The deafening cheers swept through the entire venue. The audience's passion seemed intense enough to ignite the sky, causing the ground beneath to tremble slightly.
Spotlights suddenly converged, and Daziel's figure, bathed in the dazzling brilliance, slowly materialized. His expression was calm, his steps firm, as he walked steadily towards the center of the ring.
"Daziel! Daziel! Daziel!"
Thanks to his astounding performance in the previous matches, Daziel had already captured considerable popularity. A tsunami of shouts erupted instantly, making eardrums buzz, almost threatening to blow the roof off the entire dome.
March 7th's voice came clearly from the crowd, carrying a hint of playfulness and excitement.
"Daziel, go for it! After this final match, we'll head back to the Astral Express and get married!"
Hearing this, Daziel's steps faltered abruptly. His body stumbled, and he nearly lost his composure under the watchful eyes of the massive crowd. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. He helplessly turned back to glare at March 7th, his eyes filled with a bit of reproach, but mostly resignation.
That girl… she's definitely doing this on purpose!
She knows about that meme!
March 7th stuck out her tongue and scratched her head sheepishly, showing absolutely no sign of remorse. She'd probably dare to do it again next time... even if she got dragged to bed for some harsh "discipline," she'd still dare!
The venue's broadcast system crackled to life just then, the announcer's enthusiastic voice igniting the crowd's passion like wildfire.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the thrilling moment has finally arrived! The final match of this Aetherium Wars Interastral Tournament Festival will feature the highly anticipated rising star, Daziel, against—the mysterious and unpredictable reigning champion, Sparkle!"
Accompanying the announcer's booming voice, a young girl dressed in a kimono appeared on the arena floor.
Her fiery red kimono seemed open on all sides, revealing snow-white thighs above slender, pale feet. Her ten small toes were rounded and cute, adorned with alluring red nail polish. Unlike the thunderous cheers for Daziel, the audience's reaction to this new champion was somewhat lukewarm. Only a scattering of spectators, drawn in by Sparkle's cute and delicate appearance, offered some slightly awkward sounds of support.
After all, this current champion had never had any match recordings released before; it was as if she had appeared out of thin air. Naturally, her popularity couldn't compare to the previous champion, Director Topaz of the IPC's Strategic Investment Department.
Sparkle seemed unfazed by the cold reception. Instead, she looked around with great interest, tilting her head slightly and sighing softly.
"Oh dear, it seems I'm not very popular. I wanted everyone's cheers too."
Daziel's gaze sharpened, locking onto Sparkle before him, his tone carrying a hint of probing and vigilance.
"Miss Sparkle, I really want to ask, what exactly is your purpose here? You know about the Belobog meme..."
Hearing this, the corners of Sparkle's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a playful smile.
"I do know that some strange meme broke out in Belobog. I even know that Giovanni tampered with the Aether Spirit he gave me. But what does that matter?" She paused, a peculiar glint flashing in her eyes, and continued in a light, airy tone, "Is it so bad if my body becomes strange? I actually find it quite fun..."
Daziel frowned slightly, glancing at Sparkle with a hint of disdain in his voice.
"Well, aren't you quite the deviant little thing."
Sparkle giggled, the sound like tinkling silver bells, yet carrying an elusive quality. She paid no mind to Daziel's slightly insulting remark.
"Say whatever you like. As for my purpose... I simply wanted to see what the savior Aha personally took an interest in looks like. After all, I respect Him greatly, you know? Of course, I had to come and give you some special attention."
As she spoke, Sparkle deliberately or unintentionally moved closer to Daziel, emanating a faint, captivating aura.
Daziel instinctively took half a step back, increasing the distance between them, his eyes full of alertness.
"I highly doubt a woman like you has any good intentions. You respect Aha? Do you think I believe a word you say?"
Seeing this, a flicker of disappointment crossed Sparkle's eyes, like a child whose prank had been discovered. But she quickly recovered her charming smile as if the disappointment had been a mere illusion. "Looks like you know me quite well. How about this? Beat me first, then we'll talk. If you win, can't you do whatever you want to me? Make me spill my purpose while being humiliatingly... entered. Don't you want to see that?"
