The wagon rattled to a stop.
No command. No warning. Just a sudden jolt that shook the chains and made a few slaves groan awake. Armin blinked against the blur of heat and light. His throat was dry, his lips cracked, and his stomach twisted with hunger. But his eyes… they were sharp.
He shifted, dragging the weight of his body toward the bars. Through the slits in the wood, he saw it — towering in the distance like a god's tomb.
The Colosseum.
Not just big. Massive. Built from white sandstone and plated in black steel that gleamed under the sun like obsidian. Runic symbols etched deep into the walls pulsed faintly with red light, alive like veins under skin. At the top, spires curved like claws toward the sky. Banners whipped in the wind — bone-white with blood-red spirals. A crest in the middle: two swords crossed over a screaming skull.
Even from here, he could hear it. That noise.
Not screams. Not cries.
Cheering.
A steady roar of thousands of voices — laughing, shouting, chanting. It wasn't just a place. It was a living thing, breathing madness. Hungry.
The wagon creaked forward again, dragging them toward the open gate.
And Armin's stomach turned.
They were going in.
The gates opened like a beast's jaw.
The smell hit first — blood, shit, sweat, and fire. The heat pouring out of the tunnel was humid, unnatural. Something rotted deeper inside. The guards barked orders. Chains clinked as bodies were dragged out. One by one.
A kick to the ribs. "Out. Now."
Armin grunted as he was pulled to his feet. Shackles around his wrists rattled with every step. His bare feet hit the dirt — hot, dry, and rough. He was still weak. Still sore. But his head was clearer than it had been in days.
He kept his eyes forward.
The children were ahead of him in the chain. Still clinging to each other. Still shaking.
Don't look scared, he told himself. Don't give them the pleasure.
They were herded into a tunnel carved into the Colosseum's side. Stone walls, slick with condensation and grime, boxed them in. Torches crackled, throwing harsh shadows that danced over broken bricks. Chains scraped. Feet shuffled.
No one spoke.
They passed rooms lined with bars. Some held creatures Armin didn't recognize — mutants, hybrids, chained monsters with too many limbs or heads. They paced behind bars like predators waiting for the next command.
Eventually, they stopped.
A massive iron door loomed ahead. Rusted. Dented. The lock was the size of a man's skull.
A guard slammed the butt of his spear against it. "Open it."
The door screeched as it swung inward.
The smell got worse.
They were shoved inside — a holding room, but not like any cell Armin had ever seen. The ceiling dripped. Chains hung from the rafters. Blood stained the corners. The floor was uneven, cracked. No windows.
Just despair.
The door slammed shut behind them.
Some slaves dropped to the ground immediately. Others leaned against the walls. A goblin puked in the corner.
And there — on a pile of rags — was that same blond-haired teen from the caravan. Lying back, arms behind his head like he was on vacation. Calm. Like he didn't hear the screams echoing from above. Like the blood on the walls didn't matter.
Armin squinted.
What the hell is with this guy?
Before he could ask, the door opened again.
And he entered.
Fat. Greasy. Dressed in gold that clung to his sweaty skin like oil to meat. His robe was stained with food and blood and gods-knew-what else. His cheeks puffed like he was choking on his own breath. His eyes were too small. But it was his smile that made Armin's skin crawl.
Teeth — not human. Sharp, jagged, and too many. Yellowed. Slick.
"WELL WELL WELL!" he bellowed, arms spread like he was addressing a royal court.
The slaves winced. Some dropped their eyes.
He waddled in, flanked by two goblins in black armor, each holding spiked batons.
"Fresh meat! Look at this divine selection! Demons, dwarves, a minotaur with a half-horn—delightful!"
He sniffed the air. "Ah. The stink of terror. Beautiful."
His eyes swept the room. Landed on Armin. Then the children.
He licked his lips.
Armin's jaw clenched.
