The gate that opened was a rectangular screen of light, appearing out of nowhere near us, and knowing that today was the day of the confrontation, it was more than clear where this gate would lead.
"Should we go through this?" ()
"I don’t know." (Urak)
While I was unsure how we should do this, everyone put on masks that concealed their bodies; this was a way to hide their appearances until the mont of combat for each of us.
Only I didn’t need to hide; my participation would only be in a duel against Ayden at the end of everything. Hiding was unnecessary; hiding them was a preventive asure to avoid leaving our information visible to Ayden.
Him not knowing who is participating on our side is already an advantage, so he can’t prepare the best opponent against my companions, which I also can’t do with his companions due to my lack of knowledge about all of them.
Him not knowing who is participating on our side is already an advantage, so he can’t prepare the best opponent against my companions, which I also can’t do with his companions due to my lack of knowledge about all of them.
Suddenly, energy began to crackle in the portal as its energy sheet began to ripple as a figure passed to this side, a figure I imdiately recognized as the Avatar of the rchant, Igor.
"Sorry for the wait, I was listening to a report from one of my employees." (Igor)
"Most, if not all... here must already know , but even so, allow to introduce myself." (Igor)
"My na is Igor, Avatar of Comrce, and today I have been given the opportunity to be the organizer of this event." (Igor)
I looked at him as he spoke, but sothing was wrong with his presence; he was weaker and more fragile sohow. Not only that, there was sothing else wrong that I couldn’t understand.
I was surprised he appeared; he should have been my ally. He fought against Hatred by my side and also ford an alliance in that Infernal Event. Twice, dangerously, he chose to be by my side, and at this mont he decided to place himself in such a distant position from . It didn’t make sense.
"You are not him." ()
"Him..." (Xerxes)
"Avoid speaking, any of you." ()
"..." ()
I didn’t want anyone to expose themselves to him; he could recognize their voices. I’m not sure if this really was Igor; as far as I could see, there was definitely sothing strange about him.
"I understand your confusion and congratulate you on your sharp senses, but I still maintain that I am Igor, or at least a part of him." (Igor)
"As an impartial organizer of your contest, I cannot act personally, and yet nothing prevents from using clones to perform various tasks such as inviting the participants of the confrontation to introduce themselves." (Igor) ℞ᴀɴọ𐌱ƐＳ
"So you were invited by Ayden or you volunteered to perform this task?" ()
"Neither, I am rely fulfilling my duty as Avatar and carrying out the rchant’s wishes." (Igor)
"I wanted to et you in person, but as I said before, it would be inappropriate because of my position." (Igor)
"Does this portal take us directly to the location?" ()
"Correct, but I must inform you that any other information will be provided simultaneously to all participants; my true body will be responsible for that." (Igor)
"I understand, so shall we leave now?" ()
"Correct again, so if you can follow ..." (Igor)
He bows slightly, gesturing with his body towards the portal. I nod to the others, and we enter, with going ahead.
As soon as I passed through, I noticed two things: the first was the lack of Ascendant Laws, and the second was the presence of that creature with four arms that looks more like a puppet, the creature that presented itself as sothing similar to an Avatar of the System.
"System, are you involved too?" ()
"As is fitting for this type of confrontation, when neither side would want to damage the reason for their dispute." (System)
"Nice to see you again, Zenos." (System)
"Your voice is more fluid and normal." ()
"..." (everyone)
Soon all the others arrive right behind and the System subtly focuses its Aura on all my companions, but I know its true attention is on only one of them, on Xerxes.
Knowing that I had nothing to fear with him here, I began to look around, trying to delve deeper into this space that revealed itself to be a piece of flat rock containing floating rivers and mountains.
This place didn’t even have the power of Reality in the sa intensity as the Universe of the Ascended; it was as if each of the particles that compose this place was ford of pure power of reality condensed into a particle.
I couldn’t destroy a mountain here with the sa ease; in fact, I can’t even promise that level of destruction. The resistance of this place was absurd.
