LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 115: The Arena
Arthur's eyes locked onto the creature materializing before him. The shimmering light faded, revealing a beetle about the size of a house cat, its glossy black carapace gleaming ominously under the arena's faint light.
The sight of it brought an immediate pang of familiarity.
"This is the same beetle I encountered in the beginning," Arthur muttered to himself, recalling the early game's weaker monsters.
The beetle clacked its mandibles and scuttled forward, its segmented legs clicking against the stone floor of the arena. Despite its size, it was sluggish, its movements slow and predictable.
Arthur couldn't help but smirk. "This is quite easy, no?" he muttered under his breath, already closing the distance between them.
Without hesitation, Arthur appeared beside the beetle in an instant, his agility allowing him to outpace its clumsy movement. Raising his dagger high, he brought it down with a precise strike, smashing through the creature's carapace. The beetle let out a faint screech before shattering into a burst of glowing light.
[You have slain a Level 1 Beetle.]
The system notification appeared, but Arthur barely paid it any mind. A small object appeared where the beetle had fallen, glowing faintly—an uncommon item. Arthur glanced at it briefly, noting its dull sheen, but quickly turned his attention back to the arena.
"Not worth taking the backpack space," he muttered, ignoring the item entirely.
The silence of the arena returned, broken only by the faint echoes of Arthur's footsteps as he moved back toward the center. The eerie stillness made the vast arena feel even larger, its emptiness stretching endlessly around him. Arthur kept his dagger at the ready, his posture relaxed but his senses sharp.
If this trial began with a beetle, it was clear the difficulty would escalate quickly. His grip tightened on the hilt of his dagger, and his eyes scanned the empty arena for any signs of movement.
[Would you like to rest?] [Yes | No]
A system prompt appeared before him, the glowing words almost taunting.
Arthur scoffed, shaking his head. "If I need to rest after fighting a beetle, I might as well quit the whole game," he muttered, pressing "No" without hesitation.
The notification disappeared instantly, replaced by another.
[Next enemy incoming. Prepare yourself.]
Arthur rolled his shoulders, the faint shimmer of light in front of him signaling the arrival of his next opponent. The glow condensed, revealing a creature slightly larger than the previous beetle—a corroded rabbit. Its patchy, rotting fur and glowing red eyes gave it an unsettling appearance, but Arthur's expression remained unimpressed.
[Level 2 Corroded Rabbit]
Arthur arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Seriously?" he muttered, his lips curling into a smirk.
The rabbit let out a screech and bolted toward him, its movements erratic and wild. Arthur sighed, shifting his weight slightly.
"Too slow," he muttered.
In a single fluid motion, he stepped to the side, raised his dagger, and brought it down in a clean arc. The rabbit's momentum carried it straight into the blade, the force of the strike splitting it in two.
The creature dissolved into light, leaving behind a faint glow where it had fallen.
[You have slain a Level 2 Corroded Rabbit.]
Arthur barely spared the notification a glance. His eyes flicked back to the arena's center as the air shimmered again.
[Would you like to rest?] [Yes | No]
"No."
[Next enemy incoming. Prepare yourself.]
This time, a Level 3 wild boar materialized, its tusks gleaming as it pawed at the ground, preparing to charge. Arthur tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Alright, let's see what you've got," he said, raising his dagger.
The boar charged with a loud snort, its powerful legs kicking up dirt as it barreled toward him. But Arthur stood his ground, his stance calm and unshaken.
Just as the boar closed the gap, Arthur sidestepped with incredible speed, his dagger flashing in a precise arc. The blade sliced cleanly across the boar's neck, severing its vital points. The creature collapsed mid-charge, dissolving into light before it even hit the ground.
[You have slain a Level 3 Wild Boar.]
Arthur huffed lightly, twirling his dagger between his fingers. "Still too easy."
The arena shimmered once more, the tension in the air thickening slightly. A Level 4 wolf appeared next, its lean frame circling him with predatory intent. Its growl echoed through the arena as it crouched, preparing to lunge.
Arthur didn't wait.
In a burst of speed, he closed the distance, his dagger already in motion. The wolf barely had time to react as the blade pierced its side, severing its spine with surgical precision. The creature let out a strangled yelp before dissolving into light like the others.
[You have slain a Level 4 Wolf.]
Arthur straightened, brushing some dirt off his sleeve. "They're really trying to drag this out, aren't they?"
The arena shimmered again, and this time, a Level 5 bear materialized. Its hulking frame towered over Arthur, its claws glinting dangerously as it let out a thunderous roar.
Arthur smirked, his grip on his dagger tightening slightly. "Finally, something that looks like a challenge."
The bear charged, its massive form shaking the ground with each step. But Arthur remained perfectly calm, his eyes locked onto the beast's movements.
As the bear lunged, claws raised, Arthur darted forward with blinding speed. In one swift motion, he ducked under its swing, his dagger flashing upward in a deadly arc. The blade pierced the bear's throat, and with a twist of his wrist, Arthur ended the fight in an instant.
The bear staggered, its roar cut short as it dissolved into light, leaving behind a faintly glowing item where it had fallen.
[You have slain a Level 5 Bear.]
Arthur crouched, picking up the item. It was a rare item, it was a sword. He turned it over in his hand, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
"This'll fetch a few gold coins," he mused, slipping the sword into one of his backpacks. "It'd be dumb to leave something like this behind."