Divine Beast Ascension

551 Starting the Party with a Fight

*F*ck!* Oli’s mind started racing before he could realize it. *Netra, I can’t have you giving me away again… Why else would you choose my table? Please just… Why my table? Why not confront me in private?!*

In response to Oli’s verbal jab, Netra kept her cool and nodded. “In some ways, you’re right. It’s easier for me to gather essence and build up my core. In other ways, things are far harder for me. Do understand the pressure and meaning behind God Toseko coming to visit your city just to claim you as his personal subordinate? Do you understand what it feels like to tell a god no while you’re only an elder?”

Kako’s eyes were swelling and pushing back his eyelids. He was too shocked to say anything.

Oli inhaled and exhaled before nodding. “I see… You’re right. There are different difficulties and challenges that you have to face. I’m sorry for overstepping my bounds, Netra.”

“I accept your apology.”

A wave of people walked to each table and served a platter of finger foods as appetizers, such as little eggrolls with dipping sauces and slices of fried pork sandwiches. They also brought a tray of assorted drinks.

Kako snatched a handful and devoured them with greed. His smile was enormous as he went back for more. “These are amazing!”

“We’re lucky to have Master Ania and Leader Bradok to share their culinary expertise,” Netra commented. “I recently heard that we’ll be opening a culinary institute as well, and that we’re recruiting the most prominent chefs money can persuade to join the cause.”

“That’s interesting. I’ve never heard of a culinary school before,” stated Oli, lying through his teeth while thinking back to his first life.

.....

“I was lucky enough to have Master Ania teach me personally, though I’m still just learning,” Netra sighed, paying attention to how ‘Oliver’ reacted to everything she said. “What about you, Oliver? Are you interested in a woman that can cook?”

PFFFT!! Cough! COUGH!

Kako sprayed his mouthful of drink all over the table and the appetizers. But he was glad he wasn’t in the middle of eating, like Oli. In a coughing fit, Oli forcefully dislodged a bite of sandwich from his throat.

Hurriedly thinking of how best to reply, Oli chuckled, “Well… Netra, if I was still naive, I would’ve thought you were hitting on me just now.”

Realizing how she sounded only after someone else pointed it out, Netra blushed and shrunk back slightly. “O-Oh… Sorry. I didn’t… I-I don’t even know you, I don’t think. Unless… Unless you’re the man… the type of man I think you are…”

Netra was visibly flustered for all to see and Oli cursed himself for causing such a reaction.

Kako, on the other hand, read all the signals the same way most spectators would. “Seriously? You’re interested in a human as a mate? I’ve never seen that before!”

Blinking, Netra replied, “Well… perhaps that’s because I have perfect affinity. So long as I survive long enough, becoming a king cultivator is only a matter of time. And if I were to take human form then… I could technically be with anyone I want.”

“Oh yeah! I’m so sorry!” Kako got up from his seat just to bow to the fox girl. “That was rude and inconsiderate of me.”

Netra nodded. She knew that she still wasn’t used to conversing with and including herself in groups. For most of her life, Netra had always been a loner under her mother’s caring but protective influence. It was only after joining Iron Academy and becoming a perfect candidate that Netra was forced to take up basic decorum in social settings. And it was always a struggle for her, especially because she would rather spend her time with a few select friends or family members instead of at social events.

To escape her nervousness and awkwardness, Netra turned her attention to the food. But she realized instantly that the platter of appetizers was now covered in Kako’s spittle.

“I’M SO SORRY!” Kako got up again when he saw Nelphy subconsciously leer at the spoiled food. “Please, forgive me!”

“Waiter, can we get a new tray please?”

While Kako was pulled away from his sorry bow and Netra was pulled out of her reactionary stupor, Oli was already flagging down a server. Before Kako or Netra could say anything else, the spoiled tray was taken away and would be replaced shortly.

“Um, thanks for taking care of that, Oliver,” said Netra.

