Capítulo 1696: Crown Game (1/?)
With Vahn's and Endorsi's groups being the last to arrive, it was finally time for the Crown Game to get underway. Facilitating this, a rather tall man, standing just over two meters, appeared before the throne with a casual smile on his face. He had permed blond hair that created two peculiar curls at the base of his neck, a handsome face, and glistening golden eyes that were accented by two black dots situated underneath.
Understanding not everyone knew who he was, the blond-haired man, dressed similarly to Quant, performed a small bow before saying, "Welcome, Regulars. My name is Lero-Ro, Test Administrator, and the Ranker assigned to preside over this evening's Crown Game. Now that the final two teams have arrived, allow me to explain the rules of the game..."
As he had already read the rules from the wall, Vahn didn't pay much attention to Lero-Ro's words. Instead, he continued to inspect each of the teams' waiting rooms, curious to see who they would be up against. Unfortunately, with the exception of Baam's team, consisting of a handsome youth with pale blue hair and a three-meter tall alligator-looking fellow, the only teams worthy of mention were those led by Endorsi, a group headed by a man in a purple tracksuit, and a peculiar team with one of its members taking a nap.
Though the man had wrapped himself up like a cacoon within his blanket, Vahn could sense that he had several times the amount of Shinsu as everyone else. He was also able to manipulate the flow of Shinsu within the environment while unconscious, passively scanning others and even marking those he seemed to have an interest in. It was quite the peculiar sight to behold, but, never one to allow others to freely probe him, an amused smile spread across Vahn's face as he sent a small jolt through the invasive flow of Shinsu.
Like someone who had just awoken from a nightmare, the man wrapped in a blanket sat up with a layer of sweat covering his forehead. His outburst drew the attention of the Test Administrator, but, rather than intervene, Lero-Ro just smiled slightly before continuing his explanation. This illustrated the point Endorsi had made during her earlier conversation with Gandr, her claim asserting that the Test Admins did not interfere when Regulars tried to investigate and compromise one another. They only stepped in when the machinations of the Regulars directly interfered with the Tests, so, as long as you had the means to assemble information and sabotage others, there were no rules preventing you from doing so...
---
Finished with his explanation, Lero-Ro scanned each of the waiting rooms with a smile on his face before saying, "Well then, if you have any further concerns, please check the details posted on the wall next to your buzzer. Remember, you only get one chance to participate so make sure you have a proper understanding of what you're getting yourself into~!"
Following his words, Lero-Ro placed the Crown at the very center of the throne before tapping an invisible icon that allowed him to teleport to an observation room located above the arena. There, he made himself comfortable, raising his feet up on his desk before pulling out an intercom and saying, "Now, let's get this game underway! Following this final reminder, I will count down from five. Only the first five teams to press their buzzers will be allowed to participate, so, if you don't want to miss out on this incredible opportunity, make sure to press your team's buzzer before the time is up!"
With that said, Lero-Ro began a very slow yet consistent count down from five. In response to this, most of the teams became exceptionally tense, but, perhaps fearing they would overtax themselves by participating too soon, only three groups had the confidence to press their buzzers...
---
Seeing the two teams that had come out alongside his own, Vahn could be seen casually stroking his beard with an amused smile on his face. Across from him, separated by a few hundred meters, a group consisting of a young girl with green skin and a lizard-like tail stood next to a tall man with a purple tracksuit and rather plain features. Accompanying them was a comparatively handsome yet short youth that would have seamlessly fit into a crowd of samurai cosplayers.
Though the man in the tracksuit gave off the impression of a relatively normal person, the petite lizard-like girl and the eastern-looking swordsman were easily two of the strongest people present. The former even had a strange green hook that gave off a rather dangerous vibe, and, based on the three-eyed emblem embossed into the handle, Vahn assumed it was similar to the Black March that was currently in Baam's possession. As for the swordsman, he had two swords, a katana with a red hilt and a wakizashi with a blue. Neither weapon seemed particularly impressive, but, based on the aura the youth gave off, it was safe to say he had already stepped into the realm of mastery...
Shifting his eyes away from the much more dangerous trio, Vahn quickly inspected the other team, but, other than an inordinately tall and lanky man with short blond hair, they were nothing special. Even the boy standing up front, possessing a peculiar horn near the back of his head, seemed to be around the same strength as the plain-looking man in a purple tracksuit. Despite this, he appeared very confident, his expression fixed in a serious and focused glower while he gripped the handle of his red, needle-like, weapon...
