Given An Unwanted Second Chance

Chapter 40

I took a seat in a secluded area of the seating but still managed to have a good view of the arena.

"Ahuhuhu~~  Welcome, dearies, to the beginner trials of our little AU!"

I didn't recognize the voice the echoed around, but it quieted any light murmurs that were occurring as people turned their attention to the arena.

"Newcomers always arrive, but we have a special skeleton today.  Entering first, we have Gradient!"

Gradient walked out nervously into the light of the area, looking around.  I gave a small wave to him, and he noticed, smiling brightly in my direction.

"His opponent shall be one of our own AU's residents.  Welcome in Aaron, ahuhu~"

A strange horse/mermaid monster...swam in?  Through air?  Ugh, I shouldn't question magic at this point.

Gradient looked curiously at the monster as the voice continued speaking.  "Fight to your hearts' content!"

The other monster...Aaron...flexed his arms.  "Ready to throw down, little skeleton?"

Gradient didn't answer, instead just tilting his head.

"Hmm, monster got your tongue?"  He asked, slowly approaching.

Gradient watched Aaron, grinning slightly.  "I've not seen a monster like you before, so I'm just analyzing.  Papa mentioned that knowing your targets makes them easier to defeat."

"Well, don't be afraid to go all out!  We can't dust here, so throw your greatest attacks!  I want to see what you can do!"

Gradient nodded, reaching for his eyes and pulling out strings.  "I won't go easy!"

Aaron chuckled.  "And neither will I!"

Gradient sent out his strings towards Aaron, but they were slower in velocity than Error's strings usually were.  Aaron easily hopped out of the way as the strings dissipated.

Gradient summoned a few bones around him, holding his hand out and waiting.  I've seen him summon more...so why was he holding back?

Curious...

Aaron suddenly rushed Gradient, flipping his tail around to hit Gradient in the side.  Gradient jumped back, throwing the bones into Aaron while he was in close proximity.

Aaron winced as the acidic property of the bones now lodged in him burned away at his flesh.  "Clever.  Bringing me closer to get better aim."

"Among other things."  Gradient chuckled, sending more strings at Aaron now.  Since the strings didn't have to go as far, they quickly wrapped around one of Aaron's arms.

Aaron retaliated in a way I recognized.  He wrapped the strings further around his arm and yanked Gradient forward.  The kid stumbled and Aaron used his other arm to slam Gradient into the ground.

I winced.  Ouch.

Gradient didn't seem too fazed by this, though.  He just grinned.  "You like physical combat.  I may be pinned..."

He shot more strings at Aaron's other arm, trapping him in place.  "...but now, so are you.  An enlightening fight.  Thanks for the combat experience."

Gradient waved an arm and several dozen bones appeared in the air above the pinned monsters.  He brought his hand down, and the bones shot towards the both of them.  Most of them hit Aaron in the back, though a couple did graze Gradient's arms.

There was a bit of a blip in the area as Aaron disappeared.  Thankfully, there was no dust, so he hadn't died.

...not that I doubted the system.