The Tournament Of Champions! (Part 5)

(As the Referee began the match, Rykard and Khaze were the official first match for the Northern Bracket's first round matchups, as the entire stadium was curious about Rykard's method of attack. With Khaze confidently standing right where he is, he was awaiting Rykard to begin attacking first.)

"Rykard: ..."
"Khaze: What's the matter? You get one glance at me, and you're horrified to even move from that spot? Makes sense, seems like you finally understand how much trouble you're in?"
"Rykard: ..."

(With the temperature beginning to drop once again, the entire stadium crowd would then once again feel the cold bypassing the walls as a powerful blizzard had formed in mere seconds, Khaze unable to even see Rykard inside the storm.)

"Khaze: A blizzard storm?! HA! Don't you realize any fire can burn through this power?!"
"Rykard: ..."

(With Khaze equipping a 4-star polearm to generate and use Fire Magic to cast a firenado to combat the blizzard storm, only to be snuffed out by the harsh cold.)

"Rykard: ...Your overconfidence in your job as a Militia Captain is your downfall. It hasn't even been five minutes, and you've lost this battle. Thank you for boring me, just like my past challenges. Arctic Iron Coffin."
"Khaze: I-It's.. t-too cold...!"

(With the Blizzard twice as strong now, Khaze would attempt to cast more fire or anything within his arsenal to lessen the cold, for it was no use; the harsh temperature had forced his Human body to shut down due to no blood circulation. With one pulse of Rykard's heartbeat, the Blizzard would consume Khaze's unprotected body, freezing it into endless ice, impaled by unforgiving shards and blades of ice. With the temperature now returning to normal, all that would clatter onto the ring would be an actual coffin made of ice with blood-coated spikes poking out of each side, stating for all to see clearly that Rykard killed a Militia Captain in a very brutal way, without lifting a finger.)

"Rykard: This battle is over."
"Yinlong: ...!!!"
"Rakuzora: ...!!!"
"Nerata: ...!!"
"Thalassa: ...!!"
"Deuliox: ...!!!"
"Male Ring Referee: U-Uh, of course...! The match has ended by fatality..! As a result, Rykard is your winner and will be advancing to the Quarterfinals...!"

(With the arena almost dead silent, nobody could believe the instant yet slow brutality that comes from Rykard.. With Rykard then leaving the ring, he'd place his hood back onto his head as he and his partner, who had stood in silence the entire fight, walked back with Rykard. As for the Militia, Saya was panicking as even the smallest feel of cold would frighten her entirely.)

"Saya: ...!! C-Captain Coniki...!"
"Heishe: ...Rykard... The Admiral Slayer, why didn't you tell us he was this much bad news?!"
"Saya: I-..I-.. I didn't know he was going to slaughter Coniki like that!!"
"Heishe: That's not my question. Why did you not TELL US that he's able to manipulate the weather outside of the Council of Origin's walls?!"
"Saya: I had no clue he could even do such a thing..?!"
"Heishe: I hope you're happy, Saya! Because of you, you put a low-ranking Captain in a sealed iron maiden made of ice! All because you needed more information on him?!"
"Saya: I WASN'T TRYING TO-"

"Jahoea (Race: Angel (AWK) | Militia's 4th Admiral | Bounties Collected: $421,000,000): -Captain Heishe, that's enough. Coniki accepted the outcomes of entering this tournament; he knew that his death would come if he were to slip up. But the truth is... Aside from the Major, every last Militia in the Realmverse has underestimated Rykard. His name has struck fear into the hearts of millions for years, but we cannot take our anger out on the Major. Her run-in with Rykard has frightened her ever since."

"Saya: ..."
"Heishe: ..You ran... into him..?"
"Saya: ..I wouldn't say, run into him... I accepted the backup call from one of my Admirals. And, that day..."

(Saya's eyes would begin to water as her traumatic experience began to return to her head. Comforting her would be Jahoea, as he'd bring her a warm, padded blanket to calm her down.)

"Jahoea: I believe it's best we have this conversation another day, we have more tournament matches to watch after all."
"Heishe: ..."

(Meanwhile, aside from the drama with Saya, Yinlong, along with Nerata and Thalassa, has elected to leave the stadium as early as possible, for Yinlong's breath was recovered outside the stadium.)

"Yinlong: ..That was not a good feeling..."
"Nerata: How could someone obtain such destructive power to manipulate the wind and snow like that..?!"
"Yinlong: You've never heard of this guy either...?"
"Nerata: ..No, and I promise. If I knew, I'd tell you..."
"Thalassa: I think, I've heard tales from my children.."
"Yinlong: Your- children, Thalassa..?"
"Thalassa: Yes, aside from the Water Folk, I can also communicate with all sea creatures. "
"Yinlong: We need more information on this guy. Who is he...? How strong is he really?"

