Diana met the gaze of the monster's glowing green eye that was like a contained star hidden within a mass of shifting tentacles.
Yes, Diana is my name. She replied within her mind and was glad the monster seemed to understand her inner thoughts as she didn't want to be seen speaking to the monster while in view of the many pavilion members.
"I thought I smelt the blood of a Ravena, but I wasn't so sure until just now when you leaked your presence."
So it knows about my bloodline. Is this another one of Maple's family?
How do you know my name?
"I watched you training in hell alongside Neptune... that is the name you realm dwellers gave, right? Neptune? It sounds weird to say." The mass of wiggling tentacles opened up more as the giant green eye drew closer as if trying to get a better look at her. "Anyway, I see you have grown in power since then. I assume that is the work of that spirit tree?"
Diana nodded. Ashlock's generosity and Neptune's training have helped my cultivation improve by leaps and bounds. I have also grown in understanding of my bloodline, as I am sure you can tell. But to think you watched me suffer through hell alongside Neptune.
"Watching is all we Worldwalkers do as there's not much else going on in the void. It's terribly boring, so even overlooking someone's struggles in hell keeps the mind ticking. Without stimuli, time doesn't pass for us, and we don't progress as beings."
Is that why you listen to Elysia's orders and fight for her? Out of bordem?
"Well, I was also hungry." The eye shifted to glance at the blood-stained sand behind it before returning to stare at her. "There's nothing to eat out in the void, so a few limbs are a tasty snack and help to progress my cultivation." The monster let out an otherworldly sigh that made Diana's consciousness quiver. "I am terribly jealous of Maple, who gets to run around in this realm due to making a pact with that spirit tree. How unfair."
Diana frowned behind her mask. If you know Maple, why didn't I see you in the last Mystic Realm alongside Neptune and Mars?
"Oh, that's because I am what you could consider Maple's little sibling. I am a few decades younger, so he finds me annoying and dislikes including me in things." The monster's tentacles seemed to sag a little as if it were depressed. "Maple is mean, right?"
Diana wasn't sure how to comfort a void monster being bullied by its realm-eating siblings. I cannot comment on sibling relationships, but I do have to ask. Are we going to fight? Having looked up in the stands, Diana had noticed that some people were tilting their heads in confusion at how they weren't fighting.
The monster laughed in her mind, "I fear Maple would eat me if I hurt one of Stella's friends, so no, I would rather not fight."
What about the Mystic Qi that summoned you? Does it not force you to follow Elysia's orders to attack me?
"Oh, you are talking about this stuff?" The monster slammed down a few tentacles into the summoning circle, throwing up a cloud of sand.
Yes. Another cultivator told me that Mystic Qi allows a cultivator to bring a creature from their imagination into reality. Yet you seem to exist outside of Elysia's mind, so how does that work?
"I have no idea. One day, I was floating in the void when I saw a suspicious-looking portal. Neptune and Mars have told me to avoid such cracks in reality as they lead to trouble, but I was really bored, so I stuck my head through."
Diana felt like she had heard this before. Wasn't Maple going through a portal how he ended up in a pact with Ashlock?
"Something like that... anyways, as I was saying, I stuck my head through the crack and found myself in what I can only describe as a bubble. It forced me to take on a certain shape and heavily limited my powers, but I was in the lowest realm, facing that Elysia girl surrounded by a ritual circle. I thought about eating her but luckily realized that she was the reason I could appear in this realm."
Elysia summoned you?
"I was not obligated to heed her call, so saying I was summoned is wrong. I prefer the term invited."
Okay, so she 'invited' you here. Then what?
"Well, the Mystic Qi she used to create the opening severely limited my powers by crushing me into a vessel of Elysia's design." The eye shifted to look at Elysia lying on the ground and groaning, "So I figured if I wanted to exert more power in this realm and feel less suffocated, I needed to open her mind, so I started visiting her dreams. She welcomed my presence, and as I slowly broke and twisted her mind, she created better vessels for me to occupy."
Diana raised a brow at how the monster had said something so horrifying in such a casual way. Does the Mystic Qi make you follow her orders?
The monster laughed, shaking her mind. "Of course not."
Why do you follow them then? Diana asked. Such as when you ate Ivor's limbs when ordered to.
"I can only manifest in this place if Elysia invites me here. If I give her the illusion of control, she will call upon me more often and feed me more cultivators in the long run."
You're like a well-trained dog. Diana snorted.
"I am not."
Whatever. Diana sighed. I don't know if you understand, but I am currently in a duel with Elysia. I can't kill her as that will disqualify me, and she won't surrender until I defeat you. But I can't defeat you, and you won't kill me in fear of Maple.
The monster shifted to loom over her. "Why don't you surrender then."
I refuse to lose.
"Then I suppose we are at a stalemate."
Not quite. Diana summoned her sword and pointed the tip at Elysia's neck as the girl slowly stirred awake after being slapped. The red handprint was still visible on her swollen cheek. I can chop Elysia up and carve fear of me into her mind so deep that she won't be able to summon you again.
