Tatters was blinded by a sudden burst of golden light, pulling him back from the world of blackness and moving stars. He felt himself being lifted off the ground by his foot, his world turned upside down. As he looked up to see who had him, he saw Red smirking down at him. Tatters noticed a strange golden glow emanating from Red's body, an aura the likes of which he had never seen before.
“Don’t think you’ve won just because you gained the upper hand while I was distracted!” Tatters spat and imbued mana before kicking out viciously at Red’s head. When his attack landed, Tatters’ rat like face grinned, but his expression stalled seeing Red still smirking.
“Little man,” Red said, his voice rumbling. “There is no world where Red Rumble doesn’t have the upper hand, oh yea.” He slapped Tatters across the face, chipping his buck teeth. The rat faced young man tumbled to the ground, holding his face as blood leaked out like water poured from a bucket.
He wasn’t this strong a moment ago! Tatters thought, bewildered. He noticed a vial lying on the ground, its contents spilled around it. The golden liquid within seemed to have been consumed recently. Did he strengthen himself with a potion?
In that moment, Red felt like an entertainer, like a showman. Yes, he thought, it’s showtime. I’ll show them a spectacle only a true showman can create. The young man known as Red had gone away for now and what was left was someone that wanted to be seen by the masses, someone who would give up the title of a fighter to become more of a performer.
Yes, the showman thought. I am a showman.
The showman stopped for a moment to clutch his head as if he were posing for a sculptor, his eyes closed. “You’ve asked for me,” he said with feigned solemnity. “You’ve wanted me. You’ve craved for my presence.” His arms rose and he flexed his biceps. “And now I have finally arrived!” He spread his arms out as if he could grab the world as he stared off into the distance.
“Red Rumble is here!” the showman roared, veins rippling across his muscles as he tensed his body to its utmost, bursts of distortions flashing in the air around his body. His raucous voice echoed through the floor and beyond.
Nasset had forgotten herself and what she was doing, stunned by Red’s strange display. Suddenly, her attention was drawn to a movement in the corner of her eye—a flash of dark light charging towards Red. Tatters was making a move. However, Red was oblivious to the impending danger as he posed with his muscles flexed, as if he was performing for an audience. “Behind you, Red!” Nasset shouted, unable to believe someone would act so foolish during a fight as to become distracted.
A tiny grin played at the edge of the showman’s lips, sensing he had his crowd on the edge of their seats. He threw up his hands in a shrug, seeming lost at the words coming out of Nasset’s mouth, prompting her to shout more and pointing behind him. The showman acted as if he were confused and looked in the wrong direction.
"Red, he's right behind you!" Nasset urged, uncertain if Red was aware of the danger or not.
Tatters’ chipped buck teeth were displayed in a menacing smile as he tried to leap onto the showman’s back. Colors blurred as his world became suddenly jolted in one direction then another. The showman had caught him in the last moment and tossed him through the air in an “S” pattern before slamming him back down. The impact was so forceful that the floor cracked under Tatters' weight.
“Oh yea!” the showman roared, flexing. “No one can sneak up on Red Rumble, no they cannot.” Nasset let out a sigh of relief, thinking her mission could still go on. With a tight grip on Tatters' collar, the showman hurled him into the air. He then retreated a few steps before charging towards Tatters as he descended. In a swift and powerful dropkick, the showman struck Tatters with both feet, sending him hurtling through the air.
“Junior!” Brudo yelled in shock. Tatters had been winning up until now, up until the stranger started to act oddly and speaking as if delivering lines in a theatrical play. The senior gangster couldn’t make sense of the unforeseen reversal.
With lightning-fast speed, the showman sprinted before leaping high into the air, soaring in a graceful arc while extending his arm. As he began his descent, his elbow pointed downward, aimed at Tatters who was unable to react in time. From thirty feet above, the showman executed an elbow drop with full force, causing a sickening crack to emanate from Tatters' neck upon impact.
