Too Stubborn to Die

“Really? That’s it?” A spectator coughed up ale as Voidrin effortlessly pieced apart the opposition team’s queen. “These guys are pathetic!”

“Tell me about it! I don’t even know why I’m watching!” A centaur huffed and turned to leave. “I’m going back to my world. Grinding is more entertaining than watching weaklings like this get destroyed.”

The interval room had been quite lively during the first match. It was fun to watch the champions from their sector crush those from another. But when their sector stampeded straight through the second match, it left a little to be desired.

And the fact that those still remaining in the interval room now realized they weren’t going to get a chance to reenter the dungeon made matters worse for some. If they weren’t even going to get an entertaining show, why bother sticking around?

However, a decent number stuck around. This was an opportunity to see the greatest talents of their entire universe, and many wanted to see what came next.

“Let him go,” another spectator waved dismissively. “It’s his loss. Who knows what we’ll see in the next match?”

“True,” the basalak growled, its bulbous form jiggling. “Hopefully, it won’t be so one-sided. They just smashed straight through those guys.”

“Yeah,” another agreed from across the room. “They were even weaker than the first team they faced. My goodness, maybe we’re not so fucked after all. If Aaron is one of the strongest in the universe, I suddenly don’t feel so bad about being weak.”

“Hold your chin up, brother! You might be weak, but not me! I’m Terry fucking Cadillac! I would have easily stood a chance against that team. Even got girls on their side instead of my destroyers,” Terry said, kissing his muscles.

Meanwhile, further back from the main crowd, hidden away in a quiet booth, Soohyun was busy taking notes. She sipped on a drink and pulled fluffy headphones from her storage, trying her best to drown out the loud conversation. This was good research, and she needed to focus on her work.

She glanced up at the screen as Lord Draxas moved Aaron into position and started typing again.

Aaron was moved across the table and smacked straight into the king. A short moment later, and one very one-sided challenge, and Aaron was standing, and the other team was defeated.

Another failure. If only one of the teams would force Lord Draxas to use a token, and put Aaron and Mo’han into combat together…

Soohyun briefly pulled her headphones off to get a vibe for the room and heard cheers and loud shouting fill her ears.

“Damn! Did you see that! He made it look easy!”

“That’s our cluster for you! Best motherfuckers in the universe!”

“Hell yeah!”

“Wooohooo! GOOOO AARON!”

“YOU SHOW ‘EM, MATE!”

It seems Aaron has cultivated some team spirit around here.

But her headphones quickly went back on, and her head was lowered as she went back to work.

Aaron

Additional bonus rewarded for objectives completed, and opposing team pieces taken!

58 additional auction points rewarded!

Aaron had to admit, he was a little annoyed that Lord Draxas had decided to finish the match up early. There was still an objective and a couple of pawns to be taken out, and they were good points they missed out on. What if five auction points ended up being the difference between affording what he wanted?

“No need to rush us, Draxas,” Aaron said. “We had it won. We might as well have gone after everything.”

“I for one commend you, little dragon thing!” Mo’han cheered. “Those weaklings weren’t worth our time. We have bigger fish to fry, A-ran! Drax-as here did the right thing, in my eyes!” Mo’han slapped the kobold’s back in celebration, and perhaps hit it a little too hard, as Lord Draxas toppled forward, and the three kobolds were sent sprawling out of the trenchcoat. “Err, sorry.”

“Sisters, with me! Quickly, together!”

It was awkward and embarrassing watching as the three kobolds collected themselves and climbed back onto their shoulders. But the moment they were together, and the trenchcoat covering them, Lord Draxas pretended as if nothing had happened.

“As I was saying,” Lord Draxas cleared their throat. “They were beneath us. What’s a couple of points when our pride is on the line? This sends a message to the other teams.”

“Can the other teams even see what happens? Besides, the leaderboard is based on points. Points we missed out on. And I’d better not miss out on something good in the auction because of your pride, Lord Draxas,” Aaron said.

Your third match on the 6th floor is set to begin in 00:05:47

“Prepare yourselves, the next match mightn’t be so easy,” Ikran said.

The match had been easy, but they had still lost another pawn during it. Still, for the most part, they were unscathed, and spirits were high.

“Y’know, I think we got this. Who’d have thought I’d be fighting alongside you crazy bastards,” Voidrin said. “But I can’t complain with what works.”

“It might be working now, but we still need points. Look, there are some good teams out there,” Aaron said, pointing across to the leaderboard.

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Since everyone on the team got the same amount of points, the team score was simply the amount of points scored, multiplied by the number of people remaining on the team.

“We’re doing well, but we’re only third,” Aaron said.

For the first time since the integration, they had learned what their sector was called. It seemed that the trial theme was related to their sector, as their trial had taken place in the Obsidian Hall, and their sector was the Obsidian Sector.

“Let them have this,” Talia said as they awaited their next match. “I’m sure the mood will change once we’re pushed a little harder.”

“I hope so,” Aaron said.

“Who knows, maybe Lord Draxas will be forced to use a token, and we’ll get that three-way,” Elmira said, nudging Aaron.

Matchmaking in process….

“There it is. Looks like it’s time for our third match.”

Obsidian Sector versus Helios Sector!

“Well, looks like you got your wish,” Aaron said.

Mo’han threw his arms up triumphantly. “Finally, we get a worthy challenge! I was growing weary of these weak foes.”

