Chronicles of Forgotten Extra-Chapter 107: Skullcrusher?

Alden entered the waiting room.

There were already some people inside, all wearing masks and minding their own business.

Alden took a seat at one corner.

There was a large screen in the centre of the room showing an ongoing match inside the arena.

A man with a curved dagger was trying to outrun his opponent, but a second later, blood sprayed across the arena.

The audience roared as the victor stood over the corpse.

The rules of these matches were simple.

Kill your opponent or force them to surrender.

Surrendering was possible—technically. But in a place like this, most fighters didn't show mercy.

Most people fighting in this arena were those at and below Apprentice Rank.

The reason was simple: those at Adept Rank and higher were highly sought out by various guilds. They could easily earn lots of money.

So the highest-ranking challenger in the arena was probably at apprentice rank.

Alden just sat silently waiting for his turn. He didn't have to wait long.

A skinny man entered the room.

"Damien," the man said, "your match will begin in five minutes."

Alden looked at him calmly.

"Proceed to the arena."

"Your opponent is Skullcrusher."

Huh?

Alden blinked.

He could already imagine a burly and rough-looking guy with a hammer or a mace in his hand just by the name.

But still Skullcrusher? Really?

He glanced at the other fighters. He was honestly expecting at least one of them to laugh, but no one did.

Instead a few fighters in the room murmured.

"Skullcrusher? Hah, this guy is a goner."

"Skullcrusher never lets opponents walk out alive."

"That kid looks new… bad luck to get matched with Skullcrusher in the first match."

Alden ignored them, standing up.

Well, let's see if this 'Skullcrusher' lives up to his name.

He stepped out of the waiting room and started walking towards the main arena.

His gaze filled with determination.

He soon reached the main arena, his footsteps steady. The moment he appeared, a deafening roar spread out.

The underground arena was massive, to say the least.

It was a large, circular open-air venue with tiered seating. A wall of steel bars separated the fighting ring from the spectators.

The crowd was screaming like crazy. They didn't care who won. They just wanted to see blood.

Alden's stomach churned as he looked at the ecstasy-filled faces of the spectators.

He averted his gaze, focusing on his opponent.

What the hell?

His eyes widened in disbelief.

So… Skullcrusher wasn't some burly, hammer-wielding giant after all.

Skullcrusher was a woman.

She had short red hair. She wore a mask on her face carved with a fox on it, which covered only her upper face. She had an amused smile on her face.

She was wearing a lightweight armour, built for speed. Her hand held a curved dagger.

Alden's eyes narrowed.

She looks like a tricky opponent.

The announcer's voice echoed across the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, we have fresh blood." The announcer continued, "A newcomer."

"Will he survive, or will he be another name lost to these sands?"

What the hell kind of introduction was that?

Alden looked at the announcer who was standing in the centre of the ring. He had a black mask on his face.

The crowd screamed at the introduction.

Skullcrusher tilted her head.

"You look cute." Her voice was low. "It truly is a shame that I have to break you."

Alden stared at her blankly.

Woman, my face is hidden behind a mask. How do you even know I am cute?

Alden thought in his mind but he didn't bother saying it out loud.

No point.

He just took out his sword from his storage ring; at least that's what others would think.

He simply took a deep breath and relaxed his muscles.

A loud sound echoed through the arena.

The match had begun.

Skullcrusher moved first.

Fast.

She blurred toward Alden, her dagger shining under the lights.

Alden barely twisted his body to the side.

Damn, she isn't playing around.

But the moment he did—

Boom.

Something exploded beneath his feet.

A hidden trap.

He barely managed to throw himself to the side.

Dirt and dust flew into the air, blinding him for a moment.

FK, isn't that cheating?

When did she even plant that?

Alden didn't have any time to think, she was already behind him.

Slash.

A thin line of blood appeared on his arm.

Alden jumped backward, his senses sharpening.

Alright, no more playing around.

He had activated his skills [Spirit Domain] and [Eyes of Supreme].

His perception increases, as he could sense everything within a 20m radius.

Even the faintest shift in the movement of Skullcrusher was clear to him.

She can't ambush me again.

She smirked. "Not bad. Let's see how well you handle this."

She sheathed her dagger and took a step forward—her entire body radiating a strange, alluring energy.

Alden's mind wavered for a fraction of a second.

