Dungeon Raider System

His first instinct would have been to retaliate with his fists like usual since the use of artifacts was forbidden and Uriel did not have any offensive skills. That condition alone set the table for unfair fights all over since his trait was directly related to the use of weapons and it made him ponder if Tina made the rules of the tournament specifically to target him, but that held little importance to Uriel as he now was forced to go back to his origin and use his most reliable weapon which was his brain.

The first thing he did was to pretend he was going for an offensive stance which prompted all the enemies to merge by the doctor's side in order to protect him. If the doctor fell, his trait would be deactivated and the wounds on Uriel's body would stop festering on the spot. That was something they wanted to avoid at all costs and Uriel knew it.

By pretending to probe their defenses from all sides, what Uriel actually did was leave small scratches on their skin using nothing but his own nails. A few scratches here and there caused nothing but a little discomfort to the Mapple corporation security division members who actually laughed at Uriel's vain attempt to break through their defenses.

"It's pointless, kid, you better give up," Said the team leader with an uncanny grin that vanished the moment Uriel was declared the victor. No one understood what went on and the crowd was left confused as it was the first fight that was interrupted for no apparent reason. The few times it happened was due to a hunter refusing to yield despite their life being at risk and there was no way the few scratches Uriel managed to put in them were cause for such concern from the referee or the bar. "what is going on? Someone better explain this shit!" The team leader demanded and the referee spoke to him in a hush voice while covering his microphone.

A blank stare of confusion turned into one of understanding and with but a wave of his hand the Mapple corp. team retreated back to their side.

Uriel watched it happen even more confused than them since no one gave him any kind of explanation. Not that he thought they made the wrong decision as he knew they were as good as dead the moment he smeared his own infected blood in his nails before scratching them. As it turned out, the decay skill used by the Mapple doctor was so powerful it could take down most hunters within a minute, but in Uriel's case he was able to withstand it thanks to his enhanced stats.

"Hey, you're not going to tell me what the hell just happened?" Asked Uriel to the referee with a cold glare that was answered with silence. It was clear he had no allies in the arena and for all effects he was completely on his own and the only treatment he received after the fight was the silent treatment forcing him to continue applying bandages over the wounds.

With the decay skill being cancelled his wounds stopped the rotting process which was great, but that didn't stop the stench of the dead from filling the locker room Uriel declared as his own after so many contestants lost the tournament.

"Well done out there." Said Sam as he stepped in.

"If you came here to gloat about how I'm being treated..."

"Actually, I was about to ask you, but I heard the comments through a bookie. Apparently you smacked a married woman in the ass in the arena. That was ballsy."

"That, and I also gave the beating of a lifetime to their heroes." Uriel chuckled.

"Oh, well... I'm just here to let you know things are going to get a lot more interesting," Sam said, his voice then shifted into a deeper version that echoed in the locker room. "and to make peace with you."

"It's you again, huh. Guess Sam couldn't take you to your planet or whatever." If Uriel accompanied his sarcastic remain with any facial expression it would have been impossible to tell due to the many bandages that covered him exactly like one of the mummies in his museum.

"Nice technique, it seems you have practiced quite a lot," Water warlock chuckled. "but it's more fit for preserving bodies than to heal. If you allow me, I'll heal you up completely."

"Nah, there's not need."

"Don't be stubborn, I could..."

"I said I'm fine. Calling someone stubborn just because you're insisting on something they don't want is disrespectful."

"And speaking to me with such familiarity could be considered the same. I presume it has something to do with that trinket you have in store."

"That's your problem, you presume too much. What makes you think I want to use it on you?"

"If it helps you make your mind, then I'll tell you this. That dagger can kill anything, even me. And if you so desire," Water warlock placed himself directly in front of Uriel and exposed his neck. "then you can use it."

"It would be like killing two birds with one stone." Uriel pondered, unsure if he should believe him or not. Whether the dagger could actually kill him or not was already a toss of a coin, but him being capable of pulling such a feat was even more unlikely.

"I am being serious. On my honor I will not move if you attempt to destroy me and the same will happen to Samael, whom I am controlling now. Even if he wanted to move, he would not be able to."

"Will it really work?"

"In order for a man to craft an artifact capable of anything he must pay the price, which is everything. He must bestow upon it everything from the blood of his veins to the last bit of his soul. It doesn't matter if it is a small man or a man of greatness, the value of everything a man has remains the same."

"One could argue that not just any man could do something like that, give up on everything just to create a thing." Uriel pondered.

"Or a woman, it could have been a woman too." Medusa butted in with a jagged breath as she just arrived.

"You made it!" Uriel said as he almost collapsed on the bench. "now I can finally rest."

"Don't say it like you're dying, you're just stinky," Luna said, then continued after everyone glared at her. "I know it is not appropriate to comment on someone's hygiene, but in this case it was the only reason why we could find him among all these people."

"Get off of me." Said Uriel as he shook his arm to get Luna to release him.

"Someone's cranky." Medusa said in a chuckle.

"What is wrong with you guys. Can't you see Water warlock is right here?"

"Hello." Said Medusa and Luna followed.

"Hi."

"Am I being gaslighted?" Uriel asked in utter disbelief.

"No, he's on our side. At least for now, it seems. I thought Sam came to hurt you after learning what the future is from the goddess of fate, who just happens to be the librarian, he came and put all of his savings into a bet on your favor."

"I knew there was something off with her!" Uriel exclaimed as he pulled up his smartphone to show many brief recordings he had of Gertrude. She acted like an ordinary old woman would and there was nothing of note other than her usual grumpiness, but Uriel seemed to believe otherwise as he had a detailed record of most of his interactions with her.

"Really, that's your take after I just told you Sam rushed in to place a bet on your stead?" Medusa huffed.

"Give me a break," Uriel showed his current state which was pitiful to say the least, though for some reason he refused to be healed. "it's like Tina came up with this idea just to torment me."

"You are only half correct, but I'm afraid it goes deeper than Tina." Water warlock said.

"How would you know? You're a thing from who knows where." Uriel scoffed.

"And that is the reason why I know the reason for this tournament has nothing to do with finding out who the better fighter is, what megacity is stronger, what company holds more power or anything of the sorts. It is actually..."

"A sacrificial rite, they're putting down some of the hunters who lose the tournament. I know," Uriel said as though it was the most obvious thing, then continued. "that doesn't change the fact that the only way I'm getting rid of this curse is if I get Soulfire's artifacts back."

"So, if you knew... that means... but..." Medusa pondered for a few seconds trying to understand Uriel's reasoning, but for all her efforts the only thing she managed was to give herself a headache.

"This is a trap, it doesn't matter who placed it, only who falls on it." Uriel's eyes glimmered in bright blue as a surge of power appeared.