Lev woke up to a world of aches and discomfort.

  … Interesting situations I find myself in.

  Opening his eyes, he did a cursory scan of his surroundings. Aryan was standing to his left, and Lev himself was laying on some sort of bed in the arena entrance.

  To the right, a healer was reattaching his arm, and an aura mage was boosting both his and the rogue's regeneration.

  Lev cracked a smile. "That was fun. You now owe me money."

  He got an eyeroll in response. While moving all his limbs and digits for the extent of the damage, Lev had found his ring already adorning the middle finger of his left hand. The platinum coin flying his way was swiftly stored in it.

  All the while, he tried his best to ignore the deeply unsettling feeling of wriggling and regenerating flesh.

  I absolutely wouldn't have minded staying unconscious for a bit longer.

  "Are you alright?" Lev questioned the shadow mana user while focusing on the soothing feeling of the vastly increased mana regeneration.

  "My injuries weren't that severe. They just looked pretty bad," Aryan waved him off. Both of them knew that wasn't what Lev was asking about.

  "I see."

  Drakys appeared in front of Lev after a few seconds of silence. He looked Lev up and down once, finding nothing that needed his attention, before vanishing.

  So he is here, Lev thought to himself. Perhaps his condition was not as bad as he thought if the Exalted hadn't bothered to take him out of the arena immediately. Already, his arm was back in usable shape, and there were no pains from mana poisoning left in his body.

  His mind however, was an entirely different mess. Where mana poisoning could be healed by even the weakest of healers by simply dumping mana into the patient's body, mana overuse was not so easily dealt with.

  To begin with, healing the mind was a grand feat that only a few had ever managed. Diana was one of those people, and the healer in front of him most certainly was not.

  Lev tried his best to ignore the headache that threatened to render him unconscious again.

  It's good training, he repeated what he had told Nina in his head. The faster I get used to manipulating so much mana, the better. Maybe I'll even qualify for a skill that helps later down the line.

  That was exceedingly unlikely. Skills that helped with mental faculties were impossible to acquire before Master, and even after that, the best ones were simple skills like Blueprint. It just let someone create certain constructs faster and with better accuracy.

  "You should rest for at least two hours and eat a full meal," the healer instructed just as Lev was completely healed. "The next round does not start for another five hours, so make sure to rest."

  "Thank you, and I will."

  75% or so mana in my pool. Should be full by the time I need it.

  The aura mage didn't say a word and motioned for Lev to get off the bed. Doing so, the bed vanished, and the mages left immediately after.

  "How long was I out?"

  Aryan, who was about to leave, stopped. "Around an hour."

  "Who won?"

  "Elias did," the rogue answered. "Rather easily."

  Lev sighed. That was the one round he didn't want to miss.

  'Will you be here for the rewards?"

  "Of course," Aryan replied, a little confused, before understanding dawned on him. "I'll wait outside."

  "See you then," Lev nodded before they both went their own way. The rogue left the arena, whereas Lev walked to the royal booth. Two minutes later, he knocked at the booth's door.

  "Enter." Katarina's voice reached him, all prim and proper. Lev straightened his clothes and shoulders, ready to bow after entering.

  Stepping inside, the room was… already covered in an illusion. Katarina's stupid grin confirmed what had just happened.

  "I'm too tired for this," Lev exhaled deeply. "Does that restroom in the corner have a shower?"

  "It does," Katarina replied seriously after taking in his sunken eyes and wobbling gait. "Shower quickly and eat something."

  Right… I should eat something, the weary thought appeared in his head. Don't I need sugar to keep my mind in top shape or something?

  Showering took all of two minutes in which Lev washed away all the blood and grime on his body. He hadn't even realized just how much of it there was.

  "Where is everyone? And why are you still here?" Lev questioned after sitting on a corner couch. Roasted chicken appeared out of his ring, and he started eating it with cold water as quickly as his fatigued body allowed.

  "I and Drakys are here to make sure nobody tries anything untoward," she replied. "As for everyone else, they're managing their respective fields."

  "Even Sherron?" Lev voiced. To his knowledge, she usually operated solo.

  Katarina nodded. "Her flight speed is the fastest."

  Fair enough. "How are things looking overall?"

