Guild Ranking Ceremony; Trial Three, 1v1

As always, dusk was an exciting time for Draconum, even with the grim topic of the Smilers now known to us, and the unfamiliar living conditions of the fancy suite.

Robius was definitely bummed by his defeat in the chess game, but he simply saw it as an opportunity to grow and was trying to instigate a fight out of boredom.

Aceil was engrossed in the kitchen as he prepared another delicious meal whilst simultaneously avoiding any chance of being caught up in anything slightly related to romance.

Nosora and Lilac were lovey-dovey as they star gazed together practically bragging to everyone that they weren't single like nearly everyone else.

Jex was nowhere to be seen, presumably though he was simply hitting on some poor random girl.

 Shade tried in vain to escape from a clingy Okami who eventually caught him and commenced the molesting.

Meanwhile, my mind was overflowing with questions none of which I could answer.

'Why did Jex have such a negative reaction when Merkia's queen was mentioned? What are we gonna do about the Smilers? Which guild was that third one Master Frost mentioned? What's causing the rapid reproduction of monsters?'

Fortunately, I had a nice large bathhouse to help calm my troubled mind with some warm water, bubbles, and whatever illusion magic was used to make it feel like I was experiencing the great outdoors on a beautiful night in spite of the fact that it was an indoor bath.

"Ahh. What if it is Azure Ursine? Are they also fighting against the Smilers? Why wouldn't they tell us? I mean, back when I was a member the place was always busy even when we didn't have many quests, what if they were fighting the Smilers?" I said aloud as I sunk my face below the water and began to blow bubbles.

"Um, Kenki?" Kukiri said as she perched on a butt-naked Robius' shoulder.

"Robius what the actual hell!" I shout as I quickly avert my eyes and my cheeks flush red. I wasn't the type to get flustered, but the situation wasn't exactly something I was prepared for. "Why are you in here!?"

"I should be saying that to you. You're the pervert in the men's bath." He answered nonchalantly which only made me make the mistake of looking once again. "This is the right bath, isn't it Kukiri?"

"Yup. Kenki is just being a pervert." The cheeky fox answered. 

"Well, I am gonna enjoy a nice dip in the water so I can improve on my chess skills." Robius informed as he casually joined me, though he was at least kind enough to turn away from me.

The room was silent beside the occasional splish splash of Kukiri puppy paddling around us in a figure eight shape, and the chirping of realistic crickets.

I would've simply left, but the water was just too damn nice, and I knew Robius' wasn't the type to do anything pervy. At least not intentionally.

"Hey Kenki, here's something I wanna know." Robius said in a serious voice as he turned to face me with a bubble beard. "You are comfortable here, right? Happy even?"

For a moment I thought he was talking about the bath, the answer to that would be a resounding no. 

But then I saw how sincere he was, and I understood that he meant Draconum Familia.

"I miss my friends at Azure Ursine, and it was a lot easier to relax there. Not to mention nobody ever complained about me sleeping." I said as I thought to my time at my old guild.

"Oh, haha, that's fine, I'm sure your old guild will take you back if that's what you want. Oh, but if that's the case, you mind waiting till the ceremony is done?" Robius said with a forced chuckle.

"I wasn't done yet, of course I'm comfortable here, well not currently this is quite awkward. But with Draconum Familia in general, I love it here, you guys took me right in when I was at my weakest." 

Robius' nearly burst from the water only Kukiri interrupted him.

"Don't go jumping like a mad man. Unless you wanna play flashy the lassie and I'm pretty sure that's not legal." Kukiri spoke for my sake to the innocent minded Robius'.

"Thank you for saying that Kenki! I'd hug you but I don't want things to get any more awkward you know. And in case you're wondering, we are happy to have you, even with your sleeping disorder. I'm gonna leave, don't worry I'll make sure nobody tries to peek on you. Even if you are in the wrong bathroom." Robius said with enthusiasm shortly before getting dressed and leaving me alone in the men's bath.

********

I was beginning to get used to the noise of the roaring audience of the ceremony. It helped that they were cheering for us now too, just like I knew they would.

The audience hushed down a bit signaling the announcer Cion to begin his announcing.

"I'd like to begin with a brief reminder of our point tally.

The Golden Chariot; First place, four points.

Azure Ursine; Second place, three points.

Draconum Familia and Specialty Maid; both at third place with two points.

Kin of Bestia; fourth place, one point.

And in last place is Lunastray with zero points. 

Furthermore, I'm happy to say the the Exorcist's nephew Sieg Torrikkusatu is not only better, but he wants to compete in the next trial!!!"

