Capítulo 1535: Disparity : Undercurrents
After an expedited stage of processing, Vahn found himself in a room that was closer to a high-end hotel than a cell. It looked a little dated, almost like a fusion between ancient roman architecture and modern sensibilities, but it was infinitely better than the accommodations of normal Gladiators. They had even assigned a beautiful Demihuman slave to serve as his 'attendant', a mistake that resulted in the woman 'miraculously' disappearing, leaving behind an undamaged slave collar.
In the Akamatsuverse, Slaves were supposed to be a protected class that, unless their contracts had specified otherwise, were meant to be properly cared for. Instead, most experienced Slavers happily took advantage of loopholes within the system, finding leverage against their 'product' that allowed them to control every aspect of their lives.
If a Slave had their weakness abused and decided to accept the conditions of their so-called Master, they could even be beaten or killed in the middle of a public square and it wouldn't be considered a crime. This was absolutely ridiculous, but, like the fools they were, most people blamed the Slaves for 'giving permission' to be treated in such a manner. It was a system that blamed the victim instead of the people proactively exploiting others, a truly ludicrous arrangement that Vahn obviously wouldn't tolerate. Thus, when they brought a scantily clad woman to 'attend' him, Vahn graciously accepted before promptly disabling the supposedly tamper-proof collar and teleporting her away with some supplies and equipment.
After being warned by the Imperial Magistrate, the overseers and other Coliseum personnel didn't even bother to ask where Vahn's attendant went. Instead, they recovered the slave collar for analysis before leaving a pushcart full of food in the room. Afterward, they quickly alighted without so much as even attempting to lock the door.
Seeing the group flee his room, Vahn could only shake his head before walking out onto the open veranda. His accommodations were truly ridiculous, almost like he was a guest of honor instead of a prisoner. It wasn't just him, either, as there were several rooms similar in structure to his, each having soundproofing barriers and an elevated view of the arena below.
Vahn already knew about the rather drastic class divide that existed in Mundus Magicus, but, seeing it first hand, he couldn't help but feel a marginal amount of incredulity. He knew things would get a lot better after the Great Magic War, as around 13% of the global population would become victims of the conflict, but that didn't matter in the present. Right now, he could sense thousands of people suffering just within the vicinity of his domain, many from entirely preventable circumstances...
With the Coliseum being the most frequented area of the entire city, even more so than the red light district, there were between 80,000~100,000 people present at any given moment. It only shut down for a few hours each night, allowing fierce battles to be fought for nearly eighteen hours a day. It was a truly sad sight to behold, as, despite the state of their own bodies, there were thousands of people on the verge of starvation loudly cheering for the bloody affair below. Many even gambled away the pittance they had earned from a day of hard labor, desperately hoping to win big instead of saving their money and investing it into other things...
Seeing the crowd's frenzy from within the confines of his soundproof barrier, Vahn couldn't help but release a sigh. Even in a world where currency had basically been outlawed, people still found ways to gamble and exchange benefits. Instead of using real-world currency, they traded favors inside the Virtual World. There had even been a black market that popped up out of nowhere, but, due to their strict observation of the Common Law, at least in the real world, it was difficult to take action against them.
Vahn was well-aware of the fact that the world tried to impose a careful balance between positive and negative karma. You had to constantly remain vigilant, as, the moment you turned a blind eye to certain issues, they would quickly evolve into even greater problems down the line. It was one of the most frustrating aspects of existence, but, without it, Vahn knew people couldn't be happy. Free will could not thrive in a Utopian environment, as, at some point, people would simply become 'bored'...
Shaking his head, Vahn turned away from the arena before returning to his lavish room and enjoying a hot bath. He knew the folly of trying to save everyone, so, following the unwritten creed of Vagrant Heroes, he would only save those right in front of him. He would become a nightmare to those who exploited others, eventually making the world a better place by simply instilling fear into the hearts of any who intended to rule over others. At the same time, he would help the needy that crossed his path, rewarding their persistence in acknowledgment of the fate that had brought them together...
