Chapter 589: Showing What He’s Worth
Laz’s body was blown back again, having avoided the bulk of the attack but still getting grazed. Just the air flow coming from the attack was enough to sending him back a few steps, like he was trying to maintain his balance on top of a jet in flight.
But even then he didn’t back down and the second he regained his footing, he charged back in, swinging a fist a the creatures head and connecting, but failing to cause any major damage.
The shadow bear then turned around quickly, sending his arms flying once again at Laz in an attempt toe squash him, but again Laz was able to jump out of the way at the last second.
Coming to where he had dropped his spear, Laz grabbed it and threw it at the beast, but the skin beneath the spear shifted and molded, causing the spear to past right through the beast without even drawing blood.
"Tch..." Laz said, knowing that Kat was probably right but wanting to try it anyway.
Laz then rushed in again, knowing this was the only way.
The arms swung around from both sides, flying through the air in a manner similar to someone swinging a sock around loaded with rocks. Laz jumped at the last minute and twisted as the arm flew both below and above him before passing on and allowing Laz to regain his feet and strike again, this time landing a solid kick right to the bears stomach, causing it to retreat a few feet before it’s roar again threw Laz off while shaking the Arena.
Laz didn’t know how long he could keep this crazy dance going.
Back and forth, like a professionally choreographed fight, the massive bear attacked, using it’s long arms to strike at Laz as Laz avoided each and every strike, sometimes by nothing more than a hairs length. And each time, Laz would again strike the creature, using fist, palm, knee, leg or whatever he could. While his blows looked heavy, there was no damage done to the creature.
At least, not on the surface. But inside, Laz was leaving a trace of his energy with each shot, a tiny little bit mixed in with a spark of contained black flame. After having gone through the ritual of purification thanks to the armor of his own body, Laz knew his black flames were stronger than the shadow flames that were present in the beast, but that was only if they were on the same level, which they were not. Laz’s current strength could only be compared to a foundational level realm at most thanks to the damage done from the shadow dragon while the beast’s body was at the level of a void emperor, hence why nothing Laz did could work.
He just didn’t have the energy for it.
Had he been uninjured, the fight would have been more head on and less one sided, but even with Laz’s strength being on the level of emperor, the bear was still a beast in the end.
As for why the gods watching on were worried, it wasn’t because of the beasts strength, but because of the strength of shadow parasite that was inside of it, something that even they would struggle to kill.
"How is he still alive?" Artemis wondered, watching with baited breath a battle that should have been over with a long time ago.
"He hasn’t gotten hit, obviously..." Aphrodite responded as though her sister was stupid.
"I know that you blonde bimbo. But how the hell has he been able to not get hit? Even I couldn’t say I could beat this thing in a strength contest head on without using a skill," Artemis shot back.
"He... it seems... yes. He has had training in unarmed combat and fighting beasts. The creatures attacks are simple, easy to see and predict. But even if you can see where your opponent will hit, being able to move in such a way to avoid them is something else. This kid is quite something after all," Hera commented, watching the battle as well. Despite her lack of interest in these games of her husband, she would never let either the bear or the shadow parasite within it free withing the empire as there was no telling what kind of harm it could do. Even more important would be if the parasite was able to replicate itself.... the consequences could be catastrophic.
"Heh. I could kill that bear with one hand..." The Emperor grumbled, not liking his wife express praise for someone else, especially a slave.
Hera shot him a glance before turning back to the battle, one that everyone was on the edge of their seats for.
It wasn’t gory, it wasn’t brutal. But it was heart stopping to wonder just how long the boy could last against such a creature.
The answer was not much longer after this.
A blow was coming down from above while another was lancing at him from the side and Laz misjudged the distance by a single inch, enough that the side swipe hit his cheat and sent him flying backwards, straight into the stone wall of the arena, leaving an outline of himself as he then fell forward onto the floor.
’Fuck... it’s hard to breath...’
"Even if the armor can take the blow, the force from it is enough to shatter your internal organs and I can’t do anything about that. The only reason you’re alive right now is because you just got hit by a knuckle. I would suggest you don’t get hit again..." Kat said in his ear, concern in her voice assuming an artificial voice was able to show concern.
