The candidates fanned out in a cone and distanced themselves from each other from more of their instinct rather than anyone’s command.

Izo simply knew the knight and warhorse combo was a giant mass capable of knocking him out in its momentum. The laws of statistics helped him however as it focused on one of the Nabih’s teammates.

It leaped with its giant halberd striking up. Clumps of dirt were parted as the upward strike was barely dodged. The Atlantean gathered spirituality into his hands and pointed his palm to the enemy.

Mist covered its direction, enough to obstruct its vision. Black steel pierced the smoke and even when the man continuously did his best to use lightning or ice, its movement was never stopped.

The only way the Atlantean had survived to this long was through his superhuman physique but even it was being exhausted.

Nabih and his fellow teammates surrounded the knight to divide its attention. They barely held its charges and the enemy wasn’t mindless too. Sometimes it would drive past, sometimes it would stop in a way a normal horse couldn’t since its joints would pup then it would swing wildly.

The good thing was its attacks were highly telegraphed and slow.

“We need to help them.”

Izo knew that if the other team was beaten, they would be next. Even if they were allowed to teleport out to the tune of 100 points, it wasn’t a good trend to evade arenas.

Sung Soo thought for a bit.

“Hmm. We need to unhorse it. Limit its movements.”

“How are we supposed to do that Dad?”

“Not sure.”

*

Kaupa appeared within the Nexus Central Hotel upper floors. This place could only be entered with enough credentials and was most visited by the younger scions of the Nexus.

He moved away his long locks blocking his vision. Mage training and research took most of his time and he couldn’t really be bothered to groom himself. For all he cared, he wouldn’t even cast cleaning spells for himself if other people didn’t find it disgusting thus obstructing his research.

He had no facial hair, contributing to his young look despite being 30. This also ensured that gnats would keep trying to get his attention for his looks only. This has killed his social life but he preferred it that way.

‘Roschella.’

There she was Dynasty borne from their lower classes but due to her insane talent as a Dream Shaman. Her curly hair, chocolate skin and preference for full hood made her look mysterious but her sweet voice also made her sweet. Known for being quiet and minimalist, she had no personal hobbies and can be found where her brother is.

‘Ah here he is.’

She is also Telo de Fezzan’s woman. The Young Admiral is fated to be married to a high borne woman that would benefit his minister father but it was an open secret that he had the talented Roschella in his palm.

He harumphed in Telo’s face. It was the politest he could be to the asshat.

“Kaupa.”

“Hello.”

That was all he could say to the woman that he fell in love with.

He entered a golden engraved door and within he found music and dance while large floating screens showed the candidates’ combat scenes.

There was betting, there was bragging and drugs. Since the virtual world could simulate its full feeling without the bodily consequences, virtual high had become all consuming in the aristocracy. Most the people’s lives here completely depend on drugs now.

The classic smokes, the injected and most potent versions and even ones for the non-humans. For the golems was a “Chaos” pops which superheated ore that when swallowed would heat their throats close to melting but never exceeding it. It would give golems the feeling of ecstasy with near death pain.

Kaupa disdained these aimless and dead living failures of their factions. Even as they bowed and moved out of his way, he made sure to show his repugnance towards their existence.

Of course, they were incredibly happy to be noticed by him.

Kaupa, Telo, Princess Third and other similar young figures had actual chance to inherit power. Most of the people here were petty princes.

He proceeded to a raised platform where the more important gathered.

“Kaupa!”

“Princess Third.”

She wore a turtleneck and scarf inspired by her attendant Earthling Kaylee Jones, cute with her small height. Aged 14, she was the youngest and most active of the Remus Dynasty royals. Her black hair was in a side ponytail and small freckles covered her pointy face. Her elder wasn’t handsome but she already had signs of being a kingdom killer in a more metaphysical way.

In a physical way, she could order orbital obliteration upon billions if she wished so.

Kaupa hugged her wishing that he could pick her up like he used to.

“Come the drinks are on the tables. You should eat more you know.”

“Thirdy. You know being unhealthy is detrimental to research.”

