Surviving These Unfair Scenarios [LITRPG - DIMENSION HOPPING]

The Coliseum floor vibrated beneath Drake's feet, a profound hum resonating with the immense power channeling through his very being, and the air crackled around him, charged with an energy both ancient and incandescent. The 'Transcendent Fang of the Exiled Realms', held effortlessly, felt like an extension of his will, a beacon of overwhelming divine power that pulsed with an internal, vibrant light as its colossal golden blade, imbued with a luminous, jade-green edge, shimmered with intricate, flowing motifs. He moved it with ease, shifting its weight with a single hand; the immense sword felt lighter than a feather.

Magnus was the first to act, surging forward with terrifying momentum, unleashing a devastating torrent of solar energy as searing bursts erupted from his palms, aimed to engulf Drake in a blazing, inescapable inferno. The heat was immediate, radiating in palpable waves, but the blond was ready, his senses sharpened by the monumental power coursing through his veins, and he swung his sword.

Its jade-green edge shimmered as it intercepted the fire, absorbing the raw, destructive power, and then, with a thunderous surge, unleashing a scorching wave of pure Imperial Ki directly back at Magnus. The man braced, hardening his skin into a rock-like defense, just moments before the redirected energy struck him with a resonant clang, forcing him back a significant step.

Magnus roared a guttural sound of exhilarated fury, a glint of surprise flickering in his eyes, and he countered with an abyssal chill aura. The air around him dropped precipitously to absolute zero, intricate patterns of frost blooming across the polished dark stone floor, and waves of bone-chilling cold radiated outwards, a pervasive, freezing force threatening to stiffen Drake's muscles once again. The boy responded with a swift, almost imperceptible blur, using his [Heavenly Wind Step] skill to vanish and reappear an instant later, soaring high above the frozen expanse on his magnificent, tentacle-like holy wings. From his vantage point, he dove, the 'Transcendent Fang' held high, its jade edge singing through the air.

Magnus reacted immediately, manifesting dozens of ethereal, razor-sharp blades that shimmered into existence around him, attacking Drake from every conceivable angle. The boy met them head-on, his S-rank blade a blur, slicing through the translucent weapons with astonishing ease, and each collision sent a ripple of raw energy through the arena.

He released his legendary sword mid-air, allowing it to hang suspended, and with both fists free, he unleashed a barrage of Ki-infused strikes, a whirlwind of precise martial arts aimed for Magnus's exposed points. The man, taken by surprise, grunted as Drake's rapid blows landed, even as a vibrant, life-affirming light briefly encompassed his body, quickly mending minor scrapes. But before Magnus could fully retaliate, Drake snatched his blade from the air and brought it down in a powerful, arcing swing that forced Magnus back several steps, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the dark stone floor.

"Hah! Impressive! Most impressive!"

Magnus boomed with a wide, malevolent smile plastered across his face, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he parried another of Drake's powerful swings with his colossal black greatsword. The obsidian blade hummed with pervasive Void Ki, its chilling presence attempting to falter the blond's Imperial Ki. The collision was a jarring, earth-shaking impact, a maelstrom of two opposing energies erupting around them. Both combatants were momentarily locked in a struggle of raw power, pushing against an invisible barrier of force.

In the skybox, Kazue watched the unfolding spectacle, her eyes wide with awe and growing concern.

"Drake is incredible! Look at him, controlling that new power!"

She exclaimed, a thrill of excitement running through her. However, a hint of confusion clouded her expression.

"I still don't understand these 'Personal Skills,' though. What exactly are they? How does he just… do that?"

She turned to Katya, who stood beside her. The blonde shrugged, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

"Team Abyss mentioned some mental exercises designed to foster their appearance, or so I heard. But I never bothered with them."

Her attention remained riveted on Drake. On the other hand, Angela observed the fight with a strained, analytical gaze, her brow furrowed, but she still answered.

"A Personal Skill, as the name implies, is a unique ability specific to each individual user."

She murmured, not wanting to take her eyes off the fight.

"They are often deeply rooted in something profoundly personal—a user's inherent personality, their strongest desires, or their innate strengths. Like my own summoning technique, for example."

She shook her head slowly.

"I'm not entirely sure what truly activates them, but the prevailing theory suggests they tend to manifest in situations of extreme danger, fueled by an incredibly strong conviction or an overwhelming, singular desire."

Kazue pondered this, a faint frown creasing her brow, for she couldn't recall experiencing the awakening of her own Personal Skill in any of these situations. Did that mean all his adventures hadn't been dangerous enough? Moyan, leaning casually against the railing, remained silent, his eyes dry and unreadable, fixed on the arena below, as if he knew something he was not about to share, so he offered no comment.

