ONLINE GAMERS {ARC 1 CHAOS IN ASTRAL CITY} CHAPTER 6

The bright crimson glow of a new day stretched out over Astral city. The gentle flow of time moved forward whether people wanted it to, or not.

And before long...

Several days had passed, for the players in the game world, that is. The real-world time lapse was still unknown.

The chaos of the players panic had already subsided, things had calmed down.

And Tsurugi Kimiko had cemented herself as the ruler of Astral city.

It was a vast, gorgeously designed luxuriant room, the kind of room that must have taken many skilled artisans’ years to construct.

The bed in the middle looked large round and comfortable.

With angelic white sheets, and a strawberry fragrant aroma it was a room of paradise.

Rin stared up at the magnificently decorated ceiling board, then at the wide-open window permeating with the glow of the morning sun.

Her mind wandered, here and there, pondering how her life had become so arduous in such a short time.

She was dressed in nothing but a clear white negligee.

Her legs were spread wide apart, nestled between them was a little girl Tsurugi Kimiko, she was also the head of this city.

“To think that I have to work! Me of all people I deserve to keep sleeping! What should we do!? I don't want to work today!” The girl protested.

Both of them were cradled together on the massive white bed. It occupied a quarter of the expansive room's space and offered a wide window view of the entire city.

“Oh! I know how about we take a bath together! I’m certain I’ll feel more than willing to slave away after a refreshing bath!”

The previous heads of astral city often filled this room with ornaments and treasures of their choosing, it was meant to be a respectable office. Kimiko however had removed all of it, leaving only her super-fluffy bed and a closet stuffed with cutesy clothes.

This was supposed to be an office, and not just any office, but the office of the head of the city, yet all that Kimiko had prioritized having was a bed.

Rin couldn't help but think what a lazy kid she was. Just how lazy can a person be—this girl sleeps so much she makes me doubt if she's even human.

“Let's take a bath together pweaty pwease!”

The sound of the Kimiko’s voice returned Rin to her senses. Kimiko sometimes made childish sounds or acted awfully playful when it was just the two of them.

She looked down to find the adorable face of hers staring back at her.

“Sorry, what did you say?” Rin asked.

“How about we bathe together, then?” Kimiko said, with an adorable look on her face.

“Huh...”

She had been looking forward to seeing Rin's reaction.

With her current innocent voice and body, she was sure to get a rise out of her secretary.

Kimi was certain she had lost most of her adult charm, once she entered this world, but for some reason her new less sexy form was perfect for teasing Rin.

The two girls were currently in the tallest building in the city, the world tower.

It was filled with many rooms each lavish and grandiose, Kimiko and Rin were at the moment in the top most room lying on a bed together

Viewed from the outside, the world tower seemed to stretch towards the heavens, a building rich in history apparently, not that Kimiko cared.

All she cared about was teasing Rin.

“Kimiko-chan?!” Rin’s eyes widened. Her body movements and mannerisms were all displaying shock and uneasiness in a manner that was pleasing for Kimi to see.

Hee hee hee! This is perfect I hardly ever get to see this level of a reaction from Akari!

“Y-you want us to bathe together, naked?” Rin asked. Isn't naked the only way!? What am I saying!?

“Do people not normally bathe with their clothes off?” Kimiko tilted her head to the side as she smirked at the obviously stupid question.

“Umm... Uhh, I suppose we can but,” Rin stammered.

“But what? Do you not want to? Do y-you hate your lord that much...?”

“No, I don't! It's just.... Aaaaargh! Fine! Fine! I'll take a bath with youu!”

“If you don't mind my asking, why are we here?” Kotoe Kotobuki asked. Her soft supple breasts and shapely pink butt exposed as the day she was born.

“Oy! Oy! Don't ask the boss lady such stupid questions! She invited us here nya~! She might change her mind nya~! Just sit back and enjoy the view!”

“View?”

“Of your naked body, nya~”

“Perv.” Kotoe replied in flat monotone.

“Just relax nya~ That's an order!” Equally naked vice-captain of district one's Defense force admonished Kotoe while staring longingly at her junior officer’s form.

Another voice from behind spoke, “While it is true we have much more important matters to attend to as justice, we have been personally invited here by the head of the city so we cannot refuse.”

