The arena turned frigid, Grisnir noting the substantial decline in temperature, determining it came from his opponent. They spared no other words as they stood across from one another, sizing each other up and taking every detail that would grant an advantage. Grisnir would note the considerable size and reach difference between them. While his frame was taller than Ains, it was much shorter when matched against Cocytus. It only took a moment for them to study each other before they closed the gap instantly.
Frost and thunder clashed in a storm of blows. Grisnir evaded under a halberd swipe. He reciprocated with a lightning-fast swing. It found its mark, rocking Cocytus's carapace. The insectoid hit back, halberd hurling Grisnir away, wobbling on his feet. He felt the immense force behind the blow, a glacial after touch chilling him to the bone. A reasonable distance stood between them. Grisnir readied himself, watching for Cocytus's next move and trying to work out his next.
"Impressive." Cocytus placed a hand where Grisnir struck him. "Apologies if I cannot contain my excitement. It is the first time I have encountered a foe of your caliber."
"Thanks." Grisnir nodded. "Though I am a bit rusty. It's been years since I've fought a proper match."
"I see." Cocytus beckoned him closer with an arm, its twin below summoning another colossal halberd.
Grisnir charged, his speed near blinding as his hands collided with Cocytus's own as they struggled for dominance. He felt his palms grow stiff as his opponent's grip tightened on them. His knee thrusted upward. However, Cocytus's other arms snatched it before impact, the same frigid feeling numbing his leg. Cocytus trapped him in an icy embrace, three of his limbs locked down as a halberd threatened to split him in half.
"Well fought." Cocytus raised his halberd before crashing it down against Grisnir's helmet.
"Don't count me out just yet." Before the halberd made contact, Grisnir surged a massive coil of lightning in his palm, shocking him free of Cocytus's grip before raising his hand to catch the halberd mid-swing.
"Nicely done, however…." Cocytus struck using his released arm, giving an ice-plated strike to the abdomen, driving him back a few paces away.
Grisnir stumbled against the dirt before flipping in the air and landing on his feet, catching his breath from the strike.
From the balcony, the other floor guardians watched on with greater interest. Ains stood in front of them all, keeping a cool gaze as he noted every movement the two made.
"Wow! He's actually keeping up!" Mare leaned over the balcony, vaulting onto the edge for a closer view.
"But it is evident he lacks experience. Cocytus has yet to show any serious intent." Demiurge readjusted his spectacles, eyes tightening as he watched.
"Let's see if I remember this correctly… Lightning bolt!" Grisnir paused, peering down at his frost-covered palms. He pointed his arm at Cocytus, surging a coil of lighting from his palm.
Cocytus clicked his mandibles, drawing his halberd up to parry the blow at the last possible moment as he grunted and lurched backward.
"Frost Aura." Cocytus crept forward as a layer of ice coated his carapace, a chilling mist circulating around his body throughout the ring as the temperature plunged.
Grisnir shivered beneath his armor, the cold seeping through it despite its sturdiness. He felt chilling daggers pricking his skin each time he moved, the feeling stronger as he strode closer to Cocytus. Each step forward quickened his pace until he wreathed his feet in lightning, sprinting without a hitch in speed towards his opponent. He struck at Cocytus, hard and fast, catching the floor guardian off guard with a nasty blow to the head, sending him reeling. Predicting the counter attack, Grisnir vaulted over Cocytus, hands on his back as bolts of lightning shocked him into staggering forward.
Cocytus retaliated as he stumbled, knocking Grisnir mid-air with his tail. He rose and turned back to his opponent, letting out a huff of mist. Then, spurred on by his opponent, Cocytus summoned forth a massive blade, brandishing it in one of his many hands.
"You have earned my respect, warrior."
"Right back at you, big guy." Bruised by the strike, Grisnir released a grunt before rising back to his feet, coils of electricity surging around his body. The arcs of energy congregated around his palms, enveloping them in blue light.