The battle raged on, each powerful strike of Drake's 'Transcendent Fang' carving luminous arcs through the air, forcing Magnus to constantly adapt as his initial amusement gave way to a more focused, intense concentration. Despite his array of formidable defensive and regenerative abilities, the sheer force and divine energy behind Drake's sustained attacks began to tell, Magnus was receiving undeniable damage now; his skin showed visible bruises, and a fine sheen of sweat coated his massive form, yet his wide grin faltered only slightly before returning with renewed, almost manic ferocity, as if the pain only sharpened his enjoyment.

He unleashed intricate, glowing runes in the air, symbols that pulsed with unseen power. These runes exploded into sudden, fiery traps as Drake stepped near, or solidified into transparent, shimmering binding wards attempting to constrain him, or even manifested as temporary elemental barriers, glowing with raw power, attempting to trap the boy or block his path. Drake evaded the arcane traps with a combination of his blindingly fast instant step, appearing and disappearing in blurs of motion, and powerful swings of his legendary blade, which cut through the magical constructs with ease. His holy wings flapped powerfully, also helping to deflect immense impact and enhancing his evasive maneuvers, allowing him to weave through the storm of attacks with extreme agility, pushing back oppressive forces with gusts of divine energy. Yet, the sheer volume and unpredictable, chaotic nature of Magnus's constant barrage meant some blows still landed, scraping against Drake's hardened skin, drawing thin lines of crimson that contrasted sharply with the golden glow of his Ki; however, his resolve remained unbroken.

They met again in the absolute center of the arena, their weapons clashing with a thunderous impact, blade against blade, creating a maelstrom of Imperial Ki and dark energy that erupted around them. The arena floor, already scarred, cracked and buckled further, massive fissures spiderwebbing outwards, and shockwaves rippled through the vast space, pushing against the immense energy barriers of the Coliseum. Magnus roared a guttural cry of both pain and exhilaration.

"You continue to surprise me! This skill… and an S-rank item! They don't just obey anyone, you know? Not even with [Make it Fair!]! This blade has clearly accepted you as its master!"

He strained against Drake's counter-push, his eyes twinkling with a manic amusement.

"However, it's abundantly clear that your precious sword isn't showing its true power!"

Drake, muscles straining, gritted his teeth, pushing back with every fiber of his being.

"What do you mean?"

He rasped, his voice tight with effort. Magnus's grin widened, a predatory gleam filling his eyes.

"S-rank items shape the very destiny of a scenario! They are legendary for a reason! I once fought a user with an S-rank item, and I was easily defeated! Hell, she single-handedly killed two of my teammates, and I could barely escape."

He roared, overpowering Drake for a moment.

"This blade is holding back! It's too powerful for you! It's limiting itself so it doesn't tear you apart from the inside!"

They broke apart, spiraling away from each other, both panting, their forms blurred by residual energy. Magnus extended a massive hand.

"Join me, Drake Shaw!"

He boomed, his voice resonating through the arena.

"I see the potential within you! It's incredible! Truly phenomenal for a novice! I am formally inviting you to join the 'Noob Reapers'!"

Drake stared, momentarily stunned.

"You're insane!"

He finally managed to retort. Magnus merely laughed, a deep, contemptuous sound.

"You don't understand the benefits of being in the tenth-ranked team in the system, boy! You see only your paltry current status! Besides, I have a grand plan. While the big fishes, the so-called 'top' teams, are distracted with their petty squabbles, it will be me and my team who climb to the absolute top! Who cares about those stupid things! 'Eden Alliance'? 'Hunt3rs Alliance'? Bullshit, only power matters, and I know you feel the same. You want to get stronger, to fight your way to the top, that's the only life you know; I can see it in your eyes… We are the same, we both enjoy this, both want to get to the top with effort and power alone."

Upon hearing this, Drake took a slow, deliberate breath. He looked at Magnus, then his gaze instinctively shifted towards the skybox where his friends watched. He understood the man's point. The allure of raw, unrestrained power, of absolute dominance, was undeniable. Certainly, in any other circumstance, he might have considered such an offer. But not now. Not after all he had been through. Not when he had found a group of friends he had learned to trust implicitly. A group with whom he had faced countless life-or-death experiences... A group that had become his anchor in this chaotic new reality.

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A faint smile, calm and defiant, touched Drake's lips.

"Not in a million years."

He stated, his voice firm and unwavering.

"I'm fine where I am. Besides…"

He added, a spark of playful challenge entering his eyes.

"I'd never join a team with a leader weaker than myself."

Magnus's smile did not waver, but his eyes narrowed to thin slits. A cold fury flickered within their depths.

"Foolish child… So be it!"

He snarled in a guttural voice.