The monster's eye narrowed. "Are you really capable of such a thing?"
Diana didn't hesitate as she slashed her sword down and chopped off Elysia's left arm. The girl's eyes shot open as she was shocked out of her confused state, and she screamed out in pain.
Unfazed, Diana flicked the blood off her sword onto the sand and looked back at the monster. Should I keep going?
"Haha, good, very good. As expected from one with the Ravena bloodline. How interesting." The monster's voice turned cold, "But to harm the tool I have spent so long carefully nurturing is deserving of some punishment—"
Diana dropped to the ground and felt the air rush over her head as a tentacle from her blind spot passed over. If she had remained standing, it would have slammed into her and flung her into the nearby wall—a nonlethal attack but enough to knock her out.
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You really are scared of your siblings, aren't you? Diana taunted as she used her artifact boots to barely dodge the barrage of incoming tentacles trying to slap her away. I can see why Maple finds you annoying. You have such a short temper.
"I assure you my temper is nothing compared to Maple," The monster replied as the whole arena trembled. A cloud of dust made tracking the tentacles even harder. Diana knew for a fact that the monster was holding back from killing her in fear of Maple, but it was determined to at least smack her around.
"Annoying fly," The monster said, and Diana noticed the tentacles suddenly double in speed.
"Oh—" Diana blinked as a tentacle slammed her in the face, shattering her mask, breaking her nose, and sending her flying. She collapsed into a heap near the wall in a ditch in the sand. Spitting out sand and blood, her ears were ringing, and her head was pounding. What the hell was that. I couldn't even see it coming.
Hauling her body up with a groan, she made sure to hide her face with a wooden mask from her spatial ring before glancing over her shoulder at the monster. It kept its distance and didn't seem interested in attacking while she was down as it watched her intently with its giant green eye nestled among a sea of shifting darkness.
Diana straightened her back. You're just toying with me, aren't you? No, wait... Diana looked to Elysia, whom it had called a tool and wasn't even trying to protect. You're not even really angry, are you? You're treating this whole thing as nothing but a game.
"So what if I am? I can't eat you, so having a little fun is the next best thing, don't you agree?" The monster's eye shifted to Elysia, who clutched her stump and cried, "She won't die from such an injury, but it would be inconvenient if you damaged my carefully raised tool any further. So how about a deal?"
A deal? Diana tilted her head. What do you propose?
"It's rare that I get to test this form's limitations. Most opponents I face are weaklings like that ice cultivator from earlier. I desire some challenge to see what areas of this vessel need improvement. So, the deal is simple. Go all out against me for ten minutes, and once the time is up, I will surrender to you so you may win this pointless duel."
What about Elysia?
"If you try to harm her further, I may accidentally use lethal force. Don't misunderstand, I don't want to kill you, but I will if I have to. Elysia is my only way into the realm, and I have spent years breaking her to this point. To throw that all away for a friend of my sibling's favorite human is not happening."
Diana sighed. Looks like I have no choice then. Let's dance. Demonic mist Qi spread out, and Diana began to transform. She would not last even a minute if she didn't go all out.
"That's the spirit." The monster said as a wall of tentacles came her way.
***
"What's going on in there? I can't see anything." Seth squinted at the arena and even cycled Qi to his eyes, but it was useless. The defensive array suppressed any spiritual sense, forcing them to rely on their eyes.
"Who knows," Stella shrugged. The arena had turned into a sandstorm mixed with demonic mist. Shadows could be seen moving within the mist, and there were the howling phantoms, but the spectators couldn't see much else.
Diana uses the sand and mist to hide her demon form as she fights. But it doesn't make sense. Stella rested her chin on her palm as she mulled over the events. Why did Diana cut off Elysia's arm? She's never been one for cruelty and dislikes killing unless necessary, so why antagonize the monster that seemed wary of her to the point that she is now forced to risk showing her demon form?
Seth let out an exaggerated and distorted sigh beside her and leaned back in his chair, "What a bizarre fight. I have seen dozens of duels of Iron Seekers against Elysia, and I have never once seen that monster tremble in fear before an enemy. Just how strong is Diana?"
"Strong," Stella answered simply.
"No wonder she got a recommendation letter from a Sage Advisor. Maybe she is from some hidden clan. Her family name was Ravenborne, right? Do you know anything about it?"
Stella tilted her head to Seth, "You seem awfully concerned with the origins of her strength. Is there a reason?"
"Uh, I was just curious, is all. We might be working together soon to hunt down Albis Lunarshade. He was last measured to be in the 2nd stage of the Star Core Realm and is a good fighter, so I am relieved that Diana is so strong."
"Mhm?" Stella squinted behind her mask, "You sound more concerned than relieved."
"Do I?" Seth chuckled, "Well, we may be allies during the hunt, but if Diana wins this fight and ascends to the Crimson Trackers, us Iron Seekers will have a powerhouse stronger and even more ruthless than Elysia to deal with."
