COI C25

"Oooh good morning people of Isekai City! Today is the day for all you waiting for. The champion of the City Guild is coming to challenged ME!"

Sork breaks open the announcement only to the locals, somewhere near the highway close to the boarder. He is gathering any crowd to support him as he is being hated by the entire city, nothing to see for a gobin but the locals never thought to be this important especially a champion. Locals whisper to each other while Sork explained his situation.

"The city should already know about him, he is the Hordechief's boyz"

"I want to know more why they didn't capture him already"

Sork brings up his speech to the small numbering crowd.

"Ever since they decide to stay, I explore the city districts secretly. Fuku City, Taiyou industries, Mihayara district, Chojima residentials, and here Akiba's Trip which just a highway to the other districts. I face countless enemies in Mihayara District where they were from South Shore Bay . . . Oh yeah I forgot there is one district, laugh* . . ."

They listen to him in such a depraving matter similar to some daemos they heard.

" . . . Harassing their recruits, trespassing their securities without any hope to prove that I went in laugh*, and I even help them by double crossing all sides"

The locals know what kind of gobin can do and it is shamanism, they confirm it because of the match they watch. Sork manages to beat them, it is unlikely for the spirits could actually fight the unknown powers. Sork's disturbance is getting intel from what his creatures can do, they started to be suspicious of why he did it and more importantly why didn't they arrest him in the first place. One of them ask.

"SORK! Why didn't you get arrested? You said you double crossed them entirely"

"Because I'm their dark hero, laugh*"

The locals can't ask any more questions as they think he is just joking.

"What's a dark hero?"

They chose to believe it as an Isekai City's term.

"laugh* I can only say this, once I beat their champions. I am willing to bring you guys to challenged my creature, Kes'thar, after it wins that is"

The locals heard its name and they were ashamed for him to dare to speak it so lightly. Sork is planning to demoralized the city, facing a Kes'thar has conditions of its power. If they face it after the match with the champion, it will give the same vibe like fighting a legend, tricking many people as the Horsin is the most powerful one. They too started of thinking of the idea of a gobin. As Sork begins leaving and telling them.

"It's up to you to decide, there is also bets if you don't know"

A bet is occurred on this match, the temptation grew as the inflation tells them to do it.

The crowd are thinking about the gobin's offer, they would try to join the bets but it needs another challenger to beat it. All of them have no expectations to be as powerful as the citizens, their pride will be in ruins if none of them show any flashy skills. On the other idea they can't convinced them to stop as they will be facing powerful people who can beat them like there is no chance of fighting back.

"Both sides as neutrals I suppose, you people have any idea before the match?"

They don't have enough time to convince them anyway or any other way. The Isekai citizens' independence's idealism will treat theirs as an opinion anyway.

Behind the small numbers of crowd, where two women in their casual clothes being wary to come here early in the morning expecting to go to the match later on. They heard the goblin's plan as they turn to their man as he is here to investigate.

"Honey! Did you hear that asshole?"

"Never thought that how impressive you were finding out the city's no.1 villain"

The man can't understand why he was praised as the goblin already shows his plan, but it is too late. The excitement of the entire city, what will happen if they heard about it? He wonders what the champion will do after news about him and the publicity he is getting for the past few days.

One of his girls ask

"Hmm, but the bets in the pool is close to a billion though"

"BILLION!? Dear we should place our bets too"

The man listen to them, and tell them what he is planning

"Sure, but I favor to finish it. They could make the bets a bit more entertaining . . . The Agathean way"

"Giggle* I never heard you being so cheesy Haw. Since when did you acting up that way?"

"Trying to please you, I guess"

The two started to cling closer to him as they laugh.

"But the bed is enough for us"

They are being playful as always, Haw stops there as he headed to the locals, all of them seem getting the idea of Sork's plan and probably more than the other gobins.

"So, where are these bets?"

Haw confronts them talking about Sork.

"Seems like you want to play along with that gobin"

"No, but the people are in this city is overbearing the idea. We don't know what happen if their best man being defeated by a ritual that reacted only by their powers"

The crowd replied to him to be reasonable enough until that moment that is. Haw is not thinking about this problem, but they know is the city's pride put them in a such predicament. The locals just hear Sork's word out since gobin always acted that way regarding humiliating others from a fight. However, they seem that they can be cooperated. The women who are with them started to grin as they heard them about their plans against Sork.

