The cheers of the Imperial Arcane Arena thundered as Ethan and Dragan stepped onto the
floating marble platform in the center of the colossal coliseum. Magical barriers shimred
around them, humming with power. Above, ethereal sigils hovered, casting shifting lights onto the
combatants.
Dragan rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, flas flickering along his massive biceps.
"Hope you’re ready, twig. You’re about to see how real n fight."
Ethan didn’t say a word. His eyes remained cool and unreadable, arms loose at his sides.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation. In the Dark Tower’s viewing section, Kaeron leaned forward,
his mouth tightening into a grim line. Lysena hovered close beside him, eyes wide with worry.
"Why’s Ethan just... standing there?" Lysena hissed. "He hasn’t even drawn his sword yet!"
Velexaria’s eyes narrowed, a faint line creasing her brow. "Sothing’s wrong."
anwhile, the Fire Tower contingent roared with laughter, Inferax bellowing, "Co on, Dragan!
Snap him like a twig!"
Seraphine simply crossed her arms, violet eyes glinting with curiosity as she studied Ethan’s blank
expression.
A Few Minutes Earlier...
Ethan stood off to the side in the staging area, rolling his shoulders and breathing deeply. He
summoned his system window, eyes scanning the glowing blue screen.
[Special System Quest Triggered!]
[Quest: Let Dragan beat the crap out of you for at least 3 minutes.]
[Reward: 25 Stat Points & a B-Rank Skill Book]
[Failure: None. But you’ll miss out on the reward.]
[Tir: 3 minutes]
Ethan blinked rapidly. ’You... want to WHAT?!’
[System Response:]
[This is a unique hidden quest to boost Host’s adaptability and performance under duress.
Recomnded to accept for optimal growth.]
Ethan clenched his fists, veins popping on his temple. ’System... fuck you. Seriously. The Tower
Master’s counting on . You want to get publicly humiliated?!’
[System Response:]
[Good luck, Host. Comncing quest in... 5... 4... 3...]
Ethan squeezed his eyes shut. "Shit, shit, SHIT—"
[Quest Active.]
Present Ti
Dragan charged forward like a flaming boulder. His fist slamd into Ethan’s ribs with enough
force to send him skidding backward across the marble platform. Ethan doubled over, coughing,
pain blooming across his chest.
"Ooooooooh!" roared the crowd, half in awe, half in amusent.
"Co on, Ethan!" Kaeron shouted, gripping the railing so hard his knuckles went white. "Don’t
just stand there!"
Dragan swaggered forward, flexing his arms. "What’s the matter, little man? Thought you’d at
least try to block." He slamd another punch into Ethan’s stomach, lifting him off his feet.
Ethan crashed onto his back, vision swimming. His thoughts were a chaotic swirl of curses:
’Fuck you, system! I’m getting my ass handed to out here!’
Another blow cracked across his cheek, sending him sprawling near the edge of the arena.
Sparks danced before his eyes.
"Get up, twig!" Dragan bellowed, his voice booming. "You’re embarrassing your tower! Or maybe
that’s normal for the Dark Tower?"
The Fire Tower spectators howled with laughter. Even a few from the other towers snickered and
whispered to each other.
Velexaria’s jaw was rigid as stone. She clenched her gloved fists, rage simring beneath her
cool exterior.
The arena official hovered near the barrier, brows knit in concern, ready to intervene.
Lysena shouted desperately, "ETHAN, DO SOTHING!"
But Ethan rely rolled onto his side, face twisted in pain, teeth gritted.
[System Update:]
[Quest Tir Remaining: 10 seconds]
Dragan stomped closer, looming over him. "This is too easy. Guess the Dark Tower’s just trash
after all, huh? C’mon, twig—cry a little. Beg to stop."
Ethan’s eye twitched. Blood dripped from his lip as he glared up at the giant.
[System Update:]
[Quest Tir Completed.]
[Quest Success!]
[ 25 Stat Points Awarded]
[B-Rank Skill Book Added to Inventory]
Ethan exhaled. Slowly, a wicked smirk curved across his mouth.
Velexaria, watching from above, suddenly blinked—and then let out a soft laugh, facepalming as a
small, delighted smirk tugged at her lips. "There we go..."
Kaeron squinted. "Oh gods. He’s doing that grin again."
Dragan scowled. "What’s with that creepy smile, huh? You goin’ crazy after getting your ass
whooped?"
Ethan rose to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth. "Nah." His voice was eerily calm. "I’m just...
finally allowed to fight back."
Dragan blinked. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Ethan’s hand dropped to the hilt of his sword. "Battle Focus."
A faint black glow erupted around him, shadows swirling like living smoke. His eyes sharpened as
the magical buff surged through his veins.
[Battle Focus Active.]
[Speed 20%]
[Perception 20%]
[Duration: 10 seconds]
Dragan’s eyes widened. "Wait, what—"
Ethan vanished.
In a blink, he reappeared behind Dragan.
[Shadowstep Activated.]
Dragan twisted around, swinging his arm in a wide arc. But Ethan slipped under the punch and
lifted his blade.
[Nightmare Veil Activated.]
A cloak of dark energy engulfed him, warping the air around his body. Dragan’s eyes darted wildly,
trying to track him, but Ethan’s figure shimred and flickered like a mirage.
Ethan stepped close, dark power coiling around his blade.
[Abyss Rend Activated.]
A massive arc of black sword aura exploded forward, crashing into Dragan’s chest. The sheer
force hurled the muscle-bound mage across the arena.
Dragan slamd into the barrier so hard that cracks spiderwebbed through the shimring
magic walls. Chunks of enchanted marble and glowing sigils rained down as Dragan collapsed
into a pile of rubble.
The entire coliseum fell silent.
Dust slowly drifted through the beams of light. Ethan stood motionless in the center of the arena,
sword lowered to his side, his breath calm and asured.
He spun his sword once and slid it into its scabbard with a crisp click.
"Cool," Ethan murmured under his breath. "Very cool."
The silence broke like shattered glass as the Dark Tower section erupted into screams of joy.
Kaeron was laughing so hard he doubled over. Lysena was practically bouncing in place.
Velexaria tilted her head, a feline smile curving her lips as she murmured, "Beautifully done."
anwhile, Inferax stared slack-jawed. Seraphine’s eyes were wide, her lips parted in silent
shock.
He smirked. "Thanks for the reward, you asshole system."
And above them all, the magical sigils flared anew, announcing the victor:
[Winner: Ethan Graves — Dark Mage Tower.]
The Dark Tower’s reputation was far from crushed. In fact... it might be just about to rise higher
than ever before.
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