GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?



The giant lizard camouflaged itself to look like a log of wood on the forest floor. It even has a covering of algae, ferns, and small plants growing on its back to help it maintain the image. It didn't move until they got very close to it. Then it took a large bite out of both the python and its target. The three-way struggle ended pretty quickly in favor of the giant lizard. It is very difficult to keep on fighting when you're missing a large portion of your body.

The person, though skilled, died in a double ambush and was respawned in another location with a permanent 10% debuff on their current score and future scores. You can be killed in this challenge. Your brand will save you before you actually die. It will pull you from the world and you will be kept in Stasis. Then your injuries will be healed and you will be respawned in another location in the arena. You can die as many times as you want but you will receive a debuff to your scores every time. 

A single death will disqualify you from earning the survival feat. Another death of this person will result in another 10% reduction. 10 deaths and the person won't be able to get any marks from anything they do. There's still the option of killing others for their scores and achieving feats. Each death after 100% debuff will just lead to more reduction in your scores and nothing more.

This person's situation is not unique. If it hadn't been the python or the giant lizard it would have been the titan toad, stone golems, carnivorous plants, leopards, tigers, and two-headed lions. All of them are gigantic and ferocious. People are being ambushed, overwhelmed with numbers, or outright killed by strong monsters.

As always the most rampant killers are the insects. Hordes of insects be it carnivorous locusts, parasitic wasps, vengeful poisonous bees and the iconic bloodsucking wasps are the highest killers. The forest is dangerous with numerous things trying to kill the survivors at every step. The only person that isn't facing these random attacks is Soverick. He has the attention of the world spirit so his time won't be wasted on such trivialities. Only things that actually have a shot at killing him will be sent his way.

Even if the world has not decided to conserve its resources by preventing the wastage of resources on Soverick, he still wouldn't be attacked like that. All the beasts in his vicinity heard his roar of challenge. They decided to stay away from him. The ones that were not convinced could hear the sound of violence from his fight with the ravens. 

First, there was the squawking and cawing. It was unbearable because of the large number of birds. Things became pleasant when the ravens screeched in pain. It was pleasant to him while it may be blood-cuddling to others. Then there were the explosions and the sounds of innocent trees being felled. The forest was shaking and groaning because of their fight. It is enough warning for weak monsters to stay clear.

The monsters aren't the only ones to realize that a dangerous predator is in the area. Soverick is surrounded by other competitors. All that sound of violence made them decide not to approach him. A tree might just fall on them and kill them. Even those not in Arena 28 were affected. Some people like Ghaster had a tougher time because of Soverick.

Ghaster found himself in a forest. He activated his divine ability immediately. His eyes began to glow purple and lightning sparks flowed alongside his fur. The lightning show is just the tip of the iceberg, so to say. There's more going on below his skin. 

His bloodline of Lightning punishment has awakened twice. The first awakening allowed him to slow down the world and it also quickens his movement. His second awakening allowed him to incorporate lightning into his being in only a way that a titan of law with a body of law should be able to do. It makes his movements lightning-fast and also allows him to transform into a bolt of lightning if need be. So the activities in his muscles are the ones creating the lightning effects.

He thought to himself smugly. "Now we are on equal ground."

His divine ability grants him a lot of confidence especially now that Soverick has been forced to his level. The abilities of his first awakening allow him to be always superior in combat and the second awakening grants him the power of lightning as a weapon. It is an edge that he has over others since they can't bring any weapon into the arena. He believes that he will be able to take on Soverick with them.

Ghaster was moving forward rapidly without any care in the world. That's how he does things because he thinks he doesn't have any reason to worry. No one at his level has ever succeeded in ambushing him. He has always been able to respond.

In fact, he uses himself as bait to tempt people. They will spring themselves on him but his divine sense and his divine ability allow him to turn the table in his favor. He is confident that he will be able to do that here. He also believes that this competition is a great platform for him to showcase his greatness and finally get out of Soverick's shadow.

He was moving around nonchalantly when the first blow hit him.

*GLOBAL MESSAGE*

(THE CHILD OF THE PLANE HAS COMPLETED THE FEAT OF BEING THE FIRST TO ACHIEVE FLIGHT IN ALL ARENAS)

It was a big blow. His pride suffered quite the damage. He felt Soverick's metaphorical shadow cover him more. Soverick has already earned a feat a few seconds into the challenge while the majority of them are hoping to earn one by staying alive throughout the 1 year that the challenge will take. Maybe the shadow of his elder brother was already that big and he is just realizing how deep within it he is.