I now find myself standing on an arena; approximately 100 meters cube in size. While Straight ahead of me, about half the arena length, stands my challenger. The arena itself seems to be constructed out of a grayish marble like material that does not reflect light which, despite looking smooth, feels like stone, friction wise. Looking to my right, about a quarter of the coliseum's building has been built, within is the room I had occupied previously. Now that I have an even closer look, while one end is completely closed off and looks finished, the other is still under construction. Shouldn't a coliseum circle around the middle arena, why is that one end seemingly finished?

"ARE BOTH PARTICIPANTS READY?" A referee asks from outside the arena, from within a commentary box of sorts. Needless to say, what seats are available has been filled to the brim and I now believe the referees are also actually commentators. But sitting that far away, how would they hear our answers, should we yell?

Before embarrassing myself, because I have a hunch I would, I look to the only other person on stage. She looks at the referee-tator, raising one hand high up into the sky in a thumbs up gesture while camly saying "I'm ready!"

What else can the new guy in a colosseum do but mimic the senior gladiator? So, a hesitant thumbs up, and "ready."

"YES THEY ARE!! AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ALL JUST AS READY AS I AM TO WATCH THEIR DUEL. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO… ONE THE GODDESS WE KNOW AND LOVE; LUUUDO~VICAA! VERSUS OUR GUEST FROM THE NORTH, THE SAVIOR FROM ASIA; GIVE IT UP FOR, ZANEE~" The Ref-Tor expertly hyped up the audience—who yells, claps and stomps enthusiastically to Vica's name, while significantly less so at the mention of mine. Rather, I might have heard a minority booing at me—then the Ref-Tor yelled, "START!!"

Instantly, Vica spread her leg into a horse stance, fists gripped tight and arms opened wide on both sides. Body leaning forward, she starts yelling fiercely! And was soon enveloped in a reddish glow. Something tells me she is a major dragonball fan! Amidst the audience, I can hear Brianna yelling. "AUNTIE VICA, YOU'RE SO COOL!!"

"YEAH~ AUNTIE! SMACK THAT LOSER SILLY!!" Leandro, too, cheared. Well, that definitely answers my curiosity regarding their relationships. Now then, how should I play this? Total annihilation of my enemy or something a little gentler?

"ALLOWING OUR GODDESS OF WAR THE TIME TO BUFF UP, I SURE HOPE OUR CHALLENGER KNOWS WHAT HE SIGNED UP FOR!" The commentator yelled, I am sure now he is not the referee, and seriously? A goddess of war? But sure, I'll wait… and make my own preparation that is. I shift my ring into a Guandao. Then, out of the 5 I have, one line of thought is in-charge of melee combat. Next, I use another 3 too prepare several spells; Invaseviction is cast and Lesser Heal is prepared, another has VLoS on standby, while one other prepares haste. With one last line of thought being left partly free to make use of Invaseviction and Blink.

"THERE IT IS MY BELOVED AUDIENCE! AS YOU CAN SEE, CONJURED BY OUR VISITOR; A WEAPON! IS THAT ALL THERE IS TO OUR GUEST? A RING THAT CAN CHANGE INTO A HALBERD!! I HONESTLY CANNOT TELL IF HE IS BRAVE OR A DUMBASS FOR GIVING LADY VICA A CHANCE." What kinda idiot commentator does not recognize the various types of weapons!? Curious to see if I can end the battle before it starts, I send the jaws of Invaseviction towards Vica. Only to find that the aura around her can corrode the mana construct, and while the spell is perfectly usable; a recast would be required after several uses… "AND SHE IS READY!!! I BELIEVE WE MIGHT BE IN FOR A QUICK BATTLE."

Before that last commentary was said to completion, the sound of a crack resounded—twice, and a powerful impact lifted me off my feet, sending me out of the stage and flying into the air. On my Trilattic plates armor, a fist sized area above my navel cracked and crumbled into ambient mana. I even took health damage; in the hundreds, which in itself is an amazing feat when, despite my level, I have attributes in the thousands! 'Inspect!'—And she's only at level 41…

I made use of the momentum that sent me flying and stepped on the air to run back onto the arena. But even before I got anywhere near it, I could hear the commentator's annoying comments. "THERE HE IS, YES!! WE GOT VISUALS, HE IS RUNNING ON THE AIR AND ON HIS WAY BACK ONTO THE ARENA! FEAR NOT EVERYONE FOR WE'RE IN FOR MORE ACTION!!"

"You're fine even after taking my strongest attack?" Unexpectedly, she talks, instead of continuing on with the fight. The whole arena is silent, as if they can hear our conversation… hmm, chances are they probably can.

"I am, that was an amazing attack! It's been a while since…" I took that much health damage from a local, but I suddenly decided against mentioning that. Instead, I've decided right this moment that I'll go easy, humans should band together after all. And the more the better, not to mention someone this respected and powerful is indispensable to protect the planet and what'll be left of us when I decide to leave.

"Since what?" Vica asks.

"Let's continue," I grin, releasing the VLoS I've been keeping in hold. Kite her, I communicated my intent to the newly summoned Lord. As I watch her dodge the lightning and parry the icicle bolts, I conjure four more VLoS. With two minds at work casting; each is only fractions of a second apart from the other. And following my subconscious intent, as they bombard her, all five scatter throughout the arena.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"WHAT A COWARDLY MOVE MY DEAR AUDIENCE! MAGICALLY SUMMONING CREATURES TO FIGHT IN HIS STEAD. WHAT SAY YOU THAT WE END THIS FARC—" I snatched the mic out of his table with Invaseviction, now in my hand, I lift the object to my mouth.

