Shadow of the Abyss

Within a luxurious suite overlooking the Coliseum, the Duke grimly sat with a drink in his hand. Unable to believe his former fiancé had returned in such a way. His teeth gritted until the blood pooled in his mouth.

He could still taste the tinge of humiliation she brought to his house. Her Father, before his unfortunate passing, had promised her to him. Vaiga was one of Earth's most talented individuals, whose beauty was said to be unmatched by only the queen herself. He'd loved her dearly since he was a boy, no more than nine. But Vaiga cared little of anything outside the blade. It was her obsession.

One that caused her to forgo noble outings. When his Father, Lord Premos Aros, told him he was to wed Vaiga Silwood. Garel nearly fell to his knee before his Lord Father with relief.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door, and Duke Garel tensed.

"Enter,' He said, half expectantly. He knew who was at the door. And it made his gut drop as the acid slid up his throat. When the door opened, Garel didn't even glance at Bernard, finding Vaiga's pearly ones, still vibrant as the effervescence springs.

"Vaiga…" He called to her, or at least he thought he did, as she approached him.

"Greetings Duke Garel Aros. Admiral Vaiga Darkfire." She indifferently said, offering a him a hand.

The Duke caught himself and stood up, unwilling to make himself look a fool. He shook her hand. "You changed your Surname."

"I've cut ties with my former house." She said.

The Duke saw her men fill the room, away from the door and window, pressing their backs to the wall as if they expected trouble.

"It's protocol." the Admiral said.

Following behind the Imperial Officers, Maylar appeared with the Master of Arms by her side. She greeted the Duke, found a seat by his side, and signaled for the Head Bulter to bring some refreshments to help dampen the tense atmosphere.

"Vaiga, how have you been? I hear there's been word from the Emperor."

"Probably." Vaiga idly said. She took a seat. "But as you know, the Imperial Forces are made up of mostly Earthlings and a few neighboring planets, but we work directly under the Republic." She glanced through the looking window down towards the Coliseum and the specks of children beginning to gather. "The Emperor is aware of our every action but has a mild amount of sway in what we actually do."

"Then why are you here?" Maylar asked.

"To recruit on behalf of Genesis," Vannos said, smiling. "We've heard that House Aros had a fine asset, so we came to recruit him into our military branch before someone steals him away."

"Like my son?" Maylar mused as a few servants brought in refreshments, to which Vaiga and her men refused. When the servants left, the Viscountess beamed. "You gave him a free pass without watching him fight."

"The Admiral sensed potential. His blood is packed with untapped power." Captain Vannos told her when the stadium came to life. Fireworks erupted through the skies as the crowd began to cheer wildly.

Once more, the Suite door opened. " Garel, so this is where you were hiding!" a candid voice stormed, bringing about a harsh metallic Mana. Marquess Eli Cross stepped in, stopping as his eyes landed on Vaiga and then her badge. He smiled almost immediately. "Vaiga, you little bitch! How dare you not call me for twenty years!

How the hell are you!"

Tall with a bronzed complexion and the build of a giant, Eli wrapped his meaty arms around her, laughing. " How are you doing, girl? I see you are an Admiral! Good looking out! You found a man yet!"

"Uncle," Vaiga moaned, utterly embarrassed. She glanced at her men, smirking, and her face went completely red, praying for a hole in which to die.

"I heard you were coming." The Duke said flatly. He was no ally of Eli, nor was he someone he usually consorted with." I just didn't think you'd actually show."

"I heard one of the new descendants got sponsored by a God. I came to check him out." Eli shouted and laughed. "Oh, Leonie, come on in! Guys, this is Leonie, the spawn of my Balls."

"GOD DAMNIT FATHER!!! STOP SAYING THAT!!!" a thunderous wail followed as a fist came crashing down over Eli's head, slamming him into the stone. The entire room shook as webs of cracks traveled the walls.

Eli instantly arose, beaming. "Teehee!"

'Shameless,' everyone thought.

Vagia looked over Leonie to her dual pupil eyes. "Wow… " She exclaimed, wanting to take another look when someone else caught her eye stepping inside. Coldness pinched her heart as she sucked in a long breath.

A small child with snow-white hair, wearing a pristine white mask that warded her from even her perception, appeared.

Syris glanced around the room, at the chaos, and then the Duke. "Am I participating?" She asked him.

The Duke was ready to answer, but Maylar spoke up first. "Do you want to participate?"

"Not really."

"Then don't bother," Maylar said, patting the seat beside her. "Why don't you watch with us? I'm sure there'll be some interesting party that might gain your interest."

Syris didn't think so, but she figured she should show House Aros some Face when they were surrounded by equals, like the marquess and a few others she didn't recognize.

She nodded. "Sure."

Vaiga said nothing, but everyone within the room could sense it. They could feel this girl's monstrous 'Presence' weighing over their bones.

