The architecture of the Dust District's central sector changed drastically as Diana and Rhea approached the city center.
The buildings of dark brick and soot gave way to a monumental structure of black stone and wrought iron, erected like a crown of thorns over the district: The Great Silver Arena of the First Circle.
The crowd gathering around the gigantic gates was colossal. Thousands of Hell's inhabitants, including noble demons, seasoned mercenaries, gamblers, and gladiators from various sectors, shouted, bargained, and roared as the colosseum's steam horns announced the start of the Official Ascension Tournament.
Diana stopped before the main staircase, her dark eyes taking in every detail of that colossal structure.
Behind her, Rhea adjusted the sheath of her twin daggers at her belt, her silver ears perked, attentive to the whispers of the crowd.
"This is it…" Rhea said, her voice low yet steady. "The Great Silver Arena. It's the only place in the First Circle where blood merit and brute force can buy official citizenship."
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Ascension Tournament Registration Desk
Behind a reinforced bronze counter, a colosseum official, a four-eyed demon wearing a dark ceremonial robe, evaluated candidates with a look of pure disdain.
"Next!" The official barked.
Diana stepped forward, slamming her hand on the bronze counter. Rhea positioned herself at her side as her official scout.
"Registration for the doubles bracket of the Ascension Tournament." Diana declared, her voice crisp and firm.
The official raised his four eyes, surprised to see a Level 6 human girl accompanied by a Level 5 beast hybrid. He adjusted his magical analysis glasses and let out a dry laugh.
"Level 6 and Level 5…? You two should be in the amateur sector line, girl." The official shook his head. "The Ascension bracket is the official bracket. Most competitors here are Level 7 to 10 gladiators who've been hunting for years in this district."
"I didn't ask for your desk's opinion, official." Diana said, locking her icy gaze on him. "I asked for the registration fee."
The official shut his mouth, irritated by the human's audacity.
"The registration fee for the doubles bracket is 2 Silver Coins." The official said angrily. "And there are no refunds if you're turned into chunks of meat in the first round."
Without blinking, Diana reached into her leather pouch and pulled out two gleaming silver coins, tossing them onto the counter.
[TOURNAMENT FEE PAYMENT COMPLETED]
- Arena Registration Fee: -2 Silver Coins.
[TEMPORARY POCKET BALANCE: 3 SILVER COINS AND 50 BRONZE COINS (350 Bronze)]
The official gathered the silver coins, recorded their names in the colosseum's magical registry book, and handed Diana two bronze medals engraved with their combat registration number: Duo 42.
"Entry through the East Arena gates." The official said in a monotone voice. "If you survive three consecutive matches, you earn the title of bracket champions and the ascension prize. Good luck. You'll need it."
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Main Silver Arena - Tournament 1st Round
The roar of the crowd of over twenty thousand spectators in the colosseum stands was deafening. The red sand and ash floor of the arena was scarred with old bloodstains and magical scorch marks.
Opposite their iron gate, the West side gates lifted with a heavy rattle of chains.
Emerging from the darkness of the tunnel were their first opponents: two veteran district gladiators. A massive Level 8 orc carrying a heavy double-headed axe (Brag, the Crusher) and a Level 7 gray-skinned demon bearing a long spear and iron shield (Kael, the Piercer).
[OPPONENTS DETECTED VIA ANALYSIS]
- Brag (Level 8) - Class: Heavy Warrior (HP: 180 / 180)
- Kael (Level 7) - Class: Spear Guardian (HP: 140 / 140)
The crowd in the stands began jeering and laughing upon seeing the size difference between the two teams. Victory for the veteran gladiators seemed like an obvious, foregone conclusion.
—Heavy enemies with higher levels.
The System's voice resonated in Diana's head, the interface floating in a serious tone.
—That Level 8 orc has Strength 18 at minimum. If he lands a blow on you with that double axe, your leather armor turns into ripped duct tape. How do you plan to handle this, my strategist?
"Rhea." Diana ordered in a low tone, without taking her eyes off the massive orc.
"Yes, Diana?"
"The spearman is yours. Use your Agility 17 to blindside him from the flanks and break his shield stance. Leave the orc to me."
"Understood!"
The colosseum's combat horn blasted loudly across the arena.
"FIGHT!" The arena announcer bellowed.
The massive orc, Brag, let out a grotesque roar and charged across the arena sand, raising his double axe with the intent of splitting Diana in half with a single brutal strike.
"DIE, LITTLE HUMAN!" Brag bellowed.
Diana didn't back down a single millimeter.
With her 11 points of Agility and 12 Strength, she waited for the exact moment the orc entered the 15-meter range.
She raised her open right hand.
ARCANE ENERGY ARROW!
10 MP points flowed instantly. The glowing, translucent arrow of pure magic energy fired from the palm of Diana's hand at impressive speed, slicing through the arena air with a sharp whistle.
BOOM!
The magic projectile struck the orc square in the face. The blast of arcane energy temporarily blinded the giant and sent him staggering backward through the sand, his HP dropping 35 points in one blow.
