Chapter 38: Arena
After taking a carriage ride that took several hours, they arrived in the neighboring city of Byktuus, which held the coliseum.
As it was getting late, they stayed the night at the inn.
This time, Adam got his own room, to the joy of Micheis and slight bitterness of Yerlarain.
The sunlight of the early morning swept over Adam, Micheis and Yerlarain as they headed to the coliseum, which overshadowed the rest of the buildings in the city.
Based on the difference in size, it was safe to assume that the coliseum was the main attraction of the city.
On the way there, Adam was told that arena bouts were not a fight to the death, but accidents did happen on occasion that led to people dying.
Hearing that it wasn't a fight to the death, eased the tension in Adam's shoulders.
Bandits and monsters were much different to fighting for money, being through the watchful eye of the coliseum's owner.
Adam did not hold absolute confidence in winning all the matches.
But, through the bouts in the coliseum, he would be able to acquire confidence in his abilities, and if lucky, find an ability to steal.
After the trio ate, they headed to the coliseum.
There, they signed Adam up for a the first match, to the surprise of the manager.
In the reception room, Adam told Yerlarain: "To protect what's important to you, please bet all you have on me."
One of her hands passing through her hair, she paused.
Their eyes locked, her conflicted expression turning into a smile, she replied: "Alright, Adam. Promise me, you will succeed."
"I assure you, I will." Adam said smirking.
Blush blooming on her cheeks, she nodded, uttering: "Thank you."
Called to enter the arena, shortly after, Adam passed through the arena's marble passage way.
Adam's face glowed, the occupied seats surging with murmurs as he entered the fighting pit.
His greaves sinking slightly into the sand, humid air slapping him in the face.
Adam mused: 'If there was a cooling ability, that would be lovely.'
His right hand holding the haft of his halberd tight, his gaze fell on his opponent.
They wore a set of pauldronless bronze armor and held a xiphos-like sword. Their face was hidden by a bulky helmet with several holes.
Adam examined him, a system box appearing.
[Eiphen Phostos: Level 17 Human Warrior, frequent arena opener.]
Adam sighed and began to approach Eiphen.
Now a few feet from each other, the announcer screamed: "May the strongest win, begin!"
Glancing around the audience, Adam noticed Micheis and Yerlarain.
He lifted his arm, and gave a thumbs up, giving an assuring nod.
Turning back to his opponent, he watched as they blitzed forward.
Adam placing his free hand on the halberd, his grip strengthening he walked forward.
'Lets see how that ability works now, shall we?' Adam thought.
Within breathing distance, they stared down each other.
Eiphen lifted his sword and started to slash down.
Adam turning his halberd horizontally, like a shield, stepped to the side successfully avoiding the strike.
His halberd maintaining it's position, striding forward, Adam pushed out the haft of the halberd, towards Eiphen's neck.
Adam's halberd's haft struck his neck, just as their sword brushed against his armor.
The strike caused Eiphen, who had their neck unguarded to cough as their neck was slammed with force.
Immediately, a subsequent force landed on their neck, that caused Eiphen to be lifted off the ground for a split second.
Crashing to the ground, Eiphen's sword slipped from his grasp.
Now on their knees, dazed, spit running down his chin, Eiphen slowly lifted his head.
Adam thrusted out with his halberd, its blade at Eiphen's bruised neck, drawing blood.
Adam asked: "Do you admit defeat?"
Head hanging, grasping at the sand, Eiphen muttered: "I... surrender."
Nearly shrieking, the announcer declared: "Adam Wildeblood has defeated Eiphen Phostos!"
The audience filled with cheers and clapping.
Rolling his shoulders as he heard this, Adam gazed at Yerlarain and smirked.
He noticed that Micheis couldn't help but clap either.
Turning his attention back to the fighting pit, Adam had to admit, his new ability was pretty good.
His attention was quickly strung up by a new notification from the system.
[Ding! For winning your first, non-lethal fight, you have earned the skill: [Achilles Point] ]
[Achilles Point: You may designate a notable, external part of your body as a weak point, in return, the rest of your body is moderately strengthened.]
That was amazing. His durability was not ideal, so this would help to make up for it.
He chose his eyes, as they were normally a weak point of an individual. By choosing an established weak point, it would be one of the last places a person would assume a "true" weak point would be.
Upon selecting it, he could feel as if his skin was slapped, the stinging reverberating across the entirety of his body.
As the sensation faded, when he tried touching his skin, it felt calloused.
Adam returned to the reception room and was informed that, if he felt up to it, he could participate in another fight.
He immediately agreed.
Before long, he walked back down the hall to the fighting pit.
Having splashed water over himself in the meantime, he was ready to go.
His new skill gave him slightly more confidence, that was already fairly high.
The humid air enveloping him, Adam's sight fell to his next opponent.
A blue box manifested in his vision.
[Ytai Ysal: Level 19 Human Warrior, semi-popular rising fighter.]
He wielded a spear, wore leather armor, had long black tied hair and was around two inches taller than Adam.
Adam strutted forth, Ytai matching pace with his steps.
Staring down one another, Adam looked up at Ytai and smiled.
A dimple prominent on one cheek, Ytai declared: "I wont go down so easily as Eiphen."
Adam narrowed his eyes, smirking: "So you don't deny you will still lose?"
Incensed, Ytai gritting his teeth, replied: "Very funny. You will be brought down, and that's that."
The announcer's voice piercing the air, the bout began.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone