The next morning, Lucious, Aldric, and Elara met up with Riven once again. The sun hung high over Velidorn, casting long shadows across the city's grand structures. Today, Riven had a different kind of plan for them.
"Alright, follow me. There's something I want to show you," Riven said, grinning as he led them through the busy streets.
After a short walk, they arrived at a massive structure—a towering Colosseum, its stone walls weathered by years of battle. The roar of the crowd could already be heard from outside, and as they stepped through the entrance, they saw warriors clashing in fierce combat within the vast arena.
Lucious, Aldric, and Elara stared in awe at the spectacle before them. Fighters of all kinds, wielding weapons and magic, battled for victory as the audience cheered.
"This... is the Colosseum of Velidorn," Riven said with a smirk. "And if you truly want to get stronger, this is the best place to do it. The best way to improve is through real battle."
Lucious narrowed his eyes. "You're saying we should fight here?"
Riven nodded. "Of course. The Colosseum isn't just for entertainment. It's a place where warriors sharpen their skills against real opponents. No amount of training will match the experience of a real fight."
Aldric crossed his arms. "I don't know… fighting random people isn't the same as a mission."
"That's true," Riven admitted. "But you won't always get to choose your fights. If you can hold your own here, you'll stand a much better chance out there."
Elara hesitated. "I'm not really the type to fight for sport."
Riven grinned. "Then don't think of it as sport. Think of it as training for survival."
Lucious clenched his fists. After what happened with the Shadow Veil, he knew he wasn't strong enough yet. He needed to improve—fast.
"Fine," he said. "I'll fight."
Aldric sighed. "Guess I'm in too."
Elara looked at them both before nodding. "Alright… but I won't go easy."
Riven clapped his hands together. "That's the spirit! Let's get you three signed up."
With that, they stepped forward, ready to test themselves against the warriors of the Colosseum.
At the registration booth, a grizzled man with a scar over his left eye eyed them carefully. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wooden counter.
"You three looking to fight?" he asked, his rough voice matching his rugged appearance.
Riven grinned and gestured toward them. "Yep. First-timers, but tough ones. Sign them up."
The man raised an eyebrow. "First-timers, huh? That means you'll be placed in the lower-tier matches. Rules are simple—no killing, and the fight ends when one side surrenders or is unable to continue." He slid three parchments toward them. "Sign your names."
Lucious, Aldric, and Elara each took a quill and signed. As soon as they finished, the man grabbed the parchments and scanned them. "Alright, you're in. You'll be assigned opponents soon. Go wait near the preparation area."
As they walked away, Aldric crossed his arms. "I hope I get a decent opponent. I don't want to waste time on someone weak."
Riven laughed. "Oh, don't worry. You'll get a fight worth your time."
They arrived at the waiting area, where dozens of fighters were preparing—some stretching, some sharpening weapons, others meditating.
Elara glanced at Riven. "Have you fought here often?"
"All the time," Riven said, cracking his knuckles. "This place is where the strong rise, and the weak either quit or get stronger."
Before Lucious could respond, an announcer's voice boomed through the arena.
"Next up—Lucious versus Varex! Aldric versus Mira! Elara versus Darius!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as the matches were set. Riven clapped Lucious on the back. "Go show them what you've got."
Lucious took a deep breath and stepped forward, ready to face his opponent.
Lucious stepped into the arena, the roar of the crowd surrounding him. The Colosseum was massive, with towering stone walls and stands filled with spectators eager to witness battle. Across from him stood his opponent—Varex, a muscular man with short black hair and a large war hammer resting on his shoulder.
Varex smirked, rolling his shoulders. "A rookie, huh? This'll be quick."
Lucious tightened his stance, eyes locked onto Varex. "We'll see about that."
The announcer raised his hand. "Begin!"
Varex wasted no time, charging forward with surprising speed for someone wielding such a heavy weapon. Lucious barely sidestepped as the hammer crashed into the ground, sending dust and debris into the air. The force of the impact made the ground tremble.
Lucious teleported a few feet back, but Varex was relentless, closing the distance again. "Teleportation, huh? Won't help if you can't react in time!" He swung his hammer sideways, forcing Lucious to duck.
Lucious narrowed his eyes. He needed to think fast. Varex's weapon was slow but devastating—if he got hit, it would be over.
Varex swung again, but this time, Lucious teleported just before impact, appearing behind him. He aimed a precise strike at the back of Varex's knee, making him stumble.
The crowd gasped.
Varex gritted his teeth and turned, swinging wildly. Lucious teleported again, dodging with ease. He could tell Varex was getting frustrated.
Lucious smirked. "You're strong, but you're too slow."
Varex growled and slammed his hammer into the ground. Cracks spread across the arena floor as a shockwave surged outward. Lucious barely managed to teleport to safety.
"Alright," Lucious muttered to himself. "Time to finish this."
As Varex lifted his hammer for another attack, Lucious teleported directly above him, . With a downward strike, he unleashed a devastating blow straight onto Varex's shoulder.
