Astral's Rise Part 3: Prep Time

The gods looked down at him. "No, we will not change the rules just to benefit you all." After a moment of silence the gods spoke. "We are here, prepare yourselves." the bottom of the box opened and dropped all of them down to the moon. Astral landed softly, Jaimie and Astrid landed fine while Adam crashed into the moon, Zeta had a jet slowed descent while he held Anders. James was held by Angel as they floated down to the surface. A booming voice would be heard. "There will be ten minutes to plan on how to survive this battle and the tournament itself. Once that starts the sixty four survivors will fight for the universal glove. Good luck to all." The voice stopped and many more small conversations filled the void in many different dialects.

Zeta whirred to life with all of the hostile contacts appearing on their hud. Astral would release aerial drones that would survey the moon, it was massive and the amount of people in the universe seemed like a drop in a massive well.

Zeta had programmed a map of the moon. The hostels were tagged and Astral would have Zeta and Astrid work on digesting the safe area for them. He wanted all of them to know they are safe. This would keep tabs on everything. There is over ten thousand people here.

 Looking around the sky Astral saw all colors of orbs. Tracking each voice to which one made the announcement. He smiled as he pointed directly to the orb that made the announcement. Looking to the others he would speak. "So, I will try to make a deal with them, thanks for the idea Adam for trying to change things, otherwise I may just stash you into the pocket dimension."

 Jaimie looked at him. "Yes, that may be nice but we still got to survive this fight? How will we do that?"

 "I have the answer for that, Astral is the kill tool. It's his job and plan to try and kill as much as the crowd as possible, when he makes the deal, there should be a kill clause in there to seal it as proof." Adam spoke as Astral took notes. "He can tether himself to us and run circles faster than all but a limited number of people here, from that point he shall go in a circular motion covering the planet killing everything that he can within his reach with his sword. If he doesn't move fast enough, I fear that someone else may make us lose the bet." James and Angel both readied themselves, they felt a presence watching them. Someone who has no gripe against them.

Astral looked at them. "As for you six, stay in one spot and just defend yourselves. I will come by for finishes every second. But first this needs to happen." He would look like he warped through time and space appearing in front of the godly orbs. 

His suit flared on, looking directly at the one who made the announcements. "Listen here, I want to make a deal, I will fight everyone on this planet in a gauntlet after a thirty minute period. If I don't kill half the people on this moon that is. Whoever remains can face me in a gauntlet style battle with a ten minute grace period for me to catch my breath. If I fail, we can do things your way. Oh yeah, and if I do succeed, my friends aren't a part of the gauntlet. Deal?"

One of the orbs would float down to the surface and look at Titan standing there; he would be waiting for the walls, looking among the crowds of fresh meat. The orb would speak to him. "Sir, a challenger asked to change the rules."

Titan would start laughing hysterically. The orb continued on. "He wants to kill over fifty percent of the people here and then face the winners in a gauntlet after that." Titans laughter subsided a bit as a child cried in the background. 

"Tell me about this person, what are they?" Titan's tone shifted to a brooding malice.

"It's a human from earth n-" Titan's laughter boomed across the moon, everyone heard it. Titan would cackle as he heard this, how could a human surpass him.

"A human thinks they can surpass me? Not to mention a powerless human? One with no affinity for magic?" Titan would wave away the orb. "Let him try." The orb would float away and transfer the conversation to the others.

Two others overheard this conversation, realizing that the human may be special. They were breaking rules by eavesdropping together. Only their silhouettes are visible. "You think this person will be successful?"

"If he is, he can be the one to win this thing, it would free us from this wouldn't it?" The second spoke to the first with a touching tone of care for the thought of being freed from the loop they are in between the two of them.

"I hope you are right. I could do a trick with him to free myself. As for you, he can come up with something, this feels different, he has a goal unlike us." The first would go back to speaking. "Should we guide him as much as possible?"

The second would nod. "Unlimited potential, I will have best wishes for both of us to fulfill our own goals." He would stab a greatsword into the ground and look over. Not all of the Crown Jewels were here. The human may stand a chance.

 The gods looked baffled, they never once had someone break through their barrier to challenge them to any sort of challenge. A couple of murmurs and they all agreed. "We will take your bet, but good luck getting past Titan, he has been the crowd favorite for many tournaments." The gods whistled in glee as they knew he wouldn't beat Titan, a human versus that, no way.

Astral bowed to the gods. "Then I would be best on my way." He warped back out, using the pocket dimension like a personal teleporter. Once he got back he checked the time, one minute before the battle begins. Looking at everyone one final time. He smiled.

 "You will all do fine. Zeta, activate protocol beacon, Astrid, you are brave and loyal. By far my favorite creation that I've made by hand. Adam, you are a master of planning, Jaimie, the sun to my solar system, stay bright and strong. Anders, stay safe, and don't get too carried away in note taking." 

Walking over and hugging James and Angel. "Sorry for not being there for you forever, I promise it will be different from here on out." they hugged him back.

 "Ten. Nine. Eight…"