Sork reaches to the highroads where the match takes place. The overpass road becomes the special seats for the city guild members and the opposite side across the pedestrian overpass is the seats for the locals with their invited guests. The Rusic and Ironno were the first take the seat and watch Sork walking under the overpass. Expecting the rumors to be true and witness the sight of the limits of their rituals. Soon after, many more came by the thousands where the skies being block by the second layers of platforms appearing up in the air. Platforms are hovering from the air to see the match below including the devices in full view.

Setting up to the other devices, all around the city opens up so many screens to see the match. All to behold where other videos popping up that showing advertisements. The locals look at it in the weird view as everything looking happy and comedies along the way. From technologies down to the foods, acknowledging places they wish to go to, and there are no signs of Horsin related topic on screen. The locals saw some familiar cuisines in the screen but made from the city's own adjustments, they don't bother by it as the prices is like weighing any animals for barter or carrying a box of coins to spend one thing.

The special guests are there, and familiar faces were seen by one of them. Busily looking around, more people are coming up the pedestrian overpass

"Ironno!? You're here, and who is this? Your friend?"

Coral saw the two busily looking around including the screen of advertisement, they seem disappointed with the prices. Rusic sees the woman thinking she could be his boss he mentioned before.

"Is she the boss of your partner? Then hello there, what's bring you here in this small bridge"

"Hello, I am Coral and you?"

"Rusic or dwarf if you describe us"

Other followed in with the entire staff of Sister's hope highschool.

"Oh, look at that, seems like the locals are barely filled the seats, eh?"

The locals did come to see, but only a handful and not bigger in numbers compared to the staff. Iggy sees the crowd in her view as thousands more sitting and watching around the match. She turns to see the locals wearing the ordinary simple clothes as she can only sense a weak presence among them.

"Geez, do they really don't want to stay during the lockdown?"

Coral answered her as they find their seats.

"Probably because they don't like about this city, why not ask them?"

Iggy approached them where the locals give a bad impression among the advertisement.

"Is there something wrong on the screen?"

"The price is for the wealthy. You can understand most outsiders can't afford it"

"And one other thing, there is nothing wrong for us being disappointed. We can handle the prices, but how they introduce to attract attention is impeccable to their performance"

"Then you must be a merchant"

"Partially yes, but we do like advantages of free stuff near the border"

Iggy wasn't expecting to be like this, she thought these people are trapped and needed help. She starts talking more honestly.

"Did you guys take advantage of us?"

"Yes, but this is not the problem here. We provide ourselves what we needed"

Other locals join the conversation

"Being trap here is alright, but the idea to working together differs their true natural skills"

Iggy didn't get it. The locals show her the differences. They pulled out a piece of paper and a pen.

"If you don't understand, then try to write something to your own abilities, try writing this "___", with magic included"

Iggy writes it through her own writing infused with her mana while the others write theirs. Iggy compares the two of the papers as it reacts. The paper was a magic scroll to store mana, giving away what they wrote. The scroll stored the amount of mana as she saw the differences.

"You can see here, that the mana is the drive for most common uses of your city. You contain mana in the beyond ratio than us, but the scroll only took a small amount"

Iggy realize that city does require mana to function, that’s why she sees many people reluctantly using it for convenience. Andui and Reya sees Iggy and notice her talking to the locals.

"In conclusion, your technologies require more mana, it will never be efficient with our own powers. Yet it is the same with your natural skills"

"He's right, how will our people will work with you as the difference required mana?"

"Don't try questioning more, it's their city. We can still help them outside"

The locals show them the impossibility, but Iggy was persistent and remember the project by Haw and others did.

"There are also others . . ."

Reya steps in as she almost blurted it out.

"Oh yeah, I forgot, it’s their resource"

The locals almost thought there is some exception, but she said it’s from theirs. Believing it like a fantasy, they stop there and check the crowd as many guests are taking their seats.

