Chương 33: Battle Begins

Joe watched as the Divine Sword stepped forward, approaching a panel that had emerged from the ground in the bubble's centre. He placed a hand on it and was teleported away. Then, the bubble around them shifted, becoming translucent. For the first time, they could see what lay outside. Joe stood up and moved toward the edge of the bubble. As he reached the edge, his eyes widened. They were high above an arena. The circular battlefield below, which looked made of stone, was also surrounded by a high, thick wall.

Beyond that? Nothing but water. A massive, green-tinted ocean stretched endlessly in all directions. Joe gazed out at the horizon; it seemed impossibly far away. He looked up. The sun was much larger than the one he was used to seeing. And beyond that, a second celestial body, another planet or moon, hung in the sky. Its surface shimmered, almost as if it were coated in something. Any lingering doubt was gone.

They were no longer on World 43, on Earth, the chat window filled with people commenting on the breathtaking view. Joe silently agreed, it was a sight to behold. His focus then shifted back to the arena below. On one side stood the Divine Sword on the other, a massive, burly figure. A half-translucent barrier separated them. Joe studied the opponent. The being had long, hair-covered legs ending in hooved feet. Two dark brown horns protruded from its head.

It looked almost like a Minotaur, except its face was too human-shaped… but not entirely. There was something alien about it, something unnatural. And it was huge. It stood head and shoulders taller than the Divine Sword. In its hands, it carried a colossal battle axe. Joe's gaze drifted to his right. Floating beside them was another bubble. Inside, he saw nine more of the Minotaur-like beings, the rest of World 48's representatives. What struck Joe the most was their complete lack of concern.

Not one of them was watching the arena below. They sat at a table, casually talking as if the battle that was just about to begin didn't matter. One figure at the head of the table was different. Joe's breath hitched. Something about that one… Just looking at him through the shimmer of the bubble sent a chill down his spine. Joe activated Identify. Nothing. The bubble blocked the skill. He had no idea how strong these beings were. And that… That was unsettling. [Fuck, they look scary.] - Eddie.

Murmurs of agreement filled the chat. Joe could feel it. The reality of the situation was sinking in. Now that everyone could see what they were up against, fear was becoming more and more evident on their faces. Even Joe felt it creeping in as he shared a look with Esha. [Don't worry, Farmer, I will protect you.] - Esha. Joe smiled despite himself. He wasn't alone. He had World 43's strongest fighters with him. They would be okay. They had to be. There was no going back now.

__ Arena Floor Malcolm stood, eyes locked on the countdown clock before him. Three minutes. That's all the time he had before the barrier between him and his opponent dropped. His gaze flicked to the shield strapped to his arm. Shield of Purity. This shield has been blessed in a church by 100 virgins. It has achieved a pure status, giving the wielder access to two purity-based skills from a list when equipped. +50 Vitality, +50 Endurance. Purity Defier.

This skill reduces all damage received by 50% for four minutes. Purity Believer. The skill increases all damage done to your target by 50% for two minutes. This shield was incredible. When Alice had asked the progenitor where he had got it, he'd mentioned having a looting ability and that he'd received it from a Gate Boss Beast. What shocked Malcolm more was that the Progenitor had just handed it over. No conditions. No price. Nothing. He just gave it to him. Malcolm clenched his jaw.

He felt a little guilty now for how he had reacted when they first met. He had been sceptical of Joseph from the very beginning. Because of what he had seen. When he used his Divine Inspection. Divine Inspection: Joseph Caldwell, High Human, Grade??, Nature's Custodian level 49 -?? level 46, sapient,?? Skills, Title: Progenitor of World 43 Malcolm had stared at the notification. He had never seen so many question marks on a Divine Inspection before. How had these Progenitors gained both a Class and Profession?

Curiosity was burning within him to find out. He also noted that the Progenitor had ninety-five levels combined. That made him, without question, the strongest person here by a long shot. It was a blessing for their chances. And at the same time. Terrifying. Because if this Joseph ever decided he didn't want to help them anymore… Malcolm wasn't sure anyone could stop him. He thought back to the Progenitor named Kairos, who also had a Class and Profession. But he seemed to be a non-combat Class.

