As the Enforcer Drones began to close in, the figure of Vex Talon stood tall atop his terrifying Rhino-Bat Interstellar Beast. A sleek device was already in his hand as he spoke into it, his eyes calmly surveying the blood-soaked scene below.
"Hey, there's been a bit of a ss here. I'm at the Institute, and I've got my hands on the Natural Nanotech Blood Serums. The Doc..."
Vex Talon smiled as he glanced at the crumpled body of Dr. Bodalan.
"The Doc didn't survive the brutal attacks of that Vagrant Beast Master, unfortunately."
...!
On the other end of the line:
"Fuck! Vex, again? How many are dead this ti? You know that's a lot of drones to scrub footage from, especially this close to Astravion Spire!"
The voice crackled with tension as it was distressed and anxious like this was far from the first ti they'd had this conversation.
And yet, Vex replied with complete nonchalance.
"Just two students and the Doc."
...!
Just.
The way he said that word while staring at the carnage below was bone-chilling. But on the other end of the call...
"Oh? Oh! I thought you were about to tell dozens again. Okay, three's easy. Funeral arrangents and martyrs' treatnt, I'll handle it. Just bring back the Natural Nanotech Blood Serums first..."
Terrifying words passed from one terrifying mouth to another as Vex Talon slid the device into his belt. The massive Rhino-Bat Interstellar Beast spread its wings and lifted off, heading toward the distant region of Astravion Spire.
Another "heroic" feat of an Interstellar Beast Master, coming to the rescue of those attacked in Ebonreach tropolis by a rogue Vagrant Beast Master.
He ca. He saw. He conquered the beast and saved the day!
Well...not exactly.
Even those he was supposed to save were already dead.
And yet, the legend and glory of the Guardians of Ebonreach tropolis would remain spotless and unshaken.
—
anwhile, if one were to descend once again from the high roads of Ebonreach tropolis and return to the vibrant Hollow Stacks...
In the Rustblood Circuit Arena.
Damian sat in the prep room. Through the distant slits in the rusted tal walls, he could barely make out the figure of Anastasia, her expression unreadable as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, lost in thought.
Concern lingered in her eyes. Relief that the first battle hadn't gone terribly wrong, maybe. But behind all that was a quiet, towering worry.
Then, a man in a sleek suit approached her. He pulled out a device, which synced with hers nearby. A soft chi rang out.
"30,000 Credits deposited into your account...how did you know to bet on the newcor to win?"
...!
Damian barely caught the man's words by reading his lips. That black suit was in charge of confirming the automatic payouts for the fights. Damian blinked slowly as the realization hit him- Anastasia had already bet on him...and made even more money.
A light smile escaped his lips.
His eyes, still hardened from the bloodshed of driving a spear through a Shredhound, softened just a bit. Kitsuul, sensing his shifting mood, gently nudged her snout against his neck and let out a cheerful yelp.
It was her way of telling him everything would be okay.
But...would it?
He asked himself that as the screen in the prep room ticked down, showing less than a minute before the next match. The bloody arena floor was being cleaned with unsettling speed.
Still, he knew the blood and bits of flesh from the last kill would probably still be there when he stepped back out.
But now, all that mattered was who he'd face next. And the one after that. And the one after that. He had to win them all until he earned enough Credits for Anastasia's required tech. Tech they could use to infiltrate ZENTHRA!
The countdown hit zero.
His wristband buzzed with a new na.
Opponent: Big Mom. Warning: 1,200 Pounds of Pure Love. She is one strong momma...
"..."
He frowned. It read like a joke, but he knew better than anyone that in this arena, jokes were deadly serious.
He sighed, grabbed his spear and shield, and stood once more.
"OOOH!"
The muffled roar of the crowd exploded to life as the arena doors slid open again. He stepped into the stench-filled battleground.
"Boys and girls, I'm excited now!"
The voice of the Hostile Arena Operator echoed through the arena, bursting with robotic excitent.
"We have the one-ti winner and the Vanquisher of Hounds—THERION!"
Spotlights flared, zeroing in on Damian. The drones danced in the air, capturing every angle.
Kitsuul blinked at the light. Her silver eyes shimred, and for a split second, the spotlights dimd- almost as if the glow itself had been swallowed by her gaze.
The HAO ignored the strange phenonon and carried on.
"And on the other side, soone very special, ladies and gentleshits- we've got a returning champion in our midst! A woman with a big heart...it's none other than- BIG MOM!"
...!
The floor trembled as the opposite doors groaned open. A colossal figure erged. Each of her footsteps shook the arena.
Damian almost called her a beast—but no. She was humanoid...barely. Her body was encased in titanium alloy plating from head to toe, explaining her 1,200-pound fra.
She towered over the arena, the very image of fusion between woman and machine. Blocky armor plating wrapped her in layers, and sickly purple energy pulsed through the veins carved across her limbs.
This...should not be anyone's second opponent!
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