EPISODE 227: WAY OF THE WORLD 3

— Federation of Farya, Year 7293. Season: New Beginning.

Amaya watched the [Arbitrators] leave. She scoffed. "They could have introduced themselves first."

"That was Mojo Kano and Asan Yola. The Fist and Raven," Selene commented. "I didn't expect them to make a move tonight… they are…"

"Reckless," Viviana finished, folding her arms across her chest.

"I was thinking more... rash … than anything," Selene responded. "Whatever their planning…," she trailed off.

"Doesn't matter," Viviana responded, shaking her head. "Let the muscles do their jobs," she waved at Ade Oni and the rest.

"Ade, next time…" Amaya sighed, stopping her sentence before it could finish. Ade Oni had always been… hardheaded. And, that was putting it lightly. At least he warned her beforehand.

"Hmph," Ade scoffed. "Let me do what I agreed to do during this trip."

"Make trouble?" Viviana laughed, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Exactly."

That comment scored a laugh from the rest.

The meeting quickly ended. Its participants filled in on their roles and the part they would play in the following days. No magi was scared of a fight—proving their superiority was just another pastime. The New Greats retired to their rooms. Some had dreams of grandeur, others, worries for their mission. A responsibility had been placed on their shoulders, one they weren't all certain they were ready for. Regardless of their worries and dreams, the night passed anyway. They would rise to the challenge or fall. And, should they fall, then perhaps their companions would pick them up. A new dawn approached, and with it, a young dwarf fiddled with the golden studded abacus in his beard.

Ninjaro laughed, a deep, rich thing that didn't quite seem genuine—it was calculative, produced to get a certain result that his guest couldn't quite understand, not that she knew of it in the first place. "Fools—at least I can use them to test the waters. Did they think I deliberately placed a day before meeting the magi for no reason?"

…

Ninjaro glanced to his left, where a dwarf dressed in white stood. The woman was tall, taller than he, and her expression remained stoic and disapproving.

"Oh, don't like what I'm doing, Ai'esha," Ninjaro smiled, but the smile never reached his eyes.

"So long as you deliver what is promised. Then the Warri clan will have no qualms with you."

Ninjaro smiled again, this time it reached his eyes. He moved from his position, no longer looking outside as he faced Ai'esha Warri. A serious tone entered his voice as he spoke. "Have I ever failed since…," he purposely trailed off, but Aiesha understood what he was referring to.

"No. But that is the problem. You are starting to believe you're infallible," Ai'esha shook her head and turned away to leave. She halted by the door and gave her final words. "You're no demigod, Ninjaro, you're not grandfather—you're not strong, not truly, not enough to dominate by yourself. You've changed, not the young, playful master of the Ibadan clan I once knew—I once truly called a friend. Deliver what is promised."

Ai'esha left, leaving Ninjaro to enjoy the rising sun by his lonesome. He returned his gaze to the city, watching bit by bit as it came to life. Not once had his hand stopped stroking his abacus, moving its pieces from one end to another— calculating . The words left behind by Ai'esha didn't seem to bother him, or even have a lasting impact.

"Well then… let the show begin."

Excitement coursed through the city of Faria as whispers of a magi challenge made its way around. The humans of the city were given strange looks as some wondered if they were the audacious people to challenge an Arbitrator. The excitement coursed its way downward through large veins that extended to Faria's underneath. A city above… and below.

The Awni Pavilion was a massive structure boasting over a dozen floors, each bigger than the last. It was shaped like an upside-down triangle, carved from the very bedrock beneath the upper portion of the city. Large veins provided transportation as the envoys descended downwards. Their escort was an Arbitrator, one under the Abacus faction. The demurely dressed female dwarf described the great city in detail, boring some members of the Chosen's Envoys while exciting others.

"Faria is like a coin—she holds two faces. Above is where most of our non-dwarven inhabitants live, while below is where the city comes to life."

Amaya listened politely, she was interested, yes, but the views of the descending platform drew her attention far better than this Arbitrator. Selene sensed this and engaged with the Arbitrator while Amaya studied the view, partially listening to their conversation.

"How exactly was the under-city constructed?"

The Arbitrator's eyes lit up. "By hand, of course, we Giant Dwarves possess a bloodline skill that tunes us particularly well with the earth. It is by His fortune that we are able to do so."

