Bro, I'm not an Undead!

It was time.r

On Alaris' arm, the Control Seal shone brightly, covering him with a familiar silver glow. Immediately, the examination officer was reminded what time it was and the prospect didn't please him one bit.r

For the first time, he regretted his decision to participate as a witness in the Premium Age Royale and he was sure a few others were sharing his unpleasant sentiment. If several combatants of his calibre were forcibly transported away during this crisis, that could prove dire.r

The numbers were needed, especially for strong forces.r

Thankfully, few among the Capital Service personnel – relevant folks at least – had not made the casual decision to entertain themselves in the so-called greatest event of the century, so at least, once everyone vanished, there was going to be someone left to deal with the enemies.r

Additionally, the Mages and other high level Energy Formers of the Reacher Academy whom he was sure were not all that interested in wasting several weeks worth of time by attending the EverSword House event would help. Probably.r

'Oh well, I'm just a mercenary. I shouldn't think too much,' the Bloodless Steel Phantom thought with a sigh.r

*r

At the very heart of Genhuis City, in the Governor's Manor, Viccil clashed with the tall assassin who relentlessly kept up the energy despite being horribly outmatched. Her only advantage was her Mythical grade treasure which granted her an outrageous amount of physical boons like enhanced speed, strength and resilience. r

Possibly, the idea of her grinning wider and wider after eating blows that would have smashed the average Master into unrecognisable bits without going insane, could be classified as another one of the more potent strengths that deserved praise. Her willpower was inhuman and it did not ease Viccil's nerves at all.r

With her innate powers, other than her raw physical qualities shut away because of unfortunate circumstances, she was only left with drastic options she didn't favour to implement so casually.r

'I knew Maqi had insane characters but this is madness. This woman even came equipped to deal with compulsion. That axe of hers must defy it effectively on top of everything else it can do,' Viccil thought exasperatedly.r

When she had asked who the assassin was at the beginning of the battle, she had expected the tall woman to be forced to answer at least because her words compelled the soul. However, even that had failed.r

Normally, peak Master Stage experts, especially when fused with their Genuine Incarnation could resist compulsion to some degree, but a request that required mere word of mouth should have passable.r

Sadly... this wasn't the average Master.r

Viccil checked up on Darwel and saw that she was still hanging on, though only barely.r

The plant she had forcibly awakened was quickly running out of pure mana and the effects of the assassin's axe, which were quite effective on living things, were accelerating its expenditure, leading it to its inevitable collapse.r

Soon, both the plant and Darwel would turn into rubbery goo and die if Viccil didn't end this quickly.r

A bright glow, flowing out of the veiled guard like paint had already begun to exert itself within the dark space where she trapped with the assassin.r

The tall woman knew what Darwel was about to do but she wasn't at all fazed. Either she had something up her sleeve or she didn't mind dying right here.r

Viccil was almost sure it was the latter.r

In any case, the guard, while recognising that within the large manor were several important figures as well as tens more lives she would end if she projected her Territory, did not see enough reason not to burn everything down for her sworn lady.r

Her duty first and foremost was as a guard for royalty!r

Everything else was secondary.r

She crossed her arms and balled her one hand into a fist before her knees and called...r

"Majestic Te—"r

Unexpectedly, a silver glow suddenly covered her body, interrupting her flow of energy.r

Immediately, Viccil was forced to remember.r

Of course!r

The tension had made her forget that it was time.r

The same look of realisation appeared on Darwel who was also overtaken by the bright light that gushed from her Control Seal, signalling that the hours belonging to the EverSword House's event demanded attention.r

She had to contend and Viccil had to witness.r

The tall woman watched the spatial glow with exasperated eyes.r

The timing was both a blessing and curse from her view. Unfortunately, she had no control over this. Her whole strategy had been based off the lucky situation she had found herself in and now... she had lost it.r

*r

While millions of flashes of the silver glow flared all throughout the city, witnesses and contenders alike pulled in by the authority of the Control Seal, Skullius hid his tools back in his storage.r

Sadly, the unwanted surprise had come and gone without him being able to do anything but be left with the lock-on of curious eyes that seemed to ask the same question.r

What was that?r

One would be a fool not to realise that amidst everything that happened, Skullius seemed to be target and object of interest for whatever that terribly powerful thing was.r

It gazed at him and spoke in a language that everyone else could not understand....except the Hybrid Luman.r

While the relationship between them didn't seem friendly, Sevill and Gillewart at least knew who to turn to for answers.r

Unfortunately for them, the Hybrid Luman didn't have the first clue on what on earth had caused such a thing to happen. With enough thought, he was starting to get closer to reasonable theories and conclusions, but the look on his face suggested heavily that right now wasn't the time to ask.r

Skullius grumbled and clutched his head.r

'Why does a large scale disaster always follow whenever I visit a new city?' he thought while trying to cool his heating mind that was sharing processing qualities with the Omniscient Thought Cracker.r

He had to give props to his atrocious luck though, it didn't seem to run out of ways to screw him over. Admittedly, things had been going smooth, a bit too smooth for the past month and a half, making Skullius remember that he did in fact have this active, accursed attribute.r

Was this a return to form or was what Serenity had told him back then during their first encounter starting to come to pass?r

Whichever it was, Skullius didn't get the chance to think it over.r

In the moments he took to contemplate all of this, he and Sevill were transported to the venue for the Premium Age Royale, leaving Gillewart standing alone in the messy remains of the Bryne Family Residence.r

The Hybrid Luman appeared in the familiar tent within his own separate, comfortable space as a contender. r

Immediately, concentrated bursts of noise blasted against his ears from the millions occupying the stadium, some relieved and some still in a bit of shock – mainly the common witnesses.r

At the top layers of the stadium, the Governor, his son, Alaris, Ruhrees as well as other distinguished individuals just spawned in their seats as well.r

Rearren who was seated with his son and wife at his sides at the zenith looked down, an infuriating smirk appearing on his face.r

"I understand your apprehension against the event..." he said, garnering the attention of the Governor and Ruhrees in particular who had been with him in the meeting to discuss the termination of the event.r

"...But look at this. This same luxury that many are coming to watch for free is what saved the city's folk from destruction, is it not? Don't let bias cloud your judgement. You know I'm right. Millions has been saved today because of me. The least you can do now in appreciation, is to stop barking and let the event see its conclusion."r

An undeniable declaration was made.r