The Bloodthirsty Showdown. (88)

[Participant 137, are you all right?]

[...Yes.]

[Mm, how do I use the artifact? Should I just go into a field full of slain creatures while Entity absorption is taking place?]

[First, you need to repair the damage caused by the Thousand Dreams Lamp, and then bond it to yourself.]

[Bond?]

[Yes. Artifacts of Rare level and higher, such as Perfect, Special, and Legendary, must be bound by the blood of the finder. One drop is enough so that in the future, no one but you will be able to use the Lamp of a Thousand Dreams.]

[I see.]

[Health Window:

22,900.]

[Endurance Window:

27,400.]

Exhaling, I began to absorb the energy of the Spiritual Stones. After five hours of accelerated training, I opened my eyes and witnessed particles of filth separating from my body and being absorbed into two cards floating in the air.

[Aura Enhancement:

Lasts for the next 10 minutes.]

My swarthy skin displayed cracks, and all my attributes had risen by at least 800 points.

[Updating Participant parameters 137:

Race: Dark Elf.

Rank: 10.

Power: 39,100 (+800).

Dexterity: 37,900 (+800).

Endurance: 42,500 (+2,500).

Magic resistance: 32,400 (+800).

Cursed Welfare: 2.

Mana perception: 35,100 (+850).

Intelligence: 41,460 (+2,500).

Mental strength: 37,200 (+900).

Regeneration: 33,300 (+1,500).

Alliance: The Infernal Legion.

Rank: General of the Third Battalion.

Skills:

Spectral Familiars (Level 17), Spirit Weapons (Level 26), Poison Arrows (Level 24), Shadow Steps (Level 28), Shield Of Light (Level 8), Breath Hypnosis (Level 17), Steel Claws (Level 21), General Armor (Level 17), Aura Enhancement (Level 9).]

My new skin was smooth and slightly lighter, and even the calluses on my palms had vanished.

Clutching and releasing my fists, I rose to my feet.

The information conveyed by the Spectral Familiar was astonishing, and I hadn't expected any of it.

The Lamp of a Thousand Dreams was a coveted item not just for creatures and beasts but also for other races, including humanity. Its primary function was to summon the true rulers of the continent—Demons—from the void. Hidden by powerful mercenaries, 12 such artifacts now occupied the center of each maze and anomalous zone. The dormant power that had lain concealed for centuries had burst forth in front of a vast array of creatures.

And everyone was hunting for them, well, at least those who were aware of the situation.

Many places like the Arena were connected to anomalous zones, like doors leading to the source of life. This meant the New Rules had been cleverly selected to prevent creatures from fully assembling all the artifacts.

As a result, fighters who engaged in combat for the public's amusement perished, pitted against each other by inventive Caretakers. This granted the audience a glimpse of the remnants of the shadows of powerful weapons.

Fighters will be serving as spectacles meant to crush the illusion of the ignorant's freedom.

Using one brilliant object to conceal the rays of the true sun.

Ha ha ha.

Well, I already had 2 artifacts, so why not collect them all?

The Dagger of the Sacred Assassin and the Lamp of a Thousand Dreams already provided a significant advantage at the beginning of the Game to dismantle the Empire. But what if I gathered the rest of the artifacts?

Unfortunately, I could no longer access the Plaza of Redemption. No time, no gain.

Could I attempt to use the Transformation of the Lower Loss? Hmm, but my appearance had changed during the upgrade, so that was out of the question.

Summoning the Lamp, I inspected its rusty edges carefully. Was it just me, or had it become cleaner?

Biting my index finger, I allowed a droplet of purple blood to fall onto the burning surface. With a hiss, the flame shifted from dark to a richer shade of green.

I felt an influx of foreign energy course through my bones and flesh, washing away all the toxins deeply rooted in my meridians.

Unbelievable.

Lost in thought, I departed from the Gravitational Field and was met by the morning fog enveloping the rooftops of the buildings in the residential area of the Third Level.

I had plenty of time at my disposal.

Upon entering the rented room, I indulged in a refreshing bath, luxuriating in the warmth that washed away the night's stress. Once refreshed, I changed into a set of soft, comfortable armor designed to offer both protection and agility.

