Is this really a Game?!

The team followed the elven woman, their minds focused and bodies ready for the challenge ahead. The corridors they walked through were familiar, yet the atmosphere felt heavier with the anticipation of the upcoming one-on-one battles. Each step brought them closer to the arena, where their skills and determination would be tested individually.

As they arrived at the arena, the elven woman turned to face them. "You will be called one by one to face your opponent. The battles will take place in various sections of the arena, each designed to test different aspects of combat."

Ding!

[ Second Regular Trial: One-on-One Combat ]

[ Objective: Defeat your assigned opponent. Success condition: Opponent is defeated. Failure condition: You are defeated. ]

Ding!

[ For the trials to continue, all of the members have to have more wins than losses, if one member loses today, they will have to fight again, and they will need to win 2 battles consecutively for the whole team to continue with the trials. ]

[ The trial has a time limit of 3 days, those who do not manage to have more wins than losses in 3 days will fail and be sent back. ]

Ding!

[ Today's battles will be fought with a limitation. ]

[ The usage of abilities and skills is prohibited, only mages will be allowed to use them, the rest can only use mana to strengthen their bodies and weapons and will have to test their weapon proficiency against their opponent. ]

The stands were filled with spectators, their eyes fixed on the central platform where the first battle would take place. The energy in the arena was electric, a mixture of excitement and tension that seemed to permeate the air.

Even though Reign and the others had not been here for long, some of their opponents had, and thus, there were quite a lot of people present in the stands.

Reign stepped forward first, his expression calm and focused. His opponent, a tall, muscular warrior with a massive battle axe, stood across from him.

"Who's the newbie, did they really send him to fight against Olaf?" One person in the stands asked as another smirked.

"I don't know his name, but I have actually seen his team fight once, they are good, I won't be surprised if he wins this battle, they're all quite powerful."

"Really, a team that just arrived is really that good?" A third person asked as the man who spoke previously nodded his head.

"You'll see soon."

The signal was given, and the battle commenced.

Reign moved swiftly, his swords a blur as he closed the distance. His opponent met him head-on, their weapons clashing in a shower of sparks. The sheer force behind the battle axe was formidable, but Reign's agility and precision allowed him to evade the heavy strikes and deliver quick, decisive blows.

The battle was intense, each movement calculated and deliberate. The battle axe, although heavy and incredibly powerful, was also fast.

Reign's opponent had a lot of strength and was able to wield the axe with no issues, each strike was not only coming from a weird angle but also very quickly.

Without being able to use his lightning, darkness, light, or soul manipulation, Reign had to follow his opponent's movements and rely on his speed, which was superior.

He couldn't win in a battle of strength, not only because his opponent had more strength, but also because his weapon was much heavier than his two swords, and he definitely couldn't trade blow for blow as each strike of the axe was immensely powerful.

Neither one of them had their armor on, instead, the moment Reign and the others arrived at the arena, they were given the option of a couple of armor they could wear, Reign chose a leather armor while Olaf chose a suit of armor that left 40% of his body bare but had chainmail that he could use to deflect Reign's swords.

The first couple of minutes were quite exciting for the crowd, but the stronger spectators, as well as those who were waiting on their turn, knew that this was just Reign and Olaf testing each other, the true battle had yet to start.

The battle continued with both Reign and Olaf probing each other's defenses, testing the waters before committing to more aggressive tactics. Reign's agility and precision were on full display as he danced around Olaf, avoiding the powerful swings of the battle axe and looking for openings.

Olaf, in turn, showcased his immense strength and skill with his weapon, using his battle axe both defensively and offensively with surprising finesse.

The crowd watched with bated breath as the two warriors clashed, the sound of metal against metal ringing through the arena. Reign knew that he had to capitalize on his speed and agility, but Olaf's resilience and strength were formidable obstacles. Each strike, parry, and dodge required intense focus and split-second decision-making.

Reign's eyes narrowed as he analyzed Olaf's movements. He noticed a slight hesitation in Olaf's swings, a small window of vulnerability that he could exploit. With a burst of speed, Reign closed the distance, his swords flashing as he aimed for Olaf's exposed side.

