We entered the arena, determined to defeat our opponent no matter whoever he'd be.
The commentator, who was also the host, called out in enthusiasm, "And here come our next challengers!" Then his voice rose with excitement as he introduced our opponent.
"And now… the almighty, the unstoppable, the super-powerful" he dragged the words for dramatic effect, "necromancer and killing machine, the Wind Commander NERMIS!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Wind Commander Nermis! Wind Commander Nermis!" they chanted, stomping their feet.
We were nothing more than pawns here. We knew people had only come to enjoy our deaths.
Ashok tightened his grip on his weapon, taking a focused and determined stance. Nermis began walking toward us his steps slow and dripping with menace. His presence pressed down on us like a mountain, his aura bursting out in a wave of raw killing intent. I could see it a faint purple shimmer that made the air itself heavier and colder
But the same question kept eating me why would even the Wind Lord spare me ,the Marked One in the first place?
For now, that mystery would have to wait. Our goal was simple and clear defeat, and if possible, kill this so-called "killing machine."
I shifted into my stance. It probably looked absurd to anyone watching but I knew what I was doing. My mother had aught me martial arts from childhood even though I didn't pay attention to her
I regretted badly to my decision of not taking my mothers training seriously
We were each given two weapons. I received twin swords… and a majestic magic staff. I immediately handed the staff to Ashok magic was useless to me. Ashok now held one sword, the staff, and a pouch of throwing projectiles.
The countdown began.
"Ten… nine… eight… seven…"
Suddenly, the Wind Commander spread his arms wide and smiled a little.
Ashok exclaimed, "what is this shit?! this is cheating how on earth he has an army ?!!"
"Three…
I explained him , "yeah they mentioned 'necromancer' that means he has souls of the people he had killed in his lifetime this is soul army of him"
"two… one…"
"Fight!"
The battle started...
We stood ready, but Nermis didn't move a step. He simply stood, calm and terrifying, while his army of the dead charged before us…
I tightened my grip on the swords. My eyes narrowed and my mind determined to cut any soul shadow knight hose camel lion anything that cam in my way and with my Meta Vision, I quickly scanned the battlefield.
"Five thousand…" I muttered.
I wasn't shocked. I was excited.
Ashok without holding back unleashed his Rain Path—RAIN OF DESPAIR. It is a prepared attack it takes some time to prepare but it is very deadly it unleashes a rain that kill people with no mercy and slow down survivors to this extent that they can only crawl, I smiled….
I moved to cover him, slashing with full force. In a single strike, I cut down a soldiers in two, his body collapsing like straw dummies. I slashed and killed 8 more soldiers one by one. Confidence ran through my spine.
But then—
The fallen soldiers rose again. Their empty eyes glowed faintly as they reformed, charging at me with the same energy as before.
The cycle of death had only just begun.
They charged at me in waves, blades raised. I froze for a heartbeat and nearly paid for it.
But Ashok struck. His AQUA BLADE SLASH ripped through the front line, saving me at the last second.
"Thanks," I gasped, steadying myself. My mind raced. I had to remember every lesson, every technique my mother had aught in her classes when I was 2 years old ("she took me with her to combat classes everyday when I was younger. I was always fascinated by my mother and so were her students. They called her water dancer. Flow like water and moves like dance.")
Then it came back. One stance. One move. One deadly memory.
I bent low, leaning forward, back leg stretched and front leg bent. My grip tightened around the sword. I drew in every bit of power and energy and channeled it into my feet.
The name of the move rang in my mind:
WIND PATH:SAND TORPEDO!
In a flash, I dashed forward—faster than I had ever moved in my life. The speed shocked even me. A single slash ripped through the air, a storm of sand-like energy exploding with the strike.
When I stopped, silence fell.
Two hundred and twenty soldiers in count collapsed at once.
The crowd silenced for a moment and then screamed in disbelief. Then the arena erupted with cheers.
The host's voice boomed:
"Things will be getting interesting from now on!"