Chapter 65: Tournament Day 1 (Part 7)

[Did you see that, did you see that?!? So fucking coooooool!] - Karen

[They were certainly experiences, who do you think won?] - Malaise

[...Elf, lost...] - Shade

[Oh? Didn't they collapse at basically the same time though?] - Rose

[It looked a bit like the Elf went down slightly before that Muscle-head to me...] - Veronica

[Your... friends, are correct Young Miss I believe that Edgar is the winner of this battle... Although, it'll be interesting to see if he can recover in time for his next fight the day after tomorrow...] - Annabelle

Rose and her group of friends found themselves on the edge of their seat's, their excitement during the battle mounting as it got down to the wire. Their group plowed through drinks and snacks in their excitement creating a bit of a mess when the battle finally ended with what looked like a double knock-out, their food scattering when they jumped up in shock as the two combatants collapsed to the Arena floor at nearly the same time. The Announcer, judging it too close to call, was currently replaying the fight, slowing down the visuals around the important bits as he left the ruling up to the panel of Judges. The next few minutes were a tense wait as the apparently comatose fighters were lifted out of the Ring on stretchers while the crowd waited impatiently for the Judges call. Suddenly the tired face of an old man appeared on screen, behind him the dark silhouette's of another 8 people could be seen.

[After deliberating over the footage of the knock-out we have reached a decision as to the winner of the first round of the main Tournament... Aerin "the Long-Lived" has... been determined as the loser making "Master" Edgar the winner of the First Round. He may move on to the next round while Aerin "the Long-Lived" is the first to drop out of the Tournament. Thank you for your understanding and may the next matches be as exciting as this one!] - ???

[OHHHHHH! And we have Count Garret de la Blackfield announcing our winner, allowing "Master" Edgar to move on in the Tournament, let's have a last round of applause for Aerin "the Long-Lived" and her close battle!] - Judico

[Well that was exciting! What about you Iron? Did you think that Edgar fella would win it?] - Lucem

[...] - Iron

[Yeah I can get behind that, it's hard to imagine an Elf losing against anything less than an A-Ranker. Guess even those monsters have a childhood huh?] - Lucem

[...] - Iron

[Oh right! I had a talk with that Slime from the Prelims, she's an interesting person. Similar to you actually, except for the whole talking thing.] - Lucem

[...] - Iron

[Speaking of, she said something interesting when we were talking...] - Lucem

[...] - Iron

The two of them, watching from their own VIP seating, were surprised at the outcome. Lucem especially was surprised but Iron seemed to agree with her, his head shaking at her question. This was how he talked normally, with hand and head gestures. Technically he had a artificial voicebox that they'd installed with a large portion of the party's savings years before but said technology required mana to operate meaning Iron only was able to use it when he was provided with mana from their resident mage, his own residual mana not powerful enough to operate such a complicated Magi-tech. Iron was, in those rare moments he was able to use his voice, quite the chatterbox, friendly and upbeat. Over the years that they'd been together Lucem had gotten to know Iron quite well but despite that he'd never corrected the name she had given him, even after he'd finally gained the ability to speak he never once told her his old name. In all those years that she'd known him, he hadn't given off a speck of mana, not one. That's why...

[Who are you and what have you done with Iron?] - Lucem

[...Ah, it seems I've been found out. Shame.] - ???

[Our target is beyond that copse of tree's, intelligence places them within a cave system hidden behind some tree's. Estimated number is around 700.] - Beryl

[Good job Beryl, do we have a ETA on when we begin clearing them up?] - Grampa Richard

[Yes Duke Amchier! Time to operations start is at 56 hours, safeguard in case of long-distance communication.] - Beryl

[Well I guess we'll settle in, might as well get comfortable in the meantime. Oh and drop the honorifics, it can get so tiring after a while.Besides... neither of us hold the title of Duke or Duchess any longer.] - Grandma Daisy

[Understood Duchess Amchier I will try.] - Beryl

It had taken several hours of carriage riding, then a further few hours on "foot", but they'd finally reached their destination. Hidden in an outcropping of rock about a mile from their target they listened to a stiff-backed Lamia bark out intelligence information, her face a mask of professionalism.

