MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

The vampire glided effortlessly through a labyrinth of dimly lit corridors, her movements a mesmerizing blend of grace and speed.

She darted around each corner with fluid precision, her silhouette briefly flickering in and out of view like a shadow dancing on the edge of perception.

Anthony followed with a calm, unhurried air, hovering steadily a few meters behind.

His flight was measured and deliberate, maintaining a consistent distance as though he were stalking prey, yet his demeanor betrayed an almost casual indifference.

The vampire led Anthony into a chamber that exuded an air of understated elegance.

The room was well-appointed, featuring everything from a sleek, four-poster bed draped in silken sheets to a finely crafted chair and an ornate mirror framed in dark wood.

With a subtle gesture, she motioned for Anthony to take a seat.

Without a word, Anthony complied, lowering himself into the chair with an air of quiet composure, his gaze calm yet perceptive as it swept briefly over the room's contents.

Although he remained silent, Anthony's heightened senses subtly flared to life.

He could discern the faint traces of aura lingering in adjacent rooms.

Concealed as they were, these presences couldn't escape the grasp of his extraordinary perception, a perception so keen it pierced through even the most meticulous attempts at secrecy.

"If there is anything you require of me, do not hesitate to speak your request. I will ensure your needs are met without delay"

The vampire bowed gracefully, her voice a soft murmur as she spoke.

Anthony, listening in silence, offered a simple nod of acknowledgment.

However, before she could fully retreat, her eyes caught a sudden blur of movement, Anthony was already in motion.

Thinking he required something, she paused mid-step, turning her gaze back toward him.

But Anthony merely waved his hand with a casual ease.

In an instant, an array of exquisite dishes and finely crafted drinks materialized on the table before him, each radiating an otherworldly allure.

He calmly lifted his fork and knife, the smooth motions betraying none of the tension in the air, and began to cut into the meal before him.

Each bite was taken with deliberate care, as though savoring not just the food, but the moment itself.

The vampire observed the scene with a stunned expression.

Her crimson eyes narrowing slightly as the weight of the moment settled over her.

She was acutely aware of what was about to transpire in mere minutes.

The tension in the air was palpable, and she knew with chilling certainty that when it was all over, only one person would emerge alive.

Yet, the supposed champion, hailing from the weakest of the weak, a race dismissed by many, sat there calmly, indulging in his meal as if he were oblivious to the storm about to descend.

While the other champions were deep in meditation, each preparing themselves for the impending battle, the weakest among them made a strikingly different choice, he sat and ate, his actions a quiet defiance of the expectations placed upon him.

She stood there, frozen in stunned silence, unable to tear her eyes away from his calm demeanor.

Yet, she refrained from speaking, recognizing that it was not her place to question his actions.

'Perhaps he knows his fate, and this is his way of savoring his final moments'

She mused silently, a touch of pity creeping into her thoughts.

'Such a shame, for someone with such a handsome face to meet an untimely end'

With that thought lingering in her mind, she silently vanished into the shadows, her presence fading without a trace.

It wasn't her fault, though.

Despite Anthony's name echoing through various Domains, there were still beings who existed in such seclusion that they had never heard of him.

Some creatures, hidden away in the farthest reaches, were untouched by the ripples of the wider world, living in their own isolated sanctuaries, oblivious to the legends that had begun to swirl around his name.

Some simply didn't care about anything beyond their own lives or clans.

Much like the other champions, they remained oblivious to one another.

They didn't know their opponents' weapons, elements, abilities, or even their races.

It was all irrelevant to them.

The very concept of who or what they would face in the coming battle mattered not.

When they were informed of the impending bloodbath, they accepted it without hesitation, their confidence unwavering, as if it were just another fight, a mere challenge to be overcome.

They didn't ask about the other champions, nor did they inquire about anything concerning them. Their curiosity was nonexistent.

They didn't care to know the identities or names of their opponents, as such details held no weight in their minds.

To them, it was all the same, just another battle, another obstacle to conquer.

They were geniuses, unparalleled in their skill and strength, and to them, the identity of their opponents was irrelevant.

Why concern themselves with those they were destined to defeat?

The thought of an opponent held no fear, no curiosity, it was simply another life to end, another step on their path to dominance.

To them, victory was inevitable.