In the main hall, I found Madeleine and Gena already engrossed in their breakfast, feasting on the still-living Hell Wasps. Drops of sweet nectar, with a light copper hue, gathered at the tips of the wasps' poisonous stingers.

"Good morning," I greeted them and ordered a serving of vegetable soup for myself.

"Good morning," Gena acknowledged me, his sharp claw touching a piece of meat, letting a droplet of crimson liquid dangle near my face. "You've lost weight. Don't your taste buds awaken with these tender pieces of raw meat?"

I poured some red wine into a steel bowl brought by a staff member and replied, "No." Then, I patiently awaited my order.

"Soon," Madeleine remarked as she glanced out of the panoramic window, exhaling a dark smoke ring.

"Yeah," I concurred.

We departed from the Seven-Colored Alkhon pavilion and made our way to the heart of the southern territory. There, amid the towering pointed rooftops of skyscrapers, lay a stone field divided into four sections.

Each section had its distinctive purpose:

- White was for friendly matches.

- Gray was used for testing one's strength; usually, beginners and volunteers fought here.

- Dark gray hosted slightly more serious fights, often with bets placed, and was preferred by those with decent combat experience.

- Black was the arena for deadly duels.

As we reached the center, I noticed an expectant crowd. Silence hung heavy in the air, lending a sense of solemnity to the gathering.

"They're here..."

"Exciting, isn't it? I'd love to see the main forces of these two colossal Alliances in action."

"Who do you think will emerge victorious?"

"I'm placing my bet on the Bloodthirsty."

"I'm rooting for The Infernal Legion. Can't you see? They've got three renowned fighters: Count Gennady of the Purple Mist, the Poisonous Widow Madeleine, and the Infernal General Kai Teran."

"Have you seen the Bloodthirsty team? Lucy's Deadly Whirlwind, Alex's Iron Fist, Fahey's Thug, Berg the Level Six Smasher, Roman the Dark Swordsman."

All the Bloodthirsty fighters stood resolute in the black section, their unmoving figures exuding a palpable aura of menace.

"Ha. Who would've thought these creatures would still be crawling on their limbs?" A giant grinned with thick lips, displaying iron gloves adorned with scarlet spikes the size of my torso.

"They won't be walking for long," said a boar-shaped beast with a piggy grunt, its hooves pounding on the stone floor.

"What? Only three of you?" A girl with round ears scratched her pink cheek with a paw covered in white fur.

"Then there'll be three of us as well," replied a beast with a broken horn, nodding knowingly.

"No need. I'll take at least three," Gena responded with a dull tone.

"Allow me to assist you," I added as I approached the field, with Madeleine following closely behind.

A hulking figure, shrouded in a robe from head to toe, sat perched on the ledge, seemingly uninterested in the battle about to unfold.

We placed our tokens within small magic circles suspended in the air and waited for the judges to arrive, embodied by the higher skeletons.

A winged guard stood upon a podium suspended above us, opened an ancient book, and initiated the field.

"BLOODTHIRSTY!!!"

"The Infernal Legion!!!"

"BLOODTHIRSTY..."

The crowd erupted into a cacophony of cheers, howls, and shouts, carrying the names of the Alliances for several kilometers, drawing in new spectators.

"Heh, and we tried to give them a chance to surrender, but they chose this," Lucy remarked, causing her twin tails of blonde hair to twitch as she summoned a tornado.

From within her tight-fitting dress, Madeleine released the poisonous insects that had concealed themselves beneath her form-fitting dress.

Leaning forward, I deflected the giant's thunderous blow with my Spiritual Weapon, the resulting screech of metal barely audible over the cacophonous roars of the onlooking crowd. A shower of sparks cascaded around us as I, employing Hypnosis Breathing, seamlessly disappeared into a shroud of gray fog conjured by Gena's abilities.

Within this smoky haze, I keenly sensed the movements of the creatures. Anticipating the giant's intentions, I swiftly released a barrage of Poisonous Arrows into his massive belly.

*BOOM*

With a resounding thud, the giant toppled to his knees, a searing pain ripping through his core.

A blow to the neck remained only a fraction away from its target, but a dark figure materialized before me in the nick of time.

