He caught a glimpse of his opponent now.
A massive creature, nearly twenty feet tall, resembling an iguana—those gray, fossilized lizards—stood on its enormous feet, while its hands gripped a bizarrely shaped hammer, not smooth… but more like chaos incarnate.
"Crush him."
"Don't eat him… he's poisoned."
"Roaaaar, do it."
The voices echoed in his ears, muddled, as if emerging from the depths of an unknown hell. He paid them no mind; he didn't need them to deduce the truth—everything had been clear since the moment he entered the arena.
Then he looked at the ground. It was stained with all kinds of strange blood… purple, green, orange…
'Damn, even orange blood exists? But no trace of human blood…'
Then a thunderous voice boomed in his ears:
"Do you hear me, human? All my previous opponents are in my belly, them and their bones…"
The creature laughed scornfully, then added:
"They demand I don't eat you. I'll grant them that… because you… are more foul than I imagined."
Egologia raised an eyebrow.
"Oh… I see. Has the match started?"
"Not yet… the King has decided to attend personally, and he will deliver a speech."
Then the creature smirked mockingly:
"You must hate yourself too."
He ignored everything about it, even its appearance, but he wondered—how could a monster fight here?
There was some secret to it… hierarchy? Race?
Perhaps this world was more diverse and bizarre than he had imagined.
But the thought didn't occupy him for long; he accepted it with immense confidence. It didn't matter.
The King would deliver his speech; it might be useful…
And after that?
He would crush this pile of rocks and leave this wretched place. From now on, he needed to elevate his level of thinking.
From the grand balcony overlooking the arena, on the opposite side of the crowd, the King finally appeared.
Egologia noticed it immediately. He saw how the front rows tensed, how some bowed involuntarily, slight bows barely noticeable… but their effect was clear. As if his mere presence was enough to force them to lower their heads, to make the air in the arena heavier… no one here breathed easily at the mention of the King.
Then his gaze settled on him properly—
A massive, solid body, as if carved from jagged stone, with a dark purple hue, his lips slightly swollen, like the mouth of a giant fish, tightly drawn with a sharp jaw, and sharp teeth protruding in his strange smile, harmonizing with his glowing yellow eyes, which looked at the arena with absolute coldness.
He wore a long scarf draped over his broad shoulders, adorned with strange symbols, twisted engravings, every detail of it, from his majesty to his harsh features, pointed to one thing—
He was a being not to be questioned… not to be disobeyed… not to be defeated.
His seat was strategically placed, giving him a comprehensive view of everything… the arena, the fighters, and the hundreds of spectators gathered.
"Damn… he's the one seated on the throne of power in this building. Nothing pleases him more than seeing the likes of us crush each other here, while he sits there, savoring what happens."
Then he added:
"Human… I will fight today… and later, I promise you, I will avenge everyone who has been crushed here. I will surpass them all!"
But Egologia paid him no attention.
His eyes remained fixed on the King, studying him carefully… that aura surrounding him…
It wasn't that strong.
Yes, he had the majesty of a king, but in his eyes? It was fake.
A title as grand as this?
He didn't deserve it.
That thought alone made the corners of his lips rise in a barely noticeable smirk.
Life number 100…
The first one he lived…
He lived it with the same title.
And though he barely remembered its details, it was enough to feel disdain for this King sitting there…
Then the speech began.
"Great people of Vardisia…"
His voice was deep, majestic, carrying a heavy weight on everyone's ears.
The moment he spoke, it seemed as if the entire arena became quieter…
Everyone listened.
"You are a people with your own fire… your own strong, striving figures. And this is what we see today in the bravery of those present, who have gathered to witness this human offered as a sacrifice to our victims!"
Then the silence broke, cheers rose, angry shouts, monstrous laughter, the sound of pounding on the ground, as if the crowd was declaring its approval of what was said.
"He was captured in the war… he was brutal… a merciless killer. And according to our records? He has taken many lives."
Then he continued in a malicious tone:
"A creature like this… isn't it entertaining to see him die here today? Isn't this what we all want?"
The noise exploded in the surroundings, their response was clear.
Execute him here and now.
"I suppose it's a clear declaration… human, bear with it."
The iguana monster's words tried to make the atmosphere heavier on him.
A ridiculous battle.
A giant monster, wielding a hammer capable of crushing mountains…
And a weak, unarmed human.
That's how they wanted it.
A final execution, here and now.
But they weren't ready for what would happen.
Egologia slowly raised his left hand, and in a calm voice, almost like the whisper of a forbidden incantation, he uttered:
[Maga—Blood]
In a single moment, a red, ruby-like circle appeared around him, glowing with a luminous design, pulsating with life, mesmerizing the spectators.
"WHAT!… what is this?"
"This is their unnatural POWER!"
"BLOODS…? Those damned humans!"
His eyes were crimson with a dark gleam as he whispered:
'Hate?… there is no creature in this world that carries the amount of hatred I've brought with me to Zero.'
Then he smiled, reaching into the circle, pulling out a radiant sword, emitting a crimson glow, its heat almost burning the air around it.
'I will live above them all.'