The Duel between Aiz of the Loki Familia against Shakti Varma who represent the Kaiser Familia had begun as both fighters stand in their battle stance and faces their opponent while giving each other hard stern gazes.
Everyone in the colosseum could only wait in anticipation for the start of the battle as both fighters are only waiting for the other to make the first move.
"C-Captain, Aiz-san will win, right?" Lefiya asked Finn while looking worried. "I mean, Shakti-san is a level 5 and Aiz-san is a level 6, right? She will win, right?"
"I wouldn't count of her chances of victory from the differences of their levels, Lefiya." said Finn while pressing his right hand's thumb against his chin and looking worried. "Shakti is chosen by Zagreus himself and we haven't seen her for almost two weeks." He hardens his gaze a bit towards Shakti who seems different than she usually seemed. "it goes without saying that she may already receive her training from him."
"but it's just two weeks, right!?" Lefiya cried out. "even with that much of time given, there's no way the gap between them is that far, right?!"
"but Shakti is far experienced than Shakti by a few years and she's been known to be strong and capable as a first rate adventurer." Tione stated while cupping her chin. "if she was more serious in her adventure to the Dungeon then…"
"We can only hope that we are wrong." Gareth stated while grasping his hands together on his lap. "Shakti may or may not be at the same level of power with Aiz or perhaps had surpass her after receiving her training from Zagreus and the Kaisers." He made a small noise and harden his gaze when he and the others sees Shakti moving to the side with Aiz doing the same, both are now circling each other on the field. "The answer of our prediction will only be revealed by the end of this match."
Both Aiz and Shakti just circle each other on the arena as they took their distance while trying to see if they had openings to be taken by the other.
'I knew that there was something wrong with the deal, but for it to be this…' Aiz thought as she continues to circle against Shakti who takes careful stances against her. 'Shakti is a Level 5, but she was chosen as a Kaiser by the Kaiser Familia. she might already become more stronger than before if she got trained.' She hardens her grip on her Desperate's handle as she soon stops in her steps and goes into a thrusting sword stance against her blue haired foe who readied herself. 'I just have to take her down fast!'
Aiz rushes in as she went for a quick sword thrust at Shakti who dodged and sends a quick knee strike at the Sword Princess who dodges and backs away.
'Again!' Aiz rushes forward as she goes for a furious sword striking attack at Shakti who constantly dodges while sending a fury of punches and kicks that failed to land against the Sword Princess.
"fast! that was fast!" Ibri exclaimed on the mic. "the Sword Princess goes for a first strike but the Ankusha retaliates and counter attacks that had missed its target! They're now going for a fury!"
Aiz swings her sword down at Shakti who deflects it with the back of her right arm's gauntlet, she pushed it away and sends a left hook at the Sword Princess' face but she ducks and rolls to the front before swinging her sword back for a wide swing that was dodged when the blue haired woman did a barrel roll then returns to send a hammering fist attack that was blocked by the blonde's sword.
Everyone watches the fight as this was without a doubt a battle of might between two first rate adventurers.
Bell along with his comrades watches the fight as they couldn't believe how fast and strong the two are going against each other.
"so fast…" Mikoto whispers. "I can barely see their movements from up here."
"Takemikazuchi, do you think the Sword Princess will win with her choice of weapon?" Miach asked the eastern War God. "her weapon is an indestructible sword and Shakti's weapon is her gauntlets. Would she win with that?"
"she would, but that might be wrong." Takemikazuchi replied as he cups his chin and watches how Aiz's Desperate clashes against Shakti's gauntlets. "the Sword Princess is a master swordsman and she would win against anyone in a duel like this one, but that Shakti might have received training from the Kaiser Familia and that might tip the scale in her favor instead."
"so basically speaking, it lies on the experience of the two?" Ouka asked his god who nods.
"with how fast and strong that they are going in attacking one another…" Hestia whispers as she sees how Shakti slams down her right leg at Aiz who dodges, the attack went to the ground that cracks. "I doubt we see who will remain strong after using so much of their stamina."
"a right! A left! A kick! And a strike! These two foes are going at it like crazy!" Ibri exclaimed in seeing how Shakti doing several backflips in dodging Aiz's rapid sword strike. "this is the first time I've seen a fight of this scale! This is out of this world!"
Shakti continues to backflip away from Aiz but she soon reaches the wall where she stops and sees Aiz coming in hot with her sword drawn back for a thrusting attack.
"She got nowhere to go!" Lefiya exclaimed. "Aiz-san will win!"
"GO! AIZ!" Tiona cheered along with her friends as they wished for her to win, even if it means defeating the captain of a good Familia.
Aiz goes in and thrusts her sword towards Shakti as she aims for the non vital organs area, wanting to end the fight by no killing the blue haired adventurer who just stays in her place and watches her come.
'this is the end!' Aiz goes full power as she aims for Shakti's stomach, but before her sword could even reach, the Ankusha suddenly disappears in a blur. 'wha?!'
Before Aiz could even react fast enough, her eyes looks up and sees Shakti had jumped and has one of her legs pulled back that was soon swing forward and hits the Sword Princess right on the side of the head.
Lefiya and many other Loki Familia members gasps as Aiz was kicked away hard by Shakti who landed and watches the Sword Princess rolled a few feet away before stopping.
Aiz slowly gets up to her feet, the blonde shaking her head as she felt a bit woozy from the kick to the head but still remained strong.
"a hit! My Captain, Shakti had landed the first hit on Aiz Wallenstein in this duel!" Ibri exclaimed. "it was fast! it was so fast on how she dodged her sword! How on earth was she able to dodge it in time?!"
"just how was she able to dodge that in time!? Aiz's sword nearly reached, didn't it!?" Tiona exclaimed in shock. "how!?"
"that time…" Finn spoke out with a surprised face as he had saw how Shakti awaited for Aiz to come close before she dodged the attack and counters. "she was baiting her to come."
"she was what!?" said Loki to Finn. "That Shakti baited Aiz-tan to attack?!"
