Chapter 26: A Challenge
Chapter 26: A Challenge
Despite her sharp sensory abilities, Vespara failed to notice the presence approaching the door until it was far too late.
Rael and Vhal’zhar were a different breed entirely. Though they possessed power that dwarfed standard superhuman limits, their presence was extraordinarily difficult to detect. When they chose to suppress themselves, their aura faded into nothingness, masking them as ordinary, if not entirely frail humans.
So, when Rael and Vhal’zhar pushed the door open, they were met with a peculiar sight: Vespara, standing over Mayor Rigid, currently pinning him to the floor beneath her heel in what looked like an extraordinarily strange piece of roleplay.
Vhal’zhar paused in the doorway, staring at the scene with genuine confusion. "What in the hell is this?"
Vespara froze, her eyes widening as panic flushed through her chest. "No wait! This isn't this isn't what it looks like!"
She scrambled to find an explanation, but before she could formulate a cohesive sentence, Rael stepped forward. A knowing, slightly awkward smile played on his lips.
"Come on, Vhal’zhar," Rael teased gently, clearing his throat. "Give them a break. They just... need a little more time, I guess."
Vespara shot a desperate look at Rael, her face burning. "No, Master Rael! Of course I wouldn't do something like that! Especially not with a weakling like him!"
Rael nodded with exaggerated understanding, waving a dismissive hand. "Yeah, yeah, of course. You need to justify it, right? When you're hungry, you don't want to eat cheap food. I know all about your dignity."
"No! It really isn't what it looks like!" Vespara pleaded, her pride crumbling by the second. "I didn't sleep with him!"
Rael reached out, grabbing Vhal’zhar by the shoulder to pull him backward into the hallway while reaching for the doorknob. "Right, right, I totally believe you. But hey, whenever you're... finished... just make sure you clean up the mess, understand?"
Click.
The door shut tightly, leaving Vespara standing in silence.
A heavy groan escaped her lips as she buried her face in her hands. "Haaah... this hurts. They looked at me like I’m some kind of shameless woman who sleeps with just anyone..."
She slowly lowered her hands and cast a glare down at the floor. Mayor Rigid was still pinned beneath her foot, looking bewildered and pervertly. Disgust instantly washed over her. She snatched her leg back as if she had stepped on something putrid, dusting off her boots with an expression of pure revulsion.
Out in the hallway, Rael and Vhal’zhar made their way back down toward the lobby to request separate rooms. Vhal’zhar seemed slightly sullen about the sleeping arrangements because he want stay with rael, but Rael remained firm.
At the front desk, Rael booked a luxurious suite for Vhal’zhar and settled for a modest, comfortable room for himself nothing overly lavish, but vastly superior to the accommodations they had endured previously. When it came time to pay, Rael produced five standard stamina potions from his inventory. The innkeeper’s eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets at the sight of the high-grade concoctions. Not only did the potions easily cover the cost of the finest rooms, but the staff frantically handed back a hefty pouch of copper and silver coins as change.
Later that evening, Rael lay flat on his back, staring up at the wooden ceiling beams of his quiet room. The events of the afternoon drifted through his mind, eventually settling on the image of the two young siblings he had encountered in the dark alleyway.
‘Haaah... I hope those two are doing alright,’ Rael thought, resting his hands behind his head. ‘The items I gave them should keep them safe and help them grow stronger.’
He chuckled softly to himself. A brother and a sister. The boy had seemed older, carrying himself with the stoic, defensive demeanor of a teenager trying to protect what little he had left. The little sister couldn't have been more than fourteen.
‘Yeah, around fourteen’, Rael estimated, his eyelids growing heavy. He let out a long, trailing yawn. ‘Alright, time to catch some sleep. I can't wait to see the grand battles in the Colosseum tomorrow.’
The morning sun rose bright and crisp. To blend in seamlessly with Saint Solenne’s entourage, Rael donned his neatly pressed steward’s attire. Shortly after dawn, the companion group gathered in the courtyard before marching out toward the center of the city to behold the legendary Colosseum up close.
As they rounded the grand avenue, the structure came into view, towering over the surrounding buildings like a stone mountain. Rael’s eyes widened in genuine awe.
"Woah..." he murmured under his breath. "The Colosseum in Rome doesn't even compare to this. It’s massive..."
It was far grander than he had pictured. Even from several streets away, the monument dominated the skyline. The entire arena was constructed from deep red stone bricks a rare, reinforced material famed for its ability to withstand catastrophic magic explosions. While concentrated high-tier spells could eventually fracture the masonry, the stone possessed an uncanny resilience.
Curious, Rael strayed toward the edge of the entryway wall and pressed his palm against the crimson surface. "Is it really that tough?"