Tsking, I raised my Shield of Light, intercepting a gleaming whip strike, and retreated with the aid of my Shadowy Steps, melting back into the encroaching fog.

A whistle reverberated behind me. Madeleine grappled fiercely with Lucy, and it appeared she was also dealing with Fahey. The boar used its razor-sharp fangs to drive Madeleine away from the field, while Lucy ensnared her in a wind trap.

I delivered a forceful kick to the boar's side, sending it careening behind the black section.

"THE FIRST OPPONENT HAS BEEN ELIMINATED."

A hushed anticipation fell over the crowd.

"MEMBER OF THE BLOODTHIRSTY ALLIANCE. FAHEY'S THUG!"

A wave of disappointment washed over the crowd, their previous excitement dissipating.

"Bastard, brace yourself for a painful end," Lucy spat at me, withdrawing two sai daggers from a spatial ring. She spun the lethal blades in her hands, their sharp tips aimed at me. Then she suddenly collapsed to the ground, lips tinted blue as she coughed up black blood.

"Don't forget about me," Madeleine chimed in, shaking her black hair with a charming smile.

I took her hand and tossed her off the field.

"THE OPPONENT HAS BEEN ELIMINATED. MEMBER OF THE BLOODTHIRSTY ALLIANCE. LUCY'S DEADLY WHIRLWIND."

"We could have finished it off." Shaking the dust from the red hem, the creature hissed from the pain in his legs. A stone protruded from the shin, piercing through the flesh. Purple drops formed a puddle. Too bad, because of her toxic body, it won't be easy for her to recover in a short period of time.

"You can come out. I think we can handle the rest." I raised my voice.

"Are you sure?" Frowning painfully, Madeleine left the section.

"THE ENEMY WAS ELIMINATED. FROM THE INFERNAL LEGION ALLIANCE. THE POISONOUS WIDOW MADELEINE."

Three figures remained: the giant, the enigmatic black silhouette, and the horned one. Strangely, I sensed only three distinct auras. Perhaps I had missed the announcement of one of them being eliminated.

The fog grew thicker, and amidst the audible rustling of steel boots, I discerned the giant with the gloves.

In such confined spaces, wearing armor was not the wisest choice.

Up ahead, sat the black silhouette of Alex.

Plunging my sword into the afterimage, I was momentarily taken aback and narrowly evaded a whip strike.

An illusion?

In the distance, a child's laughter echoed, then faded, gradually drawing nearer.

Suddenly, someone seized my shoulders, pinning me to the ground.

I coughed, summoning the General's Armor, but still felt a substantial blow to my stomach.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy, taking 500 health points out of 45,900.]

The giant hoisted me upward by my throat, his yellow eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. His jagged teeth seemed poised to snap my head off.

Struggling to maintain my composure, I raised my right hand with a hoarse sigh and summoned the Poison Arrows, but they failed to produce the expected effect.

Amid the backdrop of yellowed fangs, fragments of flesh could be discerned, remnants from a hastily devoured meal. The putrid stench, reminiscent of decaying corpses from a month ago, churned my stomach.

[Participant 137 is under attack from an enemy; damage inflicted: 50 points.]

My Spiritual Weapon clamped onto Alex's wrists, eliciting a piercing scream. The steel relentlessly bore down on his skin, attempting to crush the flesh and bones beneath.

[Participant 137 is under attack from an enemy; damage inflicted: 120 points.]

Warm trickles flowed from my ears as I flapped my wings and ascended.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy; damage inflicted: 70 points of damage.]

The giant's weight was crushing, his second gloved hand seized my legs, and he made a fervent attempt to rend me asunder.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy; damage inflicted: 180 points of damage.]

Panting heavily, I summoned hundreds of arrows, destabilizing the ground beneath the giant's feet.

He staggered backward, releasing his grip on my battered form. I crumpled to the ground, breathing faintly, tasting the metallic tang of blood.

"THE OPPONENT HAS BEEN ELIMINATED. MEMBER OF THE INFERNAL LEGION ALLIANCE. COUNT OF FOG GENNADY."

[Participant 137 is within the opponent's energy field. Health decreasing at a rate of 80 health points per minute.]

Curses filled my mind.