“Welcome Emperor Michael,” Governor Richard of The Abyss greeted me with a deep bow as I stepped off my airship, into the airship port tower.
“Governor,” I replied with a head nod.
“You might not remember me, but I served during the war against the Divine Empress,” he replied.
“Thank you for your service,” I replied, and he grinned, clearly knowing I didn’t remember him. “So, two upgrades?” I asked.
“Yes. We are still a level 3 city,” he replied with a sigh.
“How is that even possible?” I asked. You didn’t need me to beat the flying worms.
“Part of my city’s focus has been on summoning. Far more than skills. So, a large amount of investment has gone in that direction,” he replied.
“That is quite surprising. I would have thought there would be complaints from your high-level grinders?” I asked.
“They contract out. It is a unique method I developed. We have the premier summon school in the Empire. While our wins were overshadowed all those years ago with Monster Master Michelle, we have a reputation,” he replied. Michelle got off behind me. “And greetings to you Monster Master Michelle,” Governor Richard greeted her with a bow almost as deep as mine.
“Greetings,” she replied. Captain Francis followed behind her and Doctor Katz. My protection detail trailing along as well while looking about.
“I was hoping to ask you to speak at the Abyssal Training Academy, or ATA as we like to call it,” he said with a smile.
“That may not be entirely appropriate,” she replied and looked at me.
“My techniques can’t be copied like that. While I can always give a speech. You are the premier Monster Master of the Empire,” I said to her unspoken question. The Monster Master that had been named. “Captain Francis, please include an expanded detail, if you are interested?” I asked her.
“We would be willing to pay a speaking fee of five million points,” Governor Richard said. That was quite a bit, but at the same time it was nothing at all. She could make ten times that in a day by putting in a bit of work. The expression on Michelle’s face was confused for a moment and then she realized our sense of scale was completely different compared to everyone else.
“Very well. I would be happy to speak. Perhaps we should all go togeather,” she said while looking at me.
“That is fine. Richard can keep me company,” I said. I knew she wanted to get out of this, but she could make nice with the supposedly premier monster academy in my empire. There was one of these places in almost every city. They clearly wanted to separate themselves apart from the rest. To be more exclusive.
A bold choice, but I could appreciate it, in the battle between governors to differentiate their cities. “Then let us go. I had hoped you would speak. There is a time blocked off for this,” he replied.
“Really went all in?” I asked with a chuckle as we reached the elevator and began to descend.
“Of course. The Abyss is the worst city in your Empire from a purely logistical and strategic view. A large chunk of our territory is cut off due to the void and we are hemmed in on the East and South. To the North are level 4 zones, which is another headache. Also, we are far from the Capital, the city has been crushed by the Divine Empress very hard, and no likes it,” he said in a self-deprecating way.
“So, monster battling?” I asked.
“Indeed. It is all about combinations and special effects. The hope is that we can get Imperial Certification as the premier school,” he told me.
“What makes your school better than the ones in every other city?” I asked.
“Branding and presentation,” he said shamelessly. I felt surges of energy in the distance, and quickly got on guard. It was timed just as we left the airship port. In the time it took to descend the elevator over 5,000 monsters had been assembled in the plaza.
“WE SALUTE YOU EMPEROR MICHAEL! WE SALUTRE YOU MONSTER MASTER MICHELLE!” the roar of the crowd had monsters speaking as well.
“Pioneering speaking through monsters using sonic type energy. Cutting edge as well as presentation by our premier trainers,” he explained with a grin. I had to admit I was impressed. In the thirty seconds it took to come down, they had arranged all of this.
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I had to address the crowd first. “Greetings trainers of the Abyss. Your Governor has said you are the best, is that right?” There was another loud cheer at this. “Let’s have a bit of fun and a test. You want me to name you the best and are willing to put it all on the line?” I turned to the Governor at the last bit. Everyone turned to look at him. If he wanted to put me on the spot, I could do the same thing.
“Yes,” he replied without hesitation, and I grinned.
“Well we have time to sun down and until dawn. It will be a good warm up. You want this Michelle?” I asked her and she shook her head. She had been with me long enough to know exactly what was going through my head.
“I am good, this can be your show,” she replied.
“All right. I will give you to the other side as a handicap. We will play capture the governor outside the city. You can deploy everyone you want. If your team lands one serious blow on me, than I will name your school the premier school for summoning in the Empire. If you fail, well, there needs to be a penalty. Retirement from governorship,” I replied. If you wanted something, then you had to put yourself on the line.