Varex staggered, his grip on the hammer loosening. Lucious didn't waste the opportunity. He teleported behind him once more and delivered a final blow to the back of his head.
Varex collapsed onto his knees, breathing heavily.
The announcer raised a hand. "Winner—Lucious!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Lucious let out a deep breath, glancing toward the waiting area where Aldric and Elara stood. Aldric had an excited grin, and even Elara gave him an approving nod.
Lucious smirked. "One down."
Now, it was Aldric's turn.
As the cheers of the crowd roared around them, Aldric squared off with Mira, the first opponent to be drawn. The tension in the air was thick, as the sound of weapons being sharpened and armor clinking echoed across the Colosseum.
Riven's voice came from the sidelines, a hint of excitement in his tone. "Aldric, you've got this. Just remember what I taught you—speed and precision."
Aldric nodded, taking a deep breath. Mira, on the other hand, was already in her stance, her eyes locked onto him. Her muscles were tense, her body ready to strike. Aldric had faced plenty of opponents before, but there was something about her energy that felt different, more intense.
Mira grinned, twirling her staff in her hand. "Let's see if you can keep up, speedster."
Without warning, Mira lunged forward, her staff crackling with energy as she aimed a swift strike at Aldric's head. Aldric's instincts kicked in, and he dodged to the side with lightning speed. But Mira was already preparing another attack—this time, she slammed the butt of the staff into the ground, sending a pulse of force through the air aimed directly at him.
Aldric's eyes narrowed. He had to stay on the move. His legs were already burning from the effort, but he wouldn't let her land a hit. He darted around her, using his agility to stay just out of range of the staff's reach.
"Fast, but not fast enough!" Mira taunted, swinging her staff around again in a wide arc, aiming to catch him as he moved. Aldric managed to avoid it, but barely, and the crowd's excitement grew.
Riven's voice cut through the noise from the sidelines. "Don't forget to use your lightning, Aldric!"
He barely registered the words before Mira launched herself forward with a sudden burst of speed, closing the distance between them. Aldric's eyes flashed with a hint of determination. He couldn't keep dodging forever. He had to end this now.
Mira swung the staff at his chest, but Aldric was already faster—he darted forward with a surge of lightning-infused speed, dodging under her staff and closing the gap between them in an instant. With a twist of his body, he spun and aimed a quick strike to her side, using the momentum to land a blow that sent Mira stumbling back.
The crowd gasped, but Mira wasn't finished yet. She regained her balance in a flash, grinning. "Not bad, but you'll need more than that!"
Aldric took a deep breath, readying himself for the next move. His body was fast, but now he had to outsmart her. The real battle had just begun.
As Mira's grin widened, she spun her staff, launching another wave of energy toward Aldric. But this time, Aldric was ready.
Mira's staff came down in a heavy swing, but before she could land the blow, Aldric was already past her.
In a blur, Aldric reached behind Mira, using his lightning-enhanced speed to grab her wrist. She gasped in surprise, and before she could react, he twisted her arm, forcing her into an unexpected position.
The crowd gasped as Aldric, with lightning crackling from his body, stood behind Mira, holding her in a lock that left her no room to escape. His daggers were pressed against her throat, a warning that even though he hadn't killed her, the fight was over.
"I told you," Aldric said, his voice calm but firm, "You're fast, but you're not fast enough."
Mira gritted her teeth, her staff falling to the ground. She had been outplayed, and she knew it. The crowd was silent for a moment, before erupting into applause.
Riven's voice rang out from the sidelines. "Nice work, Aldric! That's how it's done!"
Aldric let go of Mira's arm and stepped back. Mira, still shocked, looked at him with respect and nodded. "You win. You're quicker than I expected."
Aldric smiled slightly, sheathing his daggers. "Good fight."
Riven walked over, giving Aldric a nod of approval. "You've got the speed down, but remember, you've still got a long way to go to reach the top."
Mira gave Aldric one last look. "You've got potential, Lightning Boy. Keep it up."
With that, Mira picked up her staff and walked off the field, acknowledging her defeat. Aldric, though tired, stood tall, proud of how quickly he had ended the fight.
The arena fell silent once more as Elara stepped onto the field, her calm demeanor contrasting with the fierce energy radiating from her opponent, Darius. Darius, a towering figure with broad shoulders and a thick, muscular build, grinned confidently. His dark hair and eyes locked onto Elara, clearly sizing her up.
"Ready to face me, Light Mage?" Darius called out, his voice booming across the arena.
Elara's expression remained serene, her golden eyes focused and unblinking. She didn't respond to his taunt; instead, she raised her hands slightly, preparing herself. The air around her began to shimmer with light, an aura of healing energy surrounding her as she took a calm step forward.
Riven stood on the sidelines, watching intently. "Darius is a brute force fighter, and he's got some heavy hitting power. Elara's going to have to outsmart him."
The bell rang, signaling the start of the match.
