Word of Vall's demise has started to reach far and wide among the Demons. It's unsurprising that such big news has reached the ears of the other commanders in their own territories. Each one of them has their own thoughts on the matter upon hearing the news. Their responses clearly shows that they are not a tightknit and caring group of comrades.
Commander A, "what an idiot. He must have underestimated the enemy. This is the problem with those who have muscles for brains. Those types never make good decisions, doubly so it it's a man. They just charge forward with no regard for those around them. He should have at least ensured to pass on some information".
Commander B, "depending on the opponent, he could have been invincible or just a better than average enemy. Well, as long as the opponent wasn't me. It doesn't matter who they are, as long as it's not the Demon King Himself, I won't lose to anyone. He couldn't counter my moves after all. I should've shredded him to pieces long ago if this was how it would have turned out. I wish I could hear him beg for his life".
Commander C, "bwhahahahaha, what a dumbass! That's what he gets for being such a glass cannon! We don't need Commanders to be strong when the...the...the...situation suits them! We are the strongest of the strong, so only those who can...can...can consistently stand at the top deserve to be there! I could've crushed him with one hand at any time. Anyone I can do that to is...is...is unworthy of being a Commander!".
Commander D , "one has fallen, but that's just a drop in the well. It's not enough to reach the King, just enough to cause some minor irritation for him. If it was any other commander than Vall, it would've been a cause for worry. Unless...they were overwhelmingly stronger than Vall. But we have no way of knowing. I wonder if they're capable of surpassing the other Commanders...of surpassing me. I'll make some preparations just in case. The next logical course of action would be coming after me".
Commander E, "there's a hierarchy for a reason. Mutts are meant to be at the bottom, not the top. Having Cairon on the same level as me was irritating enough, but adding Vall to the mix was nothing short of an insult. I'm not surprised he failed in such a spectacular fashion. His only redeeming feature was his Unique, but he didn't have the brains to properly utilise it. His intelligence was low enough that I should have been able to add him to my ranks".
Commander F, "idiot. Typical dog. All bark and no bite, just like the rest of the fodder. I knew he didn't have what it takes. I should have whipped him into shape if he was going to bring shame upon the title of Commander like this, even if it meant coming into contact with a filthy male beast. I could have put a muzzle on him, so I didn't hear his disgusting screams. That would have made it tolerable...I should have thought of this before. Fuck sake".
In a throne room, there is a messenger bowing to the man sitting on the ornately decorated throne. To the side of the sitting man is a beautiful women, but she has an air of mystery surrounding her. She looks to be about 20 years old with short and curly black hair. Her skin has a bluish tint, but nowhere near as blue as her eyes. One would describe her body proportions as...fruitful. The man, clearly a figure of significant importance from just his aura alone, is intimidating beyond belief. This world be true for anyone, but it particularly intense for the messenger he's staring down at. The messenger is so scared that she can only look down while trying to stop her body from giving out.
The man has black scales visible on exposed parts of his body, mainly his arms and next. The scales look both glossy but extremely durable at the same time. He is wearing garments befitting the image of royalty. He wears little, showing his toned muscles through his tight shirt despite his advanced age. What he is wearing is of the highest quality, and it compliments his shoulder length white hair nicely. The standout of his outfit being a red cape with white along the edges, matching his hair to create an image of unity. He slowly turns his eyes to the mysterious woman next to him, "it seems a commander has fallen...you should replace him".
The mysterious woman replies so fast that it's as if it was rehearsed, "I think the position should be filled by someone who is more suited to being a Commander". The man contemplates reluctantly for a few seconds, his fingers tapping against his throne rhythmically, "Silvia". The mysterious woman's expression doesn't change at all, her demeanour completely calm and collected, "my little sister is the ideal candidate".
The man sighs, "I have to agree that she is at least capable enough for that". He then he stares intensely at the woman from the corners of his eyes, the pressure of his gaze enough to make anyone fear for their life, "but you're going to have to grow into your role sooner or later, even if I have to force you", it's unfortunate that no one else that has the potential to succeed me...so I may have to get creative to correct her thought process. I thought it would come natural to her since she's my child, but she has more of her mother in her than I would like.
