Natasha the Halve

Sonya made her way slowly into the arena with me on top.

The audience went silent once again.

I looked around the coliseum, taking in the thousands of people staring at me.

Children, adults, elderly, and people whose age I couldn't discern had their eyes locked on me.

I stood on the saddle with quick movements, stored my helmet, then raised my spear.

“WOOOOAAAHH!!!” the audience erupted in cheers.

“THERE SHE IS!” the announced hyped my entrance.

I followed the augmented sound of his voice, quickly finding an old Dwarf standing on a tall stand.

Above him, the Royal Family sat in regular-looking seats next to Noble-looking individuals.

I looked directly into Gordon's eyes.

He gave me smile and a nod.

I returned the gesture, then sat back down on the saddle and lowered my weapon. My helmet covered my head and I looked around, trying to find my companions.

“NEXT IS THE GROUP OF BRAVE PEOPLE WHO WILL TAKE ON THE HALVE!!” the announcer's voice boomed through the arena. “COMING FROM THE ELVEN QUEENDOM OF MAARUHK! HAVING TAUGHT HIS EXCELLENCY DESSEYR AND NOW LOVER OF HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA! FORMER TEACHER, NOW CHASER!! LAPIAAAA POFETAA, FLAME OF THE EEASST!!!”

The crowd cheered with even more energy. A few aww's could be clearly heard, though.

A gate rose on the other side of the arena, revealing the figure of the Wizard.

The Elf walked into the arena with graceful steps. She was wearing the full set I gave her along her staff floating next to her. Once she was in full view of the crowd, she smirked and crossed her arms.

Cheeky, alright, I thought with a wide smile.

“NEXT IS THE FAMED CARDINAL FROM O'LU KEER REN! MOST OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW HER, BUT SHE AMASSED QUITE THE REPUTATION IN KOLUUM KINGDOM BY HELPING CHASERS AND REDUCING THE INJURY RATE TO A BAFFLING ONE PERCENT! IT'S RUMORED SHE ENJOYS PASTRIES ABOVE ANYTHING ELSE! ONE TO ALSO HAVE SNATCHED THE HALVE'S HEART!! AAALYYSSAA PRUUUVIIIK, THE LIGHT BRINGER~!!”

The crowd, once again, erupted in deafening cheers.

Another gate rose, and Alyssa strode into the arena with confidence and grace. Her tail followed the movement of her hips and her black horns reflected the light of the suns, making for a dazzling sight.

“NOW FOR A RATHER ODD ONE TO ENTER THE ARENA! NOT SEEN OFTEN IN FIGHTING TEAMS HERE, BUT APPRECIATED BY TEAMMATES ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR THE VERSATILITY OF HIS SKILLS! FROM FATIIRA! A MAN WHO ENJOYS THE ARTS AND THE PURSUIT OF CULTURE! ARRIVING WITH A SONOROUS CANNONADE!! BROOOMISNAAAR BAHAAADH, THE TALEWEAVER!!”

The extremely loud screech of women fangirling drowned any sound that could exist in the coliseum.

Damn! I was impressed.

A gate rose and the Satyr calmly walked into the arena, waving at the audience. He was wearing the costume I gave him, and held his lute with one hand, and a flute with the other. He gave a charming smile to the crowd, then bowed.

The women in the audience screamed louder than before.

“ALRIGHT! IT SEEMS WE HAVE AN AUDIENCE FAVORITE SO FAR!” the announced chuckled, demanding the audience's attention. “BUT THIS DOESN'T END HERE! NEXT IS SOMEONE YOU ALL ARE WELL ACQUAINTED WITH!! REGULAR PARTICIPANT OF THE TOURNAMENTS, THIS WOMAN FACES BATTLE WITH UNIQUE ABANDON!! WELCOME THELEA VATHUNITH, GOLIATH BATTLEMAIDEN!!”

Again, the crowd cheered as if each introduction was the best in history.

The tall woman walked into the arena fully armored, carrying a massive shield with an equally big mace. Her equipment was the color of ash, similar to her own skin but a bit darker. The armor covering her body had markings of battles past, giving it an edgy look compared to my pristine silver-ish armor.