"that type of counter attack technique is simple but effective if used right." Gareth stated as he watches how Shakti raises her fists and goes into a stance against Aiz who readied her sword in her grasp. "that Shakti….she's more stronger and faster than she was in the past."
"she's better than I had anticipated." Said Polemos in seeing how Shakti is now going on the attack against Aiz who is dodging her fast punches and kicks. "she really has the potential to be a Kaiser."
"goes to show that Zagreus was right in his choice." Said Makaria while turning her head to look at the Bloody Kaiser. "isn't it about time for her to end this fight?"
"indeed." Thalia nodded in agreement. "prolonging this battle, will prolong the inevitable."
Zagreus remains silent as he watches how Shakti grabs Aiz's right arm after it thrusted her sword out and the Ankusha turns before throwing the Sword Princess over her shoulder and to the ground where she tried to swing down her right fist at the blonde, but the attack failed and missed when her foe rolled away.
"Shakti Varma." Zagreus calls out as his voice echoes loudly for Shakti to hear and stops while taking a quick glance at the Bloody Kaiser who looks at her. "your warm up is over, finish this battle now."
"yes" Shakti nods before she face back Aiz who just readied herself.
"did he say…finish her warm up?" Demeter asked Hephaestus who nods.
"this battle is going to be finished soon." The goddess of smith stated as everyone watches Shakti stand up straight and raises her right hand that grabs part of her attire that was stripped off her body.
Everyone looks surprised and amazed as Shakti had discarded her previous attire and is now wearing a skintight one piece black jacket suit that has silver and red trimming lines and addition of a small cape on the back of her waist. The Ankusha raises her right arm up and shows that she is wearing some sort bracelet that is pure gold, but the main piece attached to it is a blue oval shaped gem that glows beautifully while surrounded with metal in the shape of a folded wing.
"that is?" Aiz whispers as she looks at the item in confusion.
Shakti grips her right fist hard as the bracelet's wings extended outwards while the gem flickers with a beeping sound.
"Equip!" Shakti exclaimed as she slams her left hand to the flickering gem that shines a bright blueish white light that envelops the Ankusha.
"so bright!" Tiona exclaimed as everyone in the Colosseum besides the Kaiser shielded their eyes from the light.
Aiz closed her eyes and shielded them as the light envelops Shakti before disappearing a minute later.
Everyone slowly opens their eyes and became surprised when they see Shakti now standing on the field and facing Aiz while wearing a silver, red, and orange colored suit armor that completely covers her entire body. She wears a helmet with the design of a Spartan warrior but more feminine themed as her hair is freed. The blue haired adventurer's face is revealed along with the most notable feature is the chest armor area where there is a blue crystal sapphire gem attached to the center while surrounded with a metal wing like ornaments.
Aiz looks at Shakti in surprise as she had no words to speak on what had occurred.
"w-what is this occurrence?! My Captain; Shakti had discarded her previous attire and is now wearing a suit of armor! Where did it come from!?" Ibrii exclaimed as he is on the edge of his spectator box.
"come, Aiz Wallenstein." Said Shakti as she raises her right hand and a silver doubled tipped spear materializes into her grasp. the Ankusha spins the weapon around and swings it to the side while raising her other hand in taunting the Sword Princess. The female warrior's eyes tense up while two metal pieces slides down to cover her mouth. "let us end this battle."
Seeing her opponent's taunt, Aiz readied her weapon as she was sure that she needs to go all out and not hold back for if she wishes to win against her foe.
Both opponents looked at one another before they dash in and clash their metal in a fury.
Everyone watches the battle continue as no one could ever expect Shakti to magically wear a suit of armor from out of nowhere, yet it allowed the tables to be turned for the Ankusha to begin overpowering the Sword Princess.
"so fast! she become more faster than before!" said Mikoto in seeing Shakti spin around her spear that is offensively attacking Aiz and defensively blocking the counterattacks. "what is with her spear technique?! It's like!"
"it's like she's dancing…" Bell whispers in seeing how Shakti is just spinning while twirling with her spear that continuously clashes against Aiz's Desperate, relentlessly even when she is not looking. "so…beautiful…"
The Kaisers watches Shakti who spins her spear and then thrusts it forward, the bladed edge nearly sliced Aiz's side that has a small cut mark appearing but soon gets hit with the weapon because the Ankusha uses the momentum to throw the Sword Princess to the ground where she tried slam her foot down after swinging it up, but the attack missed when the blonde dodged.
The battle continues as Shakti chases after Aiz with her attacks that are seriously intended for the kill.
"the Savior Kaiser…" Polemos spoke out as Melinoe made a noise and looks at him. "you think she perfectly fits the title as the Savior Kaiser?"
"no way." Ploutos calls out to Polemos as he leans against his seat and folds his hands on his chest. "she fists better as the Iron Fist Kaiser, right?"
"does everything have to go with Iron and stuff with you?" Makaria asked Ploutos while sweatdropping. "and that would just give the wrong message."
"the True Kaiser." Thalia spoke out. "how about that?"
"no, no, no. that'll give the wrong impression." Said Polemos while waving a hand side to side in rejecting the name. "it has to be something that perfect fits her persona and everything. Something that matches her characteristics."
"the Brave Kaiser." Zagreus spoke out as the other Kaisers look at him and sees that he is focused on the battle that is overly going on Shakti's side, the Ankusha spins her spear before she proceeds to throw it like a javelin at Aiz who jumps away to dodge but the blue haired woman was on to her, she had jumped and sends a powerful diving kick that lands straight at the Sword Princess' stomach and proceed to push her down to the ground where she crashed. "the Kaiser who has the courage to face despair with her unwavering will and might. That is her title as the newest Kaiser of the Kaiser Familia."
Melinoe and the others looks at Zagreus before to each other and nodded as if agreeing to his choice of title.
They look back to the fight as they see Shakti had jumped away and is now walking slowly towards Aiz while picking up her thrown spear that she spins and wields at her side. The Sword Princess has her face against the dirt, but she slowly gets back up to her feet while still holding onto her Desperate.