"Shut up or I'll make you." I say calmly at the disrespect. Change of plan, maybe a slight show of force; Blink, I arrive before Vica, my leg kicking out with a quarter of my strength. A powerful impact reverberated through the arena floor as it cracked from one end to another, Vica have amazingly blocked my kick at the cost of falling to her knees and spurting a mouthful of blood—that's a kick carrying 245 points worth of Strength, equivalent to about 44 levels worth of attributes!—Blink, now standing before the arena perimeter that is the closest I can get to that stupid commentator's box; first, I crush the mic in my hands before my Guandao lashes out with a Ki infused Slash. Visible to the naked eye, a yellowish blade of energy flashes pass towards the skies and the corner of said box falls onto the ground.

Besides that corner piece who smashed onto the ground, the whole partly built Coliseum was silent; heck, I could picture a tumbleweed blowing by… I might have gotten carried away… Slowly turning to look at my opponent, I find her standing there with nary a shred of fighting spirit left in her. Instead she opted to start a conversation, again. "You also use Ki? And with such strength to boot. How serious was that kick previously?"

"Uhh~ half of my strength…"

"Assuming I believe you," she looks up to another box opposite the commentator. "I don't believe I'm a match for him, and neither will any of you."

Then she looks at the audience before saying, "I admit defeat."

—

Yes, I might have gotten carried away… now finding myself sitting in the previous room all alone, Brianna had brought me here and hastily excused herself without a single step into the room for unknown reasons. I may have forgotten to mention that this coliseum is somehow limiting my Mana Sense to within the room, I assume to keep fighters' privacy private and keep things fair. The door opens, Brianna scuttles in carrying a tray with one plate of cookies stacked high and three cups off—if the delightful smell is to go by—coffee.

"Hi! Coffee and cookies?" She said with forced positivity the moment she steps in, placing the good stuff on the table, urging me to take a few mouthfuls.

"Thank you," no harm done—even if anything is poisoned, well, I have the stomach of a devourer—so I grabbed some and ate with relish. "Can I have more than one this time?"

She nods with increasing meekness, but refuses to say anything. I even gestured for her to have some, but was refused with a shake of her head. Fortunately, the door opens before I can confront her about the weird change of attitude, and in comes my previous opponent; Ludovica… followed by 12 others.

"It seems there are not enough space, nor are there refreshments. Could you please handle the refreshments Anna," she said after a quick look, then turned to address me. "And if it's alright with you, Zane, please follow me while we relocate to a more spacious room."

I chugged my coffee and stuffed my mouth with a few more cookies before standing up to follow Vica and her friends. "Sure, no problem!"

Vica, walking slightly ahead of me and at the forefront looks to be the most valiant among the group, beside her walks another woman. Similar in age, blonde and sporting glasses with an apparent scholarly vibe. Her clothes are form fitting, with not a single loose accessory anywhere on her person. "This is my good friend, Sonya."

"Hello," introduced next is a younger handsome blond male with sky blue hair and a sharp glint in his eye; Paco. Beside him walks another man, he looks to be the oldest person among these 13. Wavy long black hair, wearing a simple white shirt and navy swimming tights, one most notable feature on his person being the trident shaped necklace he wears. On Paco's other side walks Regina; a woman whose hair is a slightly darker blue, regal even in the way she walks; her dress is both modest and classy. I can see a resemblance between the two. Probably siblings?

They are giving me a familar vibe; 13 important people, Vica being called a goddess of war… I Sensed a slight flash of movement before a giggling person grabs my right arm. "Hi! You're very strong. I like strong men!"

Her giggling being the only reason I did not Blink away, or lash out with my fist. She is easily the most beautiful person I've seen; her lips are plump and in need of kissing, her eyes mesmerizing and that sweet parfume she wears, "Thank yo—"

"I'm Fleur, a pleasure to meet you. What was that slash you did, how did it fly off your weapon like that? Of course I know Vica can make her punch fly off too but I've never seen anyone do the same with a weapon. What weapon are you even using by the way? So did you like the cookies Emery made, OMG they're to die for, right? Right!? She's so~ good at cooking everything, you should taste—"

"That's enough! Please, Fleur." Someone pulled the chatterbox off my arm, and no, I am not disappointed having the most beautiful girl unlatched from my person, nope. "Hello, as Fleur mentioned: I'm Emery. And oh boy am I glad you enjoyed my cookies."

"Nice to meet you. Yes, they're amazing!" I say to the youngest and shortest member of their group. She has long warm orange hair and the most innocent smile I've ever seen, with a dimple on one cheek. Her moves are gentle and fragile, any man would gladly put their lives on the line to protect her. "So are the thirteen of you the leaders of Parthenon Avantgard?"

"We are in a way," she answers very patiently, like a gentle mother speaking to her childrens. With one hand covering her shy smile, she clarifies. "But only a few of us are truly up to the task."

A parthenon of leaders, one goddess of war and 12 other peoples that seem to be on equal footing with her. A man wearing a trident necklace and swimming trunks, last but not least, the flirty beauty… though 13 this time, not 12 like the olympian gods, but maybe?