Tartarus Diamond Cup

"WIN THE DIAMOND CUP AND I'LL GRANT YOU ONE WISH"​

That's the voice our protagonist heard before starting a new life in a world much different from anything he ever knew.​

— Earth, United Front • 2083 —

Since 2020 with the advent of the Coronavirus, human society situation worsened. When the virus was being slowly forgotten, the situations between the different nations became tense. Starting with the Ukrainian war, China, Russia and US started a tripartite cold war: secret operations, cyber war… In 2050, few countries were free of constant revolutions but a full scale war never came because of the nuclear deterrent. Some small countries were even annexed by their bigger neighbors.

It's in this situation that, North Korea (allegedly) developed and used a biochemical weapon giving another dimension to the secret war. The number of dead each day skyrocketed. After 8 years of biochemical war, all remaining countries convened to forbids use of biochemical weapons like they did for nuclear ones. At that moment, thing calmed down a little but peace didn't come back. One thing to notice is that, after this biologic war, some men and women started to became overly beyond human limits in certain field. Even the basic human body was now 100 times better than before. The species went through a forced evolution.

In 2071, only three independent powers still existed sharing the World between themselves: the Russian federation, the Chinese Common Wealth and the United Front. Ironically, they were the one that started it all but History will come to know Kim Jong-un as the next Hitler. Anyway, they wanted this masquerade to stop because the remaining Earth population was less than 2,5 billions already. They decided to create a mean to decide on their shares of resources without resulting to armed conflicts. That's how 3 years later, the first Tartarus Game went on.

Basically, a Tartarus Game is an hardcore Olympic Game. There's only five sports: the Hell Race, the Deep Trial, the Unarmed Combat, the Armed Combat and finally the jewel of the Tartarus Game, The Titanbowl. It was a mean for the different power to flaunt their technologies prowess because while the Olympic Game was about excellence, respect and friendship; the Tartarus Game didn't give a shit about all that. Even though each game had a set of rules, player could use any drugs they want, cybernetic enhancement and technological help (allowed by the comity) during the game. And funnily enough in the Tartarus Game, men and women were equal. So a Titanium ball going faster than sound and numerous death during the Game became the norm.

Everyone could become a sponsor as long as they can bet a big enough stake. For the first game, any stake with an estimated value of more than the late ISS could grant a sponsor token. But since then it's only going up. One would think that the three power will forbid other from sponsoring but if one did he will be at disadvantage against the rest that could present more team. Not that it would ensure their victory.

Winning a Game will grant you a Gold Medal as well a pick in the stakes redistributed into six equal parts, the Titan Ball counting for two. There were no rewards for loosers. And if one sponsor was to get all five Gold Medals of a Tartarus Game, then he would be granted the Diamond Cup. Not only he was getting all the stakes but he can make a demand to all three ruling parties that would be fulfilled as long as it doesn't shake their foundation.

The Tartarus Game is held on the Antartica continent that the tripartite powers transformed to their liking to simulate more extreme conditions. Yeah, war does tend to make technology quickly advance. After the first Tartarus Game held in 2074, the next one went on in 2080 and became a decennial event.​

I came into this Earth I couldn't qualify neither of dystopia or utopia at the end of the year 2083 with a mission of which I couldn't even fathom the difficulty. I was forsaken by my new mother at birth as from the little I got from her beforehand was that she was an hooker that got unlucky. Like there're robots used in everyday life but contraception mean are still not 100% sure. Anyway, she forsakes me because I was born with a weird tattoo on my face and white hair. Every one of her friend said that I was cursed. That's how I got to the orphanage.

— Earth, United Front • 2086 —

After two years at the orphanage and with my genius starting to become reputed, a red haired man came to adopt me. He was named Cross Marian and the link with my own name as Allen Walker didn't escape me. And with how much he looked like the show description, I almost though for an instant that the Millenium Earl would come as well.

Spoiler: Cross Marian

Spoiler: Allen Walker

I soon discovered Cross Marian identity as Gold Medal of the armed combat game of the 2nd Tartarus edition. He was a genius in cybernetics and weapon manufacturing as well as a multi-billionaire. He was basically this world Tony Stark with the womanizing life included. Here's the problem, he wanted to create a school to raise potential Tartarus players that would be sponsored by whoever they wanted. But without a kid and his playboy life, it's a little hard to gain the trust from those rich parents.

Not willing to marry, he chose the second best option that is to adopt the genius cursed kid he got news of and make him his figure head. That's how, Eden came to be and I was perfectly fine with that as it took me closer to my goal.​

For the next few years, I was taught many things but only those practical. From my nutrition to cybernetic enhancement, I was made into a demigod. At 6 years old, I integrated the newly created Eden.

Eden was free for geniuses but heavily compensated on the rich kids sent to it for reputation. I soon got my first minion Fiona Frost. She was an easily impressionnable girl who quickly becomes my shadow.