The mysterious woman remains expressionless and gives no response to his statement, nor falters under the pressure of his gaze. She simply closes her eyes and faces straight ahead. The man turns away from her and addresses the messenger, "summon Silvia". The messenger squeaks out, "yes, my King", before leaving the room as fast as she can without running. After a short while, a woman with red hair and animal ears like a fox enters the throne room. She shoots a quick glance at the mysterious woman next to the Demon King before bowing before to him, her expression turning bitter once her face is obscured due to the bow, "you summoned me, father?".
Demon King, "Vall has fallen, I want you to take his place, Silvia". Silvia remains looking down, not daring to look up without permission, "understood. It is a great honour to be chosen". Demon King, "set out to bring order to Vall's territory immediately". Silvia, "as you command". Silvia stands, bows, and leaves the throne room, anger taking over once she does, "that damn woman! Sitting by father's side without a care in the world! She isn't suited to be his successor! Everyone knows she has no motivation to take on the role. She should be executed her attitude alone!", she doesn't care about anything apart from her pitiful excuse for a mother. I'll rise above everyone else and succeeded the throne, including her.
The next morning, Ren and the girls head to the stadium for the tournament. Ren joins the other contestants in the in the centre of the arena. It's a smallish arena, seeming built for one-on-one battles, but it has a large viewing area. The contestants are appealing to the crowd as the spectators fill the stadium. They train their muscles and hold mock fights, but nothing too strenuous. Ren just stands around and observes the others, if I worked out, I could tell if these guys were strong or not...well, only by how much they could lift. I have zero clue about martial arts.
Liza and Lorilay are sitting in the front rows of the bleachers. They got good seats as they came early with Ren. The sound of a wooden board being struck echoes around the stadium, signalling the start of the tournament. The contestants all vacate the arena, moving to the specified sector. Once the crowd of contestants subsides, a floating image appears in the air, showing a doorway entrance. Ren gawks at the surreal sight, "video? Must be a type of magic or something that acts like a screen...or something. It's cool, whatever it is", so they have these types of things in this world.
The image of a tall Dark Elven woman sitting in the ima cavea is projected into the air. She has long black hair that's tied back into a high ponytail; slim eyes with violet irises, light purple lipstick on her thin lips, a violet dress similar to a cheongsam where it's separated at the side of the legs, purple stilettos, two gold bracelets on each arm, and small dangling earrings. She is tall, approximately 6'2 without the heels, and has a slim hourglass figure. Her bust size is between Liza and Lorilay's.
The crowd cheers loudly at the Dark Elf who appears on the image, an air of authority around her That anyone can see. Ren can't help but gawk at the woman, her smirk demanding the attention of everyone in the crowd, wow...it's like her very existence exudes confidence.And her...Queenly charms could make any man fall for her...what a woman. It's like an irresistible calling is stopping me from looking away...the women of this world are too beautiful.
Dark Elf Woman, "thank you for gathering, warriors from abroad. I, Queen Elza of the Dark Elves, have gathered you here for two reasons. To give you the chance to become my King, possibly the highest honour a man could obtain, as well as to set off and take the Demon King's head! I hope one of you proves worthy of me, unlike all the contestants who have come before". The crowd cheers in response to her words, will I find a husband this year? Will someone actually make my body burn with desire for them upon seeing their strength? I almost feel like giving up at this point. Some of the past competitors have been decent, but nothing noteworthy. Maybe I should host this less frequently from now on. Make it rarer, thus more desirable.
Elza continues with her speech after letting the crowd calm down somewhat, "this year we have an uneven number of contestants. I have decided that one who deserves it shall go straight to the semi-final. The rest will battle it out in three brackets. The ones who will decide the seeded warrior will be...you, the crowd! SPECTATORS, IS THERE ANYONE YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SEMI-FINAL?", drawing a rise out of the crowd.
The crowd cheers, some of them start giving praise to specific contestants, "Gavin can defeat a minotaur!", "Gabino is the strongest knight in the Human Kingdom", etc. Among the crowd, one Elf stands up and gazes at the Queen. Elza notices the Elf not far away from her, hm...surprised to see an Elf here. Wait...isn't that the Elven prodigy? I didn't see her for long when I visited, but I'm pretty sure. And it looks like she has something she wants to say. If she has praise for a contestant, they must be quite capable.
