“Warriors, prepare yourselves for your final fight. Begin!”

  Chris lunged at Alek. He managed to strike first; he hoped to end that fight in one strike. The blade cut deep into his opponent's shoulder. One more hit and he could sever the arm. He thought he had time to strike again, as his opponent would falter from the pain, but he didn’t manage to pull his blade out as he got hit in the chest. The strike was so strong that it pushed him into the wall behind, shattering his ribs. Chris managed to stay on his feet, but they were trembling as he fought not to collapse.

  'Fuck, it felt like I got hit by a speeding car. I managed to remain conscious because of that passive. If not, I’ll already be as good as dead.'

  “So you are tougher than you look. I can finally enjoy a long fight.”

  Alek took out the blade from his shoulder and threw it back at Chris. Alek’s wound was almost healed, which made Chris realize that he had to give him a mortal wound to bypass those monstrous healing capabilities.

  “I can see from your reaction that you have never fought one of my kind before. Now I understand your choice of weapon.”

  “Where I come from, we don’t have all these species that I have seen here until now. They only exist as fantasy stories, and not all of us are fighters like you.” Chris struggled to speak.

  “What a strange world, to not have to fight for your survival.”

  Chris' pain began to dull, but he could no longer move too quickly. He picked up his sword and prepared for Alek’s next move. The warrior lunged at him. Chris managed to deflect his first attack, but couldn’t keep up with the following strike and got a deep cut on his side. Alek jumped back to prepare for the next attack. Chris knew that he couldn’t continue like this, or he would pass out from the blood loss. He made a plan in his head. He will dodge the first strike and parry the second one, then he will try to counterattack with the dagger he has hidden, then try to make some space between them to be able to take a breather. It wasn’t the best plan, but that was all he could come up with in this short time.

  Alek lunged again. Chris dodged the right hand and blocked the left, but the beastman’s sudden spin caught him off guard; his right fist slammed into Chris’s shoulder. He got hit by such force that his body began skipping on the ground until he hit the weapons rack. Chris’s body was broken beyond what a human could endure, but he began laughing. He got two new talents:

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  -CONGRATULATIONS-

  You have unlocked [Steel body, Steel mind]

  Passive

  You’ll endure pain more easily, and your mind will stay clear in the face of danger.

  You have unlocked [Cold blooded]

  Passive

  In the face of danger, your emotions will fade, you’ll fight without hesitation or remorse.

  “That is it, human, you can finally understand what it means to fight for your life. Rise, and face me like a warrior.”

  “I don’t know what you're saying, but I’ll be the one to walk away from this arena. I made a promise to a dear friend, and I’ll keep it.”

  He didn’t know, but Arwenwel was in the crowd cheering him on.

  This time, Chris didn’t wait for Alek and made the first move. He threw a flurry of daggers at him, but Alek easily dodged them. He didn’t realize that it was just so he would take his eyes from Chris, giving Chris enough time to get closer and strike him. Alek managed to react to his attack but had to pay a price for his negligence. Chris severed his left hand below the elbow. He staggered back in pain, blood spilling, but the wound sealed before he could bleed out.

  “Yes, this is the thrill of the hunt, Chris. Savor it, and let it devour you. Become the hunter that your old life chained away.”

  Alek swelled in size, instincts taking over as his form twisted into a towering, wolf-like beast with sharp claws and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. He went berserk and lunged at Chris. Chris had to put an end to this fight with the next strike because he didn’t have much time; his body was about to collapse, and only his passives kept him going. He put his life on the line and used his remaining energy in the next strike. They collided. The impact shook the arena, throwing up a cloud of dust that swallowed the scene. Spectators leaned forward to see who won. Arwenwel prayed to her gods for Chris’s survival. Abugan, impatient, swept the dust away with a conjured gust of wind. Chris came into view first. He was on his knees, supporting himself with the sword. Then all eyes turned to Alek’s body, his head was cut clean from his shoulders, rolling away on the bloodied floor.

  'GG, you old mutt, I’ll see you again in the afterlife if there is one.'

  Chris and the crowd were waiting for Abugan's decision.

  “Marvelous showmanship of brute strength. The undisputed winner of this fight and the next reaper is Chris Sully.”

  The crowd began cheering the victor. Chris could finally let go of the sword and collapsed; the last thing he saw was an elf who came to take him away.

  Now his adventure begins. Will he be able to adapt to his new life, or will he be just a stepping stone for other reapers?