Champion: A LitRPG Adventure (Divine Progression Book 5), page 38
She hopped up and glared. “I needed this, you giant lunkhead.”
Glenn pictured Zack’s knowing smirk. “So do I.”
“Glenn G, you may return to the staging pit,” the officiant said. “Ila G? Please report to the aid station for a full examination before you depart the arena.”
Glenn walked back to the staging pit without another word. He couldn’t help but feel guilty about taking the chance to win the singles bracket from Ila Grassclaw. She might have reasons as desperate as his to win this contest... but he had to put his reasons ahead of hers.
When he returned to the staging pit, Nora hopped up and down and happily slapped him on the back, while Becka kissed him right on the lips. After those two were done with him, Anna offered a [Vitality Potion], but Glenn waved it off. “I’m not exhausted. Not yet.”
Anna eyed him doubtfully. “You just took a spear through the arm.”
“I’ve had worse. I am a bit worried about my shield, though.” He presented it to them and pointed to a hole big enough to stick his finger through. “That’s going to be a problem if I have to block any ranged enemy Skills, like [-Burn-]. I’ll always take some damage through the hole.”
Anna reached into her [Unfilled Bag] with both hands and then, without fanfare, pulled out a second gleaming and unblemished [Magesteel Pavise]. “Here.” She wobbled as she set it down.
Glenn stared at the huge shield, which was almost as tall as he was, and then at Anna. Not only would it block blows from any height, but the material from which it was formed meant it would be highly resistant to ranged Skills as well. That shield must have cost a great deal of coin.
His gaze snapped back to Anna. “How did you know I’d need an extra shield?”
“I didn’t know you wouldn’t.”
Glenn set aside Lillian Stoutcrag’s [Steel Shield]—he could get it repaired later—and took up the new shield Anna offered. It was well-balanced and well-built. “I’ll give it back to you in one piece.”
“So long as it keeps you in one piece, Glenn, I’ll be content.”
“You’ve done very well,” Becka said. “We should have time to focus before—”
Outside, a loud horn interrupted her. As they all turned to listen, Mayor Whitley announced the brackets for the doubles. The first pair to fight in doubles today would be Liam N and Hendrick W. And the pair they would be facing? Glenn G and Nora R.
Becka huffed angrily. “It’s like the Gods Themselves conspire to tire you out!”
Glenn grinned and shrugged. “Maybe. After this battle, I’ll have six full duels to rest.”
Nora clutched his arm. “You should drink a [Vitality Potion].”
“I’m fine, remember?” He turned on her. “Remember who I am.”
After a moment, Nora nodded. “I remember.”
“Now.” He clapped her on the shoulder. “Let’s hear what Whitley has to say about us.”
TWENTY-FIVE
A TRAGIC ACCIDENT
After a harrowing doubles duel against a Duelist and Shadower team that was the first time Glenn couldn’t stop Nora from being struck in battle, Glenn and Nora narrowly won their quarter-final duel in doubles. Nora was dropped after the Duelist and the Shadower conspired to attack and outpace Glenn, but their ruthless focus on Nora hurt them dearly.
When Nora, who they’d attacked relentlessly, finally went down from a [Steel Knife] in her back, Glenn saw red. The next minute passed in a blur of blades, clubs, and swings, but with Nora out of the fight, the Duelist and Shadower had no choice but to face him directly rather than dancing around out of reach. And once they came within reach, Glenn showed them what a monster he really was.
The doubles duel ended with both men on the other team unconscious and Glenn stumbling around with a sliver of Health. A few more swings and it would have been the end of him, but he’d survived. He and Nora would move onto the semifinals of doubles... once Nora recovered.
After they were back in the staging pit and Nora was resting after being healed, sucking down a potion, Glenn winced and watched her. “I’m sorry about that. I couldn’t keep up with them.”
Nora spit up a bit of potion, then giggled and wiped her face. She set it aside and touched his knee. “Please, I level with Terry and Carm. Don’t get me wrong, that hurt, but I’ve taken more than my fair share of blows in battle. You don’t have to treat me like I’m some delicate flower.”
Becka sat down on Nora’s other side. “You are nothing of the sort. I can’t believe you survived a as long as you did with both of them after you. I’d have dropped in the first few blows.”
