The battle had begun. The massive Shadow Eater charged on all fours toward the group of slaves in the Arena. Its speed was unbelievable, as it managed to close the space between itself and the first human closest to it in an instant.

Its first target was a skinny man in his thirties who wore a complete set of heavy armor, and in his hands he held a warhammer. He had prioritized protection and damage over speed; a decision he instantly regretted in the very next moment.

The man gritted his teeth and cried out, his face filled with paralyzing fear, as he swung his warhammer at the Shadow Eater. His attack was too slow and obvious. It was easily blocked as the Shadow Eater swiped down with its massive claws, disarming him of his weapon. Golden embers filled the air, and in the next moment, it decimated him.

Digging its massive claws into the man’s armor and body like a hot knife cutting through butter, it opened its maw and sank its sharp rows of teeth around the man’s neck, tearing his head clean from his body.

A grotesque sight, one that riled up the audience and plunged gnawing terror deep into the hearts of the slaves present in the Arena.

The other man left after witnessing this dropped his wooden spear in fear as his body trembled violently. He was next in line to face the monster, and after seeing that display of merciless injustice, after watching heavy armor being ripped apart like mere leaves on the other man’s body, his legs quivered uncontrollably. His eyes went shallow as tears poured from them without restraint.

He turned to run away, his voice breaking into frightened whimpers.

’Run! Run! Escape!’ his mind screamed as his gaze locked onto the metal wall he had come from. His legs pushed harder against the ground, his face swaying.

...Wait a minute...

Thud!

"What the—"

The man lost his voice before he could finish. His eyes weakly narrowed down at his body or more accurately, where his body was supposed to be. All he could see was his chest down to a missing torso, his blood spewing out uncontrollably.

The Dreadling had sliced him clean in half, causing both halves of his body to come crashing to the ground.

Now, all that remained was the newly formed cohort of the Marked, who had kept their distance from the beast the most and had naturally fallen into formation.

The blonde-haired man and the girl with the katanas stood at the front of the group, while Steven acted as their backup, and the last girl, dressed like a mage stood at the rear.

Steven tensed at the benevolent massacre he had just witnessed. The speed and strength of the Shadow Eater were something to be revered and feared. For a moment, he was rather pleased with the decision he had made to join forces with the blonde. Even if they would not stand a chance in the end, it was far better to die as a group than singly, like the first two had.

{Ding}

{No abilities to be copied}

{No abilities to be copied}

Steven frowned at the notifications. His hands slid onto his daggers with a firm grip as he unsheathed them and took a side stance, readying himself for what came next.

"I and Lin will attack. You protect Favour while she supports!" the blonde-haired man shouted as he pulled out his sword, watching the Dreadling snarl as it began charging toward them.

Lin, the girl with the double katanas, did the same. Pulling both blades free and striking a stance that told Steven she was well-trained with them.

Steven took a few steps back until his heel deliberately stopped a foot away from Favour, whom he was meant to protect. With the speed of the monster, putting too much distance between himself and her would not be a good idea.

Finally, the monster reached the group, lunging forward with its claws swinging at the blonde-haired man. It was fast, too fast for Steven to properly register and by some miracle, the blonde man managed to block it with the flat of his blade.

He took the full brunt of the creature’s attack and still managed to remain standing.

"Now, Lin!" he roared.

Lin did not hesitate. Taking the opening, she swung her katanas from a distance at the body of the Dreadling. Her blades were too far to physically connect, however, as she swung, a pair of crescent-shaped pink beams erupted from her strikes and slammed into the side of the Shadow Eater, injuring it deeply.

It roared, its attention shifting lustfully toward the cause of its pain—Lin.

It snarled once more, tearing its claws away from the blonde man’s sword, and lunged forward with its jaw wide open, dozens of razor-sharp teeth bared, ready to bite Lin’s head clean off.

But this attack had been expected.

The blonde-haired man moved with insane precision, using the weight of his entire body as he crashed into the side of the Dreadling in a brutal shoulder clash. The impact hit the ruthless beast with enough force to deter it, missing Lin by less than a foot.

The girl did not flinch. She only swung her blades once more, releasing another set of crescent beams of pink energy toward the Shadow Eater.

This time, the creature was prepared. It met the beams with its claws, shattering them into dozens of flickering pink lights.

However, the attack was nothing more than a diversion.

A blast of swirling, high-pressured water flew from nowhere and slammed into the beast’s arm with tremendous force, tearing deeply into it and causing the Shadow Eater to bleed uncontrollably.

"KRRIIIIEEEK!" it shrieked, staggering backward from the number of injuries it had sustained in just a single exchange.

Steven was impressed.

The synergy of the group was incredible. They fought like an unstoppable force. So coordinated that he could have sworn they had been together for months. And Favour, standing right behind him, was a powerful water mage. With a single attack, she had inflicted the most damage so far.

’They don’t even need me to begin with... I hate to admit it, but I’m lucky the blonde fatso ever approached me.’

{Ding}

{You have received a buff from the Water Mage in your party}

{Physique: 10/20}

Steven blinked, craning his neck to glance back at Favour, who was deeply concentrated on the water orb forming in her hands, readying another attack.

She wasn’t just capable of landing devastating blows but she could also buff her teammates by a high percentage. Steven realized this was exactly why the blonde-haired man wanted him as her protection.

Steven steadied himself, suddenly feeling much lighter. His body felt denser with strength, his senses sharper, as though he had grown more powerful in the span of a single second.

And now, only one thing mattered to him.

Landing the final blow.

{Talent: Gain x5 upgrade from every undead. Copy skills from the dead and make them yours.}

Maybe, just maybe, if he landed the last strike, he might gain a skill.

***Author’s note***

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