Aetheral Space

Chapter 354:13.12: The Tree of Might

The body was dumped at Nael’s feet.

Azrael’s dead eyes stared up towards the ceiling of the warehouse. The Crimson Carnival had made their temporary base in an industrial sector of Azum-Ha, while their ship drifted in orbit as a decoy. It had been Azrael’s idea. Probably one of his better ones. Better than volunteering to go after Atoy Muzazi, anyway.

Impaled from behind. Nael’s frown deepened. Did that check out? He’d heard some stuff about Atoy Muzazi, and that didn’t sound like the sort of thing he’d do.

But, then again… did it really matter?

"The rest?" Nael asked, his eyes flicking up to the taller of the Hellion Twins. One Hellion and Two Hellion, they said they were called, both with bristly orange hair, blazing gold eyes and gleaming white fangs. Pugants or whatever.

Two Hellion clicked his teeth together, stepping in front of his brother. "No successful kills on the contestants," he said, saliva nearly overpowering his shrill, thin voice. "But that was expected, it was. All the footage and -- and biometrics they recorded made it back to us."

One Hellion nodded stoically. "Tanya is going through it," he said, crossing his arms. "Once she has combat profiles and has fought them a few times herself, we’ll pass you the information."

Tanya… which one was Tanya? The woman with the bright blue eyes, right? Blonde hair? Mechanical jaw?

Apparently, she had some kind of ability -- once she had a mental profile of someone, she could fight a simulated version of them as many times as she liked. Helped with strategy. No doubt she’d fought Nael quite a few times, already, in preparation for the betrayal.

It didn’t take a genius to see that the Crimson Carnival was a gang of knives waiting for the promised back. They’d gathered around Nael for the unique power he could offer them -- and now that they had it, they were eager to get rid of him and take his place. The metal chair Nael sat in was a literal pain in the ass, but to these idiots it must have seemed a throne.

Azrael had wanted the throne. The Hellion Twins wanted the throne. Tanya wanted the throne.

Well, they were welcome to try. It didn’t matter how many knives went for his back. They’d already been beaten to the punch.

Atoy Muzazi’s eyes scanned the chart, the holographic display floating before his face. He was hunched over on the couch of his hotel room, brow knitted together deeply as he considered the future.

That was it, then. He’d be taking on Nael Manron in the first round. By the end of tomorrow, one of them would be a winner and one of them would be a loser. Most likely, one of them would be dead.

Muzazi clenched his clasped hands together. To be truthful, he’d been hoping for a less formidable opponent for round one. Then again, who in this tournament wasn’t formidable?

But still… Nael Manron clearly had resources to leverage, and the boldness to do so. His attack on the other contestants last night hadn’t been successful, but Muzazi had no doubt he’d managed to gather useful intelligence in the process. If all those resources were now pointed at Muzazi alone… matters could become difficult.

His eyes slid over the chart, to where Dragan Hadrien’s name was written. He’d be taking on the First Branch of the Tree of Might for his first round, it seemed. Poor bastard. Muzazi didn’t know how Dragan had developed since they’d last seen each other, but he didn’t seem the type to go easy on a child.

A child.

Gregori’s accusatory words came back to him from the night before. It wasn’t as if they were true, at least not entirely -- Gregori didn’t know the full picture -- but they stung all the same. When the time came… how would he make sure Aclima was safe?

They’re mutually exclusive.

They were not. He would find a way. Even if Aclima didn’t believe in him any longer, he wouldn’t give up on her.

She was plotting something herself, though. That much was obvious. She and her two lackeys had finally returned to the hotel on their own last night, making the entire

Rae’s smile dropped from her face, pink eyes dull against her blonde hair. "So that’s it?"

For the first time, the teenager that was Xander Rain was clearly visible. His face was almost sheepish as his eyes flicked away. "I…"

He didn’t get the chance to say anything else. Before he could, Rae sighed, slipping her script back into her jacket pocket.

"Well, thank you very much," she said, disinterest clear in her gaze. "My people will send across the airing times if you want to watch it. Best of luck in your match tonight. Can we get a ride back?"

Xander’s brow creased, and he stomped forward. "Hey! Halt! There is still far more to see!"

Rae raised an eyebrow. "There is?"

Xander’s eyes flicked around again -- to the left, to the right, taking in the figures of all the other Tree of Might members. Right. Bruno got it: the First Branch couldn’t let himself be shown up in front of the rank-and-file.

"You spoke of the match tonight," he said, stoic look returning to his face. "You wished me luck. But you need not wish me luck in advance."

"How’s that?"

Suddenly, the building shook all around them. Bruno stumbled in place from the sudden movement, dust spilling from the ceiling and onto his head. The rest of the party got quick dust-showers as well. Before the dust could fall on Xander, though, it suddenly diverted and fell next to him, like it had hit an invisible umbrella.

"What is this?!" Ruth demanded, regaining her balance. Next to her, Rae just continued to look up at their host, steady on her feet.

Xander looked at Ruth for the first time. "This is Azum-Ha," he said, as if the whole thing was obvious. "The city of floating buildings. This ancient temple is no exception. We have taken flight, my friend. And our destination…"

He smiled.

"...is the Dawn Contest! You will bear witness to its beginning."