~~000~~

Tales of the Multiverse Bit 197

"Ugh! This sucks..."

After an hour of fighting, Andy the Ragdoll alongside his crew and Karasu are seen lying on the ground, battered and bruised. Turn outs that both sides are equal in strength which is why the fight ended in a draw.

~~000~~


Later that day in a Rome-inspired colosseum which is located somewhere in the Royal Officer Academy and it's currently occupied by a large number of female students.

And if your guess was right, this is where the neantherthal - Darren Cross and the Queen of the New Kingdom - Lisesharte Atsimata, will have their duel.

Amongst in the audience area are two prominent figures.

The first figure is a teenage girl with a fair complexion and a slender frame, she had a shoulder-length silver hair held by black ribbon laces and she had ash-grey colored eyes. She wears a white long-sleeved cropped shirt with white shoulder patches and golden trimmings over a white ruffled-buttoned shirt with a frilly collar and a red tie, she wears a blue buttoned tail-coated corset with triangle shaped flaps and golden trimmings, a dark-blue pleated skirt with black & white hemlines and white frills, she wears white tights and black folded shoes. She also wears a black choker around her neck. This is Airi Arcadia, the younger sister of Lux.

Royal Officer Academy Student

Airi Arcadia

The second figure is a teenage girl with a fair complexion and a slender frame, she had a grayish-black hair styled in a short bobcut, she had jade-colored eyes and had a rather poker faced expression. She wears a white long-sleeved cropped shirt with white shoulder patches and golden trimmings over a white ruffled-buttoned shirt with a frilly collar and a green tie, she wears a blue buttoned tail-coated corset with triangle shaped flaps and golden trimmings, a dark-blue pleated skirt with black & white hemlines and white frills, she wears black socks with yellow bands and black & white folded shoes. This is Noct Leaflet.

Triad Member and Royal Officer Academy Student

Noct Leaflet

"So..." Airi uttered, "... the person from last night's incident will be facing Miss Lisha in a duel." she pointed out.

Noct nodded in response, "Yes." she confirmed, "From what Tillfur and Shalice told me, if that person loses, he'll be apprehended and will be executed." she explained with a blank look.

"I wonder how this person will fair against our princess." Airi thought out loud.

Meanwhile, we see Darren peaking his head from an open door with a deadpanned expression while Lux Arcadia watches him from behind.

"Look at that..." Darren beckoned, "... it's a full house." he commented in a dry tone, "Everyone sure are excited to watch a man in his late teens about to get pummel to the ground by an angry princess." he grumbled in annoyance.

Lux chuckled nervously, "I think your exaggerating." he commented while feeling sorry for the miserable lad.

Darren then turns to Lux, "By the way, what are you doing here?" he questioned, "Aren't you suppose to be on the princess' side?'' he assumed while jabbing a thumb outside.

"Well..." Lux uttered, "... I pretty much figure out that you're a nice guy, albeit gets misunderstood a lot, so might as well cheer you on." he explained.

"Finally!" Darren cheered, "Someone who actually understood my situation!" exclaimed in delight when he realized something, "Wait!" he squawked, "Don't tell me, you've been in situations like this before." he assumed.

Lux chuckled nervously once more, "Too many times to count.'' he replied while rubbing the back of his head.

"I see..." Darren acknowledged before looking at his watch, "Men..." he uttered, "What is taking them so long?" he questioned.

Suddenly, the two boys heard a collection of loud gasps from outside, the two looks at each other for a minute before running outside and saw everyone looking up from above.

The boys looks up and much to Lux' surprise and Darren's delight, they saw a giant leaf soaring through the winds while descending down into the colosseum and on top of the giant leaf, they saw Sandalwood sitting in a meditation pose.

Sandalwood is currently wearing a Tie Dye Dashiki shirt underneath a brown vest, a blue woven trim pant, brown Water Buffalo sandals, a Tye Die Fleece Pocket Scarf around his head and 60's Janis Style Sunglasses.

"Hey, dude!" Sandalwood greeted with a bright smile, "I brought your armor and sword.'' he presented

"Hey, Sandalwoods." Darren greeted back, "Though you could have arrive here with a less flashy entrance.'' he jokingly chastised.

Sandalwood let's out a hearty laughter, "Sorry, dude..." he apologized, "... but it's the only idea I had to bring your equipment.'' he reasoned.

"And I appreciate it." Darren expressed in gratitude, "By the way, where are the rest of the team?" he asked.

"They'll arrive later on." Sandalwood replied before tossing a necklace and a sword to Darren, "I think you should get ready to fight." he beckoned before getting down from the giant leaf which then transformed into small one and was placed inside his pockets.

Darren sighed in response, "Wish me luck..." he uttered, "I'm going to need it." he claimed before walking away from the two.

Sandalwoods the turns to Lux with a grin, "Sup, bro!" he greeted with Lux chuckling nervously in response.

As Darren walks in the middle of the stadium and saw Lisesharte Atismata whom waiting for him in the middle of the arena.

Lisesharte is currently wearing a black & white swimsuit-like bodysuit with red linings, a pair of black thigh-high boots with red linings and her swords dangling on her left hip.

