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Law/Verse: The Serial Anthology
Archversal Showdown, #63 - The Pathfinding

Archversal Showdown, #63 - The Pathfinding

Leading us to retribution, guiding us to satisfaction.

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"BEINGS OF THE OMNIVERSE!!! THE WINNER OF THIS GRAND BATTLE IS…DAVID UNO!!!,” announced Dgiag with a great ringing through the Coliseum.

《The crowds cheer, a vital victory, and the young's resolve undeterred.》

In ecstasy of the battle’s progress, and appeasal with its results, and anticipation for what followed it, the masses cheered with levels of indeterminate vibrances.

David dropped onto the ground with a grunt, taking a cross-legged seated posture with hands upon their aligned knees.

He panted, though lightly. A testimony to the sheer intensity and fervor the passing bout had carried.

Then he looked across to his downed opponent, who had his signs of life despite his motionlessness, as the prince could catch onto his ever faint pulse, and could feel vibrations coming from the body.

Suddenly, a strong somberness would overcome him. I wonder…what must be done to place you onto a less self-serving path.

I wonder what drove you onto this road, whether external force or self-choice. Still…

He rose to his feet, still in contemplation with eyes still upon the Stralean. I wonder if at least…you heart can tread neutrally in time…

Regardless, till then, ourselves shall most likely be…bitter adversaries…

He began moving away from the area, with the arriving Jmlehvu then stepping to him and inquiring on his well-being and testing his statements with varied equipment.

As they did to David, they did to Dragon KIng, treating him of all wounds and ills.

But even in his unconscious state, King’s subconscious still spoke, primarily in negativity. Damn…I lost…if not for that stupid limiter…curse it all!!…

David Uno…don't dare to think it ends here! We'll surely meet again! We're bound to! And when that day comes…I'll crush you and end you without fail!!!

The two now received concurrent aid from the Jmlehvu, and now truly, had this contest reached the conclusive end.

"Just what I’d hoped for!” Probacon cheered with glee, sitting aside Wok, Noot and Yurupt in the seating zone for all fourth round contenders. "Yup! Though, considering the conditions for this battle, much of which I don't remember at the moment, it was bound to happen.” Wok replied, lounging back casually and placing his feet onto the railing before them.

"Wok is right.” Noot added. "Many conditions were slightly ‘preset’ in David's favor. But even then he came forward with the right mindset and fought hard to attain victory."

"Mmmm. Impressive and deserved nonetheless.” Yurupt said, hand-on-chin and eyes shut. "Yeah, the Dark Prince really is something else,” spoke an unidentified voice beside him. "Heh. Factu–."

"HEY! WHO ON MOTHER EARTH!?" He immediately exclaimed in realization, turning to this individual, only for his allies to follow suit some sort moments later.

Beside them sat a young human, male, looking to be in his mid-twenties, gifted with long light blue hair which was parted down the middle and dressed in a medium-length ponytail, as well as light green irides that marked a round face, and a pointed nose. With a tall and lean build that wore a black trench cloak with brown fur lining around its neck and gray patches on the elbow, gray gloves, camouflage pants and black military boots, and a sheathed sword on his back and a burrito in his left hand, he spoke. "Yo! Rider here. And uh…”

《Ralph Rider. Age Unknown.》

“…This isn't the Coliseum, is it?" He said, driven by a wave of discernment, leaving primarily the trio of Probacon, Wok and Yourupt to be especially baffled. "YOU'RE JUST REALIZING THIS NOW!?"

《His sense of direction is second to none. (In a negative connotation.)》

"In any case, this should only ramp up our drive. The close of the tournament draws nearer, so both us and our ‘playmates’ will look to act quickly,” said Noot, keeping a stabile calm even through that previous uproar. "Y-yeah! That's true…,” responded Wok.

"I still wonder…how did they, rather stylistically, manage to blend in much of the Coliseum that easily? And even with such, the guys in charge should've noticed…” Probacon said, carrying an all-around thinking poise to his person, but silently inquired from by Rider in the back. “(What're…you talking about?)”

"It must be due to consequence, seeing as Grandmasters would usually be quick to act on any sort of disturbance or issue otherwise.” Noot replied. “That so?”

“Yes. Especially when there’s likely so many hyperreality things involved.” "Cuh??”

Then Wok dragged Probacon to his, and whispered something into his ear.

"OH! I GET IT NOW!,” exclaimed Probacon, slamming a clenched fist into an open palm, as Wok nodded in approval behind him.

