Chapter 547: Departures Across Deadwaste

Kai had been in a lot of tight situations in his time, but usually had a fair amount of control over them. No matter how much fate stood in his way, no matter how overwhelming his opponents might be, at least he could fight himself. Now the competition with Yuinafal would be decided by the Irunian trainees and he could only watch.

Omilaena had been taking point on this, and that made the most sense. He trusted her - he'd married her, after all - and this was her area of expertise. Still, he worried.

It was difficult not to bring down the mood as they were teleported around the continent. His students were jubilant with their new power, going forward into exciting new training opportunities, while he had to keep fighting the more subtle battles that let them advance like that. He wondered if this was how Gunjin and the other older hunters felt.

"Your training is up to you now," Kai told them. "We've given you the tools you need to succeed, you just have to seize them. I might check up on you before the incursion, but I need to focus on my own training from now on."

Everyone nodded in agreement, then they were off.

They left Ankrastor first, since he was going for training in a Frontier city - not only had he taken to his Class, he'd seemed to fall in love with Goralia in general, thriving in an environment without long lineages like his home in the Elemental Nations. At the moment he was showing off his new flame combinations, and Kai checked his soul while he did.

<

Name: Ankrastor of the Undertow

Total Power: 250

Flameborn: Twiceburned (109)

Novice Firebrand Class: 9 (9)

Physique: E-9 (107)

Soul Level: 5 (25)

>

Even though Ankrastor's efforts to reach D rank Physique hadn't worked, he had an even 250 Power, which was primed to spike rapidly. More importantly, he'd awakened a "Firebrand" class that allowed him to manifest flame in more permanent forms. Unlike so many fire-users who shot great beams of fire, he used it in liquid and solid forms, so Kai was interested to see what he'd make of it.

"I'll be fighting here," Ankrastor said at the last second. "Thank you, Kai. I'll give my life to defend your home, if I must."

"Try to make the monsters give their lives instead." Kai put a hand on his shoulder, then stepped back. "Good luck."

Next they were returning to Krysal, but the elite helping them teleport needed a moment to refocus. Untariin took the opportunity to show off his new abilities as well, his knives leaping and dancing around in midair.

<

Name: Untariin of Cuulisi

Total Power: 274

Crystal Cultivation: 9999 (125)

Novice Rogue Class: 6 (6)

Physique: E-9 (107)

Soul Level: 6 (36)

>

He had awakened a "Rogue" Class, which had offended his noble sensibilities at first, but the Krysali man had changed his mind. It seemed to synergize well with his crystal knives, giving them even greater agility in the air. If he managed the mobility skills that Kai had seen similar hunters use, he'd quickly become a force to be reckoned with.

On the other hand, when they reached the other side, he wasn't nearly as optimistic as Ankrastor.

"Are you sure I have to stay in Krysal?" Untariin asked. "I was never exactly popular here, and from what I've heard, they've only gotten more violent."

"You can refuse," Kai said, "but I think it's the right path for you. There are a lot of new Krysali developments that might help, and crystal cultivation is still the bulk of your strength. Just lie low with our allies and Zae Zin Nim will be back to train you in time."

For the moment, however, she was actually leaving with him. Zae Zin Nim arrived, briefly nodding at the students and the elite before attaching herself to his arm. They hadn't spent much time together due to their separated training, except one night that Omilaena had insisted on, so her presence was welcome.

"I'll train whoever you suggest," Zae Zin Nim said, "but it's important to support Omilaena."

"I don't disagree, that's why we're here." Kai glanced back to the Windborn elite. "Ready?"

Their next portal took them back to Irun, though not to Tusquo's home or the competition grounds. Instead they went to the home of another elite Kai hadn't seen in some time: Talndim Bundrin. He had an Advanced Class, so he could help Kifaela adjust to hers, plus his unusual path might help her fuse her abilities together.

After polite greetings, Kifaela demonstrated her abilities, both for Kai and so Talndim could see what he had to work with. She'd unlocked a "Tideblade" Class, and though it hadn't advanced far, her Physique made it easy for her to be dangerous with it.

<

Name: Kifaela

Total Power: 255

Naiad Essence: 8 (1)

Plague Artisan: Quartz Rank (15)

Novice Tideblade Class: 4 (4)

Physique: D-2 (210)

Soul Level: 5 (25)

>

He noted that she'd begun to grow her chakra as a Plague Artisan as well, yet there had been no massive leaps. Kifaela had started as one of the strongest students, but as the others developed abilities and especially caught up in Physique, she would fall behind. Hopefully this training would stabilize her new abilities and give her the growth she wanted.

