CHPT 472: Eyes and Ears, Allies and Enemies.

"H-hey Claude….. the Rail-Rider stopped, bro." Warren said from beside him— crushed between Isaac and Claude's bulk.

"Hey, buffstuff. Get moving, we got tournaments to attend….. RIVALS TO CHALLENGE!" Chase said on the other side of the Rail-Rider from his window seat beside Maris and Ursula.

After the vehicle emptied, the smells died down and Claude refocused.

They'd made it to their destination assumedly. He couldn't tell because a wall seemingly as tall as the clouds blocked his vision forward, left and right for miles.

Before anyone lost their minds or got dismantled by the Sunlandian Warriors, he got up with Ursula and left the Rail-Car.

As he traveled to the Beast Cargo at the back, Ursula followed, tension clear in her steps.

Diamondback, Loba and Frosty came out in a rush to find the source of their upped nerves. Frosty put his nose to the floor and got to work. Loba eyed the students. Diamondback tried to do both before settling with waiting for a target to approach him. He wasn't much of a recon specialist.

"You smelled them, right?"

"Only one I think. And yes." Claude replied.

"But…. Arthuria and Islandia? Samuel wasn't at either of those." Ursula dug her hands into the grooves of her leather and metal furred cuirass around her neck.

"Not that we know of. He could've been all over the world. But you're right. It wasn't him. I know his smell, and I know Ronin's too prideful not to make an entrance with his son."

"So.." Ursula said as they stepped out from behind the Beast Cargo and took in the area for what it was.

"So, there's more than one Lupine of Remus here. Even if Samuel doesn't come, expect at least three. More nearby. They won't let there numbers advantage fall. I'm still wondering why they don't send the whole legion. Something's wrong. Stay relaxed, but focus."

And that's what they did as they joined the New Glorian student formation.

Students formed up at least a mile across. So many he couldn't even target the Lupine of Remus from where he was. All different nations, homes, experiences. The whole worlds combative talent on display. So much color and variety. And still they were dwarfed by what the Ra Stadium showcased.

It was….. well, massive was still too little of a word. It was breathtaking. Even with just the outer walls shown. They looked to be made of sandstone, gold and black metal of some sort. Only it reflected as red. Like a two tone substance.

Further down to their left and right, hallways connected more massive mini stadiums of sorts. All with unique shapes and colors. Domes, boxes, loose enclosures…. Pyramids. One even held a forest as large as the stadium itself. He could hear life inside. Or maybe that was just the massive crowd of people he could feel in the main stadium. Their voices alone shook the floor as a man spoke inside.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, your next generation of Slayers is on standby just outside these walls. Waiting under Ra's solar eye!" His voice came in its initial Sunlandian language— beautiful, a harmonious blend of clicks, sharp pronunciations and buttery smooth tone. But the man's echo was translated by his necklace. It made for an odd experience, like everything so far.

The crowd cheered.

Claude and Ursula scanned the crowd. Unfortunately, Arthurian and Islandian students were on the opposite end of them.

"New gods will appear— after lying dormant for centuries! New powers and skills will come to light. HERE! you will see the strongest Heroes of the future in their earliest form. SPONSORS! I ask that you keep your eyes peeled and remember where it is you found your prized Hero. Guilds! I ask that you attain your subjects info and agreements ethically! And benefactors, enjoy the show!"

"Benefactors?" Claude questioned.

"[Rich investors that enjoy this stuff more than the average man and woman. Sometimes they look to scout for personal bodyguards. Potential powerful offspring or even your sexual exploitation….. or worse.]"

Claude suddenly remembered how people looked at Ursula in public. Or Maris for that matter.

"[Or yourself on occasion.]"

"Right…."

He cringed as the man spoke again, more intensely than before.

"Now! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you! THIS YEARS WORLD SLAYERS TOURNAMENT ENTRANTS!"

The crowd exploded, making their previous quaking intensity seem like avian chirps.

Slowly, more stationed Sunlandian Warriors with Pyramid helmets began ushering them in jumbled group by group. Like crap through a funnel.

Meaning, they'd see the Lupine of Remus. Possibly.

One by one, each group filtered in by two's due to the width of the entryway. It was like the gates into another realm. Claude could see the heads of people leaning over the rising seating to peer down at the students. Confetti fell and other celebratory regalia littered the skies. Sensory overload was an understatement. If one of them got too close Frosty would get them all imprisoned.

That or the Lupine would.

Suddenly they were moving down the walkway. And the group next to them traveled with an ice cold hardness. The bulk of them had skin as pale as snow and hair either darker than shadows or shinier than gold. Thick jawlines and hefty bone structures held them all— visible even beneath their armor that was clearly not suited for heat. Some looked ready to faint— but they pushed on. The winds blew, fluttering the white animal furs lining their collars and sleeves.

Islandian students, clearly.

Before he could calmly study them anymore, his link to Ursula exploded with instinctual hate and snapped. For a moment he panicked as Ursula took a step out of formation—

He shut his eyes in a flash and fought like hell to retain the bond. It came with his composure. And she fought to help.

After just three more steps, calmness remained. At least as calm as one could manage with a life ending threat hidden somewhere in the gaggle of students they walked with.

"Where?" Claude spoke to her through the link.

"Right…. Next…. To…. Me."

Claude looked ahead of the line two rows at up Ursula. She kept her head down and her fists balled even as they bled.

Walking beside her was a boy. A first year like them. He was young— possibly younger, like Maris. Like the others he had pale skin and dark hair. Rather inconspicuous aside from his wiry stature and height. Until Claude could see him move he couldn't make any guesses. Other than one thing, he was fast. Fast in everything. Walking looked boring for him. He was twitching even, just overflowing with erratic energy.

