“How repulsive,” Croix said with a disgusted face.

“I can't agree more,” Ciel was covering her nose with a handkerchief. “What is that smell?”

“Pheromones, probably,” someone said from above. “Cockroaches have plenty of them.”

The contestants were teleported to different places in the Biome. It didn't take long until Croix’s group encountered one of the insect monsters.

They looked like cockroaches. Bigger, heavily mutated, and incomparably stronger, but the base was that of a cockroach.

The group swiftly defeated the Rank 1 monster that attacked them as soon as it saw the humans, thinking they were potential prey. They made swift work of the monster, but after its death, the smell of its white bodily fluid was so strong it might as well have been a weapon in itself.

Viers had to agree with the opinion of his teammates. While Ciel was no squeamish young lady who let out a squeal when an ordinary cockroach showed itself, the monster species that infested Duke Crowe’s Biome were multitudes more disgusting; from the way they looked, the way they moved, the way they died, everything about them seemed wrong.

The villain wasn't taking part in the battle, he instead jumped on a high tree to scout his surroundings, making good use of his superior sight.

The Biome was truly vast, much bigger than Viridis. He could see the cockroaches almost everywhere, however, one direction was clearly denser.

“Highness, I conclude that we are at the periphery of the Biome and the closer we are to the center, the more cockroaches there are,” Viers informed.

“Falmerion, don't eat it! Who knows what kind of nastiness is inside them! …Can you repeat that, Avel?”

Viers did. Croix’s fear was unwarranted, though. After the dragon sniffed the cockroach remains, he snorted and shook his face a few times before incinerating it in a puff of fiery breath.

“Well, let’s get to work, shall we? The badge is working as intended,” Croix showed his badge. It projected Rank 1: 1 killed.

“Ugh, I think I’m going to need a week-long bath after three days being here. Boram, be careful not to get too close, okay?” Ciel said.

“Yes,” Boram nodded.

“...Guys, I got good news and bad news,” Viers said while keeping his eyes afar. “Which do you want to hear first?”

“Just tell us. What is it?” Croix asked.

“The bad news is, It appears the smell of one of them getting squashed draws the lot of them here. We’ve got incoming.”

As soon as Viers said that, the first of the black insects came running from the treeline. Boram greeted it with the swing of his hammer, giving the group a second kill. A wave of them came from behind not a moment later.

“I hate insects!!” Ciel blasted a lot of them with her light. The girl was usually more composed, but against cockroaches, Viers couldn't blame her.

“What’s the… good news, Master?” Boram asked while fighting.

“The good news is, we are not the only position that gets swarmed. Must be the other groups.”

Indeed a welcome news, Croix concurred in his mind. It split the monster’s reinforcements from only focusing on them. Meanwhile, Viers mused about the interesting situation he found himself in.

My oh my. Am I on Mars? Did Duke Crowe want to terraform Mars so he sent a bunch of algae and cockroaches 500 hundred years earlier? Holy hell… I fear there will be humanoid cockroaches here, saying johj, johj, johj! Ugh, I’ve got shivers… How horrible if it is true.

Viers shared the apprehension of Ciel and the others towards the black insects. Concluding that he had done enough scouting for now, Viers joined the battle, by superhero-landing on top of one of the attacking cockroaches, killing it instantly. Viers covered himself from head to toe with the Unreality Field, so that he wasn't touched by the insect’s white bodily fluid.

“Let’s go,” Viers said to Boram while creating a sword of water. He didn't use his new katana. It deserved a better debut than cockroaches!

“Yes, Master,” the disciple answered before the duo charged straight into a wave of black lifeforms.

They plunged through them like bulldozers decimating sand castles, the mostly Rank 1 and 2 monsters stood no chance. They were soon joined by a blazing dragonfire and a blinding light, leaving even more dead bodies in their wake.

***

At the Crimson Capital, the crowd went wild. Like the Olympics or any other major sports competition in Viers’ old world, events such as the Latias Grand Prix would attract people from all corners of the land.

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When it was announced the first round of the Grand Prix would be held in a separate space, some lamented they couldn't see the match in person. However, their worries were unfounded. At this moment, the sight of the contestants valiantly fighting was being broadcast in real-time all over the capitol.

At the plazas and other open spaces where people could congregate, magical jumbotrons depicted the massacre of monsters at the hands of the Pathseekers of Latias and the crowd cheered for it.

For those who preferred watching in a more private setting such as their own home, the magical device could be bought at shops, made available by House Crowe.

Not even two minutes after the beginning, battles had already broken out. The showy Pathseeker battles were a treat for the eyes of the masses creating a fever pitch. The commoners who had no access to TVs or the internet rarely witnessed such a grand display as this. Not only that, the contestants this time were on average Level 3s, the degree of the showiness of their battle was far above that of the more common lower level Pathseekers. The whole city felt like it was in a merry festival.

