The Arena: A LitRPG, page 32
Titus found himself wondering about the strategies the Contestants employed in the pit. He could see how valuable it would be to practice against real monsters in a controlled environment, but the notion of doing it without the pressure of a crowd added a layer of comfort he hadn't anticipated.
"Can they use their abilities here?" Petra whispered to Titus, trying not to draw too much attention.
"I'm not sure," Titus replied just as quietly. "Miss Kane didn't mention that. But I guess it'd be silly not to be able to. After all, that's what we're all here to train, right?"
As Alexandria and the Giant Rat continued their battle, it was evident that the Contestant was holding her own. The rat's swift movements and sharp teeth posed a threat, but Alexandria's spearwork demonstrated a fair amount of skill, and she posed what looked like an impenetrable defence.
"Good for her," Jordan murmured, his eyes fixed on the spectacle. "She's handling herself pretty well."
Alexandria gripped her wooden spear so hard that her knuckles had turned white as she prepared to fight off the Giant Rat again. Her brown hair, already dishevelled from the effort and the fact that she'd had to go first and therefore be judged by everyone else, framed her face.
The rat, its beady black eyes fixed on its target, let out another shrill and ear-piercing squeak, announcing its intentions. In a blur of motion, it lunged forward with its scraggly fur flaring out behind it like a dark halo.
Alexandria didn't flinch. With an agile step, she met the oncoming rat head-on, her spear extended to strike. The combatants clashed with a battle of wood against fur, and the arena seemed to shrink around them. The Giant Rat's own agility was impressive, its movements fluid as it darted and swayed, attempting to evade Alexandria's strikes. The Contestant countered by thrusting her spear in calculated arcs, forcing the rat to retreat momentarily to avoid being skewered or otherwise batted away.
Their battle was a dance of survival, the smaller arena amplifying every move. The air was thick with tension as the spectators watched, their collective breath held. Alexandria's every thrust and parry demonstrated her skill with the weapon, while the rat's relentless aggression showed the untamed ferocity of a wild monster – even if it was only level one.
After a while, the rat's movements became increasingly erratic and finally, with a swift, well-aimed strike, Alexandria found her opening. The metallic tip of the wooden spear pierced the rat's side and the creature let out a pitiful squeal of pain.
The rat staggered backward, its strength waning and then, in a last, desperate attempt to defend itself, the creature lunged one final time. But it was too late. Alexandria's spear struck true to deliver a finishing blow. The Giant Rat collapsed onto the sandy floor, defeated, dead. And as Titus analysed the monster again, he could see that its health points had finally reached zero.
Alexandria to her credit, didn't look away from the rat even in her victory. She knew all too well to make sure a fight was over before you disengaged from it. She didn't even look up when Miss Kane began to speak again.
"And there you have it!" The Grandmaster announced happily. "Another monster defeated, and if I am not mistaken, another rung on the ladder to the next level for a very promising Contestant!"
Her statement did have a slight question to it, and it took a moment for Alexandria to realise it, finally looking up at all the faces that were still peering down at her.
"Y… yes," she stammered, returning her attention to everything outside of the battle. "I got one experience point."
"And a point well earned!" Miss Kane replied happily.
"One point?" Jordan said. "It hardly seems worth it, does it?"
"I bet it's based on the risk again," Petra replied. "I mean, that rat was level one. I'm sure it could've given her a nasty bite, but I wouldn't have wagered any gold on it."
"It's not bad at all," Titus said thoughtfully. "If we can do this over and over without much of a limit, then we can really get the edge for when we do have to get out there as a group. All I need to do is figure out how to actually fight."
"Ah, you aren't that bad with a sword and shield," Jordan said. "Just stick to the level ones until you get the hang of it, and you'll be fine."
"Until someone realises that a Spellcaster doesn't know any spells, you mean," Titus replied, dropping his tone. "Especially when the rest of them have at least something useful up their sleeves."
Titus contemplated his situation, understanding that he needed to find a way to contribute effectively to the team despite his lack of magical abilities. He appreciated Jordan's support, but the nagging fear of being exposed as a Spellcaster without any actual spells still haunted him. He'd already been warned to keep his Capacitor Class a secret, and that was going to become more and more difficult as time passed.
"I guess you're right," Titus replied to Jordan, trying to sound more confident. "I'll start with the basics and work my way up. If I can handle level one's without any problems, maybe that will buy me some time to figure out the rest."
Jordan nodded. "That's the spirit. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. It's about playing to those strengths while improving on our weaknesses."
Petra chimed in, adding, "And remember, we're a team. We'll cover for each other and help each other grow. No one's in this alone. Even if all this one's good for is being a glorified punching bag," she threw a thumb at Jordan, and Titus snorted.
Titus did appreciate the support from his friends though. It was a reminder that they were all in the same boat, facing similar challenges and uncertainties.
Miss Kane, having somehow managed to overhear their conversation offered a reassuring smile. "It's excellent to see such camaraderie among our new Blue-Rankers. You'll find that the Arena values teamwork and cooperation just as much as individual skills."
