Chương 325: Heavenly Star

"Teacher."

"I would say that we are past that by now," Ryker grunted as he joined Kite at the Adventure Society campus while idly sending a strip of cloth to pull back a silver-ranker from Gauntlet who felt on the verge of squaring up a little too closely with an equally fired up sect warrior. With many gold-rankers present in an uneasy coordination those who were sent to sweep for any remnant undead and other nasty surprises mostly stayed in line. Most.

But at least there was one factor that seemed to help more than others, and that was the song still radiating from within a cordoned off section of the campus around a portal plaza where a barrier still protected the choir of clergy. Kite felt it too, as the notes soothed his frayed nerves after the ordeals of the day.

"I believe I have told you that we put great emphasis on that relationship here in this kingdom. Once a teacher, always a teacher, one could say. And it's not like I have transcended you. Teacher," Kite retorted, smiling a bit as the gruff man rolled his eyes.

"And I honestly didn't believe I would ever set foot here, but life proved otherwise," Ryker muttered, scanning the city around them.

"It's a nice city, at least if you don't count the destroyed parts."

"There was a lot lost today thanks to Discord's plans and the means we had to use to put a stop to them," Kite agreed.

"Things would have been a lot worse in the long run otherwise. You've seen the places where some of these gods take root yourself. There is a reason that we shun them. Or at least we should. From the way some of those sect leaders and elders were arguing during the meeting, you would think they thought us worse."

"Alas, pride is a double-edged sword," Kite sighed at the comment, thinking back to what had indeed been most frustrating proceedings until River - Fortune be praised - returned Ametrine to them.

Some liberal use of truth potions later, and the mood had shifted quite thoroughly, even though Kite suspected that many were still scheming against their rivals beneath the frail veneer of cooperation which still remained in place while more in-depth questioning was performed under the supervision of Anasta and chosen from all the sects and other important factions.

"Many would still go far to save face now that their 'Wait-and-see-approach' proved to be the foolish one. At least we were taking action, along with others who saw sense along the way."

"Huh. I think that dueling the local monarch to the death is a bit beyond mere 'taking action'."

"That… Yes," Kite muttered, thinking back to the - in hindsight - rather tragic ordeal. He would do it again if he had to, but part of his heart still ached at the look in the King's eyes and the feel of his aura in those final moments.

"I'm still unsure if I can forgive Senior Brother Obsidian Crow for making sure to point that out so thoroughly before everyone. That man is a born meddler."

"What? No kingly ambitions of your own? Isn't that the way of this home of yours? Fight a duel, get a crown?"

"There is a lot more tradition involved than that, even though that is the gist of things. And as some pointed out, it was not a formal clash with the witnesses and gravitas involved."

"Bullshit," Ryker snorted.

"If you had pushed the claim, you had the support to back you up. Gods, even some sect leaders seemed to be keen on the idea."

"Which is all the more reason to stay out of it," Kite replied while making a warding gesture against the very idea.

"I do not want it. Power is all well and good, but I don't want my future to be cemented here in the capital. Not when this kingdom is starting to feel so small. And that's not to mention that I would probably find myself drowning in new challenges from the very beginning as there would be no end to the opportunists."

"At least you would have made a reasonable monarch. And you didn't manage to wiggle out of the other madness that was proposed."

"Alas, I did not," Kite sighed.

"As you said, me defeating the King made too much of a spectacle. Thus, the event would lack legitimacy if I did not attend."

"As if duels weren't a bad enough way to determine a ruler. I can't believe someone suggested a tournament, and that of all things was the suggestion that had everyone agreeing," Ryker grumbled as the pair drew closer to Sir Ilmaril who was overseeing their gathered captives.

"For good or ill, they are staying true to themselves," the elf said after casting another spell to reinforce the holding cell of some increasingly more irate, collared essence-users who smashed into the containment field where the guild and its allies had been depositing whomever they had been able to take alive since the reinforcements from Gauntlet had arrived.

"Even if - pardon me, Kite - I suspect that might have been part of what made this kingdom susceptible to Discord's influence in the first place."

"Something for us to consider, though I fear that we shall not undo decades of influence in a day," Kite sighed.

"At least it might be a chance for us as a nation to find the parts of our ways worth preserving while gradually introducing new ideas to grind down those that are not." He then stopped and gave a low bow towards Sir Ilmaril, followed by one towards Ryker.

