"Such is the world that there are always those who believe they are above everyone, yet the ones that truly are above are always those who wish for normality. Strange beings believing they are gods... such fools... there are three true eternals, cursed to live forever and the one of them dead what would the other two believe, why was him and not them?"

|5:59 AM | Tufts University | Gaia City | Supervised by the 10 Despots |

A large room,a table with ten seats, this is the place where the despots are going to meet to talk about the tournament, yet there wasn't a time when all of them were present. Only six seats were occupied, by the same despots which always came.

Abaddon, the third despot, he was seated next to Nimue, the second despot. These two share quite a history together, but that is a story for another time.

The fourth despot, he was also called the Soulless one, a tall man, bald wearing gray shaolin clothing.

The eighth despot, a woman with short pink hair wearing a white coat. She is the only despot besides the first which has acces to every place inside the city.

The seventh, a man with long, red hair and pretty thin, he was not as strong as the eighth, but he was much more mischievous.

The last one was the tenth despot, due to his rank everyone considers him the weakest of them all, but he is actually the one that can turn the tide of war when the time comes. Tactical support units, this are the troops he offers to the aid of any despot. These units can vary, from large robots to simple ground troops such as tanks, soldiers, drones and others.

As the clock rang six o'clock the fourth started the usual discussion.

"This is another great year where we can find new talents and strengthen our ranks. Unfortunately this year we only have one hundred twenty candidates, this is pretty bad with the strange activity of the gods. Please recruit every single one of them, the amount of troops is low and we need soldiers ."

Nimue looked pretty shocked for a moment, but it wasn't because of anything fourth said. The doors opened and from them a tall person emerged, it had around two meters and a half wearing full plated armor, the face couldn't be seen trough the black mist pouring from the the armors head hole.

"What is the problem Nimue?"

"Behind you..."

The fourth looked back and saw him, the first despot was here as well for the first time in years.

"Oh, I can't believe it, you honor us with your presence."

The voice was a strange as ever, but the despots grew used with it.

"It is my pleasure... to attend.... to the tournament..... now let's begin... the preparations."

"Understood sir."

The room was silent, everyone was looking at him, the first one, the strongest... Nobody looked at him like that, he seemed weak, the big and bad despot was helped to move by a woman with long blonde hair wearing black armor.

"It seems you aren't as strong as you used to oh great one."

The blonde woman stared back at the eighth despot.

"It seems you are as annoying as ever."

For a moment it was like a fight was going to start, but then the fourth put them in their places.

"Do not forget that we are in his presence, also there are more important things to do, now that he is here as well there are some things we need to talk about... For example the northern front, we didn't manage to do any advances, in the east the Exodus are starting to give everyone trouble. At this moment Gaia is protected, and we can have our 'fun' , but we need to be careful."

The room was silent, everyone knew the problems they had with the Exodus, but there was nothing they could do.

"Let's talk about war after we end the tournament. We need strong people, even the weak have their uses."

"Yes, but don't forget Abbadon, we can't just use them as cannon fodder, they need training."

"And that is what they will get."

|8:30 AM | Tufts University | Gaia City | Supervised by the 10 Despots |

Akari and Keira were standing in a room along with a few other candidates for the great tournament, even so nobody seemed happy, the mood was rather gloomy.

"So what should we do?"

"I don't know, Lyall seems to have lied you Akari, he lied to me as well, but that matters not, let's do our best and see what this is about."

"You know I'm not that strong... Please help me if you can!"

"Ah... Don't worry, we gonna see this through."

A shock trooper entered the room. It was pretty unexpected for everyone, usually they use the staff from university or the local police as guards or announcers, seeing a shock trooper was quite a 'shock'.

"Please everyone get ready. You are now entering the arena, also please do not kill any of your opponents, that is if you want to live. Now let's go."

They got into the arena through a large gate, it was extremely big and lots of people watching as well. There were ten boxes where the despots should be, only six of them could be seen. The strange thing was that for the first time the fourth wasn't standing in the central box and that place was also occupied by other despot.

A man entered the arena. He was big and strong and... had a ponytail. A mask was covering his face, the mask had sharp fangs and a beard. In his right hand he was holding a poleaxe.

"Now ladies and gentlemen for the first time in many years the first despot shall attend to this tournament. This will also bring a new rule to the competition, if anyone is killed the treatment will be much more severe than before, but that is for later. Now everyone gather in the center and await your instructions."