"Thanks. I’ll try. How many more times do I have to hit that thing?" Laz said, getting to his feet as the beast slowly lumbered over.
"A few dozen more times... The shadow is reaping the things life force and once the bear dies, it will take too much energy from the parasite within it to keep it going, so it will flee. You’re luck that it’s attached to the bear. Had it been a stronger creature, it’s strength could have been comparable to a god level."
"Lucky huh? Right..."
Laz strode forward, moving his body to help ease the pain. His back was healing and he could move it again, but it was still in rough shape. Along with the energy drain that took place to remove the shadow flames and Laz was left with barely a glass of water from what used to be an entire lake.
Seeing Laz again get up and move forward, the crowd roared in support. It was easy for them to see that Laz was the underdog in this fight, so much so that they were betting on when he would die and not if. But even then, he was human and the beast was not, so even if they wanted him to die at a certain time, in their hearts they hoped he could live.
"Daddy? Mommy? Is there really nothing you can do for this boy?" Aphrodite said, her eyes shinning as she looked on.
"Daddy and Mommy? Really sis? You don’t even know what he looks like do you?" Artemis asked, as she eyed her sister with skepticism.
"Of course I do. I remember him from the last time he was here. I’m not that absent minded, thank you."
"Oh? So you know he’s a cripple, huh?" Artemis shot back.
"With a handsome face. That just makes him even more exciting. For a man so beaten down already to have so much fight in him... doesn’t it just make your heart beat with excitement?" Aphrodite gushed.
"Right... I’m sure you’re thinking with your hear right now..."
"Why would I think with anything otherwise? Sister... Why is your face bright red all of the sudden... oh... OH! Oh my... NO.... no..... oooo!"
"Don’t you dare say it or I will shave you bald, you got me?" Artemis said, knowing that her sister, thanks to her nature, could sense the emotions going through her mind when she thought about what she had seen when Laz had disrobed earlier.
"I guess my curtains would then match my drapes? Isn’t that what the townsfolk say? Hmm?"
"Grr...."
"Easy. I won’t embarrass you... but only if you tell me everything you know about him. Ok?" Aphrodite said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.
"To answer your question, no. He is on his own my daughter. Just like we told you before, it was a rule I forced your father to implement to keep him from interfering with things once they were set in motion. If he wanted to have this barbaric ritual take place, then he had no right to interfere with those who participated. Their lives are their own on the floor and that’s that. Still though. If I could... I would perhaps save him as well.... since I feel something... familiar about him. And I am not just speaking of the armor he wears," Hera replied to her daughter, ignoring whatever the conversation was before between them.
"I really don’t know how it is that you can even make these things not seem fun my dear wife. So in the interest of my amusement, perhaps you can stop making bedroom eyes while looking at this dead slave, hmm?" The Emperor said, quite out of character for himself. Even he was stunned when he spoke, much less his wife and daughters.
"OH? Bedroom eyes? Ha. My dear husband has somehow become jealous when I speak of another man? Interesting. Very interesting."
"I don’t know what plan you’re scheming in that head of yours, but I don’t suggest you follow through with it. You know I won’t allow betrayal in my empire woman..." He said, his anger getting the better of him as he got an uncomfortable feeling from his wife. He had been with many women over the years, but his wife had never bothered with another man, even though she wasn’t getting anything from him either, so he had never thought about it. But somehow, considering her tone.... he could not shake an invisible worry from his heart.
"Our Empire. I was there and helped to build this place from the beginning so don’t you dare lecture me on what I can or cannot do. I bore your children, raised them. I helped build and manage everything from sanitation to taxes, all while you indulged in whatever luxury you desired. So if I wish to do something in OUR Empire, I will. And you will have no right to stop me. Are we clear... dear?" Hera said, before setting off to her own private box, one that was never in use but had been built for her anyway.
The goblet in the Emperor’s hand was reduced to a golden powder as his eyes returned to the fight.