"Now that you are here, I wanted to extend my deepest gratitude to the both of you. You stepped into the unknown for a cause you could easily have looked past. Thank you. Both of you. As well as every silver who joined as well. I shall have to make sure to find them all and tell them." Ilmaril gave a small incline of his head in response while Ryker - true to form - mostly looked uncomfortable.

"Kite, this was a contract. You paid us."

"One neither of you had to accept, and definitely did not have to extend such a generous discount on either," Kite retorted.

"I know the terms of Gauntlet rather well, after all. There needs to be a contract in place, and with your indirect contribution I could secure more portal-users for the church of Song and my other allies and also prepare contingencies for the guild in the north to preserve them should we have failed."

"It was just the kind of cause for which Gauntlet exists, even though it is rare for a single individual to be the one issuing our contracts," Sir Ilmaril replied.

"My price may have been skirting the rules a bit, but I am quite sure that neither Sir Darnos nor any of my other superiors care to look closer on the matter. Besides, given your service, you have made yourself an easy person to want to help. Both for me and for the other volunteers."

"And as this is a contract, I believe that it is time for an update on our progress. Sir," Ryker added, breaking in with business after clearly finding that to be enough sentiment for the time being.

"Ah, I believe that you are correct, Ryker," Sir Ilmaril noted, turning to the containment field behind him. Most of the silvers captured had ceased their struggling for now, but the one gold-ranker present had not. Might of Inner Calamity still hammered his fists against the magical cage while shouting something that didn't make it through. Collared as he was, he could do little else, it seemed.

"How would you like to handle them? The gold seems like the only relevant one, but I might be missing some context."

"I believe that we should keep him contained until Director Temren is finished with the in-depth interrogations of the priestess since it will probably help firm up her position here in the capital all the more when the sects see how far one of their own has been corrupted," Kite said.

"The other assorted clergy of our darker deities will be next, so please keep them as well. We would be foolish not to use every ounce of evidence we can. With this, we should be able to convince most, even if some might use any lingering doubts to keep up their hostile facade to try to save face."

"Understood," Sir Ilmaril replied.

"I will keep managing this unless other pressing matters appear. We believe that most of the gold-rankers of the foe should be accounted for by now, though that is not counting other opportunists who raised a ruckus. The core-using nobles duking it out will be for you and your people to deal with. But as to my previous statement, 'most' is the key word. We have found traces of a gold who seems to have disappeared, probably belonging to the likes of Deceit or Disguise, given how slippery they always are.

I would recommend vigilance in the future."

"Noted. Thank you, Sir Ilmaril," Kite replied with a nod.

"It does make me wish that Bright Day would have stayed around, as her aura-senses could have been most useful."

"Better that she didn't. I'm not sure how well many from Gauntlet would have taken to her showing her face around," Ryker grunted.

"Myself included."

"While I must formally agree, we both know that situations out in the field sometimes call for odd alliances, temporary or otherwise," Sir Ilmaril added.

"And if her aura capabilities are as potent as described, she would have been a boon. We can only hope that she does not prove herself a danger in the future."

"While one can never be completely sure, I honestly doubt that, Sir," Kite said, looking out over the city to the horizon over which he imagined River to have disappeared.

"While she never became completely comfortable to be around, Bright Day did seem to find some kind of balance in time. I can only hope my assessment is correct, of course. If not… Well, then our paths might have to be tested against one another in earnest once more." That thought was a sad one, and Kite said a small prayer to Fortune that River would find some kind of purpose now that her vengeance had been completed. But for now, he would have to focus on those present.

If the fates and heavens willed it, they would meet again.

"I shall head over to my friend and her fellow church members now," Kite said, bowing briefly to the other two gold-rankers again.

"Thank you for your hard work today."

"I'll go back to upholding my end of the contract. There might be things lurking that the silvers missed," Ryker said, enchanted strips of cloth appearing to wrap themselves around his limbs as he started out towards the city.

"You did good here today, Kite, even though I sometimes doubt whether this kingdom deserves such hard work. See you on other contracts." With Sir Ilmaril saying his own goodbyes as he turned back to the containment field, Kite walked off towards the part of the campus still shielded by a shimmering barrier while soothing hymns echoed out from within that carried across the whole city.

As he approached, one of the church members created an opening in the shield for him to enter, finding that Serene had already stepped away from the choir and was seated next to Dragonfly on a nearby bench as they talked and laughed. Now a high silver-ranker, the voice Serene created for herself was much more full and nuanced than the wispy breeze it had been at iron rank, but when she giggled it still sounded like wind-chimes in a playful breeze.