The woman boasting the largest bosom and also the last person to speak, the captain of district one's Defense force Yamada shirouzu, equally naked, admonished Kotoe for her rude remark.

After talking with Rin about taking a bath together, Kimiko decided to visit the hot spring room in the world tower she also decided to invite the leader of Defense and anyone else of her choosing.

And that was how Kotoe, her captain and vice-captain found themselves humoring the third ranked level nine, who was playing in the bath right now.

“I see... Yes, you're right Captain. My apologies, please forgive me for my rudeness...”

Kotoe sank into silence as she bowed her head.

At that point Kimiko seemed to be hardly paying attention to what the three members of Defense were saying, and was prioritizing a water fight with Rin instead.

SPLASH! SPLASHY SPLASH!

Seeing her continuing to bow, Kimiko smiled faintly, she had a vague understanding of why the girl wanted to question her, and decided to answer her questions.

“I’m simply acting on a whim of mine. There was no particular reason why I invited you three...”

She paused to put a finger to her lip.

“Ah, but if I had to think of one then perhaps, I'm trying to strengthen my bonds with you all...” She said offhandedly.

“Unlike the previous head I'm quite the benevolent ruler, I'd like to take care of this city with the help of the Defense force.”

There was still doubt on Kotoe's face, to which Kimiko asked, “You still doubt me?” There was a hint intimidation in her tone.

With an emotionless blank stare Kotoe replied, “Yes.”

The fact that someone could take the brunt of her overwhelmingly tremendous power and still speak honestly was rather impressive to Kimiko, she decided to remember the name Kotoe Kotobuki.

“I just find it hard to believe that someone as powerful as you need Defense’s assistance.”

That was the natural conclusion Kotoe came to when she remembered just how strong the spirit Kimiko summoned had been. She had nearly died facing it.

Not only that but Kimiko had very recently, single-handedly stopped thousands of players from rioting and destroying the city.

Half submerged in the steamy hot spring water; Kimiko was splashing and playing with the water like a child.

Her small, fragile figure and lovely face couldn't have looked like that of a monster capable of destroying an entire city—but she was, and Kotoe knew that.

“Ku! Ku ku! Aha ha ha! I suppose you're right...” she threw a quick glance at Rin and sighed, “however, they are things that power alone cannot protect...”

Kimiko poked at Kotoe's apparent doubt of her motives but ultimately answered her truthfully, in life there are things that strength alone cannot protect and Kotoe for now decided to have faith in that truth.

“I see. Then I will put my faith in you, new Head of Astral city.”

“Oh please, you need not call me such a title...”

“Eh? Is that so? Then would you prefer I take on a more casual tone when speaking with you...?”

“Yes. You may feel free to call me Supreme Queen, or your Lord and Savior Kimiko-sama.”

....

........

...........

Aren't those rather extreme titles to give yourself?

“Then I suppose...my queen fits well.” Kotoe replied with her usual monotone somewhat cringing at the prospect of calling a little girl queen.

“Very few people have the honor of calling me queen! Take pride in that and rejoice!”

Rin smiled stiffly as she watched Kimiko and Kotoe.

Her smile possessed only relief towards Kimiko's growth. She usually acted like a selfish spoiled brat around Rin, but the fact that she had matured enough to be able to interact with others was reassuring.

Maybe she can make new friends.

Well, she was still acting overly haughty and her bratty nature hadn't actually changed much since she became head of the city, actually it might've gotten worse.

But at least she was making progress in her own way, right?

She still acted like a total slob in front of Rin, but Kimiko was going to mature and interact wholesomely with others one day, right?

Rin couldn't help imaging that day would never come.

Of course, unbeknownst to Rin the reason Kimiko showed that side of herself to Rin and only Rin, it was because she trusted and admired Rin enough to be open with her.

Why?

Why did Kimiko and Rin share such a bond, despite having only met a week ago?

The reason behind that openness.

The reason behind that trust.

The reason, behind it all, was something only Kobayashi Akari knew.

“…Hey, hey!” Kimiko said popping up right in front of Rin's face. They were so close they could kiss.

“Umm... What?”

“Young girl! You appear to have something on your mind,” Kimiko said, unexpectedly turning the conversation to Rin.

Rin turned her head, exasperated. Kimiko scoffed. “Let the wise and all-knowing Kimiko-sama know of whatever troubles you, young girl!”

