Chapter 2335: Last Minute Preparations
Following the announcement of the Garden-wide Gift Game, the first of its kind in more than seven thousand years, the Little Garden was abuzz with anticipation and heightened tensions.
Though it was never explicitly announced that Vahn was the cause of the event, speculation ran rampant after information leaked from a number of Communities in the Inner Gates. As a result, the Leaders of thousands of Communities were attempting to reach out to them, some seeking to ally while others sought information.
Unfortunately, while Vahn was usually receptive to the outreach of other Communities, the doors of the Sage Dragon's Hearth and the gates of the Aldrnari Empire had been closed off in preparation for the impending Gift Game. He did meet with the Leaders of several affiliate Communities, but all he could really do for them was wish them luck. After all, while there were no rules prohibiting cooperation, there could only be a single victor once the dust settled and the smoke cleared.
One of the few groups Vahn didn't immediately send away, for obvious reasons, was the No Names. Yo, Asuka, Izayoi, and Lily had arrived less than twenty minutes after the Garden-wide announcement, so Vahn gave them a much more detailed explanation of what had transpired behind the scenes before lending them a Game Board at the request of Asuka. Izayoi had originally wanted to enter an Actualized World to 'maximize his gains,' but Asuka shot him down as she didn't want to spend decades, if not tens of thousands of years, preparing for a single game.
Shortly after sending off the quartet with a Game Board they could freely customize, Vahn found himself roped into training with Kale, Caulifla, Yuri, Madara, Mordred, Goku, Vegeta, Broly, and several others. The Ethereal Queen had agreed to sit things out until the Gift Game was nearing its conclusion, so they would have ample opportunity to cut loose and make a name for themselves...
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With only a few hours remaining before the commencement of the Gift Game, Vahn was enjoying nap time with his and Black Rabbit's kittens when someone unexpected appeared outside the Sage Dragon's Hearth. They were about to turn away after seeing the sign posted outside, but Vahn figured he might as well give them a chance to rebuild the bridge they had unceremoniously burned twice.
"Hwah~!?"
Finding Vahn towering above her the moment she turned around, Laulau practically leaped out of her skin before abruptly leaping back to draw a sword that could humble even Ichigo. It was easily longer than she was tall, exceptionally thick, and, based on the subtle distortions it caused in the gravitational force of the Little Graden, ridiculously heavy.
Realizing it was Vahn who startled her, Laulau's eyes widened before she promptly put away her sword. Then, with a slightly reddened face and twitching ears, she averted her eyes and softly complained, "It isn't good to sneak up on people like that..."
Adopting a faint smile, Vahn surprised Laulau with a curt, "Sorry about that," before questioning, "Now then, what can I do for you, Ms. Pantera? I take it you didn't come all this way just to turn away and give up at the door?"
Inhaling a deep, steadying breath, Laulau looked around to find that no one was paying attention to her or Vahn. A sizeable crowd had gathered outside with the intent of requesting Vahn's services, but none of them so much as batted an eye in response to his actual presence.
Preempting Laulau's question, Vahn explained, "Just a little trick I picked up to prevent people from badgering me when I just want to walk around for a bit. Now please, speak freely. Or would you rather speak somewhere more private?"
Balling her hands into fists, Laulau briefly hesitated before surprising Vahn by dropping to her knees. He half-expected her to dogeza with her head pressed to the ground, but she took things several steps further by rolling onto her back and presenting her belly.
With a ruddy expression that looked like she was prepared to bite him if he dared to touch her stomach, Laulau was practically growling as she said, "I wanted to apologize for my previous actions...I was out of line and suspected you without merit..."
Though he initially planned to dismiss Laulau's apology as water under the bridge, Vahn understood that would likely have the opposite in this particular situation. Laulau was going out of her way to shame herself in front of him, so she presumably wouldn't take kindly to him dismissing the matter outright.
Forcing a smile, Vahn gave a curt nod and stated, "I accept your apology. I also understand the importance of appearing strong during negotiations, so I have no intention of holding a grudge against you or the Draco Greif Alliance."
