COI C3

Earlier from the day of the Tournament, Daygen was in a predicament where his guildmember got arrested with a gobin. Adding more to the complicated matter, other guilds came to check on him and his unusual skills. The Raker Mawn was in the middle of an investigation while Daygen himself was hearing the complaint.

"Guildmaster, your guildmember had caused a lot of problem last night"

Didn't like to be called that, but most of the guildmembers reluctantly comply with them.

"Excuse me, since Raker Mawn seem to be busy. How about we should settle with us after you guys are done?"

"How so? The case has finally been justified and we already accept the punishment"

"Ok then, we should proceed to some other matter"

The city guild announced the punishment as the others were remain reluctant.

"Then your guildmember will be joining the challenge by my guild, Saint Heroes. From Enders Bridge, one of my friends had met you. We should have a better meeting instead of this"

Juela and the other magic users were starting to get curious about what Haw save when they mention them, of why they are so interested about the Rune Isles from a respected guilds then failed at the end. After that talk, they began preparing for the challenges to come.

Now in the arena,

"Let us see here, this type of duel is unique. So, people from the different states please understand the rules of this competition"

The announcer opens up a lot of information where almost all from the city states can't comprehend the complexity and the styles of viewing a match. The only thing they could clarify are the big setbacks of the duels. The competition removed blood fight, scarring, brain damaging, decapitation, and any more traumatic effects when murdering someone. The big changes from the rules are that there are special themes will be affecting on the ring, and it benefit mostly for the citizens’ entertainment. The locals were skeptic since the area of spells are not natural but looks like a play in their eyes.

There are three announcers; one in the ring and two in the outside.

"Here we're in the intermission match between guilds. To your left side are from Enders Bridge where these two; Juela, the mage, and the rat, the unknown. While on the other side, there are magic swordswomen, Ruby and Gemina, both wearing in a different type of magical equipment. The one with fast magic abilities while the other with elemental magic and blade works. Say you partner, any ideas what the magic swordswomen are facing"

"Is the announcer calling you rat?"

"Fine by me but I face those type of people and huh? can't believe me? Oh well. Then be surprised to those who never witnessed a Rune Isles guild"

Juela and the rat, she was disgusted about his new name, as they took their position. The swordswomen held strong and let their magic auras appeared to their surroundings.

"Alright everyone, let the fight begin"

As the match starts, Daygen claps his hand. The two guildmembers on the ring heard it

"Honestly, I never thought Daygen would . . ."

"Juela I know, let's fight on our own term"

Hearing a strong clap were the audience were surprised by Daygen, then continue on cheering on to the Saint Heroes. The rat reaches out one of his potions, but Ruby stops him

"Wait!"

The rat stops yet annoyed in silence "It's better to introduce each other first when starts"

Juela didn't want to respond but give them a quick answer.

"Enders"

Then casted one of her scroll sashes and place it to the ground. The audience are baffled how she responds and the way she did.

"Look at that, is Raker Mawn quitting already?"

"No, but we like to find out"

The announcers raising the excitement and everyone pumping to see them action. Meanwhile on the seats with the states leaders, the advisor wants to know why did someone clap that loud and their response.

"Enders? Lord Lori'es, what did that woman say a moment ago?"

"Enjoy the show advisor, just enjoy the show"

Again, the rat raises his potions to have a sip. Gemina uses ice arrows by swinging her magic sword, it breaks as he tries to drink it. The rat picks up another one where she repeats the second time. Juela seeing this trick, she noticed that the swordswoman attacked him didn't know about his abilities. Distracted by her discovery, the other swordswoman, Ruby, quickly appeared in front of her and strike her down. In quick succession, Juela got slice on the front. The rat witnessed it while he tried to drink the potions, he turned around but Ruby quickly slashes him down after her first strike.

The audience sees it and they were in awe even as it started.

"Well now that was quick, right goblin?"

The announcer seeing the goblin in shock rather than surprised.

"Ah? Mr. Goblin"

"Wreka mi Dakkas boyz, that guildmember used all his potions"

The announcers were confused by the look of his surprised face as they checked on the contestants and the audience.

"What do you mean?"

Gemina senses something coming from the rat. The audience knew that a defeated opponent will recover after taken out, but the body remained damaged even the woman who got slashed down with no sign of reaction.