Sparkle's words were filled with provocation and blatant suggestiveness.
Hearing this, a flash of disgust appeared in Daziel's eyes, and his tone hardened.
"You woman... Tsk, you really are dangerously messed up. A typical virgin boy wouldn't stand a chance against your act. Unfortunately for you, you ran into me!" His tone was firm, brimming with confidence, declaring he would absolutely not be swayed by Sparkle's charms. After all, I've been with so many women, what kind of situation haven't I seen? Using this to test a cadre? Which cadre couldn't withstand such a test?
"Aww, how boring. Since it's like that, let's settle things with an Aetherium War!"
Seeing his reaction, though Sparkle verbally expressed disappointment, the charming smile on her face didn't fade in the slightest. Instead, it grew even more intense, surpassing its previous brilliance.
Both simultaneously raised the Aether Coins in their hands, the cold metallic sheen glinting under the arena's dazzling lights.
The announcer's voice boomed again, beating like a war drum against everyone's heart, instantly pushing the atmosphere to its peak.
"It seems both contenders are ready! Then, I declare, the final match of this Aetherium Wars Interastral Tournament Festival Championship—"
The Aether Coin was tossed high into the air, tracing a graceful arc before falling.
"—Officially begins!"
The announcer's voice fell like a starting gun, instantly igniting the entire arena. Every spectator held their breath, eyes locked firmly on the center of the ring.
Daziel took a deep breath, his gaze instantly becoming sharp. He swung his hand forcefully, his deep voice echoing across the arena: "Come forth, Mother of Deception!"
Amidst a blinding radiance, a colossal figure rose abruptly, shrouding the entire ring in a piercing white light as an icy chill instantly permeated the air. The Mother of Deception stood proudly on the ring, her long silver hair dancing wildly in an unseen cold wind, radiating a heart-palpitating pressure.
"It's a Lord-level Aether Spirit! Mother of Deception! We're saved!"
"How can you possibly lose with Mother of Deception leading the charge?!"
"Guys, I've already found doujins of Daziel and Mother of Deception online!"
"Gah! Don't say it! I don't wanna see!"
The spectator stands were instantly drowned in deafening cheers, exploding like rolling thunder throughout the entire arena. After several previous intense battles, the Mother of Deception, with her overwhelming power and cold, stunning appearance, had accumulated unshakable popularity.
Sparkle gazed with rapt attention at the enormous silver behemoth before her, as if admiring a fine piece of art. Her crimson tongue lightly licked her lower lip, the depths of her eyes shimmering with irrepressible excitement.
"My, my, truly magnificent. A Lord-level Aether Spirit... However, you aren't naive enough to think you're the only one who has one, are you?" Her fingertips deftly played with the Aether Coin in her hand, her charming voice echoing through the clamorous arena: "Hey, let me show you something. This Lord-level Aether Spirit stuff? I have one too, you know. Just grabbed it casually last time I visited the Herta Space Station. Nothing too rare, really."
Before her words faded, the ground trembled again, even more violently than before, as if some terrifying interstellar behemoth was about to break through the earth. The entire venue shook.
Under the shocked, almost stunned gazes of everyone present, a gigantic monster, no smaller in stature than the Mother of Deception, slowly appeared on the ring.
It was a fearsome, terrifying behemoth. Its savage form exuded an oppressive aura, its entire body radiating the heart-stopping Path of Destruction, starkly different from the icy chill emanating from the Mother of Deception. What the Doomsday Beast brought was pure destructive desire and a suffocating sense of despair.
"How is that possible?! This Sparkle... actually possesses an Aether Spirit of this level too! And it's... the Doomsday Beast?!"
"Heavens! Are my eyes deceiving me? Now... now this is going to be a real show!"
"Alright! This is fantastic! This is a true clash of titans!"
The spectator stands erupted in an uproar, like boiling water. Everyone was completely stunned by this sudden, earth-shattering turn of events. Their shock wasn't entirely surprising. The Doomsday Beast was forged by the Antimatter Legion using fragments of an ancient twilight beast as a base and the myriad grievances of the Warforge as a catalyst. The lingering obsessions of resentful spirits formed tangible hands, and the disastrous shadows of bygone days coalesced into a tail that could eclipse the heavens. Ordinary people had indeed never witnessed a monster of this magnitude.