"Am I interrupting the girl-talk again?" Kite asked jokingly as he approached, fond memories of that very phrase from back at iron rank during their time in Gilded bubbling up in his memories. They had been so young then, now around fifteen years prior, and while their paths might have led them apart, it only made their reunion for the calamity that had befallen their kingdom all the more meaningful.

"Not this time, husband," Dragonfly replied, patting the bench beside her.

"We were just catching up."

"Of course, dear," Kite replied as he sat down, failing to mention the slight hint of mischievous and playful deceit he could pick up in the aura of his wife.

"Welcome back to Hua-Xi, Serene. And thank both you, your church and Lady Song for your intervention. I am quite unsure what it was that Discord's people had in place here over the city that inflamed people's feelings, but it seems like your song helped in more ways than we could have imagined."

"It was an easy choice to come when called, at least for me and my church. That Lady Song would expend her mandate to assist just proves the cause to be worthwhile," Serene replied with one of her voices as others still sang with the choir.

"But if I may ask, how did you know that we would be needed?"

"It was only a guess of mine that turned out to be correct," Kite replied.

"Emotions are a finicky thing, and usually part of any conflict. And since we suspected that Discord wanted to inflame the strife, calling upon someone who might help alleviate that felt wise. Fortune and Song be praised, am I glad that you were able to make it. Otherwise, things might have deteriorated even faster once the sects started catching wind of what was going on.

It cost them some lives before many saw the truth of things unfortunately, and there has apparently been enough killings during the so-called tournament to leave lingering grudges for several lifetimes. Gods only know how we can manage to find ways to resolve them."

"That does not fall upon the shoulders of any one person, least of all you, Kite," Serene noted.

"The reforging of bonds and severance of karma is the burden of all individuals."

"Assuming that they want to," Dragonfly added.

"Many of the sect warriors being prideful pricks haven't changed."

"Indeed," Kite sighed.

"But that does not go for all of them. I met Grain, Scythe and Fawn earlier, who spoke of a younger elder of one of the sects who went to great lengths to make a difference. It cost him his life, but it also inspired more to act. May his soul find rest in the great beyond." Dragonfly and Serene nodded a long, silence reigning between them for a little while as Serene's voices added a bit of a somber note to the harmony of the song.

"As you said when you visited us before this, Kite, there will always be a price to the end of conflict," Serene eventually said.

"Conflict might be inevitable in some ways, but it can be brought to an end too. Let us remember those who sacrificed themselves for that to happen, and carry their intent with us as we move on. You can spread the word that my people and I will sing for anyone who has been lost this day, no matter their allegiance. They need but come to us and tell us of the lives and stories of those lost."

"Thank you, Serene. I will. But I believe that we have a better candidate for that, don't we, Wander?"

"Sure thing, Kite. Oh, and don't mind me, ladies. Just doing my thing, in many places at once~," a tiny voice suddenly squeaked from inside a nearby flowering bush. None of the trio looked surprised though, with Kite and Serene already having picked up Wander's presence and Dragonfly simply too used to it to care much by now.

"I believe my Lady is calling me back into the song now," Serene then said, rising and straightening her robes.

"But we shall catch up more once all of this is properly settled. Thank you for calling upon us, Kite. It felt good to add our touch to the scales here. Disharmony shall not be left to rule unopposed." Kite and Dragonfly remained seated on the bench as Serene once more stepped into the ritual circle, joining all her voices into something sublime as she took the lead. As Dragonfly leaned her head against Kite's shoulder, he let his armor return to its armband form so that she could rest more comfortably.

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"We did it. Heavens, I believe I even managed to help. At least more than I thought I would," she murmured, eyes closed as she enjoyed the song resonating around them.

"There is much left to do for this kingdom, but yes, my dear, I believe that we managed to avert the most acute danger, at least for now. And you most certainly helped, oh Lone Slayer of the Threefold Guard."

"I don't think I would have been able to if they had come at me all at once."

"History and legend rarely care too much for such circumstances."

"And speaking of history, you've already made it too. Killing the King was not something that can be ignored. Am I to be your head consort just like that priestess if you win this tournament that is on everyone's lips now?"

"You are and will ever remain my wife, dear. I would have no one else," Kite assured her with a pat on her head.

"Still, I will fight, if only to make sure to preserve the legitimacy of the event and not leave any lingering doubts for others to brandish for their own ends."

"But you could win?"