The under-city of Faria was massive, with tall buildings, each at minimum a dozen floors in height, rising upward like stalagmites. Lights colored the city, flaming magma balls that hovered above raised caldrons—their chains extending from the ceiling. The city was over a kilometer beneath its counterpart and seemed nearly like a different place altogether. It was, however, still orderly in a manner where mage towers and more had certain placements. Like above, it was split into thirteen districts, only this time they surrounded a palace in the center.

"That right there," the Arbitrator pointed as she spoke. "Is the Awni Pavilion. It is a famed area that holds thirteen floors, the largest at its height, while the smallest is at its base. The stronger one is, the deeper they descend. It holds the special property of opening all floors and allowing the crowds to view the very bottom from the top, but I personally believe the view isn't that special."

Amaya and Selene exchanged a look as the Arbitrator continued to speak.

"The city is young, but she was constructed in nearly a year as all thirteen clans moved to do so. My family, the Sokoto, is there," she pointed. "We are the descendants of the fifth child of Farya and…"

Before the Arbitrator could continue, Amaya interrupted. She was a woman who liked to speak just as much as the next, but it seemed this Arbitrator was enjoying the sound of her own voice at times.

"Is the under-city restricted to dwarves… and how is it you haven't stumbled across an entrance to the Underneath Below?"

"Oh no, goodness, Demigod Isiro was very insistent that any race would be able to enter the under-city. After he slayed the Prestiges and Demigods of the Merchant Republic of Koi and the Principality of Ardon, it was important to ensure his worship by the new members of our nation wasn't impeded. We Giant Dwarves are a very welcoming species. Don't mind the bad apples like Mojo and his cousin Asan. They just don't understand it's impossible to calculate against Ninjaro, once they do, they'll be like me and realize it's better to work underneath him and gain benefits. Oh, and there are entrances to the Underneath Below, it's just Demigod Isiro's Law of Mechanisms is in play. He's devised a way to push the entrances back, similar to the same way dungeons do!"

'Is this a ploy… or is she purposely being careless,' Helios questioned.

Selene mentally shrugged. 'Ask her more about Ninjaro, what does she mean by it's impossible to calculate against him?'

Helios Romus, who'd been standing to the side but listening, spoke up at the prompting of his sister. "This… Ninjaro, he is the Arbitrator in charge of negotiating with us, yes? What do you mean it's impossible to calculate against him?"

The Arbitrator laughed, a rich, playful thing. "Ninjaro is the next to be in charge after the Path of Apotheosis opens and Demigod Isiro leaves to ascend and plant his seed to become a God. It was his calculations that won us most major battles against the Federation and Principality. When I say it's impossible to calculate against him, I mean it. I've tried."

Helios frowned and shot a glance at his sister, yet before he could ask a following question, the platform descent came to a halt. They had arrived in the under-city.

The city was bustling; far more seemed to be going on beneath the surface than above it. The magi found themselves entering vehicles that looked like rolling dirt mounds. Amaya paused in admiration, posing a few questions to their guide once it began to move.

"This is…," Amaya questioned, fascinated by the interior. It was sleek, with cushioned seats and a stabilized interior whose temperature could be controlled. The vehicle rolled through the ground like a moving pile of dirt.

"This is a Rooly—it's a personal vehicle used to traverse the city, and the larger ones are meant to traverse from city to city."

"How does it work? I'd assume it's powered by a mana source."

"You're correct, a mana crystal powers it, but beast cores work just as well. It's nothing more than a circular ball displacing the ground—its mode of travel allows quick, nearly omnidirectional movement."

The pair continued to chat as they traveled. It was only several minutes later that their conversation halted, as did the Rooly.

Ade Oni was the first to emerge. He gazed at the tall building, harrumphing at its theatrical nature. Its surroundings were packed, but a path was quickly cleared for them as the city's guards emerged. Eyes turned, and heated gazes landed on the party of magi. Whispered conversations made their way into their ears.

"…look no different than human."

"…the red hair one challenged [Arbitrator] Mojo. I heard…"

"Envoys of the Chosen of Madris… not much to look at… I heard he's twelve meters tall with…"

Ade shook his head and followed the escorts to an entrance at the bottom of the building. Many crowds stood on rising platforms as they made their way upward.

"It seems they wish to make a spectacle out of this," Lorde commented as he pulled up next to the Oni.