Over eighty levels combined was impressive. But he wasn't a warrior. Joseph? He was something else entirely. The man gave off the feeling of someone who had experienced a large amount of battles. His kill count for Gate Boss Beasts was mind-boggling. Malcolm shook his head. No time for this. This was the worst possible moment to let himself get distracted. He had a job to do. He was leading the charge. And it was time. The countdown timer flashed zero.

Malcolm launched himself forward just as the barrier before him faded into nothingness. __ Joe watched as the first battle began. With his new shield strapped to one arm and a sword in hand, Malcolm charged into the fray. His opponent, the Minotaur-like warrior, stood completely still, holding its massive battle axe before it in a calm, almost casual stance. The clash was sudden. The Minotaur swung its axe downward in a devastating arc.

At the last possible moment, Malcolm dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. But then, in a burst of mana and unnatural speed, the axe changed direction mid-swing. Joe's eyes widened as the weapon slammed into Malcolm's shield, launching him backwards. Malcolm skidded across the arena floor, his armour scraping against stone. That was fast. Joe had been able to track the movement, but the Minotaur's agility had to be insane. And the force behind the blow was massive. What level is this being? He wondered.

Malcolm pushed himself up, now advancing with more caution. The Minotaur crouched slightly, and the ground cracked beneath its hooves. Then, in a flash, it dashed forward. Malcolm barely had time to react; no, he didn't dodge in time. Again, the axe shifted direction mid-swing, slamming into his raised shield. This time, Malcolm lit up, activating a skill to absorb the impact. For a brief second, the mana around the shield held. Then, fractures splintered through the light. The skill shattered.

The axe continued through, undeterred, slamming into Malcolm's shield and sending him sprawling. Joe frowned. Was that a skill? Or just raw technique? It was hard to tell. The axe moved unnaturally, its trajectory shifting in ways that shouldn't have been possible. The Minotaur stood still again, watching Malcolm with unreadable eyes. Malcolm got back to his feet, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped down his brow. Only a few seconds had passed. And already, things looked bad.

The Minotaur crouched and exploded forward again, dust and broken pieces of stone flying up around it. Malcolm activated another skill, his body glowing as he dodged. The axe changed direction mid-swing again, but this time, Malcolm was ready. He anticipated the unnatural movement and twisted out of the way. But then, something unseen yanked him backwards, straight towards the axe. Joe's breath caught. Malcolm had no time to turn, no time to block.

Another shield skill flashed to life around his back, but the axe tore through it as if it were paper. The skill slowed the strike, but it wasn't enough. The giant blade slammed into his back, and Malcolm let out a pained yell as he was sent hurtling into the arena's stone wall. The Minotaur never slowed and followed closely behind Malcolm. With a deafening crash, its axe struck the wall where Malcolm had landed. Somehow, Malcolm had dodged the strike.

But again, the air around them both seemed to warp, the axe shifted unnaturally, tracking Malcolm's movement as he was pulled back by the same strange force. Joe's heart pounded. Slam! The axe struck Malcolm with full force. A sickening snap echoed through the arena. Malcolm's body crumpled. He spat blood as he let out a scream before collapsing, unconscious. The Minotaur leapt into the air, its weapon raised, ready to deliver the final crushing blow. Both figures froze.

High above, glowing text appeared in the air. Winner: world ranked 48. Malcolm vanished and teleported back to the bubble. A moment later, the Minotaur also disappeared from the arena. Silence. No one in World 43's bubble spoke. They stood frozen, still processing what had just happened. The quiet shattered as Felicia, Gus, and Alice rushed to Malcolm's side. He lay sprawled on the bubble's floor, blood seeping from his wounds.

Alice shoved a healing pill into his mouth while Felicia cast a spell over him, her hands glowing faintly. Joe barely noticed. His mind was still reeling. The fight had lasted just over a minute. And it had been brutal. Joe forced himself to look at the other bubble, at the Minotaurs within. Not a single one of them had turned to acknowledge their returning fighter. But from the looks of it, they had at least stopped talking. The one seated at the head of the table slowly rose and approached the panel.