"Perhaps? That greatly depends on who shall participate. The politicking before and during this event will probably reach new heights. Many might step back to leave better chances for their favored scions or elders. Heavens, my father might decide to participate. I am unsure how many remain in the kingdom who can stand against him. But…"

"But?"

"Well, I don't think he will. When we had the time to exchange a few words before, his thoughts seemed more of the wider world and bettering his path. But my comment was actually in regards to whom I think might have the best chance to actually win. And who might actually be able to embody the example this kingdom needs while still staying in line with the core of its traditions." Dragonfly regarded his words for a few moments, before she eventually giggled.

"You know, husband, I believe you might be right. And if that is the case, I'm not sure the kingdom could ever be ready." Glint had felt the auras of the lower-rankers approaching for some time now, but only when the group of over two hundred drew close enough for a group of her newly appointed consorts to stop them did she lift her huge serpentine head from the plaza where she was currently resting upon a veritable hill of cushions gathered from far and wide.

"Let them pass. This young mistress would hear what they have to say." Her words were kind yet forceful, causing the two armored draconians to straighten as they let the group draw closer. Glint did note the glare of rivalry between them that still lingered, but that was as it should be. Her favor was worth quarreling a bit over, after all, as long as it did not grow out of proportion. Most of those that approached were on the older side for mortals, wrinkled faces and gray hair being common.

They were craftspeople and merchants, neighborhood elders and family matriarchs. Some bore essences, but most did not, yet there was a sense of gratitude and awe that seemed to resonate between all of their auras.

"You have come before this young mistress. I would know your reason," Glint said, some of those gathered shying back for but a moment as her aura-made voice echoed over the plaza. Eventually, one finely dressed gentleman approached, bowing deeply before her.

"Honored great dragon, we have come before you to convey our most heartfelt gratitude. Madness descended upon our home not long ago, yet you fought in the skies above us to protect our home and our people."

"I did, but I was not alone in this endeavor," Glint replied, choosing to ignore the tremble in the man's voice. She was rather magnanimous, after all.

"Many others did the same around the city. My consorts as well." The draconians gathered all seemed to straighten at that last mention, but while the man and the crowd nodded their agreement, Glint felt in his aura that this was not something he considered an equal contribution.

"That may be, oh heavenly one, but of all we saw, you took on the most vast of monsters that appeared right among us, shielding our homes and our neighborhoods with your spell and your body. To us living in this district, you are the hero among heroes, most worthy of praise and adoration. Pray, may we know your name, so that we may tell of your bravery for generations to come?" Glint made a show of pondering for a moment, before giving a slow nod of her serpentine head.

"This young mistress is named Glint, after all that catches the light."

"Then, honored Glint, we–""Now that just won't do!" Just as the man spoke again, he was interrupted as a much older woman bent with age but with an aura which even Glint had to admit was most fierce made her way through the crowd, ignoring the slight warnings and protests of the others.

Glint saw Young Master Monsoon - one of her consorts currently most in favor after some particularly valiant deeds in her name - look towards her with a question in his amber eyes, but Glint let him sense her aura and its spiritual shake of her head. This was not a discourtesy that required rebuke nor intervention.

"Please, eldest, do not disturb–" the speaker of the group tried, but a well-directed slap of a gnarled cane silenced him quickly.

"Oh hush, you. I know very well when to speak and when not to. Don't you forget who taught you manners when you were just a little brat," the old woman shot back before turning back to Glint.

"Well, aren't you a pretty thing. And brave too. He wasn't wrong in that we are grateful, saving so many us from that mess. But your name just won't do." Glint was about to protest, but the old lady continued, seemingly uncaring about the many draconians around them whose hands grasped their weapons at what might have been perceived as an insult.

"Glint sounds like the name of a young girl. And you're clearly much more than that, aren't you. All big, gleaming and brave. I don't know who named you, but it's a great shame upon them that you haven't been named anew in what I assume is forever. Bet it was some fool boy who did it too, and then just up and forgot about treating a lady like you with proper respect. At this, any protest Glint was about to give voice to died instantly, her serpentine form frozen as she pondered the woman's words.

And the more Glint thought about it, the more she realized that the old lady was right. Absolutely right. This… this was a travesty. Almost humiliating for a young mistress– no, mistress of her standing and decorum.

"So," the old woman continued, "I think it's time you had a new one. I've seen many a naming in my day, but you're a bit special. And thus require a special name. Anything else would be a shame. Heavenly Star Glinting in the River of Fate, Bejeweled Guardian of Heavenward. There. Much better. Longer than most of those posh people up at the Heavenly Stairway, and rightly so. You actually did something for us when everything suddenly turned to madness."