(With the three then walking back to the Portal Center, a lovestruck Qi Sheng would be standing in the shadows with her red eyes focused on only Yinlong.)

"Qi Sheng: ...Soon, my love, I'll end your suffering, and I will follow you.. So we can be together forever..."

(Interrupting her thoughts with Yinlong was a message from Dakakos, indicating a meeting of the Chosen Sins.)

"Qi: ...It seems our guests have arrived."

(With the Warp Earring, Qi immediately transports to Dakakos' location and sits down, introducing herself to the ex-clan members of The Chosen Sins.)

"Qi: Salutations, gentlemen and women, it's been far too long since our previous encounter altogether. It would normally be me, Dakakos, and Hellaux."

(The first to speak was a gluttonous yet gigantically muscular Dragon player, chomping down on food prepared for the occasion.)

"Rakishen (Race: Dragon (AWK) | Sinner Bounty: $1,383,500,000 | Nickname: Dragon King): I'll have you know, I was busy looking after my own realm. Unlike the rest of you, I'd like to maintain the peace of my respectable realm."

(Next to speak was a cocky marksman who was cleaning a Militia Grade sniper rifle, wearing the clothes of an outlaw and a mask covering the entire face with only one brown eye exposed.)

"Niro (Race: Human (AWK) | Bounty Hunter | Bounties Collected: $227,938,010): Heh. Last time I actually checked, your realm's pretty drug-infested, isn't it, big boy?"
"Rakishen: Am I going to have to plant you through this table?"
"Niro: You know, I'd like to see if your fist can reach me before I empty the revolver."

(The third to speak was a soul-stealing Succubus, wearing the most flirtatious kind of outfits while eating actual Human souls out of a bag of souls that she owns.)

"Prisolta (Race: Succubus (AWK) | Militia's Most Wanted | Nickname: Soul Snatcher): Look, I can really care less if you two kill each other... It'll give me stronger souls to eat...!~

(Slamming his fist into the table would be Hellaux, who was annoyed by the loud munching of Rakishen.)

"Hellaux: Rakishen, can you not get your disgusting leftovers all over my battle armor?!"
"Rakishen: If it's that bad of a problem, we can fight instead, emo boy!"
"Hellaux: ...You're not even worth cleaning up after if I killed you."

(Laughing manically, but mentally unstable would be another ex-Chosen Sin. This Vampire woman would be tracing the table with her finger, as if she were not present at the meeting at all, while fascinated by the many screams she's caused and heard today on the way over.)

"Rakishen: Amnisha!"
"Amnisha (Race: Vampire (AWK) | Miltia's Most Wanted | Nickname: Amni The Ripper): Huh!? Wha?!"
"Rakishen: I don't want you going to sleep on another meeting, stay awake!"
"Amnisha: Come on, I wasn't sleeping... Not yet, at least."

(Bringing multiple drinks to the table would be another member of the Chosen Sins, also a widely loved bartender nowadays, but is a phenomenal strategist and a dangerous weapons dealer.)

"Zairel (Race: Incubus (AWK) | Weapons Dealer | Nickname: Dominance): Come on, guys, it's been a long while since our last meet and greet, why don't we just drop the arguments and let's honor our fallen comrade, Solar Magician... We pour a drink out for you, buddy...!

(With all pouring their drinks out for Solar Magician, who was killed months ago by Yinlong. With claps echoing in the room, it was then grabbing the attention was grabbed by Dakakos.)

"Dakakos: Everyone, everyone. Now that we've gotten the mourning out of the way for Solar Magician, it is time we address the elephant in the room."
"Rakishen: H-"
"Dakakos: Raki, it's not you."
"Rakishen: Oh."
"Dakakos: The real elephant in the room is-"

(With Dakakos slamming his fist into the table, he'd say with a snarky attitude:)

"Dakakos: -That damned son of a bitch, Yinlong, killed one of ours. So we took one of his, or should we say two?"

(Qi Sheng would reveal that she was the one who had not only decapitated Princess Kyilei, she was the one who also killed the remaining members of the Umeni Clan.)

"Qi Sheng: My bloodstained clothes never tell a lie."
"Dakakos: The truth is, Yinlong is effectively getting stronger as time progresses. His two alliances are Nerata, the little miss Vampiress bitch herself... And Thalassa, the 3rd King of The Seven Seas."
"Niro: ..Whoa? He scored sum big fish, huh?"
"Dakakos: Big fish, yes, but what's an even bigger issue is these alliances he's forming with certain individuals across the realm. Ruked, Rakuzora, and even Deuliox are acquainted with him now!"
"Amnisha: Uh, should we plan a full frontal assault on his school?!"
"Dakakos: As beautiful an idea that is, it will alert the Council of Origin, and we'll have even more trouble on our hands. Unfortunately, Hellaux won't be able to swap matches with Yinlong in the Tournament of Champions due to high demand."
"Rakishen: Well, why don't we bait him into an area he won't receive help from? This will stop him from making his next match and be out of our hair simultaneously."
"Qi Sheng: Deuliox and the Global Guardians would be nearby if Yinlong's well acquainted with them."
"Zairel: While these sound good and all, you guys need to think outside the box."