Everyone was gathering in the middle of the arena, the group Akari and Keira were in came from the south entrance, others were coming as well, there was a total of one hundred and twenty participants.

"Now that everyone has gathered, the fourth despot has something to say, please do listen to him."

As the big man finished the sentence he went in front of the main box and started waiting.

"Thank you all for coming, every year is harder and harder to find good and strong people. This year is not different, only you are here, we used to have thousands and thousands coming to enroll. It is truly sad, but for the first time the first despot is here as well and he might come in the future as well so show him how strong you are."

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Nobody knew how the first despot looked like, and they were all pretty curious, yet nobody asked to see him, still there was quite a shock when the curtains from the main box started to move.

Nobody was moving, everyone was in a state of fear and joy. They could finally see the strongest person and the one which ruled the city. Akari was one of the most excited about it, she could see how he looked like, even if it was a small amount of information it was still something.

Then the curtains fell, and everyone saw him, the joy and excitement vanished from their face when his face was revealed. The dark specter standing in front of everyone was not how anyone imagined him to be. For the first time, even Keira felt fear... it's true meaning. What was standing in front of everyone was a being strong enough to kill even gods and it wasn't a knight in shining armor, but more of a dark demon encased in sparkling obsidian ready to destroy a souls very existence.

As everyone was staring at the first despot, he started to speak.

"Please... don't be afraid... I am here just to check... on the new... knights... who will fight... to defend you... You... The people of Gaia... My purpose is to guide them... and now... the fourth... Will explain the rest..."

The voice was one of a ghost, even so it was gentle and the people understood his intentions. He was tall and imposing, but then a beautiful girl came and helped him walk back to his seat. It was like the first despot was on the verge of death, but nobody was paying attention to that as the fourth despot started to talk.

"Now we will have four groups of thirty people, the main objective is to defeat the other group leader. The leaders will be selected by the second despot."

After he finished speaking he made a cut on his arm and poured blood into a vessel, the same did all the other despots. Soon the vessels broke and the blood started to gather into an orb over the arena. The big ball of blood set itself on fire, a red-pinkish fire.

"This orb will take care of anyone that will try to kill his opponents or disobey the rules, please do be careful we want all of you alive and in good shape, now return to the waiting quarters."

After the instruction everyone started going back, but there was a strange look in their eyes. They were scared, some didn't know if choosing to come was a good idea anymore and others were... happy?

The first despot, a being of great power, a titan or a colossus, call it however you want, he was that imposing for everyone that didn't know him and for those that do he is a friend and a gentle soul tormented by guilt and pain.

These were the thoughts of the girl that stood beside him, she was known as Kim by every soldier serving the first, also the one closest to him. She was always by his side when he asked and never let him down once. Now as he stays in his throne, coughing now and then, and waiting silently she was wondering why did he decided to finally come.

"May I ask a question?"

"Of... course..."

"Please tell me why did you decided to come. You are in no shape to wear your armor or to assist them with this. We already have enough troops, there is no need for more people especially back on the Plateau. Why do you force yourself?"

"Ah... Help me... get up..."

"Understood."

She went to him and took a hold of his hand, the armor was cold, and he could barely get up even with her help, Kim simply couldn't take it and stopped looking at him.

As he got up, he turned to Kim and looked at her. He was still silent, but then he kneeled before the girl and took her hand.

"I... am very... sorry... I am sorry, that... I make you feel sad... that I make your worry... that, I am useless... and I am sorry... that I can never... never thank you enough... for everything you do."

She looked at him and started crying. She was sad, but strange enough, she felt happy at the same time, why would he even thank her she wondered, that was her duty, for everything he did for her.

"Please... Don't do this, this is my duty, I am very happy that you think I was worried, but rest assured everything is... fine..."

He saw through her act. She thought of herself just as a mere soldier, but he never believed that, he saw each and every of his comrades as his family. It wasn't much, but he was happy that he apologized at least.

The first got back on his throne and went back to thinking about who knows what.

|9:00 AM | Tufts University | Gaia City | Supervised by the 10 Despots |

The groups were set, everything was about to start. Before the second despot could say anything the sky became red and the orb hovering above the arena created a barrier around.

"Now that we got the teams established, the first two groups please enter the arena."