Silence reigned after the woman finished speaking, her wizened face looking up towards Glint while the rest of those gathered seemed to hold their breath, waiting for her response. And once more Glint was silent for a moment, and then another, pondering this name and accompanying titles that were offered unto her. She had to give it to the old lady; she had good taste. Most excellent even. Yes, this…

"Your words ring with truth, venerable one," Glint replied while making sure to keep the giddyness from leaking into her voice.

"I shall have words with the one who named me of just this slight against me. And as for the name… Yes, I find it fits me. Most excellently." Upon hearing Glint's approval, the words spread like wildfire, her name and title repeated over and over as the cheers started rising.

"Blessed be the Bejeweled Guardian!"

"Glory to the Heavenly Star!"

"The River of Fate has shielded us with her providence!" Yes… This was most appropriate. Most appropriate, indeed. BOOM! The violent sound of barriers being torn apart was loud enough to cause the protective arrays around the grand arena of Hua-Xi to flare with power in order to protect the ears of the lower-ranked among the crowds. Of those, there weren't too many present though as there simply wasn't enough room in the arena with so many of the essence-users in the kingdom gathered in one place.

This was a rather momentous occasion after all.

"Heavens, those two surely know how to go at it," Dragonfly murmured, and Ardent Horizon Seeker couldn't help but agree as he sat next to his daughter-in-law, though he had a much easier time in following the movement between the fighters of the arena below.

"That is to be expected though, no? It's not like it was hard to miss the duels they fought that day and the strength of their respective foes," Little Crow chimed in from where he too sat in the box, Amica floating just above him to get a better view while letting her fingers play in her lover's onyx locks. Even though it had been weeks since the calamity of the capital, the two had been inseparable ever since, now that they were reunited during Amica's extended stay.

"The Kingslayer against the Divine Fist of Warrior? That does have a bit of a ring to it," Walker agreed.

"Oh, that's just the nice things people all around are calling them. You should hear what's going on in some of the boxes around here," Wander piped in, spread around their own viewing box in her manifold glory.

"Yeesh. Some of those sect elders have really turned stewing in bitterness into an art form. And that is after all that crap they tried to pull? Thank the gods you managed to put an end to that, Papa Kite– Sorry, Sect Leader Ardent~." The last and more proper title was only added after Braid casually reached out and pinched one of Wander's bodies hard in the tail, but Ardent was not insulted by the casual remark.

These were the friends and companions of his son, after all, and now they all knew him to be Kite's father. And seeing how the boy in question fought down there in the arena, Ardent couldn't help but be proud.

"I was indeed not above stepping in and eliminating a few of them before I too bowed out of the rankings," he replied, the faintest of smiles playing over his lips at the memories. Many of his fellow sect leaders and elders were competent, that was true, but none were Might of Inner Calamity or the King. Thus, they had been eliminated from the tournament that would crown the next monarch of Hua-Xi one by one before Ardent withdrew from the competition to allow those truly fighting with their own merit to prevail.

Given how well both Soul and Kite had acquitted themselves so far, it might have been unnecessary in the end, but alas. And now, this left the proud sect warriors of Hua-Xi to bear witness as two outcasts fought in the final round, having eliminated each and every challenger - of which there had been plenty, to say the least - even as the name of the Autumn Wanderer's guild was forced away from just that outcast-status with every blow and exchange as two exceptional paths from the north clashed.

Soul was truly terrifying in speed, strength, skill, wit and self-healing, changing through many different styles of fighting while feinting and employing her steady stream of transcendent strikes to prevail. Kite, on the other hand, was a bastion that turned every action of his foe into potential downfall as he countered and struck, punishing every mistake of employed magic be it boon or attack.

However, Soul seemed wise to most of his tricks as she struck with great precision and skill to evade those very counters as she vaulted, ran and twisted to navigate the harassing swirl of barriers that tried to force her away. Kite too seemed used to fighting an opponent with such superior attributes, holding his own with the help of spectral arms as each of his steps and shifts had to be measured carefully in order not to leave openings.

It had been as such from the beginning of the bout, but Ardent also believed that it would soon come to an end. Either Soul's mana would run out, or Kite's vitality would be unable to keep up with the assault against which his armor was of little use. Everything was balanced on a knife's edge in this moment that would forge history, until– Mid step, Soul suddenly shifted her stance into something odd and erratic, discordant motions making her hard to read even for Ardent's experienced eyes.