(Zairel would slide multiple high definition pictures taken across the roundtable, focusing on Yinlong and his alliance with the Angels after saving Haiwei.)

"Zairel: While we all went about our businesses and all, it seems that Yinlong here has managed to grab a bit of trust out of one of the divine Angels in the game. On top of such, he went on an expedition to save a Militia Region Captain, Captain Haiwei of the Militia."
"Rakishen: ..Well, she is attractive, it seems."
"Zairel: If we manipulate his remaining allies into believing he's truly the enemy, we'll be able to spin the story and rally more forces into attacking him."
"Dakakos: Aside from Burleigh and Trirae, who else would be willing to go after him?"

(With the butt of his sniper rifle hitting the table, Niro would stretch his arms while yawning before answering him.)

"Niro: I'll do it, I've been wanting to meet with him again for some time now, it's a shame Hellaux will meet him again before me."
"Hellaux: Unfortunately, I had to step out of the tournament. It was not my time to kill him yet."
"Dakakos: Yes, about that. To truly weaken our greatest foe, we'll need all the information we can get, and who will help us more than the Chosen Sins' own lapdog?"

(With Dakakos revealing to the group a large dark chain stretched into the darkness, pulling out of the darkness and into the light of the table was Nerata, who stepped away from Yinlong for a mere moment, only to be pulled away by Dakakos and his forced teleportation.)

"Nerata: ...Tch... So you all regrouped, just to take out Yinlong..?!"
"Dakakos: Of course, and you're going to help us. While Yinlong is oblivious to the fact of who or what he truly is, you will report to us every single weakness he has when I ask for it."
"Nerata: Long day in Hell, I'll never serve the Chosen Sins again. And I was never a lapdog; I was his closest companion!"
"Dakakos: Do I hear back talk?"

(With a yank of the chain around Nerata's neck, Dakakos backhand slaps Nerata onto the floor, Qi Sheng herself smiling at the loud slap as Dakakos has then bruised Nerata's face. With the grip of her hair, and the pain stinging on her face, Nerata's face would show the purple colored bruise on her cream white face as a tear leaked from underneath her eye.)

"Dakakos: Listen closely. You were not chosen by Sinner to talk back; you were spared by us because of the fact you were his dog. And now that he's on the verge of coming back, he'll want vengeance on all of us. Solar Magician was collateral due to Yinlong's involvement. So you are going to be another 'family pet', dare I say, to the remainder of the Chosen Sins. Fail me or rebel, and I'll consume your soul into the Void's Abyss."
"Amnisha: Lucky!"
"Dakakos: Do I make myself clear, you blood-sucking dog?"
"Nerata: ...I swore from the day Sinner saved my life, I'd protect and be there for him! I'd do anything for him to stay alive, I don't care if Yinlong is Sinner, I will fight for Yinlong for as long as he and I remain in this damned world!"
"Dakakos: ...Seems like the pup has truly emerged into a more bold mutt. Very well, you may go then."
"Amnisha: Boo...! You stink, Nerata!"

(With a teleportation circle summoned underneath Nerata, she was confused as Dakakos was prepared to send her back.)

"Dakakos: And one more thing. From here on out, expect every month to be absolute hell for Yinlong. See if you can protect him and Thalassa simultaneously before either one of them dies... or in a better scenario, you die first."
"Nerata: W-WAIT!"

(With a snap of his fingers, Dakakos would be sent back to where she previously was. As the rest of the table was awaiting the next plan of action.)

"Dakakos: ..Niro, inform Yinlong of this very message: 'Hell is coming for you, and it will deliver you a taste of what despair truly is.' One week."
"Niro: Just inform him in one week, on it."

(With Niro finished carving Yinlong's name onto one revolver bullet, he'd load the bullet in the chamber.)

"Dakakos: As for the rest of you, you may return to your lives as usual. But remember, our number one goal is to be rid of Yinlong for good. When he dies, Sinner dies for good as well. The next time we meet, I will ensure that there is good news regarding his allies facing the utter destruction that awaits them."
"Rakishen: Now you're talking my language! And I know just where to start..."

(With Rakishen then chuckling lowly, he'd keep the location to himself.)

"Dakakos: Until next time, we'll depart from here."

(Dakakos would then snap his fingers, and the entire room would vanish, his teleportation placing everyone back in their previous realms, excluding Dakakos, as he'd return to his chessboard, noticing that a new game had begun, only to simultaneously play itself.)

"Dakakos: You may have won the first game, but this time, Yinlong, you won't be powerful enough to pose a threat to even me at your pace."