Beastfolk

In a wonderful mood, Adam reached the arena, in the reception hall, he signed up for a match.

An hour after, the joy plain to see on his face, had yet to fade, a match was set up.

Striding through the hallway of the arena, Adam chuckled, thinking: 'Show me what you got system.'

His opponent this time was a longsword wielding older beastfolk man.

Possessing grey hair, a beard, and what looked to be a pair of wolf ears and a tail.

Adam recalled his lessons with Merandin about all the races that inhabited Randail.

It was his first time seeing a beastfolk.

Having heard of their heightened prowess and senses, he was happy to engage in a battle.

That may simply be his urge to see how well his new Hit XP skill performed.

Strutting closer, he examined their info.

[Vayhr Jahst: Level 18, Beastfolk (Wolf), Warrior, former popular Vottrat arena fighter.]

With the announcer's decree, and the crazed audience cheering surrounding the pit, the match begun.

Unlike most of the other people he fought, Vayhr was more cautious, keeping his distance.

That would have been fine, had he not had the Hit XP Skill.

Now, that Adam possessed it, he would use it often.

Adam's eyes narrowed, Vayhr was nearly expressionless.

Sprinting, his sword pointed behind him, Adam blitzed towards Vayhr.

It was moments before Adam slashed out with his sword.

His sword was blocked as Vayhr struck back with his longsword.

The sword's crashed, a shrill sound echoed as Adam's sword met the edge of Vayhr's longsword.

Slashing up, Vahyr's sword went for Adam's neck.

Putting his muscles to work, Adam resisted the rising sword.

His feet sinking into the sand, Adam knocked back Vayhr's longsword.

Vahyr's longsword swept towards Adam's side, which Adam jabbed out at the blade to gain distance.

Vahyr's sword flung back at the impact.

Adam drove his sword at Vahyr's throat.

His sword near him, he shifted his sword to guard his upper body, blocking Adam's advancing sword.

Failing at landing the strike, Adam dragged back his sword, feet raising off the ground, he slammed his sword down.

Teeth tightly clenched, Vahyr met the descending sword, his back foot digging into the sand.

Flipping his sword up, Adam stumbled back onto the ground.

As Adam found his balance, Vahyr swung his longsword low, locked onto Adam's knees.

Positioning his sword diagonally, Vahyr's sword crashed against his.

One of Adam's hand's met the sand.

A follow-up strike headed for Adam.

Which Adam, swiftly picking up his sword, one knee in the sand, held his sword vertically.

Vahyr's longsword struck Adam's sword, his body shaking, Adam almost fell flat.

Pushing forward when the horizontal force hit his sword.

He jammed his sword into the sand, as he stabilized.

Quickly pulling it out, Adam slashing at Vahyr, as his feet clenched the sand beneath him.

Vahyr's breathing becoming more severe, took a moment longer to sweep their longsword towards him.

By the time the sword arrived, Adam's footing was solid, and drove forward his sword he placed to guard his face.

Vahyr's sword landing, caused Adam's bones to reverberate.

Shaking off the piercing sensation, Adam lunged forward at Vahyr, who strained to protect himself, as Adam's slashed horizontally

His guard unformed, Adam's landed his first direct blow against Vahyr, as he was knocked back a foot, the sword flat against his leg.

Vahyr's stability in the sand kept him vertical, but, was clearly shaken at the strike to his leg.

Snarling as he dashed, his feet kicking up sand, Vahyr made his way to Adam.

Adam smirked, sprinting at Vahyr.

Drawing his sword into a vertical arc, Adam slashed at Vahyr.

Vahyr retaliated with a low, upward swing, his knee lowered in strain, rattling Adam's bones.

Causing Adam to pull back his sword.

Weaving to Vahyr's side, he struck at Vahyr's weakened leg.

A gash drawing blood emerged, causing Vahyr to curse: "Shit."

Vahyr fled, slightly limping, but Adam sprinted to his front, and kicked him in the solar plexus.

Screaming as he fell to the sand, Adam thrusted his sword, his blade pressed against Vahyr's nape.

Adam asked: "Surrendering?"

His voice scratchy, Vahyr replied, "Fine... fighting further would make recovery a pain."

"I surrender."

Lifting Vahyr to his feet, Adam remarked: "That was a great fight."

Scoffing, Vahyr replied: "Sure, if you say so."

As Adam's win was announced, he left the fighting pit.

Back at the arena reception hall, he took an hour breather and got a glass of cold water to drink.

He checked his status, to see the effect of the Hit XP skill.

His eyes widened as he looked at his experience.

From that single battle, he had gained one tenth of a level.

With his opponent not being Umbrul's caliber either, that number would increase.

His stamina already starting to recover, he scheduled his next match.

Four more matches flew by, before Adam returned to the inn.

He speculated that the meeting with the owner would be any day now.

The day after, before committing to the matches, Adam talked to Yerlarain and Micheis about the status of their debt.

A joyful smirk crossed Yerlarain's face as she said: "We are so close!"

"Admittedly, some more people are keen about you now, and are betting on you too.

"So its slowed down a bit, but progress is being made."

"That's good." Adam replied, a subtle smile on his face.

"Sounds like it wont be long before the Violetstones can stand proudly?" Adam asked.

"Even with the debt being soon cleared, reputation, prestige, resources, land, all will take much more time to recover."

"Yeah..." Adam responded, scratching his cheek.

Micheis chimed in: "Though milady says that, should we gain enough coin, once the debts done, it wont be as dreaded a task as it once was."

Adam nodded, chatting for a bit longer with the duo before he returned to the inn.

Resting on his bed, he reflected.

He was now back on track with leveling up.

He would be able to help, likely anyway, the Violetstones by arranging a deal with the owner to get them that extra coin.

Then, there was the skill usurper ticket he still had to find a target for.

Adam's gaze narrowed.

"Zarthak, just you wait, im coming for you."