"the tables have turned! We had thought that this battle would be in the Sword Princess' favor, but instead it is overly being won by Captain Shakti!" Ibrii exclaimed as he was awestruck from how the fight went for Aiz's victory that leads into her possible downfall. "she's become strong! I've seen how strong my Captain is, but this is a new level of strength! She has truly become an adventurer worthy to be chosen by the Kaisers!"
Aiz is huffing her breathing while looking exhausted as she had been fighting Shakti for a good 10 minutes and she is almost a wreck.
'how can she be this stronger?' Aiz looks at Shakti whose face is shadowed but she sees a pair of glowing blue eyes just menacingly stare at her. 'she's only been trained by them for a week or two and yet…the difference in our level is just…'
Shakti stops walking and stands a few feet away from Aiz who watches her raise her spear up and swings it to the side then points its blade at her.
"do you submit in defeat, Aiz Wallenstein?" Shakti asked Aiz while staring down at her.
Aiz stares at Shakti as she just hardens her gaze and slowly stands up straight while wielding her sword in her grasp.
"never..i can't lose…" Aiz spoke out while huffing her breathing. "I don't want to lose!" she grasps her sword with both hands and grips the handle tight. "I have to win! I have to get stronger!" wind started to gather around the Sword Princess as she activated her magic. "TEMPEST! AERIAL!"
"she's using her magic?!" Lefiya exclaimed in shock.
"and she's not holding back too!" Tiona added in.
"Aiz! Don't force it!" Finn shouted.
The Loki Familia cries out to Aiz but their voices just fell deaf to the Sword Princess' ears.
Shakti looks at Aiz before she takes a quick glance at Zagreus who merely nods his head once.
"if that is your wish, Aiz Wallenstein." Shakti whispered as she closed her eyes and drops her spear that disappears into sparkles. The Ankusha takes a deep breath and waves her hands around then goes into a battle stance while opening her eyes that glows in looking at Aiz. "then so be it."
Aiz lunges in for the attack with her wind magic boosting her speed, the Sword Princess thrusts her sword forward and Shakti did a side step while raising a palm against the weapon's blade that moves past her head.
The Sword Princess hardens her expression when her attack missed, this made her go for a series of swings and thrusts of her weapons against her foe who merely dodged with ease by ducking, side stepping, and sliding down.
Aiz got behind Shakti as she lungs and thrusts her sword forward, but Shakti quickly jumps in dodging it.
'she can even dodge an attack from behind!?' Aiz thought in shock before she made a pained grunt when Shakti landed a kick on her back while in mid-air. 'even from there!?'
Shakti lands on the ground and looks at Aiz who staggers at front before she turns and faces her. the Sword Princess looking tired, but she held strong and goes for another strike with her sword.
"this time!" Aiz shouted as she goes extremely fast with the boost of her wind that sends her straight at Shakti like a bullet.
"Aiz! Are you planning to kill Shakti!?" Gareth shouted in seeing the usual killing strike that Aiz would use against monsters.
"Aiz-san!" Lefiya cried out. "stop!"
Not one member of the Loki Familia could stop Aiz who goes in strong for the killing strike against Shakti who watches her come, only to suddenly slams her right fist to the ground that causes a large and thick rock pillar of a wall to arise in between her and the Sword Princess.
"wha?!" Aiz and many others looked in surprise as the fast attack from the Sword Princess hits the rock wall that shatters into pieces.
Aiz went through the destroyed wall and from the dust appears Shakti who has a fist pulled back.
Eyes going wide, Aiz could only see the fist coming and landed on the right side of her cheek.
"Raaah!" Shakti roared out as she swings her fist forward and sends Aiz flying a few feet away and crashing to a wall by the edge of the arena.
"w-what power! Captain Shakti has sent Aiz Wallenstein flying after she blocked her attack!" Ibrii shouted as Aiz fell to the ground and coughs out some blood that has a small trickle of it dripping the side of her lips, right near where she got punched. "that was some punch! That must've been equivalent with getting hit by the Goliath of the 17th floor!"
"that's a bit disappointing." Said Ploutos after seeing the rock wall that Shakti conjured by punching the ground. "if she was more serious, she could've made that wall hold strong and use it to attack that brat."
"even with two weeks of training, she still needs some places to be strengthened, huh?" Polemos scratches his chin. "although, she got a good grasp of that new power of hers."
"looks like she'll need some monthly training from you, Zagreus." Said Melinoe to Zagreus who watches Shakti just standing and looking at Aiz who gets back up.
Spitting out some blood, Aiz huffs her breathing and aches a bit because the punch to her cheek felt incredibly painful when it connected; her cheek bone felt like it had cracked a bit.
"with how much damage she has received, will the Sword Princess continue!?" Ibrii exclaimed. "but I don't think that's a good idea! In all honesty, I don't want to side with anyone, but she might have to surrender! This is a losing battle for her!"
"Aiz! Just stop! You can't win anymore!" Tione shouted out. "this match was set in your loss from the moment it was made! Just surrender!"
"Aiz! Please! You can't win against her!" Tiona exclaimed.
"Aiz-san! please! This fight isn't worth your life! Aiz-san!" Lefiya cried out.
Everyone in the Loki Familia constantly cries out to Aiz and begs her to stop fighting a battle that she can't win, but the Sword Princess still didn't listen.
"n-no…not yet!" Aiz slowly walks towards Shakti as she drags her Desperate and stops to go into a stance while wind begins to gather around her body once more. "not yet!"
"Aiz! Don't! not that!" Finn shouted as he knew the stance that Aiz had taken, it is the stance that she would take when she would use her killing move.
Shakti sees this and it got her guard up for a moment.
"Shakti Varma." Zagreus calls out to the Ankusha who turns to look at the Bloody Kaiser who did a thumbs down motion with his right hand. "no more playing around, end this foolish battle."
The Ankusha looks and nods before facing Aiz while lowering her guard.
