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.

world, but I’m a tier seven, mythic monster over here. I don’t have the kind of ant numbers within range to really fuel the Altar, but am I

again, this 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

slight shift of my opponent's foot is

FAST!

CLANG!

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

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

Whoa!

CLANG!

strikes hard against my gravity compressed diamond carapace, sending sparks flying high into the air. This time, I’m not going to let

parries one of my mandibles in mid air, using the force of the

a

again. And again. And another five times after that. I don’t manage to land a hit. Even though the spell itself is invisible, he somehow knows it’s coming, but I’m not allowing him the time

with a powerful swing. Unlike the other times, he activates a Skill. A wave of crystalline sword-light is formed on the edge of

sword-light this dense or fast moving before, clearly this guy has a high level sword Skill. Of course, my reactions are on point and I angle my carapace perfectly. When the light hits, I feel the impact through my whole body, but my

Gweheheheh.

that the mighty

air and unleashes a flurry of strikes, each of them sending an arc of sword-light flying at me. A roar of approval bursts from the crowd, but it soon quietens as I roll deftly out of the way. Well, I say deft. The ground literally rumbles when I

take this a little bit