“NOW, FOR A MAN BORN IN THIS KINGDOM!! DEAR AUDIENCE!! A SHISHI TIGEA THAT KNOWS NO FEAR! A MAN WHO KNOWS NO LIMIT! GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO BONTE SLIRMY, SHADOW'S CARESS!!!”

I cringed with my entire body at his title.

That's an insipid introduction... I thought.

The crowd cheered as always, threatening to burst my eardrums.

Bonte trotted into the arena, wearing the white costume I gave him and holding daggers in both hands. His thin tail shifted a little and his ears twitched a few times.

“NOW NOW! A SURPRISE FOR EVERYONE! AN ELF FROM THE UURUHK MONARCHY! A RECENTLY RETIRED PLATOON COMMANDER THAT ASSISTED IN REPELLING A GYK'EL INVASION AT THE BORDERS OF THE CRYSTALIZED CITY OF ARAKH'OZH!! GIVE A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO POKH'ORRA PEZH'CHE, THE SHARPSHOOTER!!”

The crowd erupted in cheers.

My eyebrows went up in surprise. Pokora hadn't mentioned having a title.

Wait... did they interview them before the fight? I wondered, gazing at the announcer.

“AT THE INSISTENCE OF HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA, PITMASTER SOFIA WILL JOIN THE FIGHT!” he quickly announced with little fanfare.

The crowd's reactions was equally mild.

The woman in question jogged into the arena wearing a set of armor and a long staff.

I nodded in satisfaction.

“AND NOW! LAST BUT NOT LEAST! THE SECOND BIGGEST SURPRISE! RETURNING CHAMPION!! THIS WOMAN NOT ONLY MANAGED TO WIN A TOURNAMENT BY HERSELF! SHE ALSO MANAGED TO WIN OVER HER EXCELLENCY NATASHA'S HEART! HER FIGHT AGAINST THELEA HERE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR DECADES TO COME! THE SIX FISTS OF THE NOOORTH! YOOOOLIN MAKAAAAAAAV!!”

The crowd absolutely lost their shit. People leaned forward in excitement and whistled, screamed, sang, and roared for Yolin.

Why is everyone famous?! I questioned the world from my mind. Even if I spoke out loud, the noise of the crowd would drown my voice. Well, living long lives makes chances for fame higher.

I noticed my companions were on the other half of the arena opposite of where I was.

They slowly made their way to the center, then turned to me.

“DEAR AUDIENCE! THIS FIGHT HAS A FAMILIAR SET OF RULES!!” the announcer's voice echoed, silencing the audience.

The arena trembled and shook with a low rumble. The edges that connected the ground with the gallery lowered and disappeared from sight.

“IF ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS FALL INTO THE PITS THEY WILL BE COUNTED AS DEFEATED!! FOR OUR RESIDENT ETERNAL, HOWEVER, THE RULES ARE A BIT DIFFERENT! IF ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS MANAGE TO KEEP STANDING AFTER TWENTY MINUTES, IT WILL BE CONSIDERED THEIR WIN!”

“Fair, to be honest,” I muttered and looked down at my weapon.

It was a bit much for the fight. The sharpness could cut them open at best and dismember them at worst if something went wrong.

Yolin was a bit of a madwoman when fighting, and I had no idea how Thelea fought. The Pitmaster was an unknown factor as well.

Still, it would be disrespectful to use a shitty weapon, I considered, lifting the spear at eye level. With a quick movement of my wrist, I turned it around.

The pointy tip that had no edge was more sensible to use. It would not injure them to the point of needing to recover lost limbs but would carry enough impact to break bones.

I'd need to hold my strength back.

“NOW, THE FIGHT WILL START AFTER THE BARRIER IS RAISED!” the Dwarf informed everyone.

A high pitched thrum was followed by the uncomfortable sound of shattered glass grinding against asphalt. Then, the E'er in the entire coliseum trembled and 'solidified' into a dome that separated the arena from the audience.

I looked around, noticing the barrier had a glass-like transparency with the surface of a soap bubble. It looked worryingly frail.