Good thing Claude was the same way.

The walk continued for a painfully long time. Smells of unknown origin filled the air. And eyes in the millions it seemed watched them. The stadium was even larger from inside. Rows of chairs and people climbed at a slant upward for a mile at least. Massive platform awnings built jutting out of the stadium seats at mid level seemed to house the important families and groups. Everyone else fit in where they could.

It was almost like this event wouldn't show people dying in the most gory fashion.

The students formed up around the massive sandstorm platform at the center. As the crowd began to quiet down, the sounds of something cutting through the winds grew near.

Slowly, everyone's heads rose up to face the clear blue sky.

"Here he comes." Students mumbled.

Before Claude could even question who, a Sky-Ship sailed through the air. The head of a Lion was mounted on its front bow. The Windmen on the wing-like platforms didn't slow the ship— forcing the inhabitants to jump out.

From what he could see it was two men and two women. As they fell one began moving his arms and legs in a fluid and flowing motion.

WSHHH!!!

The winds picked up and spun, forming a small tornado of sorts to slow them in their descent until they appeared weightless.

Right before they hit the floor, the man in Knights armor sent a blast of yellow fire at the floor. The spinning winds boosted the flames until it consumed them in a ring of fire.

PWWSHHHHH!

The heat hit Claudes face like a hammer, forcing him to shut his eyes. He could hear an Islandian student faint.

When he opened his eyes, four Heroes had landed on the platform on one knee. The burn of the knights fire cleansed their armor and gave it a steaming spotless sheen.

Slowly the Knight alone stood in the silence. A sword and a spear pinned at his back beneath a gold, black and beige cape. The same color as his armor. It was familiar. The Lion-headed helmet. The all too real mane. The clawed gauntlets and boots.

He removed his helmet, giving way to a handsome dark skinned man. He was bald with a head covered in tattoo's. But even still, he looked like Isaac.

The crowd cheered at the Lion of The Sunlands arrival.

He would've guessed it sooner if he recognized the armor. He forgot the position was generational— making the Lion change throughout the years. His book back home was outdated. Isaac's father had arrived.

He looked over at Isaac soon after once his smell of anxiety rose. Naturally, he knew his father wouldn't appreciate seeing him under their current circumstances. Guilt rose in him.

"Good morning everyone!" The Lion spoke through a voice amplifier cone of sorts.

They all replied in a echoed jumbling mess.

"I know our amazing announcer here gave you all the rundown so I won't waste too much of your time. I'm here…. For you all." He turned to view all the students standing below him.

It took Claude a moment to realize how many viewed him. He was like a superstar. It was weird in comparison to Ronin who was like a boogeyman wearing human skin.

"This tournaments rundown will be the same as the last. We'll start with a combine for this week, ending it with a randomized standard competition. Then the interview week. Afterwards we'll have a volunteer based Martial Arts competition. More interviews blah blah. Then we'll have T-T-S, T-C-S and at last, The Main Event!"

As The Lion of the Sunlands went on about specifics Claude spoke to Arne.

"A week for interviews?"

"[Interviews is where the aspiring Hero builds his star power and character for the public. I once excelled in such environments. You'll also find more days off after this combine.]"

"Why?"

"[After seeing all of your physical gifts, people will start placing bets on schools and students.]"

That felt dangerous.

"Now!" The Lion started, "I give you the Tournament Entrants by name…"

"Hailing from the east we have The Huntsmen Academy of Islandia, Hóng wù zhī dì Slayers Dojo, Indus Rebirth School and The Soul-Born Samurai School of The Kumataiyo Isle's!"

The crowd exploded from the eastern students. Claude studied them. Mostly the Lupine of Remus. He tried to appear calm but it wasn't working. He didn't have the same icy disposition as his fellow Islandians. Maybe that's because he wasn't from there. But then how did he get in?

"From the west and Midwest we have, The Prism of Ra Sunlandian Institute, The Scale-Sworn Training Unit of Tierra Primazon, and The University of The Phoenix stationed in New Gloria!"

The crowd clapped and cheered— but Claude could hear the booing in response to their naming.

The Lion quieted the crowd, "I know you all have you predispositions and eyes on the winner but I'd like to take this time to say I'm just as invested as the rest of you. My son, will be participating in this years tournament from New Gloria. I won't point him out, I'll let his actions speak for him. Until then, everyone."

As the crowd cheered, Claude watched The Lion exit the stage. He seemed like a good man. His ending speech to Isaac was something Claude imagined his own father saying. That or he would've outright embarrassed him. In a loving way though.

As he looked across the platform at the Lupine of Remus he was immediately reminded of who stopped his future fatherly embarassments.

The Announcer took the stage again, "We'll now take the Entrants to their regional dugouts to prepare for day one of the combine. But before going into our commercial break, I'd like to thank our illustrious benefactors for further funding as they have for many decades on end. Let's give a healthy round of applause to the Otieno and Fiara Family and their Patriarch, Rupont Fiara!"

The crowd clapped hesitantly as a man in one of the special awnings built into the stadium seats stood up. He wasn't especially tall at five foot ten, but he had presence. Dressed in black and gold like the Sunlandian warriors. His long coat and hood failed to hide his beautiful lightly tanned face and hazel eyes. He was handsome— clearly wealthy. Much like the people seated behind him in support. But unlike him, they all looked like residents of The Sunlands.

There was something odd about him.

"Is that name familiar?"