“Just saying you could relax more.”

“Air Scissor. Viscount Srag.”

Srag, Kaupa knew from childhood as a snot nosed coward that would keep fighting people. It was Telo’s doing telling the fellow child that he can’t be a part of the group if he doesn’t fight to prove his braveness.

He sat down at the table which contained cola, burgers and pizza. Princesses in fiction were supposed to drink tea and eat pastry but Princess Third, who did use to eat this way, met Kaylee Jones and fell in love with Earthling food.

Kaupa made conversation, he may have no friends but he wasn’t an incompetent socializer, until most of the people. Telo, Roschella, other independent powers scions and even some non-noble scouts.

‘Jane Fishbrook. Talented but also strictly neutral.’

“Everyone’s here except a few notables like Milyaa Mendeleyev.”

Princess Third started.

“Out adventuring it seems.”

“Very brave. Maybe wilful.”

A few of the independents shared their thoughts.

The table could be divided into the three behemoths and the neutrals.

Telo puffed out smoke and spoke.

“I’ll start with my bet, #1. 30 million twigs or one continental battleship.”

“#10, same bet.”

“Ballsy.”

Kaupa also abhorred this “Clarity” practice in the Nexus aristocracy. In his opinion, it was embarrassing how it bastardized the original tradition it was based off.

Back in the Age of Exploration, where the early pioneers of the Nexus numbering only tens first became popular among the Elves, a certain quality was found on those who were successful. Clarity of purpose and prowess amidst adversity became a bragging point.

A “clear” explorer was superior than “muddled” explorers. The hard to understand through modern lens phenomena evolved as all cultural phenomena does. Having “Clarity” was earned through fulfilling bets.

If one wanted to be known, an explorer must accomplish a near impossible bet with the most famous being Saucy Jack’s bet. He promised to enter the Demon Realm death field and return.

With countless spiritual beings’ intent on attacking everything in sigh, including their own, it was a death sentence for most. Instead, the double knife wielding Elf came back a month later with an archdemon’s head and its soul.

‘To preserve such tradition even when we are the ones to wipe out their race. It’s disgusting.’

When the Samar Federation was ousted by the three behemoths, there was a massive drive to cleanse all their influence. Twigs the currency was changed into three currency and thus it wasn’t changed. Architecture and history rewriting, all of it was endeavored to paint themselves in a better light and the two other power as evil but it all canceled itself out.

It would be incredibly naive to think that after winning against the Elves, they would not try to dominate it as a whole. The three rulers of the Nexus fought the Hidden war and ceasefire since it was too costly.

‘So, we come to this tradition.’

This party of sorts was a cheap way to promote peace amongst the younger generation. Just like studying in the same school and tutoring, it was all efforts to preserve the status quo since neither of the powers would profit from war.

‘If only we haven’t discovered, the New Lands.’

Near the borders of an infested frontier, lay new worlds in the Nexus and it connected to multiple undiscovered dimensions waiting for exploration. It was the perfect catalyst to destroy the fragile balance between the powers.

How could he not see this as a farce? These “Clarity” bets?

“I choose #730. Miss Jane’s candidate.”

“Are you courting her through this bet? Cause I also choose #730.”

There was a genuine uproar as no one truly believed that anyone would bet on the unproven. In their opinion, the Dream State Consciousness breakthrough story was fake hype to draw sympathetic viewers. It failed even since little people watched #730.

“I also bet on him.”

“Princess Third!”

Viscount Srag exclaimed.

“What are you trying to argue with me, little viscount?”

“But we have our own top ranked candidates.”

“That’s boring. Kaylee?”

“Choose Miner-8001 Princess.”

Telo interrupted.

“I think the Princess is wise in her humble willfulness. Why should we just choose the most optimal choice? I would like to change my candidate. I choose #348 Lee Sun Hee. Miss Jane, I think you made a great choice with your advisory candidates.”

“Look at this. Hitting on the talented scout.”

“Tsk. Tsk. Too skilled, I should’ve bet on one of her candidates too.”