Three days after the challenge made by the level 101 Sovereign, it was finally time for the battle between Minos and that Elite Soldier.
Minos had already been making a name for himself around the city by taking strict action against local lawbreakers. But what's more, as rarely would a Soldier challenge a Recruit, the news of someone so much more influential and strong challenging a Recruit attracted a lot of attention.
When the Challenge Arena opened this afternoon, a crowd of people, mostly Recruits and Rank-and-File Soldiers quickly filled the stands of the main combat platform.
The supervisors of Minos and the level 101 alien were already in the area, while even the supervisor of the Law Enforcement Hall arrived there to watch the most anticipated battle of the day.
Minos' law enforcement teammates had also settled down in the surrounding area, while the people who had come from the Spiritual World with him were also there, having found a little free time to come and watch this contest.
Some were nervous, but others were curious to see Minos in action against a truly talented level 101 individual.
Everyone who made it into Armhands had great potential, unlike the beings they had fought before coming to Examire.
They had seen Minos in action against Sovereigns before, but those were beings who didn't have much chance of becoming Supremes one day. That was different for the Sovereigns of Armhands.
After months in this place, everyone in the group was aware that, to pass this place's selection exam, one had the potential to become a Supreme someday.
That wasn't a guarantee that everyone there would reach the 12th stage. However, if they survived the trials ahead and took advantage of their opportunities, becoming Supremes wouldn't be impossible.
As such, there was no way for Minos' group to predict exactly how today's outcome would turn out, and even Maximillian was anxiously awaiting the start of the fight.
While the crowd of more than 5,000 individuals from at least 600 different races waited for the challenge to begin, the organizers of this event gathered with the challenge's participants, but also the strongest spectators there today.
There was the being who had directed the selection that Minos had taken part in to join the guild, his advisor on clairvoyance, but also the one who had invited him to the guild.
"Did we need to create such a big show because of a young Grandmaster?" A level 106 creature asked the Officers related to Minos. "Do you expect this battle to last more than a few seconds? I think this little man of yours is going to suffer greatly and be humiliated by Oxo."
Rhett replied. "I don't think it will be that quick. But it's a question of demand. A crowd wants to see Minos beaten up by Oxo. We're merely allowing them to see what they want or be disappointed with another result."
"Either way, your Challenge Arena only stands to gain." Said the Law Enforcement Hall Supervisor.
"Well, you know what. Oxo is hardly going to back down, so since Minos doesn't seem willing to give up, nor are you going to advise him to do so, let's go ahead with this challenge." This creature that looked like an insect native to Zocarro said as he moved away from the three and approached the challenger and the challenged.
"Do you know the rules of the challenge?" He asked the two, seeing them both nod in agreement.
"Very well, give me your IDs and leave your non-absorbable weapons behind."
The two quickly put their items, such as spatial rings and other artifacts, aside before giving their IDs to the leader of this Challenge Arena.
"Once you've climbed those stairs, your challenge will be underway, and we'll only open the platform again when one of you two is unable to continue fighting." He said as he indicated two staircases in opposite corners of the underground area where they were now.
Each of them had to take different paths and enter the combat platform from opposite points.
"Oxo, if you lose, we'll debit all your merit points and pass them on to Minos at a rate of 10:9.
Minos, if you lose, you'll have some extra obligations. Still, you won't lose any points, nor will you be disadvantaged in any other way."
Both Minos and Oxo signaled that they understood what was going to happen.
"Very well, you may proceed to your areas. The challenge will begin in one minute!" After saying this, this scorpion-shaped insect saw the two of them heading in opposite directions before he sighed and signaled for the remaining people to go to their places.
After a few seconds, he appeared in the middle of the combat platform that Minos and Oxo were about to enter and announced the start of the challenge.
When this creature stopped talking, metal doors in front of the stairs that Minos and Oxo had followed opened, revealing the level 95 young man and his level 101 opponent on opposite sides of the combat platform.
The crowd there to follow the fight celebrated, then watched as the two prepared to move while an invisible but very strong barrier formed around that area to prevent anyone involved from fleeing or using external aids.
The being that looked like a large scorpion moved up to that area, outside the space protected by the barrier that only he, who had control of the area, could access.
When they saw that everything was ready for their fight to begin, Minos and Oxo moved.
Everyone focused on Oxo, a creature with a muscular and robust body covered in skin and scales that resembled the texture of a rhinoceros.
His legs were large and strong, ending in sharp hooves that provided him with powerful propulsion and stability to move across the rugged terrain of his home planet.
His head was adorned with twisted, sharp horns reminiscent of those of a bull or buffalo, giving him an intimidating and imposing presence. His eyes were large and expressive, capable of frightening the weakest with their glare alone.
Given his appearance and aura, only those who knew more about Minos didn't think this was just a show of humiliation designed to teach him his place.
That was the case with several of the offenders who had suffered at the hands of Minos recently, who were there cheering Oxo on.
However, Minos would soon change the opinions of those in the stands by showing off his real combat skills, forming his Soul Avatar, and starting the battle using his most powerful abilities.
By spreading his wings and flying at Oxo, Minos didn't hesitate to combine his techniques and show the thousands of people in the surrounding area the Divine Sword right at the start of the fight!
