“I dare say…”

Arriving at the west capital sector, it had already been a few minutes since Rune wanted to get this out of his mind.

“I never saw so many people in the same place before in my life…”

It wasn’t just the highway, but the whole sky too. So many people were flying it was a wonder everything hadn’t devolved to general chaos yet.

Maybe it was due to the presence of a patroller squad every 5 kilometers, meaning everything was under observation?

“When my mother brought me to a star sector gathering once, I remember there being just as many people, I just had no idea I would one day relive the same thing but with the ability to see everything happening within 8 kilometers of me,” Utopia described a similar experience he had lived when he was young.

“We also went to a star sector gathering once with our parents, but it was a lot less impressive than this in my memory, wasn’t it?” Astryde asked her brother, experiencing the same shock as everyone.

“Can’t remember precisely, maybe? If it was impressive I would have remembered it?” Nelo replied but it was a non-answer.

They had already ascended 5 kilometers high, at this height, the density of people only decreased a bit compared to what it was below, but this bit of decrease was enough for them to not want to descend anymore.

Not being early or late, they arrived at a point 6 kilometers away from the main stage with 5 minutes remaining before the planned opening time.

Rune didn’t really feel like discussing with his friends, so he kept to the side while observing the growing mass of people all around him.

‘It just doesn't seem real…’

Hearing stories of galactic wide gatherings during his childhood and teenage was already enough to convince him he wasn’t someone concerned.

Who in the IGS really had the thought while growing up of becoming someone important? Someone able to move and mobilize a whole administrative sector? Certainly not the Rune from before or the Rune from now.

‘Didn’t I find a punchline that I felt resonated with me deeply?’

Opening his diary, he rewound to the time he was “exploring” the hole tunnel.

‘I would really be able to read my own diary for hours if I had nothing more interesting to do. And it all started with a fauna and flora study, right?’

Losing his initial objective, he rewound to the first entry he did when he decided to create his own diary to note his journey.

[Time: whatever. Weather: sun. Jungle region tier 3 zone, I just passed by a devastated area, no trace of monster remaining]

‘How can I even know what I was talking about? Stupid past-self…’

Finished with that objective, he went back to finding the precise sentence. And in the most important and powerful hubbub he never dared imagine, Rune found once again the punchline.

“Being part of the good in a world of heroes makes you irrelevant at worst, ignored at best, that’s my situation. And I like it… It’s still so relevant even as of now, impressive past-self, impressive…” Approving once again this punchline, he decided to copy-paste it to a new entry of his diary.

“What did you just say Rune? Was it an arcane quote?” Adreana asked after hearing his mumbles he didn’t want anyone to hear.

“It’s nothing.”

And she dropped the subject.

By the time he created a new entry and wrote useless things that didn’t matter like how he couldn’t describe with words what he was experiencing, the main stage, the 3 kilometers wide circle sitting at the center and on which no one had been standing one until now, welcomed its first person.

And it was someone anybody paying even the slightest attention to the civilization called the IGS would know.

…

Inanna Seere, the elected leader of the IGS 13 years ago, back before the Ether Law transformed the lives of everyone and ushered in a new era.

Taking on herself the burden of leaving their native dimension, she left behind only a new election in which all the pioneers like the Undecided only heard about, resulting in the birth of a newly elected leader in the Universe.

As it had been for thousands of years already, and despite a few major revolutions having happened during that time, the leaders were close to exclusively rululus, and she didn’t make an exception.

What could be directly observed from her appearance was that she had already gone through her senescent stage and returned back to her prime, a serious-looking rululu woman with deep blue hair and eyes, as well as sharp traits, meaning she wouldn’t age physically anymore.

“As the current elected leader of the IGS, using this opening ceremony for the prospects finding event, I am here to make a small appearance,” with no energy involved, only technology, her voice was spread all around, people just had to calibrate their perception to hear what she was saying clearly.

“First, let me congratulate everyone who made it here today, as well as the absent ones. I personally consider everyone, from those who migrated here the first second to those that are still coming to be pioneers.

“One of my roles as the elected leader is to make sure the pioneer age ends successfully without any tragedies or historical markers, and we are truly doing everything possible to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

“Now is not the time for me to go on and do a speech like I’m so used to, I’ll rather make it quick, leaving the stage for the ones who need it. As for the very long speech, that one will come during the closing ceremony.”

“I’m sure a lot of you are already expecting to hear about the prospect school, the existence of the Cell, the creation of a major expedition front, or the reason why the IGS is pushing everyone to quickly develop…”

“Yet, this is something I’ll only unveil at the end, I hope this event will not only distract and entertain but also show you that there is much more to this new era we are all pioneering together.”

Teasing the end, Inanna Seere departed and left the place buzzing with noise, though it all quieted down the next moment when thousands of people started to appear in the main stage area.

