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-Arena one Week Later-
Kettor smiled to himself in the mirror of remote viewing over the crowd settling on Arche’s seated among the masses. A slight frown on his lips checking over the area around himself and Arche for illusions or something hidden.
“How do you think she found out even she could not have guessed where we planing it.” Kettor dismissed the mirror adjusting his shirt and royal trench coat for the hundredth time.
Kathrin beamed brightly, twirling around him in her royal dress, pulling his hands away. “Perhaps she guessed. Please do not worry, my love. If anything should happen, we have our undying guard ready to move. I even personally have my pack mates hidden among the crowd should they try anything.”
Kettor scowled lightly, staring into Katherine's golden eyes. ‘Still, this demon deity has not once shown himself we should have found him by now!’ recalling the reports every single remain of that Adrofine parasite should be dead.
Sighing and taking Kathrin's hand in his own walking down the halls of the arena, they were quiet. Giving him time to think he almost wants to laugh, Sitabus told himself he wouldn’t get involved with politics again so soon, yet here he was. About to take the reigns of a monarchy for himself.
No, this would be for Nazarick and Kathrin glancing back at the new Four Imperial Knights Leinas Rockbruise in her new dark red armor made to be easier to fly in but still defend her. Nimble Arc Dale Anoch's gaze was set at the ground in his new red armor as well. Ritana Enruos, finally finding out her last name for this ceremony, beaming proudly adorned in her new reddish armor with a handed short sword and long two-handed sword at her side. Carrying a shield and bow on her back. Last was Bardic Tamber, the shortest of the four in similar armor talking to leinas about something.
“Tell me, Kathrin, this will reach all of the Baharuth empire at the same time as we agreed?”
Kathrin pulls his arm closer, rubbing her hand over his sleeve. “Of course, and yes, our project paper walls should work, so stop worrying. Should we postpone for an hour to release stress?”
Kettor calmed some relenting as they approached the entrance to the arena. Calming his breathing, he could only hope this would go well if not a lot of work would need to be done to manage the damage. As many tried to leave the empire, quite a few probably still would.
“Without further ado, I present your emperor and empress and their elite four Leinas Rockbruise, Nimble Arc Dale Anoch's, Ritana Enruos, and Bardic Tamber.” Osk waved over to them.
Crossing the threshold of light out into the cheering crowd, which grew quiet upon seeing there new emperor was a vampire. Despite the gloomy cloud cover, his eye shined, and he gave a fanged smile.
All eyes were upon him; this would be his moment of truth. He could still back out. He could say it was a joke. Gazing deep into Kathrin’s bright eyes full of expectations. Kettor gathered his courage remembering the speech they, mostly Kathrin, prepared.
“Hello, good people of Baharuth. I am Kettor minx. I stand here happy to be your new emperor with my love, Kathrin minx, your new empress. I stand here before you with joy to see so many alive and doing so well despite the parasites which threatened to devour the Baharuth empire to bring back one of the demon deities. Which brings me to why we are all here today.”
Waving shalltear over in her mask, teleporting to Kettor’s left from the emperor's private balcony. Looking right at Arche, Kettor could only hope this show of sincerity eliminated any negative thoughts she had about him being undead.
“I first came here under the name Kyuketsuki leader of the vultures by request of lady Tearus Bon Shellder to hunt down a dangerous cult that unleashed the demon tree seed in Barune. Only to discover they had much deeper plans, which led me to find and help emperor Jircniv to save as many as possible. The way to Arwindar was filled with many who wished to stop me. The same parasites who would wish you all dead. But I could not have predicted the late bloody emperor would risk the Slane Theocracy’s wrath when he found these parasites hiding in the very great temple that once stood in this city. A risky price he paid for with his own life by the wind flow scriptures themselves. For trying to save all of you here today.”
Kettor pauses to let it sink in the gasps and shocked looked they still seemed to question him though not to be unexpected. It was not as bad as he was expecting no one calling for his death so far.
“I was there my self as are the only surviving members of the elite four Leinas and Nimbral. In his dying breath, he asked me to save this empire. Which is why I have spent the last week hunting down and destroying every last remnant of this parasite poison Adrofine. I won't ask that you forgive his rash actions, only that you ask yourself, does someone so selfless deserve your hate. I will let both of them along with eye witness of the battle of Phovine and two of the new members of the elite four as a whole tell you themselves. Question them ask them what my Undying Guards and I have done for the empire. Before we begin the usual tournament.”