"WHAT?! SHE USES MAGIC?!" The crowd in the stands screamed in shock.
Before the orc could recover from the impact of the magical explosion, Rhea was already in motion.
Using her new [Shadow Step], the hybrid girl turned into a silver shadow that flanked spearman Kael's shield, appearing directly behind his back.
CRUNCH!
Rhea's twin iron daggers sliced through the tendons in Kael's arms, sending his heavy spear dropping to the sand.
In under a minute of synchronized combat, the veteran Level 8 and 7 gladiator pair was completely dismantled.
Diana charged forward like a ravenous lioness.
VORACIOUS THROW!
She hurled her throwing knife straight into the staggering orc's throat. The critical strike pierced the hide and wiped out the rest of the giant's HP. The knife automatically returned to Diana's hand wrapped in an aura of golden light.
The orc and the spearman collapsed onto the red sand, defeated.
The entire colosseum fell into dead silence for two full seconds… before exploding into an overwhelming roar of applause and shocked screams.
"AND THE WINNERS OF THE FIRST ROUND ARE… DUO 42!"
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The following two tournament rounds were a staggering showcase of the flawless growth Diana and Rhea had built over a single week.
With the long-range control of Diana's Arcane Arrow and the lethal speed of Rhea's Agility 17, none of the opposing teams managed to so much as graze the pair's leather gear.
After three consecutive, unquestionable victories, Diana and Rhea ascended to the center of the champions' podium at the Great Silver Arena.
The colosseum's chief judge handed Diana the official Ascension Tournament reward:
[ASCENSION TOURNAMENT REWARD CLAIMED!]
- Colosseum Cash Prize: +10 Gleaming Silver Coins!
- Ascension Item: 2 Level 1 Official Citizenship Medallions of the First Circle.
- Crossing Pass: Access Authorization to the Second Circle of Hell Portal!
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[FULL FINANCIAL AUDIT - END OF CHAPTER 9]
Previous Balance (Before Registration): 5 Silver and 50 Bronze.
Arena Registration Fee: -2 Silver.
Subtotal: 3 Silver and 50 Bronze.
TOURNAMENT VICTORY PRIZE: +10 Silver Coins.
[NEW ABSOLUTE POCKET BALANCE: 13 SILVER COINS AND 50 BRONZE COINS (1,350 Bronze!)]
Thirteen silver coins and fifty bronze.
A true fortune accumulated in her pocket.
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Shadow Portal - Border between the First and Second Circles
Two hours after their victory in the arena, Diana and Rhea stood before the colossal Shadow Portal, a thirty-meter-tall circular structure made of black marble and golden runes that separated the First Circle from the rest of Hell.
Two elite guards of the Second Circle, clad in dark platinum armor, checked Diana's citizenship medallions and crossing pass.
"Passage authorized." The lead guard said, his voice echoing deep from behind his helm. "Welcome to the Second Circle: The Ivory Citadel of Desire."
Before they crossed the purple light portal leading to the new world, the guard looked at Diana and delivered a stern warning:
"Enjoy the trip, girl. The First Circle was merely the trash periphery of Hell. The Second Circle is where the true nobles, grand Guilds, and Elite Dungeons reside. But be aware of an absolute rule…"
Diana raised an eyebrow. "What rule?"
"To gain crossing authorization to the Third Circle…" The guard said, his eyes glowing behind his visor. "…you and your ally must reach at minimum LEVEL 50."
Level 50.
Beside Diana, Rhea caught her breath, shocked by the magnitude of that number. Currently, they were at Level 6 and 5. Reaching Level 50 meant braving colossal dungeons, legendary monsters, guild wars, and hazards they could barely conceive.
But Diana… Diana didn't flinch.
The floating System window appeared before her eyes, flashing in an extremely bright, dark golden hue:
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
[First Circle Tutorial Phase: COMPLETED!]
[Expanded World Unlocked: Second Circle - The Ivory Citadel!]
[The Story Begins Now.]
—Welcome to the real game, Diana.
The System's voice echoed in her head, devoid of mockery, yet charged with a grim expectation.
—You wanted the top, didn't you? The First Circle was just the playground. The Second Circle is where the world is going to try to crush you for real.
A wide, insane, arrogant, hungry smile tore across Diana's face.
She adjusted the pouch with 13 silver coins on her belt, gripped the hilt of her dark steel dagger, and looked at Rhea, who stood ready to follow any order.
"Level 50…?" Diana laughed softly, a cold laugh packed with insatiable greed. "That just means there is way more for me to take in that place."
With 13 Silver and 50 Bronze in her pocket, Level 6 reached, official citizenship claimed, and a loyal partner by her side, Diana took her first step into the portal of light, crossing the border and stepping into the vast, dangerous Second Circle of Hell.
Final Notes:
Yep, the tutorial is pretty much over now, as surprising as that might sound, things are about to scale up a bit, and the next circus is going to be WAY harder to escape, big time. You could say this is where the story truly begins- (yeah, only now)
I'm super happy, we're doing sooo well!