Saga of Astral Mysteries (LOTMxASOIAF)

For someone as experienced as Valkorion, such a cheap trick was useless because when he dodged, he immediately nullified such potential tricks and once again charged towards the Summer Islander with his sword, as their weapons clashed between them.

Valkorion grinned because even though he could tell that the man before him was accustomed to fighting pirates and bandits, he was catching on rather quickly. He didn't know if it was from the effects of the Beyonder Abilities or if it was just his natural talent, but in the end, it didn't even matter.

However, if he had to guess, it would most probably be some sort of natural talent because the speed of comprehension and adjustment to the combat was rather slow compared to the Beyonder Ability. 

He appeared in front of the Summer Islander in a flash once again as he delivered a kick into his stomach, sending the man falling to the ground; Valkorion immediately pressed his sword to his neck, signaling that the fight was decided.

With one signal from the Summer Islander higher to the Announcer, the fight was concluded when Valkorion was proclaimed as the winner.

"And we have the winner! Valkorion Nerona!"

The Announcer of the Grand Volantene Arena proclaimed the end of the fight as the present crowd cheered for the winner. 

After the fight, Valkorion was entitled to have half an hour's rest, though he knew that would pass faster than he may think, as he departed to the place where he came from. The next few fights were actually nothing that interesting for him because Valkorion won them all rather easily; only the last one was really more problematic. 

Still, what he realized was that after every single fight that he absolved, he managed to speed up the digestion of the Sequence 7 Warrior Beyonder Potion, and he felt that after a few fights or so, he would be able to digest it entirely.

The thing with that was that, this was probably the most perfect version of the Acting Method for the Warrior Sequence. For Valkorion, this would be splendid because he would be able to drink the Sequence 6 Beyonder Potion for the Beast Knight. 

As Sequence 6 Beast Knight, he would get access to a new set of abilities, and his already existing ones would get tremendous strengthening, which would increase the chances that he would come out from the Orange Shore without crippling injury or so.

Now he waited for the next match as this would probably be the last one in which he would participate. He was already feeling rather tired and wanted some rest, not to mention he was already feeling that he had gained enough and needed some more time to digest the gains from the matches.

"Please welcome our next two contenders. Valkorion Nerona, Sequence 7 Beyonder, Occupation: Adventurer!"

When Valkorion heard his name, he went to the Arena, and he took a look at the huge floating crystal above the middle of the Grand Volantene Arena. 

"And welcome our next contender. From the Forge Cities of the Underground Kingdoms and Thaigs, Gotrik Gurnisson, Sequence 7 Beyonder, Occupation: Slayer! Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a Slayer in the Grand Volanetene Arena once again after a long time!"

Valkorion looked at the dwarf standing opposite him.

A fierce dwarven warrior standing in an imposing stance and ready for combat at any given notice. He had a powerful muscular physique and was adorned with a distinctive red mohawk and beard, both styled in a wild, untamed manner, adding to his fearsome appearance.

His armor and weapons were decorated with intricate details, including two large, double-headed axes with glowing, fiery elements, suggesting a magical or enchanted quality. 

His entire body was covered in scars and tattoos, emphasizing his experience and ferocity as a fighter. 

'Member of the Slayer Cult... I didn't think that I would encounter one of them this early in my journey through the Supernatural Beyonder World.'

Valkorion, though, because he was aware of the gravity of the Slayer Cult and its Slayers as he remembered the introduction words to the book about the dwarven culture that he read a few months ago.

"It was Baragor, the first of the Slayer Kings, who dedicated the Shrine of Grimnir in Karak Kadrin as a haven to all Slayers and thus brought about a steep rise in the Slayer Cult. Often, it is here in the northern reaches of the World's Edge Mountains that a Dwarf undertakes the solemn Slayer vow. Only a great act of shame or a broken oath can drive a Dwarf to seek redemption at the Shrine of Grimnir, and solace in an honourable death. Upon undertaking the Slayer vow, a Dwarf will dye his hair bright red or orange and shave it into a great crest made stiff by animal fat or lime. They forsake armor and wield the weapon of the Slayer, an axe, whilst their bodies are daubed in tattoos dedicated to the Ancestor God Grimnir, in the hope of garnering his favor in battle and ensuring a mighty doom."

The Slayers were the most fearsome warriors of the Underground Kingdoms and the Forge Cities of the Dwarven Species. They stood at the apex of the marital mastery and weak skills, as nobody could claim that they were better than the Slayers.

Slayers were a rare sight across the world; they were mostly active in the areas where there were beings to be slayed. They sought out creatures like Trolls, Giants, and other beings to Slay them to prove their worth and atone for their sins. 

Due to the Slayer Cult, the dwarves were able to strike many decisive victories in their eternal wars against the Greenskins or the Skaven.

Some Slayers even sought the wild True Dragons that were terrorizing the mortals, or those who reached the pinnacle of their art would be seeking to slay the untold number of abominations hiding in the dark.

Valkorion knew that this match was already lost because he didn't think that he was good enough to defeat a Slayer, but at the same time, he also felt his competitive spirit lit up because it wasn't every day that one had the opportunity to fight against a member of the Slayer Cult.

"Fighters, get ready!"

The Announcer shouted as both Valkorion and the Slayer Gotrik Gurnisson readied their weapons and were ready for the combat. Compared to his previous opponents, Valkorion was going all-out right from the start, as he knew that otherwise, he would be defeated in the first exchange. 

Judging by the number of scars and tattoos that the Dwarven Slayer had, it was clear that he was a very accomplished one for sure. 

"Fight start."

Just as the Announcer started the fight, the Dwarven Slayer appeared in front of Valkorion and slashed at him with his twin axes. The dwarf was extremely fast, and Valkorion barely had any time to react, but managed to dodge at the last moment, or he would be hit by the twin axes.

The deaths were more common during the gladiatorial match.

Fortunately for Valkorion, he started keeping up with the Dwarven Slayer after several exchanges, but it was clear that he was at a severe disadvantage against the dwarf in terms of pure skill.

And even strength, speed, and most probably even stamina.