The energy in the Asgard Arena was electric as Velkharion stood within the player preparation room, his fiery eyes glowing faintly as he leaned against the hilt of Crimson Fang. Beyond the heavy iron doors, the crowd's cheers reached a fever pitch, echoing through the marble halls and reverberating in his chest. Despite the noise, the room was calm—a stark contrast to the chaos that awaited in the battleground.
Velkharion glanced at his HUD, which displayed the tournament bracket for the First Round. His opponent's name flashed on the screen: Hjalmir, a player renowned within Asgard for his tactical brilliance and brutal combat style. They were evenly matched in level and reputation, both hovering just below Level 90. This wouldn't be an easy fight.
Velkharion smirked to himself, adjusting his gear as the system notification appeared.
"First Round Match: Velkharion vs. Hjalmir."
- **Battle Commences in 3… 2… 1…**
The iron doors creaked open, and Velkharion stepped into the sunlight. The arena roared as both combatants emerged, the circular battleground glimmering with runic inscriptions that promised to amplify the intensity of the battle.
Standing across the battleground was Hjalmir, a towering figure clad in frost-enchanted plate armor. His weapon of choice was a massive warhammer, its surface etched with glowing runes that pulsed with icy energy. Hjalmir's reputation as a fierce and strategic fighter had earned him the title of The Stormbreaker—a nod to his ability to dismantle even the most coordinated teams in Asgard.
"You're the one who caused all that trouble with the Frost Giants," Hjalmir said, his voice booming as he hefted the hammer onto his shoulder. "Let's see if you live up to the hype."
Velkharion grinned, gripping Crimson Fang tightly. "You'll find out soon enough."
The system's countdown began, echoing across the arena.
3… 2… 1… FIGHT!
Hjalmir wasted no time, charging forward with surprising speed despite his heavy armor. He slammed his warhammer into the ground, sending a wave of frost magic rippling across the arena. Velkharion leapt to the side, activating Third Tier Rune Magic: Verdant Glade Step, which allowed him to teleport a few meters away in a burst of glowing roots.
"Not bad," Velkharion muttered, his fiery eyes narrowing as Hjalmir's frost wave dissipated. "But let's see how you handle this."
Velkharion raised one hand, runes glowing around his fingers as he invoked: Fifth Tier Magic: Divine Tempest. The arena was engulfed in a swirling storm of fire, wind, and holy light. Hjalmir gritted his teeth, raising his warhammer to block the brunt of the attack, but the sheer force of the spell pushed him back.
Hjalmir roared, charging through the storm with his warhammer glowing brightly. He activated his own high-tier ability, Fourth Tier Skill: Frostquake, slamming his weapon into the ground and creating a shockwave that forced Velkharion to brace himself.
"Persistent, aren't you?" Velkharion said with a smirk, his glowing horns crackling with energy. He activated Runic Engraving: Emberlash Blade, his greatsword igniting with fiery magic as he met Hjalmir head-on.
The clash of their weapons sent sparks flying, the sheer force of the impact rattling the arena's magical barriers. The crowd roared as the two combatants exchanged blows, neither willing to yield.
As the battle raged on, Velkharion began to adapt to Hjalmir's patterns. The warhammer's attacks were powerful but predictable, and Velkharion's agility gave him the edge. He waited for the perfect moment—a split-second opening as Hjalmir raised his weapon for a heavy swing.
"Got you," Velkharion muttered, activating Twin Blade Tempest, a Valkyrie Duelist ability. In a blur of speed, he unleashed a flurry of strikes with Crimson Fang, each one enhanced by the fire magic of Emberlash Blade.
Hjalmir stumbled back, his armor scorched and cracked. Velkharion didn't let up, following with Sixth Tier Magic: Celestial Bloomstorm. The arena darkened as a vortex of glowing petals and elemental energy erupted, enveloping Hjalmir in a storm of frost, fire, and nature magic.
As the light of the spell faded, Hjalmir fell to one knee, his warhammer slipping from his grasp. He looked up at Velkharion, his expression a mix of frustration and admiration.
"You're stronger than I thought," Hjalmir said, his voice strained but steady.
Velkharion lowered his blade, the glow of his horns dimming as he extended a hand to his fallen opponent. "You're not bad yourself."
The crowd erupted into cheers as the system declared the match over:
"Winner: Velkharion."
Back in the preparation room, Velkharion leaned against the wall, catching his breath as he pulled up the updated tournament bracket. The next rounds would only grow tougher, but his victory had solidified him as a contender to watch.
He smirked, his fiery eyes gleaming. "One down. Let's see who's next."
Join my Patreon to support my work and read chapter in advance patreon.com/Writing_when_bored