Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Bloody Lily stepped forward, her red armor gleaming in the flickering light of the flames that still danced around the magic circle. Her presence was imposing, a combination of grace and power that made all eyes turn to her.

"Let's see what you can do," murmured Surtr, his eyes burning with curiosity for this woman.

Bloody Lily didn't reply immediately. Instead, she raised her crimson sword, a blade of crystallized blood that seemed to pulse with an energy of its own. With a fluid, deliberate movement, she grasped the blade with both hands and brought it against her chest. An intense light, golden and red, radiated from the point of contact, and the sword began to transform.

The metal melted and molded around her arms, forming a pair of intricately detailed gauntlets. The crimson gauntlets glowed with intense power, as if they were alive, ready to unleash overwhelming force.

Andrew, always excited, couldn't hold back a smile in anticipation of victory.

Even Kaizen, with his always analytical and controlled posture, was surprised by this way of changing the weapon.

Blood Lily closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply, feeling the power of the gauntlets merging with her own energy. When she opened her eyes again, her eyes were shining with fierce determination. She took a step towards the magic circle, feeling the residual heat of the black flames that were still burning.

"Blood Lily, I see that something has made you stronger than the last time you were here," said Surtr, his tone defiant but with a touch of respect.

She drew back her right arm, preparing to strike. The energy around her began to pulsate, the air vibrating with the intensity of her power. The runes around the circle began to glow again, this time in a deep red that reflected the strength built up in the gauntlets.

With a battle cry that echoed through the arena, Bloody Lily threw his punch. The impact was instantaneous and devastating. The force of the blow made the ground shake even more violently, the cracks in the ground open wider. The wind was pushed back, as if a wave of pure energy had been released.

The sound of the impact was deafening, a thunderclap that reverberated around the arena and echoed in the distant lava mountains.

The numbers in the air immediately began to change, increasing at an alarming rate. 80.000.000... 90.000.000... 100.000.000... 110.000.000!

When the numbers finally stopped, a stunned silence gripped the arena. Everyone was paralyzed, unable to immediately process what had just happened. Og'tharoz looked at the numbers with a mixture of disbelief and relief.

They had managed, by combining only his and the Bloody Lily's blows, to achieve a score that surpassed even Surtr's punch.

The ground trembled beneath them as their combined power sent shockwaves rippling through the air. The impact was so intense that it created a crater in the earth, leaving a visible mark of their incredible feat.

Surtr, for his part, looked at the figures with a thoughtful and more serious expression. He took a step forward. "Impressive, Bloody Lily. It looks like you make a formidable team. But remember, this is only the beginning. There are still many tests ahead."

Bloody Lily took a deep breath, feeling tiredness begin to settle into her body. She looked at Og'tharoz and extended her hand to shake his.

"We made it," she said, her voice firm but with a hint of exhaustion.

Og'tharoz nodded and shook Blood Lily's right hand while the gauntlets were still coming apart. "Yes, we did it. But we need to be prepared for what comes next."

Kaizen, Jayaa, Alina, Xisrith and Andrew approached, forming a circle around Blood Lily and Og'tharoz.

"That was an impressive feat," said Kaizen, his eyes assessing every detail. "But we need to be ready for the next challenge."

"Whatever the next test is," said Alina, her voice full of determination, "we'll face it together."

Andrew, ever the optimist, smiled. "That's right. We're in this together. No matter what comes, we'll get through it."

"Look how nice, a moment of fraternization! Why does every group do that?" Surtr mocked. Surtr mocked. "Anyway, on to the next test. Maelstrom, is everything ready?"

An icy wind swept through the arena, causing the winds to flutter violently. Suddenly, a specific point in the space next to Surtr began to distort, as if reality was being bent by an invisible force. Slowly, Maelstrom's figure emerged from the shadows, like a chameleon revealing its presence after a period of invisibility.

"The preparations for the second test are finalized, my lord," said Maelstrom, his voice smooth as silk, but charged with a latent menace.

Maelstrom, a demon with an imposing aura, had long hair as black as night and red eyes that glowed with an unsettling intensity. His skin was pale, almost cadaverous, but his posture was supernaturally elegant. He wore formal clothes, a perfectly tailored suit that contrasted with the ferocity of his gaze. With a fluid, graceful movement, he bowed deeply before Surtr.

Surtr nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent, Maelstrom. Let's see what these invaders are really capable of."

Blood Lily, still catching her breath from the devastating blow she had delivered, looked at Maelstrom with caution. She knew that any creature that had Surtr's respect should not be underestimated. Her eyes narrowed, determination still shining brightly.

"What will the next test be?" asked Kaizen, the curiosity and meticulous analysis evident in his voice.

Maelstrom stood up, his slender, tall figure dominating the scene. He raised a hand, and a portal of dark energy opened up in the middle of the arena. The view beyond the portal was of a vast, desolate desert, with dunes stretching as far as the eye could see. The sky was tinged with blood red, and a sandstorm moved in the distance, creating a scene of absolute desolation.

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"A simple test of sight." Maelstrom began to explain. "I'm going to take you to a small desert I've created just for this second test. There, I will play the classic game of coin toss and fortune telling."

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