As the next fight started, with the Rogue Kai descending the steps down to the pit, the rest of the Blue-Rankers were told to disperse and claim their own small arenas so that they too could fight, win, and grow.
After all, it was what they were all there to do.
Chapter 40 – A Stroke of Luck
You may now select your opponent from those available within the Arena.
Recommended Level: 1
Recommended Type: Melee
Would you like to continue with these parameters? Y/N
Titus stared at the message for a moment, trying to figure out how exactly the God of Balance seemed to just know everything about him, and how best he should proceed. But there was nothing there that he didn't agree with, so he simply mentally agreed with the recommendation, focussing on the 'yes' and blinked the wall of text away.
Titus had selected a rather ordinary steel sword and a small square wooden shield from the anywhere box the arena provided. In addition to this, he was still wearing his wooden stamina ring and his new chainmail overshirt that provided an additional three points of defence. All in all, Titus was well-prepared for an easy fight against a low-level melee-based opponent.
Titus hadn't been given the opportunity to select a specific opponent, and he didn't know if it was normally this way, or if the God of Balance had selected something suitable for him. In any case, as Titus entered his own personal arena via the steps down into pit a moment later, he found himself watching the small dark ball that was the portal that would bring the enemy creature into the pit with him grow into a large flat disc.
For a moment, nothing happened, and Titus concentrated on the weight of the sword and shield in his two hands, the feel of the cold chainmail against his skin, where his undershirt didn't quite meet all of the extremities that the defensive garment reached.
Then all of a sudden, Titus saw the tiniest amount of movement as something began to crawl through the portal, and he felt his heart begin to race. He held his breath, waiting to see what he had to face.
It felt like it took a lifetime, but the creature, in reality, only took a second to enter the pit in its entirety. In that moment every negative thought Titus could think of ran through his mind. He thought about what would happen if the creature wasn't simply a level one fighter, what if it was something far more powerful than he could handle, what if the creature simply rushed out of the portal and devoured him in front of his friends and the rest of the new Blue-Rankers?
But his train of thought didn't last very long because the moment the monster had bounded through the portal, Titus could see what it was, and it relaxed him a little.
Giant Rat
Level: 1
HP: 12/12
The creature was the same one Titus had already seen fought on more than a few occasions in the pits. In fact, it was the most frequent of the monsters that had been summoned through the portals, and it made sense. If there was one thing the arena probably had an abundance of, it was low-level, almost insignificant rats.
There had been a few spiders, though nothing like the Frostbite Spider that Titus and his friends had fought in the arena proper, there was even a crab and a badger summoned through the portal, though all of them behaved in a very similar way: they were all fighters and they all did everything they could to get as close to their Contestant opponents as fast as possible.
Just as he had seen the creature before, Titus' giant rat was the size of a small dog, and it took a moment to sniff the air, showing off its sharp yellow teeth before it shrieked and darted straight for its opponent.
Titus did the only thing he could think of in that moment, and that was to crouch down and slam the bottom edge of his square wooden shield against the ground a moment before the giant rat made it to him, and the creature clattered into the shield with a loud thud.
Judging by the splinter that flew up into the air when the creature had impacted the shield, it had led with its teeth, and they had done a not insignificant amount of damage to Titus' shield.
Titus stepped back to gain his footing after the creature had almost managed to push him over, even though it was less than a quarter his size. He breathed out a loud sigh before regaining his taut combat stance, and he stared down at the rat, which looked rather confused at what had just happened, and perhaps a little concussed.
Titus swept his sword in a ranging arc down at the rat, and as though it came back to its senses all at once, the thing leapt over the sword and high into the air, falling back down to the ground with a thud. This left Titus with no choice but to swing again with his backhand. But the swing was wild, and the rat this time managed to back away ever so slightly to avoid the sword and what would have been a devastating blow.
The rat squeaked as Titus brought his shield back into position to steady himself. It was like it was taunting him and the fact that his combat prowess left much to be desired.
The Giant Rat then lunged forward, causing Titus to cower behind his shield and then drop it down to the ground again so that the rat could not reach him. This time the rat's movement had been a feint, and instead of crashing into the shield, the creature leapt over it and sank its teeth into Titus' collarbone.
At least that's what it had intended to do, because Titus was wearing his aforementioned brand-new chainmail overshirt, and were it not present, the rat's teeth would have sunk into his flesh easily. The shirt prevented the rat from breaking through, and in fact rather than tearing into flesh, the rat found itself stuck fast against Titus' body by its teeth.
"Arghh!" Titus braced for the pain with his shout, but the pain never came and a moment later, he found himself looking down at the rat flailing to free itself, though rather unsuccessfully.
"Kill it, kill it!" Titus heard Petra's voice above all else as his surroundings momentarily returned to him.
