Chapter 22: Chapter 22 – Rookie of the Year

“With the amount I’m paying you, you most certainly will get dressed and follow my instructions to the letter,” Allister barked while glaring at Jax.

“Your father pays me, not you. Also, it's the middle of the night, and I’ve done zero prep. I’m not taking on a new challenger.”

Through clenched teeth, Allister snarled, “It doesn't matter who controls the purse strings. You're under my authority. There's a betting frenzy on a new fighter, and you know how stupid the odds can get before someone puts upstarts in their place. I’ll make a killing, if some layabout will do as ordered.”

“You should be nicer... This contract won’t last forever.”

Allister tapped his chest, and a quill tattoo appeared. “But it’s in effect right now, and that is all that matters. Now you will get up, get in your armor, and fight your little heart out.”

Jax’s muscles tensed in resistance, struggling against his bonds. A moment later, he gave up and walked to his closet.

“That's a good boy. Besides, I’m going to give you the artifact. I need this to be a sure thing.”

At that, Jax shot a look so withering that even Allister realized that he had gone too far.

Allister backpedaled. “Ahem, I’ll provide an incentive. The next auction is approaching, and I know your last girl is no longer… in serviceable condition. Win, and I’ll purchase you a replacement.”

Jax’s mouth twisted into a malevolent grin. “Well, why didn’t you just say so?”

As Jax left to get equipped, Allistair beamed, imagining a pile of GSU at his feet. Sure, he was betting the payroll, but this was a sure thing and his chance for independence. How could he give it up?

***********************************

Pinning the elf to the floor with my knee, I continued to slam his head into the ground.

’And again. And again. And again.’

Finally, the thrill of toying with him wore off, and I decided to finish it. Unleashing my strength into one final crash, the elf went limp.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, you’ve seen it again. In his tenth consecutive victory by deathblow, the winner and still undefeated, GOOOOLLLIIIAAATHHH!”

The crowd exploded. Initially, they had alternated between horror and elation as their low and midcard favorites were dismantled, but eventually they were all entranced by the thrill of witnessing the start of something new. Firmly in my corner, the cheers were uproarious.

I had removed my gambeson after it had been drenched with my enemys’ blood, but looking down, my chest and abs now face the same problem. Although, there was a certain allure to the aesthetic. It felt proper…

Unfortunately, the lag between matches increased with each fight. The lower tier fighters started refusing to get in the ring, and the arena masters increased the window for the spectators to bet. I had grown less frantic with each battle, but I was still overwhelmed, still needing more.

I surveyed the crowd. Well dressed men and women beckoned, trying to grab my attention. I ignored them. What could they offer?

‘Should I just go?’

I despaired, about to give up the prospect of anything saiting my desire, when the announcer boomed, “Ladies and Gentlemen! We have a special treat for you! Heading to the ring is none other than our rookie of the year! The pride of the Fargess Phoenixes! The untouchable spellsword! Jaaaaaaax!”

The audience went nuts, their screaming becoming an order of magnitude greater. People darted to place bets, forgetting how to form lines. They crushed against the counter until the bouncers arrived to impose some order.

I turned to see a lean, but athletic man enter the ring. His armor and sword glowed.

The crowd murmured.

***************************

“Goliath’s done for. He may have been able to tear through those level 80 warriors, but they weren’t even evolved. No way he beats a spellsword.”

“Do you see that armor? It’s Hero Tier equipment forged by Boxtar Corp. It’s impossible for fists to overwhelm it.”

“Goliath will need to end this fast. Jax’s enhancement magic will overwhelm Goliath if he allows it to accumulate.”

 

***************************

Hearing the chatter, I livened up. ‘This could get interesting.’

Jax took his place on the opposite side of the ring. He met my eyes and asked, “Do you want to set up buffs before we get started or wait until during the match?”

‘Does he think he’s tricking me? Idiot.'

“I’m good, but you go ahead.”

“Thanks.” The disdain in his voice was apparent.

The announcer overheard the exchange. “Goliath is allowing Jax to set up his speed and defense arrays! Is this justified confidence or will hubris be his downfall?”

The crowd erupted again as Jax began chanting. Another throng of people sprinted to the betting counter.

‘Guess the odds have changed. Good.’ I wanted to humiliate him.

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After eight spells, he stopped casting. His grin was unbearable.

“Are you sure that’s enough?”

“Yes, I think that will do.”

The announcer droned some more nonsense before finally getting to the point. “Okay everyone, the betting is now closed. I hope you are all ready for a spectacle. Combatants… BEEEEGGGGIIIINNNN!”

