Ashley
After showing the rules and description for the Planetary Official System Event, the MC goes on to show the brackets for the tournament. Which are actually rather surprising considering that we end up pitted against the team with the Successor right off the bat for the first round.
I don't really pay attention to the other teams except the one with the level 371 user in it though. And that hunter also only seems to be paying attention to our team.
Not that it matters for now though. Since they're literally on the opposite end of the brackets from us. With us being on the far left and them on the far right.
So the only possible way for us to fight is for us to meet in the finals.
Which I'm assuming will most likely happen.
For now, we listen to the MC babble on a bit more before another set of bleachers is made around the damaged ruins where the other teams are teleported. Leaving just my team and the team with the Successor of Sin left in the ruins.
"Now for our first teams to go head to head, we have the All-Star Successor Team from Val! A team made up solely of Successors, including the Princess of Chaos and Queen of Destruction herself!" the MC shouts while flying high above the ruins in circles. "And they're facing a team backed by the Primordial of Sin, led by the Successor of Sin, Thorn Alfon Velatran!!!"
The five of us from my team are all teleported to one side of the large, open arena at the center of the ancient ruins. Meanwhile the other team are teleported to the other side.
"The two hunters – one from each team – at any point in time during the match will be the ones currently fighting!" the MC continues speaking while floating down towards us amidst the cheers of the audience. Most of whom are chanting my name or one of my titles or nicknames. "A hunter can leave the ring if they have defeated at least one of their opponents, and another hunter from their team can replace them at that time! And don't worry about more than one hunters from a team trying to enter at once, because the System will not let that happen! It will block the second person from entering!"
I glance at the others in my team to find them all looking at me before they nod. So after returning the nod – to Blake and the Successor of Order at least, ignoring the other two – I step into the ring with my hands in my jacket pockets.
"Ooooooh lookie here!!! The Successor of Chaos herself has already stepped into the ring!" the MC shouts as the audience goes wild. "But who will meet her challenge from the Velatran Team?!"
I blink at that question. Moreso due to the fact that the Successor of Sin's last name is apparently the same as their planet's name.
It kind of makes me wonder if he's royalty or something from that planet, and they just went and named their planet after their royal family. Or the other way around. That they named their royal family after the planet.
Either way, it doesn't really matter.
I just stand here in the middle of the ring as the little barrier around said ring repeatedly shows glowing crimson cracks on it from my gaze. The thing blocking it to protect the other team that I'm staring at.
A team that, by the way, looks afraid and rather unwilling to step into the ring.
"What's this?! Is the Velatran Team afraid to face off against the Queen of Destruction?!" the MC goes and pushes their buttons with an amused expression on his face. A sentiment that isn't shared with a lot of the audience considering the boos I hear along with the what sounds like sympathy. Almost like some of them pity this enemy team for facing off against me. "Wait! It looks like the Successor of Sin is giving it a shot!"
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I feel a little surprised when the Successor of Sin finally walks through into the ring. Albeit with a tense look on his face. As if he doesn't want to be here.
The man has the same general traits as the last Successor of Sin I killed in terms of his looks. What with the whole symbols of sin in his eyes thing. But the rest of him is very different.
This man is rather tall and skinny. So tall that I'd have to look up to see his face if I were standing near him. Meanwhile he seems to be just skin and bones for some reason. Which can't be healthy.
"Both teams' competitors are in the ring! So let this battle begiiiiiinnnn!!!!" the MC shouts despite the battle technically already having started since the barrier stopped protecting the Successor of Sin from my Gaze of Destruction the moment he passed through it.
Out of curiosity, I wait a moment to see what the Successor of Sin is going to do. They are around the same ish level as me after all, and are still a Successor even if they're one of Erebos's lackeys.
Chaos chuckles in my head at my implication that Erebos is some sort of lesser Primordial.
The Successor of Sin lets out a sigh before symbols of gluttony begin to flash in his eyes and he raises one hand to the sky and says, "Gluttony."
Then a single Symbol of Gluttony appears in the sky with its orange chains reaching down to bind us both. Only for said chains to be shattered by my Unchained skill. As expected.
Thorn doesn't look the least bit surprised by that, although he does show a hint of disappointment. Following which he spreads both of his arms out to his sides and begins making dozens upon dozens of gluttony energy spell circles appear in the air around him.
All while his body continues to gradually fall apart from my gaze.
This is getting boring.
"You're going to have to reach the next Class if you want to face off against opponents worthy of your time," Chaos says, sounding just as bored as I am. "Until then the only people who could possibly match you are those at the level cap or people who are practically the strongest in their world at their Class."
Yeah.
"Hey, why don't you use this tournament as a little test for your physical strength and physical skills?" Chaos suddenly asks as I'm about to bombard the Successor with destruction spells, making me pause. "You got plenty of those from your Unique Skill Tree but haven't been using them, so why not try?"
I purse my lips for a second before shrugging. 𝑛𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝘤𝑜𝘮
True. Might as well.
So without hesitation, I go ahead and activate several of the skills along with Assimilate. Including but not limited to Scales of a Ruler to increase my defense, Fangs and Claws of the Queen to extend my claws and fangs, Terran Wings of Destruction to empower my wings, which combine with my passive skills that are always active such as Physique of a Ruler which increases my physical body's strength and overall abilities and the other skill that makes my claws indestructible.
Then I begin moving far faster than I've ever moved before as I straight up slice right through the bolts of gluttony energy with my claws one after another. All the way until I reach the Successor of Sin and grab him by the neck before lifting him into the air. At which point they grapple for my arm without really doing much thanks to my scales.
"What's this?! The Queen of Destruction is finally showing off her physical superiority as well!!!" the MC shouts, sounding more than a little excited about my display. "This is the first time she has explicitly shown her physical superiority over others of her same level! It's even been speculated that she doesn't have many skills related to her physique, but this proves everyone wrong!!!"
Unlike what I was expecting, I end up accidentally killing the Successor of Sin as I stare straight into their eyes while trying to figure out how I should cleanly kill them without being gruesome or anything. Destroying their eyes and their brain behind it during my long pause and making their hands drop after death. Only for their body to break into particles before reappearing alongside their team with the Successor looking more than a little traumatized by me.
Oops. Forgot about my eyes again.
Chaos just laughs.
I glance at the others before waiting a second and putting my hands back in my jacket pockets as I realize they're all staring at me in fear.
My eyes are making it difficult to test out my other skills.
I just hope they don't take too long cowering outside the ring before sending their next fighter in.
Because I want to continue testing my skills.