Suddenly, as if teleporting - even though that was impossible for her beneath Kite's suppressing vortices - she was inside his guard, a swipe of her arm sundering two spectral arms to create an opening while accepting two strikes from others. Then Soul's fist struck, transcendent light flashing out to briefly blind most in the audience as it filled the small labyrinth of barriers. Barriers that disappeared the moment after.

"I yield." Kite's voice rang out clearly even though his aura was unstable after the sustained punishment, and as the fading mana of the barriers cleared, the battling pair was revealed standing in the air with Soul's fist buried in Kite's chest. Even weary as he was, he seemed to be taking the situation rather well in the way only a gold-ranker and above could. But before the officiating high priest of Warrior could call the bout, the pair vanished inside a privacy screen that sprung up around them.

"Take that back." Soul's words were flat as she looked and felt the most angry Kite had ever seen her, even if the martial artist's discipline only let it show as a slight simmer in her aura.

"No."

"You have not used Immortality. You are not yet done."

"I figured you might have that objection. Hence the screen," Kite sighed.

"I won't allow you to simply surrender a bout such as this. You still have more to give."

"And so do you, Soul," Kite retorted firmly.

"And I believe that shows what kind of clash this is. Immortality is something for when everything is on the line; where my ambitions won't let me back down even if it costs me my life and more. As are some of your own powers. And you know that. Now, are you going to take that out of my chest for a moment?" The last question was made with a pointed nod down towards Soul's fist, and the celestine slowly retracted her hand and fell into a looser ready stance.

"We need to give our all before Warrior. I only want true tempering, Kite."

"And with what your victory here can accomplish, you can have all that and more."

"A hollow victory."

"Now that is not true, and you know it. It is not like you to lie, Soul. You know you are the victor in six or seven in ten of our bouts."

"But perhaps this is not one of them."

"And perhaps the throne of our kingdom shouldn't be decided by such happenstance either, but here we are."

"I–""Please, let me continue. And listen," Kite said, interrupting the celestine with a gently raised hand, him relaxing somewhat when Soul did.

"As you might know, Soul, things are a bit of a mess in our home. And I… I do not believe that I am the one most suited of us to stand at its very peak. Do not misunderstand me, as I believe that I would have the potential to be a better monarch than many of those who previously held the position. But in the eyes of most, I am an outcast tainted by the influence of the outside world. And while I don't agree with that sentiment in many ways, in others I believe that it is only proper. What would come of that?

How could I enact changes with the whole kingdom fighting tooth and nail against me? Then we would merely further Discord's cause again. But you? You are an outcast like me, unburdened by sect loyalties or most any such bonds except that to Warrior. And you are in so many ways a shining example of what could be great with many of our traditions; the epitome of the Hua-Xian warrior climbing towards the heavens.

I may have a chance to best you in a third of our bouts, and my path might make me the bane of most others in one on one combat, but that does not make me the better person to set the example towards which the warriors of our Kingdom will aspire. That… That is you." Soul had taken in Kite's little speech with her usual intent expression, but Kite could feel her agitation fade somewhat as he spoke. When he finished, Soul was silent for a few long seconds, before she eventually spoke.

"I can sense that you are earnest, Pathbreaker. And you do not lie. But that is not the whole truth either. This… does not–"" You have both proven yourselves before me, bearer of my blessing. And while I applaud your dedication to perfection, this other warrior before you has a point. Sometimes you are allowed to take the win. Be my exemplar in this kingdom of yours. I shall be watching" The divine presence was ever so faint yet carried its usual intensity as Warrior made his will known.

It was not the kind of manifestation that would echo over the arena, and Kite suspected that only the gold-rankers in the crowd would have felt it. And he silently said a prayer of thanks to the deity, as the divine words seemed to be enough for the last of Soul's resistance to crumble.

"I… Shall do so, great and divine Warrior," the celestine murmured, the awe in her voice reserved for the god alone. Then she once more turned to Kite, eyes thinning slightly.

"But believe me, Pathbreaker, when I say that I shall remember this."

"And I shall endeavor not to disappoint you in our future bouts, of which I am sure there will be many," Kite replied with a smile, before he let the privacy screen drop and knelt there in the air in the middle of the arena.

"Let me be the first to acknowledge the new Queen of Hua-Xi," he called out, voice seeming loud in the now completely silent arena.

"May her rule bring Warrior's favor upon us, and may her divine fist be an example to us all!" Then the arena erupted in cheers, roars and a few scattered protests, as the throne of Hua-Xi now sat empty no longer.