I started participating in all kind of tournament over the world making publicity for Eden. I decided to do my best to support Eden when I took the full measure of the goal I was given. To win a Diamond Cup, I have first to gain enough resources to become a sponsor for a Tartarus Game, then build perfect teams that would win every single trial in my sponsored Tartarus Game. Two impossible feats in one. For me that's used to only rely on myself, this is an almost hopeless goal. That's why I started to make friends.

— Earth, United Front • 2095 —

I got my own rival. Unbelievable no? He's called Yuu Kunieda. A new student of Eden. He hails from the famous Kunieda Dojo and unlike his big sister is a real genius. He even crafted his own sword from micro-managed parts. He had been the best all his life then he met me with all my cheats. After a quick and systematic loss, he became my Vegeta.

— Earth, United Front • 2100 —

I got into puberty pretty late. When the 4th edition of the Tartarus Game was ongoing, I got myself not one but two girlfriends to Fiona despair. First was the tech genius of Eden coming from the Chinese Common Wealth, Lenalee Lee. SHe was a really kind girl and her self created boots were impressive.

The second one was Alexandra Garcia who in spite of her family name hailed from the Russian Federation. She was the uncontested champion of the reproduction of the Titanbowl we made at Eden especially with her impressive cybernetics eye enhancement. She was really open sexually and it didn't bother me so we matched well.

I didn't choose them just because of my hormones as Fiona could deal easily with that, but because of my carefully weaved scheme. They were the remaining key to build my dream team.

I maintained my relation with my chosen circle even when they were many bumps in the road.

— Earth, Antarctica • 2110 —

An important year for my plans as it would decide whether I will ever win the Diamond Cup or not. I had to win some Gold Medals.

Fiona and I participated in the Tartarus Tournament sponsored by the United Front. Yuu and Lenalee did it sponsored by the Chinese Common Wealth while Alex got in by the Russian Federation. Our well groomed celebrity paid.

I participated in three trials: the Unarmed Combat, the Deep Trial and the Superbowl. Fiona doing the last two as well.

This is how the result of this year turned out:​

Hell Race: An extreme obstacle course that will made the participants travel the Antartica continent on a road planned to maximize danger. Plus they had to take in account that other participants can well attck them as there can only be one winner. Lenalee won.​

Spoiler: Lenalee Lee

Deep Trial: Same as the hell race but touring the continent chased by biologic monster and without much equipment. Not even oxygen tank. Weirdly enough Fiona bested me on this one. Her desire to prove herself to me made her do miracles and she won one Gold medal.​

Spoiler: Fiona Frost

Unarmed Combat: Basically Kengan++ with feat like Yuujiro. First a battle royal, to trim our numbers and get to a power of two. Then it's a classic tournament till the winner is decided. I had no real challenge here.​

Armed Combat: Same as the previous one but with most weapons allowed. Every participant can only have one weapon. Yuu shined here and won with his weird evolving sword.​

Spoiler: Yuu Kunieda

Titanbowl: This is a mix of Football, Volleyball, Baseball, Basketball, Handball... with extremely complex rules. The players use a ball made of alloy of Titanium that could even survive in the sun for some time and is still elastic and can rebound well. Two teams of 15 players goes against each other for a day and the winner is decided by counting the points. Alex with her team won this one by far. She was always a beast in team sport and with her monstrous body (what about a bullshit Zone beyond the Zone or what not), I conceded my defeat.​

Spoiler: Alexandra Garcia

My plan was in full swing.

In November of the same year we gathered once more and I shared with them my master plan of which we completed the first step.

As we together got all the Gold Medals, it greatly boosted Eden reputation. Now if we gathered to create a training center in preparation for Tartarus, imagine the success. And if we get satisfactory enough teams willing to play for us (as our chance was already behind us), I engaged myself to sponsor them to hopefully win the mythic Diamond Cup.

They all got along to chase that fleeting dream. The opposite would have been surprising as while only their sportsmanship would have been enough to accept my proposal, my careful grooming didn't let any place to surprise.

— Earth, Russian Federation • 2112 —

Nike Talent Club is officially established which greatly stunned the public. It's goal was widely discussed as five Tartarus champions were it's creator. Plus it was affiliated with what is now considered the best school in the World, Eden. Where you could still get into Eden if you were rich enough, Nike was only reserved for the best talents we selected.

We got our first talents. Yup brought his niece Aoi Kunieda along with her friends. Fiona hit it pretty well with a girl named Hildegarde. I think them both being ice queen (in their kind) was the principal reason.

Alex brought the two kids she briefly trained and their friends as well from which they were two great geniuses: Akashi and Kuroko like two faces of the same coin.

Fiona brought two kids: Haruka Nanase and Rin Matsuoka.

Lenalee brought a friend kid, Saeko Busujima and a kid Kakeru Kurahara.

I personally introduced two promising talent: Kagura Yato and an orphan Utsuro who had amazing swordsmanship.

— Earth, Antarctica • 2120 —

I staked Eden and Nike into this Tartarus edition. I cannot afford to lose.

TO BE CONTINUED​