Gods, heroes and bets: a spectacle in the arena

John went to Hrafnstríðr, who received him joyfully, while Bernard went to his tutor, who was almost bursting with pride. Together they cleaned up the coliseum and then went to their families. On the way, Bernard and John met Lillia and the other wives of the former Marquis, who were already waiting for Bernard. They explained that they wanted to watch the next fight together in the stands. This was the excuse Lillia had come up with to lead Bernard to Elara and Eliasia in the hope that something would develop between him and Nora.

Nora greeted Bernard warmly and praised him for his fighting performance. She immediately engaged him in an animated conversation as they made their way to the stands to watch the next exciting fight. The entire group joined them when suddenly Mortis blocked their path. With his mighty scythe in hand and a determined look that left no one untouched, he stepped toward them. An appreciative smile flitted across his face as he looked at John and Bernard.

"I'm really proud of both of you. Not only did you bring honor to us, but you stood up for yourselves and held your heads high. Keep up the good work," Mortis said with an air of pride and enthusiasm. He then turned his gaze forward, mentally preparing for his own upcoming battle. The women of the group made way for him and looked on admiringly. Some of them whispered quietly among themselves as they commented on his imposing appearance. "What an impressive man." "Yes, but we're already too old for him." Lillia tried to ignore these comments, although she had similar thoughts, but she kept them to herself.

When the children finally arrived at their families' homes, they were warmly welcomed. Great gifts were promised to them. Zara, who still had her own trial ahead of her, was calm about it all. With Lumina as her mother, she saw challenges in a different light. She sat down on Lumina's lap to watch the next battle together.

Meanwhile, Bernard and Johannes were actually planning to talk a little apart, but Hrafnstríðr took them both aside. He warned them to be alert and pay close attention to what might happen next. Nora found her place between Primus and Helga, whom she had taken especially to her heart. Tense anticipation was literally in the air as everyone awaited the next fight with great anticipation.

Once again, a tremendous atmosphere filled the Colosseum as Valric appeared in the center of the arena. This time he wore only a light pair of trousers made of red and gold fabric, which allowed him sufficient freedom of movement. In his hands he held a broad spear that seemed almost like a halberd. However, it was both menacing and ornately decorated, adorned with jewels and diamonds.

In a powerful voice, Valric explained the rules for the upcoming battle: "I will assume the stats of a hero, and we will fight with the weapon of our choice. Neither passive nor active skills are allowed. What counts in this fight is the use of weapon and body. Whoever gives up, becomes unconscious or is close to death loses. So now, may my challenger step into the arena and seize the chance to face a god."

The tension was palpable as the words of the God of War faded away. The spectators and participants of the tournament were eagerly waiting to see who would rise to this extraordinary challenge. In the midst of this expectant silence, a figure slowly formed at the edge of the arena, gradually moving forward.

Mortis stepped out of the shadows into the arena, and as he advanced, his clothing seemed to change back and forth, as if unsure of how to present itself. Finally, his magical garb opted for black harem pants with silver feathers, leaving his torso bare. This choice revealed Mortis' well-toned body and broad shoulders, which impressed not only the god of war, but also the ladies. The human hero's presence went hand in hand with his appearance, which was one of determination and strength.

Mortis stepped into the arena and raised his eyes to look at the divine warrior Valric. Although Mortis himself was already of considerable size, Valric seemed like a true mountain, an embodiment of power and dominance. But despite this impressive appearance, Mortis was not intimidated. On the contrary, with a confident grin he entered the stage and faced the challenges ahead.

The eyes of the audience were fixed on Mortis as he walked towards Valric. The arena was filled with tense anticipation, and the air literally vibrated with tension. The two warriors faced each other, one a divine warrior and the other a human hero, ready to test their strength in the ultimate duel. The atmosphere was at its peak, and everyone knew that they would witness an unforgettable battle that would go down in history.

Luxia, the radiant goddess of light, entered the arena together with her opponent Sabalef, the god of darkness. They took their positions, ready to referee this epic battle and make sure that everything went fairly. The presence of the two divine beings gave the moment a sublime aura.

But before the fight began, a luminous panel appeared in the center of the arena. On it were written the words "Bets: Hero vs. God." Sabalef took the floor and explained that for the next 5 minutes, all races from around the world could place bets. The largest bets would be displayed here. To participate in the betting, all races had to do was place their hand on an object or their purse and then say, "Bet God" or "Bet Hero" and then name their bet. The bets would be fairly calculated, with 20% of the wager going to the hero.

Spectators in the Coliseum and around the world were excited by this opportunity to participate in the betting and express their support for their favorite. The atmosphere was tense as people began to place their bets and make their decisions.

Meanwhile, Luxia and Sabalef looked at the filling bets, knowing that this fight was not only a duel between hero and god, but also a demonstration of people who believed in the impossible and placed their hope in those who fought for them. The board in the center of the arena reflected the tension that was in the air, and everyone knew that this was going to be a historic moment that would reverberate for a long time.

The final outcome of the betting was perhaps sobering to Mortis, but intriguing nonetheless. Only 30% of people believed in his chances to win the fight. But interestingly enough, it was the top 5 with the highest stakes that were his supporters.

The Goddess of Poison placed a potion of eternal health on Mortis. An offer that was not only powerful, but also enticing, as the prospect of eternal health and invulnerability was an irresistible temptation to many.

Calamora, the goddess of disaster and tempests, offered a rune stone that granted protection from her own powers. Such an offer had not only symbolic value, but could also be of inestimable use.

Third place was a touching contribution from an alf who provided 2 liters of nectar from her beloved World Tree. Such a precious gift symbolized not only trust, but also a willingness to sacrifice a part of one's essence for Mortis' victory.

In fourth place was a king from another human continent who wagered a large sum of diamonds. This wager illustrated not only confidence in Mortis, but also a willingness to commit considerable wealth.

And finally, a dwarf in fifth place wagered a considerable amount of materials and ores. Such a contribution showed not only the diversity of supporters, but also the solidarity of different peoples to Mortis' cause.

As the bets were submitted and the top 5 entries were announced, the arena was filled with anticipation and excitement. Mortis may have only been supported by 30%, but that support was passionate and of great importance. The top 5 bets were a testament to the confidence and hope people placed in this magical battle.

Sabalef commented on the bets with a mischievous tone, pointing out that it seemed that the hero had charmed the female audience with his impressive body and confident appearance. He made a humorous remark about Mortis being careful not to disappoint those expectations, even if his chances of winning were slim. In doing so, he emphasized that the hero should do his best not to disappoint these women and not to break their hearts. It was obvious that Sabalef was emphasizing the humorous aspect of this situation with a certain lightness and mischievousness.

Luxia commented with a humorous tone that the betting was now done and the fight would soon begin. She invited the audience to sit back down and enjoy the show, jokingly pointing out that they should not forget to breathe so they would not miss anything. Afterwards, both Luxia and Sabalef took their seats at the edge of the arena and both raised their hands to signal the start of the fight. The spectators eagerly awaited the upcoming spectacular battle between the human hero Mortis and the mighty god Valric.