"What place is this?" ()
"The proper rules and information will be provided by the person in charge of the Confrontation, Mr. Igor." (System)
"What are you planning?" ()
"Don’t give that expression of incomprehension. I’m not going to fall for all these conveniences, so tell what you’re plotting?" ()
"While I understand the reason for your suspicions, my presence here, as well as the acceptance of a Trade Avatar to be the organizer, proves to be recurrent in more than 68.91% of cases." (System)
"I am able to provide you with a location to serve as a perfect arena." (System)
"As for the Trade Avatar, they have a trustworthy reputation and know how to maintain impartiality better than others, which is why they are chosen." (System)
"That’s... plausible..." ()
I still suspected him, as well as the whole situation, but it could be true as far as I know, at least it matches everything I’ve heard and seen so far.
"Where is he?" ()
I couldn’t find Ayden in the vicinity as far as I could see, nor could I perceive his presence. It was at this mont that another portal opened and a second Igor appeared, bringing with him 6 people.
The one in front was Ayden, still in his war armor, and behind him were 5 people in armor wearing simple cloaks over them.
While we were facing each other, the two Igors approached in a straight line, but as soon as they collided, only one of them remained, looking at the 12 of us.
"Let’s start simply." (Igor)
He snapped his fingers.
With the snap of his fingers, a tremor made everything begin to vibrate intensely, and soon the ground split open behind him, revealing an arena that seed to have been made from a single block of granite.
The strangest thing was that the spatial energies around that arena were distorting as if in a storm in the middle of the ocean.
"Allow to announce the rules again." (Igor)
"The Confrontations will be divided into 3 types!" (Igor)
"The first will be an individual combat between participants randomly selected from the five people each side chose!" (Igor)
"If you faint, die, give up, are sealed or restrained preventing the continuation of the combat, then it will be considered a defeat for your group!" (Igor)
"The second type of confrontation will be 5 against 5. If a participant in your group is dead or unable to participate in this battle, you will have 10 minutes to choose a substitute who is not the group leader or an Avatar!" (Igor)
"The team that is unable to fight by any ans will have lost. The arena for this confrontation will be the size of a planet, and each group will be teleported to a hemisphere of the planet!" (Igor)
"The last part of the confrontation will be a battle between the leaders. You must immobilize, seal, kill, or make your opponent give up to win!" (Igor)
"All combats will have their arena or bio chosen randomly. Does anyone have any questions?!" (Igor)
"No!" ()
"Negative!" (Ayden)
This type of confrontation was strange to ; it seems defeat can co in more ways than I initially thought, which can be both good and bad at the sa ti.
The change in terrain affects our group little during individual fights, but it becos sothing of paramount importance in group battles. I also have to think of soone to replace if necessary.
"If everyone is ready, I’ll allow the two leaders to talk before starting the duels, so please co closer." (Igor)
"..." ()
I approach Igor at the sa ti as Ayden, standing face to face with him. This bastard was emitting a heavy, bloodthirsty aura trying to affect , but compared to what I felt in the tis I was in Hell, this is nothing more than a gentle breeze.
"Are you happy now, Ayden?" ()
"Yes, I’ve wanted to fight you for real since the last ti, but every opportunity that arose, there were always others who got in the way." (Ayden)
"Is that why you wanted all this?" ()
"Yes, but just one battle would be little fun, so why not do this?" (Ayden)
"Show the strength of your subordinates!" (Ayden)
"Show your strength!" (Ayden)
"You think this charade will fool !?" ()
"Hahahaha..." (Ayden)
"Looks like soone got smarter." (Ayden)
"But if you want to know sothing, you’ll have to get it from ." (Ayden)
He was hiding sothing from . I don’t think he was lying, but that clearly wasn’t the whole truth. He was planning sothing or had clues or things in mind. Maybe it’s not even him; it could be Guerra who has other plans up his sleeve.
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