Relieved by Vahn's words, Laulau exhaled a sigh before rolling backward and bouncing back to her feet. She hated apologizing to others, not just because it made her appear weak, but because of the unique customs of her tribe. Fortunately, Vahn had accepted her apology quickly as tradition dictated she would have needed to let him step on her abdomen until she peed herself...
After quickly fixing her clothing, Laulau regained her previous edge as she stared at Vahn and asserted, "Apologizing isn't the only reason I traveled here from the South. If the offer still stands, I intend to request the aid of the Sage Dragon's Hearth."
Nodding his head, Vahn revealed, "I am well aware of the reason for your visit. Here, catch."
Though she was a little caught off guard, Laulau managed to catch the object Vahn threw at her with considerable ease. It resembled an ornate glass bottle filled with a strange grey liquid, so she couldn't help asking, "What am I supposed to do with this...?
Before Vahn could answer, the bottle's black and white stopper popped off, freeing the ghostly entity within. Laulau nearly tossed it aside, but, not wanting to appear weak in front of Vahn, she stood her ground and stared intently at the grey, white, and blue creature that had emerged. It vaguely resembled a snow leopard but had a mane of ghostly energy and patterns of crystalline ice covering its body.
Giving some insight into the creature's identity, Vahn explained, "This is Gelid, the Lord of Ice. He is an entity known as a Companion, one of the most powerful of his kin. If you can prove yourself worthy of his trust, he will fight alongside you and drastically increase the rate of your spiritual development. He can't bestow you power directly, but so long as you are willing to make an effort, he can help you become much, much stronger..."
Resisting the urge to swallow the knot in her throat, Laulau did her best to appear unafraid as she furrowed her brows and asked, "What do I need to do to earn your trust...?"
As the question was directed toward it, Gelid adopted an uncanny smile as it telepathically replied, "Weakness may not be a sin, but staying weak is. If you desire my companionship, prove to me you have what it takes to transcend your limits and rule over others."
Without waiting for Laulau's response, Gelid turned into a ghostly grey, blue, and white mist, surging into her chest. The former felt a powerful chill permeate her entire body but felt no discomfort. Instead, she felt a clarity of mind she had never experienced before, her senses sharpening to the point she could 'feel' the presence of every living creature within a 30km radius.
As Laulau was still recovering from the shock of Gelid unceremoniously making itself at home within her petite frame, Vahn pulled out two more items from his Inventory. The first was a palm-sized coliseum, a Game Board that would allow Laulau to challenge powerful opponents from a multitude of Vahn's Actualized Worlds, while the second was an Asauchi, the base form of Zanpakuto.
Hearing the explanation of both items, Laulau's mouth gradually formed into an 'o' as she gawked at Vahn with a look that screamed disbelief. Her original intent was to request an A, maybe S-Rank Gift she could use as a stepping stool to secure her status as FLoor Master. In exchange, she had been willing to pay just about any price, yet, without asking for anything in return, Vahn bestowed her the means to enhance her strength, seemingly without limit. The coliseum even had a function that awarded challengers for each stage they completed, prizes ranging from personalized Gifts to custom armaments...
As Laulau's gaze began exhibiting an internal struggle, Vahn adopted his best smile and said, "Just take them. Doing so will save me the hassle of having to grant requests from other members of your Community. Now, if they want to grow strong, they just need your permission to challenge the coliseum. It can be configured to allow multiple people entry into unique instances, so feel free to use it as a training tool for the entire Draco Greif Alliance."
Instead of feeling relief at Vahn's words, Laulau's conflicted expression morphed into a pout as she stared down at the coliseum with her amber eyes. As allies, she believed that the Aldrnari Empire and the Draco Greif Alliance should have a reciprocal relationship. However, even if she gave him her body, that wouldn't come close to the value of the items she had received from Vahn. The coliseum, alone, was something that could serve as a pillar for generations to come...
Seeing through Laulau's thoughts, Vahn's expression softened as he said, "The value of an object can change drastically from person to person. If they are on the verge of death due to dehydration, the value of a simple cup of water could surpass a mountain of gold. While those items might mean a great deal to the Draco Greif Alliance, they are not something I'll miss. In fact, had I not given them to you, they might never see the light of day. It is only because you have a use for them that they have such an extreme value in your heart...to me, they are just trinkets..."
