As the story continues, Alissia begins to see the downsides to her power while her group seeks the final two Primordials and builds an alliance with the Watchers to counter Avarice's forces. Meanwhile, Tymon and Za'Fia focus their efforts on persona...
There were a lot of shocking gasps as I walked onto the stage.
I immediately felt the extra density in the air as I entered Arne's spirit energy and fell to a knee, but I noticed they were severely holding back. This level of spirit energy felt somewhat bearable: it was nowhere near as dense as I was sure Arne could've made it. And it definitely was nowhere near the same level of energy I felt from Tymon before.
Concentrating, I applied spirit enhancement around my entire body as I felt Arne's influence increase my drive to succeed.
Slowly, I rose from my knee and took a difficult step forward. Then another one. Beads of sweat had formed on my forehead. The crowds faded into the background as my vision became solely focused on Arne, who sat there, their expression uninterested.
I gritted my teeth and pressed onward, refusing to stop. At some point, I made it past the halfway point of the stage, but I could feel my consciousness slipping as I grew tired.
Arne watched me intently, their head resting on their fist, intrigued by my progress. Even the lion had its eyes opened and locked on me.
Only a quarter left. Come on, I told myself.
Feeling myself slip, I knew I wouldn't have made it at that pace, so I gathered everything I had left, took a deep breath, and sprinted straight toward Arne.
Each step felt like running through shoulder-high water, but I finally made it just as I collapsed at Arne's feet.
"Interesting," Arne said as they peered down at me with satisfaction. "What's your name?"
"It's...just a second..." I said, trying to catch my breath.
"It's Alissia," Damien answered as he walked onto the stage and toward us. None of the bodies that were just there were there now.
Did he move them?
The crowd erupted in indecipherable noise as they reacted to seeing Damien.
Arne stood as their face lit up with excitement, but it wasn't the same excitement others had displayed around him.
"We need you to come with us," Damien told Arne, looking down at them slightly.
"Not unless I lose," Arne replied, grinning.
Damien didn't look surprised by Arne's remark at all. He looked as if he expected it.
He sighed.
"Fine, I'll spar with you, but on the term, we don't throw our spirit energy around. There's too many humans here to be that reckless."
Arne let out a feminine but strong laugh.
"You know you're bound to lose giving yourself a handicap like that. My durability's unrivaled, and my strength's second only to Za'Fia. You can't beat me without your lightning."
"Leave the stage for a minute," Damien instructed me.
"Right," I replied as I asked myself how anyone could fight Damien through his cintracy.
I started walking off the stage as I was followed by the lion, who then flopped at my feet.
Oh, he's friendly.
I rubbed him as I watched the two onstage.
"All right. Let's begin," Arne said, popping their knuckles.
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Fun fact: Last reincarnated on April 05th, 2861, Arne is 184 years old.
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