“Yeah, the only trouble I have is you brat!” At this, Kimiko pouted angrily. She was trying to be nice and listen to Rin's problems only to be rewarded with disrespect.

“I'm not a brat! I'm the queen! You shall call me queen! Or at the very least call me the lord and savior Kimiko sama!”

“That's waaay too long! And since when did you become a queen, huh!? The only thing I'm calling you is brat or at the very least Kimiko-chan!”

Someone's hands crept from behind, reaching towards Rin's ample chest and coming in contact with the soft pillow like lumps of fat she carried.

“Ahhh! Wha-What do you think you're doing!?” kneading away at the gelatinous breasts was none other than the vice-captain of Defense.

“We can't have fanservice, with nyo fanservice, can we nya~? A stranger she just met today, had groped her chest? Creepy.

“I have no idea what you're talking about, but please stay away from me!”

She distanced herself in a flash, sliding all the way to the far end of the hot spring, getting as far from the stranger as possible.

“Nyaa ha ha~!”

Nyanzu was lucky enough to get to see the esteemed head of the city Kimiko nude, however she was aware that seeing was all she was limited to.

How lamentable, to be in the presence of a flower but be unable to hold it.

But what about her attendant? What about the other delicate flower!? Surely Nyanzu wouldn't get in trouble for doing more than seeing with the other girl, right?

Heh heh...

And...

And!

Compared to Kimiko's petite thin body, Rin boasted a plump body with big boobs and a shapely butt. It was only natural to want to feel her up, no?

Yes!

“Nooo!” Rin cried, covering her chest.

“I’m not taking nooo for an answer, nya~.”

“Vice-captain please stop bothering Satou-san... Do you plan to get on the bad side of her majesty queen, lord and saviour, Kimiko-sama?” Kotoe said mechanically.

“I'll allow it.” A voice echoed.

The queen, lord and savior in herself folded both her arms, and pouted. “It is as you say. One must not so readily lay their hands on my property; however, I shall permit thee for today… Hmph!”

“You hear that Kotoe-chan! Y'now what that means, right? I'm free to do whatever I want to this one! Eheh heh heh!”

After a brief pause and a blank stare, Kotoe replied, “You're deplorable vice-captain.”

“Kimiko-chaan help mee!”

“Hmph!” Kimiko ignored Rin's pleas.

Meanwhile Nyanzu looked up at the sky, even though they were in doors a golden, radiant, light from the heavens illuminated her face.

Or at least Nyanzu belived it did.

She brought her hands together in prayer, this was truly a divine miracle.

Or at least Nyanzu belived it was.

Under normal circumstances she probably wouldn't have been permitted to do as she wished with the head of the city's little friend but, now thanks to some divine being she was.

Or at least Nyanzu believed it was a divine being.

“Don't resist Nya~! This fate of ours was preordained by god!” Or at least...Er you get the point.

“You're crazy!”

Considering the speed at which she sprinted away, Rin Satou was surprisingly averse to the vice-captain Nyanzu coping a feel. She was a decent runner and under normal circumstances would have escaped, however, Nyanzu was a trained officer of Defense so the outcome was forgone.

As—Queen, Kimiko would normally never tolerate anyone touching her property, so why wasn't she putting a stop to this debauchery? The reason for that was simple.

It was because she was upset and decided to let Rin suffer a bit. “Humph!” She pouted as Rin was backed into a corner.

Nyanzu slowly encroached on the cornered Rin. Her fingers began to wriggle around menacingly as they approached her. The other girl now had large round white circles around her eyes <emotion effect>.

“What on…?!” Flustered, Rin fell to her knees on the verge of years.

“Heh-heh-heh...I'll be gentle!”

“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

The screams of the usually calm bespectacled NPC, Rin Satou, drifted into the distance of the hot spring.

“M-my queen, I’d like to request an audience with one of your divine spirits, a spirit with a gun. I believe his name was C-Clint shooter?

If that wouldn't be too much trouble?” Kotoe asked tentatively.

“Hmm? Sure, I don't see why not.”

With the bare minimum of effort Kimiko raised her arm upward, drawing a perfect picturesque arc in the air as she carried out the motion. In the space above her head a golden distortion appeared.

She resembled a goddess.

