A New World, An Immersive Game Experience

In his mind space, Eldrian found himself at the valley where Two had constructed the library. The center of his soul. In haste, he confined the foreign substance and kicked it out of the world he had created. Confining it to the outer edges of his soul. Using the lich's absorbed lifeforce to form a prison.

The glowing of the foreign substance was distorted by the prison, but still clearly visible at the edge of Eldrian's mind space. Surrounded by endless darkness, it rested. Seemingly at peace.

"I'm afraid I can't gleam much information from it. When attempting, I can extract the contract details. But nothing else." Two commented once Eldrian had finished locking it up.

Staring at it, Eldrian too tried to analyze it. Knowing that he had little time before, Zaphreal would become wary of his state. Sadly, he too failed to gain any more insight into what it was and how it would invoke the contract punishment.

It seemed the foreign substance was content in its prison. This was a small silver lining, perhaps. Eldrian hoped the trick had worked. However, he couldn't rule out that it was simply not acting up because it was still in his soul space. He also had no proof that the trick would limit the damage in case of contract breakage, but this was at least better than nothing.

Returning to the world, Eldrian saw Zaphreal staring at him. Smiling, Eldrian asked how things would move from here.

"As stated, the duel will start in fifteen minutes. You can use that time to prepare." Zaphreal commented, turning to the audience and filling them in on the cover story.

It was a mixture of truths and falsehoods, explaining that Eldrian had realized that the arenas were indeed held within ANW, on Gaia. As many had speculated. Eldrian had also, supposedly, found an ancient mage's tower, with which he had managed to come to the arena.

This, naturally, did not touch on what Eldrian had tried to say earlier nor on the truth of the matter. However, it appeared that most people hadn't really focused on what Eldrian had shouted during his fight.

His announcement of magic being real had been shocking, but there had been no follow. His speech interrupted by the booming spears from the soldiers. In the end, it had come of as a type of self searching for inner magic.

Simply making the matter more confusing, instead of clarifying the point.

Of course, there were some who took his words to heart. But for now, everyone focused on the duel to come. Sure that this was going to be quite the spectacle. After all, never before had the players witnessed one of the admin displaying their might.

Of course, Zaphreal would be weakened to Eldrian's level, but everyone was still highly anticipating what was about to happen.

As for why Zaphreal did not touch on the subject containing to magic and purposefully wove his speech around it; he was leaving it to Eldrian.

If Eldrian won, then Zaphreal would allow him to deliver his speech. If he lost, Eldrian would have to backtrack and create the cover story himself. Zaphreal's aim being to have Eldrian discredit himself.

Separating from Zaphreal, Eldrian tried his best to figure out what the man was capable of. The man was clearly confident, giving a speech currently to the audience to explain when the finals will be held and apologizing for the unexpected development that was Eldrian.

Going further to use this to tease at all the unexplored wonders still left for everyone to find. And expanding on just how great the heights were that the players should aim for. Stating that even reaching godhood in the game was a possibility.

Turning the entire debacle into great publicity. And expertly so.

Listening to the speech, Eldrian became even more worried. If he was forced to fight Miracle in a battle of wits or words, he would be utterly crushed. He had never been eloquent nor easy to follow. He knew this; he accepted this.

He couldn't give speeches to convince the masses and he knew his way of thinking wasn't easy to follow. Myropsis and the others could follow his thinking only because they had spent a long time with him.

'All that I can do is show them how strong I am...and hope that that will be enough to give my words standing. However, how Zaphreal is framing things will make that even harder for me...'

As the fifteen minutes neared its end, Eldrian finally received a message from Ziraili. Not as a system prompt, but rather as a telepathic message.

Eldrian had only accepted the probing and allowed the unknown connection since he couldn't see how things could get worse—even though he knew accepting a foreign mental probe held its own dangers. Luckily, it ended up being from Ziraili.

'Miracle was prepared. We aren't sure how. We might have a traitor in our midst. GAIA is fighting to keep our connection a secret. But they clearly know we are working together.'

There was a slight pause before the message continued. 'Be careful of the man you are about to fight. Try to get in close. As he is having his attributes lowered, his reflexes will be worse than normal. His magical abilities, however, will not be weakened.'

'He is also likely to not equip his armaments nor his weapons. End the match quickly. It is the only chance you will have.'

'I guess that is something,' Eldrian noted, picking up Crystoi and looking towards the Zaphreal.

Wishing that he had made the time to get some new armor for himself. 'Overlook one thing and everything else piles up...' Eldrian mumbled, realizing how all his small negligence over time was now adding up. The trigger, ultimately, underestimating Miracle.

'Perhaps that was the true aim of their previous failures? Whether the soldiers were ordered to let me escape each time, or they were chosen for their incompetence...' Looking towards the frozen avatars, Eldrian sighed. They had made him lower his guard towards Miracle.

Meeting Jade had also lowered his guard. Her innocence and lack of control belied trouble and struggle within the company. Eldrian couldn't be sure if this was purposeful or simply coincidental. Considering the timing, however, he found it unlikely to be coincidental.

"The duel will start in ten seconds." The announcer's voice echoed through the arena. The ice statues disappearing with the announcement.

"Aren't you going to equip some armor?" Eldrian asked. Zaphreal still dressed in what appeared a bed robe. It certainly looked comfortable, but terrible for a fight.

"I can ask the same of you." Zaphreal countered, lifting his arms and narrowing his eyes as the announcer counted down the time.

'Get in close, don't rely on magic, end it quick... That's asking too much,' Eldrian thought. Especially the part about him not relying on magic. His bread and butter. However, as the announcer announced the start, he realized why.

A massive amount of mana gathered around Zaphreal in the blink of an eye. Distorting the very air as lighting cracked through the air.

Diving to the side, Eldrian's ears rang as he felt his left side burning. He rolled over quickly, dousing himself with water as he tried to confirm what had happened. The next moment, he felt his entire body stiffen. Another thunderous roar arriving after the fact.

'Lighting...' Eldrian cursed himself for using water, dispelling the element. He tried to move but failed, his entire body spasming from the electrical current running through him. The amount of health lost already over a thousand.

Watching Zaphreal point a finger and the mana gather, Eldrian strained his mind for a way to survive. Realizing immediately that if he did not do something this instant, he would die.

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