Is it me or is that a skull on your face?

Cheers.

Claps.

Laughter.

A coliseum.

A fight.

But this wasn't a typical fight.

On the seventh floor of the world tree, there was a rather large amphitheater capable of holding a bit over 15000 people.

But matches in Ceren were a bit different.

After all, the participants not only fought with weapons and skills but also special abilities. And very bare-chested at that too.

What's more, this was a battle royal of one hundred and ninety-six contestants.

Killing was not allowed.

Sunlight didn't reach this place, but everything was well lit. A bit too well perhaps.

Rumble!

A pillar of earth rose up, almost knocking away one of the participants.

The stage was roughly half the diameter of the coliseum and there was a clear line indicating it. if the participants crossed that line they'd be deemed out of the match. Even if someone lost consciousness, they'd still technically be in the match until someone threw them away.

'Two minutes and fifty already dropped out, huh?' Meanwhile, a pair of outside eyes were keeping a keen eye on the match. There were no seats available, so he had to watch while standing.

Earth, fire, lightning, water, and ice. So far the contestants only used these five elements. 'They don't seem to have anything special embedded in their bodies, so how?'

He'd been wondering about that ever since he came across the Sahallan warrior yesterday.

Swish!

But then- a gust of wind flew by.

Actually, it got awfully windy.

About thirty or so Sahalla was blown away by a masked Sahalla in the middle- everyone was sucked into a tornado and crashed into the sides.

Roar! The crowd was even more pumped.

Most Sahallas used spears, but he only had a knife, and judging by that mean glare, he meant business.

John grinned. He was an outsider. But he really wanted to go down and test things out. 'SO, wind is also an option… interesting… very interesting!'

His heart beat faster, and his blood pumped.

Excited.

"Do you people think anything other than just fighting?" A girl- Voli came and stood beside him. John didn't bother answering. "Where's Theo?"

"I thought he was with you," John said, looking back slightly with a confused stare.

"I thought he was with you…" Voli mumbled.

***

The celling was awfully woody.

'Where am I?'

The room was mostly empty.

Basically, no furniture and though there was a bed, there was no mattress.

Hardwood.

Theo sat down, trying to assess the situation. He didn't feel bad. Actually, he felt better than usual.

His back did hurt slightly though. lying on this hard bed wasn't the best idea- then again, it wasn't his idea, to begin with.

He was fully clothed but most of his gadgets were missing. He didn't have his plasma bag either. 'But they didn't remove my suit…'

The door was locked and it was too sturdy. 'Is this a prison?' There wasn't any place to do his business though.

If anything, this room was awfully clean.

Theo made his way to the window and looked out.

He was up- a long way up. 'Forty, fifty floors?'

By Planet Aura's standards, this was at least a hundred and twenty floors high. 'SO jumping out, is also a no go?'

'Menu.'

Status

Quests (3)

Equipment

Magic (locked lv10)

Refinement (locked lv15)

Abilities (locked lv15)

Journal

Enchantment (locked lv50)

Turbo

Summon

'Wait, wasn't this thing locked till I reached lv100?'

Theo didn't quite understand things. And all this time it was basically reporting as "???", so why now?

There was something below his vision and when he focused on it, there was a question of sort. 'Would you like to register-?'

And then he recalled the incident he had.

He sighed and just lay down on the bed again.

'Ow!' Not the best idea.

'And where is that thing?'

Poof!

Something emerged in the corner of the room, almost like black smoke. It came through the hardwood, like a ghost or something.

It slowly headed this way. 'Seriously, what is that thing?'

But unlike the last time, Theo was a lot more composed now.

It stopped just before Theo's face, slightly glaring. "I have a name you know." It was the same voice- the voice of a kid Theo heard before passing out. Rather high pitched and kind of annoying.

And the voice was not pleased.

The face didn't move- and it was nothing but a skull. 'How the hell is this thing even alive?'

"Right, right… what do you want?"

"Nothing much. Thou seem to be an adequate vassal. I shall allow thou to let me follow thou and rediscover oneself along the way." It proudly presented itself.

"Uh-huh." But then Theo paused. "THE HELL, IT TALKED!!!"

A little slow.

The furless thing grimaced. "What is wrong with thou?" It sighed. "Xercovele De La Broanska, that is one's name. Remember it well." With pride, it looked down on Theo- still floating. "Now, name thyself and become my slave!"