---
Unaware of the storm brewing within the Hellas Empire, a powerful undercurrent had already taken hold within the self-proclaimed, 'Greatest Nation in the Magical World', Megalomesembria. Here, it was possible to see thousands of Airfish flying about, and, unlike other regions of the Magical World, various other forms of transport, such as automobiles and air scooters were present. There was also a distinct lack of flora and fauna, as, due to the 'progressive' views of the Megalomsembrian Senate, most Elemental Spirits had long-since fled the outwardly beautiful but inwardly rotten nation.
Though Megalomesembria also had the infamous 'Magic Council', self-assigning themselves the title of Greatest Mages in Mundus Magicus, the overall population consisted of less than 1% Magi. Unlike other regions of Mundus Magicus, where anyone with the talent could learn, the study and practice of Magic within Megalomesembria were restricted to the upper class and military. They believed the unrestricted practice of Magic only caused problems, so, unless you joined the military and worked hard to prove your loyalty, practicing Magic without permission all but ensured you would be sent away for 're-education'.
Despite their stance on Magic, Megalomesembria had turned itself into the leading Superpower due to their unrivaled economy and incomparable military might. They were also the only industrialized nation in the entire world, allowing them to make scientific advancements and breakthroughs that kept them ahead of the rest of the world. In fact, with very few exceptions, every piece of advanced technology that entered the market had originated in Megalomesembria. These devices were 'very' expensive exports, so, unless you were extremely wealthy, obtaining advanced technology was very difficult.
As could be expected, the Megalomesembrian Confederacy was the largest association of human settlements within Mundus Magicus. They were situated in the far North within a region that once held a vast amount of Aetherium, Orichalcum, and Mithril Ore deposits. Most of these mines dried up long ago, as a result of the Elemental Spirits abandoning the area, but there was still enough to allow them to sustain their ever-expanding industry. As for other materials, such as food and clean water, they simply imported them in from other countries, often by strongarming weaker nations into extremely one-sided deals.
The only countries that could directly rival the Megalomesembrian Confederacy were the Hellas Empire and the Vespertatia Kingdom. Every other country either had to acquiesce to the brutish Superpower or form alliances with other nations, specifically Hellas and Vespertatia. Unfortunately, even with stronger physiques and a greater affinity for Magic than humans, the various Demihuman races still struggled under the oppressive might of the Megalomesbrian Senate's Armada. After all, it took years to train and condition powerful Mages and soldiers, the majority of which could be killed by a single well-placed shot from a Magic Rifle.
What confounded most residents of Mundus Magicus was the fact that Megalomesembria had been able to rise as a Superpower despite upsetting the Elemental Spirits. They had somehow developed a method to circumvent the wrath of nature, and, according to some of the Greater Elemental Spirits, some of their brethren had even 'died' by means they were unaware of. This was something that was difficult for most scholars to believe, as, due to the nature of their existence, Spirits were supposed to be immortal.
The truth of the matter, known only to a select few members of the Megalomesembrian Senate, was that their success was largely the result of contracting powerful Demons, a species hailing from the Demon World that existed on the Reverse Side of Venus. They were remnants of a highly advanced civilization that, in the ancient past, even began spreading its roots through the galaxy in the search for 'Absolute Immortality'. Instead, the only thing they found was the key to their civilization's ruin, and, after several apocalyptic wars, the only survivors were those that fled to the Reverse Side, much like how some humans had abandoned Earth, fleeing to the Reverse Side of Mars, the true location of the Magical World.
Demons had vast knowledge, and, though it had thinned through the generations, they made use of a unique Magic derived from destruction, darkness, and corruption. They were the natural predators of Spirits, as, unlike other races, who borrowed the power of Spirits, Demons could 'consume' them in their entirety. This characteristic could be passed down to their children, so, after several hundred years of intermingling, most of the affluent families within Megalomesembria had some genealogy tracing back to the Demons of Venus.