*I take exception to that...*
Ignoring Gelid's voice within his head, Vahn maintained his smile until Laulau exhaled a defeated sigh and muttered, "I understand...thank you for everything you've done for my people. One day, I will return this favor with something of value to you..."
Exhaling a light chuckle, Vahn's smile broadened as he said, "Do your best to lead your people into an era of peace and prosperity. There is nothing I value more than the happiness, well-being, and freedom of others."
"..."
Hanging her head, Laulau carefully considered each of Vahn's words. She couldn't fully comprehend what he was trying to convey, but she admired the sentiment. At the very least, she no longer viewed Vahn as a greedy and licentious God who took advantage of his station and wealth to bend others to his will.
Adopting a faint smile, Laulau's tail swished behind her as she raised her head, meeting Vahn's gaze as she said, "I will remember this kindness for as long as I live. If the Aldrnari Empire ever finds itself in a position where it requires aid, the Draco Greif Alliance will respond to the call without fail. I swear upon my pride as a member of the Pantera Tribe."
Nodding his head in approval, Vahn responded, "I'll hold you to it." before gesturing toward the Sage Dragon's Hearth and asking, "Did you want to take a look around before you returned to the South?"
Though she was more than a little interested in doing exactly that, Laulau didn't hesitate to shake her head and say, "Some other time, perhaps. For now, I must return to the South and finish my preparations for the coming Gift Game. I imagine the Representative you have chosen will be a warrior beyond compare. If I am to have any hope of prevailing, I must spend the next few hours wisely."
With nothing else to say, Laulau gave Vahn a sincerely respectful bow before turning around and taking off like a rocket. She wasn't able to fly, but her leaps could carry her tens of thousands of kilometers in a single bound. Thus, in the blink of an eye, Vahn found himself alone, exhaling a light chuckle as he waved his hand to erase the tell-tale aroma lingering in the air...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn should rename himself to Santa...','The items collecting dust in Vahn's Inventory would make the Little Garden lose its proverbial shit xD...','Nothing escapes a Dragon's senses (O w O)...')
Chapter 2336: Pandemonium Starts
As the twenty-four-hour preparation period drew to a close, it wasn't an exaggeration to say the entire Little Garden was on tenterhooks. This was the first time in history that practically every Community was being pitted against one another in a battle royale. There might only be a single Player representing each Community, but virtually everyone was participating in the event in one form or another.
Though they had no idea who Vahn's Representative would be, Brokers had placed the Aldrnari Empire's odds at 1.3:1. The potential payout was low compared to every other Community in the Outer Gates, but anyone with sense understood the Empire wouldn't go down without a fight. Were it not for the participation of beings such as Chaos Dragon Lahmu, Aion of Time, World Dragon Kurma, White Rider of Conquest, and Siddhartha the Enlightened, they would have been favored to win the entire event.
In preparation for the Garden-wide event, every single News/Journalistic Community in the Little Garden had been broadcasting speculation and commentary non-stop. They also displayed the remaining time until the event, synchronized with massive displays that slowly orbited the Inner Gates, visible throughout the entirety of the Little Garden.
As the countdowns reached 00:00:00, the visage of Shiroyasha in her child-like form immediately took over every broadcast. She was sitting with her fan spread, her cat-like eyes narrowed and face formed into a mischievous grin as she mused, "I hope everyone was able to use these past twenty-four hours wisely. Events like this don't come around often, so you may regret it for the rest of your lives if you didn't."
Snapping her fan shut, Shiroyasha laid it across her lap as she added, "I understand many of you have questions, first and foremost among them being, "Why is this event taking place?" To that, I ask you this, "Why does it matter?" Unless you can achieve victory, this is just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to prove yourself on the absolute highest stage. If you 'did' manage to achieve victory, you would receive the answers to all your questions and more. Thus, without further ado, let's get this thing started. Shall we~?"
