Chapter 209: Sending A Message (1/2)

I jumped backward, landing on the lava surrounding the arena. Sheom did the same, sliding under the surface of the glowing slop. As she glided towards me, I slammed my palms into the molten rock. I cooled the molten magma, the bright red darkening across the entire arena in seconds.

Sheom was caught up in the cooling stone, stuck in the crystallizing granite. As she struggled to break to the surface, I jumped up before flying further. Moments later, I pulled myself down, augmenting gravity with my own magic.

Like the weight of the world, I crashed down onto the stone above her, rock reduced to powder in my wake. The heat of my impact left glowing stones around me, the kinetic wave shell shocking sheom. Without the ability to retaliate, I jabbed my hand through solid rock, uprooting by the nape of her neck. As I pulled my fist back, a Sentinel grabbed my arm, and another blocked my attack in front of me.

I'd won.

The entire crowd went silent, even the chattiest reporter stunned. Sheom returned to her senses moments later, looking around. As she looked up at me and around the crater I formed, her eyes widened with realization. She gasped,

”What happened? I didn't even get to fight.”

”That's right,” I brushed some rock off my shoulders, ”I didn't give you a chance. I cooled the magma to stone, cutting off your reserves of mana while making your mobility null.”

She heaved for a few breaths staring at the Sentinels, ”That...That's impossible. Why did you not do so before?”

”I didn't think of it,” I said with a shrug. ”Two reasons for that. I didn't need too, and here, I was making a point. You'll see why in a few moments.”

Before Sheom replied, Kiki Mosk shook out his surprise and raised a hand,

”And the Gray Giant seals the deal with a stunning display of dominance.”

The crowd shouted out from the zeppelin, the uproar bursting across the arena. It was a sound and final defeat for the gialgathens. All their champions rose to fight me, and all of them fell to my might. To the espens, it was as satisfying as hearing Emagrotha's fall during the war.

Without any recourse, many gialgathens didn't know how to react. It was as if a realization dawned upon all of them at that moment - their epoch had ended. A torch was being passed, their dominance over Giessian politics no longer present. Now, the espens would come to rule over the planet, their evergrowing abilities unmatchable.

Within less than a single generation, they turned from slavemasters to second class citizens. The change would be slow, but they all understood it. They could no longer pretend that 'dirtwalkers' were beneath them. Here and now, a dirtwalker was the strongest on the planet. Here and now, I was a heavy heel slamming them into the dirt.

At least, that's what they believed. As the dust settled from the event and the cheering, Kiki Mosk turned a hand to me, ”And that concludes the Honoring of Lehesion. We have a new winner. Let's let the champion collect himself and prepare for the reward ceremony in two weeks. Goodbye-”

”Actually,” I said while raising a hand, ”I have something to say if you wouldn't mind.”

Kiki tilted his head, glancing between the cameras and me, ”Uh, are you certain you wouldn't rather wait for your victory speech until the award ceremony?”

I shook my head, ”This isn't a victory speech. I don't intend on giving one.”

A bead of cold sweat poured down Kiki's face, ”Then what else would a gladiator have to say after his victory?”

”Quite a bit.” I lifted myself into the air, and Kiki moved aside so that I took center stage of the arena. I projected my voice and ambiance as far as I could. With all my focus, I weighted my words with an aura of importance. This was pivotal if I was to succeed. It was go time.

”Did you all see how Sheom was helpless before me?”

The gialgathens booed, their growls growing angry. They had every right to be outraged. That was good. I needed their attention, and this was the easiest way to get it.

”I can tell you right now, that had nothing to do with her ability, work ethic, or her race.” I left pauses between each of those points.