"First Battle of the Day is as follows: Ratella Evergarden vs Alexander Croft!" announced a mysterious voice filling every part of the arena. Someone's Edict of Creation was most likely behind the voice amplifying it several times its natural volume. The Edict of Creation's versatility would be truly terrifying in the wrong hands.
Ratella stood up from his seat, walking towards the exit to the waiting room, the exit to the arena, highlighted by the vast number of guards all wearing the colours of the Sun, making them unmissable.
He spotted one of their earlier aggressors walking just ahead of him; his opponent had been decided from the moment he set foot in the waiting room.
They took opposite positions in the arena. Alexander eyed him with aversion practically oozing out of his gaze, his earlier behaviour not forming a positive opinion in the proud man's mind.
"Alexander Croft: Five Wins and two losses! Ratella Evergarden: Zero Wins and Zero losses. Can the new challenger defeat an experienced veteran of the Radiant Arena!?"
"On the count of three, you'll begin your battle!"
"Excuse me, Sir announcer?" asked Ratella, banishing the murmurs circling around the arena, the unexpected interruption shocking everyone to silence.
"What are you doing? Don't interrupt the announcer!" barked Alexander, his fury only growing at his rude behaviour.
"I'll allow the interruption to his newbie status. What is it, Ratella Evergarden?"
"How does this game work? Is it point-based, or can I just kill him instantly to advance to the next fight quickly?"
"A clean death awards ten points, a clean strike awards one point, a knockout awards five points, furthering to ten if the opponent doesn't recover, and finally, a knockdown awards three points. You are free to kill your opponent if you are able. And if you hit ten points, you win the match, no debate possible. "
"You don't need to worry about points. You won't land a single one on me if anyone's dying today, it's you."
"If there are no more questions, we shall get on with the match! It seems Ratella uses a lance and sword. Which one will he withdraw against Alexander? Place your bets now while you still can!"
"I'll end this fast, Evergarden. You won't lay a hand on your weapons," Alexander sneered.
"One, Two, Three! Fight!"
Before Alexander had the chance to move, he was paralysed by Ratella's bloodlust, focusing directly on him. The pent-up bloodlust and cardinal desire to kill and consume oozing out of his body temporarily spread to the whole arena before he controlled it, focusing the murderous intent directly at Alexander.
The poisonous bloodlust infecting his mind needed an outlet to relieve its effect every once in a while, or he risks turning feral. He hadn't released it in eight months, causing the thoughts of uncontrollable murder to be stronger within his mind, swaying his actions down the path of blood.
Alexander was paralysed by his bloodlust; the overwhelming malice emanating from his form destroyed all sense in his mind. His nose was beginning to swell crimson, the immense power behind his aura alone bursting blood vessels around his body.
Alexander couldn't focus on the pain rippling through his body, becoming completely ignorant of his otherwise agonising effects, focusing directly on the encroaching figure of Ratella.
A sweet but menacing smile was plastered on his face.
Alexander's terror and dread at the figure were only mounting with each step, inching the malice-filled angel closer to him. Unable to speak or move to protect himself, the only movement was the stream of urine pouring down his leg.
The crowd was speechless at the display before their eyes, the slip of bloodlust making them too scared to move a muscle. The overwhelming malice emanated from him, rooting them to their seats, not a word escaping into the looming silence.
Ratella focused more of his malice-filled aura into Alexander's body, annihilating the weaker parts of his body. The blood vessels in his body are collapsing in on each other, causing immense internal bleeding; the man's lack of divinity is his ruin, unable to guard against such a primal attack.
Finally, Ratella concentrated his aura to wrap around the man's heart, causing it to implode under the strain. Alexander's eyes oozed scarlet, a river of crimson flowing from his last breaths before he fell silent.
Ratella tapped the man's temple, causing him to fall backwards to the ground, thudding against the floor despite his obvious victory. No one cheered or booed. The method he used to win only invited horror into the hearts of the onlookers.
"He's dead, so I get ten points right, meaning I win. It's not my fault he couldn't handle a little malice," said Ratella softly, not acknowledging the horror of his power he just displayed to the audience.
"That's absolutely correct! Ratella Evergarden has won this bout, bringing his wins to 1 and losses to 0. Will anyone be able to challenge this man without quivering? We'll just have to see later on!"
"Why would they quiver at fighting me? I don't use primal methods on everyone—only the rot," Ratella said, voice steady.
"You've heard it here first, everyone. As long as you aren't deemed rot by Ratella, you won't meet such a fate. Now, ready your weapons, you'll certainly need every advantage you can get against this titan of battle!"