"Perception," Stark activated his skill the moment the fight began.
[Name: Abyssal Warbringer, The Colosseum's Strongest (CALAMITY)]
[Level: 250 + 50 (boosted)]
[HP: 1,200,000]
[Strength: 13532 + 5000]
[Stamina: 12182 + 5000]
[Speed: 13281 + 5000]
[Defense: 10462+ 5000]
[Skills: Warblade of Dread, Abyssal Surge, Colossus Shield, Crushing Despair, Shadow Wave, Calamity Storm, Deathcall Frenzy, Shadow Phase, Malice Burst, Phantasmal Barrage, Ruinous Leap, Armor of the Abyss]
The stats alone were terrifying, but with the level boost from Olikar's interference, the Warbringer was effectively level 300.
But more importantly: that thing was a tank, a fighter, fast and had stamina, it was extremely balanced across all its stats!
Sora's green aura flared around her, calm and steady as always, "..."
The Warbringer didn't give them time to gather themselves.
With a roar that shook the arena, he used [Shadow Wave], slamming his sword onto the ground to send shockwaves of energy toward them.
"Vine Barrier," but Sora was prepared, using a new skill Stark had never seen before to summon HUNDREDS of vines, blocking the attack easily.
'...Oh yeah, I'm not the only one that gets new skills, I'm dumb,' Stark mocked his stupidity as he got ready to continue.
But then the monster charged forward, faster than anything that size should be able to move.
Its massive sword, [Warblade of Dread], was already swinging downward, a blur of obsidian steel aimed directly at Stark.
Stark barely had time to react, his body moving on instinct.
His [Crimson Soul] activated instantly, the pulsating crimson heart appearing before him, and he grabbed its chains, swinging it up to meet the incoming strike.
The collision sent a shockwave through the arena, forcing Stark's feet to dig into the ground as the sheer power of the Warbringer's attack pushed him back several feet.
[Your crimson soul has been damaged slightly.]
It seems that because the enemy was stronger and dealt more damage, even though he was countering his soul would still receive damage.
"Too strong!" Stark grunted, his arms trembling from the force of the impact.
But before he could recover, the Warbringer's free hand thrust forward, activating [Malice Burst].
A blast of dark energy erupted from its palm, slamming into Stark and sending him flying across the arena, crashing into the stone wall with a sickening thud.
"-28471!"
"Stark!" Sora's voice cut through the air, though still emotionless, but she couldn't afford to help him.
The Warbringer retaliated immediately, activating [Void Maelstrom].
A swirling vortex of dark energy erupted from its body, expanding outward and pulling everything toward it.
Stark and Sora were caught in the pull, their bodies struggling to fight against the vortex's gravitational force.
"Damn it!" Stark growled, digging his heels into the ground as he fought to stay upright.
The vortex was too strong, pulling them closer and closer to the Warbringer's deadly reach.
But then, he had a sudden idea.
Didn't he also have a skill similar to this one already...?
Of course, he did.
"AURA SMASH... AURA STORM!" he summoned his five crimson fists and began to merge them to activate the latest perk.
After a few seconds of being pulled, the attack was ready to be activated.
Fwish! Bang!
But before, he grabbed Sora from behind as she was closer and launched her away from the attack's range since [Aura Storm] didn't differentiate between ally and enemy.
"AURA STORM!"
Boom!
A storm of energy surrounded both him and the warbringer, surprising him as he was suddenly being pulled toward Stark as well, his body struggling to resist the powerful pull.
And so now that the monster was also struggling, Stark summoned his [Crimson Soul] again, swinging the pulsating heart toward the Warbringer.
The heart slammed into the Warbringer's shield, and this time, it shattered.
The Warbringer roared in rage, its red eyes burning brighter as it tried to swing its sword at him, but Stark used [Invincible Dodge] several times to get out of the pull's way, returning to safety.
Boom! Slam!
Once the warbringer reached the center of the [Aura Storm], he was suddenly slammed onto the ground, as if the gravitational pull had been massively increased around that area.
-244813!
The Warbringer quickly got up, though, more enraged than ever.
"DEATHCALL FRENZY!"
The Warbringer's movements became a blur, his sword swinging wildly in a flurry of deadly strikes.
Stark barely managed to block the first few, but the speed of the Warbringer's attacks was too much: one of the strikes slipped through his defenses, cutting across his chest and sending him stumbling backward.
And then... another attack came rushing at him, reaching his neck.
"SHIT!" Stark's pupil shook: that thing was too fast, impossible to dodge!
Would this be the end?