Though it was a very well-kept secret, the truth of the matter was that nearly every member of the Magic Council borrowed their power from a Demon. They had even used this as the template for the creation of the Pactio system, one of the pillars of Western Magecraft back in the Old World. Without it, they would have struggled to find a footing within Mundus Magicus, as, unlike most Demihumans, humans were not born with an innate talent for Magic.
With very few exceptions, most humans were unable to commune with the elements. They also had a difficult time sensing the mana in the environment, so, without specialized training, most humans struggled to compete against the more magically inclined races. It was for this reason they focused on innovation and the advancement of technology, slowly bridging the gap between themselves and the other races without regard to the impact their actions had on the environment.
Ironically, humans did possess an attribute that most Demihumans lacked, an affinity with internal energy, colloquially known as Ki. Ancient humans had pioneered the usage of Ki, and, over several thousand years, various schools that could rival even the most powerful branches of Magecraft had come into existence. The only caveat was that mastering Ki required an inordinate amount of effort and several years of intense training. This was more effort than most people were willing to put into something, so, unless they were born into a traditional family, the 'easy' solution was just master the use of enchanted equipment and artifacts. A Magic Pistol could even kill a Master Martial Artist in a single shot, so, rather than put in the effort to improve, they focused on creating weapons that made the efforts of others irrelevant.
Due to the cultivation of a supremacist mentality, one which placed humans above all other races, it was only natural that animosity existed between Megalomesembria and other nations. This had been the catalyst behind several wars, some of which had wiped entire countries off the map. Now, with a surprisingly long forty years since the last war, tensions had begun to build due to an ever-growing population and a constant demand for imported foodstuffs.
The biggest weakness of the Megalomesembrian Confederacy was that their destructive nature and disregard for the environment made it virtually impossible to grow healthy crops. They were able to grow staple goods within specially constructed greenhouses, but, without steady shipments from the Old World and the various countries they forced to supply them, their people would constantly be on the verge of starvation. Thus, whenever their population grew beyond their means to supply it, it became 'necessary' to wage war.
With a growing number of people fleeing the territories, the Megalomesembrian Senate had already made preparations to close the borders. They had been stockpiling supplies for years, but, as could be deduced from the constantly increasing prices, everyone knew a war was coming. This was both a result of greedy merchants and the machinations of the Megalomesembrian Senate itself, as, when the people feared starvation and constant inflation, they joined the military in record numbers. They would need a constant supply of footsoldiers and fodder to occupy conquered territory, so, with war imminent, greater incentives had been used to bait in new recruits while the Media, the government-controlled propaganda machine, began spreading nationalistic and xenophobic sentiments.
Though most citizens knew their government was exceptionally flawed, they were easily swayed by the vocal minority and a constant bombardment of propaganda. After all, while there were a large number of Demihuman slaves in Megalomesembria, a truth most people accepted as 'normal', they still got riled up at the mere thought of human slaves in Demihuman countries. This was the result of fundamentalist indoctrination at a very young age, teaching children that the human race was simply superior, making it 'wrong' for them to be enslaved to others.
When you only ever saw scenes of Demihumans beating and mistreating human slaves in the Media, it was simply 'easier' to forget that humans treated most Demihuman slaves much worse. Since that wasn't shown in the Media, however, people unrelated to the slave trade pretended it wasn't really an issue. When they heard about something cruel happening to a Demihuman slave, they just shook their heads and acted as if it was just a rare exception, lambasting the slave owner for getting out of hand while ignoring the crux of the problem entirely...
---
Gazing out over vibrant cityscape of Megalomesembria, which seemed even brighter during at night than it was during the day, a young man with green hair and silvery eyes couldn't help but smile in a sadistic manner as he saw a group of human children kicking a homeless Demihuman in an alleyway. Other people, including Demihumans, just walked by without doing anything to intervene, ignoring the scene entirely or hastening their steps to leave the area. From their point of view, it had nothing to do with them, so, rather than seek trouble and risk being labeled as a Demihuma sympathizer, it was easier to just mind their own business...