Elza raises her arm and slowly makes a fist, silencing the crowd as it closes. Elza, "it seems we have a rare guest here today. You there, Elf, it seems you have someone you think should advance". Lorilay beams a smile as the crowd all looks at her, good thing we got seated close to her. On the other hand, Ren feels a wave of anxiety wash over him upon seeing Lorilay's smile. Lorilay addresses Elza, giving the crowd the answer their dying to hear, "yes, Ren!".
Lorilay turns to Liza, "can you throw her this? I don't have the strength to throw that far". As Liza stands up, she mutters to herself as she pulls her cap down, "I hope she doesn't recognise me". She then throws Elza what Lorilay gave to her. Elza catches it and doesn't waste time looking at it. What she sees shocks her, "THIS IS!!!". After defeating Vall, Lorilay asked Ren to take Vall's armband from his broken arm, as it was too much for Lorilay to handle, but it wasn't much easier from Ren either...so Liza had to do it. However, Liza couldn't hold down her vomit, leaving Lorilay to try get it off using her staff. What Liza just threw was that same armband.
Elza raises it high into the air for all to see, including those watching through the floating monitor, "the armband of a Demon Army Commander!". The crowd buzzes intensely, the incoherent loudness spreading far and wide instantly. It continues for a while until some people see that Lorilay has something to say. They start to quiet the people around them, which also quickly spreads through the crowd.
Lorilay, as loudly as she can without shouting, which is not that loud (and very cute!), "yes! Before coming here, we battled and defeated Vall 'The Retaliator!' in battle". Elza can't help her lips from curling into a smile, unable to suppress her excitement, "HMMM...then it's decided. The one who-". Ren raises his hand into the air, "OBJECTION!".
Everyone, including Elza, is stunned silent for a few seconds before looking at each other in confusion. Elza can't help but raise an eyebrow, "you have...an objection?". Ren, "yeah, I wasn't the one who defeated Vall, or even the one who fought him. It was the Elf who is standing right now, and thus don't deserve to advance". The crowd can't help but murmur in hushed tones as they try to gauge what's happening.
Lorilay looks at Elza again, wanting to explain herself, "it's true that I took down Vall, but he is stronger than me. He was watching over me during the fight, ready to step in if it didn't look like I'd be able to pull it off. Very few have the strength that would allow them to act in such a way. I have no doubt that he would have defeated Vall if they had fought". The crowds' murmurs increase in response to her declaration.
Elza, they must be in the same party, which dilutes her statement a bit. However, he could have advanced without question, but he didn't take credit for something he didn't do. Normally, a party member would have no problem bragging about such a feat as if it was their sole victory. Hm...he's getting me interested at the very least. How long has it been since my heart skipped a beat like this in anticipation? Probably the last Rulers Tournament, but that was a different type of excitement, "I've made my decision", as she looks at Ren, "contestant Ren will move to the Semi-final. There will be no more debate".
Ren, instead of going to the contestant's area with the others, looks dissatisfied as he heads to the stands to join Lorilay and Liza. None of the staff object upon seeing this, but they do raise eyebrows and are unsure if they should act. Ren wastes no time in addressing Lorilay, "and the point of that was?". Lorilay, "bragging". Ren, "bragging?". Lorilay, "Ren, you're amazing, and no doubt that you had a way to beat Vall. It's not far off before you're recognised as a hero by everyone...even though you are technically one already".
Ren, "I didn't have a way to beat him when we first saw him, but I-". Liza cuts him off and closes in on his face without thinking, "first saw? Meaning you have one now?". Ren, not sure what's going on or why she's in his face, "well...probably". The conversation is cut-off by an announcement, "ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin our first match". During the announcement, having returned to a regular sitting posture, Liza looks down at the ground in frustration, so...I'm the only one who couldn't beat him? Ren, "oh, let's look at the matches. These matches should be good to watch", and give me an idea of where I stand it terms of strength.
