As the crowd around them grew more raucous, Kristoffer took a step forward, his eyes blazing with an intense fire. āIf youāre not going to make a move, then I will,ā he said, his voice ringing out like thunder across the arena.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Kristoffer launched himself at Luis, his muscular frame propelling him forward at breakneck speed. Before Luis could even react, he found himself slammed to the ground, writhing in agony as Kristoffer stood over him, his once-sly grin replaced with a dark and stern stare.
Turning his attention to Oliver and Charles, Kristoffer slowly began to walk towards them, his every step radiating an aura of deadly intent. In a desperate bid to save his friends, Charles charged at the seasoned adventurer, only to be met with a swift blow to the back of the head that sent him reeling to the ground in a daze.
With two of his companions down and out, Oliver found himself standing alone against the imposing figure of Kristoffer. The crowd around them roared with laughter and jeered mercilessly, their taunts only serving to fuel the young adventurerās sense of rage and humiliation.
Just then, a voice began to whisper in Oliverās ear, its words carrying a dark and ominous tone. āHe disrespected Charles and Luis. He is making a mockery of you, and the crowd is laughing. This is your chance to prove yourself. Use your abilities, and let me out to wreak some havoc.ā
With a surge of energy coursing through his body, Oliverās vision went black, and all of his senses were cut off. He was consumed by a dark, all-encompassing void, but his mind remained sharp and focused as ever.
As the intense spar drew to a close, the adrenaline that had kept Oliver going began to wane, and he collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted. His body was battered and bruised, his muscles aching from the ferocity of the fight. Despite his valiant effort, he had been no match for Kristofferās unmatched skill and experience. He lay on the ground in utter defeat, his eyes closing as he drifted off into a deep slumber.
As the crowd erupted into thunderous applause for the victorious Kristoffer, the seasoned adventurer approached Oliverās unconscious form. In Oliverās docile state, Kristoffer began to speak, his voice low and soothing.
āDo not be discouraged, young warrior,ā he said, placing a hand on Oliverās shoulder. āYou fought well. You gave it your all, and thatās all that matters. You will learn from this defeat and come back stronger next time.ā
Oliverās chest rose and fell with each labored breath, his mind replaying the fight over and over again. He knew that he had given his all in the fight, and that was all that mattered.
āCongratulations,ā Kristoffer said, squatting down to Oliverās ear. āNow you know the strength of a king-level adventurer.ā
A small smile crept across Oliverās lips as Kristoffer took his hand in his own. Despite the pain, there was a sense of pride in knowing that he had faced one of the greatest adventurers of their time in battle. Kristofferās words of encouragement lifted his spirits, and he knew that he would not let this defeat defeat him.
āYou have potential, young warrior,ā Kristoffer continued. āKeep training, and perhaps one day, you will be able to challenge me one day .ā
With those parting words, Kristoffer turned to the crowd, his sword held high in triumph. The roar of the crowd washed over Oliver like a wave, and he knew that this was not the end of his journey. There would be other battles to fight, other foes to conquer. But for now, he rested, his mind full of thoughts of what was to come.
Oliverās eyelids parted languidly as he gradually sat upright, wincing at the searing pain that engulfed his body from the brutal brawl. With a determined gaze, he lifted his head to observe the towering figure of Kristoffer, who stood facing the jubilant spectators, his back turned to Oliver. As Oliverās eyes traced the outline of Kristofferās muscular form, a new sense of resolve coursed through his veins, a fierce determination to someday attain the same level of power and proficiency.
Oliverās eyelids parted languidly as he gradually sat upright, wincing at the searing pain that engulfed his body from the brutal brawl. With a determined gaze, he lifted his head to observe the towering figure of Kristoffer, who stood facing the jubilant spectators, his back turned to Oliver. As Oliverās eyes traced the outline of Kristofferās muscular form, a new sense of resolve coursed through his veins, a fierce determination to someday attain the same level of power and proficiency.
In the midst of his ruminations, a shadowy figure suddenly materialized in front of Oliver, crouching down to meet his gaze. The manās face was etched with a peculiar expression of curiosity, as he addressed Oliver with a low-toned voice, āHey.ā The word was weighted with intrigue and the manās eyes glittered with interest, as if he had discovered something of great import. āWoa,ā he continued, a smile creeping across his face, āKristoffer must have really taken a shine to you. He never toys with his prey for a mere 10 minutes flat.ā His words hung in the air, thick with implication.
Oliverās eyes widened as he turned to face the stranger. He couldnāt help but feel a little embarrassed at having been so thoroughly beaten by Kristoffer. But he was also intrigued by the manās comment.
āWhat do you mean, āplays with his preyā?ā Oliver asked, his curiosity piqued.
The man chuckled, his grin widening. āOh, Kristoffer is known for toying with his opponents before going in for the kill. He likes to make them suffer, you know? Itās his way of asserting his dominance.ā
Oliverās jaw dropped in disbelief. He couldnāt believe that someone would take pleasure in such cruelty.
āBut donāt worry,ā the man continued. āYou put up a good fight. Iām sure youāll learn a lot from this experience. And who knows, maybe one day youāll even be able to take down Kristoffer yourself.ā
Oliver nodded, grateful for the manās words of encouragement. He knew that he had a long way to go before he could even think about challenging someone like Kristoffer, but he was determined to keep training and improving.
Oliver frowned, puzzled by the manās words. āWait, who are you?ā he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The man grinned, flashing a set of gleaming teeth. āThey call me Levi,ā he said, his eyes glinting with a mix of pride and mischief. āI too am a King level adventurer, and I run my own party. And let me tell you, kid, you are being seen by some people.ā
As Levi got up and walked away with his party, Oliverās eyes trailed up his figure, taking in every detail. He couldnāt help but notice that Levi had barely any armor on, and no shoes or socks to protect his feet. Despite that, he stood tall and confident, radiating an air of power that Oliver couldnāt ignore.
But Oliverās attention soon shifted back to Kristoffer, who still stood at the center of the guild, basking in the glory of his victory. Oliverās eyes burned with a fierce determination as he looked at him one last time. He refused to let this defeat define him. He would train harder, fight smarter, and come back stronger than ever before. One day, he would stand tall in this guild and city, a true king-level adventurer.
As he collapsed into a deep sleep, his final thoughts were filled with images of him training tirelessly, pushing himself to the limits, and emerging victorious in his next battle. The dream of becoming the strongest adventurer in the land kept him motivated, and he knew he would stop at nothing to achieve it.
ā
At the entrance of the central cave, Richard, Raphael, and Amelia stood anxiously awaiting the arrival of Oliver and the rest of the group. The atmosphere was tense, and each passing moment felt like an eternity.
āWhere are they?ā Richard asked, his voice laced with concern, turning to Raphael and Amelia, who could only shrug their shoulders in response.
Just as they were about to give up hope, a faint sound caught their attention. They turned to see a silhouette in the distance amongst the crowds of people, limping towards them. It was Oliver and the others, battered and bruised, but alive.
Relieved, Raphael pointed at them, exclaiming, āOh, hey, there they are!ā
As they drew closer, Amelia could see the extent of their injuries and rushed to their side, preparing to administer first aid and healing magic. She was determined to do everything in her power to ease their pain and speed up their recovery.
āWhat happened?ā Amelia asked as she began healing their wounds.
Luis took a deep breath and began to recount the harrowing events of their encounter with the King level adventurer, Kristoffer. He painted a vivid picture of the intense battle, after he awoke, describing the ebb and flow of the fight and the incredible power and skill of their opponent. As he spoke, Richard, Raphael, and Amelia listened with rapt attention, hanging on every word.