Hero of Darkness

After successfully breaking the willpower of Harambe Kong, the Heavenly King of Water's Shadow Disciple, Atreus calmly made his way back to his pavilion without sparing a single glance behind him.

Contrary to the previous round where millions of spectators in the arena showered him with derogatory remarks and insults, a disconcerting silence hung in the air this time. The absence of cheers or jeers added to the eerie atmosphere that enveloped the arena.

Apart from the members of the Fenrirborne tribe, hardly anyone seemed pleased with Atreus's victory. Due to his previous actions, the majority of people had hoped for his defeat and to witness him being mercilessly condemned. However, their desires held no sway in the face of Atreus's thorough domination of his opponent, even going so far as to destroy a weapon of legendary rank in the process.

To add to the frustration, Atreus emerged from the battle relatively unscathed, with only a few superficial cuts and grazes marring his otherwise imposing figure. His formidable presence exuded an aura of absolute and indisputable might, further solidifying his position as a force to be reckoned with.

The competition was slated to continue for several more days, and thus far, all of today's matches had concluded with Atreus emerging as the victor.

Of the first three mandatory matches, he had emerged triumphant in all three, establishing himself as a formidable contender in the tournament.

The selection process to determine tomorrow's matches was about to commence, and soon the participants who had earned their place would be announced. Based on the results thus far, Atreus would soon discover the identities of his next two opponents, shaping the path he would tread in the upcoming battles.

The Next Day…

Taking the center stage of the arena as the second combatant, Atreus faced none other than the Shadow Disciple of the Kun Peng tribe. This particular tribe boasted a lineage comprising various descendant species of the mighty Godbeast Roc.

Before him stood a bird-like demihuman with long feathery neck, characterized by two sturdy legs and hands made of the talons of a predatory bird, and a pair of magnificent wings adorning his back.

The shaman, adorned in lightweight brown armor, emanated an aura of stormy energy, indicative of his wind elemental affinity.

Clutched firmly in his hand, he wielded a glowing golden Khakkara, a staff-like weapon imbued with formidable power.

"I'm Hōō Basan, from the Basan clan of the Kung Peng Tribe." he introduced himself to Atreus.

"Look, I don't have time to be polite or something.

Like I offered a chance to surrender to others... I'll do the same for you.

Give up and I won't have to pluck your feathers." replied Atreus in a haughty tone.

"Ha ha ha! Such hubris.

Others… you were able to at least attack them. That won't be the same case with me." replied Hōō, disregarding Atreus' final chance to concede.

"I guess I'll be having chicken drumsticks for dinner tonight." replied the brawler saint in an insidious grin.

Clink!

Clink!

As the battle commenced within the vast expanse of a dimension filled with nothing but verdant sands, it was the opponent who seized the initiative. With a swift shake of his Khakkara, the bells adorning its upper rings emitted a resonating soundwave that engulfed the surroundings, rendering the world eerily silent.

The Khakkara, resembling a magician's scepter in appearance, differed in its functionality. Unlike traditional weapons that relied on harnessing the wielder's own energy reserves, this unique weapon commanded the very forces of nature itself. It had the ability to manipulate the natural elements, summoning their might to carry out its wielder's bidding. While not inherently destructive, the unleashed natural disasters held the potential to wreak havoc and unleash catastrophic consequences.

Among the Shaman class, practitioners were rare and possessed varied specialties. Some focused on controlling living creatures such as monsters and animals, while others wielded their powers to command specific aspects of nature, treating them as sentient beings and compelling them to act in accordance with their will.

Only weeks prior, Kahn had confronted and defeated a shaman who was the mastermind behind the so-called revolution in Kunlun. This particular shaman specialized in employing sacrificial rituals to exert dominance over others of a specific monster species. And now, by sheer luck or fate, he found himself facing yet another shaman as his opponent in the current battle. However, this shaman standing before him was distinctly different, harboring abilities and tactics that set him apart from his previous adversary.

The resonating chimes of the bells reverberated throughout the expansive pocket dimension, their ethereal sounds permeating the very fabric of the space. In response to the silence, Hōō, the bird-like demihuman shaman, began reciting ancient Sutras with a voice filled with mystic power and reverence.

The sacred words flowed from his lips, carrying an aura of profound spirituality. Each syllable held a deeper meaning, resonating with the forces of the universe. As Hōō recited the Sutras, the air around him seemed to come alive, charged with a potent energy.

Shing!

Shing!

As the opponent initiated his domain, a myriad of runes and glyphs materialized around Atreus, resembling ancient Sanskrit and Pali script found in the pages of old Buddhist scriptures. The intricate symbols radiated an aura of mysticism, bearing a resemblance to the very essence of magic.

Being an Arcane Enchanter, a class honed in the arts of runes and formations, Kahn swiftly discerned the nature of the opponent's actions. It became clear to him that these manifestations were not conventional spells…

The power used carried a malevolent intent, seeking to inflict harm and hinder Atreus's abilities. They were designed to manipulate the flow of energy, impede movements, or disrupt vital connections between mind and body. It was a sinister tactic meant to weaken and confound the opponent, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks.

If not for having Vildred as his Magic mentor and Arcane Enchanter as his sub-class... the old and ignorant KAhn would never have been able to know the nature of this dark energy at first glance. Since the domain of the opponent that filled the current battlefield wasn't part of some grand spell or formation. Rather...

These were the Curses.