Chapter Eighty-Five: Endless Cycle
I walk to the hallway holding the arena, aware of all the eyes staring at me today. Normally, I feel good ignoring them, but, I’m sure they’re looking at me for another reason than me saving Magefell now. My screaming rout with my friends has gone around school, and I see many mages-in-training talking about it. I don’t know what they’re talking about, but it’s probably a plethora of subjects. I keep walking, closing my eyes and trying to ignore them like I always do.
When I find the hallway and enter the room to the Arena, I sigh in relief and jump in the hole, excited to spar today. I know my training has been paying off and today I want to see how far I can take my power, the one given me by Eva.
There’s already someone in the Arena. Sia. I sit down on the bench and watch her fight. She’s taking on one of the magically-generated enemies, spinning and dodging instead of attacking, looking for an opening. Shaking my head, I mutter in wonder as I see her fight. She''s been in Zenyth a much shorter time than I have, but she’s been improving rapidly. It reminds me that I’m still on Level 5. I need to upgrade.
The match finally ends when Sia ducks under a blow from the enemy and punches upwards on its head, breaking its neck. When the enemy falls back and the announcer pronounces Sia’s win, she doesn''t celebrate. Her jaw tightens and she—not looking at me—walks away from the stadium, and, once away from there, she looks at the non-existent sky. As she is whisked away back to Zenyth, I see a tear in her eye.
“Bastard,” I mutter as I get into the arena.
Zade War Mage. Do you wish to proceed with Magic Enemies?
“Yes.”
Choose Level.
After the encounter with Sia, I’m looking for a beating. Something that will hurt me, make me feel pain.
“Level 100.” The highest level, one I’ve never tried but I’m sure will beat the hell out of me. Of course, I’ll still fight it, but I’m already prepared to lose it.
Zade Warc Mage versus Enemy Level 100
Match commences in one minute.
A figure materializes in front of me, a crystalline, androgynous human form wielding two swords. I’ve figured out that weapons are not only allowed but recommended in the Arena. I think that I’m supposed to learn how to use both magic and swordplay at the same time. So, I unsheathe my own two swords, and, the moment after, I call on my power. When my eyes blaze with fire and lightning, i know I’m ready.
Match commences in three…two…one…
Begin!
The figure disappears. I look wildly around, searching for the enemy.
I fly forwards a second later, a sword embedded in my heart. It burns, and I scream in pain. For now, there is no blood but the pain is unbearable. I keep screaming, the pain lasting forever. My vision goes blurry, and I gasp for breath.
Zade War Mage health: 0%
Winner is Enemy Level 100
It all only took about one second.
“Again,” I tell the announcer, getting into position and coughing. The pain was unbearable but that’s what I want.
That’s what I deserve.
Zade War Mage versus Enemy Level 100
Match commences in one minute
The figure goes back to the end of the field, wielding its swords with precision and apathy. Normally, that would rankle me, but, today, it’s what I live for.
Match commences in three…two…one…
Begin!
This time, when the figure disappears, I’m ready. I create a bubble of lightning and fire around myself, turning quickly to make sure I see the figure when it reappears. Now two seconds later, I find it outside my bubble, and I thrust at it.
The ground undulates next to me, and I find myself thrown in the air again. When I fall, my back crunching against the ground—my only protection the shield the arena offers me—I feel a blade decapitating me. I don’t feel the pain for long this time. I feel my consciousness slip almost immediately.
Zade War Mage health: 0%
Winner is Enemy Level 100
“Again, let’s go again.”
Zade War Mage versus Enemy Level 100
Match commences in one minute
Begin!
This time, I die when the enemy knocks my sword away and stabs me in the gut. I bleed out on the floor, except without blood. After a few moments, I go numb, unable to feel the pain that had got me screaming a moment before.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Match commences in one minute
Begin!
I explode, unsure of how it happened. All I know is that I exploded into a million pieces. It only hurt for one second this time. I must’ve not taken good care of my shield. I’m also a little unsure on how the arena was able to keep me alive and make me explode at the same time. I assume I didn''t truly explode, but it sure felt like it.
Match commences in one minute
Begin!
I last longer than ever. Anticipating where he appears, I send a bolt of lightning at it, and it stumbles to the floor, but it stands up right after, faster than I can notice and decapitates me again. The familiar pain followed by darkness makes me vomit on the ground, gut churning. I’ve only been practicing for five minutes at most, and I feel I need a break.
Not yet. I don’t deserve it yet.
Begin!
Decapitation.
Begin!
Bleeding out.
Begin!
Broken neck.
Begin!
Stabbed in the heart.
Begin!
Another explosion.
Decapitation.
Stabbed in the gut.
Broken neck.
It happens over and over and over again, and I quickly lose track of time, and lose all the feeling in my body. My heart, lungs, limbs, and head scream at me to stop, but the pain is all I need right now. My eyes are getting hazy, so I finally allow myself to stop for a small break.
