Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 22: Sky isn't Boundless, part 3
...—Night | Wild Arena, Dragonoa, Warebeast Great Kingdom—...
Retraining her instincts by participating in free-fight duels that are held every night is not the only thing Alice does in her wait for the tournament to be held. He also actively collected information, both information about the empire and the Islan as a whole. Therefore, although Alice was not in the empire, she understood a little how the state of the land where Clara was buried.
However, from all the information he had obtained after two more months of living in Dragonoa, one of the two most concerned was the actions of Xavier and Kanna in the war that ended with the disappearance of the Ilamia City States Union from the surface of the Islan. He said they were facing a colossal dragon. There was no information whose clarity was convincing, but almost all of the mentions of the dragon were clearly above the level of a Dragon Lord.
Both Xavier and Kanna, both of them have developed into extraordinarily powerful. If two years ago she could keep up with Kanna (though only in the beginning), now Alice is not sure. It can fire light, even become light— even though its speed cannot match light. However, if he cannot free himself from the influence of his run Kanna, he will not be able to win.
The other, and most unbelievable, position of Eleventh Commander is now no longer held by Nizivia von Clasta. Nizivia was killed, but others said the girl was in exile. Clearly, the position of Eleventh Commander was now held by someone else. Alice's concern was certainly not in the other person, but rather in the absence of Nizivia itself.
Nizivia is not Clara, but Nizivia is not a stranger to Alice. Sometimes they spend time together. Nizivia likes to do extra training, as well as herself. Nizivia won't be able to get close to Clara and Karen in Alice's heart, but Nizivia is close. He did not feel upset at the girl, in contrast to Kanna and Xavier. Therefore, hearing the possibility of the girl did not not make Alice happy.
“Evil Mask, your time has arrived!” exclaim the host as well as the referee in the fight tonight. “Tonight there was a contestant who loudly said he would beat you. He was quite famous not only in this Dragonoa, but also in the entire Warebeast Great Kingdom. Are you going to accept the challenge?”
Alice who was busy with her own thoughts in the row of audience seats spontaneously set her sights on the referee on the arena— floor - a marble-based floor and mytril square-shaped measuring 20 x 20 meters.
“No problem,” response Alice flat as usual. “Whatever the opponent, the result will be the same.”
Audience cheers—threeps Alice fans who are not few—when filled the arena. They had on average seen Alice competing. It was clear to them to justify Alice's arrogant speech. Although Alice is human, and although they are warebeast, strength is still strength. The strong are recognized, the weak seek recognition, and the extraordinarily strong give recognition. Such was the simple thing that was embraced above this arena.
However, scorn is also heard. This time the sound of ridicule was no less great than the sound of support. However, considering the referee said his opponent was a famous individual, it became a natural thing. And, like all the scorn, Alice will silence them with her victory.
“How much awesome confidence!” exclaimed the referee while raising both hands dramatically. “However, is this time he able to maintain that confidence?” The referee ignored the roar of the audience. “Now, welcome the Evil Mask challenger, Hyenas Ertharossa!”
The golden brown-haired female warebeast with mature brown leather leaped from the crowd of spectators and landed roughly in the arena. A platinum spear bemata mythril clasped tightly in his right hand.
“Evil Mask!” hyenas exclaimed loudly, his voice full of pride—as can be expected from the king's grandson. “I've decided to make you an opponent to test my strength. Grandfather forbade me from entering the tournament tomorrow, so I decided I would finish you instead.”
Alice stood up from where she was educated, leaping and landing elegantly on the arena floor. “Your status here as the grandson of His Majesty the King is not important at all,” he said calmly. “Majulah, and you will soon catch up with those who lost.”
“Heh, well, I'll turn those words over to you. The referee! Start the match.”
The referee nodded, spontaneously darting away to the edge of the arena. At the same time, several layers of barrier formed around the arena. “Start!” exclaim the referee loudly.
“Art of Beastification,” whispered Hyenas, as soon as his body was enveloped [where] gray. “First Phase: Beast Ultimate Strength!”
[The gray mana] that enveloped Hyenas slowly reddened, then in an instant became wild and slowly seeped into Hyenas' body. A second later Hyenas' nails extended, the veins on his neck stiffened, and three black lines appeared on each of his cheeks. Hyenas who used to look beautiful and proud and authoritative like a ruler, now looks very wild.
However, the first blow did not belong to Hyenas. Letting your opponent be strong was not Alice's habit. Along with Hyenas who was beginning to change, Alice was already in front of Hyenas and smashed into the princess's face with her right foot. Hyenas crashed strongly along with the completion of the first phase of his Art of Beastification.
...* * *...
In one corner of the spectator stands, Xavier sat quietly looking at the match. He came to the arena because he heard rumors that a great user of light magic continued to win game after game every night. It was not the fact that he had never lost that brought Xavier here, but the fact that the individual was a user of [Light Magic].
Alice Skyward used [Light Magic], and she was very good at it. Xavier didn't know how great he had progressed, but he thought that perhaps Alice could now compensate Commander Herena in the possession of [Light Magic]. Alice is talented, not to rule out the possibility if she has surpassed the commander. But that doesn't mean Alice can beat Herena. Xavier had to see what Alice's full strength was like to be able to deduce.
The masked individual who was cornering Hyenas Ertharossa in the spear game was a woman. His spear game is no stranger; Xavier knows because he has already fought with Alice. And, to be honest, Alice's ability with her sword and spear back then was better and Xavier's. He almost lost to the girl.
Therefore, Xavier was convinced he was the one he was looking for. Evil Mask is Alice Skyward.99 percent chance; the remaining 1 percent is just misfortune if he may be wrong.
However, Xavier has no plans to meet Alice tonight. He will be in the tournament tomorrow. He would defeat Alice then and leave her with no other choice but to follow him to Vladivta Kingdom.
Xavier wouldn't have forced Alice to follow him to Nevada if she didn't. But they do need to talk.