“You don’t have [-Soul Cushion-] and [-Soul Harden-]. But... thank you.”
“We’ve got six more duels to sit through,” Glenn said. “Just rest and relax.”
Another solo duel followed, where Kaden Tallhorn, the armored Harmcaster, defeated a fast but ultimately outclassed Duelist. The Duelist could easily have sliced through any normal Harmcaster, but Kaden’s armor made that much more difficult. Glenn’s disappointment grew.
Of the two, he’d far rather fight a lightning-fast Duelist who would pummel him with melee strikes than face a Harmcaster who was armored like a Brutalist. Most Harmcasters couldn’t easily move in heavy armor due to their lower Strength attributes, and without robes, Kaden was giving up a good bit of extra Blood. Even so, he made up for that with the powerful strikes from his [Commoner’s Club].
After Kaden’s win, the doubles semifinals resumed. Glenn was relieved when the two-Skirmisher team that had knocked Becka and Anna out of doubles (which included Ila Grassclaw) went down when facing a duo of Rangers and their fearsome pets, a huge Moss Beast (Glenn hadn’t even known you could take a Moss Beast as a pet) and an Antlion wearing a jester’s costume. What an odd choice.
Based on the bracketing, Glenn knew he and Nora would face those two Rangers next. With the addition of their pets, they had a full party versus the duo they faced, and while that didn’t seem fair to Glenn, there were no rules against it. Fortunately, Glenn knew how to fight Moss Beasts and Antlions.
Four more duels followed over the next hour, and then the semifinals bracket for solos and doubles in the 10-15 bracket were set. Only four Adventurers (or pairs of Adventurers) remained in singles. Kaden Tallhorn defeated a Harmcaster specializing in fire Skills, and then Kaden and his partner, a level 14 Shadower named Cullen Twoblades, defeated a pair of level 15 Shadowers.
After that match, Kaden and Cullen grew even more intimidating. Soon, it was time for Glenn’s semifinal singles battle to begin. And his opponent? Once again, Mayor Whitley stoked the crowd.
“It’s time for the last semifinal of the single bracket, folks! After this, one of these two will move on to face Kaden Tallhorn, who some are now calling the Bronze Mage. Now, in the blue square, we’ve got the spear-grabbing, shield-surfing, relentless Rock Troll Brutalist, Glenn Graybreaker! Let’s hear it for him!”
As he stepped back out onto the field, Glenn was shocked as the crowd erupted. Were they... cheering for him? Hesitantly, he waved, and the cheers only grew. He looked to the dueling field and easily spotted his opponent. Given the lack of competitors, it was no surprise.
Whitley then introduced Glenn’s opponent. “And facing him, a towering mountain of muscle that could give even the Rock Troll pause! A man so strong he broke a pillar of the arena when he tossed a fully armored Skirmisher into it like a sack of wheat! Let’s put your hands together for Bart Hartstone, also known as the Avalanche!”
Ahead walked the towering mass of muscle Mayor Whitley had just announced, an Anchorite who looked to be close to the same size as Mammoth Cloudcrusher. As Glenn trudged out onto the field, he used [-Soul Scan-]. He grimaced as he evaluated Bart once more.
Name: Bart Hartstone
Age: 21
Level: 15
Class: Anchorite
HP: 280/280
Blood: 150/150
Experience: 117,424/124,000
Strength: 29
Divinity: 8
Vitality: 28
Wisdom: 15
Prowess: 9
Luck: 11
Even with the unfair advantage provided by Glenn’s Town Guard Blessing, [+Unyielding+], Bart had almost as much Strength as Glenn did and close to as much Vitality. Without the +10 to those attributes provided by Glenn’s shield, Bart would be both stronger and tougher. Worse, Glenn knew that every time he hit Bart, unless he feathered his strikes, Bart’s Strength would go up by 2.
Glenn couldn’t smash his way through 280 Health Points without raising Bart’s Strength to an obscene amount, and while Bart’s Blood was low for his level, he still had enough Blood to use [-Aura Mend-] five times. So after absorbing five big blows, Bart would still be at full Health but now walking around with 39 Strength, or close to 50 if he used his Blood to activate [-Adrenaline Rush-].
For the first time since he’d started in the dueling brackets, Glenn was facing an opponent who was not only stronger than he was, but just as tough. He’d grown comfortable simply rolling over his opponents like a Rock Troll, but Bart could not be rolled over. He was too big.