“Yep, I had a feeling you’d say something like that.”

Although in truth, Aaron was as excited as anybody for a proper fight. But he wanted to remain cool on the outside. These were the greatest warriors in their entire quadrant of the universe. And it was beyond foolish to think that there couldn’t be some world-ending talents like Mo’han amongst them.

“You’re not actually nervous, are you, pal?” Voidrin said.

“No. I just think we need to keep our guard up.”

“Aaron. Is. Right. We. Must. Endeavor. To. Remain. Cautious.”

Ikran nodded at that. He, too, seemed a little concerned with how relaxed everyone was. Lord Draxas, on the other hand, was elated. Being able to act like the boss of the greatest talents of their sector seemed to be going a little to their head.

A moment later, they were transported back onto the main board to take on their opponents in the third match.

Aaron’s gaze immediately locked with the opposing king. He could feel power radiating from the man. He was only human, but he was a damn intimidating one. The man’s aura was remarkable, and felt almost as heavy as Mo’han’s. He was dressed like a hoplite, and yet, the helmet that veiled his face, his gaze seemed to pierce straight through it, and Aaron felt it digging into him. The man’s golden armor glimmered as he raised a hand, pointing at both Aaron and Mo’han.

Is he picking a fight?

Curiously, Aaron inspected the man.

Chelias Heptanon [ Level 173 ]

Titles: [ Sector Prodigy ] [ Leviathan Slayer ]

Aaron felt a chill glancing at the man’s inspection window. His level wasn’t such a big deal. After all, Mo’han himself was already at level 182. But between the man’s aura, his levels, and his titles, a formidable story was told.

“I don’t think we can take this one lightly, Mo’han. He looks serious.”

“Serious? Baha! A-ran, we got this!”

Aaron stared intensely at the man. He loved Mo’han’s confidence, but his senses told him to be wary of this one.

“So, you’re the ones who would attempt to steal our glory, are you?” Chelias said, his voice booming across the board and commanding attention. “You know, many have tried, and all have failed. But if you wish to try, you may. Another notch on my belt is always welcome.”

“This guy looks… FUN!” Mo’han roared. “I cannot wait for this!”

“I know you,” Chelias said, looking directly at Mo’han. “I have read several missives of your exploits. You’re the savage that styles himself a conqueror, are you not? A barbarian warlord in the making. And you, you’re the one who cannot stop eating. Gluttony incarnate. Pitiful, both of you. Soon, I shall show you how a true leader fights and leads. I shall show you honor. Chivalry. Concepts that are no doubt outside the range of your simple minds. But perhaps a good hiding shall instill some manners. Only time will tell.”

“A conqueror? WHERE’D YOU HEAR THAT?” Mo’han demanded. “I’m a warrior!”

“Y’know, this guy is starting to piss me off,” Voidrin said. “I say we let the big guy have him.”

“Same, but let’s not get stupid,” Aaron said. “He might be trying to rile us up. Don’t forget that they’re ranked second in the quadrant, and that makes them a serious threat. Also, they clearly have information on us.”

Chelias shook his head. “So uncivilized. Barbarians barking at the gates. It is time we put you down like the mutts you are.”

Interrupting their not-so-friendly conversation was the dong, which sounded loudly, starting the match.

A man dressed much like Chelias started the round, taking the first turn for the Helios Sector, moving a pawn forward.

Lord Draxas had learned a little in the last couple of matches and carefully moved the pieces as a few turns transpired. It was a simple technique, and one likely looked down upon by real chess players, but it worked as they intended.

A pawn was left in the open. Helios Sector went for it, moving a bishop into place and making the first attack.

The pawn was in the open, forced to defend itself.

“You go, Talia!” Elmira shouted from a tile back.

Talia nodded. She was facing down a massive, furry minotaur. Veins wrapped around its muscled forearms, and it snorted angrily as it glared down at Talia. In its massive hands, it held a huge, two-handed axe, the shaft of which was twice the size of Talia.

“You can do this, Talia! That big bull and his pole are nothing to you!” Elmira shouted, trying to rile Talia up with her words of encouragement.

“Em, thanks, Elmira,” Talia said, shrinking a little as she hoped others didn’t hear.

But Talia was always up for a challenge, and she was defending. That meant she got to pick how they would compete against one another.

She glanced up at the huge, menacing beast. It looked strong; that much was sure. But strength wasn’t everything. There were plenty of other options.

“Let’s see how you like this,” Talia said and selected the challenge of darkness.

“Darkness?” The minotaur roared. “Bahah! I lived my entire life far beneath the ground, girlie! You think I can’t handle the dark? I was born in the dark!”

Talia’s eyeliner seemed to spread, enhancing her goth look. “I am darkness.”

And Aaron cringed hard as the two of them were pulled into a challenge. “She really needs to work on her lines.”

“Haha. Worry less about her, and more about yourself,” a man with a starfish-shaped helmet cracked his knuckles and laughed.

“Huh?”

Aaron raised a brow and looked around. Then he realized that the quest objective Lord Draxas had been moving him toward was right between them, and that the man with the starfish helmet was the opponent’s queen.

“That’s right. Looks like we’ll be competing over that soon. And I’m the second strongest in the sector. I’m about to bloody you black and blue.”

Hang on, that looks like an endurance challenge.

Aaron smiled.

Alright, game on.

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