I wasn’t going to evaluate something like this and give my endorsement without him proving these people could do more than shout out words. I could tell my statement really stressed him out, but Governor Richard quickly firmed up.
“All right. We are going to plan out a spar. Our Abyssal Training Academy, against the Emperor!” the crowd cheered at this, but I could sense their fear. I was a legend. I who had fought against a level 7 monster.
“Set up a circle outside the city. You can stay there. If I reach it without injury, you can consider yourself retired. Michelle can go with you and help out your people,” I said to Governor Richard.
“Thank you, and your men-“
“Captain Francis will go with you while the rest will guard the airship. I will give you two hours to set up West of the city and make a large circle. Prove to me, that you aren’t just talk,” I said.
“Yes. Excuse me while I make arrangements,” he said. I waved him off as Michelle turned towards me.
“Really?” she asked me.
“It will be good for you. You can take the doctor with you,” I said, and he let out a snort but didn’t object.
“And if I go all out?” she asked me.
“Don’t hold back. But, I know your tricks,” I replied and she nodded at that.
“I still have at least one, I can use,” she replied.
“Really? Well color me surprised. I need to make sure we are all up to speed for when we go poke another nation in case things get out of hand and I need to fight someone high level. I need to know, you won’t crumble,” I replied.
“Don’t worry,” she replied. “Also, no crying, when you lose.”
“If you can seriously injure me, I will be impressed. Even if you summon that Molten Millipede, it won’t be enough,” I replied.
“That is fine. I want this. To truly see how big the gap between us is. I know it is large, but I don’t fully understand. I want to understand,” Michelle said. Well, she was about to get her wish. The huge crowd and monsters quickly began exiting the city as the governor began handling the set up for an impromptu spar.
If he couldn’t handle such a small bit of excitement, there was no way he would get my endorsement. If he used Michelle to get me, I wouldn’t endorse him, but I would call it a draw. He could keep his position. This was the most likely outcome.
He had to prove that his people were capable of making someone of my caliber pause and hesitate. I expected level 4s and other craziness with various combinations of monsters. The simple answer when confronting a summoner army, was to race for where they were located and kill the summoner.
That was why I gave them a circle. It would be considered a kill circle. If I got that close, then they were dead. If they managed to hold me off, then it would make things much more interesting. I was honestly more worried about Michelle than anything this group might do even if the governor had been planning this for quite a while.
“This is a bad idea,” Captain Francis told me.
“Why? Afraid I might get hurt?” I asked him.
“That and it will be chaos. I dispatched the entire protection detail with Michelle who are not on airship duty. You want me to deploy it?” he asked me.
“No. If this is a trap, might as well flush it out. But I don’t expect something like an assassination,” I replied.
“When you feel comfortable, that is when you are the most at risk. And unlike you Michelle, can’t survive everything,” he replied.
“Don’t underestimate her. I certainly don’t. The fact she has the confidence to say she think she can pressure me to my face, while I am going full out is impressive.”
“You believe that she is telling the truth?!” Captain Francis asked me in surprise, and I nodded at this.
“Yes. Michelle’s talent exceeds everyone, including myself with summoning. When we go to the other nations, I need to know she can protect the Crystal Vortex without me there. If someone like me rushes at her, she will not have two hours to think and plan. She will have to be ready. If she can’t handle me with two hours of preparation, then there is no way she can handle me otherwise,” I declared.
“If that is your decision. Shall I assist her?” he asked me and I nodded at this.
“You and Doctor Katz can assist in her slowing me down. Even if I take a bit of curse damage, I am not worried. But like you said, keep an eye out,” I replied and Captain Francis nodded at this.
“You just like drama,” Doctor Katz said.
“Yes. That too. But it is a good team exercise. If all of you can pressure me, then think of what you can do with me on your side and the Crystal Vortex using its crystal consuming powers,” I joked.
“Well the military runs drills back on Earth, so I can’t object to this concept. It is weird that you fight yourself and are the head of the government,” he muttered.
“Absolute power requires absolute butt kicking,” I replied in a joking tone. The good doctor waved me off and left with Captain Francis. I began to stretch as I looked forward to this upcoming fight. It would be quite exciting, even if it was going to be a curb stomp in my favor. Michelle might have tricks, but absolute power was absolute power at the end of the day. That is what made the Divine Empress such a threat.