Interrupting his good mood, the youth's face instantly morphed into a frown as he heard a knocking on his door. His body then flickered with an illusory light, changing his appearance to that of a much older man with swept-back grey hair, a wiry figure, and a neatly maintained goatee. Then, pulling out a pair of square-rimmed glasses, he placed them upon the bridge of his nose before saying in a tone that grated on the ears, "Enter..."
In response to the man's voice, a dull clicking could be heard as the door released its latch and then slid open with a hydraulic hiss. The other side revealed a burly man with an expression that seemed to be permanently affixed into a scowl. He had short black hair that was slicked back using a rather high-quality mousse, but, giving him a somewhat demonic look, there were two long 'horns' formed from hair that stuck out from his scalp. He also had pale-gold eyes that seemed to shine in the low light visible within the office, further lending to the illusion he was more demon than human...
A stark contrast to the sadistic smile he had worn earlier, the now-transformed young man offered a kindly smile as he asked, "To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit, Senator Ricardos?"
As if it was impossible for him not to appear demonic, despite being one of the only pure-blooded humans left in the Megalomesembrian Senate, Senator Ricardos adopted a massive, toothy, grin as he said, "Senator McGill, it is good to see you! I just wanted to stop by to discuss the military budget for this quarter. I noticed there were several million Drachma being allocated to a project that hasn't been approved by the Senate Majority. I'm curious about what kind of excuse you have prepared for the Auditing Committee!? Gyahahahahaha~."
Resisting the urge to simply kill the man and be done with it, 'Senator McGill' issued a light chuckle of his own before gesturing to the nearby set of chairs and asking, "Shall we discuss it over a cup of tea? It has been a long time since I had the opportunity to host a member of the Finance Committee. This is a good opportunity to foster rapport between our divisions, so allow me to pour you a cup as we discuss the matter. After all, while I did not receive approval from the Senate Majority, I'm certain you will find that my actions are all above-board. Were that not the case, there would currently be a set of prison bars separating us, ohohoho~."
Hearing the confidence in Senator McGill's tone, Ricardos squinted his eyes before gesturing to the group of armed soldiers behind them. If McGill didn't have a 'very' good reason for his behavior, the men outside would arrest him for unauthorized use of government funds and treason. After all, they were on the verge of war, making such 'antics' harder to overlook than they would have been during more peaceful times.
Deciding to humor the old man for a short while, Ricardos accepted a cup of Bolivian Black Tea, one of the rare imports from the Old World. He, like most of the Senators, had antibodies that prevented most poisons from having any effect on them, so, without worrying too much about tampering, he downed the piping hot beverage before releasing a contented sigh and saying, "Well, out with it. You already know my intentions so you'll need a pretty good excuse to avoid some embarrassment."
Acting as if he didn't mind Ricardos' words, Senator McGill just issued another light-hearted laugh before pulling out a handheld terminal used for communication. This brought a frown to Ricardos' face, as, displayed on a small blue screen, a very familiar number was present. Though it could be a bluff, things would become very troublesome if he arrested someone acting under the secret orders of the Consul himself. Consuls held the second-highest rank in the Megalomesembrian Senate, and, until a Princeps Senatus was declared, they had unchecked authority regarding military affairs.
Though it would undoubtedly be a setback in his own career, Ricardos couldn't simply assume that Senator McGill was telling the truth. There was a chance he was borrowing the authority of a Consul, an even greater offense, so he had no choice but to accept the terminal and press the call button. To his surprise, it almost immediately connected to the Consul, with the latter asking, "McGill? Why are you calling me this late? Is there a problem with the project?"
Before Ricardos could announce his presence, McGill gestured for him to remain silent, a 'kind' smile on his face as he answered, "I just wanted to inform you that the second set of tests has gone well. If all goes as planned, Project Noctis will be completed before the war is in full swing. I hope this news has made your evening even marginally more pleasant."
