Aelon looked around.
His cell actually had light, and a place where he could relieve himself. A clear upgrade to before.
Since he hadn't sustained any injuries during his first fight, he had been appointed a fight the next day. A few hours had passed since his fight, and he had just eaten his food, and made himself ready to go to sleep.
Colossus was clearly much bigger, and stronger than him, so he had been given three soul shards for that fight. The guards told him that now, where he survived his first fight, he could pick opponents, and request to duel them. If they had more wins than him, they were forced to obliged to the fight. Same went for Aelon. If someone with less wins than him asked to duel him, he had to agree to the fight.
The black haired boy had received a bag, containing the awakened soul shards. Also, the armor piece of Colossus was given to him.
'I mean... at least I'll protect my kids?'
With a snort he set the crotch-guard aside, and lay on his bed, extinguishing the flame of the candle.
The room was dark now.
***
When he woke up, first thing he did was empty his stomach.
'As it seems my stomach is not used to food that isn't synth-based'
Not after long, the guard came already. Grabbing his hatchet, along with his bag of soul shards, and the crotch-guard, he followed the guard to his next fight.
The win from yesterday as well might've been a fluke. Aelon didn't choose an opponent for his next fight, so he was assigned one.
Now in the armory, he had to ask how much a piece of armor, or a weapon cost, before adding it to his arsenal.
The metal chestplates were too heavy for him, the short boy chose another option, which was the most versatile armor piece in his case. Chainmail. The chainmail armor covered his entire arm, and torso, along with his neck, due to having a hood.
It was heavy. Not as heavy as the chestplate, but still heavy. He quietly draped it over his upper body, and put the groin guard on. Aelon was still barefoot, which made for a funny sight.
'Better to be safe than sorry. Even if it's heavy, it'll protect me from any slashes.'
Now he only had one soul shard left.
He was nervous. His heart was beating loudly, just like yesterday.
Aelon didn't know if he'd ever get used to getting ready for his very likely death. The thoughts constantly occupied his mind. He didn't have anyone waiting for him at home, he knew that. But still. Even if no one in this world–– these two worlds awaited him... he still wanted to live for his own sake.
Whenever the image of the split open skull of Colossus from yesterday appeared in his mind, he felt like gagging.
Now done equipping himself, he walked out. The colosseum was full again. Oh how much he hated those insolent wretches sitting on these seats, watching others suffer for their amusement.
His guard excused himself, and Aelon saw that his opponent was already out there. It was a boy, around sixteen, standing at six foot–– two feet and a couple inches taller than the black haired boy.
The sixteen year old, had brown hair, and green eyes. On his cheek there was a scar, that strafed from his cheekbone, down to his jaw. He held a shortsword in his hand, and his feet were equipped with boots, that possessed spike at their ends.
Other than that, he had some sturdy leather clothes.
"The next fight commences with two of our younger prospects! On one side you'll see Edrick, the one who slayed the twelve year old for his first battle. On the other side you'll see Aelon, who slayed colossus in his first battle, or should I call him Giantslayer? A pretty nickname you viewers gave him!"
The voice of the announcer resounded through the colosseum. Responding to his calls, the surrounding crowds erupted, and to Aelon's surprise, most of them were chanting his new nickname.
"Giantslayer! Giantslayer! Giantslayer! Giantslayer!"
'Honestly... that's a cool nickname...'
Even though it had been a pleasant surprise, his aversion to the crowds watching him didn't reduce. If anything he felt more disgusted.
'This must be my attribute doing it's work.'
Aelon hoped that [Faint Remembrance] would actually help him in some way, by making someone in the crowds buy him out or something, but for now all it did, was increase his popularity.
Honestly, he hated that attention.
'And this guy? He killed a twelve year old in his first match.'
The black haired boy now knew that he most definitely wouldn't receive any mercy from Edrick.
Before Aelon noticed it the horn sounded already.
The match had started.
Leaving him barely any time to ready himself, Edrick dashed forwards, and swung his sword.
In response, Aelon stumbled backwards, the blade of his opponent barely grazing his hair, and cutting a strand off.
Edrick continued forwards though.
'Damnation! He isn't leaving me any time to react!'
Aelon didn't have any time to throw his hatchet, so he had to actually fight in close quarters.
The next swing came horizontally. By how he telegraphed his attacks, Aelon was certain that the boy didn't receive any prior combat instruction, or was taught how to wield his sword either.
There were a lot of drug abusers, and robbers in the outskirts, so Aelon had to master the art of predicting someone's actions by their body language, to best avoid them. That skill proved useful in combat here.
Aelon ducked downwards just in time. The blade cut through the area where his head was a moment prior. With trembling hands, he slashed with his hatchet, directing it towards Edrick's torso.
The older boy leaned back just in time though, using his spiked boots to kick Aelon with the momentum he gained while falling backwards. The younger boy didn't manage to dodge though.
A kick dug right into his stomach, and all air was knocked out of Aelon's lungs.
Fortunately, due to his chainmail, the strike didn't draw blood. Neither did it break bone.
With trembling knees, Aelon stood back up, powered by nothing but his resolve to stay alive.
Edrick ran towards the boy again, and slashed downwards.
With his obvious movement, Aelon pushed himself of the ground with his left foot, and used his gained momentum to swing his hatchet while doing the motion.
The shortsword hit air. The hatchet didn't.
It dug deep into Edrick's guts, and when Aelon pulled it out, he saw them spilling out.
Immediately, a wave of nausea overtook Aelon's sensations. Not able to contain himself any longer, he vomited. Right next to the open belly of his opponent, who was still choking on his own blood.
'I need to end this quickly for him.'
With teary eyes, Aelon brought down his hatchet towards the neck of his opponent, and attempted to decapitate him. To his misfortune though, he barely had enough strength left, so his hatchet only entered half the way.
More tears streamed down Aelon's cheeks.
"I... I'm s-so sorry." he was sobbing, while bringing his hatchet down a second time, this time decapitating his opponent, and ending his suffering.
Then, he vomited once again. The sensation of breaking skin. The sensation of cutting through alive flesh. The sensation of cutting through human bone. It all made him vomit.
Drained, Aelon's consciousness waned, and finally gave up. His surroundings turned black.