"Is Omilaena going to want to draw more blood from me?" she asked.

"She hasn't figured out her problem yet," Kai said, "so probably. Is that a problem?"

"No, I just wanted to ask."

"Good, because that was part of why we stationed you here. Anyway, you don't have to fight in Irun, but think about it, because they could use more warriors with alternate abilities. We'll catch up to you later."

Kifaela nodded and went with Talndim, so now it was only Kai and Zae Zin Nim being transported. They returned to Tusquo's home, only to find it empty - apparently all their transportation had taken too much time and so they'd already left. The elite sighed, but managed one more trip, this time taking them to the arena outside the capital of Irun.

One day Kai wanted to visit Irun City, even though he heard that the capital was as predictable as its name. That wouldn't be today, however, not with the competition looming. Somehow it had been a month already, so it was the midpoint to the elites determining which path they would pursue in Irun. They'd gained very little information about Yuinafal's plans up to this point, so they were going in blind with only their own preparations.

This wasn't going to be a grand event with a crowd in a huge stadium - the elites didn't do things that way, even when they were forced to a direct competition. In fact, when Kai got a look at the bland rectangular arena, it looked much less dramatic than the rings for the phase trial. Just a blank Irunian plaza in order to determine the results of all their tests.

Admittedly, as he got closer he saw that it wasn't quite that simple. There were benches along two of the sides for spectators and the walls on the other two sides had seats along the top - all empty, of course, since this was not meant to be a public spectacle.

Kai actually caught a glimpse of their opponents before anyone else: there was a group of Irunians marching from the city with Yuinafal at their head. He tried to examine their souls and immediately hit a shroud - some sort of obscuration from Yuinafal himself. Beyond that, all he could sense was strong vibes of chakra and metal, which told him next to nothing.

Yuinafal smiled directly at him from across the distance, as if he had noticed, and turned away.

It looked like the opposing Irunians were filing into a space on one side of the arena, which suggested Kai's side was on the other. Zae Zin Nim was already tugging on his sleeve, trying to get him to go that way - ah, others had noticed. Three people had emerged atop the other wall: Omilaena, Tusquo, and Quinta.

The Irunian couple stood in somber silence, while Omilaena gave them a cheerful wave. An Irunian official emerged to show them stairs, but Zae Zin Nim ignored him to simply hop up to the top of the wall, so Kai joined her. It looked like there were seats for Irunian VIPs, though no one was sitting in them yet.

"Observers are welcome," Tusquo said, "I only remind you that no one is permitted to interfere in any way."

"That would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?" Kai shrugged as if the idea had never occurred to him, even though he couldn't vouch for Yuinafal and he suspected Omilaena had at least considered it. Hopefully everyone was on the same page, setting ego aside to truly strengthen Irun.

To his surprise, Quinta regarded him seriously and may even have given a nod. Then again, there could have been wind in her hair and he just imagined the nod, as she was certainly examining him. No, actually all three of them, her dark eyes flicking between them as they approached.

"Glad you're here," Omilaena said, her casual tone belaying the tension in her shoulders. She kissed first Kai, then Zae Zin Nim. "How today goes will have a huge effect on the next month."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Zae Zin Nim asked. She latched onto Omilaena's arm, holding her as if she could keep her from going away.

"Afraid not. There aren't any fancy rules that could be gamed, and they resisted the impulse to turn it into an elaborate event. Looks like it'll be a short and brutal contest."

"No matter what happens, I doubt our support will change," Kai pointed out. "So we stay focused on the long term."

"It's easy to say that, but I feel like the elites have been glaring at me every time I teleport around lately." Omilaena sighed and then embraced them both again before pulling away. "Okay, I should go. We'll reconvene after it's done."

Then she vaulted over the side in a flash of skirts, off to go talk to her Irunian recruits. Kai belatedly wished that he had spent more time with the Irunian trainees, as he could surely have increased their Physique or Soul Levels a little, which would matter in a direct contest. Then again, to do that he would have had to sacrifice either his own progress or working with his students, and there was only so much time left.

Those thoughts evaporated as Kai looked to their seats... and saw that Quinta was definitely glaring now. He'd never seen her so actively hostile. Unfortunately, he'd been paying attention entirely to his wives while they were together, so he hadn't noticed when her expression changed. Surely it couldn't be something as simple as disapproving of Omilaena's lascivious behavior.

In any case, Tusquo was ignoring the tension and waving for them to sit down. So Kai and Zae Zin Nim took their seats over the bleak courtyard, just as a steel horn was sounded and the Irunian soldiers took to the field.