Reflections on the Warpath - [An Isekai Progression Fantasy]

What the hell?

That's it?

The screen faded to black, returning to the fight selection screen.

There were still twenty nine more fights to watch, so Jay knew his brother wasn't dead dead, but he hadn't been expecting it to end so quickly.

Are the debuts non-lethal? Like the fights in D grade?

Well, I guess they must be. Jay thought. He opened up the second fight. A living, breathing Julian filled the screen.

He looked more confident this time, and Jay could tell he was back in the newbie arena. Jay swivelled the camera around to look at Julian's opponent. He wasn't facing off against a giant warrior this time around. Instead, he stood across from what looked like a screeching tamarin monkey. Its orange tail swept across the coliseum's gravel floor, clearing the dust behind it while it smashed an oversized walnut into the ground with its fists.

The monkey looked into the camera and screamed, baring a set of miniature fangs. Back on Earth, Jay would've been worried to see the animal howling and walking towards him.

But this wasn't Earth. And he'd take a monkey over a Goldenback gorilla any day. Jules may have drawn the short straw in his debut, but at least his second fight wasn't as uneven as Jay's.

The fight began and Julian inched forward, crouching as he closed the distance. He held a dagger in each hand and kept them pointed at his opponent. Neither blade matched the golden dagger Jay remembered from their fight.

The monkey howled. It leapt towards Jules.

Nervousness flashed over his eyes. He took a step back.

But he couldn't stay scared for long. Gladiators weren't allowed to. Julian set his back foot. He clenched his dagger, waiting for the monkey to get closer.

It vaulted towards his head. Jules prepared an attack, but old habits die hard. Instead of slicing through the oncoming monkey, Julian punched it square in the jaw.

Mid-fight, inside the Second Chance Coliseum, Julian burst out in laughter.

Jay couldn't help but join him. It had been twelve long years since he'd heard that sound, and the sight of a tiny monkey awkwardly rubbing its cheek only added to the bizarre situation.

The moment couldn't last forever though. The monkey returned to its screaming, sounding more enraged than before, and Jules had stowed away his smile. Other than a slight tug at the corner of his mouth, he remained stone-faced while staring down his opponent.

The monkey ran towards him on all fours, before jumping up at the last moment.

Julian timed his attack properly this time.

His knife speared through the monkey's chest before it could land a scratch on him. A slice from his second separated its head from its body.

He frowned for a second, before shaking it off and returning to a smile.

You'll have to do worse than that Jules…

The screen faded black, and Jay moved on to the next fight. He made his way through them, noticing Julian's confidence grow with each defeated opponent. After four more fights, Jay spotted the familiar golden dagger for the first time. After another five, the liquid gold armour made its first appearance.

During his twentieth fight, Julian's abilities merged. The liquid gold didn't stick to his body, protecting him like a second skin. It leapt off, coating the old, jewelled dagger in a new shine before propelling it forward. It pierced through his opponent's shield, helmet, and skull before embedding itself into the barrier wall.

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The dagger collapsed into strands of golden light, before flowing back into Julian's hands.

Huh, looks a lot like that leopard guy, Gildan.

Same teacher? Same alliance?

Jay filed the observation for later since there was a more pressing issue at hand.

Why's there only thirty fights over six years?

The realisation stayed quiet in the back of Jay's mind until he reached Julian's final available fight.

Julian's final opponent hopped on its springy, clawed feet, growling. The camera zoomed out to reveal a familiar creature to Jay, one he'd seen before from the comfort of the Celestial Swords tavern.

Vega had defeated a Snarebounder fairly easily back then. The dinosaur-like creature was certainly intimidating, but shouldn't have been a problem for Jules.

So why's there no more fights?

The camera zoomed out further, revealing a second Snarebounder beside the first.

Ah…

If Julian was fazed by his second opponent, he didn't look it. His eyes were clear of uncertainty and he had a voracious grin as he all but licked his lips at his two opponents.

Jay wanted to believe in his older brother. He wanted to have faith that he'd make it.

So why's there no more fights?

Five daggers, each forged from molten gold, rose above Julian's shoulders the moment the fight began. Two shot at each opponent, while the last sank down to Julian's right hand. Jules sauntered into the centre of the arena, keeping tabs on all four of his airborne weapons as they harassed the dinosaur-like creatures.

One of the Snarebounders rushed forward, tanking two stabs to the chest just to make up some ground.

Julian smiled.

He threw his fifth dagger forward. Instead of flying towards the creature's face, like the other four had, this one hugged the ground, swinging towards the Snarebounder's feet before slowing down and looping back.

It kept pace with the creature, darting between its legs, hacking at its ankles as it ran towards Julian. The Snarebounder had almost entered its range.

Jules wouldn't let it get any further.

The dagger slammed downwards. Piercing the creature's scaly foot and chaining it to the ground.

The Snarebounder still charged forward, pushed on by its momentum, but the fifth and final dagger locked it in place.

Jules marched towards his opponent. The two daggers that had previously hounded the pinned down Snarebounder flew over his shoulders, joining their brothers in distracting the other creature. Golden light surrounded Julian's right arm as he reared it back.

The dagger in his hand transformed, melting into liquid gold that encased Julian's arm. A savage gauntlet morphed perfectly to his fist.

The snarebounder floundered with its one working leg and almost helpless arms.

A beacon of golden light drew closer.

Lightning Leonard.

Flash.

At one point, they were just nicknames. Monikers to marvel at both brothers' speed.

Jay had lucked out in his debut, he'd used thunder in his second fight and hadn't truly shown off the essence of electricity in his third. Jay knew his own power, but his name carried no weight with the crowd just yet.

But Jules?

Jules had earned his fucking name.

Jay didn't even see the finisher. A golden flash engulfed the entire screen before the punch landed. By the time the fight was visible again, the Snarebounder's charred face looked like it had been grated against the surface of the sun.

Jules turned back to his second opponent.

Smiling.

But Julian never even reached his second opponent.

His daggers beat him to it.

A golden knife pierced through each of the snarebounder's eyes while a third clamped its jaw shut. The beast flailed on the ground, jumping across the gravel pit and rubbing its face into the ground to try and dislodge the daggers. While it desperately tried to free itself, the fourth dagger attacked everywhere else. It sliced through the tough hide and scales with ease, barely finding any resistance as ruby red blood spurted out from endless cuts.

As the wounds piled up, the Snarebounder's thrashing grew slower and slower.

It collapsed onto the floor before Julian could even get close. Unmoving, save for the trickling trails of blood and dying spasms of still-warm muscles.

So why's there no mo-

As an E grade fighter, you cannot access old D grade fights through the coliseum system. If you wish to watch the rest of Flash's fights, please view them after E grade advancement.

The fight vanished, and golden words filled the screen.

Jay stared at the last three.

E grade advancement.

It all comes back to that, I guess.

In a way, Jay was relieved. He'd been putting off Julian's fights ever since the auction. If they showed that Jules was still on the island, could he really trust himself to prepare for his fights instead of instantly searching for him?

Jay hadn't found his brother, but he'd kicked the problem one month down the line.

E grade advancement didn't just buy him more time anymore. Now it meant information.

If Jay wanted to search further, he had a tournament to get through first.