The whole Latias had their eyes on the Grand Prix, not only the small folks but also the big wigs. These powerful people got their eyes on the young sprouts of the next generation, weighing their worth.

Like the four dukes, the Countess of Stormberg, and the Chancellor in a room with an empty throne.

Even the obscure hidden masters out there.

***

“This is the last one!” Farley stabbed her spear downward at a collapsed Rank 3 insect. It did not shriek at the moment of its death but its two pairs of antennae unnervingly moved chaotically until they became dead still.

“Looks like that’s it for the first wave.” The fire on Clarissa’s hands went out.

“Didn't expect it would go on for almost an hour,” Paina wiped the sweat from her bangs.

“...I feel dirty,” Sakuya sighed. The cockroaches around her made her think that.

“I can douse you with water if you like,” Paina offered.

“...Ummh, I’ll refrain, thanks,” Sakuya was not wearing her usual kimono or ninja attire but this side of the world’s style clothes so she wouldn't attract too much attention.

The four girls from the Arcanum Club also entered the Grand Prix. Slipped in might be more accurate.

The Grand Prix was a Latias Kingdom event, so the contestants were expected to be the people of Latias. However, none of the four girls were born in Latias or possess a Latias parentage. The reason they got a spot in the tournament was because of Farley.

While some people were already guaranteed a spot, like Croix and his royal blood siblings, the rest were spread to other places and organizations in the kingdom. The scope was Latias’ best and brightest, after all, talent was not exclusive to the late King Lahar’s children. It was a high-profile event so the struggle to enter the Prix was highly contested.

During her stay in the number one Pathseeker academy in Latias, there was a competition for several entry slots for the Grand Prix, which Farley won one of them. She was a foreigner and so some clamored for her eligibility but the academy’s rules were clear. She won against other competitors so she got the slot.

Farley chose to enter the Grand Prix not with her classmates from the Academy but with Paina and Clarissa. Sakuya’s addition was pretty sudden but it turned out okay.

The four women were wearing masks to hide their identities. While they weren't the only people hiding their faces and names among the 93 groups, this made them look shady.

Their aim for entering? It was really simple, the prizes.

In the Pathseeker world, competitions and tournaments were a common occurrence. To the winners, prizes for the taking; Pathseeker resources to lift them to higher heights. The Latias Grand Prix was no different. Since this was one of the biggest tournaments around, the prizes were similarly grand.

Viers had an unnatural dislike of tournaments, especially the one-on-one variety. This was known to the three girls that once resided in his soul space. However, they were not so abhorrent of the notion so after they got their souls put in bodily flesh again they had entered some tourneys of their own. Especially during the three years of Viers’ seclusion. Dia’s far-reaching teleportation network meant their reach was similarly far.

Because it wasn't ideal if they were recognized, they hid their identities using masks or other things. For example, if they got identified in a tourney in the Coalition and then were sighted in Latias Kingdom shortly after, it would’ve led to all kinds of problems, hence the anonymity.

What they were doing was not so unusual though. Plenty of people hide their identities. Not all Pathseekers chase glory and fame.

Viers didn't prevent them from doing this, only reminded them to be careful so they wouldn't cause trouble for the secret club, which was mostly about Viers. When Farley asked Viers’ opinion about whether she should enter the Grand Prix, Viers asked her back instead.

“Why should you ask for my permission?”

That cemented Farley’s decision to participate and heightened her prudence since this was the biggest stage thus far. She and the other three didn't have any grand reason like Croix but that didn't make her any less worthy since she did win her entree spot with her own ability.

“So, what’s the plan?” Clarissa asked. They were already walking away from the site of the battle to get away from the smell.

Since Clarissa was a former Level 5, Farley had the opinion to make her the team leader but the lamia princess refused, not wanting to take the fruit of labor of her friend. The other two didn't help either so Farley was stuck as team leader.

“The format of round 1 revolves around the score of our kills. Even if you can take half of the other team’s score, it won't mean much at the early stage. During these three days, the first and second days should be focused on hunting the insects. Third day, watch out for other groups.”

“Roger,” Paina replied.

“Umm, do we need to aid that person's group?” Sakuya timidly asked. She wasn't that close yet with the other three. She was already told not to say Viers’ name out loud in the open.

“He probably doesn't need it,” Clarissa smiled.

“Totaly,” Paina nodded.

Sakuya was a little jealous about how certain they were. This indicated their closeness and understanding towards Viers.

“I wouldn't be so sure,” Farley added. “Our Boss said to me rather ominously that in this kind of big tournament setting, be ready for a sudden upheaval. Keep your vigilance up, girls.”

“...I often wonder if he doesn't have outright prophetic powers,” Paina said.

“I wouldn't put it past him,” Clarissa shrugged.

“I understand,” Sakuya took a deep breath. “There’s something I wish to say. I think I can give us a significant advantage in this round.”

“Truly? How?” Farley was curious.

“With the help of my familiar.”