Chapter 44: 44 : We are not done yet
"C-Citizens of Eldoria, I present to you the chosen child of light; Elias Ashdown!" Alan announced
The crowd went silent, and soon their usual murmurings began,
"Is that really him?"
"Isn't he a little too young to be fighting demons?"
"I mean, he has white hair, that has to mean something,"
"My distant cousin has white hair, could he also be the child of light?"
"And introducing the first fighter, Bobian Craw!" Alan announced, "To ascertain that the set rules of the challenge are followed, we will check the fighter's mana density to confirm his rank," He said, pointing to a volleyball-sized crystal ball placed on top of a raised column
Bobian Craw confidently walked to the crystal and placed his hand on it. Bobian was dressed in a dark, hooded robe, the deep black fabric of the robe was lined with striking red accents, and the robe flowed down to his sturdy, yet worn-out boots.
His piercing eyes were set on a face mostly marked by tattoos that looked like vines. His left hand rested near a small, leather-bound spellbook strapped to his waist, along with various pouches and straps on his belt.
The sorcerer's expression was one of calm determination with a slight smirk playing on his lips.
He injected his mana into the crystal ball, and almost immediately the crystal's interior began to fill with a black cloudy substance.
The color of the cloudy substance reflected the depth and size of his mana well, which tallied with his rank as an expert-level mage. If he were to be a Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Master, or Archmage, the crystal would take on a white, yellow, blue, red, or golden hue respectively.
"The fighter is clear to participate. Let the fighter and challenger assume their positions," Alan ordered
Elias remained where he stood, while Bobian stood a few feet away from him, "Victory is ascertained when either of both parties is unable to fight or if either of both parties should forfeit.
Fighters, you may begin!" Alan announced, and even though the crowd wasn't entirely enthusiastic, as they were still skeptical of Elias' position as the child of light, there were still some shouts and cheers from them.
Bobian unbuckled the strap that secured his book in place, "Boy, for your sake I suggest you just give up. Lord Thane specifically instructed me to slowly tear you apart, and that I will do.
But fear not, because when you inevitably become a property of the house Sullivan, we will spare no expense to heal you. After all, you are the invaluable Child of light, Elias Ashdown" He said, a malevolent grin spread wide on his face.
"Um, what did you say? I'm sorry I wasn't listening, can you repeat that?" Elias requested as he carefreely picked his ear with his pinky finger
Bobian's face twitched in annoyance, "Nevermind, you'll have no choice but to listen when I'm done with you," He barked, "I am Bobian Craw, an expert-level mage of the house Sullivan,"
In Elodorian culture, it was regarded as an honorable practice to introduce oneself when engaged in a set battle.
'Based on my observations of the system, I noticed that FWPs are rewarded either by the system or by me performing actions that neither Raphael Sorus nor Elias Ashdown would do in a normal circumstance.
The more unlikely for 'Elias Ashdown' to perform the action I do, the more FWPs I get from the system.
So the question is, 'In this situation, what would Elias Ashdown not do?', what would I not do?"
Elias looked Bobian Craw dead in the eye, and stuck out his middle finger at him, with a wide grin on his face, "I don't care, just fight"
[+5 000 FWP ]
"I don't know what that means, but it's pissing me off," Bobian said between clenched teeth
The atmosphere around him tensed up, as he flipped his book open, and began chanting words of power.
Elias pulled his silver sword out from his inventory, causing the crowd's murmurings to rise. From their perspective, it looked like he had just pulled a sword out of thin air.
"This boy…" Lady Isolde silently remarked
Lord varric narrowed his gaze the Elias' sword, "He is a swordsman? Is that where his confidence lies? Weapons.
And that blade, I feel like I have seen it somewhere. I can't put my finger on it."
King Alaric and Lady Selene quietly watched Elias closely, whilst the queen's face was laced with a concerned expression.
'He is still just an expert-level mage, he can't silent cast yet?'
Elias watched as Bobian chanted with a bored expression, he raised his sword and pointed it at the mage.
"Inferno Blast!" Bobian screamed at the top of his lungs,
Suddenly the atmosphere seemed to heat up rapidly, and then a wall of fire at least ten feet high and twelve feet wide materialized, towering over Elias as it moved forward, threatening to engulf him.
"Oh, not going easy on me I see," Elias remarked, "[Bladewalk]"
The towering wave of fire washed over where Elias stood and everything in its path before finally crashing and dissipating into the magically reinforced walls of the arena.
As the dust cleared, Bobian waved away the dust from his sight, "Did I overdo it? I can't seem to find his body anywhere" " he said with a smirk on his face
"I can't find his body too, he must have been burnt to ashes by your great magic," Elias said, looking over Bobian's shoulder
"Yeah, it must have been too stro–wait what?!" Bobian skipped away from Elias in an attempt to create space, but Elias appeared behind him again, this time using the momentum of [Bladewalk] he slammed the flat side of his sword on Bobian's temple.
Bobian flew at least twenty feet across the arena, tumbling and rolling until he lost momentum. He laid unconscious on the ground, battered and bruised, his right arm twisted in a direction not humanely possible.
The entire arena went silent at the sight they just witnessed, everything had happened in a matter of seconds.
Elias walked up to Bobian's body, "We are not done yet, I need to get back the FWPs I spent preparing for this challenge" he said, poking Bobian's unconscious body
"[Heal]"