As his consciousness fully returned, Gyan found himself standing on solid ground that trembled beneath his feet. The air around him was hot, thick with the sharp scent of iron—the stench of blood, death, and battle. His vision was still spinning from the effects of traveling through the portal, but his mind quickly processed the scene before him.
A colosseum.
But this was no ordinary colosseum. The arena was vast, larger than any human stadium he had ever seen. Towering metal walls, hundreds of meters high, surrounded it, looking impenetrable. The massive stands were filled with dark blue-skinned creatures—the Raff race—of varying sizes. Some cheered enthusiastically, while others remained silent, their gazes filled with either anticipation or cruelty. Behind them, a transparent protective layer separated the spectators from the arena, as if to signal that the battle below would be too brutal even for them to witness unguarded.
In the center of the arena, massive figures stood still, as if waiting for something.
"Welcome to Nyxarion Bastion," a Raff's voice boomed, echoing like thunder through the air. "Here, you will prove whether you are worthy to live or just trash that will become part of the arena's dust."
Gyan swallowed hard. His legs were still weak, his body not yet fully recovered from the torment he had endured earlier. From the corner of his eye, he saw Rendi panting beside him. Despite his exhausted body, his eyes still burned with defiance.
From across the arena, a colossal figure stepped forward. Its skin was dark gray, rough like stone, with glowing red veins pulsating beneath the surface. It was more than twice the size of an average human, and its massive fists looked capable of crushing a skull in a single blow.
"These are your first opponents," the Raff declared casually, as if merely announcing a routine entertainment event. "If you can survive for ten minutes, you will be given the chance to advance to the next stage. But if not... well, at least you'll entertain our audience. Ah, I almost forgot to heal you. This fight wouldn't be any fun if you were still half-dead."
The Raff turned to the side and waved, summoning someone. Another alien stepped forward—this one with pale blue skin, a slender frame, and clad in white robes resembling those of a scientist. Four agile arms carried various medical tools. Without speaking, the alien glanced at Gyan and Rendi, then muttered something in an unfamiliar language before injecting a liquid into their bodies.
Gyan felt a cold sensation spread through his veins, followed by a wave of warmth radiating through his body. His wounds slowly closed, the pain in his muscles faded, but something was strange—he felt his body become far more flexible than before...!
The doctor then raised all four hands, releasing a white light that enveloped their bodies. Within seconds, all their remaining wounds vanished.
Gyan cupped his hands over his chest and bowed slightly in gratitude. The doctor merely observed him for a moment, then offered a faint smile and nodded.
Like doctors everywhere, this alien seemed to be one of the good ones.
Suddenly, a deafening boom echoed throughout the arena, shattering the brief moment of calm.
Gyan and Rendi exchanged glances.
"What was that...?" Gyan murmured.
The Raff laughed, his voice resounding through the stands. "Hahaha, get ready. The game is about to begin...!"
A game? This guy is insane.
A second boom followed. The ground trembled. Then, without warning, one of the massive blue-skinned creatures shot toward them with impossible speed for something of its size.
Gyan barely had time to react as a gigantic fist swung toward him.
The trajectory appeared.
In a fraction of a second, something in his mind ignited. He saw the incoming punch—its path, its speed, the impact it would have if it hit him. It was like catching a glimpse of the future.
Without thinking, he leaped to the side.
BOOM!
The ground where he had stood shattered under the devastating blow. A cloud of dust erupted into the air.
The second attack came even faster than expected. The creature extended its arm, swinging a horizontal punch. Gyan saw it coming.
He immediately ducked, feeling the rush of air as the massive fist missed him by mere inches. Before his feet could touch the ground again, he used his momentum to roll away, avoiding a potential follow-up attack.
Gyan's guess was right.
A third strike followed, this time a hammering blow from above, aimed directly at him.
But he had already foreseen it.
With lightning-fast reflexes, he leaped aside, using his arms to flip backward. The moment his feet touched the ground, he twisted his body, repositioning himself.
The dust from the previous attacks still swirled in the air, but Gyan remained focused.
He smiled.
I can see everything...!
From the other side, the second creature lunged at Rendi with terrifying speed. Gyan knew he wouldn't be fast enough to save him.
"RENDI!" he shouted.
But something unexpected happened.
Just before the punch struck, Rendi moved—or rather, he vanished for an instant. Given his skills as a fighter, Gyan knew Rendi shouldn't be this fast. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared several meters away, his body flickering like a shadow.
Gyan stared in shock. "You—?"