Titus looked down at the rat, and then he looked at his two hands, one holding the shield, which now seemed rather useless, and the other holding the steel sword, which was his only form of attack. And he knew what he had to do. Of course, he had known from the beginning what he had to do. This sword was the only way that he would be able to survive this battle, but he hadn't thought it was going to end this way. He hadn't thought he'd have the time to stare down at the creature attached to his torso, and remember that it was a living thing. He thought he would have to defend himself well or die. But this was no defence, and even as he raised his sword up to the rat's neck, he knew that he wasn't going to be able to do it, not like this.
And then as though by some divine miracle, the rat unfastened itself from Titus' chainmail, breaking one of its long front teeth in the process and sank the other into Titus' exposed neck.
This time the pained scream Titus released was very, very real, and very much due to the pain that he felt. But he already had his sword up against the rat's neck, and all it took was a single swipe of his blade to silence the belligerent creature and bring an end to his first-ever battle in the pit. Titus had won. He'd stood alone and won. And what he had to show for it was a blood-stained torso and a shiny new experience point.
"Yes! Go Titus!" Petra's voice drowned out all else as Titus came back to himself and looked up at the faces staring down at him.
Realising what he had to do next, he scampered his way back up the stone steps towards his friends and the few Blue-Rankers that had taken the time to watch Titus and his fight. Then he replaced the sword and shield in the anywhere box so that he wouldn't be charged for accidentally keeping them.
"That was so cool!" Jordan said in agreement with Petra. "How did you know the rat would get stuck to you like that?"
Titus gave a sheepish smile in reply but didn't have to actually answer, because Petra beat him to it.
"He didn't know it was going to happen!" she almost cried with glee. "He was just lucky!"
Jordan looked confused for a moment and then burst out laughing.
"Well, I guess that's one way to do it!"
"Pfft, I can't believe you won because of that," Petra agreed, almost red in the face, the beginnings of uncontrollable laughter beginning to show themselves.
"I'll have you know that a healthy portion of luck is a good way for any Contestant to survive here in the Arena," Miss Kane's voice cut through the three friends' conversation, and the Grandmaster punctuated her announcement with her presence.
"I must say that I was lucky once or twice in my days of fighting monsters on behalf of the City and its residents."
Titus smiled at that. It was nice to have someone on his side for a change.
"It was good; I got an experience point," Titus said. "But it's still going to take a long time to level up this way, that's if we can even fit all this in around our classes."
"Well then there is one more thing that I have to tell you," the Grandmaster said with a devious smile. "But I am sure it will not be the last surprise to you all. Your classes are there to help you survive here in the Arena, and the more you attend, the longer we presume you will all survive. Perhaps even one day become Hunters."
The three friends nodded at that, though still unsure where the surprise was.
"Your attendance in the central colosseum is mandatory, and you must fight when the God of Balance commands it, as you have already seen. Your presence in our classes, however, is not."
Titus looked at his friends, not sure if he'd heard that right. By the look on Jordan's face – one of confusion – he wasn't quite sure, but then he saw the glint in Petra's eye.
"You mean we can train here, all day every day and never go to any classes?" she asked.
"Well, technically yes," Miss Kane replied. "Though I would not recommend it. The Instructors here have many skills, techniques, abilities, and lessons that will greatly accelerate your growth as Contestants, Citizens, and fighters. It would serve you well to find a good balance between theory and practice."
"That's why she's telling us this now," Titus said. "And why Strength and Conditioning was so hard. If we didn't know that we could gain stats from it and that we didn't really have to do it, I don't think I would've bothered."
"And exactly why we have to go back," Petra agreed. "I'm guessing there's a benefit to every class, and if we hadn't already experienced them…"
"Correct," Miss Kane agreed. "Like I said, the Arena is designed to keep you alive and fighting for as long as possible. Whilst we cannot interfere and for the most part, don't want to force you into anything, we can give you all the tools you need to become a successful Contestant, and hopefully one day Hunter. That is should you choose to take advantage of these tools."
"So we can go to any classes we want?" Titus asked, "and spend as much time as we like training down here with real monsters?"
Miss Kane nodded. "That is exactly correct. You can go to no classes and do no training, though when you come to fight in the colosseum I doubt the God of Balance will look favourably upon you. But if you choose to learn what you can and still get a good balance of actual fighting in with it, then there are truly no limits for the determined Contestant."
Titus turned to look at his friends, both of whom were looking thoughtful.
"We'll need some time to figure out what's best for us, but I already have some good ideas for what could make a real difference," Petra said. Then she turned and smiled at Titus. "I hope you're feeling lucky because I see loads more rats coming your way."
Titus really didn't need to hear that right now and did the only thing he could manage: he groaned. Loudly.
Chapter 41 - Bonding
"No, please, no more. It hurts so much," Henderson begged as the pain washed over him again and again. "Please, just a short rest, please I'm begging you!"
"You asked for this, Contestant. You welcomed the God of Chaos into your heart and soul, and you assured me that you were strong enough and willing to accept the challenge you have been offered," the dragon said. "Do you accept the challenge and understand that through pain comes growth, through perseverance comes experience, and through hardship comes strength? Or are you, as many of my kin would presume, just another weak, small human?"
