Recap
Ethan has trained relentlessly in the blood pits, sharpening his newfound system skills. The King has sanctioned a duel between him and the Goddess's Champion, demanded by Kael. Winning could secure divine recognition… losing means annihilation.
The great arena of Valoria had not roared this loud in a century.
Tens of thousands filled the stands, nobles in silks and peasants in rags, their voices melding into a thunderous storm. Above, divine banners of the Goddess of Fate rippled in the wind, glowing faintly with holy light. The duel was not just spectacle—it was ritual.
In the center of the sands, Ethan stood bare-headed, sword in hand, his breath steady. He could feel the eyes of every soul locked onto him. Whispers carried through the crowd:
The outsider… the miracle doctor… the assassin slayer…
Dead man walking.
Across from him, the ground cracked with a sound like thunder. A figure descended from the heavens, wrapped in white flame. The Goddess's Champion.
He was taller than any man Ethan had seen, clad in radiant silver armor etched with constellations. His eyes burned with holy fire, his voice ringing like a hymn.
"Ethan Cross," the Champion intoned, raising a gleaming spear. "By divine sanction, I stand as the blade of Fate. Surrender, and your end will be swift. Resist, and I shall break you utterly."
The crowd fell silent, waiting for Ethan's answer.
Ethan smirked, raising his sword. "Sorry, pal. I've already been broken. I'm not here to surrender."
The Champion's eyes narrowed. "Then you will be unmade."
The System Awakens
[Supreme Godslayer System Activated.][Trial Condition: Survive against Divine Authority.][Bonus Reward if Victorious: Champion's Core.]
Ethan's heart thudded. Champion's Core? Sounds like a jackpot.
But he didn't have time to think—because the Champion moved.
In a blur, the spear thrust forward, faster than sight. Ethan's instincts screamed. His body jolted into Phantom Step, flickering sideways as the spear pierced empty air, leaving a crater in the sand.
The crowd gasped. Few mortals could even see a Champion move, let alone dodge.
The Champion's voice boomed. "So, the whispers were true. You are touched by something beyond mortals. Then let us test the truth of it."
Clash of Authority
The Champion spun his spear in a blazing arc. Holy fire seared across the arena, a wave of divine destruction. Ethan raised his blade, bracing—
[Skill Activated: Blood Resonance.][Pain converted to Strength +15%.]
The fire scorched his skin, agony lancing through him. But his muscles surged with unnatural power. Ethan roared, slicing through the flame, his sword biting into the Champion's armor. Sparks exploded.
The Champion staggered back one step, eyes widening. A mortal had cut him.
The crowd erupted. Half in awe, half in fury.
Kael leaned forward from the noble stands, fingers gripping his armrest. "Impossible…"
The Champion's Wrath
The Champion's calm cracked. "You dare wound me, mortal?!" His spear blazed brighter, his aura crushing down like a mountain. Ethan felt his knees buckle, the weight of divine will pressing him toward the ground.
[Warning: Divine Authority detected. Mortal resistance probability — 3%.]
Sweat poured down Ethan's face. His bones screamed to shatter. He grit his teeth, forcing one foot forward. "I… won't… kneel!"
The system pulsed.
[Emergency Trigger: Godslayer's Defiance unlocked.][Temporary Effect: Resistance to Divine Authority +40%. Duration: 30 seconds.]
The crushing aura cracked like glass. Ethan surged upright, eyes blazing. "Not today."
The Champion's fury turned to grim respect. "So be it, breaker of chains. Show me your defiance."
Blood and Thunder
The duel turned brutal. The Champion's spear was lightning, striking in arcs that split the sand. Ethan wove through with Phantom Step, his blade answering with raw, desperate ferocity. Every blow rattled his bones, every clash sent shockwaves into the crowd.
Ethan's lungs burned, his body bruised and bleeding. But each wound only fueled Blood Resonance, his strikes growing heavier, faster.
Clang. Slash. Roar.
Until the Champion drove his spear straight into Ethan's chest.
Gasps erupted. Vael leapt to her feet, eyes wide with horror.
But the spear had not pierced flesh—it hung suspended, an inch from his heart. A faint shimmer of chaos energy wrapped Ethan like a cloak.
Ethan grinned through bloodied lips. "Loki… you bastard. Even when you meddle, you can't resist keeping me alive."
The Champion snarled, wrenching his weapon back. "You mock divinity itself."
Ethan raised his blade, eyes burning with unyielding fire. "No. I break it."
End of Chapter 14