The showman shoved himself back up and held his hands in the air in victory, roaring like a mad man. “There’s only room for one champion of the world,” he shouted. “And that’s me!”
Brudo remained stationary, standing against the wall, unwilling to get involved. He had been instructed not to reveal the gang's newly acquired power, and he understood that engaging in combat with this strange, yelling young man without it would likely result in his demise.
The showman's expression went blank as he sensed a new presence joining him on his stage. As the world was his performance arena, he understood that he must adjust and confront this new presence with all he had. He shifted his gaze towards Tatters and noticed the eerie aura emanating from his body, which was imbued with a more malevolent form of mana than before.
In the dark world of spinning stars, Tatters stood before a mirror with a heavy heart. He knew that he could no longer keep up with Red's impressive skills, and this realization left him feeling defeated. As he gazed into the mirror, he saw a strange creature with iridescent scales and fiery red eyes staring back at him with an expectant expression. Its scaly skin gave it an intimidating appearance, but Tatters couldn't help but feel drawn to the creature's alluring presence. It offered its clawed hand to Tatters.
Tatters knew that this creature could grant him the power and respect he craved as a member of the White Scale Viper gang. Without hesitation, he reached out and clasped its clawed hand. As he did so, a bright light emerged from the mirror, engulfing him and the creature.
Tatters felt a surge of power coursing through his body, and he knew that he had made a dangerous pact with this creature. But he couldn't resist the temptation of gaining the power he had always craved. With the creature's guidance, he would become a force to be reckoned with in the White Scale Vipers, and no one would dare to cross him.
When the light faded, Tatters found himself standing within the mirror, while the creature stood outside it.
Limbs contorting like a puppet in the hands of an inexperienced puppeteer, Tatters rose back to his feet, his beady eyes unblinking. With his chipped buck teeth bared, he somehow spoke with two voices in unison, “Ah, it feels good to be back on Eronia. But what is this? I sense a presence of something that doesn’t belong, much like me.” He cocked his head, his neck cracking as his eyes locked onto the showman. “You are not who my host fought earlier. What kind of entity are you?”
“You can call me the showman,” the showman smirked, flexing his muscles. “What should I call you, little entity?” With his unique situation, the showman could sense Tatters was no longer alone in his head.
“I am called Fairshatter,” Tatters’ two voices introduced himself. “I sense you are an intruder on that young man’s soul. You must be like me, are you not?”
The showman made a show of throwing his head back and roared with laughter, “Me? Like you? Little entity, you have balls to compare yourself to Red Rumble!”
Tatters, now Fairshatter, replied dismissively, “Never mind then.” He then pointed a finger at the showman when a sudden beam of dark light erupted from it and shot forward. With a hefty slap, the showman repelled the light as if it were an insect.
“Save the lightshow for the walkouts, little entity,” the showman scoffed.
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Fairshatter frowned and unleashed dozens more beams of thin light, yet all were battered away by the showman. While swatting the lights, the showman used one hand on his mouth to make appear that he was yawning. He then shot a glance at Nasset and Brudo, measuring their interest levels. They both seemed to be paying attention, but the showman was unsure if they were invested enough in the story playing out. They might need more drama.
Making a decision, he allowed a few beams of light to hit him. His flesh sizzled and smoke rose from his wounds.
“Red!” Nasset sputtered. From afar, Brudo clenched a hand into a fist in support of Fairshatter, who he saw as Tatters.
The showman stumbled back, grasping at the wounds as if they were harsher than they were. Fairshatter began to cackle, “All the bluster from before, human! Where is it now?”
“You can’t break me!” the showman grunted, holding his injuries, pretending they were severe and at the same time, side eyeing Brudo and Nasset, watching their expressions.
Burdo cheered, “That’s the way, junior! Show him what happens to those that mess with the White Scale Viper gang!”
Nasset was frowning. “You better not lose, Red,” Nasset mumbled. “I will not have a baby by a weakling.”