It was a skill.

A seductive, charming skill, something that could mesmerise an opponent.

[Mental interference detected]

[Sub-Skill – Spirit Domain had successfully negated the effects of the skill]

His Spirit Domain protected his mind, making it impossible for her ability to take hold.

Skullcrusher, who was just on her way to attack, froze for a moment.

"How… How did you do that?" Her face filled with surprise and disbelief. "How did you negate my skill?"

"Why don't you try guessing?" Alden smirked.

So it was indeed a skill.

Skills were rare, very rare, to say the least.

They were found in dungeons sometimes.

The chances of one appearing were lower than ten per cent. So they were expensive as well.

They had one advantage: anyone could use them even if they didn't have an affinity for that element.

Even the rich heirs of famous families only had a few, so an ordinary fighter having a skill made no sense at all.

He didn't give her any time to get out of her surprise as he disappeared.

Before Skullcrusher could react, Alden reappeared behind her.

His sword slashed toward her back.

But—

Clang

She twisted her body, deflecting his attack with her dagger.

Her speed and reflexes are insane.

Is she an assassin or something?

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Of course, my first match had to be against a freaking fire-wielding assassin.

Just my rotten luck.

Alden jumped back, making some distance between them.

The audience were screaming in approval.

"He's not bad."

"But Skullcrusher is just getting started."

"You better not lose Skullcrusher. I bet my life savings on you."

"Kill him and make it slow."

Skullcrusher grinned.

She didn't care about what those losers were screaming from the spectators' stand.

She found the boy in front of her interesting.

He looked to be similar to her age, and his realm was also lower than hers, but… he still was somehow keeping up with her attack.

How did he use Shadow Steps, though?

Isn't that technique only usable after becoming at least an apprentice rank?

So how is he using it?

Is it some kind of skill?

Or perhaps it's his special ability?

He even negated my seduction skill.

'How interesting.'

For the first time in a while, she was feeling the thrill.

She lifted her free hand—and suddenly, flames burst to life around her palm.

She was a Fire Element user.

Alden clicked his tongue.

Fire was a bad match-up for his Shadow Element at his current level.

This just got a lot harder.

She wasted no time.

Flames coiled around her dagger as she shot forward in his direction.

Every movement of hers was fast, too fast and unpredictable.

Alden could barely react even with his [Spirit Domain] and [Eyes of Supreme] active.

He dodged left. She adjusted.

He countered. She dodged over it, twisting her body mid-air and launching a flame-covered kick towards his head.

Alden barely ducked in time. The heat was scorching his skin. His whole body was covered in sweat.

He was just one mistake away from being turned into ash.

Skullcrusher was too strange.

Sometimes she fought like an assassin, while other times like a martial artist.

She is definitely not an ordinary fighter.

They had exchanged nearly hundreds of attacks in mere two or three minutes.

Skullcrusher played with the dagger in her hands.

She looked completely relaxed, as if this was just another game to her.

"You're doing better than I thought," she said with a smirk. "Most of them don't even last this long."

Alden took a deep breath. He kept his breathing steady. His arms in pain from deflecting her relentless attacks.

His body was full of small scratches and injuries, although none of them were serious, they were building up slowly but surely.

Skullcrusher, however, didn't have even a single injury on her body. She looked as pristine as she was when the match started.

But he wasn't about to show weakness.

He changed his stance slightly, he had analysed her movements.

She was fast … too fast and tricky as hell.

Alden exhaled sharply.

The crowd was also going wild. They were cheering and shouting for more blood.

Some of them were screaming for Skullcrusher to finish him off, while others wanted her to torture him.

"Are you tired already, Damien?" Skullcrusher tilted her head slightly. "Want me to end it quickly?"

"You talk too much." Alden responded plainly.

Her grin widened. "Then let's fix that."

With a burst of fire, she shot forward at him—but this time, the flames weren't just normal.

They were moving unnaturally, spreading out like a living thing. A thin membrane of fire clung to her skin like armour.

Is it a technique? A skill? No—something's off.

Techniques require precise control.

Skills follow set rules.

But this?

This fire felt… unrestricted and free, as if it had a will of its own.

He immediately understood what it was.

It's definitely a special ability.

Just fantastic. As if fire wasn't bad enough, now it seems to have a mind of its own.