How many minutes will I last today? If I kill the opponent right away because they almost pierced my vital points like last time, the prize money will be less. Eventually, Antar swallowed a sigh of resignation and descended the stairs.
Since Antar became an elementalist, the owner of Vitas had ordered him to fight monsters. At first, they were small monsters, but as time went on, the size and lethality of the monsters increased. With fatigue accumulating on top of that, he was literally facing death in every match.
Today, especially, his body felt extremely heavy, increasing his anxiety. Hoping that the boss would bring a relatively easy monster to face, Antar entered his waiting room and changed clothes. As he unbuttoned his shirt and put on his usual pants, the door burst open.
“Is this when you arrive? I told you to make a presence among the VIPs before the match started.”
“…Boss.”
The person who entered was Vitas’s boss.
Antar bowed quietly as the boss frowned at him. But the boss strode toward Antar and kicked his shin hard, making Antar flinched and shuddered.
“And who told you to cover up like this? Take it off! The idiots get more excited and bet more money if they see the wounds clearly!” The boss ripped off Antar’s shirt with a rough hand, revealing his bruises and scars.
Antar clenched his fists behind his back. He wanted to kill the man, but the boss was covered with all sorts of protective magic items, and Antar had people he was responsible for.
…So endure it. You can endure it. After today, at least for a few days, he wouldn’t have to see the boss’s face. Antar endured the boss’s verbal and physical abuse, repeating this to himself.
After some time, the boss clicked his tongue as a distant roar reached them and gestured towards the door. “The match starts in 5 minutes. Get ready and come out.”
“…Yes.”
“You never listen, do you?” The boss spat at Antar’s feet and walked out. As he left the room, a businesslike smile appeared on his face.
Antar took a deep breath to quell his anger. Placing a hand on his heart, he murmured quietly. “…Noes, I’m always sorry. Please help me today as well.” He felt his spirit, Noes, whimpering as if to comfort him.
With a deep breath, Antar grabbed a small dagger and headed towards the arena. The boss’s voice was already booming from the hallway leading to the arena entrance.
“Thank you all for waiting! Welcome to Vitas, where new and thrilling matches are always ready! Introducing Vitas’s pride, Antar!”
The audience’s cheers echoed in his ears. Antar stepped into the brightly lit arena with a blank expression. Stopping at his position, he gripped the dagger tighter in his nervousness. His dull blue eyes stared at the iron bars on the other side of the arena.
Please let it be a manageable monster. He prayed and prayed. He could feel his condition deteriorating even at this moment. But the boss betrayed his hopes as usual.
“…I think I’ve said enough about Antar. Now, let’s introduce his opponent. Today, I brought a very special friend!”
At the boss’s words, the iron bars on the other side of the arena slid open. What appeared between them was…
“Introducing a mutant monster discovered a few days ago in Findlay territory!”
It was a mutant monster with a more terrifying appearance than a large monster. Kraaaak! The mutant monster roared fiercely as soon as the iron bars opened.
Crazy b*stard… Antar froze in a moment of terror at the eerie roar. Even the crowd and the boss momentarily fell silent. What is he thinking, bringing a monster that can’t even be controlled?
Antar gritted his teeth, glaring at the boss with fierce eyes. And in the next moment, the mutant monster charged at Antar without giving anyone time to react.
Survival comes first. Antar abandoned his plan to buy time and threw his dagger. He moved his magic and opened his mouth. “Noes!”
Boom! A stone wall rose just in time to block the monster’s kick and exploded.
Antar grabbed the sharp spear created from the debris and charged at the monster. There’s no choice but to aim for the vital point immediately. The longer he dragged out this match, the less likely he was to survive. The monster, fresh out of the cage and still excited, was the only opportunity he had.
With that thought, Antar used all his strength to thrust the spear towards the monster’s heart. He thought he had done it accurately.
Crack! The spear, which was hundreds of times harder than an ordinary spear because it was hardened by the spirit’s power, broke helplessly against the monster’s skin.
What kind of skin is that…?!
As he reeled in shock, a powerful blow hit his body. The monster, in a fit of rage, had struck him with its front paw. Bang!
“Keugh!” Antar’s body slammed against the arena wall, blood bursting from his already battered body.
Stop… Coughing up blood, Antar barely lifted his head, hoping the boss or someone in the audience would save him.
“I-Is he dead?”
“Yes! I won!”
“No! He’s not dead yet!”
But all he saw were insects, blinded by money, debating the outcome of the match, regardless of a man’s life.
Antar let out a weak, belated laugh. What was he expecting from these non-humans?
Antar staggered to his feet. In the distance, he saw the monster spotting him and charging with its mouth wide open. Noes… Near death, his connection with the spirit felt faint. Antar tried to muster any strength, but it was futile.
It’s the end. Resigned, he closed his eyes.
“You’re handling the magic all wrong.”
A small whisper in his ear, followed by someone grabbing his hand. Startled, he looked back, but all he saw was the wreckage of the arena.
“What…”
“Extend your hand forward like this.”
Though Antar opened his mouth in surprise, the soft voice continued. A mysterious woman stood behind him, wrapping her arms around him and lifting their joined hands. Immediately, he felt a fierce surge of magic from the woman’s body.
“Gather the scattered magic and aim it at a single point. End it in one strike.”
Even though the magic wasn’t directed at him, the movement made his nape prickle. Instinctively, Antar followed her movements, gathering his remaining magic. He heard a small laugh from behind.
“Well done, Antar.”
Stab!
With those words, a sharp spike shot from the ground, piercing the monster’s heart. Kieeeek! The monster shrieked, impaled like a skewer. But Antar’s spike was stronger than its struggles. Soon, the monster stopped screaming and hung limp in the air.
The boss, recovering his senses, shouted.
“Vi-Victory! Vitas’s Antar wins!”
The crowd’s cheers exploded. Amidst the noise, a thin whisper reached his ears.
“Don’t turn around. Listen. I will give you a chance to change your life.”
“…!”
“If you want to take the chance, come out the back door right after the match. You only have 10 minutes.”
“Wait…!”
Antar hastily turned, but the warmth that had held him vanished. Feeling haunted, Antar looked around.
Vitas’s boss approached him with a hearty laugh. “Well done, Antar! It’s a jackpot! Today, you and your family can eat we—”
“Boss, can I go in now? I’m a bit… tired from the wounds.” Interrupting the boss, Antar clutched his stomach.
Noticing the blood seeping through Antar’s fingers, the boss patted his shoulder cheerfully. “Alright, you’ve done well today. I’ll give you the money tonight.”
“…Thank you.” Antar bowed soullessly and turned towards the back door. The wounds on his body screamed in agony, but he didn’t have time to pay attention to them.
With everyone gathered in the arena, the rest of the place was deserted.
“W-Where are you?”
Reaching the back door, Antar panted heavily. His heart pounded with fear that the earlier encounter had been a hallucination or dream. But fortunately,
“…I thought you’d treat your wounds before coming out.”
Responding to his breathless call, a figure slowly appeared as if painted in the air.