"is she planning to do nothing and just watch the incoming attack?!" Ibrii exclaimed. "Captain Shakti, that's just too dangerous! The Sword Princess' killing move could kill a Floor boss with ease! Dodge it!"
"is she really serious!?" Welf exclaimed. "That Sword Princess is a level 6 and her attack is deadly! Even with that suit of armor, she won't come out unscathed!"
"She has to dodge!" Mikoto shouted while Haruhime gasps in the possible horror of Shakti getting skewered with the Sword Princess' weapon.
"she's going for it!" Lili exclaimed as she points as Aiz who suddenly flew into the air and came flying down straight at Shakti with her sword pointed at her.
"Aiz-san!" Bell exclaimed as he didn't want to see a possible death scenario of Shakti getting killed by the Sword Princess.
"Lil!" Aiz screams as she lungs straight for Shakti with no intention of holding back. "Rafaga!"
The Sword Princess flew straight for Shakti who stands in her place before her eyes glows blue and static of blue electricity dance around her fists for a flicker of a moment.
A huge dust explosion soon erupts as the entire field was enveloped in it.
"S-SHE DONE IT! THE SWORD PRINCESS HAD ATTACKED WITH HER MOST STRONGEST ATTACK!" Ibrii exclaimed while shielding himself from the flying dust. "is she alright!? Is Captain Shakti alright!?"
Everyone watches the dust covered field as they couldn't see anything nor anyone.
When the dust settled, everyone awaits and sees the result of Aiz's attack that didn't come out as they expected.
"i-impossible…" Finn spoke out with wide eyes. "that's just.."
Nearly everyone in the Loki Familia is shocked beyond words and that shock was spread to the entire colosseum's spectators.
Even Aiz is wide eyes and in shock as she sees the tip of her Desperate's blade is pinned in between by Shakti's right arm's elbow and her right leg's knee. The Ankusha had stopped the Sword Princess' attack by clamping her weapon with her limbs that are in a defensive stance.
"S-SHE STOPPED IT!?" Ibrii exclaimed on his mic as he was shocked beyond words. "The Sword Princess' final and killing attack! The one that is known to be able to kill a Floor Boss! My Captain had stopped it with such an easy looking defensive stance!"
"t-that's just…" Lili spoke as she staggers and fell while looking completely shocked. "that's just impossible and completely insane."
Everyone with Bell just had awestruck filling their soul as they never seen such a powerful attack stopped with ease. If it was a Kaiser, it wouldn't be such a surprise, but it was Shakti who done such a feat that was thought to be impossible for normal adventurers to do.
"Forgive me, Aiz Wallenstein." Said Shakti to Aiz before she raises her left arm up and forms a hard fist that was swung straight at the Desperate's blade that shatters like glass.
Everyone, even Aiz was shocked at the action of Shakti just breaking the renowned Desperate's blade into pieces.
"s-she shattered it?! Captain Shakti shattered the Sword Princess' renowned unbreakable sword!?" Ibrii screams in complete shock. "t-that's unheard of!"
"t-that's impossible! The Desperate is an unbreakable sword! How can it just!?" Lefiya gasped as everyone in the Loki familia couldn't believe what they were seeing. "that's just impossible!"
"Unbreakable? What a joke." Ploutos smirks in hearing the utter chatter spread by the spectators. "Gobinu and his blacksmiths try so hard to make a weapon of my caliber? What a lame joke that is." He soon gets off his seat with the other Kaisers. "that sword is nothing more than a cheap knockoff of a real unbreakable sword." He scoffs and smirks. "and it was on the verge of shattering because of how that brat has been using it."
"this battle is over." Said Zagreus as he looks at Melinoe. "get him ready."
"I got it." said Melinoe before disappearing in a red blur.
Aiz looks completely in shock to see that her one weapon that has been with her for years, has been shattered right before her own eyes.
"This Duel is over, Aiz Wallenstein." said Shakti as she stands straight while clapping her hands to blow away the dust and then turns to walk away. "You have lost."
Aiz could only stay silent as she looks at the handle of her broken weapon before she grits her teeth hard and glares at Shakti while throwing away her broken weapon.
"Aiz-san!?" Lefiya gasped as Aiz lungs straight at Shakti who she began to furiously attack like a mad woman. "what are you!?"
"w-what is this!? Aiz Wallenstein is still continuing to attack even though she is without a weapon!?" Ibrii exclaimed in watching Shakti dodging all of Aiz's attacks that are too simple and predictable because of how uncoordinated they are going. "can this duel even continue like this!?"
"Aiz-san!" Bell cried out as he was shocked to see the Sword Princess going for the attack even though this is a losing battle.
"she has to stop! She can't win at all!" Lili cried out before she and the others heard a noise and sees Melinoe coming in. "Melinoe Kaiser!?"
"Bell, come with me if you don't want to see Aiz Wallenstein get killed." Said Melinoe to Bell who she held a hand towards to.
Bell looks at his aunt for a moment before he firms his face and nods.
"I can't lose! I can't lose!" Aiz screamed out in fury as she just punches and kicks Shakti who blocks and dodges her attacks. "I need to become stronger! I need to! I need to get more stronger!"
Aiz soon lands a powerful wind imbued kick at Shakti who blocks with both arms up, the attack pushing against her might that caused her to make long drag marks on the ground.
"She has gone mad." Said Shakti in seeing how furiously insane Aiz's attacks are now. The Ankusha began to dodge as she has no intention to continue a battle with an insane warrior who she once had respect to.
"Shakti Varma." Zagreus called out as Shakti back flips away from Aiz before glancing at the Kaiser who is walking away from his throne with the other Kaisers. "put her out of her misery."
Shakti looks at him for a moment before she grimaced a bit and nodded.
"as you wish." Said Shakti as she faces Aiz who is running at her direction.
"I don't want to lose!" Aiz shouted as she came straight at Shakti with a kick that was dodged and is followed with a punch that is blocked.
BANG!
A loud crack of a noise is soon heard from the arena as everyone looks in awestruck.