Interrupting the tense atmosphere that had begun to build, a smile spread across the face of the man wearing a purple tracksuit. He had appeared slightly stressed moments prior, but, as if he was absolutely certain of his team's victory, he grinned confidently and said, "You guys are going to be sorry!"
Responding to the man's taunt, the boy with the horn at the back of his head scoffed, his glower turning into a resolute look as he remarked, "Doubt it...". At the same time, his third companion, a rather stout youth with messy brown hair quickly drew the two swords on his back, both appearing more than ready for a fight.
Unfortunately, before a single blow could be exchanged, Vahn restored the tensions by releasing a slight chuckle as he balanced the Crown on the edge of his finger. With the exception of the lizard-like girl, none of the others had noticed his short-range teleportation due to his momentary use of the State of Nothingness. As a result, he appeared atop the throne in a functional instant, casually claiming both it and the Crown for himself.
Confused by the sudden turn of events, the tracksuit wearing man showed an incredulous look on his face as he shakily muttered, "What...how...?"
Smiling in response to the man's stupor, Vahn placed the Crown atop the armrest as he explained, "What matters is not how I got here, only that I am present. Now, if you'd like a chance to claim the Crown for yourselves, you will do battle against my young protege. Should you emerge victoriously, you have my word as the Sage Dragon Emperor; this Crown shall belong to you."
With that said, Vahn used the armrest for support, resting his cheek against his hand, his intentions clear. He was going to observe the battle, only interfering when someone tried to target him. Then, depending on the methods they had used, he would show them why people had come to fear him in all three Records...
---
Seeing the self-professed Emperor seated atop the throne, the tracksuit-clad man, known better as Shibisu, couldn't help but laugh awkwardly before muttering, "Man, he really got us..."
Hearing Shibisu's remark, the lizard-like girl, known by very few as Anak Jahad, snorted through her nose before grumbling, "I should have attacked immediately after the gates were opened..."
Following that utterance, Anak looked towards the boy she presumed to be the man's protege, a youth with midnight-blue hair, golden eyes, and a fluffy tail. Her gaze seemed to draw his at that exact same moment, a teasing smile spreading across his face as he gripped the hilt of the katana strapped to his back.
Feeling even more annoyed, Anak turned to her final companion, the swordsman who had earlier introduced himself as Hatsu. She had dueled against him during the first challenge, so, confident in his strength, she commanded, "You deal with these three idiots. I'll take care of the dog boy."
Hearing the girl's remark, Gandr's ears twitched slightly, his expression turning fierce as he stated, "I am a Vanargandr, not a dog. Unless you want me to start calling you lizard-brat, you'll fight me with your actions, not your words. Now, come at me...!"
Without waiting for the girl's response, Gandr used a short-range shundo, but, similar to what Vahn had experienced earlier, it was a lot harder than normal. Shinsu acted like a membrane that resisted anything trying to move through it, so, while he was able to execute the technique, it made his skin and eyes feel as though there were tiny needles stabbing each individual cell.
Despite the surprisingly intense pain, Gandr didn't even flinch as he swung the sealed Laev-tan to meet the girl's green hook. It was readily apparent she thought herself stronger than him, as, rather than try to evade, she attempted to intercept his downward swing with one hand. At the same time, she formed a fist with her left hand, clearly intending to strike him during the brief moment where their weapons would be interlocked...
Though she had been prepared to teach the boy a lesson, Anak's mind wasn't even able to process what was happening as she instinctually jumped back. All she knew was that, rather than arrest the boy's blow, it felt like an unstoppable forced had connected with her weapon, one of the Thirteen Month Series known as the Green April. As a result, she felt an incredible strain in her wrist as her weapon was forced toward her, clearly unable to block the force that had impacted it.
Fortunately, due to the battle sense she honed over the last three hundred years, Anak was able to redirect the blow at the last moment, leaping back with explosive force. What she didn't expect was the fact that, rather than allow his blade to impact the ground, the boy somehow managed to easily change the trajectory of his strike. He even managed to match her speed perfectly, his golden eyes glowing with an intense light as he swung his sword in a graceful arc that she was somehow able to see but entirely unable to react to...
