The atmosphere in the arena had shifted from curiosity to bloodlust.
Main Event. The torches burned green and purple. The stands packed to capacity—not just with NPCs. Hundreds of players who'd heard the rumors on the forums.
"The One-Second Kid vs. The King!"
"My money is on Gorgon. Did you see his stats? He has 3,000 HP!"
"Yeah, but Zero is bugged. Might crash the server."
Sebastian stood in the tunnel. Listening to the roar. He checked his inventory.
[Gold: 7,650]
He walked to the betting terminal in the prep room.
"All of it," Sebastian said. "On Zero."
[Bet Placed: 7,650 Gold.]
[Odds: 10:1]
If he won, nearly 80,000 Gold. Enough to buy the materials for the Sanctuary's foundation.
"AND NOW!" The announcer screamed. His voice shaking the cavern. "THE MAIN EVENT!"
"IN THE RED CORNER... HE IS THE EATER OF STEEL! THE UNKILLABLE BEAST! GORGON!"
The gate opposite Sebastian exploded outward. A massive figure charged into the sand.
Gorgon was a hulking brute of a player. Standing seven feet tall. He'd chosen the Barbarian race. Giving him grey skin and tusks. He wielded two massive battleaxes that dripped with green poison. Wore armor made from the bones of dungeon bosses.
"RRAAAAAAGH!"
Gorgon slammed his axes together. Creating a shockwave that kicked up dust.
[Player: Gorgon]
[Level: 15]
[Class: Berserker]
[HP: 3,200]
[Passive: Undying Rage (Cannot die for 10 seconds after reaching 0 HP. Damage increases by 200% during this state.)]
"AND IN THE BLUE CORNER... THE MYSTERY! THE DRIFTER! ZE-RO!"
Sebastian walked out calmly. Wasn't wearing armor. Still wore the tattered rags. Though he held the smoky, translucent [Shadowfang] dagger in his right hand.
Gorgon pointed an axe at him.
"You're small," Gorgon rumbled. His voice deep and distorted. "I will break your spine."
Sebastian looked up at the VIP box. He could see Madame Thorne sipping her wine. Watching intently.
[Combat Start!]
"DIE!"
Gorgon didn't waste time. Activated [Charge].
His massive body blurred. Turning into a freight train of muscle and bone. The ground shook with every step. He closed the fifty-meter gap in two seconds.
"Skill: Whirlwind!"
Gorgon spun. His axes turning into a blender of death. The wind pressure alone cut furrows into the ground. If that hit, Sebastian would be minced meat.
The crowd screamed.
Sebastian didn't run. Didn't cast a shield.
He watched the axes coming.
'Physical damage,' Sebastian calculated. 'High velocity. Predictable trajectory.'
Just as the axe blade was about to touch his nose, Sebastian whispered.
"Void Walk."
VWOOM.
His body turned into grey smoke.
Gorgon's axe passed straight through Sebastian's head.
The crowd gasped.
Gorgon stumbled. He'd expected resistance. The crunch of bone. Instead, he swung through empty air. His momentum carried him forward. Spinning through the ghost-like figure of Sebastian.
"What?!" Gorgon roared. Spinning around.
Sebastian materialized directly behind him. The colors of the world snapped back into focus.
"You have a lot of HP," Sebastian noted calmly. "Your mind is weak though."
Gorgon turned. Eyes glowing red. "Coward! Stop phasing and fight!"
He raised his axes for a [Skull Crusher] slam.
Sebastian holstered his dagger. Raised his right hand. Palm open. Fingers spread.
He accessed his Skill Tree. He'd played around with the Lightning skill earlier. Now he needed precision. Didn't want to kill Gorgon—Gorgon had the Undying Rage. If Sebastian dropped his HP to zero, Gorgon would become invincible for 10 seconds. Deal triple damage. Annoying.
The solution wasn't death. Incapacitation.
He dumped 500 Infinite Skill Points into [Touch of Shock].
[Ding! Touch of Shock evolved to... Lightning Grasp.]
[Ding! Lightning Grasp evolved to... Thunder God's Judgment.]
[Skill: Thunder God's Judgment (Tier 4)]
[Effect: Fires a concentrated bolt of divine lightning that targets the nervous system. Causes 100% Paralysis Chance ignoring resistance. Bypasses 'Undying' traits by targeting the brain's motor functions.]
"Goodnight," Sebastian said.
CRACK-BOOM!
A jagged spear of golden lightning shot from the sky—not from Sebastian's hand. From the ceiling of the cavern itself. Sebastian had manifested the spell directly above his opponent.
The bolt struck Gorgon on the helmet.
No explosion. No fire.
Gorgon simply... stopped.
His eyes rolled back into his head. His muscles locked up instantly. Freezing him mid-swing. The massive axes slipped from his numb fingers. Clattered to the ground.
[Status: Absolute Paralysis (Duration: 60 seconds)]
Gorgon stood there. A statue of meat and rage. Unable to twitch a finger.
Sebastian walked over to him. Tapped Gorgon on the chest. The Berserker toppled over stiffly. Hit the sand with a heavy thud.
Sebastian placed his foot on Gorgon's chest. Looked at the referee drone hovering nearby.
"He can't move. Can't fight. Call it."
The drone scanned Gorgon.
[Target Incapacitated.]
[Winner: Zero!]
The silence held for a moment. Then the arena exploded. Not with boos this time. With shock and awe.
He hadn't just killed him. Humiliated him. He'd turned the "Unkillable" Berserker into a paperweight.
[System: You have won the bet.]
[Winnings: 76,500 Gold.]
Sebastian looked up at the VIP box. Madame Thorne raised her glass in a toast. A look of pure delight—and greed—on her face.
Sebastian smirked. He had the capital.
"Time to go shopping," he whispered. "The Auction House awaits."
He turned. Left the arena. Leaving the paralyzed King lying in the dirt behind him. The Legend of Zero had officially begun.