"Maximize magic: Lightning Arc." He slammed a palm against his own chest, shaking in pain as lightning surged from his body, pointing the other at Cocytus as dense energy submerged him in light, a line of electricity connecting the two. Grisnir gritted his teeth into a smirk, another spell circle forming in front of him.
"Lightning Conductor." The energy surrounding Grisnir subsided as it seeped into his armor, dents, and cracks sealing up as he absorbed more of it.
"What… is this?" The energy subsided, the strike bringing Cocytus to his knees.
"A combination I developed," Grisnir said, jumping on his toes, up and down with new vigor. "Lightning Arc is a powerful spell. Its only drawback is that it requires two targets. I targeted myself with that spell as electric damage repairs my body and armor. Lightning Conductor… lets me store all the electric damage I take and use it for my next strike."
"I see…" Cocytus stood and readied his sword, gripping it with two hands. "You have exceeded my expectations. Truth be told, it has been some time since I have been able to take an opponent seriously."
"Eh? I thought this was just a spar?" Lupusregina rolled her eyes from above. She observed as the two rushed at each other once more, trading brutal blows, each strike delivered with serious intent.
"It was." Naberal crossed her arms. Her cool demeanor cracked as she winced, witnessing Grisnir smash his head against Cocytus's own, chipping part of his helmet. "But having not enjoyed a fight in such a long time, I don't think Cocytus could control himself at an opportunity like this. The same goes for our guest, it seems."
Cocytus slashed at Grisnir, rending the armor plates on his shoulder, gashing him beneath it, crimson gushing out from his wound. Grisnir shrugged the blade off his body, returning with a fierce uppercut, launching Cocytus a substantial distance away.
"I haven't had this much fun in so long. The thrill of combat, the pain, and the rush of adrenaline. This is what we live for, isn't it?" Bolts of lightning leaked from the gash in Grisnir's armor, the tendrils striking the ground and marking the dirt. A crack in his helmet revealed human-like skin and a piercing blue eye.
"It is. It was what my creator, Warrior Takemikazuchi, created me for." A sheen of frost sheeted the ground beneath Cocytus. Some cracks marred his carapace as frigid mists seeped from them.
"Takemikazuchi? I've crossed blades with him before. That explains the similarities." Grisnir stalked closer to his opponent, each step smoldering the ground and charring it with the heat radiating from his body.
Cocytus paused, the other floor guardians as shocked as he was. He was silent for a moment, unable to reply, only composing himself as Grisnir halted his advance.
"May I ask a question?"
"Sure, go ahead." Grisnir said.
"How did the blade of my creator taste?"
"Takemikazuchi was a tough opponent and a true warrior. Fighting him was always a challenge but fun. I could say the same thing to you." Grisnir nodded.
"Thank you for answering my question." Cocytus tightened his grip, letting out a roar as the surrounding ice thickened. "As a token of my appreciation, I offer you the strongest strike from the blade gifted to me by my master!"
"Is that so?" The lightning around Grisnir grew in intensity as it formed a brilliant aura around his body. "Then I humbly accept. From one warrior to another."
The roar of their spirit created a brilliant aurora of frigid thunder. The makings of a blizzard planned around them as the fainter spectators turned away from the sheer volume of energy being released.
"Maximize Magic…" Grisnir placed both hands on the ground, crouching in a sprinter's stance. In an instant, the surrounding energy compressed, disappearing, returning the ring's brightness to normal.
"By my estimation, this is a blow that I must avoid. My instincts are telling me to run. However…" Cocytus said, grounding his feet deeper into the dirt, blade pointed in front of him. "The warrior spirit is overriding such a command."
"Ride The Lightning!" Grisnir disappeared from view in a singular bolt of electricity. The crowd swiveled their heads around the arena, looking for where he went off to. It also caught Cocytus unaware, who glanced around to look for him.
