Chapter 208: Ripples (1/2)

”What kind of example?” Krog said.

”Well, I'll need you guys to just show off your powers and armor after the final fight. That's what I'll be offering.”

Chrona scratched the side of her head, ”Hmm, would that not insult Sheom?”

”Who's Sheom?” I said while crossing my arms.

Krog adjusted his paws under his chin, ”Your opponent. She leaps through the magma of the arena as if gliding through the air. She and Chrona almost always end up fighting for the finishing spot of this tournament...I've placed second as well, but I've yet to win it.”

Chrona looked at him, ”You know her style of battle counters your own. It's difficult to use your illusions against someone who guards their senses with lava on all sides.”

Krog shook his head, ”She is simply better than I. There is no shame in admitting that.”

”I didn't expect you to admit that,” I raised an eyebrow, ”Is she just too fast or?”

Krog looked up at a passing bird, ”She is many things. Sheom was the mentor of Lehesion. She tutored him on many things through life, though she's spoken of how frustrating it was at times. Lehesion's prodigy was only matched by his arrogance.”

I pointed towards the arena, ”She sounds fierce, but I'm certain I'll beat her. When I do, I'll need you both to hop into the arena to show your armors and enhanced powers. That's all.”

Krog covered his face with his wings, ”Why does the thought of doing so fill me with shame?”

Chrona murmured, ”This is our repayment for his deeds. Though somewhat repugnant, we sully ourselves worse if we spit on his kindness.”

Krog stomped a foot, ”Then let us be done with this quickly.”

I raised a fist, ”It won't take long, and I'll set you guys up with a speech. That should take the edge off.”

Chrona narrowed her eyes at me, ”Why is it that your rapprochement only fills me with yet more dread?”

”Eh, I can give motivational speeches pretty well, and that's about it. You're in luck though because I tend to stick to my strengths,” I said with confidence.

”Then let us be off,” Krog mumbled.

As we traveled down a different path out of the forest, I calmed my mind and prepared for the battle. As I honed my thoughts, I received a message from Althea.

Althea Tolstoy, the Shapeless Arbiter(lvl 9,416 | Class: Breaker | Giess: 10:24 A.M. 4/6/26) - I've been through several meetings in the revolutionary group, and I learned a few things you need to know. Rivaria is about to be sacked after the award ceremony. I don't know how, but Thisbey's been promising it to his recruits and loyal supporters.

I'll be able to kill him for sure, but you should prepare for the worst if you can. Love you. Bye.

I ground my teeth for a second before turning to Krog and Chrona. Both of them destroyed the underbrush as we walked under the forest's canopy. At least we weren't flying to the arena, but this was dangerous either way. I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind as I said,

”I just received a message from Althea. The revolutionaries plan to sack Rivaria soon. We need to act before then.”

Krog scoffed, ”Let them. We will crush them under the wind of our wings.”

”No, we will not. Do you not remember seeing the horrors their laboratories have created? If they sent several of those Hybrids to Rivaria, we would all perish.”

Krog stopped walking, the reality of the situation crashing down on him, ”Wait...That...I never believed...”

I raised a palm to him, ”Calm down. We know it's coming so we can counteract the worst of its effects. You're both going to need to really show off to get some more gialgathens in the guild and system. They will act as a vanguard against whatever offensive Thisbey musters.”

I pointed at Chrona, ”Maybe we could have a rematch for the crowd just as an example?”

Chrona tilted her head, ”Would I not still lose?”

”I don't know honestly,” I said with a sigh. ”You're many, many times tankier then before. Your class gives you several hard to stop bonuses too, and you won't run out of your time dilation field again. You might beat me even if I went all out.”

Chrona rolled her eyes, ”I've seen the limits of your ability. You cannot die.”

I pointed at her, ”I'm hard to kill. There's a difference. I mean that. You're both underestimating just how much the system has helped you both. In fact, this shouldn't just be an exhibition for those watching. It will be an exhibition for both of you as well.”

Chrona frowned, ”What if we rend the armor from your body and expose your identity?”

”It's not that big a deal. I'm no longer an unknown so it will be a minor inconvenience at best. On the other hand, having a city of people die because I wanted to avoid complications would haunt me.”

”I'm learning more about what kind of person you are,” Krog said with head held high. ”You come across as a brutal pragmatist, but you're more sentimental than you lead on.”

”I just weigh my odds. That's all.”

Chrona nudged me with her tail, ”I doubt that.”

I rolled my eyes, ”Come on, focus guys.”

They straightened up as we walked out of the forest. They wore the armor I crafted for them, the dents from the Hybrid fight fixed. We paced up to the packed arena, crossing the rolling hills with a lazy stroll. I let Chrona walk ahead of me and at my center so that I didn't seem like her superior. That would be necessary if I were going to appeal to the Gailgathen's pride.

As we flew up to the edge of the arena, I found a broad-shouldered, caped frame waiting on me. Helios was here to watch the last exhibition match of the tournament. Beside him, a crippled Caprika was still bound to her chair with burns spread across her frame.

Krog landed with a bit of stumble, his new wings still stiff. As I walked up beside the juggernaut, he turned to me with his black mask,

”I see you've gained a few servants. Here I believed the gialgathens were proud. How did you manage that?”

I crossed my arms, staring at dozens of cameramen, ”They're not my servants. They're equals.”

”They wear armor made of your skin and bear the mark of your guild. Why would you offer so much in return for so little?”

I scoffed, ”The same reason I helped Caprika. I expect favors.”

Helios turned, glancing at them with a scrutinizing eye, ”They are...far fiercer, aren't they?”

I grinned under my mask, ”You just wait. I bet Chrona would give you a run for your money in a duel. Krog's not far behind either.”

Helios let out a long laugh.

”You expect them to have improved that much in so little time?”

It was my turn to laugh a little.

”Yes. I do.”

Helios turned a palm to me, ”Then perhaps I will be surprised. Speaking of surprises, I see you've extended the destruction of Giess by yet another thirty days. You haven't been piddling your time away, have you?”

”Yeh, I guess. I exposed a conspiracy ring and project to create hybridized creatures. What have you done over the last few weeks?”

”I pushed back an eldritch invasion and negotiated a treatise between two warring worlds.”

I frowned, ”Damn. One-upped me there.”

”But of course,” Helios glanced at his clawed hands, ”Any important news on your various quests?”

”Actually, yes. There's going to be an invasion of Rivaria soon. Make sure you and Caprika are nowhere near here then. They'll be throwing something big here.”

Helios nodded slowly, peering down at his nails, ”Noted.” He lowered his hand, ”I reccommend you leave no regrets as you leave this place. The first fringe world I cleared, I did so with many tasks left unfinished or unturned. I act with that wisdom in mind.”

He turned to Caprika who sat in silence,

”I do have my regrets though.”

There was genuine bitterness in his words as he looked at his sister. I didn't know what to say or do, so I stayed silent. Krog didn't.

”Is she crippled?”

Helios turned his head with a slow, menacing motion, ”Perhaps physically. She is not crippled mentally, unlike others I could mention.”

Krog ignored the thinly veiled insult, pointing his tail at his wings, ”I know of a healer that may help her injuries. My wings were eaten by a monster in battle, yet this woman healed them to what you see now.” Krog waved his upper limbs,

”They are not perfect, but they are far better than what I had before. Perhaps she may help the bounded one.”