Will it hold up to my warcries? I wondered, glancing around at the people in the audience. What if my auras go through?

The arena was around two hundred meters wide. Not enough for me to use my skills without worry.

Yolin had taught me how to control my strength and skills. She hadn't mentioned anything about limiting their range, though.

I clicked my tongue and sighed. Closing my eyes, I quickly peered within me. The knowledge of skills, the weird feeling of my status, and the unfathomable storage welcomed me. I focused on the warcries and touched them all around to see if range was something I could influence when using them.

After ten seconds I didn't find anything so I returned to reality. Not using them in the first place would remove the problem, after all.

“THE FIGHT WILL BEGIN IN TEN!”

I first pushed E'er into Prevention, increasing my resistance to movement impairing effects and keeping the arrest from working.

“NINE!”

Second was Initiation, connecting with Sonya and becoming hyper-aware of our movements.

“EIGHT!”

Third was Monster Hunter, keeping the effects to myself and Sonya while thinking of the people in front of me as my enemies. My body tingled, tightened, then relaxed.

“SEVEN!”

I checked my stats and hummed in satisfaction at the 70% increase to Strength and Dexterity. I was already in a battle trance with Prevention.

“SIX!”

Intimidate Prey was over-kill. The skill sent out an irresistible invitation to fight to the death for those weaker than me... which meant everyone present as far as I knew. I quickly skipped it.

“FIVE!”

At the front of the group in front of me, Yolin's tattoos glowed, her skin turned darker, a third horn of light formed on her forehead, and the twenty blue spheres hovered around her. She clapped and a bright mandala floated behind her.

The air around Lapia shimmered with the increase in temperature, her eyes glowed fire red and electric purple.

Alyssa waved her hands and did gang signs.

Bright white halos formed above their heads and an odd white light flowed around their bodies. Then, a barrier formed around her along with a huge circle on the ground that covered the entire arena.

Smart, I nodded.

“FOUR!”

Bonte crouched and shadows danced at his feet as if alive.

Bromisnar plucked a few strings of his lute and the group's ears twitched.

“THREE!”

Thelea did a weird pose and E'er shifted around her and into the party, then took a stance.

“TWO!”

Pokora's eyes glowed with a greenish blue light and she knocked an arrow, then aimed at me.

The Pitmaster stomped on the ground and balls of sand formed around her hands.

“ONE! THE FIGHT STARTS NOOOOOW!”

I raised my shield and kicked Sonya's flank.

She rushed to the side, surrounding the group.

They are owed their struggle... as we are owed entertainment, an obscenely arrogant thought popped in my mind from my Halven instincts.

Thelea rushed to me, charging in my direction at an incredible speed.

Pokora released arrow after arrow like it was nobody's business.

Lapia waved her hands around, bright white electricity flowing from them.

Spherical shields of purple lightning formed around everyone.

I clicked my tongue and lifted my spear, ignoring the arrows hitting my helmet right were my eyes were.

Thelea approached and raised her massive shield.

I activated Topple and Crush, swinging my spear down at her with four thousand strength right at the weak point my skills informed me.

My weapon went through the electric shield like a bullet through a bubble.

The loud crack of metal against metal echoed in the arena.

Her shield shattered instantly under the weight of uncountable tonnes of force. My spear continued down and struck her shoulder, pulverizing the armor protecting her.

She let out a pained groan and went down to her knees, then coughed blood.

Right then, thick clouds covered the skies and blocked the suns. The light, however, did not dim as a small sun began to take form above Lapia.

Holy shit! They're going all in! I thought with a huge smile.

A bit of drool might have escaped my mouth.

Sonya continued jogging around the group, circling their formation.

The Pitmaster threw sand balls my way, and I slapped them away with my shield.

Shadows sneaked through the floor towards us and formed a pool beneath us that followed Sonya.

The Ratnak did not react.

I sighed in relief at seeing the potion working.

Yolin was constantly changing position, keeping herself between me and Lapia.

“First the Wizard, then the Cleric,” I muttered and kicked Sonya's flank.

It was time to counterattack before the Elf blasted me with a sun.