Joe's stomach twisted. Was he coming out next? Shit. He couldn't let Hakeem fight that thing. He would have to… A new system message flashed before his eyes. Resource Grab Message World Ranked 48 has forfeited the battle and withdrawn their challenge. Victory to World 43. The next challenger will be drawn in five minutes. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. What the hell was going on?

Joe looked up just in time to see the bubble that had held World Ranked 48 vanish without a trace. Inside World 43's bubble, everyone sat in silence. The only exception was the American team, who remained huddled around Malcolm, watching over him as he healed. They had all witnessed that brutal display of overwhelming power. Joe sat, turning the fight over in his mind. What had even happened? It had to be a skill, but what kind of ability could manipulate someone's body like that? Was it some kind of mana skill?

Did the Minotaur wrap Malcolm in mana and drag him back into its swing? These thoughts surged through Joe's mind as he tried to figure out what he had seen. It was impossible to tell exactly what had happened. The bubble had blocked his Mana Sight during the fight, and even now, when he tried to scan the arena below, he found he couldn't see past the bubble's barrier. So unless Malcolm knew what had happened, he had no way of figuring it out. Joe's gaze flickered toward the still-unconscious man.

But why had they left? Had they only come here to test our strength? Had they decided that World 43 was too weak to bother fighting and simply walked away? Joe shook his head. It didn't matter now. There were still two more worlds to deal with. A new message appeared before him. Resource Grab Message The next challenger has been chosen. World-Ranked 49 will now compete against World 43. You have five minutes for your representatives to step forward, and the next round will begin. All eyes turned toward Hakeem.

Joe opened his mouth to speak, but Hakeem beat him to it. [I know what you all are thinking. But nothing has changed. We all came here knowing it would be challenging. We cannot let one defeat break us. We stick to the plan and the order.] - Hakeem. Hakeem stepped forward, placing his hand on the panel. His body glowed for a moment, then vanished as he teleported into the arena. Joe exhaled. Hakeem was right. This wasn't a game. It was a battle for survival.

Joe stood at the edge of the bubble, eyes shifting toward the newly visible World Ranked 49. This time, instead of Minotaurs, he saw walking blue-skinned lizard people with long tails and forked tongues that flicked out as they spoke to one another. Unlike the last group, these representatives looked back at him. They weren't ignoring the fight. They were watching. Joe met a few of their gazes before forcing himself to look away.

Under different circumstances, he would have been amazed at seeing a new race of lizard people that he could potentially communicate with.

"Okay, erase your thoughts and look forward," he mumbled, turning his focus to Hakeem in the arena below. His opponent flashed into place, and the countdown timer began to tick. Joe hoped this world wouldn't be like the last one. They were ranked forty-ninth, which meant they had to be weaker, right? He hoped. Joe held his breath as the second fight of the day began. After witnessing Malcolm's battle, he knew things could happen fast. Power differences would be obvious from the start.

The moment the barrier dropped, Hakeem's opponent blasted forward like a streak of blue lightning. Joe's senses sharpened as he watched the two figures collide. A flurry of rapid blows followed. Then, they broke apart, only to clash again a second later. Hakeem's huge broadsword sent sparks flying around him as he clashed with his opponents, two smaller curved blades. This wasn't a one-sided battle. It was a real fight.

From what Joe could see, as he tracked both fighters' movements, they were equally matched, though Hakeem seemed to hold a slight edge. He was visibly faster. His blows carried more weight, causing his opponent to shudder with every block or parry. Hakeem charged, swinging his colossal broadsword in a sweeping arc. The lizard warrior met the strike with his cutlass-like swords, parrying cleanly, but grunting from the effort.

The bubble was quite a distance above the arena, but the sound from below carried clearly to Joe's ears. He could hear every clash as if it were right next to him. Like invisible speakers were transmitting the sounds up to them. Joe released the tension from his shoulders as Esha stepped up beside him.

"He is strong," Esha said, watching the fight intently. Joe nodded, not taking his eyes off the arena below. Hakeem and the lizard warrior clashed again, but this time, as the lizard tried to parry, Hakeem's sword exploded in flames, sending his opponent sprawling across the arena floor. Joe smiled as, for the first time since the fight with the Alpha Lion, he saw a very familiar skill activate.