Seeing her precious weapon spinning through the air, separated from her hand, Anak didn't even try to defend herself from Gandr's follow-up strike. As a result, she was kicked squarely in the torso, her body creating triple shockwaves as she slammed into the walls of the arena in an instant. There, she lay embedded in the wall with her head hanging slightly, largely uninjured with the exception of her pride.
Feeling the bones of his right foot creaking, Gandr couldn't help but tilt his head to the side, ears flopping as he shouldered Laev-tan and remarked, "Your body is ridiculously hard. It's too bad you let your ego cloud your judgment. If you had gone all-out from the start, you would have been able to trade at least a few blows before suffering a defeat. Remember this lesson in the future: the only enemies you can be absolutely certain you are stronger than are those you have already defeated..."
Hearing the boy's remark, Anak tightly balled her hands into fists before glaring at him through her neatly trimmed bangs. At the same time, her peculiar pupils contracted to fine points, and, though she had lost her weapon, that didn't stop her from bursting free from the wall, shouting, "Who are you to lecture me...!?"
Though Anak was blitzing him at around Mach three, it wasn't a speed that Gandr had any trouble with. His Agility rivaled that of an E-Rank Ranker, far beyond the realm of Regulars who had just begun their climb. As a result, he gave Anak her second surprise of the evening, his hand seemingly moving in slow motion as he intercepted her fist and deviated its trajectory. This would have been more than enough to ensure the defeat of a normal opponent, but, having experienced just how durable the lizard-like girl's body was, Gandr took things one step further.
Just as it felt like she was able to be sent crashing into the ground, the contents of Anak's stomach were forcibly ejected when Gandr intercepted her tumble with his knee. All her forward momentum was completely negated, replaced by excruciating pain as the back of her blouse burst open due to the shockwave that had torn through her body. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was the sound of a woman's voice lightly chiding the boy who had defeated her twice in as many minutes...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A system that encourages deception...','Don't mind me, just sitting on my throne...','An inordinately large gap in speed, power, and skill...')
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Capítulo 1697: Crown Game (2/?)
Seeing the strongest member of their team defeated in an instant, Shibisu looked like he was on the verge of having a mental breakdown. He even pinched his cheek to check and see if he wasn't dreaming. As for the final member of his party, Hatsu, he had quickly dealt with the other team and was preparing to charge at the woman guarding the throne before pausing in response to the loud explosion that shook the arena's foundation.
Though not as ridiculous as Shibisu's expression, Hatsu also adopted a look of incredulity as he saw his current 'rival' being laid to rest on the ground. Several thoughts raced through his mind at that exact moment, but, before he could organize them, he threw his wakizashi like a boomerang as he leaned forward and muttered, "Highest flying sword..."
Sensing a sword intent lock onto him, Gandr curiously looked back to see Hatsu slowly drawing his katana from its sheath. Then, while uttering, "Lowest flying sword...", the boy came charging at him with surprising swiftness. For a brief moment, it seemed like his sword had actually tripled in length, the edge slowing with a blue hue as he swept in in a large arc, seemingly intending to bisect Gandr from the waist.
Rather than dodge, Gandr surprised Hatsu greatly by shifting his attention to the sword spinning through the air. This caused the youth to hesitate, but, rather than stay his hand, he adopted a resolute look on his face as he fully committed to the strike. Unfortunately, as if his target simply didn't exist, his blow passed through Gandr's body as if he had struck empty air.
Taking advantage of Hatsu's confusion, Gandr grabbed the stunned boy by the face, a teasing smile visible on his own as he said, "Not bad...but far from enough..."
Before Hatsu could respond to the sudden taunt, he felt himself pulled forward as Gandr took a half-step back. This placed the man along the trajectory of his strangely orbiting sword, causing it to pierce through his body without damaging anything important.
Feeling his own blade pass through his body, Hatsu's eyes opened wide as he collapsed 'through' his opponent. Then, before he could hit the ground, he felt his wakizashi pulled from his body like it was being unsheathed, followed by Gandr remarking, "You either need to find a better weapon or train harder to overcome the resistance of Shinsu. The density of the God's Water will only increase as you move further up the Floors, so this kind of blade isn't suitable unless you hone your skills to a much higher level."