Group A and and group D entered the arena. The first group was leaded by a man in white armor wielding a claymore matching the armor. The second group was leaded by a rather small man, most of the people started to think he was a child, even so he was strong, wearing nothing distinctive and wielding claws hidden under his sleeves.

The two of them met in the middle of the arena while the others waited behind.

"Salute eachother and you have ten minutes to prepare a strategy to defeat your opponent."

The atmosphere was tense, and the two of them shook hands.

"I hope nothing happens to you midget."

"Oh, you should worry about yourself."

And so they returned to their groups and after the ten minutes it started.

Both of the groups were using different tactics, group D leaded by the little man was all about ambush, pretty much guerrilla tactics, still the other group was keeping itself pretty well. While group A preffered head on combat they were still facing well against the ambushes and tricks the others came with.

"Don't let them use those tricks on you two times in a row!"

Many responded back to their leader as they understood to keep a sharp eye on their opponents. On the other hand group D was all silent it was like the little guy disappeared and then suddenly...

"WHAT!?!"

The so called midget jumped from nowhere ambushing group A leader. This attack came much sooner than anticipated and the formation wasn't ready to defend itself, so they took the advantage.

Both of the leaders started to fight fiercely, The little one had a lot of speed and was pressing his slashing attacks, but the other one wasn't falling behind and with the first occasion stroke him with the sword.

Group D saw its leader flying over twenty meters.

"FLY YOU DIRTY MONGREL!"

"As if it would be that easy."

He let his guard down and suddenly a strong slash pushed him from behind. The little guy had a cocky look on his face. Everything was complete chaos. The leaders couldn't give orders anymore and the others were fighting like wild animals.

"Alright, that is enough."

As the second despot talked she clapped twice and the red orb started to shine. From withing the orb fiery bloody chains emerged and caught everyone inside the arena stopping them from fighting.

"It is clear that none of you have the qualities of a leader. Everyone go back from where you came, a recruiter will tell you which faction you are going to get in."

Some of the chains were released, but the leaders and a few others were still caught in them.

"Alright now for those that I kept here. You are stronger and have more potential, so you have the option to choose which faction you may belong from the despots that chose you."

Even as they were in chains they were happy. You could see that everything was a disaster, but they still were going to serve one of the despots not only that, but they could even choose among a few that wanted them.

"First is Hagan. You leaded your forces head on without thinking much about the consequences or unforeseen events. Even so you showed great promise and have been chosen by the third and fourth despot. We await your decision."

He didn't know which one to choose. Hagan respected both of them and thought they were far superior to him, choosing one over the other might disrespect them and that wasn't his wish. With that in mind he made his decision.

"I will join the third if that is alright. It is not the fact I don't believe the fourth is a strong and respectable despot, but the third suits my preferences better."

"Then you shall join the third. You are free to go."

The chain disappeared and Hagan was free to go. He got his sword and put it on his back. Before he got out of the arena he turned and kneeled.

"I will do my best to prove that I am worthy!"

And so he finally vanished. Most of the despots thought highly of what Hagan didn, yet others simply took it as flattery, even so the second continued.

"Enki. You have been chosen by the eighth despot, but you can join me as well. Please make your choice."

Everyone was looking at the little man, everyone believed he was going to choose the second, one that was supposed to be on par with the first despot, he didn't hesitate. There was a fire in his eyes as he made his choice.

"I am choosing the eighth despot."

All the people looked at him shocked, why would he choose such a despot, but he must have a reason.

"Very well, you are free to go. As for the remaining three I will have you join me. You have been chosen by the tenth, yet I see potential in you, return and await further instructions."

So the first battle was ended. It wasn't special, everyone was rather bored, but they missed the point. The tournament wasn't made only for strong people, it was a large recruitment center where despots could check the new blood.

"The next battle, between groups B and C shall start in a few hours."

Akari and Keira were looking at the people who came back, they were pretty happy there weren't any accidents it was a rather pleasant competition.

"So it isn't that bad?"

"I believe they used these groups to finish with the weaklings... Look around Akari, everyone that didn't fight is strong in a way, whether they have strong armors or abilities, humans or monsters they all have something. The other two groups used a few strong individuals and many normal people."

"I see your point..."

"We gonna have a much harder time. When it begins, stay close to me."

"Understood ma'am!"

"Hehe... DON'T."

"Oke..."