"Tuh, it'll be over in five minutes," Ade Oni scoffed. "I don't believe Energy-based warriors can best the weakest Chi user."

"Mojo is stated to be a close-range fighter who uses both Earth and Fire in his attacks. His level is unknown, but it's estimated to be between level one hundred and one hundred thirty-five," Lorde warned. He gave a devious smile as he next spoke. "You could always let me fight against him."

"And steal the honor of the first official fight," Ade laughed. "That's not happening."

The young man meditated quietly in the room provided. The group split shortly after entering the Awni Pavilion. Ade Oni and Helios Romus were provided with rooms as they awaited their opponents. Ade Oni calmly meditated, silently, he pulled up his status sheet.

Ade Travax Oni – Level 110

HP: 1485/1485 (+675)

SP: 1200/1200 (+675)

CP: 1530/1530 (+780)

Base Atk: 285 (+130)

Base Def: 130 (+90)

HP Regen: 41/Hour (+27)

SP Regen: 33/Hour (+27)

CP Regen: 71/Hour (+52)

Bloodline: [+]

Main Class:

[Blue-Chi Master] — 60

Perks: -

Power: 570 (+260)

2nd Class: ‎ [Oni-Chi Guardian] — 50

Core Skills: [+]

Vitality: 495 (+225)

3rd Class: [LOCKED]

Racial Skills: [+]

Endurance: 400 (+225)

Faith: ‎ Goddess Madris

Status Effects: [+]

Chi: 510 (+260)

Affiliation: ‎ Monarchy Branch (Envoy)

Equipped: ‎ Red-Chi Set

Self: 350 (+225)

2nd Affiliation: Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ‎ House of Oni

Skills: [+]

Intent: 250 (+225)

Achievements:

Active Quest: [+]

Chi Affinity: Fire —100%

Attribute Points: 0

In two going on three years, he had done what many couldn't. To break past the level hundred barrier at his speed could only be considered abnormal, beyond that word, perhaps. It was irregular, the thing the magi heard about in stories of great heroes and legends.

That wasn't the only surprise. He'd achieve mastery, 100%, in the fire element. That meant all skills and self cast abilities would experience an extra 100% damage after all initial calculations. Ade Oni smirked, if an ability increased his Base Attack or Defense by a percentage and it was fire based, then after the initial calculation, he'd receive another 100% increase to whatever the number was. Ade Oni could quickly scale his damage up from its current four hundred fifteen to several thousand just with his current skills… when you added his understanding of fire into the mix…

He had worked hard to achieve this strength, yet no matter the amount of work he put in, he hadn't pulled away from his peers. There were at least six other youths of the same age on the same level range. Yet even with the insanity of their current levels and ages... they still weren't the strongest of this generation.

"…left behind…," Ade muttered. "I'll show them that no warrior of the Oni is left behind."

His eyes snapped open as did the gates before him. Ade Oni stood, a large gauntlet-covered hand reached up as he cracked his neck. The young man wore a light but resilient armor that matched the color of his hair. The red armor held golden highlights that distinguished the Oni while the creature itself was plastered over his back. He wore a headpiece that revealed his face and hair to the world. Loud cheers made their way into his ears, cheers not for him, but for the other fighter who emerged. The battle was beginning.

Mojo Kano was tall, taller than Ade Oni by a few heads. He wore golden armor with black highlights. It was light armor, and like Ade, he held oversized gauntlets.

The crowd roared at his entrance. Mojo seemed to bask in the cheers, his arms raised upward, fingers splayed as he seemed to display his might.

Ade Oni didn't care for the fanfare. He looked around slightly, spotting his companions on one of several floating platforms. He gave them a confident smirk before his attention was back on Mojo.

The Awni Pavilion was open. Its height was immense. If not for the large braziers of flame that sat on every floor, it would seem like darkness consumed everything about the final stage.

Ade Oni tuned out the announcer and all the fanfare. His thoughts drifted back to his first major arena fight and the defeat he suffered.

"No, not a defeat. Just a setback."

"Begin."

Ade was only half paying attention when the words of the announcer called for the start of the battle. He half expected his opponent to charge in immediately, but was surprised as the armored dwarf seemed to be waiting.

Their eyes met, and Mojo raised a hand to beckon him to approach.