Noot simply sighed endearingly, and Yurupt and Rider let out hearty laughs, though the former would quickly turn to Rider with much less glee. "You still have to return to the Coliseum.”

***

Meanwhile, David had begun to take his leave the med & treatment room, wearing some more medical attire and conversing with two Jmlehvu as he respectfully bowed his head. "Once more, I give many thanks.”

"Oh, no. We simply act as we are to do.” One would respond, gesturing with her hands in waving motions. "Not a metric for one to not be appreciated, I believe.”

"And we gracefully accept.” The other stated. "But make haste now, lest you delay yourself."

"Understood. Thank you once again.”

"Mortals are quite flattering, and this one is quite the looker." "And just what does that entail?" Both Jmlehvu remarked between themselves as David began taking racing strides.

But suddenly, a sense of urgency surged within him, coming from a detection of something that made his eyes widen.

He quickly turned at a corner, and dashed forward, making his way through halls at a great haste, and finally skidding into a halt upon reaching an intersect in the passages.

What he saw next, rumbled the core of his very being.

Before him now stood Hether and Huo, who had yet to receive any alleviation or rectification for all prior ills they had gained from their latest encounter.

"Well…we found something…,” said Hether faintly.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

She fell to the ground, finally going unconscious, followed by Huo who she had carried.

Initially, the prince could only react with a stare deeply rooted in his shock and disturbance at the sight before him.

But then it would be shifted into an intense glare of his certainty at the present circumstance.

He would make use of the telepathic connection formed between alliance members, reaching out to all the group all at once. “I need our best healers to look for my signature, and meet me at one of the intersects in the halls. Now!”

***

Time would pass, and both Hether and Huo had placed in a room and laid on the bed there, as Purogu and Wok respectively tended to their injuries, looked over by a restless Probacon, a praying David, a watchful Noot, an analytic Fighter holding that very Monōrb, a seated Yurupt, a feet-tapping Watch, a composed Pika and a bored Drizzled watched over. The room appeared to be David's, possessing a neat organization of articles from books and scrolls to device parts and a strange board game, bags properly arranged in a corner, and some royal regalia hung on a clothestand.

The outside of the room was not left without defense either, with a few other alliance members taking stations there.

"Progress?,” asked David as he concluded his orison, with a visible clothing change into a fresh black vest and scarlet pants, and the amulet and all the articles it provided upon him again.

Then, Hether and Huo groaned. reacting with feelings of pain to the healing process.

"It's done. Now we just give them some time to rest.” Purogu said.

Stricken with a duller mood amongst them, they left the room.

"Hey, you're a Djin, yeah?", Watch asked Probacon as they walked out. "Uhh…yeah?"

"Can’t Djin magic heal people?"

Probacon found the question both puzzling and intriguing for varied reasons. "Uhh…it can, usually. But I just know the basics, not high-end stuff like that, plus mine’s more catered towards combat." "Ah, I see.”

Then Watch began to whistle, with the two strutting in sync as they followed the others and others followed them.

But then Probacon’s face contorted with unamusement as he looked forward, realizing something. "...That was small talk, wasn't it?” "You betcha!”

***

Time would pass once again, and the members of the alliance would return to the room to catch up with the totally awake, bandage-covered and somewhat healed duo, who had already told their ranks the situation they were in in highly discreet detail.

"A Halva-rui? It’s known they're on occasion associated with tragedy, but…" Purogu stated in a seat beside Hether, contemplating deeply as Galax said his own say. "But they exist only in ONE set of worlds. So its presence here is very bogus.”

"Yeah. I was confused as well, but then I figured that the possibility of bringing in pantheonic beasts into this realm wasn't an impossibility, considering all else these guys have essentially smuggled in.” Hether remarked, proceeding to cough for a short while.

"You should still take some rest, Hether-Ia.” Purogu noted, gently placing her palm on Hether's forehead. This kind act brought a smile onto Hether’s face for a brief moment. "Thanks for the concern, Big Sis.”

"Even still,” spoke Fighter, holding up and closely observing the Monōrb that held the beast. "Bringing them here would be problematic, meaning potential links have just opened up."

"And one to the Hinder realms of Indiehdt Universe.”

Glances were exchanged amongst the collective due to that conclusion, with faces of a shared acceptance and certainty in the path they now lead.

The perusal underwent business as usual, with teams of multiple people searching around for any furthrances to the discovery.