The combat resumed with a sudden, devastating surge. Raw power emanated from both fighters, seeming to double. The arena floor, already a shattered landscape of broken stone and shimmering ice, buckled and pulverized with every devastating blow. Showers of debris erupted. Every movement sent powerful shockwaves trembling through the foundations of the Coliseum, contained only by the groaning, shimmering energy barriers.

Drake swung the 'Transcendent Fang' with unrestrained power. Each massive strike sent out waves of pure Imperial Ki that tore through Magnus's defenses, forcing him to engage his defensive skills more frequently and with greater desperation. Magnus retaliated with a terrifying combination of solar energy bursts and freezing cold auras, while his gravity-controlling gauntlet twisted gravity around Drake, attempting to crush his every movement.

The boy dodged, weaved, and countered with masterful precision. His [Heavenly Wind Step] blurred him across the arena, appearing and disappearing as if teleporting, avoiding the worst of the elemental onslaught, while his holy wings flared, deflecting incoming blows. He was relentless, a golden blur of divine fury. Yet Magnus, despite the increasing damage, continued to laugh. A wild, unhinged sound echoed through the vast space. His eyes blazed with an almost terrifying enjoyment of the brutal combat.

In the opulent skybox, the tension was almost unbearable. Kazue watched the brutal exchange, her hands clenched.

"Angela, does Drake even have a chance now?"

She implored, her voice tight with concern. Angela's gaze remained fixed on the unfolding chaos.

"Perhaps…"

She murmured, her voice barely a whisper.

"It all depends on his sheer force of will now."

Moyan, still crossed-armed, watched with a totally dry, unreadable gaze in an unsettling silence.

The combat intensified, reaching a crescendo of destruction. Magnus and Drake became blurs of raw power. Both of their weapons clashed in a deafening symphony. Each blow was meant to kill, and each deflection was a desperate act of survival. Magnus, with his massive chest heaving, contorted his face in a mix of pain and exhilaration, spoke again through gritted teeth as their swords locked in another fierce power struggle.

"Such a waste!"

He roared.

"This blade, wasted on someone like you, who is incapable of even seeing his own limitations! Who refuses to follow the path to true improvement!"

Drake faltered for a fraction of a second, but he recomposed himself with a guttural roar, pushing forward with a final, powerful lunge. The 'Transcendent Fang of the Exiled Realms' slammed into Magnus's black sword, resulting in a catastrophic collision that shook the entire Coliseum… And then it happened.

With a sickening, ear-splitting crack, the luminous jade edge of Drake's blade fractured, then shattered, erupting into a shower of brilliant green energy. He was left holding only the hilt and a jagged, broken shard. Magnus's black sword, finally unimpeded, sliced across the blond's chest, leaving a gaping, crimson wound.

Drake gasped a choked sound of pain, staggering back and falling to the polished stone. He immediately rolled, clutching his chest, his eyes squeezed shut against the searing pain, while his breaths came in ragged gasps. But quickly, with a fierce, unyielding resolve, he opened them. His gaze was resolute as he pushed himself up, his body trembling.

Magnus, with a grim, triumphant smile spreading across his face, began to advance, his black sword held high.

"Precisely as I said. A weapon of that power is useless without the strength to truly wield it."

He rumbled while moving slowly, intending to deliver the finishing blow, but after seeing Drake getting up, he couldn't help but praise it.

"Wonderful… And such a waste of talent."

He murmured. He then lunged forward. His speed was suddenly terrifying.

In that agonizing moment, as Magnus's colossal form blurred towards him, the world around Drake froze. The vibrant, chaotic lights of the Coliseum dimmed, replaced by an ethereal, chilling, uniform blue. Time itself seemed to halt, leaving him suspended, utterly unable to move.

"What…?"

Only his eyes darted around, trying to comprehend the impossible stillness. But then he notices something weird… To his left, standing eerily silent beside Magnus, two distinct figures emerged from a swirling mist of ethereal green smoke, two that he remembered quite well.

Bai Huolong, with his long, dark hair and traditional attire, stood with arms crossed. His gaze was fixed on Drake with a stern expression. Next to him was Tenzing Gautam, young, bald, in shaolin monk robes, with his hands clasped before him. His eyes held a profound solemnity.

Drake's mind reeled. They were here? How? Both were enemies he had personally defeated in recent scenarios… Their lives ended by his hand. Especially Tenzing, who was a user, and whose death still weighed heavily on Drake's conscience. He didn't understand how they could be here. Then, something, or someone, touched on his shoulder, warm despite the freezing stillness. He couldn't turn his head, but a familiar voice, one he had heard just two scenarios ago, while fighting the monster of another world invading Murim, spoke beside him.

"It seems it's still too soon for you, but that was a very good first step. I believe you deserve a small push."