Daziel's expression turned grave. He stared intently at the Doomsday Beast before him, feeling an unprecedented pressure. Although the Doomsday Beast was a pushover in the game, here, the sense of intimidation it radiated was tangible and real.
"Interesting. I caught the Mother of Deception, Sparkle caught the Doomsday Beast..." Daziel muttered to himself, a hint of gravity in his eyes. Since I could defeat a Doomsday Beast once at the space station, fighting it again in Aetherium Wars shouldn't be too hard, right?
He waved his hand again, tossing out Aether Coins, and commanded in a deep voice, "Topaz! Asta!"
Two flashes of light appeared. A plump Trotter leaped out, followed closely by a Star-Shattering Warp Cannon that materialized mid-air, floating steadily beside the Mother of Deception.
"Hmph, hmph!" Topaz, transformed into the Trotter, snorted, seemingly eager to avenge Sparkle for stealing her championship title.
Asta, embodied as the Warp Cannon, crackled with ferocious arcs of electricity at its muzzle. Powerful energy rapidly accumulated, emitting a heart-stopping hum.
Daziel's eyes narrowed. He initiated the attack, his low voice echoing across the arena, each word filled with power and momentum.
"Mother of Deception, Call of the Frigid Prowler!"
The Mother of Deception swung its massive arms, its long silver hair whipping wildly in the unseen energy fluctuations. Countless sharp ice lances materialized out of thin air, carrying a bone-chilling cold as they rained down upon the Doomsday Beast.
"Hmph, attacking with such stats? Aren't you a little too naive?" Sparkle's lips curled into a disdainful smile, her eyes filled with mockery, as if watching a foregone conclusion. "Doomsday Beast, Antimatter Engine Cannon!"
The Doomsday Beast opened the dark matter core on its chest. A black beam condensed with destructive energy, like a death ray from the depths of hell, erupted violently, colliding head-on with the sky full of ice lances.
BOOM!
A tremendous explosion, like a world-shaking clap of thunder, instantly resounded through the arena, making eardrums ring. Ice shards and black energy light scattered everywhere like countless tiny blades slicing through the air. The entire ring vibrated violently, threatening to collapse at any moment.
"Piggy, don't just stand there! Rocket Hammer!" Daziel seized the fleeting opportunity, decisively pressing the purple 'mood' button and commanding the Trotter-Topaz to attack.
The Trotter's form trembled, its four hooves suddenly pushing off with force. Its round body shot forward like a cannonball fired from its restraints, instantly transforming into a blazing streak of fire as it slammed fiercely into the Doomsday Beast's torso.
"Useless. My stats are higher than yours. Left Hand of Dawning!" Sparkle's voice remained relaxed and carefree, as if everything was under control.
The Doomsday Beast's left hand shone with an eerie black light, like a demonic claw from the abyss, easily blocking the Trotter's powerful impact.
"Asta, Star-Shattering Warp Cannon!" Daziel pressed on, undeterred.
Asta, transformed into the cannon, emitted a dazzling light. A thick beam of energy, powerful enough to destroy a fleet of starships, blasted towards the Doomsday Beast.
"Right Hand of Havoc!"
The Doomsday Beast let out a low roar. Its right claw swiped fiercely, and a sturdy barrier condensed from black energy instantly appeared, like a giant black hole, completely absorbing the Warp Cannon's attack energy without causing even a ripple.
"How is this possible?!" Daziel's heart lurched in shock. He could feel that Sparkle's Doomsday Beast had stats at least double, possibly even higher, than his Mother of Deception.
"Vestiges of the Ancient Beast!" Sparkle giggled delightedly. The Doomsday Beast threw its head back and roared. A visible shockwave of immense power radiated outwards from its massive body like a tsunami. The Mother of Deception, the Trotter, and the Warp Cannon were like leaves in a gale before this terrifying shockwave, instantly knocked back. Their HP plummeted, hitting rock bottom in the blink of an eye, their situation perilous.
