what if I'm an undead! then so what?-Chapter 44: Solstice Spring underground event (5) Three vs one; AN UNREGISTERED CHIMERA WANTS TO STEAL THE PRIZE MONEY!! HOWEVER OUR HEROES WON’T LET IT.

Chapter 44: Solstice Spring underground event (5) Three vs one; AN UNREGISTERED CHIMERA WANTS TO STEAL THE PRIZE MONEY!! HOWEVER OUR HEROES WON’T LET IT.

Phorcion stood tall, his golden eyes blazing with arrogance. "To think I’ll have to use two of my secret abilities against you. Count yourself lucky, you mortal, as you witness the power of a god!" he proclaimed, his voice laced with disdain.

Shougo narrowed his eyes, confused by the declaration. "Two? What could he mean by that? So far, he had only shown one new ability. What could the other be?" His mind raced as his gaze darted across the arena in search of clues. But nothing stood out—no traps, no hidden entities. Just the two of them, standing amidst the dust and heat of the coliseum floor.

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed. A dense pressure dropped over the arena like a hammer, warping the air. The very molecules seemed to vibrate as golden beams of concentrated light burst from Phorcion’s eyes, their speed rivaling that of lightning.

Shougo reacted on instinct. His katana whipped up into a horizontal block just in time. The beams struck the blade with a deafening thunderclap, sending a cascade of sparks and waves of heat in every direction. The ground beneath his feet cracked from the force, and nearby flags ignited from the sheer energy discharge.

"Amazing..." Shougo muttered aloud, wincing as his blade vibrated violently. The heat surged through the hilt and into his hands—around five hundred degrees Celsius, maybe more. He could smell scorched leather from his gloves. Any longer, and the heat would begin to cook his flesh.

Despite everything, he stood his ground.

His breathing was heavy, ragged, but his eyes remained focused. Unlike vampires or the Ryukar, whose bodies were naturally adapted to withstand extreme environments, he was still—at his core—human. While Ryukar warriors could wade through magma and vampires could survive absolute-zero climates, Shougo would falter past two hundred degrees.

And yet, here he stood. Against a god. Still fighting.

Still winning.

His grip tightened.

"Look at me staring to feel jealous of other’s, I won’t let my limits hold me back, I won’t let my limits define me. Not now. Not ever!"

With a sharp exhale, he vanished from sight.

Reappearing behind Phorcion, his katana sliced low in a clean, fluid motion, severing both of Phorcion’s legs at the knees. A guttural howl erupted from the godlike being as he collapsed onto his stumps, blood spraying in elegant arcs onto the cracked coliseum tiles. To everyone watch, they braces them selces to witness another if his Light speed cutting edge combo, however they were wrong as Shougo didn’t, he stoped there leaping back two meters putting distance between them.

He scanned the battlefield again—his sense feeling the minute detail of the snakes on Phorcion’s head, waiting to see the one that would eventually activate the regeneration process.

And then he saw it.

Coiling around Phorcion’s torso were his serpentine familiars—manifestations of his divine regeneration. Among them, one stood out. It shimmered faintly with a sickly golden hue, its eyes glowing brighter than the others. A core serpent. The anchor of Phorcion’s immortality.

A smirk tugged at Shougo’s lips.

"Found you."

He vanished again, reappearing midair in front of Phorcion. With surgical precision, his katana moved faster than sight. The targeted serpent writhed as the blade cleaved it into seven neat segments, which twitched on the ground before dissolving into ash.

The crowd gasped as Phorcion let out a strangled cry, his healing factor visibly destabilizing. Limbs that would have begun regenerating now refused to respond. His aura dimmed, and blood flowed freely.

Still, even in defeat, Phorcion’s defiance burned.

"I think that’s all to your party tricks," Shougo said as he stepped back. He swung his katana in a wide arc, sending a crimson spray across the floor. "Now, why don’t you surrender?"

Phorcion coughed violently, golden ichor flecking his lips. "I’d rather die than surrender to a mortal!"

"Too bad. I won’t fall for your tactics again. I’ll just knock you out cold," Shougo replied. His tone was calm, but there was steel in his voice. He didn’t know if killing Phorcion would make him respawn again from another snake, that was a risk he couldn’t take. He sheathed his katana with a resonant click, then walked toward Phorcion, his footsteps echoing with finality.

He drew back his fist—and delivered a crushing blow to the Gorgon’s jaw.

The impact echoed like a cannon. Phorcion’s head snapped back, and he crumpled to the floor, unconscious. His remaining serpents thrashed violently hissing as if trying to break free from Phorcion’s head.

