Without hesitation, Svelte thrust his hand forward, and the massive water spear descended from the heavens with devastating force. It tore through the air, leaving behind a shimmering blue trail, its speed so blinding it was almost imperceptible. The energy surrounding it hummed with power, crackling like a storm as it honed in on its target.


    Travis didn’t flinch. His instincts took over, and with a burst of mana, he activated Blinding Flash. His body blurred as he vanished from the spear’s path, reappearing effortlessly on the coliseum wall. He planted his feet firmly against the vertical surface, watching intently as the spear struck the water below.


    BOOOM!


    The impact was cataclysmic. A massive geyser of water erupted into the sky, rising so high it drenched the rooftops of nearby buildings. The arena was consumed by a momentary chaos of sound and motion, the roar of the explosion reverberating through the air. Droplets rained down like glittering shards of crystal, catching the light of the twin moons above.


    Travis stood motionless on the wall, his chest heaving as he took a steadying breath.


    '' Alright, I think I know how to get to that staff. I can do this. Calm down, '' he told himself, inhaling deeply.


    Slowly, his racing thoughts settled, and he gave a small nod. His eyes sharpened as he saw Svelte beginning to conjure another spear, the water beneath his opponent coiling like a serpent awaiting its master’s command.


    It’s now or never.


    Gripping his sword tightly, Travis pushed off from the wall, leaping into the sky. He soared higher and higher, the cold night air biting at his skin. For a fleeting moment, everything slowed. Above him, the twin moons glowed brilliantly, their light illuminating the battlefield below.


    Travis gathered his mana, pouring it into his blade with unwavering focus.


    VBOOOM!


    A fierce, radiant red aura engulfed the sword, swirling around it like a living flame. The heat of his energy burned bright, casting long shadows across the waterlogged arena. The sword pulsed with power, resonating with Travis’s resolve.


    From below, Svelte raised his massive spear, now aimed at Travis in the sky.


    “Say goodbye, Travis! You can’t dodge in midair!” Svelte shouted, his voice ringing with finality.


    Travis smirked, his grip tightening on the hilt of his weapon. “I wasn’t planning on dodging,” he shot back, his tone dripping with confidence.


    The spear launched upward, splitting the air with a deafening roar, its path unwavering as it surged toward Travis at breakneck speed.


    Travis met it head-on. With a roar of his own, he swung his blade downward in one decisive motion.


    SLING!


    A dark red crescent-shaped energy wave erupted from his sword, roaring through the sky like a comet. The fiery wave collided with the water spear, and for a moment, the two forces clashed violently, filling the arena with an intense burst of light. But the crescent wave proved superior, cutting through the spear effortlessly.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The severed halves of the spear disintegrated into harmless droplets, raining down as the crimson wave pressed onward. It struck the water below with relentless power, carving a massive chasm through the flooded arena. The gap extended downward, revealing the hidden staff beneath the surface.


    Without hesitation, the wave sliced cleanly through the staff, shattering it in an instant. The water around it trembled, the energy keeping it afloat dissipating as the wave continued its destructive path.


    Finally, the attack struck the ground beneath the arena.


    BOOOOM!


    The resulting explosion was monumental. A towering mushroom cloud of energy and debris erupted into the air, the force shaking the very foundation of the coliseum. Travis shifted midair, teleporting to a safe distance just as the shockwave spread outward. He landed gracefully on a dry patch of the arena, watching the aftermath with satisfaction.


    Despite the sheer magnitude of the blast, the coliseum’s enchanted walls remained unbroken, its ancient defenses absorbing the brunt of the destruction.


    Travis let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his blade still glowing faintly as he surveyed the battlefield. The arena was silent save for the soft sound of water settling back into place.


    “Looks like the game’s over,” he muttered, a victorious grin tugging at his lips.


    Travis smiled, a mix of triumph and exhaustion playing on his face.


    "I won," he said aloud, his voice steady yet tinged with relief. His words echoed faintly in the now-quiet arena, the remnants of his energy crackling softly in the air.


    Turning, he leaped gracefully from the coliseum wall, landing lightly on the roof of a nearby building. The tiles beneath his feet were slick from the earlier chaos, but he paid them no mind. With a heavy sigh, he sank onto the roof, his body finally relaxing after the intense battle.