Once he was done, he used [create item] to make two chairs for both of them as they watched the crowd question all four of them. Keeping tabs mostly on Nimbral, he was the least trustworthy of them.
Kathrin whispered into his ear. “The speech was lovely and regal. Still Are you sure you can trust Nimbral, my love.”
Kettor met Kathrin's inquiry gaze whispering back. “Yes, besides that is why we started the paper walls project, is it not?
Kettor knew that wasn’t the reason at all, but Kathrin accepted it quickly, so she at least believes it.
Kettor laid his head on her shoulders as they wait for an hour until everyone had asked their questions. Even answering a few himself till it was time for the tournament to begin.
Rises from his seat with [break item], making the chairs dissolve away, taking in the mood of the crowd. They were still subdued, noting the cloudy sky rain might make the tournament harder to see and enjoy.
“Before we begin, I have two other announcements first; I would ask my empress to clear up the weather, and second, my four will be the final duel after which the winner will fight go grin.”
Kathrin clapped her hands together, clearing the sky to the crowd's amazement as clear skies showed through the clouds before casting mass fly allowing the emperor and empress along with the four to fly up to the balcony.
Once landing Kettor when over and fell back on to the couch, Kathrin was quick to snuggle up her tail wrapping around his right arm. With Shalltear on his left. Sitabus felt at ease for the first time since fighting Shalltear. He glanced over to Clementine near the balcony even from here he could tell clementine was bored by the way she kept touching her stilettos.
“Now that we are alone, Kathrin, let's go over the first topic, how is the slavery reform going.”
Kathrin beamed, pulling out a few papers out of her inventory. Quickly reading over all the documents before putting them down on the table. “The prosses is slow, and resistance is slowing the development that said within six months to a year, we should have eight legions.”
“What about your thoughts on the matter. Do you think there is any way to improve this time.”
Kathrin scowled with a concentrated look before shooting down the idea. “No, morale and mental trauma of the trap battles on top of the losses. To get them back up to battle-ready level will take the paid downtime of six months at a minimum. Our undying guard shall cover them for now, even with only 5000 low to mid-level undead you created for paper walls. It helps that general, Coilin, along with two other generals, are backing you for saving him and his troops at Gramith fort and saving their families in Phovine.”
Kettor couldn't keep the smile off his face. Maybe it was him telling Kathrin about his experience on earth. Perhaps it was his teaching her to go easy on beings of the new world; either way, this was a considerable improvement to how she would have treated them when they first arrived.
“Why would they need downtime serving the supreme beings should be enough! for that matter, why should we even pay them if they can’t even take attacks like Gramith fort or the attack on Phovine.”
The four turned to Shalltear, hissing at the standard concept to them. Kettor himself frowned. ‘Great now, I need to teach Shalltear about the limits and needs of humans as well.’ Bitterly thinking to himself, it took him weeks of talking to Kathrin for her to understand the importance of rest and mental health for living beings.
“Shalltear, if we openly break these fragile sheep, it sets a bad example and makes them useless. When with a gentle touch and training, they can be molded to full potential, and unceasingly loyal. The pay is not a reward, but the incentive to build stable family units through which young future servants can be created to devote their lives to our empire.”
Sitabus hides his sincere regret under a proud, twisting smile. How did Kathrin always find some twisted point of view to justify being kind and respectful? Was it her negative karma score or her bio he could barely remember what he wrote? Pondering this, as he zoned out Kathrin, enlightens Shalltear about his wishes for the future of the empire
Leinas gave Kathrin a strange look before turning a pitting gaze to Kettor. Breaking him out of his train of thought.
Biting his lip as he coughed and move the subject along. “Anyway, moving on, how is Photio doing in his new leadership role with moving the lab to the ministry of magic.”
Kathrin beames leaning close. “Exelntly, Flunder was overjoyed to learn and help expand his tower for our magical needs. They should have it fully set up within the next month or two. The red tanks should take longer about three months total to have them ready to start filling.”
This went on for a while, going through subjects until it was time for the final rounds. This was calming and relaxing, if not a little frustrating as finances and politics had to be brought up a little before the last two rounds of the tournament. Clementine chimed in as any further matters where tabled mainly to see the full growth of the two adventures which he had become so close to.
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-On The Main Arena Floor-
Rita steadies her breathing as she looked up at the war troll Go Gin. This would be a tough match glancing up at the balcony where the emperor and empress were seated watching her. Kathrin, most of all, gave her a proud, if not encouraging, stare. This would be a test of her growth. She had beaten leinas, nimble, and bardic in the four-way match.
