1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 61: Dance With The Fox

It took a minute for the demi-human to completely straighten himself out, though nasty bruising was left on his exposed abdomen. Noah watched patiently from the center of the arena, taking note of the state of his opponent.

’Guess using "Enhance" would be a bit much. Gotta be careful using my axe, too. Rain told me the healers stationed in the arena are top-notch, but if I accidentally cut him in two...Well, not going to risk that,’ he considered while rubbing his chin.

Lacian puffed his chest out, sharply exhaling while thrusting both hands forward, "--I’ll respect you as a worthy opponent! This is the art passed down through the Karan clan!"

Rapidly, the temperature shifted within the arena as the air seemed to expand with a great abundance of heat.

From above, the eccentric announcer’s voice echoed, "H-HERE IT COMES, FOLKS! THE HEREDITARY MAGIC OF THE KARAN CLAN! YOU’RE GETTING YOUR MONEY’S WORTH TODAY, AUDIENCE–IT’S A THING OF BEAUTY!"

The presence of the emerging mana forced the dormant barriers around the stands to reveal themselves, shielding the crowd from the rising humidity.

’Getting a bit hot, isn’t it?’ He thought, feeling himself sweat as he tugged on the collar of his coat.

The moment he attempted to approach, the air around Lacian shifted, taking the form of blazing, vibrant apparitions. Like a dance, the demi-human stomped his feet in a rhythm, moving his hands through the mystical air.

"Bring forth the Fourth Plane," Lacian chanted, raising his hands. "Hunt, Great Rogas!"

As the fox-eared adventurer’s words howled through the arena, the air around him took the form of ethereal beasts. Giant canines born of scarlet and azure flames heeded the call of the warrior, stirring an eruption of favor from the spectators.

Around the perimeter of the battlefield, the elemental foxes sprinted in a circle, not yet approaching their chosen enemy. Noah kept his guard raised, unsure of what exactly the unique magic entailed.

"Are ya shaking in your boots yet?!" Lacian proudly asked from across the arena. "This is the magic I used to bring down a Blight Wyvern! It’s the real deal! So, concede if you wanna!"

Instead of considering that oh-so-kind offer, Noah held his hand out, "Ten Souls: Open."

"What?--" Lacian watched.

From the axe-wielding rookie’s position, a well of spiritual energy emerged, giving entrance to a chromatic gateway that appeared beside him.

While the ethereal foxes encircled him, the crowd now watched in anticipation of his counter.

[Ten Souls] [SS-Rank Exorcist Skill]

[Fourth Soul: Spirit Guardian of Heartless Winters, Glacia]

Beside him, a feminine figure of pale, light-blue skin, dressed in shining jewels manifested. She possessed beauty not unlike that of a process, yet clung closely beside him.

Lacian looked on with a mixture of confusion and worry, "A summon–?"

"IS THAT SUMMONING MAGIC?! WE’RE NOT DEALING WITH YOUR USUAL ROOKIE HERE, FOLKS...! HE’S MATCHING LACIAN’S MAGIC WITH HIS OWN!"

Even those that were in Noah’s party were left with little understanding of the power he put on display, all the while, Otto cheered from his special, first-hand viewing.

"I have heeded your summon, Master," Glacia greeted. "Shall I assist you?"

"Please do," Noah asked kindly.

The demi-human slapped his palms together with desperation, shouting out, "Hunt them!"

At once, the command urged the elemental beasts to begin their charge from all directions, leaving smoldering prints in their path.

He didn’t so much as take a step, leaving the counterattack entirely to the guardian spirit embodying the bitter, yet beautiful frost–

The ethereal beauty ascended, kissing the tip of her finger before waving her hand in an elegant fashion, guiding a wind that carried with it the wind of a hundred winters. It immediately encased the battlegrounds in ice, covering the stone in a sleek slate while freezing even the burning foxes solid.

Lacian could only watch as the cold reached him too, leaving the demi-human exhaling cold wind, "--They were frozen!? That’s not possible...!"

In mere moments, the arena built of stone had turned into a glacial biome.

Noah looked over to the woman of icy skin beside him, giving a thankful nod, "Thanks, Glacia. That’s all I needed for now."

The dutiful spirit bowed her head with a hand over her chest, "Call on me if you need anything else. Good luck, Master!"

Just like that, the guardian spirit withdrew, leaving the frost she left behind shattering into particles of ice. No remnants of Lacian’s hereditary magic was left, only the two adventurers watching each other as snowflakes drifted in the arena.

"So, I underestimated you–I’ll admit it, fully!" Lacian confessed, puffing his chest out again as bestial flames began to coat his body. "--Still! I’m not done yet!"

An armor resembling the presence of a blazing, azure fox manifested over the demi-human’s body as he crouched down before–he vanished. For Noah, his opponent never escaped his view, though for the spectators, they failed to keep up.

From one wall to another, dashing and leaping through the perimeter of the enclosed battlefield, the prideful fighter moved swiftly. Each place the fox demi-human stepped, a trail of vibrant fire was left burning.

"THIS IS IT! LACIAN’S TRUMP CARD...HIS BEAST CLOAK!" The announcer stammered out while the audience watched in anticipation.

It was from above that Noah saw it: the first strike launched by the amplified beast-man. Though from a dozen meters in the air, the swiping motion made by Lacian manifested through five lines of fire, cutting downward.

[Mega-Chop]

To intercept the burning claws, he swung his axe upward. The sound it made was like thunder crackling, causing some spectators to cover their ears—THWOOM.

Before the eviscerating blaze could reach him, the air pressure from his axe met it halfway, causing the fire to erupt in the air.

"U-U-UNBELIEVABLE...! NOAH COUNTERED LACIAN’S ATTACK WITH A SINGLE SWING?!"

The moment the demi-human’s feet touched the ground, Noah was there with swiftness that lost even the most observant spectators.

"Ngh–?!" Lacian flinched, stepping back.

Even the bestial instincts were pushed to the limit as the demi-human crossed his arms to defend himself, only for the bottom of the axe to strike him in the gut. The sound that left Lacian’s mouth was like a whistle, as all the air was forced out, along with a bit of saliva.

For a moment, the fox-eared man’s eyes went white before he snapped back into focus as his muscles briefly swelled. As if moved by pure reflex, Lacian swiped his claws, leaving trails of fire.

[The Snake’s Eye]

Noah smoothly evaded being cut, using minimal movements to avoid the burning lacerations while the crowd cheered in awe.

’I intended to knock him out with that hit, but I guess this guy is pretty tough. Actually, am I just too strong?’ He considered while dodging.

Ducking beneath a sweeping heap of bright-blue fire, he closed the gap, using the blunt end of his axe to swing upward into the sternum of his opponent. He put his back into it this time, leading it right into the leaned-over demi-human:

"Pffuuu–" Lacian gasped out.

The impact immediately caused the enchanting flames to disperse from Lacian’s body, along with any consciousness. The demi-human stumbled back as his tail wagged weakly before–he collapsed.

For a moment, the crowd was entirely silent, only broken once the announcer spoke:

"LACIAN IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE FIGHTING–! WHAT AN UPSET! THE NEWCOMER, NOAH SOUL, HAS DEFEATED LACIAN! HE’S MOVING ONTO ROUND TWO!"

[EXP: +20,000] [Current Experience: 50,000/75,000]

["Close-Quarters Combat" Proficiency Up +5] [175/999]

["Dueling" Proficiency Up +1] [31/100]

["Weather Resistance" Proficiency Up +1] [11/100]

["Strength" Proficiency Up +1] [278/999]