The only question swirling in Magnus's head at this point was simple.
'Why.'
"Why the fuck would you build an Arena inside a Kraken. Out of Drant at that. AND HOW DOES IT EVEN MOVE WITH THIS MUCH SHIT IN IT!?"
Stopping himself from complaining further, he gazed upon the arena, or what he thought was one at least.
It reminded him of the ancient theaters found in Greece, but instead of being a half-circle, this was a perfect ring. Carved entirely from Drant, the circular rows of stone seating descended to the center, where the fighting platform lay.
Eight gates led into the fighting platform, each one sealed shut by a massive door. He couldn't easily estimate how big the arena itself was, but judging by the gates, and the fighting Ring that's hundreds of meters wide...
"A colossal arena inside a colossal monster, what were the builders of this place smoking?"
"Well, probably the same thing as the guy who used two monsters as clubs." Elara imitated his swinging motions, before both girls burst into a laugh.
Rolling his eyes, Magnus noticed runes inscribed into the Drant, causing a chill to run down his spine. The soft lights they emitted lit up the entire arena, including his depressed face.
'Drant naturally stores mana, so if any of these runes are offensive and draw mana from it... A fireball could end up being stronger than a nuclear bomb...'
Staying on the highest point of the walls, Magnus and the girls waited anxiously for the green water to stop rising. With each minute passed, the acid rose higher, covering the very stairs they used to ascend.
'No retreating, huh.'
After 30 minutes, the water stopped rising as it reached a few meters below the edge of the arena.
Breathing a sigh of relief, the three of them collapsed to the ground.
"We're safe..." they said in unison, smiling as they relaxed.
Following that, Magnus turned away from the girls and began surveying the Arena. As Elara wanted to ask him something, he gestured to keep quiet.
The runes switched between glowing brightly and becoming dim every few seconds. In Magnus's perception, the lack of movement unsettled him.
Finally, with a sigh, Magnus turned around and smiled. "Okay it seems to be clear. I expected there to be something horrible waiting for us here."
The girls' faces scrunched up.
He spun around rapidly, ready to defend himself. 'There's something behind me! I hate clich-eh?'
There was nothing behind him.
A hit came from behind.
Turning to look at the attacker, he grew confused.
"Why hit me?"
"You could've just asked me if this place was dangerous! Instead you made me have a heart attack, thinking there's something here!" Elara began shaking him, her spittle flying all over his face.
"I... Yeah, okay. I don't know how reliable it is so I didn't want to risk it."
"Ha..." she sighed, letting go of him, "It's an ability passed down in our bloodline, originating from the god of luck and games, Escher. It's led our tribe to become the biggest one in the entire west, so have some confidence in me."
After a brief moment, Magnus got curious."How can you guarantee that absolutely nothing is going to get past that ability?"
"Well there are things that can get past. Just not that many of them. The goddess of darkness divinity is always hidden for example, but others need to be much stronger than us to hide from our instincts."
"Then, if there's a follower of the goddess of darkness here..." Magnus words trailed off, once more becoming on guard.
"Why would one of them be inside the Kraken? And even if there was, her clergy is very easy to get along with. They just hate undead and the light gods fanatics."
"Who else can get past then, without using divinity?"
"Mmm... Oh, there is something!"
"Hmmm?" Magnus asked, ready for whatever she says to pop up.
"Dragons. The most powerful magic race, but I really doubt we'd find one inside of this thing."
"I... See." Although he couldn't help be suspicious of this place, he relaxed slightly after the scolding. 'She's a radar, so it should be fine to relax.'
A wave of mental exhaustion swept over him the moment he relaxed, almost causing him to stumble. 'Right, I've been running around the whole day and a bit more.'
"Come, let's sit down and eat, I'm hungry!"
As they sat together in a circle, Elara pulled out a cube shaped object from her backpack. Placing it in between the three of them, she lightly tapped it a few times, causing the cube to open up and reveal a flame in the middle.
Next, she rummage through the backpack trying to find meat. Yet the more she searched, the darker her expression grew.
"Did you forget to bring food?" Magnus asked.
"I... I had food in the backpack. The only thing thats left..."
She pulled out a clay jar. Carefully removing the cloth covering the top, the food inside was revealed.
"Beans..." Charlotte looked dejected, while Elara looked as if she might cry.
"I'll pass. You two can eat your fill."
Magnus waved his hand, 'System level ups restore my peak condition, so I'm never hungry after leveling. And I hate beans.'
As they tried the first bite, their expressions got worse and they put away the jar.
'Note to self, get food source. The beans don't look expired but judging by their expressions they suck.'
After a quick talk, they decided to move their resting spot one step lower, closer to the arena. 'We don't know of there's horrible things in the water lurking, so here it should be safer here where they can't see us.'
Magnus lay down and, while staring at the starless 'sky' of sorts, got curious.
"Hey Elara. Or can I call you Ela?"
"You can, that's my nickname in the tribe. What do you wanna ask?" She also lay down, staring at the same black sky.
"Why did you come here considering just how far the western tribes are?"
"Hmmm..." she contemplated for a moment before speaking, "I guess it's fine to tell you. I'm looking for a husband to settle down with."
"Pffff... What?" Magnus shot up, confused.
"Yeah. My father was being pressured by the tribe elders to marry me off to one of the many elder's sons..." she leaned her back against the wall, hugging her knees.
"Well... Are any at least handsome?" He asked out of curiosity, but her expression stiffened. "Guess not."
"None of them are good people, so I convinced dad to let me go... Somewhat forcefully. I said I planned to start my own war band, and to contend for the position of chieftain. He had no choice but to let me go due to traditions... " She paused for a moment, her voice gradually lowering.
"Mmm... Did he really let you go because of that or because he wanted you to run away?"
'Why is she pouring her heart out to me this easily? Is she that innocent?' Magnus thought quietly, observing her reactions.
Tears began to slide down her face.
"Truthfully, I don't know. I dont think I can even get one person to follow me... So I want to leave that place behind and settle somewhere. Someplace far away where I can live life with someone I love, and forget everything about my-"
"Oi." Magnus interrupted, getting up from the ground.
"Hm?" She wiped her tears, turning to look at Magnus. Magnus approached her. They gazed at each other's eyes for a moment.
Flick!
"Ow!? What was that for!?" Ela yelled, her forehead having a tiny red mark.
"I don't like it when girls cry, so stop it. I'll help you come home with the biggest war band in history, so don't give up on your dream!" Magnus said, his face completely expressionless. "But in exchange, serve me faithfully afterwards."
"Ah..." by now, Ela had a deep red shade on her face.
Magnus on the other hand was maintaining his poker face. Or trying to, judging by the barely visible blush spreading on his face.
'Now then, time to judge her cute reaction... Cute!? Am I losing my mind over a woman?'
"Cough." A noise from the side sent both of them recoiling.
Turning to look at Charlotte, who also had a shade of red on her face, they both looked away. With an awkward expression, Magnus went back to his resting spot and closed his eyes.
Silence set in, yet a storm raged in Magnus mind.
'What the hell was I doing! I wanted to gauge her but... The war band thing aligns with me but...'
'Did I really fall for her from just this? No way right!? I'm going crazy aren't I?!?!'
[Ahem. 27 days until you die.]
'Ah... STOP THINKING WITH THE THING DOWN THERE, MAGNUS!'
He glanced at the status window, where it still said he had to get a base and an army within 27 days.
'27 days to get out of this thing. 27 days to get an army. OOORAH! I CAN DO IT!
'WAR FIRST, WOMAN LATER OOORAAAAAAH!'
Repeating that line like a monk, he drifted off to sleep.