Following Shiroyasha's words, innumerable displays appeared alongside those that already existed. Trying to cast an event with millions of people participating was next to impossible, so each and every Player within the Little Garden was given a personalized display to observe the progress of their chosen Representative. For now, however, they showed a wasteland that stretched as far as the eye could see, a lifeless world filled with ruins, countless corpses, and chaotic skies.
With everyone drawn to their respective displays, Shiroyasha's usually chipper voice became somewhat solemn as she revealed, "Behold, the remains of the first, the original Little Garden. For various reasons, this bygone battleground has been chosen as the venue for today's event. If they are to achieve ultimate victory, Players will need to overcome more than just the Representatives of other Communities. Within this destroyed world, creatures that revel in destruction lie in slumber, patiently awaiting their next victims..."
Demonstrating her point, Shiroyasha changed the display to show the corpse of a massive white dragon, its immense size making the mountains surrounding it resemble popcorned walls. It appeared completely lifeless at a distance, but as the viewport zoomed in, monsters of various shapes and sizes could be seen slinking about or slaughtering one another within the dragon's hollowed remains.
Before the average residents of the Little Garden could get a good look at the peculiar white creatures, Shiroyasha switched scenes to the ruins of a disc-shaped city floating high in the sky, assembled from white marble and glistening gold. Much of it had been destroyed, but there was a set of blade-like spires located at the exact center of the city, towering over all and seemingly untouched by the devastation in their surroundings.
Though she didn't explain the origin of the disc-shaped city, Shiroyasha earned the intrigue of nearly everyone in the Little Garden as she added, "For those of you brave or lucky enough to circumvent the many dangers that await you on the battlefield, endless opportunities await. God slaying swords, indestructible armor, automatons powered by literal stars. If your fate is strong enough, countless relics dating back to the dawn of creation itself can be yours to collect. Thus, even if the odds appear to be stacked against you, I advise you to do your best and continue till the end."
Without revealing the location of any actual artifacts, Shiroyasha's smiling face appeared once again. This time, however, she was in her adult form, surprising the vast majority of the Little Garden's residents. Unfortunately, they didn't have much time to admire her as she narrowed her eyes and mused, "Good luck, you're going to need it."
Following Shiroyasha's words, the 9,999,990 Players, representing just as many Communities, found themselves unceremoniously teleported to the ruins of the former Little Garden. Their destinations were the approximate locations of ruins corresponding to the Gates they occupied in the current Little Garden. This might seem like it favored the Representative of lower-digit Communities, but the opposite was true. After all, the closer you got to the center of the former Garden, the closer you got to the source of its destruction...
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As many beings within the Little Garden were the aggregates of multiple entities, Caulifla and Kale had no issues joining the game as Kefla. They would be disqualified the moment they separated into their constituent forms, but so long as they had their indestructible Potara Earrings, there was little chance of that happening.
While taking in her surroundings, Kefla set her gaze upon the three-tiered plateau dominating the center of the battlefield. She knew all of the most capable warriors would be 'spawning' at the Inner Gates, so that was the destination she decided for herself.
Just as Kefla took to the sky and was preparing to race to her destination, an inordinately tall woman with burgundy hair, ashen skin, four arms, and teal eyes appeared in front of her. Most of the observers recognized the woman immediately, but neither of the Saiyans comprising Kefla was the type to bother with collecting information. Thus, even though the woman was a former adversary of the Sage Dragon's Hearth, Kefla had absolutely no idea who she was dealing with, musing, "Hoooooooo~? I didn't expect anyone to be brave enough to face me directly."
As Kefla had crossed her arms and smiled while speaking, the burgundy-haired woman did the same with her frontmost arms, returning a smile as she revealed, "I actually just came here to see who was representing the Sage Dragon's Hearth. With all the monsters serving him, I honestly never expected Vahn to nominate you. He must be fairly confident in the person he chose to represent the Aldrnari Empire."
Understanding that the woman was calling her weak, Kefla narrowed her eyes and retorted, "You're playing with fire, tomato-top. I may not be the strongest in the Aldrnari Empire, but I'm more than a match for some stray giantess."