Could Glenn challenge Bart to wrestling? The man stood a good head above Glenn, and the muscles on his shirtless body made him look like he could crack an Antlion in half. Wrestling involved skill and leverage, certainly, but a good part of it was still raw Strength. Bart had that.
So if he couldn’t beat Bart into the ground without turning him into an overpowered monster, and he couldn’t wrestle Bart into submission because the man could easily do the same to him, what were his options? The only ranged Skill he had was [-Soul Singe-], and that would tickle the man.
The answer came to Glenn as he stepped into the blue square and remembered the time he’d dueled another Anchorite on the Safe Road to Evolan. It wouldn’t be easy, but it was the only chance he had. He would just have to watch for his opening and take it when it came.
Whitley continued blathering on. “It’s a clash of titans today, folks, the two biggest men in the field colliding like a hammer and an anvil. Who will break first? Who will shatter beneath the strain?”
The officiant called out. “Contestant Glenn G! Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Contestant Bart H! Are you ready?”
Bart simply growled his assent.
“Duel when ready!” the officiant announced.
The crowd went silent as Glenn and Bart stared each other down. Bart rolled his bald head around on his massive shoulders, then reached out with one hand. He beckoned mockingly.
“It’s time to lose.” His voice was like stones grinding upon stones. “Duel me, Graybreaker.”
The dueling flag dropped.
Glenn nodded. “I accept this duel.” They stomped toward each other like two huge waves about to crash together on the sea.
Glenn ducked Bart’s first attempt to grapple him and slammed him in the side with his mace, but he feathered the strike. It barely ticked Bart’s Health Bar, but it also wouldn’t be a blow hard enough to grant him any additional Strength. Glenn soon found that, even in armor, he was fast enough to barely avoid Bart’s clumsy punches and lunges. Yet he couldn’t strike back without penalty.
Whitley called out. “What’s going on? It’s like Graybreaker’s afraid he’ll hurt Bart’s feelings! Has the mighty Rock Troll lost his will to fight? Or is he terrified he’ll fall beneath the Avalanche?”
Gods, Whitley was annoying! Glenn continued striking, dodging, and blocking as Bart became increasingly incensed by Glenn’s refusal to engage him. The fact that Bart was growing frustrated was good. Glenn needed him frustrated. Finally, Glenn’s silent taunting accomplished its goal.
A brown bar appeared announcing Bart had just activated [-Adrenaline Rush-]. For the next two minutes, Bart’s speed, Strength, and Prowess would be massively enhanced. He would also be seeing literal red as adrenaline filled him, which would make him reckless. Too reckless.
With [-Adrenaline Rush-] active, Bart was almost too fast to avoid. The first time Glenn was too slow and took a fierce punch to the side of his [Steel Armor], he huffed. He could swear he heard his armor dented. He blocked Bart’s follow-up blow with his massive [Magesteel Pavise] only to have a dent show up on that as well. He’d just gotten this shield, and now Bart was pummeling it!
Yet his tall shield was the key to his strategy. Glenn slapped the side of Bart’s shoulder and head again and again with Becka, never hitting hard enough to increase Bart’s Strength. He blocked blow after blow with his shield as he danced circles around his opponent. Circles with a purpose.
Bart snarled. “Fight me, coward! Stop dancing and fight!”
“It looks like Graybreaker’s completely lost his nerve!” Whitley shouted. “The Avalanche is so powerful even the Rock Troll can’t face him! He’s on the run!”
Glenn was running... sort of. Bart lunged and grunted, and Glenn ducked and weaved. Finally, he took a blow directly to the chest, by design, and it hit him hard enough to send him flying.
As the edge of the dueling field approached, Glenn worried he’d pushed his luck too far. Bart also followed up after his strike, charging like a bull. Glenn landed and braced for the impact.
Glenn yelled at the top of his lungs. “You can’t get through my shield, you big ox! Give up! You’re outclassed!” With the motions hidden behind his towering shield, he unsnapped the straps holding it onto his forearm.
Bart howled as he sped forward. Just as Glenn had hoped, Bart grabbed Glenn’s giant shield in frustration. The huge man tore at the shield with all his might, hoping to drag Glenn along with it and then pummel him into submission. Instead of resisting, Glenn tossed his shield... with Bart holding on.