The rat's body is starting to grew dark as his body faded away like dust, flowing like smoke in such a dark imagery. The two swordswomen prepared what will coming next while Juela was slain remain conscious.

"Ruby, two of them are not out. What should we do?"

Gemina spoke out to her partner, she too had no idea what's going on. She unleashed her magic at them. The two guildmembers remained lying down were struck by her magic. The rat's body vanished as it contacted by her magic, but Juela's body was absorbing her magic as it negates it.

The rat's body is spreading through the ring where the potions were taking into effect. Juela's senses found out what he contained himself where the two didn't feel it. The ghost creature lurking around him like some kind of pet feasting on the potion's remains and indirectly moves through his body. The ghost creature was in the form of a spider, the size of a cat, sipping in the tainted potions that still had it spills. Now the rat was flowing freely where the potions had turned him into a monster in a supernatural form. His body is turning and forming into a new landscape within the ring, causing the two swordswomen trying to cleanse it.

The two used many forms of magic such as cleanse or purge. Juela's felt their desperation, but her herself knew of his illusion. He is still weak, but his knowledge kept him alive. Her scrolls began reacting where her partner, the rat, started to feast on the used mana. Juela need to react before her scrolls will be taken control by him. The swordswomen were casting spells around them taken out what the rat's remains forming into. They noticed Juela standing up as one of them lunges at her. Juela's scroll sashes began to lit up as what magic was going to appear.

Gemina casts her silence on her as she lunges. Juela was silence but the scrolls kept burning, once her enemy reached into her distance. A weapon appeared as she blocks her. Both of them clash and Gemina was surprised as she can't continue to use her combo. Her weapon was magnetized by Juela's weapon that looks like her own. Both weapons touch and Juela's sword began to absorb it.

"Emerald!?"

Her partner said her sword's name of how she paused during her combo. Ruby comes closer to help her while the dark monstrosity was forming in.

Ruby appears on Juela's back, and strikes her on the neck. She reaches her but stop by the magic shield appeared on Juela. Juela's scrolls burned so lightly and releases so much magic coming on to them. Juela felt her sashes were burning in a specific order, a small burnt scrolls coming by words or by letters where her robe reacts to her scroll being burnt carefully. The rat is almost controlling her scrolls, yet she can't intervene his abused tactics as she was silenced. The two swordswomen can't react well as they are overwhelmed to all of their perspective from her immense power on the scrolls.

The two can't comprehend what they are sensing, the one felt something absorbing her power but not strong enough to make her feel weak. The other one paused herself as she almost slice Juela's neck off, she felt less of a waste of her abilities after she was frozen in place. Juela moved her head as she is still silence and stared upward in disgust. The two can't move but their eyes can. Looking upward, they never realized that they can't also hear what was happening. A dark circling wind was moving above siphoning something from them, and it slowly reaching to them where black fire like magic appearing around them.

They felt the burn, but the darkness kept their view in such a sharp blindness. The two began fearing of what will going to happened to them as they continue to weakening by this moment. All their senses are nothing. Juela can't interfere what the rat is doing, but expect of a lone horror. She started to learn a bit more about them, knowing their world that of these events don't occur in their world. The rat can't comprehend this because of his metamorphic form, the price of those potions. However, it was just an illusion and there was nothing to feel its existence beside the effects.

The ring was clouded by darkness, and soon after vanished as Juela sees Daygen is already outside of the ring. Knowing well, seeing at the two swordswomen. She was impressed, none of them collapse but feeling a bit tired of the experience. The fight was over whereas the two swordswomen declared their defeat automatically, and Juela recovered from the silence. The rat remained in form. Juela used her molded sigil that bounded to one of her sashes. She cast a spell and breaks the effects that happened in the ring. The rat broke free from his form and found floating, she later cast on him and forced him to crash down on the ground on his head.

Daygen comes up to the ring in a force announcement. Juela noticed that the announcer on the ring was scared and the guards themselves are nowhere on sight.

"This fight has stopped, seeing by your guild is still have not yet experienced from Rune Isles. It's better off to settle here"

The audience can't comprehend while the locals are accepting the results, but the other guilds however.

"How? did all those kinds of powers coming from?"

One of the city guild members ask, and Daygen looks to Lord Lori'es. Lord Lori'es is looking at the other leaders, then back to Daygen. Teleported to the ring, Lord Lori'es appeared alongside with Daygen.