"My~" Lisesharte uttered, "And here I thought you would run away." she assumed, "I applaud you for that." she complimented in a mocking tone.

"What good running away do?" Darren questioned indecorously, "I'm already a disgrace almost in the eyes of many, so I don't wanna add more things that will help others to pull me down." he stated.

Lisesharte raised an eyebrow at his statement but shrugs it off, "Well..." she uttered, "... let's get this duel started." she beckoned before activating her Drag-Ride, she is then engulf by a bright light and when it faded away, she is now equipped in a gigantic red mecha-armor, "This is my Divine Drag-Knight, Tiamat." she presented, "And it is the strongest Drag-Ride of the New Empire." she shared, "Now..." she trailed, "... how will you fair in a battle against my mighty Drag-Ride?'' she asked.

Darren could stare in awe while she towers before him with her gigantic Drag-Ride, he then shook his head before speaking, "I won't know unless I try." he uttered while grabbing his necklace before being engulfed by a bright light and when it faded away, he is now wearing his a Spartan Armor alongside a helmet (which resembles Dr. Fate's by the way), gauntlets and steeled boots, Darren is now holding a sword and a shield.

Everyone, including Lisesharte, were taken a back by this transformation.

In the audience area, everyone were astonished by Darren's sudden transformation and they can't help but stare at the pink Spartan.

"S-S-sugoi...'' Tillfur Lilmit uttered in awe.

"Ara..." Krulcifer Einfolk uttered in amusement, "The fight has not even started yet but it already piques my interest." she admitted.

"H-How did he do that?!" Celistia Ralgris stammered in shock, "Is it what he claims to be his Gift?'' she assumed.

"Nope!" a voice answered, "That's just his armor customized inside his necklace for convenient reasons." the voice explained.

The girls turns around to see Sandalwood and Lux walking towards, "Lu-chan...'' Philphie Aingram greeted while munching a donut.

Shalice Baltshift then noticed Sandalwood, "Ah!" she exclaimed, "You're the guy who rode that giant leaf earlier!" she pointed out which got everyone turning their attentions to the Eco-Kid.

"Sup, everyone!" Sandalwood greeted with a big smile, "My name is Sandalwood, I'm a member of the Cross Guards and the Heroes Coalitions.'' he introduced himself, "And I'm an Eco-Kid.'' he added.

"Eco-kid?'' Kruclifer uttered in question.

"Someone who loves to preserve nature...'' Sandalwood trailed before taking a seat at the edge of the wall in a meditation pose, "... and peace.'' he concluded with a blissful smile.

"Lux-kun..." Celistia called out, "Why is this person with you?'' she asked in disbelief.

Lux chuckled nervously in respponse, "Don't worry." he reassured, "Sandalwood is nice guy and he's really friendly.'' he shared.

Back down the arena the floor, Lisesharte shook her head before glaring at the miserable lad.

"Okay!" Lisesharte shouted, "That really impressed me but do you actually think that small armor of yours stand a chance with my Drag-Ride?!" she exclaimed.

Darren got into a battle stance, "It's not the size of the dog in a fight that counts, it's the size of the fight in the dog." he replied lbefore looking up to see six Drag-Knights descending down from above and then landing on six separate platforms.

"All machines, deploy barriers!" a figure commanded from the stand while Relie Aingram stood from behind with a smile.

The figure is a young woman had a slender frame and a fair complexion, she had a short green hair, she had emerald-green eyes and wears glasses. She wears a white shoulder cape with golden trimmings over a blue shoulderless top with golden trimming and a white long-sleeved collared shirt, she had a brown belt wrapped around her waist, she wears a calf-length skirt over black tights and black high heels. This is Raigree Balheart.

Royal Officer Academy Instructor

Raigree Balheart

The Drag-Knights then responded by creating a blue-colored transparent barrier around the area while the students cheered in excitement.

"Cool!" Sandalwood commented with a grin.

"Then, let the Machine Dragon ceremony of the first queen of the New Kingdom, Miss Lisesharte, versus the outsider, Darren Cross, now begin!" Raigree declared.

(Play Undefeated Bahamut Chronicles OST - Isshin Itai)

And with that, Lisesharte aimed her Cannon at Darren and began to fire several shots of strong flames similar to a Dragon's breath. Darren stood still and simply swung his sword while blocking and slicing her shots, much to the princess and everyone's shock. Lisesharte shook her head before firing more shots at the miserable lad and like before, Darren responded to the attacks by simply blocking, slicing and swatting her attacks.

Krulcifer lightly smiled at the performance, "Hmm~" hummed out loud, "Not bad." she admitted.

Lisesharte glares at Darren, who's face is obscured by his helmet, she then charges up more fire power before releasing another but much powerful shot, Darren spins his sword in the air as the shot comes towards him in great speed and at the last minute with the shot inches away from him, he brought down his blade and sliced the shot in half which then flew behind him, exploding in the process.

"This is unbelievable!" Celistia exclaimed in shock, "He got through all those shots with just his sword!" she pointed out.

