Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 281: End of the Exhibition

Looking away, Oli sighed. His self-taught hatred for that dragon species began to fester as he needed to acknowledge their clear dominance.

“If you don’t know Korvik, that means he’ll be begging to spar.” Vant chuckled and got Oli’s attention, “Best be careful, or you might find yourself making a new friend and rival, whether you like it or not.”

“Thanks for the warning...” Oli laughed off the comment, glancing back at the proud dragon across the way.

The shortened intermission flew by, only slowed by Oli’s wandering thoughts. But very soon Lady Inka descended again, this time with Uutrai as well. Uutrai stepped to the side while Inka made the call. “Brak, Zelsh, it’s time to send in your final representatives.”

Unflinching, both Drogat and Tilgron leaped out of the stands. The tiger gracefully landed and growled. The dragon circled the arena from above before landing with a deep snicker.

“Do you have anything to say before we begin the final match?”

“No... I’m ready,” Tilgron replied, meekly bowing to the dragon.

.....

“You’d better show me a good time! That’s why I bothered coming,” claimed Drogat, still snickering.

“Then... you may begin.”

“I concede.”

“NOOO!!!”

“Are you sure?” Lord Zrand spoke up, looking down at Zelsh. “This is not some game for you to play, nor is this a chance to waste all of our time and effort.”

“I think we can all agree that Drogat is the superior beast,” Zelsh stated outright. “There’s no way for Tilgron to break through Drogat’s defenses, so what sort of fight can we expect? Why waste time delaying the inevitable?”

Brak roared, “How dare you disgrace me?! Each match, offering only empty words and promises with no backbone whatsoever!”

“Are you saying that Drogat will lose to Tilgron?”

“OF COURSE NOT!!”

“Then why are you complaining?” questioned Zelsh, showing a dissatisfied frown. “I recognize that your representative is stronger and more capable than mine. How is that disrespecting you? If anything, I’m offering my respect to Lord Zrand for acknowledging the insurmountable strength of his prefecture. Though I will do everything in my power to change the odds in three years, I can’t ignore the difference in power right now.”

“That’s...” Lord Zrand paused. He carefully looked back at Zelsh with a quizzical brow.

“Perhaps this is for the best,” speaking up, Lord Treeda joined the outspoken conversation.

Zrand squinted and eyed his rival prefecture lord. “Why is that?”

“What’s wrong with this outcome? You claim victory sooner and without injury or complication, a victory that many of us would agree was imminent. And my most loyal king has shown you preference, something that many other lords would strive to earn.”

“But–”

“Silence, Brak...” Holding out his hand, Lord Zrand shut up the dragon and eyed Lord Treeda carefully. “Hmm... And why should we allow this to be the end result? The point of the exhibition is to witness the strength of the other prefecture. Yet you’ve allowed him to surrender each time he’s about to face a true battle. Why?”

“Maybe I’ll call it learning from my predecessor?” responded Treeda. “You’ve acted mysteriously many times before. Or need I remind you of that man once again? Do you–”

“There’s no need to mention him.”

“Then stop acting as if you’ve never done the same in the past,” continued Treeda. “We’re simply testing your old strategy, one you were so adamant to use back in the day. Yet you deny us the same strategy. That’s inconsistent and disrespectful to your own thinking.”

“This scenario is not the same,” Zrand claimed.

But Treeda insisted, “Then explain your logic when you sheltered–”

“That won’t be necessary!” Irked and angered by Treeda’s prodding statements, Zrand sank into the back of his seat. “... If this is truly something you deem acceptable, a forfeit from your supposed ‘most loyal king’, then so be it...”

“Then the match is over. Brak is the ultimate victor.”

“Congratulations,” Tilgron stated, offering one final bow to the dragon.

But Drogat scoffed and turned tail. He immediately lost all interest in the tiger, not sparing even a glance. Flapping his wings, Drogat took off and landed back in the stands, still refusing to look back at the arena.

“With the exhibition over, I see no reason to remain here any longer,” stated Lord Zrand, clicking his tongue.

Treeda nodded and agreed, “Then let’s be off.”

Those were the final words between the prefecture lords. No thanks or congratulations were in order and no warnings or threats were necessary either. They simply got up and leaped into the arena, landing by their aides.

Waiting for her turn, Treeda allowed Lord Zrand and Lady Inka to descend the stairs first. The kings of Tempest Prefecture followed suit, also speechless. Though the kings still offered bows to Lord Treeda as they passed, Brak’s was swift and over the quickest as he avoided all sights that may involve Zelsh.

Once everyone in Tempest had begun their descent to the spacious courtyard outside of the colosseum, Lord Treeda led her kings as well, followed by their representatives. By the time Lord Treeda and Uutrai reached the bottom of the stairs, they got one last look at Lord Zrand and those of Tempest. The prefecture lords shared a respectful bow once more before Zrand and Lady Inka teleported away.

Then, one by one, the different regions of tempest took their turn through the formation. Very quickly, they had all vanished.

Still not speaking, Treeda led every one of her Shadow-toxic Prefecture toward the formation. She then activated the formation and patiently waited for her people on the other side with an emotionless expression.

And to Zelsh’s utter surprise, Lord Treeda immediately made an announcement the moment the final region returned to Jeminine’s palace.

“Regardless of the outcome, we performed quite well today. Many of your representatives shined for us all to see, and I wish to thank you all for such a marvelous effort. As a show of my gratitude, let’s do something that would normally be unconventional. Let us all join Zelsh for a celebratory meal and dine on the finest cuisine our prefecture has to offer!”