Triiffic-Soul: Can I Be In Control?
Chapter 157 – Fight, Fight, Fight!

Chapter 157 – Fight, Fight, Fight!

With their decision locked in, Anlesa now sat in one of the waiting rooms. 

They had asked why there were waiting rooms, and apparently, the reason dated back to prior incidents where demons had gotten too excited and started fighting before the brawl officially began. They liked to ensure that their parties went along without any problem.  

The amount of preparation for what amounted to a mindless brawl was shocking to Luna, but Syrus had seen similar rules and prep for what others would call wild events.  

[These armaments are tight.] (Luna)

[Are you really calling the clothes Velelenra gifted us armaments?] (Syrus)

Luna shot back. [These aren’t clothes, Syrus. They are something inhumane.] (Luna)

[I should’ve figured your most nun-like trait would be about modesty.] (Syrus)

[I am curious how they manufactured such wear.] (Eva)

They went into the fight with the best preparation they could under such a short time frame. 

First, they were able to take some weapons from the Demon’s stash of ‘human crap’ that was left behind after many fights over the years. Some of it was completely unusable, as it had rusted away with age, but Syrus did find a sword and shield to use. She didn’t normally use shields, but she knew how to use them. The one she grabbed was a buckler, a small shield she held in one hand. She preferred a tighter wrist-mounted setup, but after some failed attempts to workshop one together, she gave in and stuck with the base form of the buckler. It was still a very useful tool for blocking, deflecting, and whacking; it was just Syrus’s preference.

The most controversial part of their outfit for them–for Luna–was the skin-tight clothing that Velelenra had worn before. They had also figured out why her midriff was exposed; despite some of their guesses of being a diversionary tactic, it was actually due to the clothes being hard to remove, and the shape/size that Velelenra had was what she found to be the easiest to put on and replace.

They wore these tight clothes over the top and lower half of their body, then their normal clothes on top. Syrus adjusted some of the hardened leather under the clothes to cover the gaps between the demon’s garb but still kept some over the vitals. 

Still, while they weren’t as Luna gracefully put ‘walking around practically naked’, she personally felt as if they were because of the tightness of the clothes.

[This shame will never be forgotten…] (Luna)

[You can’t be serious? You know, I am going to ask to keep this or another pair if they do the job well. This could be the perfect Under Armour I have dreamed of.] (Syrus)

[We must never allow such clothing to spread.] Luna said with firm resolution.

[Finnnnee, I will make sure it is always hidden in bags or under our clothes.] (Syrus)

[Syrus…] (Luna)

[I really don’t see the problem, Luna?] Eva said she was honestly really confused. She understood clearly that Luna was feeling super embarrassed by wearing these clothes, but the why was still confusing her. Being able to feel each other’s emotions didn’t mean they could know each other's thoughts. There were times they could basically guess what another was saying, based on their time together and the mixture of emotions.

[Because it is a lustful attire, not suited for wear.] (Luna)

[Luna… we are going to have a long talk about what is considered ‘lustful’, because I know you are talking like you have a valid opinion on that matter, and you kind of don’t.] (Syrus)

[Syrus!] (Luna)

[Technically speaking, by the definition of lustful, Luna would be correct, as Syrus, you felt heightened emotions at the time and even spoke about the demon’s looks when we first met.] (Eva)

[I mean, she was hot.] (Syrus)

[You serious…?] (Luna)

[I believe Luna responded in the same way last time as well.] (Eva)

[It’s just so improper…] (Luna)

[You know, there are people who consider people in nun outfits something to be desired.] (Syrus)

[Filthy heathens…] (Luna)

[Wow, you really go full nun mode about this, and no, just some perverts. I guess some of their indoctrination went through… maybe, actually, you are just that kind of person, and this is just how it manifests.] (Syrus)

[What..?] (Luna)

[I am simply saying, I have met plenty of people who couldn’t handle a little bit of hornyness. Usually not mercenaries, mercenaries were quite happy to have some fun.] (Syrus)

[I am hearing so many things I do not want to hear…] (Luna)

[We should have a proper talk later, I say. You know, somewhere comfortable and not in the waiting room before a bloody brawl?] (Syrus)

[Sigh… yes, please.] (Luna)

[As long as there are no complaints about the equipment. I… want us to be safe.] (Eva)

[... Sigh… Just please don’t somehow burn off or destroy our outer clothes… please…] (Luna)

[Sounds simple enough.] (Syrus)

Luna whispered, but because of their mental connection, everyone still heard it. [When is anything simple for us?] 

