Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine

Alex needed quick cash to buy the necessary ingredients for Soul Stone refinement. The money he brought along would be used to buy just the cauldron, but he had several more things to buy as well. Like the herbs and also, he has to afford his living this whole month, considering he had no idea how much the Steelhound would pay him.

As such, he decided to choose the most efficient path to gain some quick cash; the Grand Arena.

Situated in the heart of the city, the arena doesn't prohibit anyone from participating if they can provide a certain betting amount. There is no restriction on women and men. You go in the ring and you become a warrior involved in a death match.

Alex slowly made his way inside the Grand Arena, looking around the place as he moved.

It was a wild fest of cheers and roars from the rising stands on all sides. The people were throwing anything, including curses, cheers and alcohol, to show their excitement.

Alex felt his ears turning numb at how many people there were. He has participated in these kinds of fights in his previous world, but the number of audiences here easily exceeded any of those unofficial MMA fights he participated in.

'Good thing I brought my blade with me…' With those thoughts, the silver head took a seat near the arena and began watching the ongoing match.

"Ahhh!!! Come on!" The man with long black hair that curtained his face growled and provoked his enemy to get up and attack. Alex noticed the emblem of a certain clan pinned to the man's bare chest.

On the other hand, the masked fighter was no longer in a condition to fight. His left arm was shattered, his body was shaking, and the person looked on the verge of death. However, the rule of the ring doesn't allow you to surrender; either your enemy throws you out of the ring to conclude the match or you get killed.

The masked man already knew that if he didn't get up, he was done for. So after gathering all the strength and willpower he was left with, the man pushed himself off the ground and while raising his still intact hand, he tried to punch the raven-haired.

*SWING*

The last punch was easily evaded as the raven-haired man caught the masked one by his elbow, followed by a loud crunch as the winning side easily snapped the masked one's arm like a twig.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!" The agonizing cry of the fighter filled the hearts of the audience with excitement as their cheering intensified.

The almost winner then picked the masked man with his waist, pulling him high in the air before a slim and long curved blade extended from the raven-haired's knee—using which he impaled his enemy easily through the chest and ruptured his heart.

Blood pooled in the ring as the raven-haired again pulled away the man and stabbed him again…and again…and continued to do it until the life from the defeated one and craziness from the winner's eyes didn't fade.

Alex realized that the man was into sadism and was eager for a good match since just after the masked man was taken away, he announced,

"Come on! Do you guys are all sissy to just sit there and watch! Come here and fight me!" His provocation was met by another loud cheer.

Alex heaved a sigh, he could somehow see himself in that man. Not his current self but once upon a time, he indeed was like him.

Getting up, he approached the arena and found many people jeering at him, but none of it concerned the silver-haired teenager as he drew closer to the arena master.

"Here—I am going in." Handing a platinum plate, which didn't surprise the arena master considering people bet much more than this, Alex hopped inside the cage.

The raven-haired man looked at Alex and scoffed, "A child? Do I get charged with the sin of murdering a child now?"

The taunts were so cliche and boring that Alex was genuinely surprised. Do NPCs not get many brain cells in the world—he wondered.

With his sword still sheathed, Alex bent forward a little, his left leg extended back and his hand resting over the handle of his blade.

The man frowned, he could sense the intent of murder from the boy. That look in his eyes suggested that he intended to go for the kill. And the man knows that only those who has killed people before could show such confidence.

"I am Luke! Luke Greyhart! What is your name?" The man, who named himself Luke, got into a fighting stance before asking.

Alex responded in a hush, "Quick Silver."

Before Luke could have asked what kind of name it was, his eyes widened, and instinctively, he conjured several blades, covering everything around his neck.

*CLANG*

Under Luke's widened eyes, one of the blades he conjured to protect his neck was snapped and sent flying away as his opponent stood a few meters behind him.

'When…did he move…?' Not only Like but everyone in the stands was dumbfounded upon noticing how the boy teleported past Luke and broke his priced blade so swiftly.

Alex glanced at his sword. It was unharmed, gleaming from the recent clash.

But he didn't have time to appreciate it. A presence crept behind him, and his instincts kicked in. Alex leapt, dodging a swift strike that sliced through the air where he'd just stood. Mid-jump, he twisted, swinging his sword to decapitate his attacker.

CLANG!

A deafening clash echoed as Luke blocked the attack, his massive blade held against the side of his head.

Without pause, Alex launched himself forward, driving Luke back with a relentless flurry of strikes. Sparks flew with each impact as their blades locked and collided, filling the air with ringing steel. Luke gritted his teeth, struggling to keep up with Alex's speed and ferocity.

Just then, Luke saw an opening and lunged, his sword coming down in a wide arc. Alex sidestepped and countered with a ruthless slash across Luke's arm. Blood sprayed as the blade sliced through, but Alex didn't stop. He spun low, aiming for Luke's legs. Discover exclusive tales on empire

Luke stumbled, his defences faltering as Alex closed in with relentless speed.

"Linear Slash!" Alex shouted, his voice cutting through the noise as his blade carved through the air in a straight, deadly line. The crowd fell silent, the sheer force of his strike tearing across the arena. The impact blasted Luke backwards, sending him crashing into the metal wires surrounding the ring.

"Khuk!" Luke choked out, clutching his sides. His face twisted in pain, and he staggered, barely able to hold himself up. If he hadn't extended several of his own blades to absorb the blow, he might have been split in half

Luke gritted his teeth, pain flashing across his face as he braced against the wires. But he wasn't finished yet. With a fierce snarl, multiple blades extended from his arms, shoulders, and legs, glinting menacingly as they sprung forth from his body.

"Not so fast!" Luke roared, launching himself at Alex, his blades slashing in rapid, unpredictable arcs. Each strike was a blur, a deadly web of steel that forced Alex onto the defensive, his sword ringing as he blocked and dodged with razor-sharp reflexes.

Luke's barrage was relentless; blades thrust from all angles as he closed in, each strike faster than the last. Alex barely had a moment to breathe, weaving through the vicious onslaught. Luke's movements grew wilder, his face twisted with fury as he pressed the attack, determined to cut Alex down.

At some point Luke kicked Alex in the gut, throwing the younger one to crash against the arena border as the older one remained standing at his spot.

Luke was breathing roughly, having faced this kind of enemy for the first time who is not only a master of offence but also annoyingly good in defence as well.

The roar from the audience was turning wild, they were practically on the verge of breaking the stands as they thumped their feet and cried in excitement.

Luke readied himself. He cannot delay this anymore since his opponent doesn't look exhausted, even a bit.

His whole body was covered in blades, not a single part left unprotected as the man decided to crush the kid and end this battle once and for all.

'Sorry kid but-huh?' Just as Luke was about to launch himself forward, he saw Alex sheathing his sword and biting his nail.

'Has he gone insane?' Luke snarled, not like it mattered if the kid was sane or not; he had to end this battle!

"BRACE YOURSELF, KID!" All the blades extended even more before Luke sprinted towards Alex.

However, the man's pace slowed down when he saw something approaching...

**THUD**n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Dead silence ensued in the arena, as Luke fell dead without Alex moving an inch from his spot.

Sucking on his thumb which bled, Alex walked out of the arena before grabbing the pouch of his reward and making his way out of the place.

'It was disappointing...' Alex sighed.

However, at that time, he didn't know the consequences of killing the man.

A headache was approaching.

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A/N:- Drop a comment