As soon as I leave the ring, I collapse on the stands, gasping for water. I usually bring it, but I didn''t this time, and I feel dehydrated. My body feels terrible, but I must keep going, until even the pain is numb to me. I need to punish myself for what I’ve said and done. Because the worst of it is that I still agree and if the same row happened, I would say and do the same things.
I deserve to get hurt, because it’s wrong what I’m doing.
Quickly, I stand up again, not allowing myself to truly rest.
Zade War Mage versus Enemy Level 100
Match commences in three…two…one…
Begin!
The enemy pounds into me as soon as the word leaves the announcer, and I’m thrown to the ground. I didn’t even see him coming this time. My sword has left my hand, and it isn’t in my field of vision, but I’m already doomed, so I let the enemy walk towards me and stab through my mouth and into the ground. That pain is once again something I’ve never felt before and I try to scream, but nothing comes out.
Then, I die.
Zade War Mage Health: 0%
Winner is Enemy Level 100
“Let’s go again,” I say, and the match resets itself.
Match commences in one minute.
I raise my hand to my nose, feeling a wetness, then raise my fingers to my eyes. I’m bleeding. When did that happen? Should I be bleeding? Slower than normal, my brain isn’t processing the information, and I just assume it’s normal.
Of course it is.
Begin!
I didn’t even listen to what the announcer said, and so don’t notice as the enemy slashes me everywhere, but this time, I didn''t feel anything. For now, all feeling is gone. I collapse on the ground.
Winner is Enemy Level 100
“Again,” I whimper, unable to get up from the ground. When the match starts, the enemy stabs me all over again, and I’m too gone to do anything to stp him.
“Again.”
Winner is Enemy level 100
“Again.”
Winner is Enemy level 100
“Again.”
Winner is Enemy level 100
I groan, my mouth spasming with blood, and I feel the arena has done real damage to me.
“Ag…aga…” I whimper. “Again.”
I do scream this time when the sword pierces my gut.
“I…Again…”
I don’t know if the match restarts. All I know after that is nothing.
— — —
What have you done to yourself, my champion?
Opening my eyes, I wake up to find Eva frowning at me, concern all over her face. I can’t see anything except for her form, and I feel ashamed.
“I’m sorry, Eva,” I say.
My son, you are too worried, she tells me, reaching out and caressing my face. I understand your concern with the Cult, but your friends are just as important and necessary. You should not neglect them, Zade.
“I know what I said was wrong,” I tell her. “I know I shouldn’t have punched Xavier. But I was right, and you know that!”
The Infinite presents a whole new danger, and I don’t know how much we should worry about them yet. But yes, I do think you were right. That does not give you the right to talk to them like this. Search for their forgiveness. You are right to want to kill all the Cult, but it is not wrong for them to have different viewpoints. If they forgive you, everything is fine. If they do not, you are better without them. Forgiveness is the key to any relationship, my son.
“I will,” I say.
But you shouldn’t have beat yourself up like you did.
“I had to,” I respond. “I needed to be punished.”
I can decide if what you did was wrong and if you should be punished or not. She smiles at me, and I can’t help but mirror it. Do not hurt yourself again. You’re doing good, and I’m sure you’ll only do better the farther we go. Learn from your mistakes, Zade, and accept the consequences, but do not punish yourself for it. It is not good.
“Did I kill myself?” I ask, knowing the answer but somehow still curious.
No, you survived, but you did get very hurt. The healing mages will cure you, but let this serve as a lesson, Zade. Searching for pain is not good.
“Yes, Eva,” I bow. “I understand.”
Good, my champion. I am proud of you.
“I’ve done nothing,” I say.
But you’re preparing better than I could ever imagine. You will hit Level 6 soon enough, and Level 7 not long after, I can see it. By the way you’re progressing, I can see you hitting Level 10 not long after your birthday.
A zing of excitement passes through me. “Seriously? That’s so cool!”
See the power does not get to your head.
“Are you speeding up the process?”
Only slightly, not enough to give you much of an edge. A lot of it is coming from you. If you keep practicing as much as you are now, I envision you to be ahead of all your friends by the end of the year.
“Do I need to be worried about Anni?” I ask. “I don’t want to see her hurt.”
Oh, my son, your concern is noted and lauded, Eva beams. Anni is fine, and Jade herself is watching over her. You need not worry.
“Jade? I didn’t know that,” I say. “Thank you for watching over my friends.”
Of course. Everyone is important to me. You should go back to the land of the living now, Zade. Try not to get hurt again. Next time, you might not be so lucky.
“I will try,” I chuckle. “I make no promises.”
I didn’t expect you to. Have fun on Zenyth, my child.
She touches my forehead and everything turns into a blinding white light. Then I once again return to nothing, Eva fading witn one final glimmering smile.