Instantly, the world snapped back into vibrant color and chaotic motion. The clash of energies resumed as if time had never ceased, with Magnus mere steps away and with his black sword poised to strike, already descending.

But suddenly, Drake exploded outwards… A sudden, blinding surge of power emanating from him. He unleashed a torrent of Imperial Ki and divine energy far stronger and more immense than he had displayed before. A golden-green aura erupted from his body, pushing back against the oppressive presence of Magnus's chaotic powers. The man recoiled, forced to shield his face with his arm, staggering back a step. Through the flickering light, he saw it. The shattered jade edge of Drake's broken sword, still clutched in his hand, began to recompose its ruined blade, not physically, but with a brilliant, pulsing green energy. A faint, pained smile touched his lips.

"You were right... This sword still held many secrets. Thank you for showing me even a little bit of it."

Magnus roared, a guttural sound of renewed fury and exilaration, resuming his assault. His black sword swept down in a massive, arcing cut meant to end the fight… However, Drake, still standing and with his body trembling, did not seem to be in any defensive stance.

The massive, downward slash impacted. Drake's figure was cleaved cleanly in half, causing a sharp, agonizing cry to tear from Kazue's throat in the skybox. However, the bisected body shimmered, dissolving into motes of light and disappearing before it could even hit the ground. It was a mere after-image, a mirage created by a movement of extreme, impossible speed. Before Magnus could fully register the deception, the brilliant, jade-green edge of Drake's now restored sword erupted from his back, piercing through his chest, emerging clean on the other side.

Drake, with that seemingly undefended stance, had used a blindingly fast [Heavenly Wind Step] to place himself directly behind Magnus, using the illusion as a fatal distraction, and had delivered the decisive blow, sufficient to win the combat.

In the skybox, Kazue sprang from her seat. A joyous, exultant cry tore from her lips.

"He won! He actually won!"

Angela exhaled a long breath of relief, softening her face. Falk, letting out a series of triumphant whirs and clicks, fluttered excitedly around Kazue's head. However, Moyan remained motionless, his arms still crossed, his gaze fixed on the arena below, unreadable. He finally sighed, a soft, almost imperceptible sound.

"What a shame."

He murmured.

"He was so close."

Drake, still holding Magnus impaled on his blade, his arm trembling from the effort, was panting heavily. His massive wound still wept blood, and one eye was squeezed shut against the pain and exhaustion. The man roared, a guttural cry of agony that filled the arena. But then, to Drake's shock, those pained screams began to morph into laughter. A low, chilling chuckle grew in intensity.

"Congratulations, boy."

Magnus rasped, his voice raw but tinged with chilling amusement.

"You truly are strong for a novice. I must admit, you surprised me. But just as I said at the start of our combat…"

The man's body, still impaled, began to dissipate into a puff of black smoke. Simultaneously, the chilling obsidian blade of Magnus's black sword erupted from Drake's own back, impaling him in the exact same manner. The blond cried out, a guttural scream of pure agony. His body convulsed as a cold, pervasive energy ripped through him, tearing at his life force. Then, Magnus's figure materialized directly behind him, perfectly solid, completing his earlier phrase. His voice was a chilling whisper in Drake's ear.

"…you still lack much experience. You never even realized that from the moment you closed your eyes after receiving my last attack, you were fighting a mere copy, while I had been invisible, waiting patiently."

Drake gritted his teeth, a profound frustration warring with the searing pain. His body started to give out. A series of system windows blazed before his eyes, shining with ominous finality.

Drake's body began to disintegrate rapidly, fading into shimmering particles of golden energy.

The blond boy's form reappeared instantly in the skybox. His body flickered, collapsing onto the plush seating beside his stunned teammates. Kazue, a choked sob escaping her, rushed to his side, helping him remain upright. His exhaustion was as profound as Meera's earlier. He was barely conscious, and his breathing was shallow.

"You were so close, Drake! So, so close!"

She insisted, her voice full of desperate hope.

"Don't worry, we still have a chance in the next match!"

She and Katya, who had moved closer, helped him settle, offering what comfort they could. But then, Magnus's booming voice resonated through the arena.

"This isn't over yet! Not by a long shot!"

Angela, still reeling from the unexpected turn of events, leaned forward. Her eyes were wide with unadulterated shock. She watched as Magnus stood in the arena, his arm extended. Another system window materialized before him, blazing with green text.

Magnus threw his head back and laughed. A wild, triumphant sound echoed through the vast Coliseum. His body remained firmly in the arena. Finally, Kazue lifted her gaze. She tore her eyes away from the severely injured Drake. She looked at the floating screen Angela now stared at, frozen, her face pale with dread. Her own photo had just appeared in the random draw.