Ade Oni smirked. He began to move, not directly toward his opponent but circling him. Mojo didn't turn. He seemed relaxed, certain of his victory.

"(Blue-Chi Steps)."

Blue-Chi Steps

Rarity: Legendary

Category: Class Skill

Properties:

1. Increase movement speed by 250%. ‎ 2. The ground cannot restrict you; take flight with your steps.

Activation Cost:

100 SP, 200 CP — Per ten minutes.

Description:

Leave chi-infused footprints as you pass, expressing the capabilities of a master in the usage of chi.

Blue flaming footsteps were left on the ground as Ade suddenly moved. Sound slowed, the cheers of the crowd lagging behind his speed. He approached from the left, feeling his Chi and Stamina Points drain to power his abilities. It was nothing major, just two and one hundred points respectively—a pittance of his total.

He threw a punch. Ade Oni didn't infuse any extra Chi nor stamina to increase his damage. It was simple, yet it broke through the wind and created a sound like thunder.

Mojo scoffed, finally ordaining to turn his body partially as he caught the blow. "Your natural strength is not bad," Mojo complimented. "But," he squeezed, attempting to crush Ade's gauntlet-covered hand. "It's not eno-"

Ade reacted swiftly, using Mojo's tight grip to bring a chi-infused kick toward his head. This forced the GD to let go and halted him from finishing his sentence.

"Hmph. I heard you're young, no more than eighteen years old. Impressive to reach such a level, no more than a few years after your System Day."

Ade stayed silent, flames licking at his gauntlets. He punched forward, releasing the first charge of his skill. It was another simple thing, nearly mimicking the previous as he took a martial stance. The only difference between the first and last was the flames expelled. They took on the shape of a roaring lion and brought a deafening silence to the crowd as the skill surged forward.

"(Blue Lion's Fist)."

Blue Lion's Fist

Rarity: Legendary

Category: Class Skill

Properties:

1. Punch out with the roar of a lion, increasing Base Attack by 300%. ‎ 2. Unsuspecting enemies are temporarily stunned. ‎ 3. Stunned enemies are dealt an additional 300% damage.

Activation Cost:

200 CP — Two charges.

Description:

Blue Lion's First is a devastating two-pronged attack. Should the stun surprise an enemy, death is nearly guaranteed.

Mojo clasped his hands together. His appearance seemed like a priest in prayer. His eyes remained focused on his opponent as he responded with his skill.

"(Earthen Forge: Armor UP)."

Earthen Forge: Armor UP

Rarity: Legenardy

Category: Class Skill

Properties:

1. Construct an Energy-based armor surrounding you or another of your choosing. Increase your/defense using your Base Defense by 450%.

Activation Cost:

500 EP.

Description:

The Earth's strength surrounds you in a protective embrace. Let it be known, its protective power is UP above any other.

Blue flames washed forward, covering the Giant Dwarf entirely. The crowds held their breath, eyes fixed on the stage below. Many of them focused on the explosion of blue, and they missed the figure who caused it all as he moved again. Those of an insufficient level and skill could only follow the blue flaming footsteps as they marred the ground.

"Just over two thousand damage. Your attack is strong… but not enough."

Mojo appeared from the flames, his armor reinforced by an earthen Energy construct. It made the man appear nearly twice as large as he truly was. His defense was four hundred fifty as he held a tank based class which exponentially increased his defensive properties without stagnating his regeneration. Alongside his earth element understanding being at 100%, Mojo was easily able to keep himself safe from Ade Oni's attack.

"You'll need to deal at least four thousand damage if you wish to break this armor. Come, show me the might of one close to your Chosen of Madris."

Viviana watched from above, her eyes fixated on the battle. Amaya sat on her left, and Lorde was on her right. The group chatted amongst themselves quietly while observing the battle. They were maybe three dozen meters above the stage, on floating platforms that were the best seats in the house. A few other [Arbitrators] and figures of importance to the nation had shown themselves, but the figure they were supposed to have discussions with, Ninjaro Ibadan, wasn't present.

"This Mojo, what do you think of him Lorde," Amaya asked curiously. Although she was a combatant herself, she had never been anything outside of a mage.

Mojo moved forward, and each of his swings tore at the packed dirt of the ground. The kicked-up dust didn't settle, instead, it seemed to hug the edges of the arena.

