Fantasy Realm [One Piece] [Harry Potter] [Naruto] - [Progression] [LitRPG]

Chapter 131: Climbing x Tower - The Fighting Paradise

The bus stops in its tracks close to Heavens Arena, just a few minutes on foot away.

Alex and Menchi confidently walk toward it. In front of the building, Alex notices a lot of fighters, some beaten up and wounded, and even more spectators walking in and out of the large Arena.

A few of them actually look kinda strong. Can I really do this without struggling? Perhaps I need to cheat after all, he thinks, losing a bit of confidence as he sees some fighters that look like they mean serious business.

As they walk inside the massive building, 991 meters (approx. 3,250 feet) tall, having over 251 floors, Alex is in deep thought. Why are you still hesitating, even respecting these random losers who couldn't even make it up there? You are falling back into a passive role—these are old patterns. Wake the fuck up.

Alex and Menchi enter the building and walk a few minutes until they see the area where fighters can register. There are multiple counters, each with hundreds of people lining up behind them.

Menchi sighs, mumbling, "This will take hours, boooring. Do you want to skip the line?"

Alex, determined to change not only his approach but also to build up confidence, says, "Exactly my thoughts!"

"Huh, what do you mean?" Menchi asks, but Alex chooses to bypass the line and walks exactly in front of the counter.

Immediately, he gets surrounded by some nearby angry fighters wishing to register, obviously not accepting Alex's blatant line cutting.

Not intending to even waste a word, he unleashes his Ren, fueled by his own rage and determination.

Immediately, the fighters begin to shiver, as if they have seen a ghost in front of them. Everyone close by backs off, and Alex is now standing in front of the counter with nobody else in sight.

"I'd like to register... now!" he says to the woman behind the counter as he stops his Ren.

"S...sss..sure. Fill out this form, please!" She says, slightly frightened.

Alex hastily fills it out, despite not knowing the language. The system allows him to write in the local language—symbols closely related to Japanese Hiragana and Katakana but looking more similar to symbols and weird runes, almost like hieroglyphs.

The attendant finally says: "Alex Kerber, you are number 1337. Please proceed to the large fighting arena on the first floor. They will call out your number once it's time to fight."

"Heh, good job. I like you!" he says in return, smiling and walking away afterward, leaving the attendant confused.

He and a slightly impressed Menchi walk towards the fighting arena on the first floor. They see a huge hall, the ceiling almost as high as the one in the underground bunker. There are dozens of small fighting rings set up, with thousands of spectators sitting on the giant wall of seats along the outer sides of the arena.

Before they even have time to sit down, Alex's number is immediately called.

"Numbers 6969 and 1337, please enter ring L."

Alex confidently walks toward ring L and sees a mean-looking man already standing on top of the slightly elevated fighting arena.

Alex drops his weapons and gauntlets, which are not allowed until he reaches the 200th floor, onto the ground before him and enters the square-shaped fighting zone as well.

"First-floor contests are used to appraise each participant's skill level. Please demonstrate your abilities within 3 minutes. This is not only about winning and losing," the referee, wearing a silly bright red and yellow vest and a weird hat that reminds Alex of Aladdin's cap—a fez—explains. His vest and cap have the typical "fist" logo on them, the official logo of Heavens Arena.