To punctuate his point, Gandr waited until Hatsu was glaring at him before performing a simple and very straightforward strike. Despite this, a thin chasm extending more than thirty meters was left in its wake, almost as if the cut had manifested soundlessly within the ground. Then, without affording the young swordsman the opportunity to process what he had just witnessed, Gandr performed the same action with Laev-tan, this time leaving a gulf that covered the two-hundred-meter distance to the far wall and even climbed up it a bit.
Though he wasn't actually satisfied by the result of his strike, Gandr gave an approving nod before sticking the wakizashi in the ground and adding, "You've got potential. Once you accumulate some more experience, I'll be waiting for our rematch...now, what will you do?"
Understanding that Gandr was speaking to him, Shibisu released an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his head and seemed to be searching for a response. In the end, however, he just released a tired sigh before adopting a martial art's stance full of gaps. Then, with a look of conviction flashing across his plain brown eyes, he answered, "I didn't enter the Tower to back down. I might be weak, but I at least have the conviction to face death. Let's do this...!"
Without waiting for a counter-reply, Shibisu began running towards Gandr with speed comparable to an Olympic athlete. Unfortunately, this was only around forty-five kilometers per hour, far below the threshold of being able to pose a threat. Despite this, Gandr waited for the fellow to close the distance, allowing him to throw a few punches and kicks before disappearing behind the man and ending the fight by striking a pressure point near the base of the skull.
Like a puppet with its strings cut, Shibisu fell face-first towards the ground, but, before he could hit it, an invisible force slowed him down enough that he felt no pain from the impact. This was Vahn affording the young man a bit of mercy, as, despite his trepidation and weakness, the fact the man had pushed forward against a far more powerful foe was deserving of respect.
With all contestants eliminated, Vahn raised the Crown he had previously set aside, slowly placing it atop head as he stated in a voice that easily reached the remaining teams, "Failure is something we must all experience on the path towards true strength. Do not fear the strength of your enemy...fear that your weakness will become an excuse used to justify acts of betrayal and deceit. Being weak is not something you should be ashamed of...suppressing the weak just because you are strong is the greater sin...now, if you have the courage, come and face this Emperor..."
Punctuating his words, Vahn finished placing the Crown atop his head, a powerful and suppressive aura erupting from his body as a result. Then, with his left hand half-raised, he used his Telekinesis to return each of the fallen contestants to their waiting rooms. This was to capitalize on the awe he had inspired in the remaining contestants while simultaneously demonstrating that he was far from weakened while seated atop the throne...
---
Observing from his position in the control room, Lero-Ro couldn't help but squint as he uttered, "So this is the power of an Irregular who has yet to climb the Tower...haaaa...things are about to become very troublesome. I have a feeling this man isn't going to make things easy for us."
Shaking his head at his own remarks, Lero-Ro took a deep breath, burying his personal feelings as he activated the intercom and chimed, "The first round has ended with the Aldrnari Team's victory. There will be a quick three-minute break to check on the injured before we proceed with the next match. Use this time to either form a strategy or steel yourselves for battle. Remember, the reward for this test is the right to move on to the next Floor. If you don't have the conviction to fight now, when will you...?"
Finished giving his words of advice, Lero-Ro sent medical teams to check on the members of Team Hatsu before calling up the Test Director on his personal Lighthouse. The call quickly connected, an effeminate man with golden hair neatly tied in a bun appearing on the front-facing panel. It didn't help that they frequently wore clothes resembling a kimono, further increasing their feminine allure and causing considerable confusion whenever someone first met them.
Seeing the Test Director's unperturbed golden eyes, Lero-Ro couldn't help but suppress a sigh as he dutifully reported, "The trio of Irregulars managed to secure victory in the first round without any discernible effort. The youngest, Gandr, seems to possess swordsmanship that could even rival the geniuses of the Arie Family. As for the other two, or, more specifically, the Sage Dragon Emperor, he possesses an extremely precise form of telekinesis and the ability to generate some kind of invisible field to sense his surroundings. He even managed to startle Phnsekal Laure, a rare talent belonging to one of the Eurasia Family's Branch Households...."
As if he wasn't even remotely surprised, likely due to the fact he was observing the same feed, the Test Director merely nodded his head in response to Lero-Ro's report. Then, in a calm tone that left no room for argument, he stated, "Thank you, Lero-Ro. Please continue observing the test. We will discuss this matter in greater detail when deciding which positions to assign to everyone. I will see you this afternoon."
