[Bonus chapter] The Arena

*Drip* *Drip*

The sound of water dripping could be heard as Asper came to find himself in a dark damp place.

"Not this shit again…" He muttered as he gave a quick look around.

Old mossy cracked stone walls beside him with candles attached to them. Behind him was a dead end leaving the only path he could take to be heading straight ahead.

Asper was hesitant but after taking in a deep breath, he started to walk down dimly lit path. The candles made it barely visible, however he could see creatures like spiders and lizards crawling around. A strange foul stench forced him to clench his nose the further and further he walked down the path.

*Step* *Step *Step*

Eventually, the sound of the footsteps came to an end as Asper found himself standing in front of a large closed off gate.

No matter how much he tried thinking about it, he could only get bad vibes from it. There's no doubt that whatever it was that was waiting for him was going to be bad.

"Before I go might as well check my stats."

<Name: Asper Antes>

<Race: Human>

<Level 30>

<2200/6000 exp>

<Class: Adapter>

<Title: None>

[Stats]

HP: 260/260

MP: 155/155

---------------------

VIT: 22

SEN: 24

STR: 5

AGI: 27

INT: 31

<4 Stat points Available>

[Skills]

<Adapt LV.3> (Passive)

<<Adapt Branch>>

<Weak Pain-resistance LV.2> (Passive)

<Weak Mental-resistance LV.1> (Passive)

<Electricity LV.2>

Cold sweat dripped down Asper's forehead as he noticed how unbalanced his build was. His strength wasn't even on the double digits.

'When did pain-resistance level up? I thought it was only a temporary level boost but the time limit should have ended by now… Was it when I was unconscious?' Asper wondered.

"Place all the remaining points into strength."

<Placing 4 Stat points into strength, confirm?>

"Confirm."

<Confirmed.>

After hearing the confirmation, Asper felt a strange surge throughout his body before taking in a deep breath and letting it out.

He pulled his right am back and clenched it into a fist before suddenly sending a straight right ahead of him.

*Swoosh!*

Asper's punch was on top condition, it felt more powerful somehow. That led him to wonder what exactly strength linked into. Was it a person's physique or just how powerful their attack could be? Asper wasn't sure. He also couldn't measure the difference unlike with Vitality so it was rather confusing.

"Guess I'll just beat some hunters up and test the difference after." Said Asper as he placed his hand on the gate.

'Speaking of which… That wind guy that I fought… I was able to use his fighting style but…'

Asper tried imitating his style once again before pushing the gate, only to realize it was a floppy imitation. Or rather, nothing like his previous perfect imitation.

This time, the system wasn't helping at all. The floppy imitation itself was just him stuck in a semi-complete stance done through muscle memory.

"I guess this means the fighting stance I learned was also temporary… Can't you give me a break system?" Asper asked as he pushed the gates

*Creak*

With a loud creak, the gates opened and Asper walked through, heading inside.

At first, everything was dark. However, after a short while, candles lit up in flames, brightening up the whole room.

A large room with an arena in the middle. Around the arena was a pit and the only way to get to the arena was through a wooden bridge which had been linked to the area where he was standing.

On the other side of the arena, Asper noticed another bridge and a person standing there. They wore a cloak which covered their figure and face. Asper could already tell that they were bad news.

'They're gonna make us fight, aren't they?'

Just as he asked that, highlighted texts and a voice suddenly appeared from the ceiling.

<60 seconds before match begins>

<Match will soon commence>

<Objective: Kill the opponent>

<Penalty: Death>

"Huh?" Asper questioned.

The system was forcing him to kill someone now and if he didn't he'd die? Although Asper wasn't against it, he hated the feeling of being controlled or forced to do something without his permission.

Despite that, there was nothing he could do. So he decided to go along with it.

*Step* *Step*

Without exchanging any words, the two made their way towards the middle of the arena. Asper was rather nervous, but it was expected. He didn't know what to expect from the opponent.

Once he was on the arena, he stuck his eyes to the opponent, keeping track of his every moves and looking for openings.

Asper couldn't find any.

<20 seconds before match begins>

<Prepare your weapons>

<Performance will be accounted into class change>

<Match is being watched>

'What did they just say?' Asper questioned as his eyes widened.

<10 seconds before match begins>

'Did I hear that right? Match is being watched?'

<5 seconds before match begins>

Asper slowly pulled out two knives from the holsters around his leg. Stella had most likely put it on him whilst he was unconscious. Why was it that she was helping him? What did she want?

<3 seconds>

As the timer was about to reach zero. Asper cleared his mind of any and every unnecessary thought before focusing on two things.

The enemy ahead and survival.

<1… Match begin.>

*Vwoom!*

The moment the notification had hit, two projectiles were sent right at Asper only to be avoided by him as he tilted his head left and right.

*Step* *Step* *Step* *Step!*

Following that, Asper's opponent could be seen charging at him with a strange one handed short curved blade. It was like a knife but only slightly longer.

Upon seeing this, Asper who wielded two blades, also charged at him, thinking he had an advantage due to having an extra weapon.

*Step!* *Step!* *Step!* *Splash*

The sound of hasty footsteps and water splashing resounded from the mossy stone cracked floors as the two made their way towards one another.

*Clang!*

They collided.

*Fwoosh!*

Asper who had the smaller build was knocked back and off balance from collision and slippery floor.

The opponent didn't hesitate to make chance of this opportunity and quickly swung his short sword vertically at Asper.

*Katching!*

Asper who parried by putting both knives together in the form of an X was left wide open from the waist down.

*Bam!*

The opponent sent a kick hitting asper right in his stomach causing him to slide back before he suddenly leapt towards Asper with a horizontal swing in action.

Asper ducked, barely avoiding the swing in the process before stepping in, thrusting his right hand's knife at his opponents chest as he did so.

*Clang!*

Asper's eyes widened once he noticed that his opponent had parried his thrust by pulling out another blade.

'Another one!?'

———————— Next chapter preview

"You're strong for a kid..." Muttered the man as he placed both short swords back in their sheathes before tightening his grip on the handle. "With all that potential... It's a shame to have to kill you... But it's either you or me, kid." He added as he slowly leaned forward.

Asper's heart sunk, the hair on his neck rose as a burst of bloodlust was released from the man.

Asper could feel two different flows of energy coming out of him. Was it due to having increased his sense? Or was he imagining it?

He threw one of his knives at the man in an attempt to break his concentration or whatever it was that he was trying to do, but the man easily deflected the knife and got back into the stance.

Just as Asper was about to make his next move, it was too late.

"Self-made sword move: Purge." He muttered.

In that instant, he vanished.