“There’s no need to thank me. It’s not just you that wants fresh, clean food,” Oli commented.

In the back of his mind, Oli thought *Yeah… She definitely suspects me to be ‘Oli’. I mean, she’s not wrong, but can’t she just save this for a more private moment?*

‘Are you saying that you don’t find it endearing for her to care about you still being alive and being able to see you again?’

‘Of course that’s endearing!’ Oli mentally scoffed in reply. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to talk with her, but I’m afraid that she’ll try and give me away like she tried in the past... Eeole?!’

Oli failed to hide his physical shock while telepathically tapping into the mind link Oli had been missing for suns. Both Kako and Netra noticed a flash of shock spread across Oli’s face only to see it disappear into Oli’s neutral expression when they blinked. It happened so quickly that both Netra and Kako thought their eyes were tricking them, convincing them to sip their drink and recenter themselves before continuing the conversation.

But Oli was ecstatic to finally hear back from Eeole. ‘That’s you, right?’

‘Who else could infiltrate a place filled with kings without a single one of them noticing?’ Eeole mentally chuckled. ‘I won’t be back for long, but I thought I would congratulate you on making it through the provincial qualifier before sending you on another errand.’

‘Errand? What do you mean?’ Oli asked.

‘I’ll explain later tonight. For now, focus on your friends and just enjoy the night without giving yourself away. That means no soul arts in front of the people of Iron Town!’ Eeole reminded before going quiet.

“I think it’s time we got the party started! Don’t you think so, Rhyner?” Zelsh laughed while holding a goblet of wine in one hand and slapping his former subordinate’s back with the other.

Nodding and laughing, Rhyner stood up before looking over all the tables. “Mortal candidates, before we serve dinner, we’re going to put on a small show. Or to be more clear, some of you will be putting on a show.

“Each of us kings will select our most powerful candidate present, one by one. As an example, I’ll be choosing Netra, my region’s perfect candidate. You candidates will then raise your hands if you’re willing to face Netra, letting King Zelsh and King Sardin choose from among the volunteers who will be her opponents. It will then be a free-for-all between the three combatants where the only rule is to not kill or attempt to kill each other. And the match ends when either the candidates surrender or we kings have gotten enough entertainment to call it off.

“... Since there are no questions,” Rhyner continued, raising his hand to Netra, “Netra, will you please take the stage first.”

Netra was swept up in a rush of relief. This allowed her to leave the awkwardness of the table behind and just do what she had been training to do, fight. It made for great stress relief and was a chance to either prove herself or gain necessary experience.

Once Netra was standing at the center of the arena, King Sardin smiled. “Which of my candidates would like to experience a fight against a perfect candidate?”

Every candidate threw their hand up without any reservation.

Ingall Sardin expected this. Of course, he already knew exactly who he wanted to join the fight. “Kako. Go have some fun, and remember to not dishonor your clan.”

“Yes, King Sardin!”

All smiles, Kako was also elated to run away from the table. That way, everyone at the table would be able to restart their interactions smoothly. Plus, Kako got exactly what he wanted, a chance to experience a perfect candidate without the consequences of being eliminated from the tournament.

While Kako leaped into the ring, Zelsh laughed, “Who’s up next?!”

Almost everyone from Rot Region raised their arms, beast or not. Almost everyone. The only person who didn’t raise his hand was Oli.

But either Zelsh didn’t notice or he didn’t care, because Zelsh laughed and sent Yeter into the ring.

“Finally!” Yeter whinnied while running in circles for a few seconds. “Are you ready, Netra? We finally get a rematch!”

Sighing, Netra shook her head with a slight smile. “Yeter… You act like we weren’t sparring just a few months ago.”

“But now I can face you head-on and you won’t stop me this time! I’ll finally win!”

“You say that every time, Yeter,” Netra chuckled and looked to Kako. “You two will be on a team in the prefecture round, correct? Then you should use this chance to work together and face me.”