[Arena 4: The Jungle Gym][Match: Kael vs. Viper Squad (3v1)]
The first round was a melee. Kaelen was thrown into an arena filled with metal pillars against a team of three Level 18 Assassins.
"Easy pickings," the lead Assassin sneered. "3 on 1."
The crowd cheered. They wanted blood. In the VIP box, Silver Masks watched silently, taking notes on tablets.
GONG.
The Assassins vanished using [Stealth]. To a normal player, they were gone. To Kaelen, who had consumed the Shadow Monarch, they were shining beacons. He could feel the shadows they were hiding in.
They are hiding in my element, Kaelen thought.
He didn't move. He stood in the center of the ring. Assassin 1 appeared behind him, dagger aimed at his kidney. "Gotcha!"
Kaelen didn't dodge. He used Fluidity. His torso morphed, bending at an impossible angle. The dagger passed through the empty space where his kidney used to be.
Kaelen grabbed the Assassin's wrist. He didn't use full Decay (too obvious). He used Micro-Decay. He aged the leather strap of the Assassin's armor.
SNAP. The Assassin's chest plate fell off. Kaelen kicked him in the exposed chest. [Strength Check: Success.] The Assassin flew across the arena and hit a pillar. Out cold.
Assassin 2 and 3 panicked. "He's a monk! He uses unarmed combat!"
They rushed him together. Kaelen released a tiny puff of Spores. The Assassins inhaled. Their movements slowed by 10%.
Kaelen danced between them. Jab. Kick. Elbow. He fought efficiently, like a machine. Within thirty seconds, all three were down.
[Winner: Kael!]
The crowd went silent, then erupted. "Did you see that dodge?" "He moves like water!"
Up in the VIP box, a High Inquisitor tapped his screen. "Subject 'Kael'. Style: Unorthodox. Potential anomaly. Mark him for Round 2."