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"Enders Bridge have its first history to ever founded alone in that continent for the past generations. Seeing you all not experienced it, maybe this goblin will explain"

Lord Lori'es forced summon the announcer who kept in his expression.

"Why ada! Oh sog, fine you Lordship"

Everyone is eager to hear as the contestants leave the ring. The Saint Heroes left the ring and healthy thanks to their rules of their arena, meanwhile, only Juela is fine and dragging the rat out by pulling his leg. The goblin looks around, trying to stay silent where his Hordechief who is laughing from all the numb minds.

Hordechief just waving his hand at him, and accepting his respond in ignorance.

"This back stabba of announcer is mi, Sork without a last name, what you can see here are one of the many ow!"

"Gobin, ANSWER!"

"Ok, ok, everyone this is Rune Isles"

He uses his rituals to show the map like a presentation, they saw the distance of endless ruins and bizarre monsters with unfamiliar powers and figures. Their surprises spread by the views coming from the Enders Bridge, it was unimaginable to see such a ruined world to be this more nightmarish than they view from their world. The last scene they could ever witness are the machines brought out from both the ground and sea, then it leaves the mystery as it ended.

"Difference between Kinteinou and Rune Isles, Kinteinou, is remained in its natural environment and the central continent of all flourish nature. Rune Isles, is the remnant of the whole continent after the fall. The big difference between the natural and the remnant were the mana formed differently and nearly materializing by only a body with no soul but pure neutral mana. Mages whoever do come any closer to the central continent are being hunted by those creatures where they can only consume mana to survive, and people who can venture within will be tested by the horrors of a newly formed creatures. Even all the technologies possessed with mana will be hunted down and Enders Bridge was literally a ruin built up bridge by pioneers."

"Raker Mawn members are the resident guild in Enders Bridge, and the weird fiasco that the man did where his body turn something they witnessed was the effects of the spectre potions. These potions are known to be the unstable and dangerous but useful, it consumes your body and made you into the environment from Rune Isles' realm and the consumer's body faded away where it consumes enough mana to materialize himself back. He did add more where the sight of the battle took place. You can’t see something more behind him but I have no idea of its purpose, yet it does something that the potions can’t. It’s like a spirit with no will on its own."

"Finally, the ring's supernatural biomes, its only weakness if there is a lack of amount used mana. Once used, like being shred the body from the reaction of the mana transformed. However, that mage somehow recovered him. There is more interaction between neutral mana than I had known. The competitors did break all the potions leaving to the questions, how many were active. The good parts of having spectre potions that no one were harmed physically but mentally depends to those people have not experienced the abomination they saw. Seeing something that present the impossible, but ironic to be an illusion."

"The woman who used those scroll sashes are one of the highest quality-made scrolls. Made of dense or thick paper that synchronize all the set of magics like some kind of never-ending magic. It contains powerful effects step by step magical scrolls, and it is near impossible to tear apart this kind of scrolls. It made up both from Kinteinou and Rune Isles combined, which has more substances or materials with that kind of magic scrolls. Since Rune Isles has an abundant of infused magic metals, but the entire continent shouldn’t have that kind of material. Furthermore, their equipment is mostly coming from there."

"The Enders Bridge is the only scavenging city to supply the rest of the cities with that kind of metals, but it is not pure and infused with magic. It is clearly the only one. In Kinteinou continent however, has the surplus of abundant produce. Which is highly valuable for people who reside in Enders Bridge where the soil there is non-existing and only the aftermath of the soil is filled with degrading mana. Still, it is quite amazing to see such a city there that kept thriving by surviving the horrors. Isekai city will be having troubles to go there with their dependent on magic."

Sork explained what is needed and ignored the rest of the spectre potions turning into ashes as look like shadows to them. Everyone is in the mix like it was not fully explained at all. They remember the failed exhibitions and the guild who were saved spoke about their painful experiences. The explanation took them quite a lot and showing only what Lord Lori'es shows them about this unfamiliar power. Sork's magic screen shows it, yet never clearly exposed its full details. The city states leaders knew about it and the mayor feared or regret by it, and Lady Hivites clearly understands him and his worries before.

After all that, the tournament continues where the audience saw the dangers that they never relate from the fantasy they thought of. The people who wanted to leave grew more while the one who stays should realize that they are not what they think they are. The Saint Heroes face the actual people from Rune Isles and during this commotion, one of the survivors watched the match and talk behind the audience with the other guilds.