The moment the lizard warrior hit the ground, Hakeem pressed the attack, swinging his sword and releasing arcs of mana that shot from the blade. Each one smashed into his opponent as the lizard tried to scramble to his feet. Off balance, the lizard barely managed to block the surprise attack with his own mana before Hakeem was on him again, his broadsword swinging toward his head. At the last moment, the lizard dodged, flipping away and creating distance.

They both took a moment to catch their breath before they began circling, eyes locked in concentration. Joe took the brief lull in action to scan the faces around him. Relief was evident on everyone's faces. Seeing that not every opponent was as overwhelmingly strong as the monster who had crushed Malcolm had lifted their spirits. But the fight wasn't over yet. Back in the arena, Hakeem closed in again, grasping full control of the momentum of the fight now.

His sword met the lizard's blades in another exchange as sparks flew around the duo. Strike after strike landed heavily on the lizard's blades as he struggled to keep up with Hakeem's onslaught. It looked like Hakeem was about to finish the lizard off, until he jumped back, disengaging. A blast of mana erupted from the lizard's body, sending a shockwave through the air. Joe squinted, trying to see through the thick cloud of smoke that now obscured the arena floor. Ten seconds passed before the dust settled.

When the lizard warrior reappeared, Joe's stomach twisted. His body had changed. Now twice the size he had been before, his muscles bulged, radiating power. Joe tensed as the fight continued. Hakeem lunged forward in a blur, but this time the lizard parried easily and even managed to counterattack. It looked like the rhythm of the fight was about to turn. But Hakeem had other ideas. Black smoke began to emit from Hakeem's body, swirling around him like living shadows.

Joe knew instinctively what was happening; he was watching Hakeem's Bloodline power. Hakeem's speed surged, his swings grew heavier, leaving a trail of dark smoke with each swing. The lizard suddenly found itself on the back foot, forced into a frantic defence, as it not only had to avoid the new empowered sword swings. But also the strange new smoke that flew out around it. Hakeem pressed forward relentlessly, driving his sword down in a final, crushing blow.

Blue blood sprayed as the lizard warrior let out a piercing scream. Then, everything froze. A system message flared above the arena. Winner: World 43. A cheer erupted in the bubble as the lizard man was teleported out of the arena. Hakeem, however, remained. He wasn't teleported away; he was still allowed to move. [Hak? What happened?] - Joe. [The winner gets the option to continue or let someone else take over. I still have most of my mana, so I'll stay for the next fight.] - Hakeem. [Sounds good.] - Joe.

Joe exhaled in relief. No new surprises, no unexpected system tricks. The mood in the bubble shifted dramatically thanks to Hakeem's win. Smiles appeared. Hope was restored. Hakeem was given a ten-minute break before the next representative appeared in the arena, standing behind the now-restored barrier that separated the two combatants. He took one of each, a healing pill and a mana pill, restoring him to full strength. Then, Battle Two began. Hakeem's next opponent was a ranged magic user.

The robed lizard teleported to the edge of the arena, summoning fire and crackling lightning that rained down in a relentless assault. Hakeem gave chase, weaving between the attacks, slowly closing the distance. As he moved, he made a gesture with his hand, and more smoky shadows billowed out around him. This time, they wrapped around his arms and legs, coating them like armour. His speed spiked as he chased after the mage.

But every time he got within melee range, the mage blinked across the arena, appearing on the opposite side, never straying too far from the walls at the edge. This continued for twenty minutes. The battle had become a game of pursuit and evasion, but Hakeem remained focused. Finally, when Hakeem had closed the gap enough, he struck. A tendril of black smoke extended from his blade in a burst of speed that caught the mage off guard. It latched onto his leg. The mage tried to teleport again but nothing happened.