"He is an Energy Warrior—his combat style is similar to a Spell-Sword, so Ade shouldn't have too much trouble. I believe Mojo is slightly stronger," Lorde spoke, his eyes squinting, arms folded over his chest. "…but no more than a dozen… perhaps twenty levels at most."

Blue footprints continued to light up the ground. As they increased, a glow began to emerge. Selene shifted in her seat, a surprised expression on her face.

"This is…," Selene uttered, shocked at what she realized.

"What is it," Viviana called, leaning forward with anticipation. It was Selene's voice that made her catch sight of what was on the ground.

"Is running in the nature of magi," Mojo taunted. He had spoken much, not out of a lack of respect for his opponent but to gain a better measurement. However, it seemed his opponent wasn't the conversationalist. No matter, Mojo's eyes flickered to the gathering dust within the air. It would be over soon. "And to believe I heard so many tales about the magi and their glory—it seems your nation has fallen far after the death of Princess Carina," he scoffed.

Ade Oni continued to move backwards, dodging the large swings of the Giant Dwarf before him. Blue steps continued to cover the ground, and the young man led his opponent toward the center of the stage.

Mojo had said he'd need at least four thousand damage to break him from his armored suit. Ade Oni planned on doing one better by finishing it all in one blow.

They arrived at the center, and Ade Oni smiled. For the first time since the battle began, he spoke. His voice was confident, like he held the world in his palm. "You talk too much—(Blue Emperor: Dragon's Maw)."

Ade Oni stomped on the ground, and a surge of chi left his body. The flaming blue steps suddenly brighten, each connecting until a spell-like construct forms on the ground. Its appearance was like an open dragon's maw. It wasn't a skill, but a spell construct on Ade Oni's design.

Five hundred Chi Points drained from his body as a flaming dragon, its maw open, rose from the ground to swallow Mojo. Ade Oni looked into his opponent's eyes, expecting to see panic, if not a hint of despair. Instead, he was greeted with a smile.

"(Earthen Forge: Forge Scale)."

Earthen Forge: Forge Scale

Rarity: Legendary

Category: Class Skill

Properties:

1. Call forth the earth into a hammer that releases the forge scales as it molds your enemies into dust. Increase Base Attack by 250%. ‎ 2. By lifting dust and infusing your mana into it, increase attack by an additional 250%. ‎ 3. Forge Scales spread in a radius of .2 meters per point of Intent. Each Forge Scale inflicts AOE damage that reduces from the point of impact by 1/4 every quarter of the affected area. Enemies struck are inflicted with {Burning — Legendary}.

Activation Cost:

400 EP — Cost reduced by half if the area is infused with Energy prior to activation.

Description:

The Earth serves as the anvil, and your power the hammer that strikes the impurities from those that cross you.

The dust consolidated, turning into a blacksmith's hammer. The object was massive, nearly taking the entire length of a hundred meters as it swung down, impacting into the Dragon's Maw. The spell twisted right before impact, a part of it taking the shape of a shield before its caster.

A thunderclap forced the platform up, a light blue shield activating around it. Sparks flew, true to the abilities name as forge scales splattered against the shields less than a meter from the watching audience. The crowd roared, a passionate excitement coursed its way through their veins as they waited for the dust to clear and the outcome of the battle to show itself.

Viviana bit a nail, and the [Arbitrator] of the Sokoto exclaimed in excitement. "Mojo is one of the stronger [Arbitrators] currently—for Envoy Ade to match him equally is impressive."

Amaya smiled cordially and responded in kind. "Ade Oni is one of the most exceptional talents of this generation. I'm surprised Mojo was able to survive… but I wonder for how much longer."

The dust began to clear, yet even before it did, a blue flame could be seen moving throughout the stage. Mojo and Ade burst through the black smog, both fighters seemed to throw their reservations away as they swung with abandon. Pieces of (Earthen Forge: Armor UP) fell as they fought, the skill unable to hold up to the damage dealt.

Mojo laughed, his helmet damaged, revealing a while mane of red hair. "Come, come, show me the might of the magi."

Asan slapped his forehead, his eyes on the projection in his room. "That idiot—of course he forgot the plan. Sigh, I have to do everything important myself."

Asan chuckled, shaking his head, carefully caressing a large bow next to him. "Looks like it'll be our turn soon friend."

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