"You!" the fat man shouted, pointing at the girl. "You smell like innocence! The crowd's going to love this one…"
He stepped forward, one foot squelching in something wet.
Kneeled before the children.
The boy whimpered.
The girl hid her face.
Brask leaned in.
"Have you ever seen a wyvern eat a man whole? It's divine theater."
Armin's fists curled.
"Enough."
It came out quiet. But sharp.
The room froze.
The goblins turned. Brask slowly stood up, turning toward the sound.
Armin took one step forward.
Chains clanked.
"I said enough."
Brask narrowed his eyes.
"What did you say to me, red-eye?"
Armin didn't blink.
"You want a show? Fine. Then make it a real one. Put me in. Don't waste the crowd's attention on a pair of kids who can't fight back."
Brask snorted. "You trying to be a hero, boy?"
"No," Armin said. "I'm trying to keep your audience from getting bored. I have more blood to spill. More bone to show and more muscles to rip. The crowd wouldn't even be able to see them!"
The room held its breath.
Brask's face twitched.
Then… he laughed.
A wheezing, hacking laugh that turned into a cough. He held his gut and staggered back, nearly slipping on the blood-slicked floor.
"Oh, I like you," he grinned, baring those awful teeth. "Got fire in your belly. That'll burn out soon enough."
He pointed a stubby finger.
"You. Arena. Tomorrow."
Armin said nothing.
Brask turned toward the children again.
"If your red-eyed knight survives, you get another day. If he dies? You're on next."
He licked his lips once more.
Then waddled out, cackling.
The door slammed behind him.
Armin sat against the far wall. Sweat clung to his skin. His muscles still ached. But his breathing was even. Focused.
The troll from the wagon sat nearby, sharpening a bone blade.
"You got a name?" the troll asked without looking up.
"Armin."
"Dumb move, Armin."
"I know."
The troll nodded. "Still. Brave. A bit heroic for a demon though..."
Armin looked down at his hands. Calloused. Cracked. Stained.
"Heroic...eh?"
He wondered.
He summoned the golden board.
Veil Art Unlocked: A.S.C.E.N.D**
**Type: Divine Blessing/Physical**
**Description: Ascend beyond and over the Veil. With this power, you can regenerate very quickly, and you can check on your physical condition and skillset. The limit of your soul's strength no longer exists, and you can grow stronger by gaining [EXP] from fallen foes. Additionally, by using [ASCENSION MODE], you can temporarily, depending on your soul integrity, massively boost your power.**
**Warning: Overuse of [ASCENSION MODE] may damage soul integrity.**
'Makes sense...I am the hero after all.' he secretly thought.
Across the room, the children stared at him.
Not with fear.
With hope.
He smiled.
'Oh how naive you are children....'
He thought with a smirk.
While he did volunteer for them to protect them. His second reason was because for the last seven days he has been fighting monsters in the red sands.
Even though he had to run 70% of the time....
He had heard the message.
[EXP gained]
[Abilities enhancing....]
Exactly 15 times.
So he was much stronger than he had been before.
Much,much stronger.
And he also had this.
[Skillset:Swordsmanship]
**Description: Your potential in the art of swordmanship is greatly enhanced. The basics of swordsmanship are engarved inside your body and senses. Your skill with a sword will be enhanced making it so that you can get the most out of training.**
From what Maton had told him up until now.
Skillsets can level up,fuse and spawn other skills alongside them.
And he has seen that during the past 7 days.
Since he had no Veil Art he was forced to adapt and trained with the sword like a mad man in the past. That's why he was able to defeat Azaran as children.
But,he came across a wall that couldn't be surpassed with his lack of resources.
Well,honestly it was his lack of belief.
He silently gave up at one point. Thinking he needed something else he needed to find before he could "ascend" beyond that wall.
'I finally found it!'
A.S.C.E.N.D was literally the perfect thing for him.
'I'll enter this tournament and farm EXP!'
End of Chapter-015