Olaf reacted quickly, but not quickly enough. Reign's swords found their mark, cutting through the exposed skin and drawing blood. Olaf grunted in pain, but his grip on the battle axe remained firm. He swung the massive weapon in a wide arc, forcing Reign to retreat and reassess.

The spectators murmured in appreciation of Reign's skill, but the battle was far from over. Olaf's eyes burned with determination as he pressed the attack, his movements becoming more aggressive and unpredictable. Reign parried and dodged, his focus unwavering as he sought to turn Olaf's aggression against him.

The two warriors moved in a deadly dance, each strike and counterstrike a testament to their skill and experience. Reign's swords flashed like lightning, while Olaf's battle axe thundered with each powerful swing. The crowd watched in awe, captivated by the display of martial prowess.

Minutes felt like hours as the battle raged on. Reign's breaths came in controlled bursts, his muscles straining with the effort to maintain his agility. Olaf's strength showed no signs of waning, his powerful strikes relentless.

Seizing the moment, Reign feigned a retreat, drawing Olaf in. As Olaf swung his battle axe in a powerful overhead strike, Reign sidestepped and launched a counterattack. His swords moved with blinding speed, one aimed at Olaf's exposed side and the other at his weapon arm.

Olaf tried to block, but Reign's speed and precision were too much. One of Reign's swords slashed across Olaf's side, while the other cut deep into his weapon arm. Olaf's grip on the battle axe faltered, and Reign followed up with a swift kick, sending the massive warrior stumbling backward.

With a final, decisive strike, Reign disarmed Olaf completely, sending the battle axe clattering to the ground. He leveled his swords at Olaf's chest, his breathing steady despite the exertion. "Yield," Reign commanded, his voice calm and resolute.

Olaf, breathing heavily and clearly outmatched, nodded in defeat. "I yield," he said, stepping back and raising his hands in surrender as a smile was present on his face.

Even though one wouldn't truly die in the arena, death was still not a nice feeling at all.

"You're strong, I have no regret in losing this battle," Olaf said as Reign stabbed one of his swords into the ground before extending a hand and helping Olaf up.

"I hope we meet again, this battle was enough to give me a few pointers," Olaf stated as Reign nodded his head.

"Same for me, you were a strong opponent, one mistake and I would have lost."

The two shook hands, which the crowd clearly loved as they started clapping before the two returned to where their teams were waiting.

Ding!

[ Victory: Reign of the 'Heaven's Hooligans' ]

There were a total of 6 teams present today, and they were all going to fight. The next 2 battles were between individuals from different teams before Wolf was called next, fighting against a woman who appeared from a team that stood near Olaf's team.

Wolf stepped onto the arena, his greatsword gleaming in the sunlight. His opponent, a tall, lithe woman wielding dual swords, stood across from him. She moved with a fluid grace, her eyes locked onto Wolf's with a fierce determination.

"Let's see how the pretty guy handles himself," she said, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Wolf simply smirked and then nodded, his focus unwavering. He knew that his strength and resilience would be his greatest assets in this battle, but he couldn't underestimate his opponent's speed and agility.

The signal was given, and the battle began.

Wolf advanced with deliberate steps, his greatsword held at the ready. The woman, quick and nimble, darted forward, her two curved swords flashing as she struck at Wolf's defenses. He parried her blows with his greatsword, the force of his counters driving her back.

She was fast, incredibly so, and her strikes came from unexpected angles. Wolf had to rely on his instincts and experience to keep up, his greatsword moving in wide arcs to deflect her attacks. He knew he couldn't match her speed, but he could use his strength to his advantage.

The woman danced around him, her blades a blur as they sought out weaknesses in his defense. Wolf's movements were slower but more deliberate, each strike of his greatsword carrying the weight of his immense strength. He waited for the right moment, biding his time as he analyzed her patterns.

Finally, he saw his opening. The woman lunged forward, her swords aimed at his chest. Wolf sidestepped and brought his greatsword down in a powerful, sweeping arc.