"ugh?" Aiz is now looking at the sky for an unknown reason that is revealed to be the cause of her receiving an uppercut to her chin by Shakti who follows it with a right hook and then a left hook before it a powerful jab to the stomach was added in. "agh?!"
Shakti didn't stop her attack as she jabs a punch to Aiz's right cheek and then followed it with a hard kick to the right arm before grabbing the Sword Princess' shoulders and pulls her down for a powerful knee strike right to the chest.
Aiz is a few inches off the ground as she coughs out blood from her mouth and not noticing that Shakti has her right fist pulled back that is glowing in blueish white aura.
"Seiken…" Shakti muttered out before she swings her fist forward and lands it straight at Aiz's stomach. "ZUKI!"
A mouthful of blood was puked out by Aiz who is sent flying in the air before crashing to the ground with a big dust explosion.
"Aiz-san!" Lefiya cries out as she ran from the spectator's seat.
"Lefiya!" Tiona exclaimed.
"let's go too!" Tione shouted as she and her sister followed after the elven mage.
"Finn!" Gareth looks at the pallum who nods.
Many of the Loki Familia soon runs from their seats as they no longer cared for the match, they only cared to save their friend.
Aiz is on the ground as she pukes out more blood and coughs non stop. Her body feels intense pain as she felt like she is in the world of utter pain.
Shakti looks at Aiz and sees that she is no longer getting up, therefore she turns to look at Ibrii.
"the match is over, Ibrii!" Shakti called out to Ibrii who looks to be in a daze for a moment before he snaps out of it. "announce its end!"
"t-the duel is over! The winner! Kaiser Familia's representative; Shakti Varma!" Ibrii exclaimed on the mic as no one gave a round of applause for the victor, they were all awestruck by the result of the match.
"well done." Zagreus spoke out as Shakti turns to see him along with the other Kaisers minus Melinoe hovering and soon standing behind her. "your training has bear the ripest of results. Well done, Shakti Varma; the Brave Kaiser."
"yes." Shakti bowed her head before she frowns and looks back at Aiz. "but still…was it really necessary to do this?"
"It was." Zagreus replied as he sees the Loki Familia coming towards their beaten up comrade. Lefiya beginning to use her healing magic while Raul and Aki gives potion for her. "I know that you respect Aiz Wallenstein as an adventurer, but she isn't any ordinary adventurer. She is someone…not belonging to this era."
"Aiz! Aiz! Wake up!" Tiona cried out to Aiz whose wounds have been healed with Lefiya's magic and the potions given.
The Sword Princess wakes up from her injury as she felt a bit in pain but still remained conscious from it.
"Aiz-san!" Lefiya looks relieved at Aiz who suddenly pushes her away and gets up. "Aiz-san!?"
"n-not yet!" Aiz cried out as she went straight for Shakti and the Kaisers. "i-I can still fight! I can't lose! I!"
"you have lost, maggot." Polemos stated while crossing his arms. "accept reality, you're weak and you lost."
"no! I won't admit to it! I have to get strong!" Aiz cried out with a pure desperate face. "you have to make me strong! I! I can become strong! I!"
"you have no potential to become stronger, Aiz Wallenstein." Zagreus spoke out flatly as he looks down at Aiz with glowing eyes. "I don't see the potential within you. You cannot become a Kaiser nor will you ever become stronger than you currently are." He then turns around and face his back towards Aiz. "you are weak."
"I'm not weak! I'm!" Aiz cried out as she tried to attack but Tione and Tiona stopped her. "let me go! I!"
"no more, Aiz! Just stop!" Tiona exclaimed.
"you're hurt! And you lost! Just accept it!" Tione shouted.
"no! I have to become stronger! I can't lose! I have to become stronger like Bell!" Aiz screams out. "he got stronger because he's the son of the Kaisers! If he can become strong with their help! So can i! that's why!"
"is that why you tried to use him?" Makaria stated. "is that why you offered to train him? in order to learn his secret?"
"that's…" Aiz spoke out before she looks down and frown. "yes…I did that."
"you did what to Bell Cranel of the Hestia Familia, Aiz!?" said Finn in shock. "why didn't you tell us this!? That's goes against our rules!"
"leave it to a brat to not tell anyone a very dangerous secret." Polemos spoke out with a dark looking sneer. "the blonde tried to use Bell for her own gain, and she just admit it."
"I just did it to get stronger! What's wrong with that!?" Aiz exclaimed. "I have to get stronger! To kill that monster! to get my mother back from it! I have to get stronger no matter what!"
"to do that you would use my son like some sort of tool?" Said Zagreus as he turns and glares menacingly at Aiz. "tell me…if you learned the secret to become as strong as I am from my son, what will you repay him with?"
"wha?" Aiz looks confused. "what do you mean?"
"if you learn the secret to Bell's strength, what would you do to repay him?" Thalia stated while slamming the bottom of her Saint Cross to the ground. "if you learn his secret, many will learn about it. you must repay him for knowing such a secret." Her eyes soon glows under her blindfold. "So answer it, Aiz Wallenstein. What would you do to repay him?"
"i-i…I would give him…lots of lap pillows?" Aiz replied a bit timidly and unsurely.
Hearing her reply, made the air go silent as no one spoke a word
"Repaying Bell with lots of lap pillows? Even after using him as a tool for your own gain?" Polemos spoke out while growling with an angered face. "how childish can one be?!"
"We know you've been trying to find out about the secret to his strength daily." Said Ploutos while pointing a finger at Aiz. "you tried every possible way to learn of his secret. You weren't his friend at all, you were just using him!"
"Here we thought that the brat and the dwarf was bad. You're just worst." Said Thalia while slamming her Saint Cross to the ground. "The utterly despicable and worse person we have ever met!"
"you're nothing more than a child." Zagreus spoke out as he glares menacingly at Aiz with his eyes that flares under his helmet's visor. "a foolish and insolent child who believes that she can do anything in the world because she has a right cause."
"you think you're the only one who thinks that way?" Makaria asked as she points a finger at Aiz. "there's dozens of people with the same agenda as you are. They all just think of doing one thing and one thing only. wanting revenge. You really think that's a good thing?"
