Chapter 329: Of Gods And Men
Piper and I had just returned from a mission when a voice directly spoke inside our minds, calling us to the domain of the Gods.
Miwen: "I almost forgot about that. Have you also been invited?"
She nodded, and I felt immensely relieved.
It’d be the first time Piper would represent Earth, and with her tagging along, we were basically guaranteed to-
Piper: "Only as a spectator, though."
I tensed up all over again.
The next message that appeared before me was from my own system, telling me that Divine Power had been used to compel me.
It also gave me the option of trying to resist it with my own Divinity.
I was tempted to try, but I couldn’t.
The Kingdom wasn’t generating much divinity on its best weeks, and now that Raella and Gabriella were both on duty at the clinic, we had no nuns to run the church.
And if it came to that, I’d rather use the meager amount of Divinity I had to perform a miracle and save the girls, or at least, help them heal faster.
Besides, Earth ending up without its representative would definitely end badly.
Piper: "You better give them hell for me, or I’m stepping up to teach you a lesson."
She rubbed her knuckles on my head, disappearing from my sight with a teasing smile on her face.
Miwen: "I don’t think the Gods would like that, but... Leave it to me."
I accepted the invitation to the Gods’ domain before Piper had fully faded, and she seemed satisfied with my answer.
Slowly, the penthouse faded from my view.
There were no sounds to be heard, and for a couple of seconds, I couldn’t feel my own body.
Before my eyes, a tunnel of pure darkness stretched endlessly.
It was a strange sensation. Yet, it was somewhat familiar to me.
In the past, when I first started using [Gacha Kingdom Building], I’d feel the same way. The only difference was that, whenever I used a ticket back then, my vision would fill with white.
Even now, the better tickets made me feel strange after using them, almost as if there was something I should recall, but knowing the First Son and his sister, who couldn’t fix the elevator in her own hotel, that was probably an oversight.
Still, I was used to teleporting to the Kingdom and Earth, so I barely blinked as a massive arena filled my vision.
Above me, I could see a darkness similar to the tunnel from before; however...
The stars and constellations faintly illuminated the sky, revealing massive planets, all next to one another.
It was strange.
Artificial in a way I couldn’t put into words.
Almost like... It was made to be this way.
Someone’s project rather than a natural occurrence.
I was glad, though.
Thanks to that, I could see the tiles below and the people panicking around me.
Though Catherine’s voice, calmly whispering something dreadful into my brain, took most of my attention.
[Welcome to Arena 8’s Gauntlet of Champions.
Every second, a tile of this arena will disappear, and the barrier around it will shrink.
The last still standing among the ten thousand warriors of your world shall be crowned Earth’s Arena 8 Champion.
Perform with grace, as we shall be watching you with great interest.]
Of course, her composed voice spoke the most presumptuous premise possible.
Perform with grace because they were watching us struggle to survive... As if.
As expected, the entire arena erupted into murmurs and shouts, and soon, the cry of the unwilling followed the fists thrown around.
Swords drawn, the scent of blood quickly rose to overpower any other, almost as if trying to form a red cloud.
With a quick glance, I saw the arena’s barrier slowly approaching behind me.
Whether by luck or something else, it seemed like I had been placed near the edge.
I’d usually be glad about that.
It meant I could fight less as the others rushed toward the center, seeking to secure the most protected spot from the falling tiles and encroaching dome.
However, Earth was a strange world.
People were too used to this kind of setting, and it didn’t take long for two contradicting waves to form.
The first wave, those already near the center, fought tooth and nail for the spot, casting so much magic that it amazed me that the tiles resisted it.
But most pressing to me was the flow of combatants making their way toward the edge, seeking to have the barrier protect their backs so they could fully focus on the people right in front of them.
Miwen: "...Cass."
She appeared at my side, barely taking a moment to realize the situation, flashing her classic, terrifying grin.
Cassandra: "This seems exciting... You really outdid yourself this time~"
She summoned her own sword, stepping forward to slash one of the people coming our way.
As usual, it was a movement so precise that I couldn’t hope to match it.
Yet, her rear was fully open.
Cassandra: "Hmnh~ If you’re gonna take it off, put something inside-"
Even though she knew fully well what I wanted, as I pulled on the thin side strap peeking above her shorts, she answered me with a hoarse, playful moan.
Miwen: "Transform, Cass."
Cassandra: "Yesh~"
She wanted to be punished.
Yet, noticing the tone of my voice, she realized she didn’t need to fool around any longer.
She had already earned it.
Miwen: "...Liz."
Having the boost in status Cassandra provided was already enough for me to clear the way and secure my own spot near the barrier.
However, this arena was more chaotic than the battlefields I had experienced in other worlds, and I needed at least one more pair of eyes to help me out.
Or, someone strong enough to wipe everything before me.
That was usually something Claire enjoyed more, since Liz liked to find challenges, but with her still recovering, I could only rely on my Demon Queen.
Elizabeth: "Your Majesty... Summoning me to the Gods’ domain will attract you unwanted attention."