All were people that belonged to the main tournament event, they were the contenders that Rune came to know about as they were all more exceptional than the other.

At the same time, screens that were placed everywhere started to light up and show a number that kept climbing higher, stopping at 64 521, the number of participants that appeared.

Then one person appeared in the same place the leader just left, similarly a rululu but an old one this time, and he started to talk.

“Unfortunately…” He started weirdly, “We don’t have an AI core to manage everything… So I’ll have to do it.”

What was strange was that his voice wasn’t spread around, it was only present on the main stage, so it was a message destined for the participants and the spectators able to listen if they wanted.

“You’re all in the main tournament, meaning you’re here to prove you deserve to receive all the advantages like 0% EP loans to max your stats easily, the support of a dedicated team of patrollers taking care of all the bothersome matters, as well as the social rank received by all prospects.”

The rululu talking really transmitted how he didn’t care about what he was doing, and he would much rather like to be elsewhere.

“First, some of you are only tier 2 while others are tier 4, and everyone potentially has different stats, and the IGS believe in fairness, so we’ll not put you against each other. What you’re going to do, however, is that you’re going to fight against the prepared benchmark fighters, as long as you defeat your attributed benchmark, you’ll…”

A silence that stretched for 5 seconds.

“Become a prospect. And enter the true main tournament.”

Completely ignoring the reaction of everyone, he continued.

“Some of you are already beyond, and that’s a fine achievement if I do say so myself, but you’re not the first and you’ll not be the last, that’s why in this event, we are giving a chance to everyone to show that they deserve to join the rank of the Abnormals. Here are your numbers!”

“Now, we only prepared 20 slots to join the Abnormals! Good luck, even though for the majority of you, you’ll not even become a prospect!”

Disappearing the next moment, his vanishing announced the apparition of thousands. And they clearly were the just-described benchmark fighters needed to be defeated.

At the same time, in other areas of the 3 kilometers in diameter main stage, borders made of light started to appear. A main 1 kilometer in diameter center was separated from tens of other circles who also started to welcome their own participants for their own competitions.

In the concentric circles around, stalls started to become active and prepare foods or drinks, some started discussion lounges, some sold expertly crafted arts.

The opening ceremony was short and not that intense and memorable, but it heralded the start of something much more important.

It was the first great event of the IGS in the Endless.

…

“For a moment, I thought they would offer to max their stats, I swear I was going to exclude ‘fairness’ from my vocabulary for the rest of my life,” Arik was still calming down from his too-active imagination.

“What’s this about a major exploratory front?” Nelo sounded extremely interested in this precise teasing part.

“Look! The singing competition is starting! It’s just next to the cooking and the energy puzzle resolving competitions!” Utopia was by far the most hyped by the event.

“Yeah, about the puzzle competition, I’m still massively interested in it so I’m leaving now to watch from closer, bye,” Gar blurted before leaving the main group, and he was only the first one to do that.

Then Utopia, Nelo, and Astryde left together to go observe the main tournament. Adreana left alone, saying something about needing answers from the energy domain competition.

Rune and Lounae didn’t feel awkward being left together, despite the difference in upbringing and age, they were strangely similar and didn’t care that much about fulfilling a precise objective, much more liking the idea of descending to the chaos below and going where the flow would take them.

Be it food or art, they stopped for a bit at each stall to carefully inspect the products available.

There wasn’t much diversity in terms of cultural representation contrary to what Rune became used to and expected in the cultural event, he still remembered when one had lanterns hanging up everywhere to remind a certain culture, or another one that had water fountains at every corner, or a unique one with rainbow-colored flags at every stall.

Thinking he couldn’t expect the impossible, Rune went with the flow accompanied by Lounae in quest of exceptional memories to make, exceptional people to meet, and exceptional contenders to see.

…

From day to night, the number of people and the intensity of the activities didn’t change much, it even became more intense as nearly all the competitions truly started.

Some of the more minor ones had already finished and gained victors who were taken elsewhere, some would join the Cell, some would join newly created departments, if someone was interested in their fate, they just had to keep an eye out for related news.

The main tournament was far from even a quarter achieved, and after the first 12 hours passed, only 5 contenders were admitted as prospects among 5 000.

The IGS had really set the bar high, and it truly showed when someone realized the exploit of defeating their assigned benchmark fighter.

Real-time health monitors and slowed-down screens showed all the details less observant people weren’t able to see, shaping the mood to be very reactive when very fast combats took place.

Maybe it was by design, but the highly ranked contenders and the confirmed beyond contenders had yet to fight, keeping people here to observe the others and giving them a chance to shine.

…

The first week passed quickly and the main tournament finally ended with the “sure-to-win” contenders downing their assigned benchmark fighter easily, confirming their prospect status.

The award ceremony was something that truly made the greed of people get out as they were immediately given the EP they needed to max their stats.