Using one of her free hands, the burgundy-haired woman scratched the back of her head, a wry smile marring her face as she asked, "Could it be you don't actually know who I am? That...kind of hurts?"
Though nothing ever came of it, there was a time when the burgundy-haired woman, Pweamma, had been prepared to become Vahn's wife, mistress, or whatever role she needed to play. She had also engaged Usalia in a fairly high-profile battle, so she never expected there to be people affiliated with the Sage Dragon's Hearth who didn't know her...
Resisting the urge to retort in a mean-spirited manner, Kefla exhaled through her nose and asked, "Look, are we doing this or what? If not, I have other places to be. If you want to lecture me about who you are or something similar, feel free to stop by the Sage Dragon's Hearth after the game has ended. I'll hear you out."
Realizing that Kefla genuinely had no clue who she was, an exasperated sigh emanated from Pweamma's throat. She was originally going to team up with her at the behest of her mentor, Ziros, but now she felt obliged to prove she wasn't just some 'random giantess.'
Putting Kefla on high alert, Pweamma manifested a pair of long-handled daggers and two scimitars as she said, "The name's, Pweamma. I'm the Vice-Leader of a Community called Chhah-Hathiyaar. I'm not your enemy, but I'm afraid my pride won't allow me to simply ignore your comments..."
Undaunted by the profound aura emanating from Pweamma's body, the result of strange blue runes extending from her shoulders and along her arms, Kefla cracked an arrogant smile and replied, "Fine by me. Besides, I'm the type that prefers to discuss things using my fists. Just try not to lose too quickly, okay~?"
Without waiting for a response, Kefla moved forward at a speed that caused the surrounding space to issue a terrifying hum. Her speed and power had increased exponentially since the promotional Gift Game, so her Super Saiyan 2 form was now faster than her previous Super Saiyan Sage form.
Though she was somewhat taken aback by Kefla's speed, Pweamma managed to intercept the former's flying kick with her cross scimitars. The edges of her blades were enchanted to be able to cut through just about anything, but the sole of Kefla's foot remained undamaged due to the Ki shrouding her. Instead, it was Pweamma who suffered a minor setback as the force from the blow sent her smashing into the ground like a burgundy meteor traveling at several times the speed of light.
Since she still had no idea who Pweamma was, Kefla didn't wait around to see if her opponent would recover. The Gift Game was a battle royale with only a single victor, so she followed the unceremonious spike by pointing her palms at the ground and shouting, "Gigantic Destruction...!"
Following Kefla's mighty roar, a terrifying beam of spiraling green energy erupted from her palms, instantaneously striking Pweamma's position and causing an explosion that resembled an eerie green star. Its power was comparable to several supernovas erupting simultaneously, but, thanks to the durability of Little Garden and the density of its Spiritual Energy, the explosion waned after a few dozen kilometers.
Seeing how little her attack did to the environment, a disproving grimace marred Kefla's face. As someone accustomed to obliterating planets with her punches, it was annoying to see one of her most powerful Ki blasts do such meager damage.
Increasing Kefla's frustration, Pweamma popped up out of the rubble with only surface-level injuries. Her skimpy outfit was a little frayed around the edges, but she was largely undamaged as she stared back at Kefla with a sharp-toothed smile and remarked, "You're a lot stronger than I gave you credit for. If this had been the Vahnatus, that would have been more than enough to do me in."
Before Kefla could ask what the hell a Vahnatus was, the fiery blue runes on Pweamma's back, shoulders, and arms abruptly turned gold. Similarly golden 'threads' then erupted from her collarbone, enveloping her arms in what appeared to be golden muscle fibers while also providing her a third set, bringing her total arm count to six.
While Kefla had no idea of the significance of Pweamma's transformation, those following the match were more than a little shocked. One of the few who wasn't was an elderly fellow with a burly physique, blazing blue eyes, white hair, and stylish facial hair. The moment he saw Pweamma manifest her final set of arms, a grandfatherly smile developed across his face as he softly mused, "Gifts aren't prohibited in this game..."
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'There are no opportunities without risks...','Kefla gives no fucks O 3 O...','Are we about to witness the true power of the Asuri...?')
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
145 Power
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