In response to McGill's words, a boisterous laugh could be heard from the, followed by the Consul exclaiming, "Good, no, great, no, excellent! This is wonderful news, McGill! At this rate, your place in the Consulate is all but guaranteed! A few more years of service and I may very well be able to retire! Let me know when the next stage of testing begins. I want to see these special soldiers with my own eyes."
Allowing Ricardos to remain silent, McGill continued to smile kindly as he stated, "I will keep that in mind, your eminence. Have a wonderful evening..."
With the call having concluded, McGill took his terminal back from Ricardos' hand, smiling with an amused expression on his face as he asked, "Will there be anything else, Senator Ricardos...?"
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'I have a feeling Vahn is about to cut loose in a dangerous way o_o...','Why does this sound so familiar...?','Is this the birth of a Shadow Emissary!?')
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Capítulo 1536: Might
Though it was customary to evaluate a new Gladiator's strength before arranging a match for them, Vahn's previous act of wreaking havoc had invalidated the need for such measures. He was actually quite hated among the staff of the Coliseum, so, while others would start off by facing off against a few magical creatures, his first opponent was a relatively famous Gladiator, someone who had been able to win 83 of their Hundred-Series matches.
When Vahn first heard about his opponent, he resisted the urge to roll his eyes, ignoring the hateful looks he was receiving from the organizers as he prepared for the coming fight. It ultimately didn't matter how they tried to scheme against him; in the end, he was just here to familiarize himself with the restrictions of the Akamatsuverse. Something that forced him to discard propriety was bound to happen, as, with the popularity of the Coliseum, various Aristocrats and Nobles would be observing his matches.
While waiting for his own match to begin, Vahn absentmindedly observed the other contenders that mulled around the waiting room. There were a total of twenty-three people of various races, ages, and genders. Most wore relatively simple clothing, consisting of matted trousers and tattered tunics. Only those who had proven themselves in the Arena were given the chance to obtain better quality clothing and equipment, forcing new Gladiators to fight with their bodies.
Like the rest of the Gladiators, Vahn was wearing relatively plain clothes, but, a stark contrast to even the most well-equipped among them, his clothes were pristine and unblemished. This drew the eyes of nearly every person in the room, earning him a few hateful looks from the more prideful veterans in the group. Even then, they didn't try to make trouble, as, for reasons few people would be able to understand, Vahn gave off a natural and intimidating aura. If they could actually see why this was, it undoubtedly would have caused a few of them to laugh...
Ever since he had arrived in the Akamatsuverse, Vahn seemed to have become a veritable magnet for Elemental Spirits. At the present moment, there were more than a hundred lingering around him, and, despite his constant efforts to remove them, a new batch would quickly replace those climbing on his body. He didn't really have the heart to 'scare' them away, so, with the most casual demeanor he could manage, Vahn simply pretended they didn't exist...
When it finally came time for his match to begin, Vahn didn't even bother to remove the Elementals for his body when he rose to his feet. This caused some of them to release high pitched sounds, but, rather than fall 'normally', they would float to the ground like fallen leaves before bouncing after him with the larger group. It almost felt like he had become a mother duck, unable to shake off a literal hoard of multi-colored ducklings...
---
As the matches in the Coliseum were the most entertaining pastimes for most residents of the Hellas Empire, a lot of effort went into organizing the event and hyping up the crowd. There were hundreds of official brokers to handle bets, monstrously powerful barriers to protect the crowd, and, though they were exorbitantly expensive, large monitors that allowed those in the 'nosebleed' seats to see what was going on below.
In an effort to hype up the crowd and keep people interested, special announcers and referees had also been prepared. In the past, these roles had been filled by famous Gladiators, but, due to a small shift in social dynamics, the most popular fight casters were beautiful women. Their voices carried a lot better over acoustics, and, with many casters competing for popularity, it had become normal to see a few of the bolder beauties show off a fair amount of skin.