  "Can't tell. The increase in monster density and the duration of the storm can never be predicted in advance."

  Monster density… Lev tossed around the term in his head, understanding slower than usual. Even if it sounded morbid, using monster density as a unit made sense. There were just too many of those creatures.

  Done with his meal after a healthy serving of fruit salad, Lev yawned and laid down on the luxurious couch.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  "Wake me up after three hours…"

  He was out before even finishing the sentence.

  ****

  "Lev."

  Rousing lazily, Lev yawned and stretched, unable to hold back a smile at the lack of all pain and lethargy.

  "It's been three hours," Katarina informed him. "You missed out on a lot of performances. Come, the finale is starting."

  Lev was awake in an instant. Quickly washing his face and fixing his hair, he returned to one of the couches closest to the viewing glass. He made sure not to occupy any reserved for the nobles.

  "Is the illusion functioning?"

  "It is, but not for long."

  Shaking his head, Lev retreated to a couch further behind and stayed low, only watching with his head poking out.

  "Thank you, Nimue, for that glorious display!" the commentator's voice boomed, igniting a new wave of fervor from the crowds. For an entire minute, the arena shook with roaring approval and cheers.

  The illusion covering the room vanished when he was about to open his mouth. Katarina was already prepared, raising her hands and clapping with a smile. Just that alone sent the spectators into a frenzy.

  She is dazzlingly gorgeous after all, Lev mused, hidden behind the furniture. He was eternally grateful for not seeing her in any sort of romantic light, or life would've been exponentially harder.

  Harder, he snickered to himself. The effects of his age were showing.

  A little while later, the illusion snapped back into place.

  "Is something the matter, Hunter Lev?" a sickly sweet voice reached him.

  "No ma'am," he squeaked out.

  Lev could feel the princess' smile. "Ah, but I'm sure I heard you laughing back there. It pains me that you need to hide such joyful thoughts."

  "It was absolutely nothing, I assure you," he nodded sagely, getting up from behind the couch. "You need not to concern yourself with this lowly one."

  She hmph'd and flipped her hair back with all the grace of an empyrean princess. Which was to say, even Lev stared for a moment with his mouth slightly ajar.

  "Wow." Lev dumbly blinked twice before focusing on the arena, ignoring her raised eyebrow.

  "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME THE ILLUSIONIST YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, RYOKO DINA!"

  If the people were excited before, they were now maddened with anticipation. Lev had to cover his ears with how loud the crowd was, no less excited than them.

  He debated asking the princess about who the performer was. She entered the arena before he could. From the way the spectators had all been hushed, Lev knew everyone was in for a treat.

  Half a dozen streams of mana were channeled into the sandy arena, almost imperceptible even for Lev. Within seconds, the brightly lit arena was covered in a dark haze.

  Pitch black clouds formed in the middle, writhing and expanding into a shape. In the background, the barriers dividing the arena and the spectators were slowly morphing.

  A huge illusion was taking shape, one depicting a familiar expanse. Grass stretched on for as far as one could see as the illusion spread into even the arena itself.

  In the distance, the ground gradually rose into a towering mound, not unlike an ant hill. The pit looked just as immense as Lev remembered, menacing despite merely existing.

  The writhing black mass flew back and 'dove' into the pit. Everything surrounding the landmass became even darker before a deafening roar rocked the arena. Lev had to do a double take when the couches and the window shook rather intensely.

  They're really going all out for this, huh? Lev thought, positively giddy.

  A huge, clawed hand rose out of the pit, much larger than Lev himself. Four thick, grotesque fingers with too many joints grabbed the edge in a vice, pulling along a beast that would haunt any hunter's nightmares.

  Standing over thirty meters tall, the dark gray and black monstrosity left deep craters with every step it took. Bloated muscles propelled it forward at immense speeds while merely walking, its weight not even close to a hindrance.

  Lev had immediately noted the similarities between the monster and shade brutes. The identification hovering above the creature confirmed his suspicions.

  [Shade Giant - ?????]

  He swallowed, suddenly finding his throat dry. Knowing that he was witnessing an illusion did not help whatsoever. The monster's gaze roamed the spectators, making everyone cover without exception. Only, Katarina stared back without an ounce of fear.