I sprang forward, as I had in each previous bout. This time, however, I was the one surprised. Jax shifted his head, dodging by inches. To the audience, it looked like I missed by a narrow margin, but seeing it up close, I knew better. His muscles were controlled, and he used only the exact amount of movement needed to dodge.

‘Jesus, he's a fast fucker. Is the refinement realm a real thing and not some Wuxia bullshit?’

Jax’s talent was undeniable. His precision and my arrogance left me open to a counter attack. I was too close for him to use his sword, so he jerked his leg to knee me in the stomach. The strike crashed into me causing… nothing. It was as though he hit a brick wall.

I returned the favor, slamming my forehead into his face. It didn't connect. My head tickled, and there was no crunch of bone. Something had blocked me. Fortunately, the impact still forced his torso to bend awkwardly, halfway to a lean.

I seized the opportunity to deliver a body blow. A barrier of fire appeared right at the moment of impact, stopping it. My fist sizzled, but it was only an annoyance. I hammered again and again. Each blow kept him off balance but failed to penetrate the shield.

The audience didn’t know what to make of it, especially the other fighters who were watching intently.

***************************

“Is that Jax’s Mana Shield? How does Goliath keep hitting it?”

“It can’t be. Goliath's hands would have melted by this point. What is Jax doing?”

“He has to be toying with Goliath. I’m not sure that's wise.”

***************************

Allister’s heart sank as he watched the battle, considering for the first time what a loss might mean.

‘Father may actually kill me…’

He tried to calm his breathing. Jax’s shield was being reinforced by a Primordial Battery. There was no way Goliath could possibly punch through it. Absolutely not. Impossible. Allistar’s eye began to twitch.

***************************

‘This is what I’ve been looking for,’ I thought as I let loose. Each crash into his shield drained me slightly. The loss was small, but I found myself more and more in control.

‘Jax is concentrating his mana to meet my attacks. Interesting.'

It was an obvious application, but not one that I had previously considered. Regardless, other than soothing me, my strikes accomplished nothing but knocking Jax around like a pinata. They failed to either drain or crack his shield. But that didn’t matter, I couldn’t bring myself to stop.

“Much better.” I moaned.

Hearing me, Jax's face looked equal parts disgusted and concerned. He began to mutter. I assumed he was trying to cast a spell. Not waiting to see what would happen, I switched tactics and grappled him. That was a mistake.

An explosion of fire threw me backward. I flew about 10 yards away but landed unharmed. This drew more frantic screams from the crowd. I shut them out and maintained focus.

Desperate to prevent me from closing the range again, Jax threw a fireball, and then another, and another. I could have evaded, but I had another idea.

Standing motionless, I let the fireballs hit me while I tried to make a shield. Even when I failed, they exploded harmlessly. So long as he did not change his attack, I was content to use him for practice. At first, I created nothing. To the audience, it looked like I was taunting Jax, making clear his inadequacy. The spectators cursed, laughed, and shouted.

Jax began to look panicked.

‘Good. Fuck him.’

I reached inside, searching for my mana. Compared to the first time I tried this, my magical sense was far sharper. There were two distinct currents flowing through me: one light and ephemeral, the other consuming and… wrong. I gathered the latter. I tried to circulate it from a central point. No results. I thought for a moment and remembered my evolution. I no longer had a core. Mana was infused into my entire being. After this realization, I focused the mana already at the points of impact to harden. My first attempt overshot—the mana stiffened my body, causing me to tumble over.

Believing my arrogance had been my undoing, the crowd hissed. Jax calmed but remained wary. I stood up and reset to my prior stance, confusing everyone. Jax’s attacks resumed, and I fine tuned my exertion, bleeding energy the entire time.

‘Sooo much better.’

Then, I finally caught one. Unlike Jax, there was no fiery projection meeting the attack. Instead, an inky darkness met the flame, wrapped around, and extinguished it.

Error: Novel Magic Detected.
Novel Ability Has Been Generated By Participant.
Analyzing Novel Ability.
Novel Ability Classified.

Congratulations, You have created the ability Mana Shield - Eldritch

Mana Shield - Eldritch: Mana shield accessible to only those with magic subtype Eldritch. The consuming and unfathomable nature of your magic can be activated to halt your foes' onslaught. Magical attacks beneath your magic resistance can be dissipated entirely or consumed to power Eldritch Abilities (excluding Mana Shield). Magical attacks exceeding your Magic Resistance can be partially dissipated in proportion to your Magical Resistance. Physical attacks beneath your Magical Resistance will dissipate entirely and force your opponent to glimpse that which must not be seen, generating fear and/or madness. Physical attacks above your Magical Resistance will dissipate in proportion to your Magic Resistance. (1/1).

I pondered a cruel thought.

‘I wonder what that mana would add to a punch?’

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