After watching the first match unfold, Ren can't help but comment, "that was...how do I say it...lacklustre?", fighting Zeck was much more...flashy? I dunno, it had more...substance than this. Lorilay, "they were weaker than you expected?". Ren, "that's right, I thought this was a place for strong people to gather. Look at the Queen, she looks bored". Elza is tapping her fingertips against her armrest with a neutral expression plastered across her face, again...they're only good by human standards. Most Dark Elves would wipe the floor with them. Are there no good men left? It seems like he's my only hope, as she glances at Ren, who's mid-conversation. Ren looks away awkwardly, not thinking they'd make eye contact.
Lorilay, "by normal standards, they are quite strong". Ren, "what? Really?", it's better that the punch fest those two soldiers had, but not overwhelmingly so. Lorilay, "yes. Ren, your standards for strength are probably skewed". Ren, "what do you mean?". Lorilay, "you can't use me and Liza as the base of your standards. I don't mean to sound cocky, but we are much stronger than most in our races. We fought a Commander and his close confidants, who were also far stronger than most. And most people couldn't hold a candle to them. Vall in particular was especially strong, despite the fact that he couldn't use his power against me". Liza, "the aid I fought was still young and had a lot of potential growth, so he could've grown much stronger too", which shows just how weak I am.
Lorilay continues, "normal people would say that those from the last match were strong, but we exceed those strengths, so we are the ones who are abnormal, thus we can't be judged by normal standards. It's not, 'they were weak', it's, 'they were strong for a human', or what not". Ren, having seemingly grasped what she's explaining, "...you're right, I've been basing everything off of you and Liza being my standard. I'll look carefully at these matches to gauge what would be normal", I thought those two soldiers from the exhibition match were awful at the time. These guys were better than them, but I guess they weren't as weak as I thought. Lorilay, "I think that's a good idea".
After seeing the contestants for the next match, Ren notices something peculiar, "hey, why is there a Demon participating?". The contestant's fox-like ears on full display for all to see. Lorilay, "this tournament mainly gathers outside talent, so it probably has some lax rules. Not all demons are subservient to the Demon King, some even seeking asylum. There are probably lots that have suffered due the Demon King's actions. They might be after revenge as I heard there are lots of Demons who are forced to join the army against their will. Sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, friends, cousins...there are probably lots that died when they didn't want to fight. There are probably Demons who join this tournament every year. And just so you know, that person in the hood is probably a Vampire", pointing to a individual with white hair sticking out of their hood in the contestant's area, I caught a glimpse of those unmistakeable red eyes.
Ren excitedly looks at the fighter in question, "Really? This will be a good chance to see how Vampires fight!". Ren notices Liza looking glum from the corner of his eye, drawing his attention away from the Vampire, "Liza, you ok?". Liza forces a smile, "yeah, I was just thinking up new techniques to use, don't mind me". Ren feels an awkward atmosphere settle on the group, "well, ok...do these battles look boring you guys?". Liza, "yeah, there will probably only be your typical flaming punches or a water shield. Nothing out of the ordinary, pretty decent for the army". Lorilay, "rather than boring, I'd say...uneventful? There's just nothing that makes me think 'wow', or 'amazing'. Just what you could occasionally see by visiting a human army's training grounds".
Ren, "hm...also, I've been thinking, are Unique's rare?". Lorilay, "yes, it's estimated that there's only about 200 or so in the world at one time". Ren, "200???? That's way less then I would have thought. Then I assume that Unique's stand on top of the power hierarchy?". Lorilay, "you're starting to understand. Yes, people with Unique's are often considered the strongest, with exceptions like me, Liza, and the Dark Elf Queen".
Ren, "I see. Is there anything else I should know?". Lorilay, "the Commanders, and the Demon King, are probably Unique users. Just having a Unique makes you highly valuable, if you can use it properly". This statement confuses Ren, "what do you mean by properly?".
Liza chimes in to explain, "if my affinity was water, my Unique would be pretty much useless, but since I have an affinity for fire and wind, it's the perfect match for me". Lorilay, "A DUAL AFFINITY???? That's even rarer than a Unique. That, plus a Unique, makes you the rarest among rare! One with a dual affinity is said to be born only every couple of hundred years, and one with a Unique...I don't know how many centuries it would be. The fact that your affinity matches your unique makes it even rarer!".