A slender arm pointed upward. Long black hair stretched out in the water, a budding chest not fully developed but present enough to grab your attention. Ocean blue eyes clearer than any sea, and her beautiful bare ivory skin. all aspects of her were alluring under the faint glow.

From the distortion in space, a boy fell directly overhead Kimiko. He stood at about the same height as her.

A boy was in the water, with them. Blonde hair, and dressed in a military uniform now drenched in water.

“What do ya want?” The summoned spirit that resembled a boy spat.

He regarded the grinning Kimiko rather poorly.

Despite looking so young he was actually older than everyone else here, so being forced to obey the orders of a child far younger than he, was all but frustrating for him.

“Aww, don’t be so rude to your master spirit. My whims are what keep you alive remember? now how about you apologize and call me queen?”

A smile spread across the girl's face as she forced her summoned servant to bow and give an apology to her.

“…Ya, apologies... M-my queen.” fight as he may, he could never resist her commands.

Due to the fact that spirits required Magic to generate their physical bodies they would enter contracts with compatible players or NPCs and feed off their Magic in exchange for offering their services.

“H...H... H-how may I be of service to ya...”

Most spirits were unable to defy their contractors’ commands. The only spirit Kimiko had trouble commanding was a certain archer spirit so she hardly summoned her.

Kimiko could practically see the veins bulging in anger on the spirit's head.

“Well, then, I'll skip the pleasantries and play with you some more later, at the moment you have other business to attend to. This young lady here wishes to speak with you, my servant.”

He couldn't believe his eyes for a moment.

“...Wait just a second, ain'tcha that maid I was fightin' not too long ago? My memories top notch so I'm certain it's you!”

“Yes. I am indeed that maid, normally I would have preferred to be dressed when reunited with you. But I cannot be sure of when I will get another chance to talk with you so I took it.”

“Well, it ain't like ya got much going for ya anyway... Ah, but at the very least ya got more going for ya than the damn queen that's for sure.”

“You're quite the lecher comparing women like that, aren't you? Oh, and I must say you hold Kimiko in rather low regard, don't you?”

“She's a completely different person from how she used to be when we first formed a contract, ya know? I'm not sure if I can even trust her.”

“The life of a spirit is a rather hard one it seems, and that contractor of yours is so insufferable, I doubt anyone could handle being around her for long.” Kotoe shrugged.

It had only been thirty minutes, and Kotoe was already exhausted by Kimiko's personality. There was probably no NPC or player who could tolerate Kimiko.

That girl is beyond interacting with others...

Her personality is irredeemable

She was confident of that, so she decided to be honest and say it to the spirit. No matter who it was, they would need a heart of gold—or a heart of stone to be around Kimiko. However, even with all that in mind.

“I don't believe she's completely heartless...so, I'm going to put my trust in her.” Kotoe said.

The blonde boy spirit sighed. “Is that so? Well best of luck to ya, I still hate that brats’ guts...”

As soon as the spirit and Kotoe locked eyes the two immediately went off into a corner of their own to continue their chat privately, naturally as his contractor Kimiko could eavesdrop on their conversation through her connection to the spirit.

She considered killing the woman Kotoe Kotobuki and punishing the spirit for their rude remarks but ultimately decided against it...

For two reasons:

One because Rin was there

I'll let them both off the hook for now, Kimi mused. The girl has loyalty and if I killed her Rin might hate—

And two because Kotoe seemed to have a decent level of loyalty despite her rudeness. It had nothing to do with the fear of Rin hating her, right?

--me?

On the topic of Rin, Kimiko found it funny how she very much nearly panicked when she saw the boy spirit in the women's bath, actually she was about to voice her displeasure, but had bigger fish to fry.

“!?”

Rather, the crazy woman was still after her, a boy seemed like the least of her worries...

Kimiko now all by herself floated backwards on the surface of the warm water. Her reason for deciding to invite cardinal figures of The Defense force to bathe with her was as she said earlier a whim.

However, that wasn't the only reason she invited them.

The captain of district one's branch of Defense Shirouzu Yamada had important information to discuss with Kimiko.

Naturally Kimiko was averse to doing her work as head of the city, and would have much preferred for them to handle the problem themselves, but apparently the issue was something only she could handle.

A couple of months had passed since the day it all began, the days had been completely uneventful.

Here in district seven a conversation was underway between a boy and a girl. The boy was Tsurugi Kagashi, seventh ranked level nine and the girl was Berretta a level six.