For this fight, she chose to use her new two-handed sword, a gift from Kettor, for finding the leader of the parasites, with a round shield strapped to her arm. Despite the considerable troll’s size and armor, all she needs to do was avoid the club and find the weak spots in the armor.
Rita bowed slightly to the troll out of respect. “Hello sir Go Gin, I’m Ritana Enruos strongest of the Four Imperial Knights. Let us have an honorable duel.”
Ritana bites her lip nervous she was slightly stronger than this troll, but not by much and without her magic to fall back on against a troll’s regenerative abilities even without the armor, it would be a hard fight.
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“Let us have a fine battle, lady knight.”
Ritana raised a brow at the respectful tone. “I am surprised you acknowledge my name; the last troll wouldn’t do so before I burned him to ash with my sword.”
“Yes, unlike most of my kind I have lived with, I have learned long names do not show a human's strength. I won't hold back for this fight.”
Rita grins, raising her sword, activating [ability boost], and [greater ability boost] before shouting. “Then let us see which of us is stronger.” Fainting a frontal charge before sidestepping the club by a few feet. Bringing her sword down with [heavy strike] and [twin fold slash].
To her frustration, she pushed the troll’s arm down but didn’t make him drop the sword or dent the armor. Retreating back out of range of the club, lady Kathrin and lord Kettor must know she had trouble breaking through armor like this on death knights. This would be a real test of her skills. She would not lose like the fight with Rediavine at Phovine.
Sheathing her sword and moving back as she pulled out her bow and arrows quickly shooting off five blunted arrows with [heavy blow]. At least denting the armor where they hit, forcing her to block with her shield grunting at the force of the hit.
Managing to stay on shaky legs with a grimace. ‘I can only take a few more hits like that.’ Redrawing her sword as she charged to meet the troll ducking under the swing. She needs something more to have a chance of winning this; she needs more. Digging deep, she would not be weak like phovine again this to be faster and stronger shouting out. [superior ability boost]
She brought her sword up with as much force and speed as she could muster, feeling the increase as her muscles burned. Hearing a loud clank and a grunt from Go Gin. Widening her eyes in shock to see the spot she had shot earlier dented in.
Seeing the arm let go of the club, she jumped on to it, flinging herself on to his shoulder, steadying herself. Spotting an open slot in the armor thrusting her sword deep with a [heavy strike]. Hearing more grunts of pain, sweating as she pulled back and jumped off the shoulder before she could be hit. Rolling to her feet with a proud stare, she could do this.
Watching as the troll removed the left arm of the armor. Seeing the damage heal, this still wasn't enough hissing in irritation, if Rita could use her fire spells, the damage wouldn’t be healing.
“I have heard you use fire magic. If you had not agreed to avoid using it, those attacks would be far more effective. By the way, you keep dodging my blows, you must use your wings of magic and speed in place of defensive martial arts.”
Ritana frowned, trying to think of some way to stop his healing without fire magic. Go Gin was right. Gaining a sly grin if nothing else this new martial art Rita had unlocked was helping, but the extra drain on her stamina was tiring her out quick. She needs to end this quickly.
Panting as she charged side-stepping the club again and ducking under the swing spinning with a [heavy blow] and [twin slash]. Forcing the troll to step back as ritana was grunting from the force on her arms. He must have activated a martial art. Still, she managed to cut through it seeing the blood as the wound closed.
Growlings she would not be weak again, she wouldn’t fail again thinking hard pushing her body to the limit of its strength. Trying again and again to find another soft spot, Rita got more reckless and desperate to find a solution without her magic.
‘Have my spells become such a crutch for me that I can’t even beat this opponent without it!’ Screaming in her mind as hse used her shield to tank another hit sliding back. Panting as sweat rolled down her head, her helmet knocked off after the last attack.
Feeling the darkness of her undead command voice screaming to be let out. Growling as her eyes changed, tinted orange feeding off her weakness.
“You are powerful for a young Knight to damage my armor and push me so much. Even still, without your magic, you will lose this match. You should stop before you die and come back when you are stronger.”
Despite the respectful tone, ritana refused she would prove she was strong that all her training wasn’t useless. “ No, you said you won't hold back, so neither will I!”
Rita could not explain the rush she knew she should back down, glancing up at the worried eyes of Kettor. She needs to break her limit to reach farther, locking eyes with mistress Kathrin. Feeling her heartbeat race with a calling to keep going all out.
