Agent047
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773 - Entrance of the Grotesque Galvinith
🕑 Added 2024-10-29 06:36:00 +0000 UTCAfter a few moments of silent calculation, the referee AI finally spoke. {The current situation is indeed unique. Given that you acquire ownership of everything belonging to the individuals you defeat, the mecha and its pilot are now legally considered your property. Thus, as long as they fit the weapon criteria, they should be eligible for participation. However, despite being your property, they are still classified as individual fighters, as they previously acted as one entity. Allowing them to fight alongside you would constitute an unfair two-versus-one scenario, which is against the rules, and therefore, cannot be permitted.}
She continued, her tone as steady as ever, {It would have been possible for the mecha to fight on your behalf had it been registered as the Empire’s official contender. However, since the registration window closed before the matches began, updating the registration now is not an option.}
With this detailed explanation, she clarified her reasoning and the factors that led her to reach this decision.
Hearing her response, Aron looked like someone who had just been caught trying to exploit a loophole before he could fully benefit from it.
Before he could say anything, she added, {While my decision is based on the current ground rules, it is not entirely conclusive, as it isn’t etched directly into the rules. You could call for a vote to set a precedent. However, I’m quite certain the opposing side won’t allow you a chance to gain the upper hand when you’re so close to achieving a majority. So, what will it be?}
Aron smirked slightly at her suggestion and replied, “While it might be amusing to waste their time, I don’t have the patience for a pointless vote. Let’s stick with your decision as the rule.”
Turning to the kneeling mecha, he commanded, “Go to my ship and wait for me there.”
The mecha rose, lifting the sword embedded in the ground and securing it on its back. It began to emit a soft glow, floating toward the shield's edge closest to the Emperor’s personal ship, followed closely by its four hovering backup equipment carriers. The shield allowed all of them to pass through unimpeded, boarding the ship smoothly. This moment dashed the hopes of those who clung to the idea that the mecha’s surrender was just a ploy to get close to Aron and assassinate him.
The referee AI then addressed him, {Due to the extensive damage in this area, please relocate thirty kilometers east, as repairs here would take considerable time. Will you move on your own, or shall I transport you to preserve your remaining recuperation period?}
“Please,” Aron replied, and almost instantly, he felt himself caught in a field similar to the Empire’s tractor beams, gently transporting him to the new location.
Throughout this period he closed his eyes and focused on his mana-gathering act as he needed to give the coming fighters hope and have them maintain their confidence in the fights.
Throughout the transport, Aron closed his eyes, focusing on gathering mana, intending to project an aura that would offer the incoming fighters a sense of hope and confidence for their matches.
But more than that, he was using this time to let his mind cool down. While the audience saw his fights ending in seconds or lasting only a few minutes, his perception-enhancing technology had stretched these moments into hours from his perspective. Although he could keep going without issue, he saw no harm in allowing his brain a brief respite, restoring his mental sharpness for the challenges ahead.
As the timer ended, the referee AI announced, {May the next contender enter,} followed by her opening the shield to part to allow for entry.
A Galvinith arrived on the field, transported by their ship, while a container came in for Aron, carrying within it a fresh sword and a distinct-looking gun different from the ones he had destroyed in earlier bouts.
The Galvinith were among the most challenging opponents due to a trait they shared with only a few of the top civilizations: diversity. Unlike other species, whose abilities could often be predicted, Galvinith symbiotically bonded with a vast range of organisms, making each fighter’s abilities highly unpredictable. For example, while a Shadari opponent specialized in space combat would undoubtedly use stealth, Galvinith powers remained uncertain until their specific symbiotic partner was known—a factor that added an extra layer of difficulty in preparation
Aron’s opponent looked like nothing he’d faced before. Its form defied any assumption about gender or even humanoid structure. Though it had arms, they dragged along the ground as if they were limbs repurposed from legs, while its actual hind legs seemed too weak to support its weight. The creature’s body resembled a tortoise but with shell-like growths that covered it, attempting—and failing—to contain the rest of its mass. Flesh spilled grotesquely from the gaps, giving it the unsettling appearance of a botched experiment, as if it were the tragic product of a mad scientist’s attempt to create a chimera.
The grotesque appearance was enough to turn some viewers’ stomachs, even prompting a few to close the stream entirely. Many wondered aloud why such a creature had even been chosen to compete, given that it appeared barely capable of standing, let alone fighting.
Alongside the Galvinith contender arrived a massive, misshapen box that appeared barely capable of holding its contents. The container strained under the pressure of whatever lay within, revealing hints of what might be concealed inside. Unlike the transport ship that departed moments ago, the container stayed behind, signaling that either it—or whatever it held—was intended as the creature’s weapon.
Aron observed his opponent, stationed a few kilometers away, with an impassive gaze. His focus wasn’t on the creature’s grotesque appearance but on what it might be capable of. Setting these thoughts aside, he began the critical task of imbuing mana into his newly acquired gun when the preparation period was announced.
This weapon would, he hoped, allow him to end the fight quickly while leaving most of the Galvinith’s body intact for research into its unique power system. However, his plan depended on whether the weapon’s properties would harm the Galvinith fighter as intended. If not, the encounter might turn more complicated than he’d prefer.
Time passed quickly, and soon the AI referee signaled the start of the fight with a clear announcement: {You may begin.}