    He raised his sword, holding it before him as the crimson aura faded completely. The blade began to crumble, fragments flaking away like ash in the wind. He frowned, watching the weapon disintegrate into dust that was carried off by the breeze.


    '' Well, thank you for your work, '' he thought, a silent nod of respect to the blade that had helped him emerge victorious.


    As he sat there, the cool night air brushing against his skin, a sudden realization struck him. His frown deepened as he looked down at himself.


    “Fuck, I need clothes,” he muttered, shaking his head. He ran a hand through his damp hair, his cheeks heating slightly despite the chill. His victory was glorious, but it seemed the aftermath would be a little less dignified.


    Back inside the coliseum, Svelte lay sprawled in the center of the crater, its edges jagged and charred from the earlier explosion. The magical coliseum, which normally repaired itself in seconds, refused to mend this spot as long as he remained within it. His chest rose and fell heavily, his body aching with exhaustion.


    Suddenly, a shadow appeared beside him, and he didn’t need to look to know who it was.


    “What do you want, Gramps?” he muttered, his voice hoarse but laced with frustration.


    The figure beside him was the man who had created this very coliseum many years ago, his presence both comforting and commanding. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze carried the weight of lifetimes.


    “Well,” the old man began, his voice deep and steady, “I’m here to watch my grandson finally meet his match. I’ve been telling you from the start—hiding in this coliseum won’t change anything. It has its limits, you know. If someone stronger than I was ever chooses to destroy it, it’ll crumble like nothing.”


    Svelte clenched his fists, staring up at the night sky. The moons hung overhead, their light illuminating the battlefield and the towering figure beside him.


    “I understand that, but I’m not hiding,” Svelte replied, his voice trembling slightly. “I wanted to build myself a team—people who would help me protect this place. This coliseum... it’s the only memory I have left of you, Grandpa.”


    His voice broke at the end, and tears began to well up in his eyes.


    The old man crouched down beside him, his expression softening. “You’re wrong, my boy. The memory of me doesn’t live in these walls. It lives in your heart. As long as you remember me, I’ll live on. But let’s not pretend—don’t lie to me. I know your fear.”


    At those words, Svelte’s body tensed. He began to tremble, his mind spiraling back to memories he had tried so hard to suppress.


    '' That thing wasn’t human. How can someone in human flesh be so evil... so powerful?'' he thought, his heart pounding as flashes of a past encounter overwhelmed him. The sinister aura, the unstoppable force—it was burned into his very soul.


    “Drexler, huh?” his grandfather said, his tone sharp but not unkind. “You can’t outrun your fears, boy. As long as you fear them, they’ll keep chasing you. They’ll haunt you in every shadow, every thought.”


    Svelte’s trembling grew worse, but his grandfather’s voice cut through the haze of terror.


    “Look at the boy you just fought,” he continued. “He’s so young. Each fight he enters, he trembles inside. But he doesn’t stop. He fights, and he keeps going forward. Do you know why? Because fear isn’t an excuse to stop. It’s fuel to push you further, to make you stronger. And now it’s your turn to face it.”


    Svelte’s breath hitched, his fists unclenching as his grandfather extended a hand toward him.


    “Now, get up,” the old man said firmly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I need to repair this crater, and you lying there isn’t helping.”


    Svelte hesitated, his fingers trembling as he reached up. Just as he was about to grasp the hand extended toward him, it passed straight through, dissipating into faint wisps of light. A chill ran down his spine, his breath catching in his throat.


    "I''m not here anymore, boy," the voice echoed, calm yet unyielding, carrying a weight that made Svelte''s chest tighten. "And listen—go get yourself a girlfriend. I''m not going to have my bloodline end with you."


    Svelte''s eyes widened, his lips parting as if to argue, but no sound came. The figure faded, leaving behind only a faint shimmer in the air. He clenched his jaw and forced himself to his feet. His legs wobbled, his body barely obeying, each movement a sharp reminder of his battered state.


    '' Fuck I hate his jokes '' he thought.


    TO BE CONTINUED