Got him! Hakeem surged forward, using another shadow skill to close the gap instantly. The mage panicked, conjuring a glowing barrier around himself as he desperately tried to burn away the tendril binding his leg. Hakeem's sword slammed onto the shield, sending cracks splintering across the magical surface. The barrier flashed, weakened. Then shattered. Hakeem lunged inside before the mage could recover, his broadsword swinging in a decisive arc. The blade connected. And everything froze. Winner: World 43.

Hakeem had secured two victories. The mage had been all offence, with no defensive skills strong enough to stop Hakeem, so the battle had ended with a single decisive hit. But now, Hakeem was visibly tired. The constant chasing had taken its toll. [You sure you want to fight again?] - Kai. [Yeah, but this will be the last. That mage was annoying as hell.] - Hakeem. Joe glanced toward the next competitor in line, Song Weilong.

The man met Joe's gaze, gave a short nod, then stepped away, likely preparing himself mentally for his turn. Joe frowned. Two wins were great. If Hakeem managed to get three in a row, it would put them in a strong position, allowing their other top fighters to rest and observe before stepping in. What worried Joe was the numbers. If World Ranked 48 had ten representatives, then World 49 likely had the same. That meant at least eighteen more battles were ahead.

Outside of himself, Song, Esha, and Gao, no one else seemed keen, or capable, of competing at the level they had just witnessed.

"What are you thinking, Farmer?" Esha asked.

"Just hoping we can get through this. And when the hell did Hak get so many skills?" Esha punched Joe on the arm.

"I will beat anyone foolish enough to hurt you, Farmer." Joe chuckled. Esha was being unusually nice today. He wasn't sure if it was nerves, stress or something else. But he was glad she was seemingly in good spirits. He looked down at her new arm again. It was still strange-looking, all translucent and tinged brown. Joe got another sudden urge to examine the arm more closely.

"You think you'll be able to use that well?" he lightly tapped at her elbow. Esha raised her arm, flexing before him.

"Yes. It feels like I never lost it. It's strange how normal it feels. Though touching things with it is still a little weird." Esha flicked Joe on the forehead with her new hand.

"I know that look, Farmer. If you want another feel… I will require some compensation."

"I just really want to know how it works. How is it connected?" Before the two could continue. Movement below brought them back to reality. It was time for Hakeem's third fight. Hakeem's third fight started strong. Once again, he faced a ranged opponent, but instead of casting mana-based attacks, the lizard warrior wielded a strange slingshot contraption that fired rapid projectiles. Hakeem had learned from his previous fight. He moved in faster, closing the distance more efficiently.

The pressure he applied forced the lizard to draw a sword and fend at close range more often than not. But his opponent was slippery. Despite Hakeem's aggression, the lizard avoided any major injuries and kept repositioning, making Hakeem chase constantly. Joe watched with growing concern. Hakeem was slowing down, which the lizard warrior noticed. Sensing an opportunity, the lizard broke free completely and created a huge gap between them.

Hakeem was forced to start using his ranged attack, as his blade lit up and arcs of mana shot out before him. Unfortunately, every blast he sent in pursuit of the lizard was intercepted by huge glowing balls of metal that blasted back towards him. The slingshot the lizard wielded, packed a punch, and outclassed Hakeem's range attacks significantly. For five grueling minutes, Hakeem was forced to endure the assault of glowing explosive shots, wearing him down further. Eventually he snapped.

With a furious roar, shadows erupted from his body, swallowing him in a black mist. His speed skyrocketed. Joe watched on as Hakeem blurred forward, appearing above his opponent in an instant. The lizard was caught completely off guard. It scrambled to react. They exchanged a flurry of strikes, moving at blistering speed. For a moment, it looked like Hakeem had seized control of the fight. But then, the lizard pulled a small, box-like device from its belt.

An alarm went off inside Joe's head as he stared down at the scene. The lizard lunged, slamming the box into Hakeem's chest. The sudden move didn't come without cost. Hakeem's sword swung down in retaliation, and the lizard warrior had no chance to dodge. It barely managed to raise a glowing arm in defence. But it wasn't enough. The huge broadsword cleaved through flesh and bone. The severed limb flew to the side, blood spraying in an arc.

At the same moment, the box now attached to Hakeem's chest ignited in a blazing glory. Everything Froze. Winner: World 49.