Chapter 5 – The Monster Slayer Revealed
Rayden's eyes narrowed as Sylis stood up, wiping the blood from his lip.
The crowd was still echoing with his previous lightning slash, the ground sizzled with leftover energy. But this assassin… he wasn't done yet.
Sylis's voice came cold and sharp.
"You think raw strength is all it takes, Slayer?"
Suddenly—
[CAST: DUAL ARCANE STACK – HASTE + POISON EDGE]
Sylis blurred again, this time even faster—his blades now laced with a dull green glow.
He vanished—
Reappeared behind Rayden—two slashes aimed at his spine.
Rayden ducked, then blocked—but one blade lightly scratched his side.
He growled, stepping back.
"Poison, huh?"
Sylis smirked. "Fast acting. Mild paralysis in under two minutes."
Rayden chuckled. "Guess I'll finish this in one."
He stepped forward.
But—
Suddenly, something felt off.
Rayden's eyes widened.
The assassin in front of him smirked—then vanished into mist.
"Clone?"
From behind, another Sylis appeared.
[CAST: WASTE MIND – CONFUSION SPELL]
Purple haze filled the air around Rayden.
His vision blurred.
His balance shifted.
A ringing sound pierced his thoughts.
Sylis's voice echoed from nowhere.
"Let's see how the 'Slayer' handles himself without his senses."
Rayden gritted his teeth, trying to focus—his blade raised.
The clone rushed in—
Kael stood from the stands, panicked. "Brother, behind you!"
Too late—
The clone punched Rayden in the back, making him stumble forward.
Kael's eyes widened in fear.
But then—his eyes changed.
A flash of glowing blue flickered through them.
As if something ancient inside him awoke.
Kael's voice roared out:
"Brother! That's not the real one! The real Sylis is underground! He split his mana—there's four fake clones!"
The crowd turned—confused.
Rayden blinked.
So that's what this was.
He whispered, "You really helped me…"
---
[CAST: GIGA LIGHT SLASH – LEVEL 7: HEAVEN'S CRASH]
Rayden raised his sword skyward.
Electric energy blasted around him, rising like a vortex.
Even the stands began shaking.
The clouds above parted, and a lightning strike charged his blade with divine energy.
Kael shielded his eyes.
Sylis—still underground—felt the mana pull.
He tried to flee upward—but—
BOOOOM!!!
Rayden's blade hit the ground.
A shockwave of holy lightning exploded outward in a perfect circle—annihilating illusions and ripping apart the arena's floor like paper.
Sylis barely surfaced before—
The energy consumed him.
He flew back, hit the wall—and collapsed.
His mask cracked.
His body twitched.
Then—stillness.
---
The bell rang.
"WINNER – RAYDEN DRAVEN!!"
But Rayden didn't raise his sword in celebration.
He looked toward the stands, straight at Kael.
Smiling gently again.
"You really helped me out back there," he called.
The crowd looked confused.
Someone shouted, "Who's that boy?!"
"Is he a mage?"
"His advisor?"
But no one objected.
Because by tournament rules—every fighter is allowed to bring one tactical assistant and a healing partner.
Kael just waved awkwardly, suddenly very aware thousands of eyes were on him.
Rayden sheathed his sword and walked off the arena.
His voice muttered to himself—
"I'm not sure if I'm still the same slayer I once was… but damn, I've still got a little bite left."
---