Seeing the club coming down at her instincts, screaming to move, she ignored them. Rita would show why she was strong without resorting to magic every time ‘Don’t die. Break your limits.’ She heard a strange voice with a shiver of her body. Not noticing her sword alight with four colored flames along with a bright blue aura around her body, her now orange eyes glowing as sweat rolled down her body. Feeling pain as she pushed her arms to break this club. To not end with a defeat like Rediavine.
Instead of another [heavy strike] and [twin fold slash], she screamed out. “[Flaming shell aura] and [Four flames shell cracker strike]” Two new ones bringing with it a wave of fatigue and pain gritting her teeth forcing her self to move and stand her ground.
The force of the wind and heat flung her back, skidding on the ground, digging her shield into the dirt to stop her momentum. Hearing a scream of pain, forcing her self to look up at the sight of the magic club broken in four places and scorched. The troll's armor was sheered with four scorched lines. The trolled burned with dancing green, red, yellow, and blue flames.
Rita failed to rise hissing in pain; her arms felt like they were on fire. As did most of her body grunting, taking several minutes to stand on one knee. She didn’t know what she just did, but go gin was cut clean through into smoking pieces his head, arms, torso, and legs.
“I said no magic casting! Go Grin!” Osk ran up to the fallen troll.
She didn’t know how, but she had won she thought for sure she was going to die. Rita's body refused to move even as lord Kettor teleported down next to her with a proud smile. His gaze quickly scanning over her body for any severe injuries.
“Good job Rita. I thought I would have to jump in there for a minute.” Kettor turned to the crowd as he walked to the troll Rita watches, wondering what he was going to do. Along with the audience in the arena with bated breath.
“This was an entertaining match. I think we can all agree, let us give a round of cheer for the elite four strongest Ritana Enruos.”
Rita finally heard the crowd applauding loudly for her before quieting down. As Kettor motioned them to quiet down.
“However. I see no reason to see combatants die pointlessly with such skill and martial prowess. As a show of good faith that all who come here of any race may improve and show their talent. From now on, I shall have someone with revival magic to bring back all who die in tournaments in this arena from this day forward, starting with Go Gin.” Walking up to the troll's body, many fearful of what kind of undead would rise.
Only to watch as he touches the trolls head softly speaking [True Resurrection} as Go Gin did not rise up an undead as they feared, but fully healed and alive. Earning shock and awe by everyone, Rita would give applause too if her arms would move.
Kettor walked back over, picking Rita up bridal style, making her blush. “You don’t have to carry me. I just need a few minutes.” Rita protested.
Kettor just kept walking to the entrance of the arena. “Rita, your lucky, that didn’t kill you. You may be level 36, but your health is almost as totally empty as your stamina. I don’t know what I would have done if you had…I felt like I was going mad watching you nearly kill yourself for a match!”
Rita looked ashamed for a moment seeing the fear evident in his gaze. Still, she had a confident smirk. She wasn’t weak, and she won without magic. “I had to prove it to myself. That I could win without you having to save me every time like in Phovine.”
He scowled before sighing, “Rediavine was almost double your level besides. You don’t need to prove your self like Kathrin or Shalltear. I value each of you for your own merit. You are my ground when all the others just agree with me, Rita. At times I feel like I can’t feel my humanity anymore. So long as I have you around to remind me, I still feel it. Being human doesn't make you weak or a bad leader; in fact, I respect your stubborn drive to be better. Just please don’t scare me like that again.”
Rita could see his shame he must have been thinking of when he lost it in Phovine. She would leave him like that smiling as she forced out a hiss reaching up a hand to lightly slap him.
“Alright, I promise to limit scaring you, but I will still do what I believe I should. So stop moping around about the past. I don’t want to see you like phovine again. Ok?” Rita glances around the halls, not seeing any of the others.
“Where are we going anyway, and why aren’t the others with you.”
Kettor gently stroked her cheek. “Kathrin will handle finishing up the tournament and paperwork for me. Shalltear is taking clementine to make sure the slavery reform is inforced. The other three I gave the day off after how badly you slapped them around with your sword.”
He stared into her eyes with concern and affection. As they neared the exit out of the Arena, holding her gently caressing her back and rump. His tail bringing up a healing potion to her lips. Finally, putting her down as the drink took effect standing on shaky legs.
“As for you, I am spending the rest of the day with. To make up for scaring me after being fully healed, that is. So show me your deadly womanly charms.”
Rita beamed bring him into a kiss letting the exhaustion fade in the deep passionate kiss even if she was not back up to full health; it still hurt to move too fast. Feeling comfortable in his arms, which seemed afraid to let go.
