Chapter 761 Announcement of the Participants
By the third week, the construction of the Colosseum was finallypleted, and the remainder of the week was devoted entirely to testing to ensure everything met the necessary standards. Both sides pushed every avable system to its limits, stress-testing the arena’sponents, shielding, and environmental controls.
This wasn’t just about verifying functionality; it was also a matter of trust—or theck thereof. Both sides were highly suspicious of one another, meticulously scanning for any hidden backdoors or subtle sabotage. No one wanted to risk the possibility of a sudden disadvantage due to an exploit or unseen maniption. Both sides scrutinized every circuit, magic circle, and protocol, working tirelessly to confirm that nothing had been tampered with and that the arena was truly neutral ground.
While the systems were being tested, Liasas met once again with the negotiator to finalize and deliver the list of contenders, a requirement that had to be fulfilled before the construction period ended.
“The list of participants from the Conve’s side has beenpleted and is as follows,” Liasas began.
“For the Xor’Vaks, it will be Princess Seraphina. For the Valthorins, Vaxerion. The representative of Zelvora will be Xylor. The Trinarians have chosen Zynarel, and for the Symmetra, it will be Liyora. The Erythians will not send an individual but will deploy their sentient weapon, NO: 70. From the Galvinith, Yzara will enter the arena, and the Shadari have selected Zyran. The ra will be represented by Vaelthar, and the Feryn have sent Lunaris. The Yrral Coalition has opted to field Mecha 765, with its weapons limited to those meeting the established rules...”
Liasas continued listing the names of the remaining contenders from the other four civilizations. With each name spoken, the members of the Conve in leadership positions—those with ess to intelligence about these individuals—could feel the blood draining from their faces. A sinking realization settled in as the enormity of the situation became clear: each of these contenders was among the top one hundred strongest in their respective civilizations and, at the moment, the most powerful individuals avable in the sector.
The implication was unavoidable—no one on the Conve''s side was holding back. This was an all-in strategy. The uing fight would not be a contest but a brutal demonstration, a one-sided massacre in the making. Many leaders who didn’t decide to fight and had selected the basic agreement suddenly found themselves losing any desire to even witness the battle.
The citizens of the Empire, unfamiliar with the strength or reputation of the names just mentioned, were nheless aware that their opponents would field their strongest contenders. The names listed were likely to be the most formidable warriors avable.
Attention quickly shifted back to the negotiator, as both sides eagerly anticipated the announcement of their representatives. Reactions varied: some disyed keen interest, others scoffed in mockery, while a few appeared bored or indifferent.
Liasas, too, was among those waiting with bated breath for the opposing side to begin naming their fighters, her curiosity piqued about who they would choose topete.
“From the Terran Empire, there will be only one participant,” the negotiator announced. Liasas''s expression shifted to one of surprise, but the negotiator pressed on, unfazed. “I, Emperor Aron Michael, will be the sole contender,” he dered, gesturing to himself with a confident nod.
To say that both sides were surprised by his deration would be an understatement of monumental proportions. Liasas was particrly taken aback, realizing that not only was the Terran Empire sending a single participant to face the strongest individuals from each civilization, but that the participant was none other than the emperor himself—Aron Michael, the very leader with whom she had been negotiating throughout this entire ordeal.
This revtion suddenly pieced together the puzzle she had been trying to solve. From the outset, Aron had made every decision independently, without consulting anyone else, no matter the demands from the other side. It all clicked: only a leader with absolute power could afford to act so decisively, especially one with dominion over the entire government.
Meanwhile, the citizens of the Empire reacted with a mix of emotions. They were shocked to learn that their emperor would face off against individuals whose true powers were still unknown to them. Despite the assurances of his strength, many felt a gnawing worry. If Aron were to fall in battle, the empire he held together might plunge into chaos, a prospect that frightened everyone—supporters and dissenters alike—who had finally begun to enjoy life free from the constant fear of survival.
The reactions of the chosen fighters on the Conve''s side were as diverse as their backgrounds, each reflecting their unique personalities. Some were eager to face off against the emperor, their minds already racing with visions of victory and glory. Others felt a simmering anger, perceiving the singlebatant as an affront that belittled their capabilities; they longed to make the Terran Empire regret its decision by exacting revenge on their leader and dismantling the empire in the process.
Among them, the thorins and Xor''Vaks exhibited a different mindset. They were not just excited but ted at the prospect of battling the emperor of the opposing side. For the thorins, defeating Aron Michael would mean regaining their lost honor, a chance to prove their worth in the eyes of their peers. Meanwhile, the Xor''Vaks saw this confrontation as an opportunity to punish those who had dared to speak their leaders'' names in vain, an act they would not forget easily.
“Are you sure about that?” Liasas asked, her tone now more respectful than before.
“As far as I remember, the agreement allowed for such situations,” he replied calmly, his demeanor unchanged despite his theoretically higher position.
“What happens if you lose in the first fight and are unable to continue?” Liasas asked, regaining herposure. It was a question on many minds, as the fight agreementcked a use for breaks, apart from the twenty-minute intermissions to check for structural issues in the Colosseum.
“Should I lose a fight by epting defeat or die before the next match, you will be considered to have won all subsequent fights,” he answered, demonstrating that he had already contemted this scenario.
“Understood. We ept your participation, and you have until the end of the construction period to add more fighters,” she stated respectfully. N?v(el)B\\jnn
“Thank you,” he replied, standing up and making his way back to his ship, which immediately set course for the Colosseum, where he intended to inspect thepleted structure.
Liasas remained silent, simply watching his ship as it moved away. With the construction of the Colosseum nowplete and the participants officially announced, everyone was permitted to explore the arena and familiarize themselves with the surroundings during the testing period. The tests conducted posed no interference with the Colosseum’s operations, allowing participants to assess theyout and prepare for the uing matches.