He extended a single finger and gave the brick a subtle, mana-infused poke. He shock his finger sank straight into the dense stone like hot metal through butter.
"Whoops," Rael muttered, quickly yanking his hand back and smoothing over the small indentation. "Hope nobody saw that."
He immediately sped up his pace, slipping back into formation alongside Saint Solenne’s convoy.
At the colossal main entrance, the massive iron-reinforced doors stood wide open. Standing near the threshold was a welcome party flanked by female guards dressed in revealing, heavy-armored barbarian attire a aesthetic that looked like it was ripped straight out of a Valhalla fantasy, complete with reinforced bikini armor.
Rael’s group naturally drew every eye in the courtyard. Saint Solenne walked gracefully at the center, with Vhal’zhar marching imposing on her right, and Rael dutifully maintaining his position on her left as her humble steward.
Vespara, however, was noticeably absent from the convoy. Ever since the embarrassing misunderstanding with Mayor Rigid the previous evening, the atmosphere around her had been suffocatingly awkward. When Rael had quietly suggested to Saint Solenne that they head out without her, the Saint had agreed almost instantly.
As they crossed into the outer courtyard, Rael scanned the bustling crowd. Adventurers of every shape, size, and race were gathered.
‘Are those half-humans? Or beast-kin, as they call them here?’ Rael noted mentally, his interest piqued.
His gaze landed on a young female adventurer sporting twitching cat ears atop her head. As someone who appreciated both cats and dogs, seeing a genuine cat-girl in person sent a small jolt of geeky excitement through him. ‘As expected from a fantasy world.’
Before he could indulge his inner tourist further, a familiar voice cut through the hubbub.
Mayor Rigid stepped forward to greet them. Standing silently at his side was a stern-looking warrior clad in dark light clothes, carrying a classic katana at his hip. The man radiated a sharp, quiet lethargy the unmistakable aura of an experienced warrior.
"Ah, Saint Solenne and company! Welcome, welcome!" Mayor Rigid hailed them, though his smile arrogantly toward vhal’zhar as if the event previous night are not happening when he meet with him.
Standing just half a step behind the Mayor was Vespara. Her face embarrased bright the moment her eyes met Rael and Vhal’zhar’s. Eager to clear the air, she shuffled forward and bowed her head nervously.
"Umm... Mister Vhal’zhar... I deeply apologize for my... unseemly behavior earlier," she say with shy.
Vhal’zhar merely let out a harsh snort, looking utterly repulsed by her presence. "Hmph. I wonder who is supposed to be the mas- ehem husband and wife here. Ugh, I cannot stand being near your lowly presence-"
Clang!
Before Vhal’zhar could finish his insult, the dark clothes warrior beside the Mayor drew his katana in a lightning-fast motion, bringing the gleaming tip of the blade to rest mere inches from Vhal’zhar’s throat.
"Please," the bodyguard said smoothly, his eyes cold. "There is no need to make a scene, don't you think?"
Mayor Rigid’ an arrogant, smug grin.
Vespara gasped, shocked by the bodyguard’s swift action. "You!"
Vhal’zhar didn't flinch. He narrowed his eyes at the edge of the blade, a dangerous, dark amusement swirling in his gaze. "Hoooh? Someone here seems entirely unaware of his position."
Without moving a muscle, Vhal’zhar channeled [Sound Transmission] directly into Rael’s mind.
(Master... may I butcher this arrogant insect where he stands?)
Rael, maintaining his stoic expression as a mere steward, quickly fired a mental response back.
(No! Absolutely not! If you kill him here, we’ll be branded as criminals, and I am not dealing with that headache today.)
Vhal’zhar let out a microscopic sigh of disappointment. (As you wish, Master.)
Turning back to the Mayor and his armed guard, Vhal’zhar sneered, suppressing his overwhelming aura as best he could. "You are fortunate that my Master does not wish to see you dead today."
Rael mentally slapped his own forehead. ‘Yep. With this guy around, peace is an illusion. Trouble just follows him like a shadow if I’m careless’
Seeing the tension rising to a boiling point, Saint Solenne stepped between the two parties, raising a gentle yet authoritative hand.
"Mister Vhal’zhar, please refrain from causing a commotion here," Solenne said calmly. She then cast a polite glance toward the Mayor. "Or better yet... if there is a grievance, perhaps you could settle it in the arena, Mister Vhal’zhar?"
Mayor Rigid’s grin widened into a predatory smile. "Ah! Now that is a splendid idea! But it would be far more entertaining if we made a wager out of it, wouldn't you agree? If my bodyguard wins, I take your wife. And if you win... well, you get to keep her! How does that sound?"
Vespara’s blood ran cold. Anger flared deep within her chest as she glared at the Mayor.