Slowly, the room began to be filled. Faces of new and old began to appear one after the other, filling the air with vigor. When drinks were served, Syris silently departed while everyone's attention fell upon the tournament.

Erratic cheers electrified the air with excitement.

"Are you ready!" The commentator shouted. The crowd roared, stirring the stadium into pandemonium.

Admiral Vaiga watched on, a little bored until she saw Laros step onto the mount. Wielding Golden Black Phoenix Flames, heat danced through the air following the cries of his opponents.

"Is that the Flame Blessed by the Gods," Baron Remos Tavon inquired. "What a fearsome power. The heat still lingers despite losing its source."

Maylar grinned. "No less from the Gods." -official

"I guess... but he lost against… what was his name? Altair? Or was it something else?" Sir Walis Tumar mused, turning Maylar's smile stiff. "Will he be participating? Or is he still dungeoning?"

Alerting a few ears within the crowd of noblemen, merchants, Slavers, and corporations. Many began to turn their way.

"He's dead." The Duke coldly said. "The dungeon abruptly closed six months ago."

Vaiga resisted the urge to frown and glanced down at the battle below. 'If he were dead… then who sent that message three months ago?' she thought, narrowing her violet eyes. 'Just what are you scheming child?'

Eli brushed his palm over Vaiga's arm. "How are you doing, girl? If you want, we could leave." He whispered, knowing the history all well between her and House Aros. "You don't have to stay here."

"I'm fine, Uncle. Never mind me, how are you? How's Tamma?"

"Sick with the flu. But Tamma is good overall!" He chuckled and glanced at Leonie, carrying her dark blue hair. The girl glanced up at Vaiga.

"Are you strong, Aunty?"

"Very."

"Stronger than Father?" Leonie inquired, looking at the badge she was sure could be given to just about anyone, just like noble titles.

Eli guffawed. "Silly girl! Vaiga is said to be one of the strongest women on earth. Few could match her skill, and fewer her cultivation. Twenty Years ago, she was a seventh Circle. I can't even imagine how powerful she is now."

Again, Vaiga felt like crawling into a hole to die as many eyes swayed toward her. She cursed her uncle's excessive ability to be loud when the crowd went wild as time continued to pass. Vaiga had already made a list, finding a few with potential.

"Are you ready, Ladies and Gentlemen, for our final battle in the junior division? Welcome to the stage, Laros and  Baltos of HOUSEAROS," The commentator announced.

Below, standing over the bloodied dirt, Laros stood surrounded by heat so intense the ground glowed. Across from him, a boy a head taller wielding a longsword stood, his skin tanned and wet with scars from his last battle.

"Surrender," Laros said to Baltos over the sandy battleground, clear that Baltos would only serve to waste his Mana and time.

"No.' Baltos replied hard, grinning with barely the strength to wield his sword.  "Do me the honor of at least knocking me out." he trembled but held steadfast.

The colosseum went silent, watching as Laros unsheathed his longsword. "Alright." He replied with a griping edge in his voice.

It was then Baltos felt something off, and without thinking as his heart hammered against his chest, he leaped into a barrel roll when a great tongue of flames rushed him. Baltos barely escaped death when he looked up to find Laros appearing with the help of Phoenix Step, his clan's movement technique, bashed his knee against his jaw.

Blood sprayed over the sand, leaving Baltos dazed. He looked up, barely able to discern between sword or light, as it came entering through his chest. Baltos froze, looked down at the sword, and then up into Laros's cold, unfeely eyes. "Why?" He muttered as the light within his eyes faded into the deep pit of oblivion.

Laros pulled his sword from still warm body and whipped his sword clean as the crowd went wild.

Cheers of many roared, shaking the estate for miles on end.

"WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!" Roared the commentator as the crowd fell into cheers while medics charged onto the stage in hopes of saving Baltor.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM~

Suddenly, without warning, a large scar tore through space, dividing Heaven And Earth. The stage went silent as hundreds looked up with terrified eyes, unsure if they were witnessing the birth of a dungeon.

From within the VIP suite, Vaiga stood up, shattering the glass before her with a wave of her palm. When a hand pressed over her shoulder, She turned to look at an unfamiliar young man who bled the air of a Corporate Soldier.

"Give it a minute. " He calmly said as an arc of scarlet lighting blanketed the heavens in a deafening abyss of red.

Presence filled the skies, falling like the blade of Damocles over the necks of men and woman, elderly and child. So terrified their breaths became caught in the back of their throat as many fell to their knees. Petrified.

The scar, a mile above their heads, slowly bled, and from its tear, a shrieking blade of Infernal Lightning struck the center of the Coliseum in a blinding flash of ephemeral light. A deafening eruption ruptured the ears of many, blasting them on their back as the shock wave whipped past them.

And from the silence, childlike laughter, cold and unfeely, echoed. " I'm back!"

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