Rendi looked just as bewildered, staring at his own trembling hands.
"Gyan... I don't know how, but I'm much faster now! I just wanted to dodge, and then... suddenly, my body moved on its own! I also feel this heat spreading through me... Is this a new power?"
In the VIP stands, Raff watched them with a satisfied grin. "Interesting! Our injection worked faster than expected... But the other one? I want to see more!" His eyes gleamed with sadistic excitement. "This is getting even more entertaining!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, as an announcement, these two were personally brought here by my commander, Tran, the second company commander of the elite fifth special battalion. And their mana has just been triggered...!"
A wave of cheers and applause erupted from every section of the colosseum, as Tran was well-known in their world. The spectators were amazed at Rendi's abilities—even though his mana had only just been awakened, he could already wield it so well.
But the fight was far from over.
The stone-skinned creatures gave them no time to think. They charged again, their movements growing more aggressive.
Gyan and Rendi now knew they couldn't just defend themselves.
They had to fight back.
Not just to win this battle—but to survive.
And Nyxarion Bastion would not let them leave without bloodshed.
Rendi then rushed forward with his newfound speed! However, since he still couldn't fully control it, he felt somewhat satisfied! A grin spread across Rendi's face, unable to hide his excitement.
Gyan suddenly realized that Rendi was emitting a white aura around him.
"Gyan...! With this, we can still win! You just need to dodge, and I'll handle every—"
Thud!
Before Rendi could finish his sentence, he was struck by the alien's punch.
"RENDI!"
Luckily, Rendi managed to block the attack, but even just blocking it sent him flying several meters.
"I'm fine…! It's just that my arm feels a bit numb..."
Seeing Rendi's condition, Gyan tried to approach him. However, as he charged forward, the enemy that had attacked him before blocked his path. The enormous figure stood tall, far larger than Rendi, with a body radiating a terrifying murderous aura. Gyan's legs stiffened for a moment, but he quickly recalled his ability.
Focus! I have to get past him!
With firm resolve, Gyan dashed forward. Instantly, his vision captured the trajectory of an attack—a brutal left-handed punch aimed straight at his solar plexus.
Gyan shifted his body to the right.
Swish!
The air around him trembled, the impact passing just inches from his body. His instincts screamed—this punch was no joke. If it hit him, the effect would be like a motorcycle crash at two hundred kilometers per hour. He might die instantly.
"Damn it! He's dangerous and a real nuisance!" he muttered.
The creature grinned. Its eyes glowed, seemingly enjoying the new challenge. Gyan stared back sharply, pressing forward.
I can do this! I can dodge him!
The blue-skinned alien launched a flurry of attacks. The first punch aimed at his left temple—Gyan ducked immediately, then moved right, searching for an opening past the creature's right arm.
But the second attack followed, targeting his crown. Gyan saw it in an instant, his body reacting instinctively, shifting left.
One more step! Almost there!
Yet, the third attack came faster than expected—a spinning punch with its lower right arm, aiming straight for his cheekbone.
Without hesitation, Gyan tilted his head back and swiftly ducked.
Swish!
He did it! Gyan had slipped past the monster!
"WAAAHHHH!!"
Cheers erupted from the Nyxarion Bastion stands. Every spectator, without exception, roared in excitement at Gyan's agile movements. Even Raff, who had been watching indifferently, now looked astonished.
Elsewhere, Rendi, initially confused by the crowd's uproar, turned toward Gyan. His eyes widened.
"Gyan, how did you—"
Before Rendi could even express his amazement, he suddenly felt a dangerous presence. His instincts screamed—an attack was coming! Without thinking, he bent his body and leaped back, narrowly avoiding a fist that nearly struck his stomach.
Eight meters left, I can make it!
Gyan kept moving forward, but suddenly, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air. Something massive was hurled toward him at high speed.
His eyes widened.
The trajectory appeared in his mind.
A giant rock was flying straight at him, blocking his path! There was no time to stop. Gyan leaped to the side, his body twisting mid-air before landing with one knee on the ground. Dust and stone fragments scattered around him.
His heart pounded. That was close.
On the other side, Rendi, witnessing the scene, quickly understood Gyan's intention. Without hesitation, he sped forward at full speed, deflecting another enemy attack before finally reaching Gyan's side.
"Gyan, are you okay?"
Gyan, still panting, turned with a panicked face. "Do I look okay? Damn, I almost died just now! Their attacks are way too strong, you know?"
