield resembled a Colosseum. Standing a few yards in front of him was the hundred-eyed man.

"This is an interesting ability." Renes smiled at the man across from him. "A boon you monsters receive from serving that thing?"

"This is a powerful blessing granted by our God. You will perish here, brave warrior. What is your name?" The hundred-eyed man asked.

Renes laughed, hearing the man's ridiculous request. "I'm not telling my name to trash that can't compare to me at all."

Soon after, Renes took a step forward but was bound tightly by elusive chains.

"The fight doesn't begin until the spectators arrive, this is common courtesy." The hundred-eyed man emotionlessly echoed.

Soon, lights began forming on the sidelines; thousands, tens of thousands of people were appearing one by one.

"What a fancy light show…"

Renes began to examine the spectators; some of them had hundreds of eyes, some of them wore helmets, and some looked like regular people who carried around spears. One true fact about all of them is that they all served the same deity.

"The conditions are that none of us may leave the arena until one dies… That is all. The fight may begin." The hundred-eyed man said with a cold expression.