"It is true, but that scene is less than we ever witnessed"

"What? We have someone . . . Oh! It’s you"

"Those shadows are ashes and were controlled by that man, if it controlled by those monsters in Rune Isles. There is no telling how it leached onto you in the matter of time"

Daygen and the rest of the guild left soon after the half of the event where other locals catch along as they thought it is enough for them see.

"They talk too much, and have more time to pause than to execute"

"They mostly used a few attacks and that's it"

"From weak attack to the strongest, that is not how a fight should be"

"Comparing to the first fight, they tried to counter them but the competitors already know how to cover their weaknesses"

"Foolish attempts, charging at the rat when the potions are used. They should learn more other types of strategies"

"They are here for a few weeks, and you're probably right. They build first their own magic and fights beside adapting our world"

They reach the foundation and see the city states leaders. The city guild followed them as they are confused why they are going to the foundation. The locals and the Isekai City security who are guiding them had gathered. The securities are confused why they wanted to go here where the leaders are. Later on, the city guild comes here to check on them.

"Leaders, why are you heading to the foundation? There is nothing there to see. It is still not done yet"

"Hak off, It's the miss Motivation's gift. This foundation has more than just a big magic field"

The Hordechieft leap towards the foundation and land on it from a far distance, soon after the other leaders reached it. All city states leaders are gathered and the city guild let go the security.

Lord Lori'es gathered the Raker Mawn members while the others have theirs, while Daygen made the final decision who would stay.

"Haw and Ironno, you will be staying here to search for recruits. Either it be a few or a plenty, the main reason here is not by connecting with the city but to those who is willing to live on this world. Juela and Myrrkei, your performance had showed the inexperienced of the strongest guild that your weaknesses were your advantages. Hopefully that we should never have those kinds of challenges again, since those consumables are quite rare in this city to waste"

Juela heard him who will be staying and goes to Ironno.

"Ironno, give this letter to Haw when he finished training with his clients. No, not the recruits. His other missions"

"Egh, money from your own wealth, I will comply but remember I got chosen because I understand the law of residing this city"

"Most scholars like us don't like to train those recruits, but in practice we are interested in"

"Don't go giving charity to the little ones, we don't know how of a deprave they are since they changed their minds of leaving"

Juela left and joins her guild while Ironno walks to Haw.

"I don't like this, but we need to get this job done when we start recruiting you kinker"

"Ironno!"

Haw only says his name in provocative way.

"Don't be you kinker, hearing that you save women only made it more annoying that they are not yours, alive that is"

Haw can't argue with him since he is now stuck here because of the request. In the Foundation, where the leaders show their dissatisfied comment on the city guild.

"I don't know you calling us dwarves is one thing, but the mayor has some trouble talking after the first match"

"Oh, we were surprised about it too and . . ."

"Shut your mouth, we already know what's going on with your city and we will have nothing to do with it except the safety of my men"

"What do you mean?"

The Rusic Lord from Mountaiwall isn't too kindly with the sudden changed from their last visit, and the Ehan'Ra joins in

"If you try to fool us, then it is worthless where the gifts we gave already proof of your corruptions"

The locals heard from the Eldesune, which their words absolute in the name of Ehan. Leading to believe the possibility.

"Please calm down, we have nothing against with your gifts"

"Laugh*, This kid plays kiddy here. If you want proof, then we show proof. Miss Motivation"

Lady Hivites focuses on the foundation then shows her demonic aura in anger as she felt the foundation that had closely to none magical presence from the mayor's will.

"Remember people of Isekai City, I don't know who was the culprit of forcing your mayor to be this way. Then it's better off to house arrest him, where the foundation bonded on him. If he dies in full blood that wasn't natural caused, then the city states will be oblige to become your enemies. For now, you will be treated what our people see of you"

She looks at Daygen with her eyes staring in demonic trances. Daygen understood her motives. With his hand places on the air, a portal opens by the used of the Foundation. The city guild to their surprised witness that the powerful foundation was easily accessed, after they put into their control.