"The Tiamat's cannon is an armament which envisioned strong flames harking back to a Dragon's breath." Airi explained, "A blow with a high temperature and impact, that loads the energy from the Force Core which is the power source and releases it." she furthered, "It held power, enough to easily blow up one building." she pointed out.

"Yes." Noct uttered in agreement, "But, there was the part which required a "charging" until the firing and one could make enough distance for an evasive action; that a defensive stance could be taken was the flaw." she added.

Lux then turns to Sandalwoods, "Um..." the silver-haired ex-prince uttered, "How was he able to withstand such attack with just a sword and his armor?" he asked in curiosity.

Sandalwood hummed out loud, "To be honest I had no idea." he admitted, "What makes him withstand those attacks?" he questioned, "Is it the sword?" he pointed out, "Is it the armor?" he furthered, "Or is it his own will power?" he added, "I don't know!" he cheered, "But one things for sure..." he trailed, "Darren trained so hard that he can definitely withstand any attacks.'' he stated with a grin.

Lisesharte then draws out a large blade and charges towards Darren, she then brought down her blade but Darren blocks her attack with his sword in an inverted position, she then pointed her gun at his head but Darren swiftly pushes the gun at the side using his free hand, just in time for her to pull the trigger and shot the ground.

As they locked weapons, Lisesharte glares at him, "You're mocking me, aren't you?!" she accused

"I'm not one to mock.'' Darren replied before giving her a painful headbutt, "It won't do me any good!" he yelled.

Lisesharte screams in pain before pulling herself away but Darren didn't miss a beat, he quickly spun his sword at the right angle before slicing the winds horizontally which sends out a powerful gust of wind which sends the princess flying towards the wall.

Lisesharte got back up and then began to use a long-range throwing weapons of small streamlined metals which were controlled and held a propulsive strength themselves. Darren then began to block and dodge the moving projectiles while the princess aimed a huge gun barrel with several muzzles and fires a powerful shot. Darren saw the incoming shot and uses his shield to block the powerful shot and much to everyone's shock, his shield withstands the powerful attack.

"S-sugoi...'' Shalice muttered in shock.

"Impossible..." Celistia uttered, "How come a mere shield manage to withstand that attack?'' she questioned in disbelief.

"That man..." Krulcifer uttered, "I believe we underestimated him too much." she admitted.

Back in the fight, Lisesharte had enough, "I had enough of this!" she yelled before unsheating her sword from a metallic scabbard while charging up energy from the rings of her Drag-Ride, "I'm going to show you how powerful I am!" she exclaimed.

"Miss Lisha!" Lux called out, "Please calm down!" he pleaded in concern.

Darren looks up calmly while the bright circular ruins above Lisesharte shines down upon her, "Our Divine Drag-Ride Tiamat!" she chanted, "Grovel in the name of God!" she furthered, "Sprayshot!" she shouted before bringing down her blade.

Darren then felt himself getting heavier and is pulled down to the ground in one knee, the impact caused a massive crater and shoots out dust in the air.

Everyone from the audience felt the impact of her attack, "Divine..." Airi uttered, "... a secret, special ability that only Divine Drag-Knights have." she shared.

"Yes." Noct uttered in agreement, "The Tiamat's divine powers is to control gravity." she revealed.

"But still..." Airi uttered in concern, "... using that divine power at the same time as the equipment is..." she trailed.

Suddenly, Lisesharte's machine began to go haywire and she began to lose control of her machine.

"Again?!" Tillfur gasped in disbelief.

"She lost control again?!" Shalice exclaimed.

"Oh, boy..." Sandalwood cooed, "This is bad for her.'' he mused, "Darren may be an honorable warrior but like what they say..." he trailed, "... you got to strike while the iron is hot.'' he stated with a grin.

As Lisesharte struggles with her immovable Drag-Ride, Darren got back on his feet before speaking, "I'm not one to attack a defenseless opponent but my life is on the line in this duel." he stated, "My life was put at risk thanks to an accident where I had no control of.'' he pointed out with such disdain, "That's why..." he uttered, "I'm doing anything to win, if it means to keep myself alive.'' he furthered, "And why?" he questioned, "Because I promised myself that I'll be a good leader to my team and prove that I earn my position." he shared, "And so far..." he trailed, "I HAVE DONE NOTHING YET!" he declared.

Darren then charges towards Lisesharte and in a blink eye, he was now behind her and after a few seconds, Lisesharte's armor began to break one by one before it quickly vanishes before she fell down on the ground defeated.

Everyone was shock from the outcome, all of their eyes are wide in shock and their mouths open, the entire stadium was silent sans for Sandalwood who does a slow clap with a grin in his face.

Darren then stabs his sword on the ground and took off his helmet, letting his spiky pink hair let loose. He then looks down at the fallen Lisesharte with a smile, "You're an awesome fighter." he complimented, "I wouldn't mind fighting you for another duel.'' he offered.

A/N: Inspired from someonestupED, damnlastwords, Jamesdean5842, Hope the Victor and Ace Neptune. All OCs and concepts not created by moi were given permission for me to use by it's respected creators.