"Is that so?" Stella looked back at the arena. I wonder who would win if we were to fight?
"The dust is settling!"
Stella looked to the side and saw a group of Iron Seekers commenting on the fight.
"Oh look, the mist is dispersing as well!"
"I can't see any more shadows flying around. Did the monster lose?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Elysia has a single loss and nearly fifty wins. How could she lose to an upstart with no record?"
"I mean, didn't you see the start of the fight?" One of them refuted the other, "She defeated Elysia in the blink of an eye."
"Nobody fears Elysia. It's that monster she summons, which made her the heir to the Mystshroud family that's the problem. I have seen Elysia beaten up before, but the monster always wins."
"True..."
Stella was also curious about the outcome, so she waited patiently for the sand and mist to disperse. In the middle of the arena, Diana stood tall. There was no evidence of her wings, and her cloak and mask hid any other signs that she was a demon.
Good, she has preserved her dark side from these pesky gazes.
Diana raised her sword and pointed it at the monster. "Surrender."
"Is she crazy," Seth muttered in disbelief.
Stella was honestly wondering that as well. Things weren't adding up. Diana was panting and seemed injured. Meanwhile, the monster was unharmed and could easily kill her. Instead of attacking, the monster turned and stared straight at Stella in the stands with its green eye that looked so familiar. Where had she seen that look before...
Why is it looking at me? Stella's eyes widened. Unless it's what I think it is... there's no way that's a Worldwalker, right? I thought Mystic Qi made things from the imagination?
The monster began sinking back into the darkness of the ritual circle while keeping eye contact, much to the surrounding cultivators' shock. They stood up in disbelief and started discussing theories that were all wrong.
"Interesting," Stella muttered as she crossed her arms. Diana didn't win. The Worldwalker decided to leave for some reason. But these people don't know that; to them, it looks like she scared the monster away.
"No, don't go!" Elysia cried out as she scrambled through the sand toward the ritual circle. "Old one! Come back! I order you to come back and fight!"
Diana pressed the blade edge against Elysia's throat, causing the girl to stop in her tracks. "Don't bother, it's over."
The ritual circle collapsed in on itself, and the Mystic Qi returned to Elysia.
"There's no way the old one would lose or surrender." Elysa began muttering to herself as her eyes shook. "It's impossible. I still draw breath."
Diana sighed, "Just surrender—"
Elysia grabbed Diana's sword with her remaining hand, drawing blood. "There's only one explanation!" She looked up at Diana with crazed eyes, "You are also a worshiper of the old ones... no, you are a leader of them! It listened to you over me! That's the only explanation! Come with me to meet my family, you must!"
"Annoying," Diana kneed Elysia in the face, making her head snap back and tumble to the ground, knocking the girl out cold. "Stop sprouting such deluded nonsense," Diana said, turning and walking away through the sand. "You don't even understand the half of it."
"The duel has concluded! Elysia Mystshroud is no longer putting up a fight, which means Raven is the victor! Congratulations, Raven. You are now promoted to the elusive rank of Crimson Seeker with a flawless 1-0 record."
Diana didn't seem to react to the announcement as she swiftly left the arena. Her features were obscured by the white wooden mask she had equipped after getting smacked in the face, so Stella had no way to tell.
Meanwhile, Elysia's unconscious body was carried off alongside her arm.
"Good fight," Stella said once Diana arrived.
Diana snorted, "Quite the opposite." She said with spite, "Come on, let's go."
Stella had expected Diana to sound relieved or excited about her victory, but her voice dripped with anger and annoyance. Had Elysia ticked her off that much, or was it something else?
"Sorry, Seth. I will give you the answer about working together next time." Stella stood up and followed Diana out of the arena.
"Oh, okay... you can find me near the door. I usually wait around there."
"Will do," Stella waved him off, and once they were out of earshot of anyone, "What happened out there? You're not acting like yourself. Are you not happy about being promoted?"
Diana paused her steps and turned to Stella, "That wasn't a fight. I just wasted a load of Qi and got beaten up for ten minutes for that monster's amusement. Worst of all, when I cut off Elysia's arm to try and convince it to surrender, it did nothing but laugh and say I had embraced the attitude of a person with my bloodline. Everything I did was simply amusing to that monster."
"Was that monster..."
"Yes, it was one of Maple's siblings." Diana sighed, "That was the only reason it didn't tear me limb from limb."
"I see..." Stella bit her lip. Things just got even more complicated. "There is no way the Mystshroud family is going to live this down. You will be targeted by them, especially by Elysia. How could they even summon and control a Worldwalker in the first place?"
"I will explain to you later. First, let's move fast while we are still under the nose of most powerhouses," Diana turned and started walking at a brisk pace, "Let's pick up my Crimson Tracker pendant first, and then we should visit Nox's sister at the Duskwalker residence before nightfall. We don't have time to wait until tomorrow."
"I agree." Stella glanced down at the ring of shadow Qi around her finger that Nox had given her. I really hope this thing works, as Nox hasn't given the most reliable information so far.
