Chrysalis

Like I said, the Folk seem like they’re down to fight at pretty much the drop of a hat. Before ten minutes have passed, I find myself in an arena, surrounded by hundreds of spectators, while the dog-kin is stretching and taking some practice swings of his blade.

[How many of these arenas do you have?] I ask, a little bewildered.

[A lot,] he says. [We hone our skills in battle constantly against each other, and then against the Dungeon. Sometimes there are demonstrations where captured monsters are brought in so our warriors can test themselves against them. Most of these people probably assume that is the case here.]

He waves to the crowd and they cheer.

I wave to them with an antenna and get no response. Rude.

[Alright, what are the rules?]

[Fight, but don’t kill.]

[... That’s it?]

[That’s it. Use your full strength, because I will be using mine.]

So saying, he takes a firm grip of his sword and lowers himself into a grounded stance. The atmosphere becomes serious in an instant. A hush descends upon the crowd, as the audience holds their breath, waiting for the moment the battle begins.

in the world, but I’m a tier seven, mythic monster over here. I

guy seems to be a professional warrior, someone who knows their stuff. Is there something going on he’s aware of but I’m not? It would be seriously embarrassing if I were to lose in an instant to some trick I didn’t see coming, so I decide to

of my opponent's foot is all the warning

FAST!

CLANG!

nerves fire and I shift my position, angling my head to the side just in time for the blade, which would have punctured my eye, to

moly! That’s some serious speed! Surprised that he missed, my opponent is still quick to react, pushing off my thorax with both feet to create some distance before he readies himself again. Not

Whoa!

CLANG!

the ground like a guided missile. I shift my head and again, the blade strikes hard against my gravity compressed diamond carapace, sending sparks flying high into the air. This time, I’m not going to let

using the force of the blow to bring himself back down to the ground. Legs tucked, he prepares

try a little Force

don’t manage to land a hit. Even though the spell itself is

Unlike the other times, he activates a Skill. A wave of

sword Skill. Of course, my reactions are on point and I angle my carapace perfectly. When the light hits, I feel the

Gweheheheh.

crowd gasps as one, shocked that the mighty cut wasn’t enough

of approval bursts

take this a little