Ren, "I knew you were extraordinary as my instincts told me so the second I saw you. I just didn't know why". Liza looks down in response, a slightly bitter smile creeping across her lips. Ren's attention is drawn elsewhere however, "oh, it's the Vampire's match. I really want to see this". The match begins and the Vampire...sinks into her shadow on the ground. Ren can't believe what he's seeing, leaning forward in his seat, "wow!". Lorilay, "all Vampires have that ability. Elves and Vampires are magic specific races. Elves with earth and Vampires with dark".
Ren, "dark magic...sounds so cool", wait a second. I know Liza mentioned light and dark magic before, but I didn't properly process that information. Adam showed me the basic elements for magic, but neither of those two. Maybe it's because they are race specific magic? No, Liza said humans can also have dark magic...as well as earth magic, the Elves supposed exclusive magic. Maybe humans can learn all types of magic? Hm...I don't know. And my instincts aren't helping me find the answer.
Ren is snapped out of his thoughts by seeing the Vampire appear out of her shadow, attacking her opponent with her sword. Ren was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice that the shadow was darting around the arena at high speed. By moving fast and popping out of her shadow at unexpected angles, her opponent had no chance of victory.
Ren, "seeing a shadow move like that is...weird, but cool!", it feels very fantasy...not that other things weren't fantasy, it's just...something like that just inherently strikes a chord with guys. Lorilay, "think you could win?". Ren, "yea, it's not a problem. With my field, I could tell where she is the moment she begins to pop up and hit her with a lightning bolt".
Liza looks back down at the ground, disheartened as she thinks to herself and not participating in the conversation. She tries to distract herself by thinking of more important matters, it's just a hunch, but that Vampire looks like she's holding back. She might be from one of the Shadow Houses. Her shadow seems wider than I heard about. The Demons have a treaty with the Vampires, so why is one of the House members here? Could the Vampire Lord be looking to betray the Demon King? I wouldn't pit it past them, but if that's the case, would they be participating in the tournament instead of reaching out to the Queen directly? Are they acting on their own? There's too many to unknowns to properly find out what she's up to.
After a couple of hours, the preliminary matches finish. There semi-final fixtures are then decided, the matchups projected on the floating monitor. Ren vs a Knight in the human army, and the Vampire vs the Fox-kin Demon. Ren's match is up first because he hasn't fought yet, allowing the other pair to rest a bit longer.
Ren and the knight are staring each other down in the middle of the arena, paying no attention to the cheers of the crowd. The knight couldn't be more confident in himself, "a scrawny twig like you could never take down Vall! I'll show everyone what real strength is and prove that armband is a fake! I'm the greatest disciple of the mighty hero, General Thrust Fist. And as expected, I, Dum Ash 'The Flash' have taken the tournament by storm without even having to get serious", I haven't even had to use my signature move. He say's all this while showing off his shiny armour to the crowd, not a scratch on it.
Ren can't help but feel creeped out by his words and actions, General Thrust Fist? Did someone really name themselves that? I can't image other people calling someone that for any reason at all. It sounds like a shitty pornstar name. Maybe it doesn't have the same meaning in their world?
Elza, "ladies and gentlemen, it's finally time for the semi-finals! Please give our warriors a round of applause", now I can finally see if he has the strength to back up the Elf's claim. I would have heard of anyone with his strength before now, so I'm still a bit doubtful. If it's true, he must have been laying low since becoming an adult. But still...going from a nobody to defeating a Commander is hard to believe...unless another hero has appeared. That would explain everything. The audience claps for a few seconds before Elza shushes them by closing her first again. She then finally starts the long-anticipated match, "I wish you both luck, and may the strength you've cultivated until this day guide you to victory. The first match of the semi-finals may now...begin".
The moment Elza declares the start of the battle, Dum Ash charges at Ren with his sword at the ready, his shiny heavy armour surprisingly not slowing his movements. Ren can't help a sigh escape as he watches the flashy display, this guy's moments are so easy to read that I don't even have to use field, he aims to use his obviously stronger strength to overpower me like he did the other matches.
As Dum Ash does an overhead heavy swing, Ren forms a short sword of lightning and cuts Dum Ash's sword in half as he swings it down. Ren was far faster than Dum Ash expected, so much so that he was so completely caught off guard. Dum Ash stumbles and falls to the ground with the sudden weight change of his sword, dirtying the armour he's so proud of.