And at the tiem, Fighter, Galax, Pika and Hether talked among themselves, as though preparing to undertake a task quite different from the rest of the lot.

Probacon and David had moved together, and engaged in a search for valuable hints of any sort along the halls that had been marred with the bloods of Hether and Huo, though that had by now been cleaned.

But Probacon’s self was not completely present, recalling that which had been bothering him since before the rendezvous, and was also responsible for his restlessness.

His mind flashed back, to a moment, during which he sensed multiple “flames” of a more sinister nature lurking amongst those who had continued into the fourth stage, which to him, denoted one thing: one of those in that place was or were the enactors of the grave evils.

Then he felt a crackling on an astral level, which to his senses seemed only to bring about some types of cracking that projected strange lights.

But the crackling got louder, and louder, and louder, as though it crept closer to him with each passing moment, leaving him anxiously fixed to his seat

Then all at once, the flames seemed to jump at him from behind, realizing he had seen their form, and would allow him do nothing with such knowledge.

He swiftly shut his eyes.

And when he opened them again, they were gone. Lost. impresent and imperceivable. And thus, brought about a great worry to the Djin’s mind.

"Probacon? Probacon!,” shouted David, jolting Probacon from the depths of his memories.

The Djin then entered a strange crab stance with dropped arms, swinging his head from side to side, confusing David so very much.

"Um…sorry, heh. Spaced out a bit.”

"Something bothers you? (Your expression denotes angst.)" He inquired as he placed his hands akimbo. "Eh!? N-no, no. Really, I'm fine. Honest!"

"Just…heavily focused on this, is all.” "Hmm…"

"Alright. Well, I'm still here if anything is needed.”

David walked forward so as to move quickly, with Probacon keeping an eye on him from behind. While nothing in his mind could convince him otherwise, there was just this eerie feeling to him of the possible origin of the hidden calamities, especially after what he had seen, and especially from Bora’s words.

So for a moment he contemplated. On whether to talk or to watch scrutinizingly. Whether to confide in David, or keep even him at arm’s length.

It took him not long to reach his conclusion, calling out to David afterwards. "Hey, actually…"

"Heyo! Can ya hear me?" A voice swiftly interrupted, one that was clearly Wok's. "Wok. What is it?," responded David, who could hear the voice as well as Probacon.

"Recent battle between Lu Jiyan and Draxo just ended. Winner was…blatantly obvious,” said Wok, Probacon looking with some uncertainty..

"Which means…” David estimated, as a quick realization was delivered to him. "Yup…”

Wok’s expression would change greatly. "He needs to get here fast.”

"On it! Probacon, time to move!" “Y-yeah…,” replied a slightly lost Probacon.

"Give me a moment…” He said to Probacon as he clasped his hands together swiftly.

And then with his poise, he began concentrating his chasm energy at a center with pinpoint precision, unwavering in his focus and volition, and surrounded by the neonic and cosmic colors as he closed his eyes.

It seemed like long, and it was. But eventually, he rapidly opened his eyes, which now surged with this cosmic power.

"~Chasm…Rein!~" With this exclamation, both he and Probacon were swept away by transpositioning from that location.

They would arrive just before the gate, though Probacon was left in a state of disarray..

"I apologize. Performing the more strenuous things without a Gem is…quite the workload. This is bare bones and helped only by the fact that distance works a bit strangely here.” David said apologetically as Probacon recuperated by vehemently shaking his head.

"Nah. It's fine.” Probacon uttered as he flexed a bicep, placing his other hand onto it in a metaphorical show of resilience. "We’re here. That's all tha–."

Before he could finish, he instantly vanished, providing a great shock to David.

《PROBACON, GONE.》

"Probacon!" He shouted, as Wok contacted him psychically once again. "You may or may not wanna see this…" He said with an unnerved tone.

Probacon suddenly appeared in the Field, atop the platform designated for battle.

"Oh, already?" He stated as he looked upon his palms, grateful for the difference between this transposition and David’s.

"ALRIGHT! Now who's my–."

The prior expression of excitedness he carried would drop, turning into a questioning one of dread and confusion.

David charged into the seating space, drawing some attention to himself.

And when he looked down to the projection, even his expression would become an unnerved one as well.

"Great Almighty…"

Probacon reacted with a dumbfounded face, pointing at his adversary as he stammered.

The silhouette of his opponent slowly turned around, revealing himself, a common face in the great event…

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