Aiming for the number one caster position, Urszula Padi Glowacka wasn't shy when it came to riling up the crowd. She was a rather petite Hellas woman with the same characteristic bronze skin, blonde hair, curved horns, and fur-covered ears as other Hellasian women. What allowed her to 'shine' were her tight leather shorts, the form-fitting top that hugged her voluminous chest, and the ornamental devil wings and tail that made her look like a succubus. She was also provided a harness that allowed her to fly around the Arena as she excitedly commented on the events taking place inside. This had made her rather popular among the fans, much to the chagrin of her competition.
Hearing the explanation from the producers, Urszula began to hype the crowd up by performing a few acrobatic maneuvers as she exclaimed, "The next match is sure to be a special treat! Not only are we going to witness the debut of a new Gladiator, but his opponent is none other than the Blade of Darkness' Bane, Zeigrein Lesiak~! And...what's this!? I'm being told the new Gladiator is responsible for the tragic events of yesterday afternoon! Will we be witnessing another bloodbath, or will the Blade of Darkness' Bane enact justice on behalf of the tragic men and women who lost their lives in yesterday's attack!?"
Though killing your opponent was supposed to be against the rules, a number of lives were lost in the Coliseum each day. There were no great penalities for 'accidentally' killing your opponent, so, at times, the organizers used stronger Gladiators to kill or cripple people that had offended them. This was generally frowned upon, causing an uproar whenever the truth was exposed, but few people did anything to try and change the broken system. All most citizens cared about was watching a bloody match and making money, allowing them to overlook such injustices entirely.
Normally, a Fight Caster would never directly draw attention to the fact a match was one-sided, as it hurt the gambling odds, but the producers had made an exception this time around. They wanted to rile up the crowd and get them to hate Vahn. Not only had he killed Coliseum personnel, but he was also a 'vile human', an indiscriminate killer who had butchered more than fifty Demihumans without remorse. Rumors were already circulating about the previous incident, so they had spun it in a way that made their people the victims by turning it into a racial issue. They didn't even allow Urszula to mention his name, simply mentioning his crimes in an effort to make him seem more like a monster.
When the crowd saw what appeared to be a human male in his late twenties enter into the Arena, they immediately erupted. Though it was against the rules, some people unhesitantly threw their concession items, causing a shower of partially eaten food to phase through the Arena's barrier. It wasn't impossible to create a barrier that blocked physical attacks, but most magical barriers were just that, barriers that blocked magic attacks. This allowed the closer audience members to try and pelt Vahn with food, but, without getting anywhere near him, everything thrown simply deviated to the sides...
Vahn wasn't surprised by the amount of hatred directed toward him, but, seeing Elementals readily block the things thrown at him, he couldn't help but smile slightly. This, of course, earned him even more booing and jeering, but, as he had never particularly cared about the opinions of people who were swayed by the machinations of others, he ignored them. Instead, he focused on the other side of the Arena, observing the entrance of his opponent.
Standing at 193cm tall, Ziegrein was a mountain of a man with dark skin, spiky black hair, two large canine ears, and a bushy tail that was covered in as many scars as his bare chest. He was a member of one of the various Beastman tribes, specifically the Black Wolf tribe indigenous to the forests of Elysium, the Continent to the West. Though they were typically on the smaller side, there were a few larger members of the tribe that were designated as Alphas due to their vastly superior speed and strength.
Seeing the rather feral-looking man, Vahn looked towards his left ear, noticing more than half of the fluffy protrusion was missing. It always reminded him of the incident with Milan whenever he saw a damaged ear or tail, so he had to restrain a sigh as he looked towards the massive cleaver-like sword on the man's back, asking, "You don't think that is a bit excessive...?"
Hearing his opponent speak, Ziegrien's eyes sharpened like daggers as he flashed his sharp canines and said, "It's perfect for slaying beasts and monsters..."
Shaking his head, Vahn ignored the cheering Ziegrien's words had caused, holding out his hand with a wry smile on his face as he said, "Paw..."