Aiz soon grits her teeth hard before she glares at Makaria.
"what is wrong with that!?" Aiz cried out. "I needed more power! The power to get back my mother from that monster! what is wrong with wanting revenge!?"
"so you're saying that it is okay to take revenge by using others?" Melinoe asked. "like Bell?"
Aiz thought about it for a moment as she frowns a bit and just nods.
"he'll understand after I repay him…" Aiz spoke out. "I'm sorry that I want to use him..but I had no choice.."
"so he'll understand if you repay him, huh? You used him because you had no choice? Is that correct?" Polemos spoke out before he took a quick glance to the side. "did you hear that, Bell?"
Aiz looks confused for a moment before she turns and looks wide eyes as she sees Bell nearby with Melinoe. The Rabbit Foot is looking at her in tears.
"did you…did you really train me just to know the secret to my growth?" Bell asked in a soft voice that is breaking up while his tears were dripping down his cheeks. "you were only…using me?"
"B-Bell…why?" Aiz whispers in shock as she didn't realize that he was nearby.
"she used you because she wants to know the secret of your strength." Zagreus spoke out as he looks at Aiz and then at Bell. "she never saw you as a friend, Bell. she only saw you as a means to become strong."
"n-no! i!" Aiz cried out as she looks at Zagreus before Bell who is crying more tears while gritting his teeth hard. "Bell! i!"
"HOW COULD YOU!?" Bell cried out loudly while in tears. "I ADMIRED YOU! I SAW YOU AS A HERO AFTER YOU SAVED ME! I! I!" the young man let out his outburst that was loud enough for everyone in the Colosseum to hear it. he cries in endless tears at Aiz who looks completely taken aback from his outburst. The young man continues to cry uncontrollably as he grips his fists very hard. "I WANTED TO GROW STRONG! JUST SO THAT I COULD BE YOUR EQUAL! YET YOU! YET YOU ONLY SEE ME AS A STEPPING STONE?! HOW COULD YOU!? HOW COULD YOU DO SUCH A THING, AIZ-SAN!? HOW!? WHY?!"
"Bell…" Welf muttered out with a sad frown to see his best friend just crying in anguish.
"Bell-kun/-sama…." Hestia, Lili, and Haruhime looks at Bell who they could tell is brokenhearted.
Aiz looks completely shocked at Bell before she frowns with an incredible sense of guilt growing inside of her stomach.
"i-I'm sorry…" Aiz whispered softly. "i.."
"you're apologizing now that you realize Bell was here?" Polemos asked with a mocking sneer directed at Aiz. "you have no shame, do you?"
"you're lying so much in your apology to Bell." Thalia stated. "you must be only saying this because you don't want to lose him because he could still give you power, right? You only cared about the secret skill he has, right?"
"n-no! i!" Aiz cried out as she looks at Bell who is just crying in more tears while looking completely heartbroken. "Bell….i-I didn't mean to.."
"save it, brat." Said Melinoe as she got in front of Bell who is just crying non stop. "you don't deserve anything from Bell or from us."
"take him to our Home, Melinoe." Zagreus told the Blade Kaiser. "it is best that he is no longer be near the one who broke his heart."
Melinoe nods before she turns to Bell and gently takes hold of him by the shoulders.
Bell continues to cry as he just cries loudly while Melinoe gently takes him into a hug and then comforts him.
"come on, Bell. let's go home." Melinoe whispered while caressing and stroking her nephew's head as he continues to cry to her. "she's going to go away now, no need to cry anymore."
"Shakti, go with them." Polemos told the Ankusha who turns towards him. "you've done well and enough for the day. Go and rest."
"yes." Shakti nodded before bowing to the Kaisers and then left with Melinoe who takes Bell and her to the Underworld Castle via a portal conjured by Makaria.
Zagreus looks at the portal that disappeared in a second before he turns towards Aiz who looks completely guilty and sad.
"you believe that a simply apology will change anything?" said Zagreus as his eyes glows. "you tried to use my son for your own benefits and you think a simple 'I'm sorry' will mend things?"
"the brat is nothing more than a brat, Zagreus." Makaria spoke out darkly. "a foolish brat from a foolish Familia."
"it's so pitiful to know that such a person like her exists." Thalia added in.
"Aiz-san isn't in the wrong!" Lefiya cried out as she got to Aiz and stood in front of her. "she was trying to get strong! What's wrong with doing that to a none familia adventurer!? It's that rabbit boy's fault for being oblivious!"
"Lefiya! what are you saying!?" Tione exclaimed at the elven mage.
"it's true! He gets to rank up so fast! he must be cheating!" Lefiya cried out. "it's not Aiz-san's fault to be curious about it! everyone would be doing the same!"
"silence, Elf." Said Makaria who snaps her fingers and Lefiya was blown away by a powerful magic shockwave.
"Lefiya!" Tiona cried out as Lefiya flew in the air before crashing to the ground. The elven mage coughs out blood while bleeding badly from a wound around her stomach. "Lefiya!"
"that elf is the same as this blonde brat over here." Said Makaria in watching Lefiya getting tended by Raul and Cruz. "she knew that she was going to use Bell for her own use and didn't report it to her seniors." She then looks at Finn who is wide eyes. "you believed that you are a righteous captain of your Familia, right? You have everyone in control and following the rules, but seems that it is not true since you have brats who don't follow the rules, right?"
"the Loki Familia is at fault here, not us." Said Polemos as he points a finger at Loki who squeaks a bit. "they seize power in Orario back then when Zeus and Hera Familia were weakened! This Familia along with that bitch of a Familia named Freyja Familia are nothing but lowlife who took power by the heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the city?! is that really what this city really needed!? A bunch of lowlifes who discards others for their own gain!?"
"this is…" Gareth spoke out as he soon realized that everything is still being broadcasted to the entire city. "it can't be!"