"It's alright, private business as usual. By the way, why are so many guests sitting the Horsin seats?"

Ironno heard them and the locals notice him.

". . . anyway, it is still business"

"Those businesses really show out of the open ahem*"

Coral heard them, and tags along with Iggy.

"Then what work are you doing here?"

"Resupplying their "exotic" goods"

Coral and Iggy are not sure why he said exotic in a sarcastic way.

"It's private business"

They don’t want to guess what it is as the two plays dumb.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The other locals tell them in a more embarrassing way.

"Your city guild keep demanding ingredients for their cuisines and other products. Those were not for adventuring I mind you"

Andui and Reya are coming in and join the conversation.

"Sorry about that, seems like you’re having a more related business"

One of the locals recognized her

"it's the employer, how goes with the recruits"

"Do you know them?"

"Know them!? They are the only employers actually searching what they needed . . . but it's a private business"

Reya knows her and probably met her during hiring some staff for the project.

"You, I still don't know your name"

"I didn't want the job, but you managed to hire my recommendation"

"Ah! He plays along having nicknames with his other co-workers, but he has great skills"

They got lost in their reunion than they expected, the rest of the group keep coming where the time is closing in. Except Thean was not here but they didn't mention him as they busily having a chat with the locals. There's two other women who is with Haw showing public affections. First and Second were there and not please of their behaviors while Quail did the same. The local, who is talking with Reya spotted the man she recommended

"Hey look there he is"

Reya can't describe him as only knew his other name.

"Yeah, Woni'es"

The locals stared at Woni'es as himself nodded with a grin.

They quickly turn away from Reya's view and began laughing as quietly as possible. The locals try their best not showing their rude side and even the woman that Reya is talking to. First didn't do anything and just watch the locals smirking with him like they are his friends. Reya asks him

"Are these friends of yours? They look as if they are having a good time when they see you"

"You will understand if you didn't use the translation, I think some pronunciation is a little off by his name"

"I'll pass on that one, he already introduces himself, and I’m going to stuck with it"

The woman is confused, his name is nearly identical. She had to tell Reya.

"Since when he was called First?”

“The principal forces him to change his name"

The local woman slowly to cover her face as she is thinking of something and said to her

"Hmm, I understand"

Reya thought they already know his name, while the other locals laughs as they breathe. First grins at the local woman as she grins back covering her mouth. Ironno and Rusic seeing the show regarding their languages, Rusic ask Ironno

"Is Woni'es means First in their tongues?"

"Sigh* Agatheans"

In the meantime, Andui sees Haw with his girls, showing affections to him, she looks at him in confusion of how they are now. Haw noticed her as she stares at him.

"I never lie, right?"

"Yeah, even our own city had these kinds of people"

The two women said to her.

"Hey! there are guys also acting like that"

"Why would you say that? We are free to do whatever we want you know"

Andui understands as she reluctantly responds to them

"I know, Haw already told me who he was and he is still the better man than those nice guys"

The women began to tease as she admits that he is better than those guys.

"Then why not join his . . ."

Both Haw and Andui answer at the same time in a perfect sync.

"No!"

Haw continues

"We should find our seats. The match is about to begin"

The women wink at Andui while Quail is disgusted for seeing Haw hang around those people.

Quial complains to Andui

"I thought Haw is better than that"

"He is, Quail, comparing he was. It's better off that I'm glad he told me honestly"

Andui stares at him believing the man she wanted him to be. The differences are too real for her to believe. Andui responds to her in sympathetic tone

"Say Quail"

"Hmm?"

"Do you believe people can change for a price?"

"No, people can’t change that easily"

"I learn it from the Enders, and Haw back then never meant to save us"

Quail is surprised and Andui continues

"And the reason he saves us because I beg him to do it by using the name called "God""

Andui said that to her a serious straight face. Quail let her be and calmed her down as she gets personal.

The match is starting were special effects coming from the other side while Sork is walking to his side has nothing to show off. His gem is prepared and the creature inside rest until it's ready. Cecilla was given a grand entrance with the help of her team. Treating like an idol with her special guests, everything is prepared like some kind of a live action drama for her. Gordon appears from the other side as the special effects fade away bringing his flashiest armor and his best weapons. Everyone is in awe and excited for this match, where the surroundings are protected with magic.