Richard, calling on his previous expertise in the military responded in a similar manner only for his wife, the more independent of the two of them, call for the woman to stop with the unfamiliarity. Technically this was the first time they'd worked with her, since she was fairly new to her position, however they'd actually known her since she was a child. Her mother being associated with their countries black-ops when she was alive. Daisy sighed, the girl was still so stiff around them even after all these years. It wasn't like they knew each other intimately but she'd interacted with the two of them multiple times at parties and such over the last decade. Since they were most likely going to be working more closely from now on she'd have to get over that at some point.

[Haaaaah, well I guess that's fine. Do our scouts see anything problematic nearby?] - Grandma Daisy

[No Duch-] - Beryl

[Ah?!?] - Grandma Daisy

[M-Miss Daisy.] - Beryl

[Good. Now go ahead and take turns watching the perimeter, I'll have some food ready for everyone in about an hour, can't have anyone starving to death.] - Grandma Daisy

[Understood Duch- U-Umm Miss Daisy? I'll l-let them know, we thank you for your consideration.] - Beryl

After confirming her orders Beryl nodded nervously, obviously uncomfortable interacting with them so familiarly. She vanished into the darkness mere seconds later, both running to inform her subordinate's of their new orders and also to escape from the situation most probably. Daisy sighed again at her skittishness, she was far too nervous.

[So formal that one. I liked her predecessor more, much more comfortable.] - Grandma Daisy

[Oh don't be so hard on her Sweetie, she has big shoes to fill. I mean being in charge of the Blackguard at her age is an accomplishment.] - Grampa Richard

[True true but who would have thought that the Ice Queen herself would resign due to marriage, she even had twins you know.] - Grandma Daisy

[I've heard her husband is Bear-kin? Seems their kids are a bit larger than normal toddler's, she even said they look like him apparently. We outta visit when we get back, we haven't caught up with her in nearly a year now. And that last time we saw her she had the widest smile! Ow! What was that for!?!] - Grampa Richard

[Pining over a girl at your age! Wipe that smile off your face!] - Grandma Daisy

[Ow ow! I yield I yield! Besides no person in this world is more beautiful than my amazing wife!] - Grampa Richard

[Ahhh.... I love you too Honey. But you're not off the hook.] - Grandma Daisy

[Damn...] - Grampa Richard

[Such a loving couple... It'd be a shame if something happened to you! Oof!] - Shadowy Figure

[Ah I was wondering when you'd show yourself, having you watch us was getting a bit... irritating.] - Grampa Richard

[W-What?!? Let me go! Dammit, how are you so strong!?!] - Shadowy Figure

I was excited, I never got too many opportunities to really go crazy because of the need for secrecy. The boss though, he'd given me permission to take out 2 ancient morons, the grandparents to Target #1. Honestly he wasn't expecting a challenge but despite that he was excited at the prospect of finally quelling his murderous tendencies after so long. Plus torture was fun in it's own right! Watching people struggle for life at any expense, begging for mercy that would never be forthcoming, wishing for a rescue that wasn't on it's way and finally the hope fading from their eyes as they began to beg for death instead. Shivering in excitement I made sure their bodyguard wasn't close by, it was unfortunate that these old fucks had a guard to begin with but he'd make due. Maybe only kill one and take the other one somewhere private for some fun? Wasn't there a bandit stronghold nearby that was allied or something? Yeah that was a good idea!

With those thoughts in mind I felt the shadow dissipate from my form as I strode into the light, confident in my strength. What happened next however made no sense, at least to me. I'd had the advantage, I know I did, and no one was nearby to save these ancient relics. But when I revealed myself the next thing I knew I was flat on my back with four shadows holding down each of my limbs, somehow I'd missed four Assassins? Spy's? I wasn't sure but whoever they were I needed to retreat for now.