With his hair standing on end, Ziegrien didn't wait for the signal to begin, flexing his powerful legs to propel himself the 100m distance between him and Vahn in an instant. The sword on his back, which was more of a slab of jagged metal than anything else, created a tearing sound as it flashed through the air with surprising swiftness. Despite this, Vahn likened the attack to one performed by a weaker Einzbern Homunculi, meaning he was only around twenty times stronger than a normal human.
Since it felt like he had literal seconds to block the attack, Vahn didn't immediately catch Ziegrien's blade out of the air. He noticed the Elementals got upset the moment the man unsheathed his blade and tried to attack, his killing intent riling them up quite a bit. As a result, without him needing to do anything at all, some of the Elementals fused together before blasting the unsuspecting swordsman with a barrage of fire, wind, and water elemental energy.
Vahn knew his [True Friend of the Elements] would come in handy, but he never expected it would cause the Elements to proactively defend him. This gave him the idea of traveling to the nine sacred regions that were governed by Greater Elemental Spirits. For Mages and Knights specializing in one or two elements, they would make a pilgrimage to these locations in the hopes of learning from the true masters of said element. They were already on his list, but, seeing how readily the usually docile Elementals attacked Ziegrien, there could be a lot of merit to visiting them sooner...
As his opponent hadn't so much as moved a single centimeter, Ziegrien couldn't help but retreat a few meters, starting at Vahn like he was an actual monster. Most Magi needed staves or special rings to be able to cast Magic, and, even then, they required the use of incantations, chants, or activation keys. Seeing someone use Magic without the use of a catalyst or a chant was unheard of, unless, of course, you were an Elementalist.
Believing his opponent was hiding somehow hiding his contracted Spirits, Ziegrien released a bright blue magical aura from his body, a type of natural reinforcement magic that functioned similarly to [Mellodia Bellax]. It allowed him to greatly increase his speed, and, so long as his reserves held out, he would be able to resist weaker Magic attacks.
Seeing his opponent release an aura, Vahn's eyes flickered with a golden light as he used his [Eyes of Truth] to determine just how strong Ziegrein had become. He could see the man's internal energy surging like a fire that had gasoline thrown onto it. This made him much stronger than before, but, due to his weak foundation, there was no way he could keep it up for more than a few minutes.
Shaking his head, Vahn lifted his right hand, revealing a katana nobody had noticed him pulling out. He adopted a relatively casual stance, but, the moment he did so, Ziegrein literally jumped back like he was evading a lethal attack. His evasion was so swift that he nearly impacted the physical wall of the Arena, his eyes widening as his pupils rapidly expanded and contracted.
Vahn was quite surprised by Ziegrein's reaction, causing him to issue a light hum before asking, "Is it the benefit of your enhanced instincts? I'm surprised someone at your level can sense the difference in our skill...it's no wonder you have lived until now."
Though it looked like his opponent had countless openings, Ziegrein's instincts were screaming at him to run away. His fight or flight response was issuing a resounding call for flight, quickly quelling any thoughts he had of fighting back. Instead, he pressed his back flat against the wall, ignoring the protests of the crowd as he asked, "What...what are you...?"
With his excitement almost completely drained, Vahn dropped his stance completely, looking toward the booing crowd as he answered, "I am Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor. You need not worry about forgetting it...from today onward, you'll be hearing it often..."
Before Ziegrein could ask what Vahn was talking about, the latter pointed his katana toward the sky, silencing the entire crowd as he said, "Set alight the all-consuming flame, Laevateinn...!"
From the moment Vahn released his Shikai, a heavy pressure spread nearly 10km in every direction from his position. His domain had more than doubled in size, its volume increasing by around ten times what it had been previously. As for his Base Power, it increased from 1,018 to 7,490, showing that power did, indeed, plateau. A Shikai was supposed to increase its user's power by around ten times, meaning he should have been at 10,180. Since the volume of his domain had increased, the only reasonable answer was that Base Power plateaued at certain points, something he would need to learn more about as he familiarized himself with the world...