The showman suddenly disappeared in a burst of gold light. Fairshatter didn’t know what was happening before he found his neck being struck by a forearm as the showman clotheslined him abruptly to the floor. He became dizzy, his world spinning.
The showman circled Fairshatter’s fallen body with his arms in the air. Nasset nodded in satisfaction. In contrast, Brudo’s face became drawn with dejection.
Fairshatter suddenly flipped to his feet and there appeared a gigantic claw on his hand made of dark mana, which he used to slash at the showman’s chest, drawing blood. The showman fell backward and knelt down, his expression contorted with pain. Fairshatter’s face held confusion, he clearly saw the showman had dodged most of the attack and only received mere scratches. Why was he pretending to be critically injured?
“There you go, Tatters!” Brudo cheered loudly seeing the showman fall.
“Red!” Nasset shouted, conjuring mana to surround herself with, ready to save Red from death. Her actions halted however when the showman held a hand up.
“I’m fine, dear fan,” the showman grunted, making his eyes squint as if he were in a daze. “I won’t ever give up.” He turned his head to her, his expression resolute and his eyes shining with determination. “As long as you are here to watch me, I won’t ever lose!”
Nasset felt her cheeks warm. She didn’t expect Red to hold her in such a light. They had only met yesterday and were a part of an unusual deal. She would think Red would resent her, but now he was speaking to her as if she were important to him.
“Don’t say things you don’t mean,” Nasset said quietly, unknowing that Red had been possessed by an entity.
The showman roared with a rumbling voice and his golden glow burst out around him. “When my fans are watching, how can I stay on my knees like some chump?” He pretended to struggle to his feet and pointed at Fairshatter. “I won’t let you beat me in front of those who support me.”
“Beat him up, Tatters!” Brudo shouted, his face sweating. He had become wholly invested in the drama of the fight.
His passion prompted Nasset to react and shout, “Red, don’t lose! If you need me to watch, I’ll watch until the end!”
The showman’s golden light grew to a size that caused people on the bottom floor to look up in confusion, noticing a shine coming from above.
“Then I won’t lose!” The showman roared.
“What is going on…?” Fairshatter asked, unable to fathom why his opponent wouldn’t stop acting. Had humans become mad while his kind were away? He flinched when he saw the showman disappear. Spinning around, Fairshatter looked to where he went but couldn’t find him. Muscular arms suddenly wrapped around his waist and he was then lifted.
The showman shot into the air clutching Fairshatter and flipped backward, dive bombing head first into the opening at the center of the walkway.
“Red!” Nasset shouted, watching the showman take Fairshatter over the edge.
“Tatters!” Brudo yelled, rushing to the edge of the opening.
They both watched as Red suplexed Fairshatter all the way down to the first floor. An explosion of dust and debris shot out when they landed, accompanied by screams and shouts of panic. The band stopped playing and the dancers were blown away as the sudden eruption had appeared in the center of the stage where they had been dancing.
When the dust settled, a lone figure with a golden glow rose from the ruined stage. The figure pretended to stumble but caught himself soon and then stood tall. The showman called this maneuver, “the hero lives". He looked up to see Nasset watching him from above and raised his arms in the air.
“My dear fan, we did it!” the showman shouted in triumph.
Nasset cheered wildly, clapping her hands but suddenly stopped, feeling embarrassed. She chose to instead nod sternly. “Of course the father of my child should always win,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Brudo was pale, holding his head with both hands. Even with the power, how could Tatters lose?
The showman heard the rustling of stone and wood below him. He looked down and found Tatters’ body misshapen and bloody, crumpled up like used garments. “My clothes…” Tatters murmured, his voice no longer in a duet. “You ruined my…clothes…” His eyes searched for the perpetrator that had ruined his silk tunic but his eyesight was dimming. After one last breath, Tatters’ life faded.
The showman waited for Tatters to come back to life, but no such thing occurred. Tatters of The Hole had finally perished.
