[Congratulations, you have obtained the Ember: The Long Lost Gift]
Ignoring the whispers, Ash turned his attention back to the monster and examined its vitality. Even after a few seconds, when there were no changes, he heaved a sigh of relief.
The adrenaline rush supporting him ended as a wave of pain and nausea hit him from all sides.
Ughh!
Crying in pain, Ash slumped, his back hitting the ground. His heart was racing faster than his breath.
Now that the immediate danger was over, Ash calmed his nerves, took a few deep breaths, and observed the monster. Seeing the dark miasma around him dispersing like a mist, he knew the danger was truly over.
Lifting his gaze, he looked at the host and was about to ask a question when Monarick opened his mouth.
"Hmm!! tell me... tell me... how did you survive the impact... hmm!! You.. how did you do it? Are you hiding something… hmm!! Are you cheater.. cheater .."
Even with the disaster happening, Monarick didn't let go of his role as the performer. Others couldn't see it, but a curiosity, along with doubt, had crept over his face.
Feigning ignorance, Ash looked straight in his eyes and muttered, "Huh! Did I do something special? Did I?" Wiping the blood off his face, he added, "Can others not do that?"
If the blood tyrant were to be here, then it would be over, but he is not here, and not everyone possesses an artifact that can detect lies.
Even so, there was no lack of people among the guests who could see the movement of essence, but today was truly his lucky day if that could even be said.
Unknowingly, the monster helped him by covering his essence track with its miasma.
Hearing the reply, Monarick's lips curled up in a smile, "Hahah! certainly not... nope, not everyone can do it... But then again, there is a difference between those who can and those who can't."
Pausing to add a dramatic effect, Monarick leaned forward, touched Ash's chin with his palm, and whispered,
"And do you know what we call them..."
Uncomfortable, Ash slid a bit back, away from Monarick's range, and shook his head.
"Weee call themmm... winnnnneeer." Monarick raised his voice as it echoed in the colosseum.
Lifting himself from the ground, he floated in the air and looked toward the guests.
"Everyone... did you witness the same thing as me... the man here killed not only a primor despite being a mortal but endured a direct hit from a corrupted creature as well..."
Laughing almost comically, Monarick continued.
"What to say, there are some people who are blessed by the gods... now.. what do you want to do, Duke... should we let him fight another battle or let the poor rest?"
'No, no, please let me... rest, I can't even lift a finger anymore.'
Praying, Ash turned his head, but the shimmer of the lanterns made it so he couldn't discern the Duke's expression.
Making up his mind, he decided to intervene instead of leaving the decision to luck.
"Hmm! cough cough! Sir Host... can I say something?"
Beaming with joy, Monarick turned his head and lifted his hand in the air, "Ohh! my my... why not... everyone our special guest wants to say something, should we hear it?"
A silence remained in the crowd for a while before the voice of the Duke echoed in the surroundings, "I will allow it."
"Well, there you have it.... Let's listen to what our winner has to say. Is he going to motivate us… huh! Or is he going to tell his backstory?"
Hearing his hyping his words like this, Ash felt goosebumps around his body.
Gulping, Ash lifted his head; still unable to see anything, he whispered his words with enough force to reach Monarick and not beyond to the guests.
"I think there is no point in my continuing the show."
"Hmm! And?" Monarick asked, his ears perking up in curiosity.
The moment he had entered the colosseum, Ash had observed one thing very clearly. The man who called himself Monarick was too engrossed in the role of the entertainer.
The way he talked, the way he presented himself... every action of his seemed like it was directed toward the audience. Not only to those who remained in the guest list... but something beyond.
Ash couldn't put into words exactly whatever it was, the artist inside of him or something else. But what he knew was that if the person in front of him was obsessed with his role.
With all the knowledge in his mind, Ash decided to take a risk.
"You already introduced me as special... now do you have any special opponent I can fight?"
Hearing the question, Monarick lifted his head as if lost in thought. He tried remembering, but eventually shook his head.
"No... no any I can remember… You know it's hard to find a special being such as yourself…"
His lips twitched, but Ash controlled himself. Presenting himself as something special, he muttered,
"Now tell me, sir... would it be good if a special... I'm not saying I'm, but you had said this yourself and created an expectation of that within your guests... hmm! Now think, sir, what would be the reaction they will give if they find that I fight someone normal."
Pausing, Ash wagered Monarick's expression and pointed toward himself, "Now look at me... do I appear as someone who can fight... huh! I can bet I will lose to a lamb, let alone a human. And if I lose this pathetically... then what type of image will it leave on the guests... especially the duke..."
Hearing this, the smile over Monarick's face faded as he found himself lost in thought. Instinctively, his head moved upside down, agreeing with Ash's analogy.
'This is the right time...'
Knowing the iron was hot, Ash added, "How about this, sir... find someone special, and I will put on even more of a worthy performance than this.. I will make sure you will enjoy it to the end."
With this, Ash chose silence because he understood that during negotiations, the ability to talk isn't the only thing important. What matters even more is to know when to pause, giving the other person time to think.
To let one overthink enough to enter a trap willingly. And that was exactly what Monarick did.
Instead of replying to anything to Ash, he hovered in the air and announced, "Hmm!! our special prisoner has suggested something I think is just... I will dare ask you, mighty to give him a chance to rest."
Calming his ever-increasing heartbeat, Ash turned his head toward the guest area.