Once again, the crowd screamed in anticipation.

"While we're on the subject of trials. I think now is a good time to explain today's. After such a mentally taxing trial yesterday we believe a simply 1v1 matchup is required to keep up with the pattern. The audience will pick via voting, which two guilds face off, but it's up the combatants which member does so." Takono stated as though he was having the time of his life.

"Under your seat is a tablet (Courtesy of Jiroki.Co) you will use these to place your votes, which will be counted in five minutes." Hoji said.

It was admittedly a nerve-racking experience to simply wait for someone else to choose who I may be fighting against. I really wanted to fry some Smilers, so I was hoping to be pit up against the Lunastray much like everyone else in our guild. But the audience had other ideas.

"Ooo fueling the obvious rivalries I see. We have, 

Kin Of Bestia Vs Specialty Maid,

Draconum Familia Vs Azure Ursine, 

and The Golden Chariot Vs Lunastray!"

"Alright. May not be Lunastray but they'll suffice." I say as I crack my knuckles eagerly.

"Like hell pika pika. You went last time!" Aceil argued as we begun to brawl.

Meanwhile Cion.

"Very well the guilds have chosen their combatants.

 Nyan Mou for Kin of Bestia.

 Benedict Courd for Specialty Maid. 

Okami Lupin for Draconum Familia.

Ibu for Azure Ursine.

Sieg Torrikkusatu for The Golden Chariot.

And finally, Dage Rupt from Lunastray.

Wait, aren't those all Betas? I say let the Beta battles commence!"

Both me and Aceil glared at Kenki as we knew she was to blame for not allowing us to compete.

"How rude of you." I said with attitude.

"Okami is the strongest one here, it's only natural I pick her, besides everyone else agreed while you two were fighting." Kenki defended herself.

"Come on you two, stop complaining, at least you can watch her cute little butt when she fights. Shade gets it." Jex said, very much in character.

"Eat me you pervy bastard." Shade replied. "I have no interest in this fight, Okami is gonna win so It's just gonna be boring, Instead I'll do some digging into Lunastray, know thy foe and all that."

 "Talk about busted." Jex said as Shade departed.

********

Of all battles that occurred, one drew the eyes of the audience far more than the rest.

Sieg Vs Dage.

Even though I was interested in the fight between Okami and Ibu, I couldn't help but be drawn to this matchup as well.

I mean the guy did possibly save my life. And he definitely got stabbed for me.

 "Odd. Could've sworn I already stabbed you. Ready for round two?" Dage mumbled in a scratchy voice as his tattered clothes fell off his shoulder.

"You only managed that because I was distracted. I can promise you; it won't happen again." Sieg replied as he pulled out his paintbrush.

I wasn't the only one intrigued by the Rune Lord's battle though as Kenki's eyes were basically glued to the battle as well, which was understandable seeing as Sieggy was quite the talented Runist and she surely hoped to learn a thing or two from him.

Yet just because their duel was the most anticipated doesn't mean the others were boring.

The towering powerhouse Benedict faced off against a young and petite bronze haired girl. She continued the Kin-of-Bestia's Homo-Bestia troupe by being a feline Homo-Bestia herself as was characterized by her cat ears upon her head and the tail between her legs.

"What kind of dastardly scoundrel orchestrated this sadism!?" The thundering voice of Benedict echoed throughout the arena. "She's but a child! I will not fight a child even if death herself awaits me pon my refusal!"

 Unfortunately for the big softie. Twas not death that awaited him but a square kick in the balls courtesy of said child.

 "I'm actually fifty-seven years old. But thanks for the compliment." She said with an award-winning smile.

 "You deviant. I shall not go back on my word. No matter the pain. My strength is to be used solely to protect the meek such as yourself." Benedict groaned weakly as he cupped his groin in pain.

Finally, there was the battle that would determine our progression in the ceremony.

 "So, we meet on the battlefield yet again. I wished that we would be on the same side by now. Unfortunately, Master Tuma disagrees." The masked Beta of Azure Ursine said as he waited for Okami's first move.

 "Maybe once I'm done kicking your butt, we'll see about fighting side by side." Okami offered with an anxious grin as she conjured a swarm of bronze leaves.

 "Perhaps. That is if you can even beat me." Ibu said seriously, yet his voice only made it sound like a taunt.

Three battles begun almost simultaneously, two of which I could barely keep my eyes off.

I may not have been fighting, but I was sure getting excited. And judging by the rapid swaying motion of Kukiri's tail, I wasn't alone.