He suddenly spun around sensing something approach rapidly. A glinting blade cut into his flesh as he was met with a pair of dark blue eyes. A young man with a dark blue robe with bits of armor attached had tried to cut him with a long thin blade. The showman glowed gold and used Mana Hardening to dislodge the blade from the flesh of his forearm.
The young man with the sword said to him, “It looks like you’ve learned new tricks, Mister Red the cheater!”
The showman burst with golden light and used Mana Hardening to explode out, repelling the young man away. “Red Rumble can’t remember all the jabronis I’ve met,” the showman said. “Tell me your name, little man.”
“I’m a swordsman,” the young man answered, his expression blank as he hoisted up his sword for another strike. “I’m going to show you my sword techniques whether you like it or not.”
A white and gold carriage made its way through the upper districts, traversing the White Rabbit, Sage, and Gold Boar districts until it finally arrived at the heart of the city: the Jewel Dragon district. In such a breathtaking city, the most lavish part was its center, where the City Lord Hall stood tall, with its golden spires piercing the clouds. The hall was surrounded by lush gardens, with vibrant flowers and exotic trees, as well as a sparkling pond that housed fairy fish, fish with slight intelligence, of every color imaginable.
This was the heart of the city, where the most powerful and wealthy resided. Only the few and privileged could come to the Jewel Dragon district, and even then, they were subject to strict security measures. But for those lucky enough to gain entry, the splendor and wonder of the district were beyond compare. Along the way, they passed by luxurious boutiques selling rare and exquisite items, such as enchanted artifacts and magical potions. There were also cafes and restaurants offering the finest delicacies from all corners of the world, served by skilled chefs and waiters.
As the carriage came to a stop in front of a towering structure adorned with holy symbols of the Puridyte religion, Zini gazed out of the window and felt a prickling sensation on his skin. He let out a deep sigh, aware that his unease was only going to intensify as long as he remained around the holy element.
“Are you ready?” a kind voice asked.
Beside him, Zini saw Priestess Vilda and Euness had approached. The captives he had rescued were also present, and they would be sheltered in this church until they felt secure enough to go back home. Being abducted to the city of the damned had left most of them shaken, but within the sanctuary of the church, they would find solace. The sage symbols within the church had a healing effect on both the body and mind, providing a sense of tranquility to all who entered, regardless of their faith. In this sanctuary, they could find peace and contentment.
“Let us go,” Zini said with a nod and allowed himself to be led into a church with an entirely white interior. Clerics and priestesses moved with solemn reverence, showing great respect for their sacred surroundings. The rows of pews stretched far into the distance, offering seating for hundreds of worshippers. Looming stained-glass windows adorned the walls, each one as large as the carriage they had arrived in, depicting a myriad of symbols associated with the church.
“This way,” Vilda said, guiding them further in. They soon reached an empty circular room with a sage symbol beneath.
Euness recognized it immediately and exclaimed, "Ah, a sage symbol lift! I haven't ridden one of these since my last vacation, back when I used to work for the Hunter's Guild..." He trailed off, still struggling to come to terms with his recent job loss as a receptionist.
Vilda offered him reassurance, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “Don't worry, Euness. We're here on the path of the stars. All will be well. The lost will be found and the sick will be healed.”
The platform they were standing on began to move, taking them higher and higher up the tower. As they ascended, Zini caught a breathtaking view of the city's white walls and what lay beyond, including the countryside. "It's quite beautiful," he commented. "The view reminds me of home."
Upon reaching the roof, Zini looked around, noticing the space had clearly been repurposed into a bustling headquarters for some kind of organization.
At one end of the roof, he saw a group of workers busy constructing a construct of strange make, while on the other side, a team of researchers were conducting experiments using equipment unknown to him. In the middle of it all was a central table where people were gathered, discussing plans and strategies. Below them on the table were blueprints and maps.
What struck Zini immediately was that these people weren’t human. They were elves. As he was still processing this realization, his attention was drawn to a child-sized elf who seemed to recognize someone from their group.
The tiny elf sputtered in surprise, “Mister Euness?”