Before Lero-Ro could respond, the Test Director, Yu Han-Sung, had already cut the connection. This caused the blond-haired Ranker to furrow his brows quite a bit, his instincts telling him the Director was up to something. Having not just one, but three Irregulars in their midst wasn't something that was casually dismissed. There had only been three Irregulars to enter the Tower since the rise of the Jahad Empire, each bringing about drastic changes in very short periods of time.
Though it wouldn't interfere in the execution of his duties, Lero-Ro found it odd that the Director was behaving so lackadaisically. For all he knew, Yu Han-Sung hadn't even tried to contact the Floor Administrator, something they should have done the moment Vahn revealed his identity. This was more than a little abnormal, but, without some sort of concrete proof, there was little he could do to question the Director's decisions.
Releasing a tired sigh, Lero-Ro stared up at the ceiling for a brief moment before checking the time on his Pocket. There were only three seconds left before the next round was supposed to begin, so, after quickly suppressing his idle thoughts, he forced himself to sound excited as he picked up the intercom and stated, "Okay, Regulars, you have had more than enough time to rest! Just like before, I'll be counting down from five. If you want to participate, make sure you press that buzzer!"
---
During the three minute interlude between rounds, Vahn had been sitting silently atop the throne with Phae standing off to his left with a neutral smile on her face. She had yet to demonstrate her capabilities, so, assuming the other contestants hadn't given up, Vahn was intending to give her a chance in the limelight. This was something Phae was obviously cognizant of, so, after hearing the words of the Test Administrator, her smile became more prominent as a fiery hammer appeared in her right hand.
Unfortunately, other than a team consisting of a large four-eyed man, a rather lanky-looking man with a bowl cut, and a cyclopean swordsman with unusual wings, there were no other teams bold enough to enter the arena. Nobody wanted to be a sacrifice for the other teams by trying to face off against a seemingly invincible trio, so; rather than tire themselves out for nothing, the general consensus was to 'wait and see' until the fourth and final rounds.
Vahn didn't blame the remaining teams for being cautious, especially after the previous rounds showing, but that didn't prevent him from shaking his head in disapproval. They were behaving like a bunch of hypocritical opportunists, not the kind of people who had the resolution to 'do whatever it takes' to climb the Tower. This was one of the types of power dynamics he hated most, as, if they were 'certain' of their victory, they would not hesitate to beat, suppress, and even kill others despite fearing even comparable treatment...
Deciding not to let it bother him too much, Vahn raised his hand, his countenance matching his voice as he calmly stated, "I'll leave this battle to you, Phae. Try not to injure them too severely. The fact they are courageous enough to step out while all others cower is worthy of respect..."
Though she could hear quite a number of people click their tongue in response to Vahn's words, Phae pretended not to notice, lightly giggling before bowing politely and saying, "As you will, my Lord."
Finished with her courtesies, Phae shifted her attention to Gandr, reinforcing the hierarchy that Vahn was going for by adopting a stern tone and saying, "Gandr, protect your Master. I will deal with these three brave souls."
Coming to attention the moment he heard Phae's words, Gandr managed a clumsy salute as he replied, "Leave it to me!". Immediately after that, he appeared like a phantom at Vahn's side, his hair standing slightly on end as he adopted an aggressively defensive posture.
Nodding her head in approval, Phae resisted the urge to pat Gandr's head before turning around and descending the single step elevating the throne from the rest of the arena. Then, with a kind smile on her face, she adopted a relaxed stance and said, "You are free to come at me however you please. Don't worry, as per my Lord's request, you will be precluded from serious injury. Now, allow me to see the skill that accompanies your bravery..."
Though they all felt slightly annoyed at being talked down to, none of the opposing trio spoke out against Phae's words. The lanky man with the bowl cut could hardly even take his eyes away from her chest for more than three seconds, as, for a number of reasons, Phae wore a low-cut blouse to accentuate her rather sizeable assets. One of the purposes of her existence was to draw attention, so, while it did make her feel uncomfortable to be viewed with a covetous expression, it didn't show on her face. Instead, she maintained a relaxed smile for several seconds before musing, "It isn't very polite to keep a woman waiting..."
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Master vs Grandmaster...','The show must go on...','Phae about to exhibit her forging skills on someone's skull...')
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