Chapter 124: The Fighting Arena

Hubris slowly looked at the place the shard disappeared to. He didn't have time nor the speed to react to it.

"Do you think this will cause us problems?" He asked, unsure of what to make of it.

"Maybe it'll explode. Maybe we will be able to control its powers. Don't worry about it too much." Kiro said nonchalantly biting onto the chicken leg he was holding.

After their little rest stop they ventured deeper into the temple, they found themselves in a vast, dimly lit chamber. The air crackled with a cold anticipation, and the ground beneath their feet felt solid and sturdy. It didn't feel like it would crumble at any moment, but they were still expecting it, they didn't trust this temple at all.

The sound of distant echoes filled the room, like long lost warriors battling it out but they couldn't be seen, this was hinting at a challenge awaiting their arrival.

In the center of the chamber, an imposing stone door stood tall, decorated with elaborate carvings of warriors in fierce battles, just like the ones they were hearing but could not see. Though nothing suggested that, the carvings would move to entertain them if only a little.

Kiro didn't know what the temple was, but he got a gist that these were tests and in order to get out of here, they had to adhere to whatever was thrown at them, to reach the end they had to play.

With determination etched across his face, he slowly approached the stone door. As he reached out to touch it, a surge of energy coursed through his veins, and the room transformed around them.

They found themselves in a vast arena, surrounded by towering walls, with spectators lining the stands, their eyes fixed upon them with great anticipation, as if they even refused to breathe.

Before them stood a towering figure, a mythical creature with gripping muscles and eyes gleaming with fierce determination to kill. This was clearly a challenge in the form of a mighty duel, pitting them against a formidable opponent known as the Titan.

A resounding roar filled the arena as the Titan staggered backward, it had never been moved by any warrior from where it stood. That seem to have made it angrier.

Silence fell upon the arena, broken only by Kiro's tired breaths. An indescribable feeling washed over, they knew that, if they didn't find a way to subdue the Titan they'd be utterly destroyed.

The Titan showed off its speed and lunged at them, Hubris wasn't any quicker, as the huge axe grazed his behind but managed to escape with intangibility. He could see the glimpses of the future, but avoiding it was another matter entirely.

Their weak bodies was their undoing, after hours of dancing with a legendary creature, fatigue stole the victory from them. Fortunately the Titan wasn't out to murder them as they believed, as his axes turned to dust as it sliced through them.

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, their cheers and chants filling the air. They had just been gifted a spectacle, and the path forward for the two was revealed.

Not having won, they were confused about the treatment. It boosted their confidence nonetheless, with the newfound sense of confidence, they pressed on, leaving the arena behind.

It seemed like there was no next challenge, but the door to leave this arena room was far filled with towering walls, treacherous pits and the like.

"Isn't this just criminal after fighting that big thing?" Kiro complained, he was about ready to get out of the room but the room wasn't quite done with them.

It seemed to have been wanting to test not just combat, but also endurance. The climbed walls, jumped over pits and travelled to the door, when they reached it, Kiro was drenched in sweat.

He could feel his entire physiology changing, the fatigue weaved into his muscles as a new strength, he felt tired but he felt good.