Chapter Ninety-Five: Arena Battle, Part 1

  The boulder knocks me to the ground, and I’m sure I can taste blood, although there’s nothing there. Standing up, I turn to face Aedron—that’s what I’ve taken to calling it—and I put on my shield again. I need to make it stronger, or this type of magic could hit me at any time. I haven’t seen many mages block non-magical attacks with their shield, so if I learned this, then I would have a head start.

  But this is not the most important lesson I’m learning. No, that belongs to a particular piece of Necromancy, maybe the most important part of it. I haven’t been able to do it yet, which is why I take a break and fight Aedron. At least he’s a little easier to fight.

  This time a bunch of high-speed pebbles come my way instead of a boulder, and I am forced to drop on the ground, the pebbles passing above me. Then, I must get up immediately or the spike of metal would spike me through the back. I’m on the defensive, but for now I only need to judge Aedron.

  This is Level 20, which is farther than any of my friends are at. Even Th’ul only reached Level 18. I’m here six, seven hours every day, and I’m learning to truly go to war, to earn my name as a War Mage. At Level 15, the Aedron began to use magic that would bring things from nowhere, hence the spike of metal. Speaking of it, there are plenty of said spikes ringing him like a halo behind him.

  Clearly, this one isn’t playing. When I’d beat Level 19, I asked Master Thul how close I was to Level 6. He told me I was close to hitting Level 7, which is strange, but that means I’m progressing rapidly. If I can beat Aedron here, then I’ll have a chance to…

  The spike juts out of my left shoulder, and I scream in pain. I know this isn’t real, that the injury doesn’t exist, but the pain is unbearable. The Aedron raises his hand again, and three more spikes are thrown at me. I project my own magic towards them, finding a way to levitate two of the spikes, but before I can throw them back to him, the third one takes me on the leg. I shriek and fall to the ground.

  Zade War Mage Health: 65%

  I’m surprised I have that much, but unless I start to attack, I won’t last long. Clearly, this mage is strong, but there is one thing I’ve noticed: it’s not very multitasked. It seems to only be able to do one thing at a time, and I think I can beat it.

  I was able to beat all the Levels I have until now without the special magic the goddess gave me. I have no problem with using it, but it gives me an unfair advantage. With the powers, I reached Level 50, but even the levels after that were too much for me. I want to avoid using it as much as I can with this level, but if I must use it, I will, though I would make myself repeat it then.

  Aedron is sprinting towards me, and I tap my skill. A flaming pillar erupts on his body up towards the sky that doesn’t exist, and the mage writhes to put it out. A quick piece of magic does that, but there's already three more Fireballs running towards him. He dodges the three rapidly, running straight towards me unwittingly, where I stab him, right through the belly. Spasming, the Aedron falls to the ground, twitching, shaking, even moaning. The gash in its belly leaks something. Not blood, but it resembled it. It’s the magically-generated version of it.

  Level 20 Mage Health: 40%

  Before my very eyes, the wound begins to close, to heal. The gash is closing, the blood pooling on the ground, but no more erupting from the wound.

  Unfair, I think. How come he can heal?

  Considering this is Level 20, and this is the first one that uses healing, I assume that he won’t be able to heal much. So, while he’s still down and recovering, I stab him once through the stomach. Then one towards the heart, and just as it's passing through…

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  The punch sends me flying, the fist magically enhanced, and I can barely try to levitate myself before I crash to the ground with a sickening crunch.

  Zade War Mage Health: 49%

  Level 20 Health: 67%...69%

  Ugh…no fair.

  I try to rise, but I can feel my body crumpling on itself, my injuries too much for it to handle. I assume I can only last about two or three minutes, so I must do this now. Rising to my knees, I search for Aedron.

  Disappearing and reappearing before me, the mage sends a fist at me, and I duck it. Sending a punch, a stab, and a Fireball at the same time. So, while the spike juts through my head, I’m able to get a punch to his stomach, and when he crumples, the sword takes him in the neck, and the Fireball burns him.

  We’re both dying, now the battle will end when one of us finally succumbs to his wounds.

  Zade War Mage Health: 5%

  Level 20 Health: 7%

  He still has more…how? I stabbed him..,I…I can’t see! My vision has gone blind, and I’m beginning to lose all sense of thought. I bring my hand up. The spike took me through one of the eyes, and I assume it’s touching my brain in some way. There’s plenty of blood there, but I’m also used to that…it isn’t real.

  Nausea rolls through me, and I vomit on the ground, feeling terribly sick.

  I hate dying.

  Zade War mage Health: 3%

  Level 20 Health 2%...1%

  He isn’t healing, it’s the only thing I can think of as I begin…to…slip…away…

  Health: 0%

  Zade War Mage is the winner!

  All feeling returns to me, and once again, I puke on the ground and look around, finding my sword and picking it up. Aedron is nowhere to be seen, obviously, and I smile. Somehow, I beat Level 20. And on the first try too! Xavier will be so jealous.

  A familiar female voice that I haven’t heard since the battle rings in my head.

  Level 6.

  “FINALLY!” I scream into the air, pumping my fist. “Hell yeah, I’ve finally done it. Level bleeding sic.” Collapsing on the ground, I fold my arms as if in a prayer and touch the ground with my head. “Finally,” I whisper. “Oh, gods, oh, Eva, I finally did it. Are you proud of me? I’ll reach Level 7 soon, according to Master Thul somehow.”

  I am proud of you, my son. Eva says in my head, startling me. She always appears at random times, but I appreciate every time she speaks to me. You did well, and you will keep getting stronger, I trust. But I think you may have something to take care of now.

  “What do you mean?” I ask.

  Turn around.

  I obey, finding Sia staring at me with barely-contained amusement.

  “I assume you passed to Level 6?” She asked. I run to embrace her and she squeals in surprise before leaning into it.

  “Yes, I did! Can you believe it?” I ask. “I’m at LEVEL 6! Wait…” I pause, letting go and cocking my head at her. “Why are you here?”

  She sobers quickly, looking at me sadly. “High Mage Aegon is asking for you.”

  “Why are you sad?” I ask. “That’s normally a good thing.”

  “I don’t think you understand,” She responds. “He looks weak, frail, and he tells me he lost his magic.”

  “He WHAT?” I scream. “Take me to him now.”

  “Why do you think I’m here?”

  “Good point.”