“…So, what’s your next move?” Berretta asked.

“I'll kill her.” he replied.

“Kagashi-kun just so you know, you can’t defeat her.” The girl said as she brought a cup of tea to her strawberry-colored lips.

Her reason for saying this was pure and simple, concern for his life.

“The way I see it, I won't find happiness until I beat her.”

“You’d go that far?... Perhaps it’s not my place to say but…” Berretta paused, to stare into the eyes of Kagashi, before continuing.

“…you're strong.” and you don't need to prove that to anybody but yourself. She thought, but couldn't say, for if she did there was no telling how he would react.

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“You're strong, so why bother trying to fight her, who do you want to prove your strength to is what I mean.” She reaffirmed.

“Who? Myself of course. How can I truly acknowledge myself as strong if I never overcome any obstacles? if I haven't even defeated the strongest?”

“Kagashi-kun, if you continue to hold onto those beliefs of yours, I fear you might come to regret the—”

“Yahallo!”

With a loud greeting, another girl entered the room now.

The girl was white Both in name and appearance.

Her beautiful white hair the same color as snow, danced atop her head with each step, it was cut short reaching just above her shoulders.

White, a level six player.

The ice in her gaze clashed with the smile on her face creating a jarring effect. Her clothing like her name was chiefly white; a white robe, white thigh-high socks, white shoes.

The girl may have been annoying but her skills were the real deal.

Though Berretta and her shared the same level six status, in a fair fight White would probably win. Of course, if given enough prep time Berretta's chances of winning weren't zero, but, still fifty-fifty.

As such despite how irritating she was, Berretta still had a certain level of respect for her.

“Hey B-chan! Be-chan! Look over here I can balance upside down on my tippy toes! Hey, youuu aren't looking!” White yelled, hanging off of the top of the ceiling.

Berretta turned to Kagashi paying White, their annoying comrade little to no mind.

“... Well, putting aside what I was about to say, I still don’t see the need to antagonize Kimiko. You really don't need to—”

“Berretta.”

As she spoke, White promptly cut her off.

“There's no need to voice your concerns B-chan! Our job is to support Kagashi-chaan with all our might! No matter what he chooses to do! That's why we're here!”

White turned only her head down towards Berretta, smiling innocently.

“You see we're villains. And so, as villains we have to fight the good guys! That's our role! Our duty!”

“And who knows, the bad guys might win yaaay!”

“I understand... But—”

“Don't forget why you're here...” White said in a voice more serious.

Nodding in response, Berretta cast her gaze aside.

Kagashi didn't even stare back, he continued with his own business like the conversation the two girls had meant nothing to him or had nothing to do with him.

Why...?

What am I...?

The reason why Berretta was here? Of course she hadn't forgotten. She was here on Kobayashi Akari's orders.

In exchange for a legendary <<Item>> she had been instructed to stay by Kagashi's side and support him for as long as she could.

Berretta was a collector of rare and unique <<items>>.

It stood to reason that White had also been offered some kind of deal by that harlot Kobayashi Akari. But what exactly had Akari offered White?

That was outside the realm of Berretta’s imagination.

Akari was a level nine.

Where was she right now? What was she doing?

That was also outside the realm of Berretta’s imagination.

They had each been given a mission by Akari, and missteps were a cause for failure in a group, Berretta was no fool, so she understood just what White was trying to tell her.

“Still...”

But still, it was sad.

It was incredibly sad, to imagine she had to stand by and watch the young man right in front of her die. To march him to his death, granted it wasn't certain he would lose to Kimiko, but still.

At best he's chances were sixty-forty.

If they fought Kimiko had two major cards that put her leagues ahead of Kagashi in a fight. And if she ever decided to play them, he'd be as good as dead.

Berretta had reason to believe Kimiko wouldn't use her trump cards. Reason? Yes, you could call it that. But if she was backed into a corner, what would happen then?

“...”

She was ordered to support him, but he truly stood no chance.

Tsurugi Kimiko was a beast.

Putting those thoughts aside, Kagashi had been doing something for a while now. From the very first moment when Berretta invited herself into his office to have tea, he was deeply lost in something, immersed in a message he was typing.

The mail-system in NewWworldOnline was quite unique it allowed players who were friends to chat or send messages to each other from anywhere in the world.