"Sparkle's Aether Spirit... its stats have been specially modified! No wonder Herta and Topaz said something felt off when they fought her..." Daziel stared at the bratty Sparkle before him, gritting his teeth. His face became incredibly grim, cold sweat dripping from his temples.
My opponent is cheating! How the hell am I supposed to fight this? He'd run into a bratty vixen whose Aether Spirit was monstrously strong, impossible to defeat even going all out!
"Oh my, you found out so quickly? As expected of the savior chosen by prophecy. Your observation skills are indeed sharp." Sparkle watched Daziel's predicament with a smiling face, her tone light and teasing, as if enjoying a spectacular show. "But, so what if you found out? Go on, report me to the Corporation!"
Sparkle controlled the Doomsday Beast, pressing forward step by step. Each advance of its massive body carried immense force, and every attack held destructive power, creating overwhelming pressure. Daziel clenched his jaw, directing the Mother of Deception, Trotter, and Warp Cannon in a tenacious resistance. But facing the significantly boosted Doomsday Beast, all counterattacks seemed feeble and ineffective. The Mother of Deception's ice lances were easily shattered, the Trotter's Rocket Hammer couldn't breach the beast's defense, and the Warp Cannon's attacks were completely absorbed.
"Mother of Deception, our last hope! Omen of Aeons' End!"
Cocolia's—the Mother of Deception's—HP flickered like a candle in the wind. Daziel had reached his limit. He decided to risk everything, unleashing the Mother of Deception's ultimate skill.
The Mother of Deception radiated a dazzling white light. The surrounding temperature plummeted, transforming the entire ring into a world of ice and snow. Countless ice crystals frantically condensed in the air, converging into a colossal torrent of extreme cold that swept towards the Doomsday Beast.
"It's useless. Your final resistance?" Sparkle chuckled lightly. "Doomsday Beast, Antimatter Engine... Full Power Output!"
The Doomsday Beast once again opened the dark matter core on its chest. This time, what erupted wasn't just a beam of black energy, but a swirling vortex of energy distorted like a black hole – thicker, more violent than before, containing terrifying power capable of swallowing everything. It collided ferociously with the frigid torrent unleashed by the Mother of Deception's full strength.
BOOM!
An explosion, louder and more shocking than any before, instantly tore through the arena's tranquility. The deafening roar threatened to rupture eardrums. The entire venue seemed on the verge of being torn apart by the horrific energy impact. Ice crystals and black energy clashed and annihilated each other violently, emitting a teeth-grinding screech. Ultimately, the frigid torrent, containing the Mother of Deception's entire power, was mercilessly engulfed by the black energy vortex, dissipating completely into nothingness.
The Mother of Deception let out a mournful cry, its colossal body collapsing with a boom. Its massive form slammed heavily onto the ring, creating a dull thud and sending countless fractured ice crystals flying. The Trotter and the Warp Cannon also lost their energy support, dissipating into two dim flickers of light, leaving behind an empty, devastated ring.
Daziel knelt on one knee, panting heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat. Only now did he realize that this game indeed had defeat CGs... No wonder those women he defeated earlier seemed utterly drained of stamina afterward. It was an subconscious, compulsory reaction. Although it wouldn't have substantial physical effects, it was… Too damn humiliating! This is practically a public execution!
He lifted his head, looking at the Doomsday Beast, whose health bar had barely dropped, his eyes filled with unwillingness and helplessness.
"You... lost, you know." Sparkle chuckled, walking up to Daziel and looking down at him.
The announcer's voice rang out again, declaring the match's result—
"...The winner is Sparkle! The reigning champion successfully defends her title!"
Spotlights, accompanied by a shower of golden confetti, slanted down.
Staff members, wearing professional smiles, quickly ascended the ring, still hazy with the smoke of battle. One held a gleaming medal inlaid with Geomarrow, a specialty of Belobog – the symbol of championship glory.
"Congratulations, Miss Sparkle. This is the championship medal specially prepared for you by the Corporation, recognizing your outstanding performance in this Aetherium Wars tournament." The staff member's voice carried a hint of official, formulaic politeness as they presented the medal to Sparkle.