Silence.

Then—

A roar of applause exploded from the stands. Cheers filled the arena like thunder, washing over the battlefield in waves of raw excitement.

"Amazing! Simply outstanding!" the commentator bellowed, his voice crackling with emotion. "To think a human would make it to the finals against all odds! And even now, his full power remains unknown! Who will be the one to push him to the limit? Will it be the Vampire or the Ryukar? Either way, the finals won’t be an easy fight!"

Medical workers dashed onto the field as the barrier surrounding the arena dissolved. They reached Phorcion’s broken form, only to recoil as his venomous snakes struck them. One stumbled and collapsed from paralysis. Another vomited from the mild toxin. Still, they pressed on.

The crowd murmured, uneasy.

"Now, for the next rou—"

A blur interrupted the commentator mid-sentence. A shockwave burst across the arena floor, kicking up dust and trailing black smoke. An eerie, cold presence followed it, freezing the cheers in their throats.

The smoke parted.

A towering entity emerged—nine feet of muscle, power, and monstrosity. Crimson-skinned, lion-faced, and with leathery wings stretching from its back, it exuded malice. Four muscular arms extended outward, each tipped with claws as sharp as obsidian blafe.

Gasps rippled through the arena.

"Now what do we have here—a party crasher!" the commentator said, his voice cracking slightly. "How unfortunate! This will cause a major interruption. However—don’t panic, folks. We are more than capable of restoring order."

He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Dozens of black orbs materialized, floating around the Chimera like satellites. They were condensed annihilation—void bombs designed to erase matter.

Before they could act, another figure appeared between them and the monster. One snap of his fingers—and the black orbs vanished into nothingness, like illusions dispelled.

The crowd erupted into stunned silence.

There stood Kenji Tsukigami, one of the elite VIPs. A man of mystery and power. His black suit reflecting sunlight while his tie flower with the wind, his green eyes calm but calculating.

"Rather than destroying it quickly, why don’t we turn this unexpected situation into a greater spectacle?" Kenji’s voice carried with natural authority. "Let the remaining three fighters join forces to take this Chimera down. If they succeed, all three will be declared champions—awarded the cash prize and the artifacts."

The audience paused—and then exploded into cheers. The commentator grinned, though sweat dripped from his brow.

"The strength of this monster is not to be underestimated," Kenji continued. "There’s a hidden factor to its power. I suspect... it was created—engineered—by humans. Illegally."

A new wave of silence descended. The idea of a man-made Chimera strong enough to crash this tournament... was terrifying.

Kenji gave no further details. He simply turned, leapt back into the VIP seats, and disappeared into the shadows like smoke.

"The semi-finals have been upgraded!" the commentator shouted. "This is now the grand finale: a three-on-one match against a monstrous unregistered invader! Will our three heroes fall—or will they rise as legends?"

The arena gates rumbled open.

All eyes turned.

Three warriors entered.

To the left walked Vaelion, the Prideful Ryukar. His long white jacket billowed with the wind. His hands were in his pockets. A devilish smirk curled his lips. His aura flared with barely restrained confidence.

At the center stood Shougo Kuragane, the undefeated human swordsman. His katana rested against his shoulder, and his gaze was steady. Calm. Unshaken. His presence, serene as still water, commanded awe.

To the right was Masaru Ryunosuke, the vampire of ultimate Charisma. His crimson eyes gleamed like rubies, and a lopsided grin graced his face. His stride was graceful, almost lazy—but every step radiated controlled power. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The crowd lost their minds.

These once-rivals were now allies—united against a threat that could shake the very foundation of the tournament. Legends in the making. A moment that would be sung in arenas for decades to come.

"Now would our three heroes emerge victorious, or would they fail? If you ask me I’ll tell you that; AN UNREGISTERED CHIMERA WANTS TO STEAL THE PRIZE MONEY!! HOWEVER OUR HEROES WON’T LET IT."

"Let the final round—"

Before the commentator could announce the beginning—

The Chimera lunged.

Claws out. Jaws open. Target locked: the commentator himself.

But mid-flight, a blur intercepted.

A loud crack shook the coliseum.

The Chimera was hurled across the battlefield like a rag doll.

Vaelion landed where it had stood, brushing invisible dust off his shoulder. He cracked his neck with an audible pop.

"Do not ignore me, fool—or it’ll cost you!" he snarled with a savage grin. The Ryukar’s pride burned like a star. And behind him, two more champions stood ready.

The final battle had begun.

And the coliseum would never forget it.