Darius wasted no time, charging at Elara with an almost deafening roar. His massive fists came swinging at her with incredible force. Elara reacted just in time, sidestepping the first blow with a fluid, graceful movement. She raised her hands, summoning a Radiant Shield just as Darius aimed a heavy punch toward her face.
The shield flared with light, absorbing the brunt of the blow and causing Darius to stumble backward, surprised by the force behind the shield.
"Not bad," Darius grunted, shaking off the hit and grinning. "But it's gonna take more than that to stop me."
With a roar, Darius swung his fists down again, faster this time. Elara reacted quickly, using magic to release a brilliant beam of light directly at him. The beam cut through the air with precision, forcing Darius to jump back. He raised his arms to shield himself, the light briefly blinding him as it illuminated the entire arena.
But just as quickly, Elara closed the gap between them. She moved with speed and grace, her hands glowing with healing light, but this time, it wasn't to heal. Her shield wrapped around her, creating an armor of light that enhanced her speed and power, making her movements sharper and more fluid.
Darius tried to land a heavy blow, but Elara dodged and countered with a well-placed strike to his abdomen using a burst of light. The force knocked him back, and for the first time in the match, Darius seemed to stagger.
Darius, clearly frustrated, clenched his fists and charged once more, his brute strength overwhelming the space between them. But Elara had already anticipated his move. She planted her feet firmly and concentrated, channeling the power of the sun through her Light Healing Aura, which bathed her in healing energy.
Just as Darius was about to land a crushing blow, Elara dodged to the side, using the momentum of the light to propel herself forward, her feet barely grazing the ground. She landed behind him, a beam of light shooting from her hand, aimed directly at his back. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground, disoriented but still conscious.
The crowd gasped in amazement. Darius struggled to get up, but Elara was already on her feet, poised and ready.
Riven's voice cut through the tension, "This is it, Elara. Don't hold back!"
With a final burst of light, Elara summoned her Blinding Flash, releasing a dazzling flash that filled the entire arena. Darius shielded his eyes, momentarily blinded by the intense light. It was the perfect opportunity.
With precision, Elara moved in, her strike landing swiftly and decisively, using the momentum of the light to knock Darius down once and for all.
The arena fell silent, and then erupted into applause as Darius lay on the ground, defeated. Elara stood above him, her expression still calm, but there was a quiet pride in her eyes.
Darius groaned as he slowly rose to his feet, shaking his head. "You… You're good. You really are. I didn't think you'd be this strong."
Elara nodded, offering him a hand to help him up. "It's not about strength alone, Darius. It's about precision and timing."
Riven stepped forward, clapping his hands. "Impressive, Elara. Very impressive. You've got the light to blind, but also the heart to guide."
The crowd continued cheering, and Elara gave a quiet, appreciative nod toward the stands. She had won, but it wasn't just about the victory. It was about proving to herself—and to the others—that her magic was more than just healing. It could be used as a weapon, as a shield, and as a way to outsmart her opponents.
her voice cutting through the hum of excitement that still lingered in the air. "That's all the fights for today," she announced. "You've all performed admirably. You're free to leave the arena whenever you're ready."
Riven, who had been watching from the sidelines with interest, gave a satisfied nod, his arms crossed over his chest. "Good work, everyone," he said, giving each of them a brief but approving glance. "You're getting stronger."
Lucious wiped sweat from his brow, his heart still pounding from the fight. "Yeah, but there's a long way to go," he muttered, looking out at the now-empty arena.
Aldric slapped him on the back. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You did great, Lucious."
Elara smiled warmly, her eyes glinting with pride. "You've come a long way since we first met, Lucious. Keep at it."
Lucious gave them both a tight smile, feeling the weight of their praise, but also the weight of his own self-imposed expectations. He wasn't satisfied—not yet. There was always room for improvement.
The receptionist gave a polite nod. "You're welcome to rest for the day. If you want to participate in more matches, the schedule for tomorrow will be available by dawn."
With that, she gestured toward the exit, and the group began to leave the arena. The bustling crowds outside were a stark contrast to the quiet intensity they had just experienced within. The sun was beginning to dip behind the horizon, signaling the end of another eventful day in Velidorn.
As they walked down the street, the atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed than it had been in the arena. People milled about, chatting and laughing, completely unaware of the life-or-death stakes that some of the fighters had faced in the very same space they had just been in.
Lucious, however, couldn't shake the feeling that his journey was far from over. The Shadow Veil was still out there, waiting. The danger was real, and the stakes were higher than ever. But for now, they had survived another day.
"Let's rest tonight," Lucious said, his voice steady. "Tomorrow, we train harder."
Riven looked at him, a glint of approval in his eyes. "That's the spirit. Let's see what you're made of."
The group made their way to the nearest inn, ready to recharge for whatever came next. The night was quiet, but Lucious couldn't quiet the thoughts running through his mind. Tomorrow, they would face even greater challenges.
And he would be ready.