Sork being blinded by the special effects where magics flailing and dancing across the other side, he turns his head and see other Horsin blocking their eyes too. They waited after all that it is happening. Few minutes later, Cecilla finally opens her introduction.

"This is the day, our hero and my savior to save us from this menace to society"

Sork opens his eyes and finally the effects were over and he prepares his gem.

"This goblin is who sided us and the same time betraying as he sees fit. He bet on me for defeating any challengers who wanted to beat his creatures. Is anyone wants to join the hero's side? Then join him"

Sork is waiting for anyone to join Gordon's group as Gordon opens his speech as well.

"I am here to save my fellow guild after being defeated, from newbies to high ranks. Now he is facing an S rank adventurer. Prepare yourself goblin, you are now facing one of the best monster slayers"

Cecilla turns to the goblin for any remarks

"Now will the goblin to speak among the crowd"

Sork is surrounded again with people, but not with infamy, there is a sound of support. He didn't know why are they cheering him, as for the audience says something encouraging.

"My bets is on you"

"Don't lose"

"The fortune is mine"

"He is the Dark Hero"

The bets are on, and he plays the dumb once again.

Sork didn't really hear it except the cheers. He thought it was entertainment, and he is acting less of a joker than he should. Since they are starting to wary about him and start studying about his tribes. The remaining gobins were here knowing well what they gain by their rituals and curses. The gobins are with the locals as they are talking with Quail.

"Never thought we could see each other again from the stall"

Quail reunites with goblin woman.

"Did the city guilds learn more about magic?"

"Magic you mean shamanism? Yes, they ask, but not all of them"

"What do you mean?"

"They know rituals and curses, but not the spirits"

"Do you know how to counter the spirits?"

"Yeah, but seeing the performance with real magics before the match. The strong spirits might want to face it"

Quail who sits close to the four heard them. Reya focuses on the match, Andui is distracted by the flashing effects, Iggy is shouting for excitement, and Coral is using her device to scan something. Only Coral responded to her

"It's better than nothing. Just enjoy the show"

Other people heard about the city guild knows about the rituals now and a little about spirits, it is not enough except for Sork not knowing them as well. They can't stop this match now where countless of people are here. Sork finally chants to summon his creature.

He places his magic ritual where the gem is place. He is starting to chant

"Bom-sha-ka-lum-ka-lum Ka-yum Pa-ka-lum Pang-shu sha-ka-lama . . . (repeatedly)"

The gem is starting to break and summoned a doll as it kept raising up while Sork's chant keep it going.

"Bom-sha-ka-lum-ka-lum (repeatedly)"

a chant that has no end where the doll floating upright and standing started to blast out wind from it as the light follows it. Like a bomb exploded but in a constant blast, Sork kept chanting it where there is nothing to see but a blinding light. The chanting has ceased and the doll stand in front of Sork. The doll moves where the rituals revealed throughout its body.

The screen shows a closer look as the doll moves with its head and the body of a voodoo doll. Sork finishes the ritual and starts to run away from the doll. The doll raises both of its arm and waves its hand to the sun. Cecilla and her guests commented on it.

"Is that really the last creature will be facing for the final day of the summer festival?"

"Awe, look at that dolly. It's saying hi at the sky"

"Don't be like that, it is still a monster"

"But look at the widdle body, all ready to fight"

Cecilla butting in where her guests are distracted by the doll.

"Sorry for that everyone, my guests are having fun to see that monster"

Everyone started to screenshots, records, and pictures the doll. They even scan with their new updated scanner on shamanism. Cecilla received the message about the doll.

"Alright, we have a special new update regarding to shamanism. Thanks to our lovely researchers, shamanism will be scanned during the fight because it depends how many spirits are willing to participate the match. So, all of you will know what this creature can do"

The screen show a picture of a doll waving at the sun as its portrait showing the stats is not yet identified. All zero from health to special stats, the audience are anticipating when the doll started to act.

"Gordon are you ready?"

Gordon plays again another scene for himself as he replied to her.

"I am ready"

"How about your doll, goblin?"

