Systemless in a Parallel World

If Lara was supposed to get strong enough to kill the Chimera instead of Merlin, she would have to be extremely powerful.

So far, Zayn had only heard rumors about the Colosseum but that was already enough for him to feel like never going there. Blessed and Normies could challenge the monsters that were captured and held in the Colosseum, and bets could be made for all kinds of possibilities.

These possibilities included whether the Challenger would survive, how long the Challenger would be able to stay in the ring, or if the Challenger would be able to defeat their opponents. Rumors said that the monsters facing the Challengers were usually extremely strong.

This was again rumored to have multiple reasons but Zayn didn't really have to bother thinking about the Colosseum's reasoning for letting Challengers face a monster that was supposed to be stronger than them.

The Colosseum was a place where spectators were entertained by watching the cruelest possible battles. Zayn understood that pretty clearly and he didn't take a liking to it, no matter how much money the Challengers could earn from participating in the Colosseum's challenges.

"Basically, Lara would have challenged the Colosseum while having one Soulring. She would have to defeat a few monsters to irk the managers of the Colosseum, who would then send in the Chimera with the intention to get rid of her in the most painful way. Lara would then kill the Chimera in your stead, which would be fine with your God and considered your achievement. Is that correct?" Zayn summarized the plan they had come up with in the past.

Merlin nodded his head, reaffirming his theory.

"So, I would have to enter the Colosseum while possessing a single Soulring, preferably with the second Soulring almost completed to be as powerful as I can get with a single Soulring, and kill the Chimera. Would that be fine with your God?" Zayn asked, trying to make sure that his conclusion was not riddled with flaws.

Merlin Kivan raised his eyebrow in interest. He looked at Zayn and was once again baffled that a kid was able to speak so calmly about entering the Colosseum and facing a Chimera.

Even if the Chimera was permanently injured and unable to fight with all its might, it was still a monster that had once been able to fight A-rank Adventurers and make them feel despair!

But there was something else that bothered Merlin. Zayn was not as talented as Lara, which he could clearly tell from their earlier clash. Their blades had collided and Zayn had lost miserably, "No matter how I look at this, you will die fighting the Chimera."

"Then teach me until you are certain that I can win!" Zayn countered, his voice filled with a sudden surge of determination.

He didn't know for sure when he began to feel as if he could actually do it, but his entire being was telling him that it was worth entering the Colosseum and challenging it as long as he received Merlin's tutelage. It was truly a weird and reckless decision but he wanted to see it through.

Recalling how Merlin's Saber technique had stirred his heart, Zayn's conviction continued to intensify and the corners of his lips tilted upward.

"Why are you so interested in my technique, in the first place? You might actually die…you do understand that, right?" Merlin enquired, unsure if that Zayn understood the gravity of the given situation.

However, Zayn simply continued to smile.

"Your technique stole my heart, so I have to do everything to get it back!" He responded with a cheerful smile. After all, he didn't really understand his behavior either.

"Okay, if you say so," Merlin shrugged, putting an end to their discussion. He was convinced that Zayn's words were sincere and it was not as if he saw no hope in the combat talent of the youngster either. It might take a while but teaching Zayn for a month or two would show him whether the young Normie was up for the dangers of the task or not!

Merlin was in need of a Normie because the Chimera was only taken out of its cage when Normies in the Colosseum were getting cocky. At least, that was how it had been in the past. "I will make a request to see if the System accepts you as a replacement for Lara. If the system does accept you, we can talk about the training…"

Merlin moved his fingers in a weird motion as if he was actually seeing something in front of him. To Zayn, it looked like Merlin was typing something in the empty air, which looked amusing even though he knew that the system was only visible to those in possession of a Stigma.

Merlin had tiny remnants of his Stigma left. That was barely enough to maintain the connection with the System and give him the opportunity to fulfill the system's mission.

"Your request was accepted," He said after a moment but that was actually something Zayn had expected.

If the system didn't accept the help of a Normie Child at the age of 13, taught by the system's host, it wouldn't make sense for Lara to be accepted as a supporter, either.

With Lara, it would have been easier to finish the mission, regrow his arm, and provide God with the 'revival' of the prodigious Blessed who Merlin had once been. After all, his huge Stigma would regrow with his arm as well.

Though, talking about logic, or things making sense was not actually possible when it came to the System and the ways of the Gods.

After all, it didn't really make sense why Gods would give their Blessed a difficult mission, in the first place, if they also allowed someone else to help at the end of the day.

Of course, that was not Zayn's business but it was weird, nonetheless.

Pondering about what Gods did or why would be a waste of time and it was more important for him to be able to learn the One-Arm Saber technique.

The only issue Zayn found when it came to his business was something totally mundane.

"Oh…" He mumbled, recalling something he had forgotten, and Merlin looked over to Zayn, wondering if he wanted to back out all of a sudden.

"What's wrong?"

Zayn, however, just smiled lightly.

"You shattered my saber…"

"..."