"this city was attacked and terrorized by Evilus 7 years ago! You were all attacked by the former members of Zeus and Hera Familia who joined the dark group! The Predator; Zald! The Silence; Alfia! I and my sister Thalia bear shame to know that two of our most trusted comrades would do such a thing!" Polemos exclaimed as he waves a hand up and to the side. "but do you not understand why would they do such a thing!?" he then points a finger at the Loki Familia. "it is because of their actions!"
"what!? no way! We didn't do anything that bad! We just!" Aki exclaimed before shutting up when Zagreus glares at her.
"two of our former comrades joined Evilus! The reason for their actions is to take vengeance for the two Familias who destroyed their friends and Family! These lots tarnished all the hard work that they had done for you all!" Thalia called out as she raises her Saint Cross up and the crystal screens showed the faces of Zald; the Predator of the Zeus Familia and Alfia; the Silence of the Hera Familia. "these two were not at fault for attacking your city! they were taking vengeance! Their rightful vengeance!"
"t-that face is!" Hestia cried out as she and the others all sees Alfia's face. "isn't that Bell-kun's mother!?"
"no wait! She looks different!" Welf exclaimed. "didn't the Kaisers say that Bell's Mom has the name Meteria and not Alfia, right!?"
"if that is not Bell-sama's mother..then who is she?" Lili asked
"these two legendary and highly respected adventurers did their best to slay the Behemoth and the Leviathan for you all! and yet they were treated like trash by these two Familias! Is that anyway to treat the heroes of Orario!?" Polemos exclaimed as he glares angrily at Loki and the others. "if this Familia and the slut Freyja Familia hadn't banished them! The nightmare of Evilus wouldn't have happened those years ago! It is because of them that many of you lost old loved ones and old friends! It is because of them that you all have to fear the possibility of Evilus' return! It is because of them that we Kaisers must take such horrid actions to ensure that this city is safe once again!"
Without a second passing, many started to believe what the Kaisers are saying as some started to riot and let out cheers of agreement.
"t-they're making everyone turn against us…" Aki spoke out while a bit scared to hear so much booing at their Familia and cheering to the Kaiser Familia.
"This was all a set up from the beginning!" Bete growls angrily.
"can you truly believe in the strength of the Freyja Familia?!" Polemos exclaimed. "they may boast to be the strongest Familia, but you all do not realize that she is a goddess of gluttony! She takes people who she desires and takes them like they are toys to be kept! We have seen many whose loved ones she had taken! Men, women, even children! She takes them like they are her own to keep! Little prized toys that she cherished like they don't have lives!" the screen showed the images of the members of the Freyja Familia side to side with photos of people who look plain and ordinary. "you are not safe with her around! She will take your loved ones and make them her own! No matter how you beg of her to give them back, she won't return them!"
Chatters spread as this is heard even to the Freyja Familia members who began to riot angrily while Freyja herself. The goddess is in an alleyway with Hedin and Hogni, she watches the crystal screens and is growing more angrier by the news that the Kaisers are spreading about her.
"not only is she a gluttonous goddess, she is a pathetic one who is also a murderer!" Thalia exclaimed as she slams the bottom of her Saint Cross to the ground causing a rumble while making the screen show the image of Helios Kaiser, the man who is the spitting image of Zagreus but his hair is white, wild, and only at his neck length, he has blue eyes, and a somewhat friendly expression. "this man right here! This man is Helios Kaiser! The first and original leader of the Kaiser Familia before Zagreus Kaiser who is his younger twin brother!"
"Z-Zagreus Kaiser has a twin brother!?" Hestia gasps in shock.
"that is completely unheard of!" Haruhime gasps in awe and shock.
Everyone with them is also in shock as they never even heard of Helios.
"Helios-san…" Demeter whispers with a sad face before she glances at Hephaestus who shed a single tear to see the image and then tilts her head down while grasping a part of her shirt with her right hand. "Hephaestus…" the goddess of agriculture places a hand on the goddess of blacksmith's back and strokes it in comfort. "be strong…"
"Helios was charismatic! Passionate! And overall kind and strong!" Ploutos exclaimed as the images on the screen soon showed Helios along with the other Kaisers who are happy and smiling together along with a few of them in the Dungeon and are attacking monsters. "he is the one who originally created the Kaiser Familia! the Familia of 8 adventurers who strive for peace in Orario! He was a hero! A true hero of the ages who would do what is best to keep everyone he cared and loved safe! Yet! Yet he was murdered by the goddess Freyja who was jealous of the goddess he was involved with!" the screen now shows the dead corpse of Helios who is lifeless upon a pool of blood while Freyja is mockingly looking down at him. "how can you all respect a goddess who murdered a hero!? How can you all worship a murderer!?"
"F-Freyja murdered a Kaiser!?" Hestia gasps in shock. "but that's just!"
"to think that Freyja did such a thing.." Miach muttered out while Takemikazuchi looks down with an emotionally mixed expression.
"everyone, isn't that Hephaestus-sama and Demeter-sama?" Mikoto called out as everyone turns and sees her pointing somewhere at the crowd's seat where the two goddesses can be found sitting beside each other.
"you're right…why are they..?" Lili muttered out before being confused when she sees Hephaestus is crying while Demeter is comforting her. "what is the matter with Hephaestus-sama?"
"she's…crying?" Hestia asked with a worried face as she has never seen the goddess of smith cry on anything.
"Orario! Do not ever trust the Goddess Freyja! Do not ever worship her or even see her as a goddess!" Thalia shouted out. "she is a murderer! And we Kaisers will bring her to justice!"
Small cheers are heard as this resounded in some parts of Orario.
"but you must not only be aware of her!" Makaria shouted as she points a finger at the Loki Familia. "these fools are also not to be trusted!"
"u-us!? Why?!" Loki cried out in shock.
"not only did the Freyja Familia and the Loki Familia allowed such chaos and terror to befall upon you those years ago, they fail to realize that the one who remains in operating the remnants of Evilus was hiding in plain sight!" Makaria exclaimed as she snaps her fingers and the screen shows Dionysus and his Familia members. "Dionysus Familia! this is the Familia that is now in command of Evilus' remnants!"