Even though she said that, she answered it immediately, despite my explaining the circumstances beforehand through our psychic link.
Miwen: "It’ll be fine. The Gods might be a problem, but right now... We could use humanity’s attention."
With the way Liz destroyed an entire base by herself, I was confident we could handle a disorganized ten thousand men.
So, with all of humanity watching the spectacle, I could maybe earn Alpha Team some credit.
Elizabeth was basically a war hero thanks to the last Divine Event, and after all the missions I had with Alpha Team, people already knew my face and which side I was on.
I couldn’t ask for a better stage.
Anyone still thinking about backing the AOTG would probably reconsider after witnessing Elizabeth’s raw power.
It was self-inflicted, though.
It was thanks to them that I only had so many citizens I trusted enough to call upon.
Miwen: "Make it seem effortless, Liz."
Elizabeth: "...As you wish."
I made her approach me, almost leaning into my arm.
After we had cleared a small zone near the barrier, I fully extended my arm, pointing Cassandra forward.
With the perimeter established, Liz and I leisurely walked forward in sync with the barrier and the falling tiles.
The few who dared enter the perimeter were instantly cut into pieces, despite the awkwardness of my stance.
As for those who so much as dared enter our line of sight, threatening to stop our walk for even a second...
A beam of flames shrouded in crackling lightning exploded forward from Liz’s two raised fingertips, reaching the other end of the arena.
Over and over again, until the message was sent.
In the end, the last person standing besides us wasn’t the strongest, quickest, smartest, or even the most powerful.
It was just the person who secured a spot far enough away from my blade and not as directly in front as to become an obstacle to Liz and me.
Unfortunately, one second passed, and I took a step forward in tandem with the barrier, the black metal stabbing into their heart.
Elizabeth: "...Your eyes, Your Majesty. You don’t want to scare them away from your cause, yes?"
I knew Liz had accepted my terms way too easily.
She usually enjoyed giving a rebuttal or two, correcting my path.
Even Cassandra had been oddly quiet.
Miwen: "That’s right. My mistake."
I hated this.
Even if I were to fool myself into thinking most of them were AOTG members...
This was just too senseless.
While I tried to make the most of this shitty game, I couldn’t stop my boiling blood.
And as Catherine’s composed face appeared to congratulate me through a glassy lens, I forced myself to hold back from pointing Cassandra at her.
Catherine: "...Champion of Earth’s Arena 8, the others are waiting for your arrival."
I already expected as much from the moment I heard I was in arena 8.
But few things could sting more than the thought that things were eight times worse than I thought.
Why would she even do this? Killing the people of her own world, those most likely to pray for her...
Perhaps there was a reason.
Perhaps I wanted to believe in that.
Regardless of my thoughts, the arena tile beneath my feet changed colors, all the red blood in it dissolving so it would return to a pure white.
The arena shrank even more, forcing me to send Elizabeth back to the Kingdom.
Unable to break the barrier, I could only stand still as the tile moved towards another dark corridor.
It felt like ages had passed when, finally, I saw a glimmer of light fast approaching me.
The ride was taking me to somewhere strange.
Absurdly high and thick pillars that I couldn’t even see their beginning or end stretched before my eyes.
I had nothing to compare their scale to.
People and even buildings were far too small.
I had never seen a country, a continent, or a world from space, but if I had to guess... That was also not the proper scale to measure those pillars.
At least they had the sense not to make them white as well, but their light purple against the otherwise unending white hall was the opposite of inviting.
It felt like the entire place wanted me out, and upon seeing the other champions at the end of the hall, I too wanted to leave.
Erik: "...You? The chances of this being a coincidence are almost null, huh?"
If the same thing had happened in every arena, eighty thousand people would be a number large enough for me to believe Erik would also be among the selected representatives.
He also had the strength to clear an arena as easily as I did mine, so no questions there.
However, that was as far as I could believe coincidence would go.
Maya also being here was just too much.
Maya: "Miwen..."
She barely acknowledged me.
Her expression was almost the same as ever.
Almost.
I knew my sister.
She hated this much more than I did.
When Catherine appeared in person before us, it didn’t surprise me to see Maya charging forward, fists tightly clenched as tears filled her eyes.
Miwen: "...!"
Of course, I’d never let her go alone.
Erik: "Oh... And I thought you were a saint..."
Maya pummeled Catherine over and over again, shouting like never before.
I pulled her by the collar and stepped forward, and with Cassandra, I made sure Catherine’s head would depart from her neck.
Miwen: "Sorry, Sis..."
It was my job to protect her.
My duty was to do the things she couldn’t.
Everything that she’d rather not, I’d gladly accept in her place.
Unfortunately, the blood spilled onto the floor began to form strands, reattaching Catherine’s severed, lifeless head.
She remained as pale as before, but...
Her eyes began moving and, infuriatingly enough, so did her mouth.
Catherine: "Champions of Earth... I shall now explain phase two of your trial."
Cassandra had to hold me back while I held Maya back.