So basically they were all walking in blind with no information on the other.

Each champion was so certain of their superiority that the very notion of defeat was an impossibility in their minds.

For them, it was a matter of when, not if, they would claim victory.

As Anthony was eating and drinking, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Then he simply made another gesture, and his food disappeared from the table.

Immediately it disappeared, space bent and forcefully pulled him out of the room, thereby teleporting him to another location.

This happened across seven different rooms as seven more presences were teleported out.

When Anthony's vision cleared, his gaze landed upon the environment.

He was in a daze for a moment before he snapped out of it.

The terrain was literally a combination of different landscapes.

Almost every single plain could be seen here, as if they had taken into account each champion's elements and any hidden cards they had up their sleeves.

The plains ranged from a sea to a valley, a desert, a swamp, a cliff face, rock formations, a woodland, and a dense forest filled with trees, with other topography included.

The scene seemed to be well-balanced and interconnected, as though they complemented and held each other in equilibrium by some mysterious force.

This environment was literally meant for each champion to thrive.

Anthony's gaze instantly shot upwards as his eyes fell on beings who stood tall and mighty.

Their presence was undeniable and absolute.

The only people Anthony recognized here were his parents and grandparents.

But he knew from the aura they emitted that they were no small-time players at all.

Just the fact that they stood by his parents' side as equals showed how strong they were.

His gaze shifted as he locked eyes with his mother once more.

But this time, various emotions were running rampant in her heart.

But she hid them deeply, though Anthony's all-seeing eyes saw through such things.

Guilt.

Love.

Resolve.

Anger.

These emotions swirled around together.

Guilt because she had just signed her son up for a death match.

Love because she simply loved her son.

Resolve because no matter the punishment the mana contract bestowed, she was ready to act regardless.

Anger because she knew she could do nothing about it except watch at the moment, hoping her son would come out on top.

Anthony's gaze on his mother was broken as a voice spoke, carrying an undeniable sense of command and rule.

"In this match... well, a bloodbath, there are hardly any rules"

Baldor Ironhammer of the dwarf race spoke as his eyes looked down on the champions, as though he were staring into their very souls.

"Each of you has been called to represent your race while risking your life, and you didn't even ask any questions or contemplate about it. This shows your resolve"

"Unfortunately, the reward for the winner after this is even more work, and only if the winner remains undisputed in the upcoming challenge will they get a reward"

Before Baldor could continue with his speech, Gorath's voice cut through and sounded before Baldor's.

He was really not into speeches and didn't like Baldor dragging out the moment, so Gorath spoke.

Baldor didn't have an issue with this.

He knew Gorath's attitude.

Gorath just wanted to get to the fight already.

"No need for the long talks and boring speeches. Your clan has provided for you and trained you, so we have come to collect"

"The rules are simple: only one of you is meant to be alive after this ordeal, meaning the rest of you will be in the death realm"

"The second rule is that there will be no use of space rings or items like stamina potions and all that, just your skill and weapons"

"I will give you a few seconds to give your space rings to your family members"

They all nodded and took off their space rings and any life-saving artifacts on them, handing them to their family members.

As everyone else moved, only one figure remained motionless.

Naturally, it was Anthony.

All eyes turned toward him, their gazes laden with unspoken questions, searching for an explanation as to why he remained motionless.

But Anthony offered no response, indifferent to their probing stares.

He had no obligation to explain himself.

Had any of the powerhouses in the air addressed him directly, he would have answered without hesitation.

As the moment stretched on, the others gradually shifted their focus, recognizing that the rules were set in stone, his actions, or lack thereof, mattered little now.

As everyone was done with their handover, Gorath's voice sounded again, but with more anticipation this time.

"At my command, you will begin"

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The champions of each race locked eyes, their gazes sharp and unwavering, as they scrutinized one another with calculated precision.

A subtle shift rippled through the air, and time itself seemed to freeze, the world holding its breath in a brief, suspended moment.

Though it lasted less than the blink of an eye, that fleeting pause stretched out like an eternity to those of their caliber, each second a universe of tension.

Then, as if the very fabric of reality exhaled, the stillness shattered, and Gorath's booming voice thundered through the air, its resonance crackling with an intensity that stirred the very soul.

"LET THE BLOODBATH BEGIN"

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