Group chats were also a possibility, though these were anonymous, and users would never know who they were chatting with. They were still quite popular.

Is he in a group chat? ... Hard to believe the seventh ranked level nine is in a chat room right now.

Rukiko struggled to imagine the reaction of the players who had no idea they were chatting with a level nine.

She couldn't believe it and she doubted anybody else would too. Kagashi was such a loner it took ages for him to open up to her.

The only friends Kagashi had that Berretta was aware of, were those Kobayashi Akari had paid off to support him, her included and he didn't even message them usually.

It was good to see him focusing on other things aside from plans on how to takedown Tsurugi Kimiko.

“What are you talking about over there?” She asked, curiously.

“A declaration of war.” He replied.

Thinking about what he said, Berretta was, well, confused. Was he talking to a player named declaration of war? Or was he in some kind of verbal spat in the group chat?

When Kagashi made that strange statement White's face tensed up. She stared out the nearest window in a daze for a while.

“...

.......

............

.............”

“!!?”

White's face grew more pale—instantly she vanished. Or rather she moved so fast that it appeared as if she vanished.

In reality she broke into a ferocious sprint, smashing through the window and escaping.

“—Eh?” Berretta’s perception stats were high enough to see White dash out of the building. But she couldn't understand why. Why had she left in such a hurry?

The answer came in the form of a loud, explosive sound resembling a thunderstorm.

Her vision turned pure white, as what seemed like the sun itself engulfed the entire room. Incomprehensible confusion ruled Berretta a moment later.

A bright light?

Incomprehension.

An explosion?

Comprehension.

The resulting debris like a hundred massive needles lunged at Berretta.

XXX

Her body had been battered nearly beyond repair, burns all over, her right forearm. And her left leg had been crushed crudely revealing the girls' soft pink flesh.

“D...a...mn, it...”

The entirety of the building they had been using as a secret base was blown away, straight into oblivion.

She had only managed to survive by activating a rare class item at the last second, even then it wasn't perfect protection her flesh had still been mostly seared by the bright light.

The item may have protected her body from the powerful fire magic, but the debris was another issue. She had lost an arm and a leg, but if it had been her head that would have been the end of her.

The only reason nothing had crushed her head was because the boy she had been sharing a cup of tea with had shielded her body, granted he hadn't completely protected her. But if not for that, she would have died.

“Th..ank...y..ou...” She muttered.

The platinum hared; blue eyed boy dressed in a silver kimono paid her gratitude little to no mind as he stared up at a nearby rooftop.

Standing there was a petite girl with a sullen expression. Her hair fashioned into two long twin tails.

“Aha! Amazing! You're here faster than I expected!” He shouted.

Berretta could’ve sworn her heart was pounding so fast, that it threatened to rip itself apart.

All her instincts were screaming at her to run as White had. But she couldn't. If not for her severed arm and leg she would've followed suit.

“—Ngh!” She knew the girl.

Every player in the city probably knew that face. The highest ranked level nine in Astral.

Tsurugi Kimiko.

Her gaze was beautiful, seductive, oppressive, dominant and haughty, all at the same time. Just a glance was enough turn Berretta’s world on its head. An instinctive primal fear took over her.

“What makes you think you have any right to message me? Having your filthy message in my inbox is appalling, you know? Who gave you the right to declare war on me? How delusional can you be? To even imagine us as equals you plebeians disgust me... Because of you my time with Rin was cut short!”

She rambled on and on, about this and that, as if she were explaining the most obvious thing in the world. Berretta hadn't understood a word. It was all vaguely narcissistic and incomprehensible.

However, the last part was loud and clear.

“I've turned a blind eye to you lot out of the generosity of my heart! And my promise to Rin! But my magnanimity has its limits! As of this moment I'll kill you all!” She bellowed.

The air quickly grew thick and cold.

A monstrous smile spread across Kagashi's face. If Berretta had to describe it, it was like a grin that stretched beyond the absolute limits of a face. It was the kind of smile she had never seen him make before.

“K-kagashi-sama!”

“Ayano Kimi! No... Tsurugi Kimiko!” He sneered.

Completely ignoring his injured comrade, Berretta who was covered in injuries, Kagashi gazed up at the other level nine. “Let's fight to the death as equals! In this ideal world!”