Now that he had everyone's undivided attention, Vahn let Laev-tan rest on his shoulder, smiling in a way that didn't quite reach his eyes as he stated in a voice that echoed from all of the monitors, "My purpose here is to seek absolution for my past actions, not perform for your entertainment. It is your own prerogative if you wish to observe my battles, but, if you deign to intervene in the future, do not blame me for taking matters into my own hands. You came here to witness battles and make money, not act like a mob of petulant children. This is the only warning I will afford you...do not forget it..."
Though his words were enough to cow most people, Vahn wanted to deter those who believed they could do whatever they wanted just because they were in a crowd. He would mete out punishment to the organizers for rabblerousing, but, for now, his goal was to teach a lesson to the masses. Thus, with a strike most people couldn't even perceive, he brandished Laev-tan in a smooth arc. From the perspective of others, he went from standing confidently to having already completed his attack, a peculiar sight that almost made it seem as though the world had glitched.
By the time their mental faculties began to catch up with them, the crowd could only stare in horror as a visible crack appeared on the barrier meant to protect them. Most had never even heard of such a phenomenon occurring, but, much like a fish tank that had been compromised, the crack spread in a jarring manner, accompanied by a soul-shaking sound. Then, like fragmented glass, the part of the barrier that had been closed to Vahn simply shattered into pieces...
Ignoring the ache in his arm, Vahn gave a small nod of approval to himself before turning his gaze to Ziegrein and saying, "You are free to go. In the future, come see me about that left ear of yours. I can help you heal it. I can sense that you are a good person, so consider it my apology for breaking your winning streak."
As if only just then remembering why he was in the Arena, a small amount of Ziegrein's willpower came back. His reason ultimately won out, however, causing him to nod his head in understanding as he picked up his previously discarded weapon and said, "I'll keep that in mind..." before quickly departing the Arena.
After watching Ziegrein retreat, Vahn returned Laev-tan to her sealed state before looking up at the fight caster who, at this point, had fallen into the viewing stands. Her immediate reaction was to try and hide behind other members of the audience, but, realizing her intentions, everyone nearby had immediately moved away from her. This left her alone in a small void that had been opened in the previously packed audience, tears building up in corner of her eyes as she accepted her fate...
Ignoring the urge to laugh, Vahn adopted a casual smile as he asked, "Are you going to announce my victory...?"
Hearing the terrifying man's words, Urszula felt her body tense up, but, when her mind actually processed them, she opened her eyes, tilting her head to the side as she muttered a somewhat adorable, "Yes...?"
Vahn felt this Fight Caster was a bit on the ditzy type, causing his smile to turn more sincere as he gave a small nod, stating, "Proceed. I don't want to hold up the other matches."
As if given newfound purpose, energy returned to Urszula's body as she flittered up into the air, her voice a little higher than normal as she exclaimed, "A-And the victory goes to our newest Gladiator, the Sage Dragon Emperor, Vahn Aldrnari Mason! Let's all give him a round of applause...!?"
Despite the attempted fervor in Urszula's voice, most of the crowd was still recovering from having their bodies and minds pressured by Vahn's aura. He had held back considerably, as he might have accidentally killed someone otherwise, but they were still slow to recover. Those closest to the exits had come to their senses a little faster than most, but, due to their uncooperative limbs, they hadn't been able to flee very far.
Without waiting for anything like applause, Vahn gave an approving nod towards Urszula before turning around and departing the Arena. It wasn't until he had completely vanished that the majority of people began returning to their senses, but, even then, they weren't quite sure what, exactly, had happened. It almost felt like a nightmare, one that left behind a partially shattered barrier that, even now, continued to crackle...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Elementals: "It's a race to the top...!" *scales Vahn like a mountain*','The curse of 'perfect' memory (o_o)...','Vahn isn't laying low very well xD...')
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