"Eh? For me? Thank you, thank you! I'm deeply honored. This is all thanks to my own hard work." Sparkle blinked, her eyelashes fluttering, as if only just noticing the medal, her tone exaggeratedly surprised. She reached out with slender white fingers, lightly taking the medal, her fingertips brushing almost imperceptibly against its cool surface. Then, she carefully pinned it to her exquisite lapel. The series of actions was fluid and natural, yet carried an subtle element of performance.
Daziel watched Sparkle's over-the-top acting from the side, the corner of his eye twitching uncontrollably. This damn brat, he cursed inwardly, her desire to perform is way too strong! She's treating the audience like fools!
However, something else annoyed him even more. As soon as this was over, he absolutely had to, immediately, find that Giovanni fellow and settle accounts properly. How dare he conceal such crucial information! Although he knew Sparkle's Aether Spirit stats were abnormal, he hadn't expected them to be this outrageous. It was simply off the charts. He had originally thought that no matter how strong Sparkle's spirit was, it would at most be on par with the Mother of Deception, allowing him to hold his own... Who could have imagined the Doomsday Beast's stats were more than doubled? How was he supposed to fight that?
Inside the arena, after a brief silence, a scattering of boos suddenly broke out. The sound wasn't loud, but clearly audible, jarringly out of place in what should have been the champion's moment of celebration. Mixed within the boos were indignant voices complaining about the unfairness towards Daziel and questioning Sparkle's Aether Spirit stats. Very few voices were actually cheering for Sparkle.
Sparkle seemed completely unfazed by the noise. With a poised demeanor, she turned to the audience, a brilliant smile on her lips, and gave an elegant bow. Her clear voice rang through the venue.
"Thank you! Thank you, everyone! This truly is the result of my diligent training, sweat, and relentless effort! Not a single boosted stat, all hard work and sweat, okay!" She deliberately emphasized "hard work" and "sweat," each word like a sharp nail aimed precisely at the doubting voices. Yet, the inescapable undertone of mockery in her words grew even thicker, as if blatantly taunting everyone about the truth they all suspected.
The staff member approached again, looking even more troubled. The professional smile had become somewhat stiff, their voice tinged with unconcealable difficulty. "Miss Champion, according to procedure, there's a special post-match interview session next. If you would..."
Sparkle waved her hand dismissively, her tone light and casual. "Oh my, I'm so sorry, but I have more important matters to attend to right now. Could you please cancel the post-match interview for me?"
The staff member's face instantly became even uglier, beads of sweat forming on their forehead, their voice stuttering. "Th-this... this might not be appropriate... It's an official interview arranged by the Corporation, and all the major media outlets have been waiting..."
Sparkle shrugged nonchalantly, her delicate face showing utter indifference. "There's nothing inappropriate about it. Just tell them the Champion has urgent business and won't be interviewed. Simple as that. I have more important things to do right now. If there's a problem, just have JOJO handle it. Oh, right, JOJO is that sponsor of yours, Giovanni..."
As she spoke, Sparkle walked straight towards the kneeling Daziel, grabbed his collar, and effortlessly hauled him up from the ground. The roughness of the action starkly contrasted with her sweet appearance.
Daziel instinctively tried to resist, his muscles tensing instantly. However, an invisible force clamped down on his body like heavy shackles, rendering him immobile. It seemed the power of these rules far exceeded his imagination.
This is the post-victory 'mounting' phase. The system had told Daziel from the start: whoever lost an Aetherium War against him would be topped...
Daziel had once confidently declared that he would never lose! He never expected to actually lose in the finals to a cheat with modified stats... This is outrageous! Could it be? Would his first experience being topped not be with a gentle older woman, but with this brat, Sparkle? For Daziel, wasn't this a form of humiliation?
You can't... mustn't... do this!
NO!!!
"Let's go, Lord Savior. We have important business to attend to."
While Daziel's inner voice screamed in despair, Sparkle had already closed the distance between them. She leaned down slightly, her exquisite face close to Daziel's ear, her breath warm like orchids, her eyes fixed on the bulge below his waist.
"Hehehe, I'm going to eat your baseball bat!"
___
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