To their shock, Daygen ask the other locals

"Everyone, open the portals"

All of the locals who wished to leave followed Daygen's routine and opened their own portals. From normal adventurers to high powerful mages were easily opening their portals. Ehan'Ra announced her quote

"A foundation that should have bring your people home to your world, now it's corrupted by hesitation. Beware, to those who knew the location of this city as they can freely enter and go. For I am Aelnanice Strongtwist sworn an oath to your mayor before"

Every last one of them left, and as for the one who stayed watched the city guild members surprised by all of this.

The Raker Mawn is now in search for a new recruit, while the other locals find other business elsewhere. For the city guild members return to the arena and have meeting from what they witnessed. Somewhere in city hall, where the mayor is in seat with the guilds. People around the mayor hid their faces in what they saw from the Foundation, a video clip coming from the area shows the mayor with relief and the same time concerned.

"Strongtwist is indeed a good elf"

"And because of her, we already know the flawed of the foundation"

"It was supposed to let us leave on this world, we're not . . ."

A silence casts on the mayor where the guild members argue among themselves.

"Enough, we can't even take ourselves to power because of the warning"

"But if it was an accident"

"No, we are facing something new that never thought to be a danger. We will be dead blind if they attacked us like from the tournament"

These guild city members spoke secretly as they are the true officials of this city. They had succeeded to have live in this world for the past few weeks or more so in the other city states. Now facing that the leaders know about the suspicions put them in caution or there would be limitation of their future expansion. It was too good for them to be true, and more so to the so-called gullible demoness.

The mayor stood in silenced only to hear them randomly, and kept his concerns for only the people who have trouble adapting this new world. Under his own thought, he was the only one knew how the Foundation truly works but must only work once. It is the final gateway once it teleported them back and break the connection between those two worlds. Hoping to never return or invade both worlds by the hands of a wrong person. Mayor Nakamura learned a crucial bit of history about this world, and the shock of some people of their world actually transferred here. According to the city states leaders, there was one hero managed to summon from his world to this world causing a huge outbreak.

That was far he could know, but the good part of all of this that the leaders were show no hostility inside the city. His main problem are those people who are outside of the continent. Returning back to the meeting, the city guild can't find any other way and break the mayor's silenced

"How lucky are you that you are still in power, and we are living a better life than we were in than our old world"

"I just want us to go home where our families are"

"Family? laugh*, there is nothing there for us. Why not separate each other and go on with it"

"No, the foundation will be done once. Once it used, the remaining people will be in the hand by the city states again. They will believe that they are rogues"

"Rogue!? But we want to stay"

"True, but there is nothing sure after that incident. Their suspicions grew after the few days, and announcing of staying here prove to them that the flawed of our society. They don't like coup d'é·tat in their cities"

The city guild realized the misunderstanding and these allegations will become more hectic when the time goes on. They stood still and ask the mayor

"Then how to rebuild this kind of relationship then"

The Mayor stands up and brings out the note coming from Lady Hivites herself, he pulls out the string and open the note. Like any other magic notes, this one started to speak like a recorder.

"Mayor Nakamura, if I pronounced your name right, before reaching your city because of your changed of mind. I'll be observing you for this entire event, like most of my authority

that I have access to your company. If I ever being discriminated along with the other leaders, I will comply only to them for your safety with that gobin chief"

The Mayor then explains the rest.

"Did you hear it? they will not comply any longer besides me. They already figured it out and by your surprised of how those people can easily to prove to them that the city guild didn't actually know about it . . ."

A sudden punch comes across from the city guild, displacing him to the corner of the room.

"So, they want a puppet city, and making this mayor the puppet huh?"

"DON'T, if it is true then we will be facing an attack"

"But why him?"

The mayor got out cold while the others in full nausea hearing that the leaders know about it and they can easily control the foundation when war start loose. They are dependent on it since it helps them travel with checkpoints where they travel in difficult areas. Now forced to follow along and heal the mayor. During the Mayor's recovery he spoke out to them

"The leaders won't harm the city under their conditions and we still have supports anyway"

The mayor stands again where the guild city has nothing to say to please his agendas

"Then what are they trying to do"

"They are not opportunist like most people in this city. They give us a chance before they decide. Your only hope is to accept the future on living this world, where you discover that their history started for 12,000 years"

The city guild didn't know that and the Mayor continued

"You will discover that this world is almost the same from our world, but they are in the dark ages now. Think about it when they recovered"

The Mayor returns to his seat only give them any idea about this world. Yet they still continue to live here knowing the consequences.