Bart howled in triumph as the shield came free, but didn’t notice the direction he was moving. Glenn spun his body about with Bart’s momentum, sending the man flying away clutching his [Magesteel Pavise]... and completely out of the dueling field. Bart was now disqualified.
“I don’t believe it!” Whitley shouted. “The Avalanche came down on Graybreaker so hard he fell out of the ring! Graybreaker played him like a lute! Graybreaker’s our second finalist!”
The crowd roared in either approval or disapproval. Glenn couldn’t be sure which. What he could be sure of, as Bart threw down his shield, was that the big man didn’t agree with the judges. As Bart huffed and snorted, Glenn knew the man was still seeing red. He backed up as Bart charged.
Glenn was vaguely aware of officiants rushing in and saw the glimmer of a Town Guard’s [God Armor], and then he was fighting for his life... or consciousness. Bart swung wildly and rapidly, entirely out of control, and Glenn, without his shield, had no choice but to duck and dodge. Yet he was tired from his contest... the duel hadn’t ended, so [+Regrowth+] hadn’t kicked in... and slow.
One of Bart’s meaty hands connected with his [Steel Helmet], and then the world spun. Glenn slammed into a pillar hard enough he momentarily blacked out. When he came to, he was on his back with his helmet missing and Bart was sitting on top of him. Crushing Glenn’s neck.
Then two Town Guards arrived and bodily lifted a still-thrashing Bart off Glenn. The man writhed and howled until a Town Guard slapped a pair of [Lawgiver Cuffs] around his wrists, at which point he collapsed in their arms. He could no longer fight or punch, so all he could do now was roar.
Another Town Guard grabbed the dueling flag still floating in the arena and snapped it in half. Glenn remembered doing much the same when patrolling with Scott Rosewillow, his old partner back in Wolfpine. Dots danced before his eyes, and then the warmth of [-Flash Heal-] arrived.
Becka dropped to his side and helped him up, then Nora and Anna arrived and did the same. As the three of them helped a shaky Glenn to his feet, the Town Guards now led a visibly dejected Bart away in cuffs. He would be spending the night in jail, or possibly more than one night.
“Well, that was...” Mayor Whitley was momentarily silent, which was a shock in and of its own. “Not sanctioned, but certainly exciting. And look at that, folks! Graybreaker’s back on his feet thanks to his trio of lovely companions! Let’s hear it for our second singles finalist!”
The crowd’s roar nearly sent Glenn stumbling. His friends supported him as he picked up his [Magesteel Pavise] and then helped him back to the staging pit. As [+Regrowth+] did its work, his Strength returned and his lungs re-opened. He was lucky Bart hadn’t popped his head off.
Whitley shouted outside. “Our final stage is set, folks! Our two singles finalists are Glenn Graybreaker and Kaden Tallhorn! We’ll see Kaden again next, but for now, give it up for the Rock Troll!”
The crowd cheered their lungs out.
Glenn took a potion from Anna and sipped as he recovered, and had a bit of luck. Kaden’s team was called to doubles next, so Glenn didn’t have to fight another duel back to back. Kaden and Cullen easily dispatched the two-Shadower team, which set them on a collision course with Nora and Glenn.
Glenn was also disappointed to see even two Shadowers couldn’t bring Kaden down. Was that really simple [Ring-Mail Armor]? It seemed as durable as Mammoth Cloudcrusher’s [Crystalline Mail], and Kaden seemed far too durable for a Harmcaster. Leveling against type had served him well.
Today Glenn would face Kaden in the solo bracket and once again in doubles. He would have to fight an armored Harmcaster not once, but twice. Worse, in their doubles match, he suspected Cullen Twoblades, Kaden’s Shadower friend, would remain in [-Shadow Walk-] until he could ambush Nora.
That left Glenn with no good options. One would be to stay right beside Nora to guard her while Cullen circled invisibly, pinning him down. That would leave Kaden to bombard them from afar with impunity.
Or, Glenn could go after Kaden and leave Nora to be devastated by Cullen. If he couldn’t knock out Kaden quickly enough, he’d then face a two-on-one situation like that he’d faced in his and Nora’s first doubles duel. Except this time, against the two opponents, he might not win.