"Right in front of you." Grisnir appeared in front of Cocytus, catching him and the entire crowd off guard. He delivered a quick jab to Cocytus's chest that looked weak, but the resulting blow showed otherwise. The ground beneath them shattered and a massive shock wave released around them, sparks of lightning scarring the dirt as the sound of thunder deafened the arena. Cocytus heaved as the blow sent him flying like a bullet, his body making a beeline to the edge of the colosseum, right underneath the balcony. The impact with the wall sent rubble flying every which way, shaking the surrounding areas.
"Amazing…" Cocytus said, voice muffled beneath the rubble. Dirt and dust covered his once pristine carapace, cracks forming along the thickest parts with complete shattering around the thinnest. From where he laid, he saw Grisnir making his way towards him until he stood right in front of him, looking down at Cocytus.
"You as w..." Grisnir collapsed on his knees as he placed a palm against his chest. There, across his torso, was a wide, diagonal gash that spanned across his body. Crimson ichor flooded free from the wound, staining his armor with blood. Grisnir was silent for a moment, stunned and injured by the blow. He clutched at his wound, pressing fingers into it to inspect its depth and severity. He noted the blade tore through his armor thoroughly and even etched a few inches into his flesh. After a moment, his shoulders rolled, a burst of quiet laughter springing from him, turning into a boisterous holler not long after.
Cocytus heard the laughter, spurring him to do the same in a slow and clumsy chuckle.
"Here." Grisnir summoned a pair of vials, glittering red liquid filling each one. He tossed one of them to Cocytus, the insectoid having enough reflexes remaining to catch. Grisnir consumed the vial, causing his wounds to seal in less than a second, the same with Cocytus, whose carapace repaired not long after consuming the potion.
"My thanks." Cocytus nodded, rising from the rubble into a seated position.
"Don't mention it. That was the most fun I've had in a while." Grisnir said. As he stretched a hand for Cocytus, his chin tilted upward by a sharpened edge, finding an axe's blade pressed firmly against his neck.
"You piece of filth!" It was Albedo, her tone tight, golden eyes dazzling with fire. She appeared out of thin air, holding her heavy axe against Grisnir. "To dishonor this place with such destruction. If Lord Ains had not…."
"Albedo, that is enough." Ains glared, piercing red, emerging right behind her.
"But Lord Ains.."
"Albedo…"
Her expression was undiscernible through raven locks. Albedo bowed, dismissing her blade, nodding calmly as she did so.
Grisnir lifted an eyebrow, smoothing the spot that the blade threatened to shave.
"I apologize for my subordinate's actions. That was out of turn and uncalled for." Ains peered at her without words before turning his gaze to Cocytus.
"No hard feelings. You're certainly taking it well for someone who just had his home trashed." Grisnir shrugged, unloading a deep and drawn-out yawn.
"I take it he fulfilled your request, Cocytus?" He asked.
"Yes, my lord." Cocytus nodded. "This has eclipsed my expectations. I am thankful to be allowed to battle with one so strong."
"I am pleased with your approval. It seems our guest here also feels the same. Perhaps there will be more clashes between you in the future."
"I'm more than fine with it." Grisnir said, cutting in to the discussion. "The big bug's got a bite, and stuff like this helps remove the rust."
"Yes. It would be best to get used to your… new situation as quickly as possible. However, as the hour grows late, I will have one of our maids take you to a guest room for tonight. I will call for you tomorrow and we can discuss matters more from there and get you up to speed on what we have discovered so far." Ains turned away, eyeing the crowd. The rest of the guardians and notables were more observant regarding Grisnir with brighter eyes and more attention, though nowhere near the amount or intensity that Ains gets with little effort.
"Sounds good." Grisnir nodded, stretching and yawning. Shuffling away from the edge of the arena, he noticed Albedo's golden gaze tracking him, tightening with furrowed eyebrows when her eyes met his. Shaking his head, he moved past her, a prickly feeling etching his back as he departed for the night.