Sork didn't respond and let the doll to speak. It keeps waving at the sun and stares at the announcers. Doll's head shines markings from its face and just nodded, others just enjoy the cute face of it. While the Horsin trying to elaborate of what shamanistic goblin can do with the sun.

"Alright, ready . . . set . . . go!"

Gordon first charges in with his new magic item to nullify the rituals, he threw a talisman at the doll's face cleansing away the rituals. The doll is blinded and tried to pull it out.

Gordon don't want to have the chances and activate the talisman to force it stick on its head. The doll is persistent to pull it out and Gordon takes the first strike with his magic sword swings. He landed a hit and only knocks it back instead of a clean cut. Gordon supposed to cut it and changes it into dual attack, he brings a double image of himself and speed up closer to it. He strikes again with his blade with the other prepared to strike if it bounces off again. It did, and the doll continue to persist of removing the talisman. He started to double team it down until any chance of damage. It doesn't have a single mark or any damage on it.

Gordon pulls back and observe the doll's movements. The doll kept trying to pulled it out as he is now getting ready for the next attack, but he remains cautious of why he can't cut the doll. The locals know the reasons as Alche ask First and Second about it.

"This is like some kind of anime, why didn't it hurt the doll? Does it have that elk's skin?"

Second responds to him.

"Anime? but yeah it doesn't hurt the doll, and it's better to find out when you are going to see it . . . LOOK!"

The doll's body burst out a spiritual magic, once the talisman tears off. The scan opens up the detail and show what it contains. All stats are open, and to their surprised as the health shows infinity.

Gordon sees it too, and saw something happened. It managed to tear off the talisman but its body is starting to cut off where Gordon's attacks were. It quickly cut it off as it intended, but the rituals again are returning. Then it quickly pulled itself together through the magic rituals as it is recovered. Gordon tries the same trick again and use his talisman again. The doll is already face it and grab it by its own small hands. It responded the same speed as Gordon and began burn off the talisman like the sun. The doll is making sudden changes to its body where it can now cast fire in its aura.

The audience stood silence and see the doll is starting to build up the stats, while on the other hand other stats started to dwindle due to its changed. The doll is started burning and its turn to attack. It run towards him as something next to it is a fire form of itself. Gordon dodges it and strike at the original doll, the doll counters it with its fire. BOOM, Gordon's armor withstands its attack. The doll got hit and cut it half on its waist. The fire form still chases him as he kept his distance while the doll reattaches again with the fire.

Gordon uses his magic on his blade with water, he lunges at it again to the fire form as it chases him. The fire form is doused by the water but keeps the fire up, and he continues to douse it until it is nothing left. It vanishes itself and appears again next to the doll. It phases through it and regain the fire, the doll started to jump over him with the trail of flames. Gordon uses his water sword to continue to extinguish the flames. The fire form came in to attack as Gordon quickly use his double image to counter it directly, the doll is reacting faster now as it started to learn the patterns. Gordon swings around his blade to form a water whirlwind in all direction.

His double disappears and the two dolls got hit by the water. One is out, but the real doll is sizzling the water as it touches. Gordon can't sustain the same attack power he needed, he starts thinking and remembers what he learned from Horsin. He forces to stop as he faces a doll that is now can vaporize his normal water attacks. He can't let him uses any more powerful magic to overpower it, the match from the totemic creature can't let him go all out. Team Platinum can't go any closer with that monster, even they didn't actually use of their other utilities. They are clever to fight to the last moment, as the monster finally shows its secrets first as they almost won.

The doll is playing tricks on him. Seeing the sudden stats pop up where it is weaker but more attack power rising up. He already learns their shamanistic warfare, and even the city studies it in a short time. His magical items didn't work on this newly discovered power, until to the last day they found out that the spirits are come and go, and help their summoners but never intervene the living. The rituals were the ones that help it fight and the curses are already known by from its name. The doll remained standing as the fire kept burning like the sun, as it controlled the light in dim brightness while the heat is in high temperature.