Or at least that was the intention, instead no matter how much I struggled I wasn't able to do more than slightly shift in place. These dickheads were way too strong!?! Continuing to struggle I suddenly went limp as a dead fish as a wave of abject terror went through me, slowly turning my head to see the supposedly fragile old Lamia lady creepily smiling at me as I felt my breath hitch from fear.

[Now now, no struggling now. Not when we have soooo many questions about your boss, be a dear and answer them...] - Grandma Daisy

[Where is it!?! Dammit I thought it was around here!] - Gil

[Is Honorable Master searching for something? Can this one help with the search?] - Kurata

[Ah!!! Gods damn we need to put a bell on you! Where did you even come from?!?] - Gil

[This one apologizes Honorable Master, this one was searching for a place to practice when this one heard the Honorable Master's voice from this.... library I believe is the term. This one is familiar with the concept but has no experience with such splendors.] - Kurata

[Never been in a library huh? Well whatever, you asked me something?] - Gil

Gil was frantic, he'd succeeded in gaining access to the Academy library. It had unfortunately required him becoming a teacher but beggars can't be chooser's as it were. However despite spending nearly every bit of free time searching the shelves he hadn't been able to find anything other than old and useless accounts of myth's when it came to Dragon's. Even more so when he was looking for references to the Place Between. Hell he hadn't even known that his own inner "world" was connected with that mysterious realm until he'd literally been told as much, let alone having knowledge of how that outer realm worked on a physical level. Which made his current task of finding information that could help his pupil that much harder, it was like finding a needle in a haystack except said haystack was older than civilization and the needle had rusted away.

It was during one of these intensive searches that a certain swordsman showed up out of nowhere, startling him in surprise. Nearly gave him a heart attack actually, and let me tell you that was a horrible way to go. Definitely in the top 10 of worst ways to die. And he should know, he'd died that way... 12 times? Ah no, one of those was cause of poison. 11 times then. Well whatever, now what had Kurata wanted again?

[Yes Honorable Master, this one asked if the Honorable Master requires assistance. This one would be please to offer whatever help is required for the Honorable Master's task.] - Kurata

[Ahh... That. Well I doubt you could help me, it's more like I'm searching for a book I once read that had to do with inner world's and conceptual beings.] - Gil

[Conceptual beings? Is Honorable Master searching for information on Avatar's?] - Kurata

[Huh?!? You know about Avatar's?!?] - Gil

[Yes Master. This one's previous master and former father spoke of ancient warriors of unparalleled strength that wielded power over their own self. According to ancient tales this one's ancestor's were able to summon their inner demons to fight on one's behalf. This one is unfamiliar with the process but it was said that such beings were referred to as conceptual beings.] - Kurata

Gil thought it was a long-shot at best, one that he didn't expect to hit no matter what and while he was partially right he'd been surprised by a clue coming from such an unexpected place. Kurata, of all people, had not only known what he was talking about but had even regaled him with a tale from his childhood. One where he'd been told of an ancient warrior had once wielded a power like the one they were searching for. Next was trying to get as much information as possible.

[Ah! Well do you remember hearing anything about forming Avatar's?!? Anything your were told?!? Or read?] - Gil

[This one apologizes, this one was only told as much as this one has already spoken of.] - Kurata

[Damn. Well that at least gives me something... Hmmm.... Maybe it'll be in a manuscript from the East then? Oh right thank you for telling me this, go... do some swings or something. I'll be busy for a few more hours.] - Gil

[Understood Honorable Master, this one will endeavor to fulfill this one's duties!] - Kurata

[Huh? Ah yes yes whatever you say. <Was it over by Section 14B? Maybe A?>] - Gil

Realizing that he wasn't going to get any more pertinent information from the swordsman he shooed him off, giving him a inane assignment that would normally be given to complete novices. Kurata, despite being far beyond that level, took it in stride and deeply bowed before promising to fulfill his "duties" or whatever. At that point he was too far gone in his memories to do anything more than briefly acknowledge him, his priority dealing with Rose's issue before anything else.