[Majority of the time, never.] (Eva)

After a while of sitting in the waiting room. 

A loud horn echoed throughout everywhere. 

[Well, that’s the sign.] (Syrus)

Syrus got up and adjusted their weapons for the final time. The sword was ready, the shield was ready, and their bracelets with metal wire were ready without sleeves covering them this time. They were ready.

Leaving the cave and entering the arena, they saw demons of many shapes and sizes enter the crater. Every single one was full of energy. Many even stared at her, the newbie who arrived on the scene. Anlesa had learned that every demon at least knew of each other; not every single one interacted regularly with each other. They still had demons who were closer friends than others, but the population was small enough that they knew of every other demon. So, a rumour that a human was going to join in this competition got many of them excited and curious.

By the time everyone walked out, there were about fifty individuals in the arena.

Syrus looked up the mountain besides the crater, and they could see Velelenra from her window, looking down, irritated. The children were also there, looking a bit concerned or excited; there was a mixed reaction between them.

[I do have to admit, Velelenra remembering she wasn’t on the rotation to fighting was funny.] (Syrus)

[But she said she could join if fifty-percent of the competition gets knocked out in the first two minutes.] (Eva)

[Hopefully that doesn’t happen… I would rather stay by the children's side.] (Luna)

The rules the demons had for their party were simultaneously lacking and in-depth. For the actual combat, pretty much anything goes, but the process for who was in before and after the brawl started was fully organised. 

It took a bit longer to find Flick; she was on top of the mountain looking down at the crater from far above.

Syrus did a quick observation of all the demons in the arena. Like too many things that had happened recently, they were going into this mostly blind, mostly. They were at least determined not to be completely screwed over by surprises, so they spoke with Velelenra about the competition. 

The first thing they learned was that not a single demon they knew would be at this party. Velelenra was in the last three and, by the code, wasn’t supposed to participate in this one. Marazada, the weird first demon they met, wasn't around, and the large demon that rested on the mountain, Roasjhta, didn’t show up. But for the last one, apparently, he was allowed to join midway through if he did show up later, which they were a bit concerned about. 

For the actual demons, that would be a super threat. There was Hohra, a large mantis-esque demon, bipedal but looking very insectoid. She had won a few of these and was deadly with her claws and had lightning and wind abilities. The second big threat was Krava, someone Velelenra had to lose to in the previous festival. They were a large, bulging, seemingly metal beast, had large, rounded arms and various levels of plating on their body. 

Syrus was so confused seeing its body; it looked very much like it was made of various metals. 

Finally, the biggest threat was Alraius…

[So that’s him…] (Syrus)

[I can feel his presence…] (Eva)

He looked back towards Anlesa and smiled while playing with his long beard. 

He was twice the size of Sryus in height but many times larger in pure muscle mass. His base frame was very human, but his lower half appeared to be some sort of large cat-like beast’s legs with black markings, and he had a single large horn growing from the centre of his forehead. His skin was marble white, and he was covered in scars all over. Over his arms, he was wearing the same protective fabric that they and Velelenra wore, but he left his chest and back fully exposed. 

He had won this many times, and Velelenra told them that if he lost, that meant he was just restraining himself to give others a chance. 

That wasn’t the most exciting news to hear for Anlesa. 

What else they were able to learn was that he was one of the oldest demons, and yeah, he did look a bit of an old man in the face, but he didn’t look extremely old in human terms. He was one of the main governing bodies in the demon home, mostly just one of the demons that other demons came to if they needed something organised. 

[...The church was lucky to never enrage the demon population…] Luna just saw all these powerful demons, many were stronger than the toughest of paladins, all ready to get down and fight.

Duooooooo

A different horn blew.

“ARGH!” 

“YEAH!” 

The demons cheered. The ones on the ground and the ones standing back watching. 

Then it was madness, everyone rushing towards someone else. Everyone already had a target in mind, and they made a mad dash towards them. The only thing that stopped that dash was another demon charging into them to fight.

[Does everyone remember what to do?] (Syrus)

[Avoid all mana-expensive abilities; leave movement to Syrus, unless teleportation is required. Lilly will focus on combat unless Syrus commands otherwise.] (Luna)

[Correct, Eva, are you still up to the task?] Syrus asked. Eva had requested that, if she could, she take partial command of this fight, so offensive action was left to her. Unless something happened. [You are fine to back out now.] 

[No, it’s alright.] The wire around Eva’s wrist floated slightly, ready to launch. [I am ready.]