Chapter 76: The seeker and the wolf
Lucen remained standing in the center of the bloodstained arena, his breath steady as the crowd roared his name. He hadn’t left the ring once since his first match.
’Finally, time to face the champion. I wonder if it would be the same champion as in the game, or since this is before the game starts, maybe it’s a different person. Either way, I hope that I still get that martial arts skill book upon victory.’
Lucen was confident that with his current stats, as long as there was no mana or aura involved, he should be strong enough to win.
’If the champion is that guy, it might be a little troublesome, but I have Acting Adept to compensate for my lack of technique. After fighting Korr and taking a few hits, I also know that my grit, in combination with the minor troll vitality and regeneration, means I can take quite a bit of damage, and keep going... Yeah, I can do this.’
Despite thinking all that, Lucen was a little worried. The champion in the game was someone whom the main character could defeat in the early stages, depending on the equipment you had at the time.
Still, that was in the game, and even then, the cut scene showed that despite winning, the champion held back simply because he liked Alexander.
In the flavor text, scattered across equipment descriptions and dialogue choices, were hints. Lore fragments that painted a clearer picture.
’Wears weighted bands to suppress power and speed. Blindfolded, to sharpen his other senses. Every fight is training.’
Lucen clenched his fist.
’I don’t know how strong the champion is in reality... But I remember almost all his moves. I grinded every route, played every path to completion. He always starts by testing his opponents. Land a clean hit, and he acknowledges you.’
His fists tightened.
’But this isn’t a game anymore. If he’s even slightly different from what I remember, then it might get troublesome...’ Lucen frowned, but he still got ready for whatever comes next.