“Alright, don’t go wasting potions just for me though they are expensive.” Ritana teased as she led him, holding hands through the streets.
“I thought my brave warrior woman wanted to walk not be carried?”
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-POV change-
They giggled at each other's jokes walking down the street, not noticing Carnival watching them from the shadow of the arena entrance. Letting out a sigh of relief.
‘If I had not broken Ritana’s limit any faster that would have been disasters, just how much has jester altered his karma score.’
“I will have you know all I did was make sure he can’t ignore it anymore. Besides, at some point, he will use it. You can’t be everywhere at once. All I need is one more crack to corrupt wild magic enough in this area..”
Carnival turned to glare at the shadow she had gotten careless she was lucky, Rediavine the fool didn’t push him more then he did. ‘Perhaps its time to lift the veil.’ Reaching out like she was going to attack only to be blocked hissing pulling her hand back.
Seeing a flashing [Invalid command: message block around Kyuketsuki still in effect till the change of turn counter.]
Carnival turned to glare at the shadow’s red eyes. “What? Take your turn already!”
An evil grin showed on Jester face his flat dark red eyes practically glowing with malice. “Oh, why should I? You took so long last time. As you said, ‘better they fumble in the dark to find their own paths.”
“NO, come on, don’t you want to attack me!” Carnival waved him to attack only to get silence.
Jester’s 2D form lifted out of the floor with a mad grin. “You wanted Momonga to watch over? You got him. Now you want to play with my vampire. Pick one you can’t watch both, or I will edge Momonga to embrace his darker nature as well.”
Carnival screamed at the shadow, trying to punch it only to have it phase through him. “That wasn’t part of the rules we agreed upon. It was those loyal to the NPC demons or the thirteen heroes.”
Jester waved his finger rage showing in his eyes. “Then you ruined it by bringing the new arrivals into our game. Killing the demon deity yourself in the arena before you got another move. Between Kyuketsuki, Momonga, and your dirty tactics. My covenant of crows is down to two. I have had it! You went and lock me in here! You influenced my group without forming one of your own! Then you abuse the newly arrived players to your aid without informing them, as I did like we agreed upon!”
The shadows around them shimmered with Jester’s wrath, the narrow red eyes glaring at Carnival. “We agreed upon those rules to be fair! Yet you have done nothing but cheat. I let it slide because I thought we where friends. You won’t even let me out while you get to play around, do you know what it feels like to be unable to touch, smell, or taste anything, to fear touching light which will shove you back into total darkness!”
People nearby started to move away from the area at this overwhelming feeling of Jester’s hate.“Not anymore, we play by the rules from now on or no restrictions at all, so choose one or watch what I do next!”
Carnival could only watch the shadow vanish back to the admit realm with a clenched fist. It seemed she pushed too far again. “Dam it, Muketus, Get back here! Please, I didn’t mean to hurt you. But you have to let YGGDRASIL go this isn’t a game anymore!”
She pleaded to Jester. The shadows burned her and the entrance forcing her to [teleport] out of danger, still seeing the red warning.
Only the words ‘choose one month’ burned into the roof near her. Feeling regret rise, she had screwed up again, trying to do the right thing. But her sister didn’t see it; this wasn’t a game anymore. These weren't just NPCs and Players. These people's lives were in their hands. They could either be like the eight greed kings destroying all they touched or like the six god players saving and improving the lives of others as best they could.
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-End of Chapter –
Elite four ranking 1-4
Ritana Enruos level 36 Hero rank/ Bardic Tamber level 32 Hero rank/ Leinas Rockbruise level 30 adamantine rank/ Nimble Arc Dale Anoch's level 29 Adamantite rank
superior ability boost- Improved version of greater ability Boost that dramatically increases the total strength and speed past normal limits. May damage weapon or armor of both user and enemy if used on tougher materials
Flaming shell aura- channels the focus of the user to numb and absorbs damage that would usually kill them. Burns and push back anything, trying to hurt them for a massive amount of focus. Boost the destruction of [four flames shell cracker strikes] when used together. Doing so also damages the body if they can’t take the combined strain of the two martial arts.
Four flames shell cracker strike- by combining [heavy strike], [two fold slash], and [Flaming shell aura] this martial art is created. Covering or surrounding their weapon with four-color flames. To cut through armor and weapons depending on their warrior spirit. These four strikes also block any kind of healing for a short time. Considerably demanding in focus and damaging to the user's arms if they can’t support the stamina needed.