Rendi exhaled in relief before letting out a small laugh. "Haha... You're right. They are not evenly matched opponents for us right now. It's still too soon to fight them... But," his eyes sparkled with determination, "it seems like we can hold out... or even defeat them."
Gyan responded with a grin. "Yeah... We won't die here."
The cheers from the stands exploded even louder. The spectators of Nyxarion Bastion could not contain their excitement.
Gyan and Rendi stood in the middle of the arena, their breaths ragged. Before them, two towering creatures still stood firm, showing no signs of exhaustion. The crowd's roars grew wilder, intensifying the brutal atmosphere of the battle.
Gyan shifted his stance slightly, searching for a firmer footing. He glanced at Rendi, who was still gripping his arm after the last attack.
"Are you sure you can keep going?" Gyan asked, his eyes wary of the enemy's movements.
Rendi took a deep breath, then smiled faintly. "I don't have any other choice, do I?"
The ground trembled again. One of the rock creatures stretched out its arms, then slammed its massive fists into the ground. Dust billowed into the air, creating a fog-like screen that obscured their vision.
"Damn it!" Gyan shouted, quickly moving to the side.
Suddenly, from within the swirling dust, the giant figure charged forward with insane speed. A colossal fist hurtled straight at Gyan!
Gyan saw it. In a split second, the attack's trajectory appeared in his mind. He pushed his body backward, dodging by a hair's breadth.
BOOM!!
The ground where Gyan had stood shattered into pieces. A large crack formed, as if a bomb had just detonated.
"This is getting crazier..." he muttered, his eyes still locked on the alien.
On the other side, Rendi took advantage of his newfound speed. With a single push, his body flashed, moving in a circular motion around his opponent. The wind whistled as he passed the enemy, leaving behind a faint white trail in the air.
"Rendi, be careful!" Gyan shouted as he saw the creature swinging its arm wildly.
Rendi dodged skillfully, but his movements were still unpolished. He lost balance momentarily, and that was all his opponent needed to strike back.
THUD!
A massive fist slammed into Rendi's shoulder. His body was flung several meters before crashing into the metal wall of the arena. The crowd's uproar grew even louder.
Gyan was shocked. "REN—"
Before he could react, the creature before him had already launched its next attack. This time, an overhead punch, like a hammer poised to crush him.
"Focus!" Gyan told himself, forcing himself to stay calm.
He jumped to the side again, but this time he wasn't fast enough.
SWISH!
The punch missed his shoulder, but the force of the wind pushed him back. He stumbled, nearly falling.
"This can't go on..." he thought. "I need to disrupt their focus!"
From the corner of his eye, he saw Rendi had already gotten back on his feet. His shoulder wound looked bad, but he could still stand.
"Gyan..." Rendi's voice was hoarse. "I have an idea. I'll lure them in. You attack from behind."
Gyan raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
Rendi smirked. "I'm not planning to die here."
Without waiting for an answer, Rendi dashed forward. He moved in a zigzag pattern, drawing the attention of their two opponents. The creatures growled, frustrated that their prey kept evading them.
Gyan didn't waste the opportunity.
With a deep breath, he lowered his body and sprinted toward the distracted enemy as fast as he could.
"This is my chance!" he thought.
As he closed in, the attack trajectory appeared in his mind. He knew exactly where to strike.
Right before he reached the target, he jumped—twisting his body in midair and launching a powerful kick aimed at the back of the creature's head.
DUAGG!!
The impact wasn't enough to knock the creature down, but it was enough to make it stagger. Pain shot through Gyan's leg, but he gritted his teeth, enduring the discomfort.
The creature growled, turning toward Gyan with an enraged glare.
"Rendi, now!" Gyan shouted.
Without hesitation, Rendi channeled all his speed, building momentum. He emerged from the other side, leaping high, then slammed both of his feet into the creature's chest.
DUARR!!
The force finally brought the giant to its knees.
The arena erupted in cheers.
Raff, who had been watching casually, now leaned forward. "This is beyond expectations. They have far exceeded Mr. Tran's hopes."
Meanwhile, Gyan and Rendi panted heavily.
Seeing the fight turning into a two-on-one battle, the creature grew furious and finally started taking them seriously.
BOOM!
A surge of mana burst from the creature's body, its energy expanding in a half-meter radius around it.
Rendi furrowed his brows. "What is that? Why is its white mana surrounding it even more than before?"
Sweat trickled down Gyan's forehead—he knew the alien was getting serious.
"I don't know, but that aura looks similar to yours when you moved fast and hit that alien earlier. But this one… its capacity is much greater…"