  The whole illusion slowed down, and suddenly, the meaning of unsaid words flowed into Lev's mind. There was no voice, no text, no gestures, only a raw, conceptual message. It was both incredibly clear and more than a little unnerving. Lev had only read about a similar manner of communication in the diary mentioning the Dreadhawk.

  When the skies threatened to split apart. When humanity was pushed to the brink. When the storm ravaged these lands without pause, its might unquestioned. When the Exalted were nearly lost to the ravine, all in one fell swoop.

  Survivors emerged, each having lived through multiple calamities. Faint, quivering hope remained, guiding their faltering steps, taking them ever closer to the salvation behind walls.

  It was then that the very earth parted, and the first of many abominations stepped through, destroying all of their longing with it. Dreams shattered, desires vanished, and it seemed that all hope was lost.

  All except a single torch that refused to be extinguished, for their was adolescent, innocent life relying on Orianna Ethen, Guardian of the Young.

  Retreat was not an option.

  Not for her.

  It took the popping of joints for Lev to realize how strongly he was gripping the couch's armrest. Abruptly, he took a long, deep breath, having unknowingly held it all the while.

  She lived through this, he calmed himself. It's just an illusion.

  Down below, an illusion of Orianna, bearing many similarities but starkly different in appearance, stepped into the arena. She gazed at the giant's eyes, unflinching. Contrary to expectations, the monster also stopped and took in her tiny visage, sizing her up.

  It took only a second to dismiss Orianna as a threat. In that same second, two more people joined her, both so familiar to Lev.

  Sherron is still a Master, Lev noted from the identification hovering above the humans. Now thinking clearly, he leaned forward to take it all in better. Alec is also standing there without his armor or any of his creations.

  Slightly bizarre, he sumrised. His teacher was never unprepared. Small chance that the encounter playing in front of him was the cause for his mentor's paranoia given his personality. Alec preferred to be in-charge.

  The combined threat of the three people in front of the giant must have been enough to deem them all an annoyance as its muscles swelled. One moment, it was still, and the next, the ground behind it exploded as the beast lunged.

  Lev's eyes widened when it covered the distance in a blink, appearing in front of Orianna instantly. The humans were prepared, though, immediately scattering in different directions.

  Just barely avoiding the opening stomp, Orianna released a large jet of flames from her hand at the giant's face, blocking its vision. Fire soldiers formed around her, three warriors and an archer. Standing several heads taller than Orianna herself, each soldier was mighty enough to contend with strong second-threshold monsters.

  Barrier platforms came into existence next to them. The archer stepped onto the furthest one, and Alec commanded the platform to float high up. One fire warrior dual-wielding axes was dropped onto the distracted giant's shoulder, whereas the other two sword-wielding soldiers were carried to its ankles.

  All of that happened in a split-second, the result of impeccable teamwork. Swords bit into the back of the giant's feet, eliciting a roar filled with little pain and mostly annoyance. That changed swiftly when two axes slammed into the side of its neck, digging several inches deep.

  The axe wielder didn't even get a chance to back off when a huge, meaty palm squashed it like a bug. In the other hand of the monster, a highly compressed boulder was taking shape. Sherron quickly put an end to its attempt of forming a projectile, and Alec's artillery shell flew into the wound caused by the axe soldier.

  Staggering for a brief instant, a red hue shone from the giant, signifying the start of a skill. Two overloaded lightning lances hit the monster's face before it could even take a step, opening it up for another salvo from Alec.

  Now truly pissed off, the brute raised both its massive arms high up in the sky. Orianna was already creating distance before they descended like a comet, uprooting and utterly decimating the ground for hundreds of meters around.

  The first soldiers relentlessly trying to damage its feet were immediately disintegrated from the large attack. With loud cracks, the giant rolled its shoulders and straightened amidst the calamitous aftermath, glaring at the puny humans who had dared oppose its mighty self.

  This has to be a highly-embellished version of the fight, Lev kept his eyes peeled, taking in every little detail. To begin with, there is no way Orianna can damage a fourth-threshold monster so easily.

  The same was true for her teammates, but Lev could see how winning was possible for the three. It was all a matter of time. Where things were happening in the span of minutes down below, the actual fight must have taken hours.

  He was very interested in seeing how they pulled it off.