บท 14: Bitter memories and a dark book

Akun and Keleora now stood face to face in a large gold Colosseum in the orc tribe ready to do battle. After what transpired in the throne room Keleora decided she would handle it in a dark pact battle. Keleora's wicked smirk curled at the edges, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she taunted Akun. "Oh, how entertaining," she purred with a hint of menace. "If you give up now, I won't mind making you my pet. You should be honored, you know. I've never taken a man as my pet before. Thanks to you, I might just reconsider."

Akun's face remained stoic, his resolve unyielding despite the audacity of Keleora's proposition. He met her gaze with a serious expression, his words infused with a firmness that belied the turmoil within. "You have a twisted sense of pride," he replied, the weight of his convictions evident in every syllable. "But let me tell you something, I won't back down. Get ready to be re-educated on how a proper woman should behave."

As the crowd in the Colosseum watched with bated breath, anticipation hung in the air like a charged current. The clash of strength and willpower between Akun and Keleora loomed before them, each combatant embodying a stark contrast of character. Akun's unwavering determination reflected in the depths of his eyes, while Keleora's arrogance remained steadfast, unyielding to the challenge before her.

In the midst of the charged atmosphere, Akun's thoughts churned with concern, his mind racing to assess the situation. "This is bad," he conceded in the recesses of his thoughts, "really, really bad. I didn't know that she was at the monster grade stage two. Why did I get myself into this mess anyway?"

Moments earlier in the throne room, Akun's anger bubbled up inside him as he overheard Princess Keleora's cruel words. Memories of his past on Earth resurfaced—how his classmates used to belittle and mistreat him, making him feel like an outcast.

In the halls of his school, a trio of classmates surrounded Akun, their taunts a relentless barrage of disdain. Ken led the charge with a sneering laugh, derisively labeling him as the "loner loser." The others chimed in, adding their own scornful jabs, each remark chipping away at Akun's sense of self.

"Why do you even bother coming to school, Akun?" John scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're just a waste of space."

The third classmate, Chris, seized upon the opportunity to further belittle him. "I heard he spends all his time playing video games," they asserted, their words delivered with a mocking smirk. "No wonder he's such a loser."

The echo of their taunts could be heard through the corridors, creating an oppressive atmosphere that weighed heavily on Akun's shoulders. The venomous words struck like sharp arrows, piercing the armor of his spirit, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Ken's voice held an air of superiority as they speculated about Akun's social life. "I bet he doesn't have any friends," he chuckled. "Who would want to be friends with someone like him?"

Their cruel words served as a relentless assault on his character, painting him as an outsider, an oddity that didn't belong. John dismissed his quiet demeanor as awkwardness, questioning his very humanity, while Chris taunted him with a challenge, doubting his ability to respond.

Their collective mockery took a toll on Akun's spirit, chipping away at his sense of worth. The weight of their scorn threatened to crush his confidence, leaving him feeling like an insignificant shadow, lurking on the fringes of society.

In the midst of the relentless barrage, Akun felt his anger kindle like a blazing fire. He clenched his fists, channeling the raw emotions swirling within. The memories of their taunts became a searing reminder of the pain he had endured, a reminder that fueled him to rise above their cruelty and prove them wrong.

In the arena, Akun's thoughts wandered back to haunting memories, memories that mirrored the cruel torment he endured from his classmates. "Yes, I remember now," he mused with a tinge of pain, "she reminds me of Mina and the rest of my classmates. How they made my daily life a living nightmare."

Yet, amidst the tempest of emotions, Akun found courage and refused to be looked down on. "But," he contemplated, "this is going to be tough... I can't let fear consume me. If I run away, how can I ever get my revenge? No, I can't back down now!"

Before the impending clash between Akun and Keleora, the orc queen took center stage, a small contract held in her grasp. Her voice resonated with authority as she addressed the combatants, presenting the black pact contract that would shape the stakes of their confrontation.

"This is a black pact contract," the queen declared, her words carrying weight and gravity. "Both of you must agree to its terms before the battle begins."

Keleora's smirk exuded confidence as she stated her demand. "If I win," she proclaimed, her voice dripping with malice, "Akun here will become my slave, pledging absolute servitude to me."

Akun's frown deepened, his determination unyielding as he presented his own demand. "And if I win," he declared with conviction, "the princess will give me a magic item."

Acknowledging the terms, the orc queen nodded in affirmation. "Very well," she acknowledged, "both demands are set. Do you both agree to these terms?"

Keleora's cruel confidence remained unshaken. "Of course," she sneered, reveling in the prospect of gaining power over her opponent. "I'll enjoy having a pathetic weakling like him as my slave."

Akun's fists clenched, his resolve unwavering. "I'll make sure to defeat her," he declared, the fire of determination burning within him, "and claim my prize."

With the contract's conditions confirmed, the orc queen pronounced the commencement of their battle, her words like the clarion call heralding the clash of wills and strengths.

As the battle began, Keleora summoned an ancient black book from a otherworldly portal, Akun could feel a surge of worry coursing through him. The ominous cracks surrounding her made him realize that this battle was unlike any he had faced before.

Akun's brows furrowed as he beheld the mysterious tome clutched in Keleora's hands. Its ominous aura sent shivers down his spine, and he couldn't help but voice his concern. "What is that book?" he inquired, his voice tinged with suspicion.

Keleora's lips curled into a wicked smirk, reveling in the opportunity to unnerve her adversary. "It's a cursed grimoire," she announced with a hint of menace, "passed down through generations in my family. With its power, I'll make you regret ever crossing me."

The air crackled with foreboding as she initiated an incantation, her words weaving a web of darkness and malevolence. A surge of sinister energy radiated from the book's pages, enveloping Keleora like a shroud. Black letters swirled around her like a malevolent dance, signifying the ancient magic awakening within the grimoire.

Sensing the imminent threat, Akun acted with haste, forging silver spears in a desperate bid to defend himself. Yet, to his astonishment, before the spears even reached Keleora, they shattered into fragments and dissolved into nothingness. His surprise was evident as he struggled to comprehend what had transpired.

"What?!" he exclaimed, his mind reeling from the unexpected turn of events. "How is she able to break my silver spears like that?"

Keleora's laughter resonated darkly, echoing through the arena as she reveled in her newfound dominance. "Your silver tricks won't work against me," she taunted, her confidence bolstered by the ancient magic coursing through her veins. "This book is infused with ancient power that can nullify even the strongest attacks."

Keleora began a barrage of dark infused attacks, Akun continued to dodge and block Keleora's relentless attacks, frustration and concern were etched on his face. No matter how hard he tried, his attacks seemed to have little effect on her, and she took every opportunity to taunt and mock him.

Keleora's mocking tone resounded through the arena, a taunting echo that goaded Akun to rise above the challenges before him. "Is that all you've got?" she jeered, her words dripping with disdain. "I expected more from someone claiming to be strong!"

The weight of her words fueled Akun's determination, the fire of resolve burning brighter within him. He clenched his teeth, realizing that he couldn't rely solely on his usual tactics. To overcome Keleora's dark magic, he needed to dig deep within himself and find a way to counter her formidable abilities.

In the midst of the swirling chaos of battle, Akun's mind raced, sifting through his memories for any shred of insight that might offer a glimmer of hope. And then, like a beacon amidst the tumultuous storm, a memory from a past game emerged in his thoughts. It was a skill he had once acquired, one that allowed him to neutralize dark magic and turn it against its wielder.

The revelation filled him with renewed determination. "That's right," he affirmed to himself, his voice resolute even in his thoughts. "It's time to evolve further!"