Before Dum Ash has a chance to get up, Ren points his lightning sword at the man's face. Dum Ash freezes at the sight, but he can't help feeling humiliated, his face going red in anger. He steels his resolve to make a move. Ren, with the coolest demeanour, "are you really sure you want to try something? Don't act rashly. Take a moment to really think about it".
Elza goes wide eyed as a smile involuntarily creeps across her lips. She leans forward in her chair from the excitement, as if it would give her a better view, w-what was that??? It happened in a moment! I knew he would do something as he was so composed, but I didn't expect this! I haven't seen such a confident display of strength in so long...my heart is beating is beating out of my chest!
Dum Ash doesn't want to listen, but as he braces himself to attack, he feels the lack of weight in his hand. The reality of the situation setting in, so he frustratingly raises his hands in defeat, gritting his teeth so bad that they could crack, I could use my secret move, but all he has to do is thrust forward a few centimetres and I'd be dead. I'll let you have this win, but mark my words, I'll get you back for this humiliation!
Elza rises for her seat and addresses the crowd, a little disappointed there wasn't any more to watch, "and that's the match! Winner – Ren!", the match was decided in an instant. He's strong...very strong. What's that sword? I've never seen anything like it.I can't wait to fight him. I can't wait to see how strong he truly is from up close! My heart is racing and my body is hot...oh how have I yearned for this feeling for so long, as she clutches her left breast, feeling her rapidly beating heart, an excited smile now seemingly fixed across her face.
The crowd is silent, not knowing how to react to such a quick and overwhelming victory. Elza cuts through the silence, "we will now move onto the next match, Sieg vs Zoffa", I want this to be over already so I can fight him! The contestants move onto the field as Ren is getting off. Dum Ash begins to lift himself up slowly, the feeling of peoples stares amplifying his humiliation. He trudges along, anger and frustration festering with every step, I'll definitely repay this humiliation a hundredfold!
With the next two contestants in position, Elza starts the next match, "may the strongest prevail. Match Zoffa vs Sieg...begin!". This match took longer than any of the ones that came before them, their abilities above the norm of the other contestants. Sieg, the Fox-Kin, is holding out well against the Vampire, Zoffa, but she's on the defensive as she has no way to attack Zoffa when she's in her shadow. Sieg dodged and dodged each attack that comes out of the shadow and aims to counterattack. However, Zoffa constantly attacked from angles where Sieg couldn't counterattack freely. It was only a matter of time before Zoffa emerged victorious from slowly chipping away at Sieg's defences. It was a long battle, but the result was inevitable.
Elza stands and addresses the crowd once again, "Winner – Zoffa! Now, ladies and gentlemen, after a short interval, it is finally the time for the final match! The two contestants, Ren and Zoffa, have proven themselves to be deserving to stand above the rest. To face off against each oth-".
Zoffa, who's red eyes were staring Ren down from beneath her hood, raises her hand. This causing everything to go silent. Everyone is confused for what feels like the 100th time today, murmuring about what could possibly be going on this time. Everyone bar Elza knows what's going to happen, she's realised the gap between them. She's better than I expected despite holding back,but this is perfect, I can fight him right now! Elza looks down at Zoffa, "what is it?". Zoffa, "I withdraw".
The crowd starts to get noisy once again. Elza smirks, knowing she'll get to fight that much faster, "may I ask why?". Zoffa, "he wasn't serious in his match…he didn't even move from the spot. His powers are completely unknown, and only an amateur would go up against such as opponent without any prior scouting. I have no obligation to risk my life with too many unknowns".
Ren's a bit dumbfounded and hangs his head, "there goes my chance at fighting a Vampire. I wanted a reference for later", the vampire Lord comes after the Demon King…right?But I was only asked to defeat the Demon King... Elza, "understood. I can't force you to fight. That means the winner of the finals is Ren by forfeit. Since there wasn't actually a finals match, that means we can get started straight away with the Apex exhibition match", as she then jumps down into the arena, landing in her purple heels without showing any discomfort despite the height. Her smile reflecting the excitement that's about to happen.