It was then announced that the true tournament would start in 24 hours, so lots of people used this occasion to go buy things and propagate rumors on the net, after all, the talked-about eccentric segment that had been purposely leaked was for sure linked to this true tournament that would start soon.

Even the Undecided were united in wanting to go observe the eccentric segment together, so they all reunited when the true tournament started.

After the new prospects appeared again on the main stage, other people also started to appear, and Lounae quickly informed them that they were prospects she had interacted with before.

Then the true tournament started.

With the same old rululu who seemed fed up with having to talk personally.

“Maybe it’ll be a surprise for some of you, but we still don’t have an AI core to announce those things. That’s why I’m here again.”

Though this time he seemed to be less grumpy and more relaxed compared to a week ago.

“So… 20 slots to join the Abnormals. Please don’t confuse this organization with the abnormal cell, a branch of the Cell. That’s what you are fighting for here, and as long as you get to the top 20 then it doesn’t matter if you didn’t reach beyond, you’ll still earn your slot.”

No one seemed to react to this, maybe all the 3 539 contenders had reached beyond in something? That seemed at the same time improbable and possible for the spectators watching the scene.

“2 slots for tier 2 contenders, 6 slots for tier 3 contenders, and 12 slots for tier 4 contenders, if you’re tier 5 you’re welcome to take a step forward and immediately receive a slot.”

No one took a step forward.

“That’s unfortunate. Here, get your numbers, I can assure you that we, the management, are closely monitoring this selection, and will make sure that if you’re the most unlucky tier 4 in history, and that you lose to the 11 contenders stronger than you, then you’ll get your chance to prove that they were the 11 strongest apart from you!”

“No question allowed! And we’re starting immediately with the eccentric segment, to make sure you still have your head on the ground!”

The contenders grimaced heavily after the existence of the eccentric segment was confirmed and unveiled before their eyes as the top 100 of the alcohol maker competition appeared behind the old rululu.

And before the eyes of everyone, they started to make the heaviest alcohol energy taste infused in a big 500 mL mug.

The crowd observing from afar started to make lots of noise as the rumored eccentric segment happened before their eyes, they would be able to see the supreme talents of today wasted on the ground, with no choice but to resist against the energy taste without being able to purge it.

And to add to the dismay of the contenders and the massive noise, 100 beautiful or handsome waiters, man or woman mixed, appeared, and personally brought one massive mug to everyone.

“You’re forbidden from purging the energy taste, you’re forbidden from not drinking your mug, you’re forbidden from emitting objections! And keep in mind that this segment has been sponsored in its entirety by the Kajo’s Investment Funds, they are undoubtedly the number 1 investment funds and they also don’t hesitate to invest in unique enterprises! Go check their official website for more information!”

The old rululu was having the time of his life looking at the sheeps before him as he did a weird advertisement speech.

…

“Look! There’s Lenya, I didn’t even know she participated in the alcohol maker competition!” Adreana exclaimed with everyone around her.

“Angeni is there too!” Utopia was similarly reveling at the moment.

“If I had a pro camera, I would be able to see them squirm on the ground! I personally tasted a heavy alcohol energy taste before, and that was no joke!” Gar was frantically complaining about not having a camera on him while Arik nodded repeatedly next to him, they were of the same mind.

“What would have happened if I decided to participate…” Lounae was having a moment of enlightenment next to all of them and seemed close to having to sit down due to the feeling of joy at being on the spectator side.

“See Lounae… The world is better when you-”

“Rune! Stop trying to sound wise!” Astryde directly stopped Rune from trying to sound wise.

The most courageous of the contenders finally started to drink their assigned mug, and the effects started to show only ten seconds later.

First, they sat down on the spot.

Next, they went on all four.

Following that, they laid on their back.

Then they started to make strange and disturbing noises.

And after 5 minutes of being down, their consciousness was fighting to take back control, and that resulted in their body squirming on the ground, trying to stand up but failing to do so.

All that only added to the horror of the contenders who saw everything but could only wait for their turn, waiting for the beautiful or handsome angel to bring them their mug.

“Look at their faces!”

“Wasted heroes incoming!”

In the stands and all around the main stage, some liked the concept so much that they ended up paralyzed by laughter on the ground.

“If it had been done with a hot burning long-lasting energy taste, it would have been even more fun.”

“You’re a psycho!”

This day would be remembered by a lot of people and the history book as an event that showed how privileged culture was in the IGS, entertainment was a central point of how the IGS had grown, and even with the danger being so near to it, it wouldn’t stop this tradition.

Because only in humor and entertainment could everyone recognize fellow sapients with whom you could become friends.

And for those who still didn’t understand how important the culture department was in the IGS, this day, be it among the contenders, the spectators, the absents, or the eccentrics, everyone understood that as long as the IGS stood.

Culture in the forms of entertainment and food would continue to exist.