"w-what!?" Loki exclaimed in shock. "Dionysus!?"
"the Loki Familia has failed in realizing that they were utterly and pathetically used like puppets that danced upon Dionysus' hands! They allowed themselves to be led into a game where the lives of their members gets taken one by on!" Makaria exclaimed as the screen now show the faces of deceased Loki Familia members along with other random people. "not only their members! But many good willed adventurers lost their lives because of their complete lack of sight! The God of Dionysus even taken hostage members of the Demeter Familia as well!" the next image shows a live recording of Demeter who looks confused before she began to frantically panic because she was seeing herself in the screens. "she had been fighting against him to keep her Familia safe! To keep all of you safe! Dionysus tried to poison everyone with the produce of the Demeter Familia yet the goddess Demeter kept on fighting to protect you all! she herself held on so strong for years under Dionysus' control! She cried and prayed for help to come! Yet no one in Orario has ever heard her cries! No one, but us Kaisers! Orario! I ask of you all! Can you truly live a life of peace with them around!? Can you truly trust your lives and safety to the Loki Familia now?! can you truly believe in the strengths that they have?!" she raises her right hand and snaps her fingers to make the screen show the Kaisers. "Orario! I ask of you! Who can you trust!? Who can you believe!?"
Her words made many chatter and looks at each other as the crowds and the entire citizens look at each other as many started to speak of her words and beginning to think of the right that she has.
"Orario, I ask of you." Zagreus spoke out as his face appears on the crystal screens. "do you wish to live a life of peace? Do you wish to live without fear? Do you wish to enjoy your lives with your beloved ones close and unharmed?" he soon hears agreeing voices from afar, all wanting what he was offering. "if you wish for it, then we Kaisers will grant it. we will grant you a city that is always safe, happy, and in joy. All that you have to do…" he raises a hand then extends it out and everyone in Orario felt like he was offering it to them. "is just to put your trust and faith upon us. trust the Kaiser Familia. the Familia who will protect you all from harm."
Without a second passing by, Orario went into a roar of cheers as many were instantly influenced by Zagreus' words and are now cheering the name 'KAISERS!' over and over.
"The entire city is with them!" Demeter cried out a bit scared to see how many are cheering the Kaiser's name in the colosseum. "it's so scary in a way!" the goddess hangs onto Hephaestus as the ground is vibrating a bit. "was this all planned by Zagreus and the others!?"
"Everything was planned from the time Zagreus chose Shakti as the new Kaiser." Said Hephaestus with a slowly sterned up face towards Zagreus who lowers his hand and faces the Loki Familia. "all to make the Kaiser Familia, the one truly strongest Familia in Orario once again."
"leave!" "you're a bunch of cowards!" "you weren't heroes at all! you're just parasites!" "cowards!" "Fools!" "Clowns!" the people began to throw stuff at the Loki Familia as they booed them.
"the entire city is now against us…" Tiona muttered out with a shocked face.
"this bastard tricked us in the beginning!" Tione shouted all angrily. "you made a mockery of the captain! I won't forgive you!"
"these guys are going to get it!" Bete exclaimed.
"stop! You two!" Finn shouted as Tione with Bete dashed towards the Kaisers, planning to fight them for tricking their entire Familia into a trap that ends with them being utterly humiliated and hated.
Zagreus watches the two come straight at him as he did nothing but let Makaria snap her fingers to call two Hell Knights to come jumping into the air and slam their shields down at Bete and Tione who gets crushed under their weight.
"Bete! Tione!" Tiona cries out as the Jormugand and the Vanargand are instantly subdued.
"if you wish to make more of a fool of yourselves, then be our guests." Polemos stated as he smirks mockingly towards Bete whose face is pressed against the dirt by the Hell Knight restraining him. "you're just adding fuel to the already blazing fire."
"you bastard!" Bete shouted while growling before he grunted when the Hell Knight pushes him down against the dirt.
"brats are brats." Said Ploutos as he pocketed his hands and turns around before walking away. "I'll be heading back first."
"same." Said Makaria as she followed Ploutos.
"Polemos, Thalia, return and go with what we have planned." Zagreus calls out to the Arc and Saint Kaiser who nods before they turn and followed after Ploutos and Thalia, the four hovers off the ground and soon flies to the Underworld Castle that reappears floating above the colosseum.
All who is left is Zagreus. The Bloody Kaiser stands against the Loki Familia who are now becoming afraid because the Bloody Kaiser is radiating a dark aura that grew and took form as a monster with one glowing red eye.
"I will give you all a choice, Loki Familia." said Zagreus as his eyes glows menacingly under his helmet's visor. "leave in utter disgrace or die in despair."
It didn't take a second for anyone to choose such choices, Finn taking the initiative by instantly commanding everyone to retreat after getting Bete and Tione back.
Zagreus watches them leave the arena with their tails in between their legs as he scoffs a bit.
"Pathetic." Said Zagreus as he turns while waving his cape to the side. "Utterly pathetic."
Zagreus walks away while getting involved with black air that shrouds and made him disappear when it disperses.
All the spectators are leaving the colosseum as the battle of the duel had ended with the Kaiser Familia victory against the Loki Familia and Orario itself.
At the spectator box where the Hestia Familia and their ally Familias reside, they all watch and see the utter humiliation done to the Loki Family by the Kaiser Familia.
"is this….really going to be for the good of Orario?" Lili asked as everyone sees how everything has gone to the utter defeat of the Loki Familia and Freyja Familia who are disgraced and humiliated.
"I don't know how to answer that, Lil Lili." Welf spoke out. "the Kaisers had planned this all from the beginning and now…"
"we can only await and see what will happen next…" Hestia whispers as she can sense terrible things are coming to Orario, may it be from the Kaisers or perhaps from something else.
Everyone stayed silent next as no one speaks while not knowing that the moon in the night sky is soon clouded by the Underworld Castle that floats and casts its shadow upon Orario.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye