From the moment I was chosen by the holy relic

The second match began as scheduled.

Dust rose softly from the ring, and twilight slanted down, falling between the cold, hard metal and the dark shadows. The atmosphere was deathly still, like a standoff, the air taut like a string about to snap.

Eric, Eileen, and Lia stood side by side, not exchanging a single word, but they could read the same resolute determination in each other's breathing and eyes.

Across from them, the lone man slowly walked forward.

His steps were as light as a feather, yet carried a chilling sharpness, each step feeling like it was stepping on one's nerves, making one involuntarily tense. His figure cast a long, narrow shadow in the light, like a venomous snake lurking in wait.

His gaze slowly swept over the three of them, a slight smirk playing on his lips, his eyes carrying an indescribable mockery and arrogance: "You're Eric?"

Eric's gaze was like a knife, fixed directly on his cold eyes: "It's me. Who are you?"

The man's smile deepened, as if he had heard something laughable: "Who I am is unimportant. What is important is—" He paused slightly, his voice as cold as a knife in the night, "I am employed by Qadir."

In an instant, a cold wind seemed to sweep across the arena, lifting the hems of the three men's clothes and stirring up the deepest fighting spirit in their hearts.

Eileen's pupils contracted sharply, and she gripped her staff tightly with her fingers.

Lia's face paled, and she almost instinctively took a half step back, but then stubbornly stood still, her scepter trembling slightly.

Senia took in the expressions of the three and slowly spoke, "Don't be nervous. I'm just here to discuss a deal. Kadir said you have a pendant he really wants. I can give you the prize from this illusion in exchange for what you have. Think about it?"

Eric's brows furrowed sharply, a surge of anger welling up inside him, before he suddenly realized what was happening.

Kadir.

This name is like a venomous snake, coiling around my heart.

He took a deep breath and lowered his voice considerably: "Do you even know who Kadir is? And you're working for him!"

A hint of disdain flashed in the man's eyes, as if he had heard a joke: "I don't care who he is. I only know that I can't refuse the price he offered." His tone was as indifferent as if he were talking about something trivial.

Eric gritted his teeth, his fingers gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, wishing he could rush forward and slice that arrogant face in two. But he forcibly suppressed his anger, his voice low yet incredibly firm: "Trying to trade the prize for the pendant? Dream on."

The man slowly shook his head, chuckling softly as if in regret: "What a pity. Since you refuse, don't blame me for being impolite."

Before he finished speaking, he was already standing firmly in the center of the arena, his eyes slightly narrowed, like a cheetah locking onto its prey.

The host's voice drifted from afar, ethereal as if in a dream: "The Thousand Faces Illusion Arena, Round Two—Begin!"

Eric could no longer hear.

His blood burned fiercely within him, each heartbeat like the thunder of a war drum. In that moment, he felt as if he had become one with the sword in his hand. His breathing was as steady as the earth, yet his mind was as taut as a lone eagle.

He glanced at Eileen and saw a rare hint of nervousness flash across her eyes. Leah pursed her lips, but her gaze remained firm as she looked ahead.

Eric's heart warmed, and his resolve strengthened. He raised his sword forward, his voice as cold as frost sweeping across the night sky: "Be prepared, don't let him separate us!"

A cold smile flashed across Senia's eyes, a smile that was both mocking and provocative.

He slowly raised his palm, the air distorted slightly, and a strange fluctuation suddenly spread out.

Black mist, like the sigh of the dead, slowly overflowed from his palm, pressing down on the three of them.

Eric's heart sank. Before the black mist completely engulfed their vision, he abruptly grabbed Eileen and Lia's wrists. His voice was low but incredibly firm: "Stay close to me, don't let us drift apart!"

The black mist instantly swallowed their figures.

At that moment, the entire arena seemed to have fallen into an abyss.

It was utterly black, without a single star or moonlight. The air was heavy, like it was filled with lead, and fine, indifferent dust swirled around in my lungs. My eyes were completely useless, and my ears became my only support, but the surrounding silence was eerily profound, as if even the wind had been swallowed up.

"Eileen!" Eric whispered.

"Here." Eileen's voice came from his left, slightly out of breath, but still steady.

"I'm here too." Leah's voice rang out softly, her hand trembling slightly, her thumb nervously rubbing against her staff.

"He wants to break us up," Eric whispered. "Don't let go, nobody's allowed to let go."

But the black fog is more than just an illusion.

It was like a living thing, silently gnawing at one's spirit. Eric felt an invisible pressure enveloping him, like sinking into the deep sea, surrounded by suffocating cold. He gripped their wrists tightly; Eileen's hand was icy cold but steady, while Leah was slightly sweaty, clearly forcing herself to stay upright.

suddenly--

"Bang!"

A muffled thud ripped through the air, and the gust of air grazed Eric's right shoulder.

He instinctively pulled Eileen behind him and blocked with his sword!

"clang--"

The resounding clang of metal clashing exploded within the black mist.

A thin, short sword came thrusting in without warning. If he hadn't been on edge, the sword would have already pierced his throat.

"Damn it!" he growled, his eyes like a wolf's, staring intently at the surroundings in the darkness.

"He can see us in the fog," Eileen whispered, her voice calm as still water. "This fog is sentient; it's not ordinary magic."

"Can it be broken?" Eric asked, his voice heavy with breaths.

"Wind magic," Eileen said. "I can try to blow the fog away. But the fog is too thick and has a sticky magical residue; I need time to chant."

"how long?"

"Half a minute."

Half a minute.

On the battlefield, it is already eternal.

Eric didn't hesitate for a moment: "Leave it to us, you hurry up."

"I'll help her keep her steady," Lia said softly, gripping her staff and standing next to Eileen.

"Protect us." Eileen's voice was low as she closed her eyes and began to chant. The air trembled slightly, as if a distant wind was whispering.

Eric stood alone in front of the two, facing the boundless black mist.

His mind sank into a state of extreme focus, and his entire being seemed to transform into a sword. He raised his longsword high, listened intently, and used only his breath and instinct to capture any unusual flow.

Another strong gust of wind swept in!

He stepped to the side, turned his sword, and with a clang, blocked the sneak attack once again.

A faint footstep came from within the black mist, but when he turned and thrust out, he only struck empty air.

He knew that his opponents were toying with them.

This is a completely unequal battle.

His opponent possessed vision and speed, while he could only rely on intuition.

"I've seen your sword technique clearly." A voice chuckled almost close to her ear.

The next instant, a sharp pain exploded from my side!

A dagger pierced through the armor, and blood gushed out instantly.

"Uh..." Eric groaned and stumbled.

"Eric!" Leah cried out in alarm, her staff flashing a gentle green light as she hurriedly tried to stop the bleeding. But her magic couldn't suppress the poison on the dagger.

"It's alright." He gritted his teeth, his voice as hard as a rock. "Keep chanting."

Eric straightened up again, his wound burning like fire, his vision blurring, yet he remained as steadfast as a rock, standing between the two. He gritted his teeth, enduring the gradually spreading numbness, focusing all his attention on the slightest fluctuations in the airflow.

"You can't even see clearly, yet you want to protect others?" Senia's voice drifted through the black mist, like a ghost whispering in your ear, "Your eyes are blind, and your hearts are blind too."

"Our hearts aren't blind," Eric replied coldly, "but you're afraid of being seen through by us."

Senia was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly.

The next moment, a sharp blade burst through the fog, piercing straight at Eileen!

Eric suddenly turned around and blocked the attack with his sword!

The clang of metal against metal was deafening; the force of the blow had almost numbed his entire arm. He managed to force the enemy back, but then suffered another heavy blow to his back, instantly staining his robes crimson with blood.

"Almost there!" Eileen whispered, the final syllable of the incantation rising higher and higher, and the wind in the air began to stir.

"Hang in there a little longer!" Leah cried out, almost in tears. Healing spells were cast one after another on him, but they could not suppress the strange poison.

"I can still stand." Eric smiled slightly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained as firm as iron.

Finally, Eileen finished her chanting and raised her staff high.

"In my name, I summon the wind, dispel the black mist, and reveal the truth—Ode to the Restless Wind!"

call!

A sudden gust of wind erupted, swirling and rising around Eileen and Lia, the wind blades as sharp as knives, slicing through the darkness!

The black mist was quickly swirled up, torn apart, and shattered, and vision gradually became clear again.

Sunlight, like a long-awaited gift, fell upon the arena.

A gasp of surprise erupted from the audience.

Under the sunlight, Eric, covered in blood, stood steadily in front of the two men, his longsword hanging low.

Across from him, the black-clad assassin, Senia, showed surprise for the first time. He slowly narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on Eileen.

"Your magic is powerful," he said coldly, his voice now serious. "Few can disperse my black mist. Which family are you from?"

Eileen remained silent, giving him a cold look.

Her pupils burned with anger and contempt. There was no answer, only one action—she raised her staff, and a blazing flame condensed in her palm.

A scalding tongue of fire, like the roar of an angry dragon, hurtled straight towards Senia!

Senia sneered, her body sinking as she dodged the flames in an almost contorted posture. Then, like a ghost, she rushed forward, her weapon aimed directly at Eileen's throat!

Eric roared and raised his sword to block!

The two weapons collided violently in mid-air, sparks flying!

But he was utterly exhausted, the toxins churning in his blood, slowing his reactions. His hand trembled slightly, his footing faltered, and he nearly lost his balance and fell.

Senia immediately noticed the flaw, sneered, and her offensive surged instantly!

Eric forced himself to parry with his sword, but his vision was already blurred.

He knew he was about to give up.

"I can't fall!" he murmured.

But ultimately, his body still pushed itself beyond its limits.

boom--

He fell heavily to the ground, his consciousness fading away like the tide.

In his last moments before losing consciousness, he heard Eileen's angry shouts, Leah's panicked cries, and that whispered thought sinking into darkness:

"Is this really the end?"