The moment I lift my binding spell, this pig grows arrogant enough to use me as a gambling chip?! she fumed internally, clutching her fists tightly. Ugh... suppressing his memory of last night was a mistake!
Vhal’zhar stared at the Mayor, his brow furrowing. "That is hardly fair."
Vespara’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced up at Vhal’zhar, a flicker of surprised hope warming her chest. ‘Eh? Is he... standing up for me?’
"It offers me no benefit whatsoever," Vhal’zhar continued coldly, completely shattering Vespara's faint hope. "I do not care about her life or her freedom. She is already my wife, so if you win, you take her. But if I win, I merely keep what I already possess? What kind of ridiculous joke is that? This wager is entirely one-sided. If you want a match, you must offer something far greater."
The tiny spark of warmth in Vespara chest instantly died, replaced by utter exasperation. She closed her eyes and let out a long, tired sigh.
‘What on earth did I actually expect from him? Ugh...’
Mayor Rigid stroked his chin, chuckling at Vhal’zhar’s demands. "Hooh! So you agree to the duel in principle? Very well! If those are your terms, I shall offer a prize far more enticing."
The Mayor snapped his fingers crisp air. Immediately, two servants scurried forward, carefully holding a long wooden display tray draped in immaculate white silk.
With a flourish, Mayor Rigid pulled back the silk, revealing a sleek, beautifully crafted katana resting within a black lacquered sheath.
"I offer you this high-tier artifact, the Man-Slayer Sword," Rigid declared proudly. "It is a masterwork blade, identical in craftsmanship to the weapon carried by my personal guardian here. So... do we have a deal?"
Vhal’zhar looked down at the weapon. "May I inspect it?"
"Of course," Mayor Rigid gestured, confident in the weapon's appeal.
Vhal’zhar picked up the katana, drawing the steel a few inches from its sheath. A cold, blue gleam reflected in his eyes. "Hmm. It is indeed a fine weapon."
He snapped the blade back into its sheath and handed it back to the servant before secretly initiating another [Sound Transmission] with Rael.
(Master... do I have your permission to participate in this duel?)
Rael, who was standing quietly behind Saint Solenne, used his max-level [Inspect] skill to glance at the weapon. A translucent system interface hovered faintly in his vision:
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[Man-Slayer]
Weapon Type: Melee – Katana
Attack Power (ATK): +1,200
Durability: 4,326 / 5,000
Hidden Trait: If wielded by a individual who has achieved the [Swordmaster] class or have the level STR and DEX 10.000 will unlocks the active skill [Spellbreaker]. Allows the blade to cleave directly through mana and magical barriers at the cost of high stamina consumption per strike. If you don’t have [Swordmaster] class or have the level STR and DEX 10.000, there is 25% you will be consume by madness everytime you wield it.
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Rael’s eyes practically turned into currency signs. His internal gamer instincts roared to life. He quickly replied via [Sound Transmission], struggling to keep his physical face neutral.
(YES! Yes, Vhal, you MUST win that sword! It’s going to make a magnificent addition to my inventory collection! Hehehe!)
Vhal’zhar felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him at his master's enthusiasm. He gave a nod.
(You seem thoroughly delighted, Master. Then as your faithful servant, I shall claim it for you immediately.)
Turning back to Mayor Rigid, Vhal’zhar allowed a subtle, sharp smile to cross his face. "Very well. We have a deal."
Mayor Rigid rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Splendid! Excellent! There are no takebacks once the contract is struck!"
Internally, the Mayor was practically howling with laughter.
‘Heh! Foolish brute! You have no idea who you're up against. Renji is the undisputed, undefeated champion of this entire Colosseum! He has maintained his winning streak against scores of elite contenders. Even some fallen heroes failed when he wielded his true blade, the God-Slayer Katana! You'll be dead within seconds. And with the Slave Seal engraved on his chest, Renji can never disobey me!’
Renji, the quiet bodyguard, sheathed his weapon with a sharp clack. He extended an open hand toward Vhal’zhar for a customary pre-match handshake.
"It is not too late to apologize and submit to my master," Renji said coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. "If you value your life, yield now."
Vhal’zhar let out a loud, mocking laugh, taking the man's hand in a tight grip. "I believe that should be my line, don't you think?"
Renji’s eyes narrowed slightly as he felt the crushing force behind Vhal’zhar’s grip. "Heh. I have given you your warning. Do not regret your foolishness in the sand."
"Oh, don't worry," Vhal’zhar grinned, his eyes flashing dangerously. "I won't."
With the wager sealed, the group turned and began their walk down the grand stone corridor leading into the heart of the Colosseum.
Word of the sudden challenge had already spread like wildfire through the arena concourse. The grand stands were already roaring with anticipation. Renji, the living legend of the arena, was taking the stage once more and the crowd was hungry to see if the newcomer would survive the champion's blade.
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