The doll started to sit down and watch Gordon as it folds its arm waiting. Gordon is suspicious of its behavior and waited. The audience saw the quick succession of the fight, as the intense pausing causing them to question Gordon's action. Gordon is an egoistic man, but the title called as monster slayer is big enough as it is as he has no scratches during his quests. He is truly a proven candidate as a representative, but his ego goes overboard when it comes to be a hero. He stares at it as it stares at him like is being behave. Gordon slides his feet and the doll slides a flame on the ground. The doll is still a ritual or curse thing as it prepares to use its ritual again.

Gordon quickly charges in with his talisman on place. The doll didn't move and waited until reaches his blade to it. The ground erupts like the totemic creature did, but it was dispersed as he reaches to its face with another talisman. He took another swing and cut its head, but it knocks it back again than before. He realizes that the talisman concealed its powers and becomes invincible for some reason. As he reads its status, it returns back to the beginning with high defensive stats. He can't be sure about it and only guessing, the talisman used to cleanse out the rituals but can't even remove the ritual out from the doll.

Alche watches, he is itching to know why the interaction is so different than he observed. The talisman nullifies but can't cut the doll, while it removes the talisman it can be broken down. What's make it reacting this way. The doll repeated the same routine by pulling out without any powers, and it finally tears it off again with the same struggling of pulling it out. They saw the doll like a kid getting bullied and tried to remove what something placing on it. Others give a different expression on it, but the doll is again return to its power. A change of stats began a little bit different. Where the doll now can use the ground and summon a miniature golem for it to ride.

The golem has 3 empty slots with its both of its arm and its head. He checks again where its power is as low as it is and high in supportive magic power. Gordon didn't understand at all as it keeps changing. Sork observes from afar and starting to worry for his doll. Sork started to think

"Gordon is proven by his abilities to study first his enemies. He found out a way to nullify the ritual, and lucky for it is a Kes'thar who will be given the rituals. He manages to cleanse it but the spirits trap itself inside the doll, you just imprisoning them inside the doll with no power yet you made it invincible with no way of beating you or you beating it"

"Kes'thar never changes so frequently unless it has more spirits than it can hold, maybe it is because of that piece of paper to keep it weak and the host loses control letting others to have a chance"

The doll started to roar with a powerful windy blow. Gordon redirects it around him as he pierced through the air. The golem uses its body to block it and grab his sword. Gordon quickly unequips it then re-equips before his sword almost devoured by it. He uses his other hand to knock the rider up, and the doll intentionally got hit bringing along with its golem as it tried to grab him as it flew out. The doll uses its supportive abilities to recover as Gordon forgets about its change, the golem and the doll seems to be attached.

The golem starts bopping its head like a gorilla as its arm enlarge and its legs shorten. The doll rides it like some kind of a baby gorilla on top of its mother. Acting the same with the golem, Gordon summons explosive crystalize earth spears as he is going take the golem out, three spears thrown at it where the golem managed to catch all three with its hands and feet. It uses it against him but he initiates the detonation, the spear explodes and the golem lost its limbs. Gordon rushes in to find the doll as it casts a healing ritual, he reaches in as it casts spikes on the ground. The golem dodges it from his consecutive attacks and letting the doll go flying as it moves.

The doll is flying up and finishes the golem to recover, where the golem with only one leg jumps up as Gordon follow pursuit before the doll returns to the golem. A few magic walls block the golem's way leaving the doll alone in the air. Gordon has his chance and flies up to it, again with his spears as he thrust the doll. The doll uses his support ritual and bind itself into something. Gordon impales the doll as it finally taken damage, he now understands that his talisman was the cause of it and he needs to be careful if he wants to reset again. The impaled doll is thrown to the ground as Gordon unleash the rest of the spears.

The golem runs toward the doll, trying to protect it as it lands. After the volley of spears rain at it and the golem is closing by. He detonates the explosion caused a powerful blast that shakes the match. Smokes blinded the audience, as the smoke faded, the golem's body is gone. Gordon made it work somehow and his other plans to defeat the doll were not yet revealed but he is satisfied. He turns to the audience then Sork, but Sork didn't look defeat while looking at the doll's stats. The doll is still ok, after the remaining smoke faded away. They see the doll shines as it dances itself and hear it sings . . .

"I live, not died, but the golem. It died"