The Archaic System 31 Rage

I sat on the ground in the practice arena waiting for the officiator to announce the beginning of my fight with Sauer. I was adjusting my mind in preparation for the fight and simulating different scenarios in my head. I had seen Sauer fight many times in my last life and was familiar with his battle style and strength. I knew he wouldn't be an easy opponent to defeat and out of everyone in Black Lion Village he had the second highest level, only behind Morrow.

It wasn't long before the officiator's voice sounded out, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the long awaited final fight of the day has arrived. Reigning champion Bo "Grizzly" Sauer and rising star Young Lion enter the arena."

Finally it was time. I rose from the ground and proceeded down the familiar corridors to the fighting arena. Once again I waited for my opponent to enter the arena first. There were no rules specifying contenders had to enter the arena in a certain order or even separate, but it was good showmanship and allowed me to gauge the crowds reaction.

Sauer entered the arena in a arrogant manner holding his blood stained clubs over his shoulder, a cacophony of cheers erupted from the stands. The guttural cheers of the crowd reverberated around the arena like an ancient beasts roar. An atmosphere of bloodlust descended. As I stared out at the crowd there were noticeable differences between this crowd and those from other fights. It was as if the devil itself had possessed them. Many people were cheering at the top of their lungs their eyes bloodshot and open wide.

It was truly in these moments that one can understand the depravity of human nature. The crowds desire for blood and Sauer's normally brutish methods of dispatching opponents revealed the dark side of humanity. Even though most humans were able to live peacefully on Earth, as soon as we returned to ancient era like in Agartha, humanities savage nature came out full force. It shatters the peaceful image of people that was cultivated on Earth for centuries. In our core we will turn into beasts as soon as we are given the opportunity.

However, this atmosphere didn't scare me, nor did I look down on it with an aloof righteousness. Rather, I embraced it. I allowed the rage from past life to boil over inside me like a surging river. It began in my chest and burned its way through my veins like lava. I began to harmonize with the atmosphere that surrounded this bloody red arena.

Memories of my past began to flicked through my mind. All the times I was humiliated and belittled by Sauer played in my mind like a bloody film. I had been purposefully subduing these memories and emotions before. I knew I had to wait for the right moment to unleash my rage. I had to act carefully and with intelligence, but with the atmosphere acting as a catalyst, my rage burst from within. No amount of willpower could restrain it. It was all I could manage to retain my sanity.

One might expect someone like me who had experienced so many things in the past to have a tighter grasp over their emotions. In fact, it was my past experience that made me feel them even more sharply.

How could I not be enraged when returning to a place where I suffered such torment, yet now due to just a small difference in power I am treated worlds apart from before. In the past I was viewed as less than a dog before these people, something to be used and thrown away. Before, my ignorance shielded me from realizing the truth for two years. I accepted the humiliation and beatings subconsciously agreeing that I was worthless. My ignorance kept me from seeing things for what they were. I was weak and they wanted me to stay that way so they could continue to reap benefits from me.

No more. I had shed my weakness. I had dispelled my ignorance and thrown away the shackles that bound me. This time I would rise. This time they would be the ones to kneel before me with fear in their eyes.

I could no longer contain myself. My rage and strength exploded all at once as I dashed towards Sauer without waiting for the officiator to announce the match.

Like a whisper at the back of my mind I could hear the officiators voice as I crossed the arena, "Haha, It seems Young Lion is eager to start. Let the fight begin!"

My eyes trained on Sauer as boiling killing intent erupted from me. Sauer seemed to notice the difference as a coldness came over the features. The arrogant demeanor he had when he entered the arena changed into a vigilance as he braced himself for my arrival.

All of my carefully thought through plans from before entering the arena faded from my mind. A fog of rage and intense desire for slaughter clouded my mind. I did my best to restrain it, I knew a clear mind was better for a fight, but my rage was just too overwhelming.

As I got close to Sauer I leaped towards him lashing out with both daggers. Sauer raised his club and blocked both of them. Using my momentum I twisted my torso and lashed out with my left leg landing a strike in the middle of Sauer's chestplate. The force of the strike sent Sauer stumbling 5 steps backward and I landed on the ground where he previously stood.

I quickly got up and dashed at towards Sauer again. I could see a surprised look on his face, clearly he had not expected me to lash out with such ferocity considering I hadn't in any of my other matches. Despite the shock he quickly braced himself as he glared at me.

Sauer and I began an intense exchange with our weapons. I was clearly faster than him by a notch, however, his strength allowed him to wield two large iron clubs and with his battle experience he could position them in ways that blocked my strikes. Even though he was successfully defending, he had no opportunities to mount an attack of his own since my barrage of attacks were furiously lashing out at him.

Frustrated at having my attacks continually blocked I lashed out with even more strength and managed to hit one of his clubs hard enough to deflect it into the ground. This gave me a momentary opening. I used shifting sands and shot in close to his right side. In this close he couldn't use his clubs to deflect my strikes and I buried one of my daggers into a gap in his armor near his waist.

Sauer shouted out and pain as he stepped to the side getting a little separation. I prepared to chase after him when Sauer used the club in his right hand to bash into me with a massive force. The club struck my left left side and sent me flying away from him.

The force of the impact was fierce, no doubt Sauer had invested the majority of his stats in strength. Luckily, I had the Dragon Cuirass on or that blow might just have killed me. Still I ended up almost coughing up a mouthful of blood. On the plus side the blow managed to help clear up the fog of rage in my mind and regain control over my thoughts.

As I rose up from the ground I looked towards Sauer. Blood was running down his side and he was clearly favoring his left side with his stance. That stab had clearly weakened his defense. Despite my rage having clouded my judgement for a moment, it just might have given me the advantage I need to take Sauer down.

Chapter end