"Aerith vs. the remaining Normal Races."
"What...? Wait, no!"
"Yes."
"Don't do this!"
A large majority of the people left in the banquet hall were of the normal races, and suffice it to say... those that had eyes were all looking at Aerith. Their eyes were filled with a sense of fear that none of them really thought they would feel today.
Each and every one of them were individually handpicked by each of their civilizations—most of them thinking that they would be bringing glory to their people just by showing their prowess against the other races. They were not that dumb; they might have joined Jakol in instigating and softly trying to intimidate the higher races, but most of them knew that they were categorized higher than them in the first place.
They already knew they were just appetizers to the main course, they knew they were going to lose, and it didn't matter. What mattered to them was how.
How they were going to lose.
They were going to put up the best fight they could even against these goliaths, and maybe even by sheer luck, they could somehow win.
What they did not expect, however, was the price for losing.
The death of their homes.
"Are... are all of you truly just going to let this happen!?"
"Some of you are members of the Common Council! You have the obligation to protect peace, to protect the universe!"
"Why aren't any of you doing anything!?"
"..." Elder Apo and Elder S'adar could really only turn their heads down. They wanted to do something, they really did—but what, exactly? They could make a plan to incapacitate Riley, like how Diana and Aerith did to him.
"That will not be very wise."
"!!!"
Elder Apo and Elder S'adar could not help but flinch back as Pirate Queen Xra suddenly appeared behind them.
"It would seem that most of you still do not get your situation," Xra let out a long and deep sigh as she walked around, looking at everyone she passed, "There is no planning against Riley Ross because he is simply... plan-proof. You want to incapacitate him again by using the themarians? Bash his head in over and over again?"
"..." Diana looked Xra in the eyes, fully knowing what she was getting at.
"The only reason that Caitlain'Ur was able to do that with Aerith was that they caught him off-guard at his most vulnerable moment—and that will never happen again," Xra shook her head as she made her way to Riley, "What makes even any of you certain that this is even Riley's real body? For all everyone knows, he is hundreds of thousands away from here; watching everything unfold back on Earth while drinking milk. This...
...is a checkmate. And all of you are just pawns that have not been eaten yet."
"You are a pawn in this as well, Pirate Queen," Queen Adel snarled.
"Well, more like the Queen," Xra stood beside Riley as she once again looked at everyone.
"...I thought I was the Queen?" Chihiro, who was also standing beside Riley, could not help but raise an eyebrow at Xra.
"Too young," Xra looked at Chihiro from head to toe.
"You have no idea how many times I have lived your lifetimes," Chihiro smirked.
"Fine, you are a lot smaller than me," Xra once again looked at Chihiro from head to toe.
"That—"
"And also..." Xra looked at the crowd before pointing her finger on the side of her head, "I hear all of your thoughts, I know every move you will make."
"Why are you even on my brother's side!?" Hannah almost growled, "Wasn't the very reason you returned to Earth was because you're trying to live a normal life!? Wasn't Mom trying to help you find a way to revive your husband!?"
"Well, when your mother was not busy trying to find your brother the past 5 years, she was busy trying to find a way to get rid of him," Xra looked Diana in the eyes, "I knew then that Caitlain did not have any plan to help me. And so, I went with the one who could."
"You... really think my brother could revive your husband?"
"Yes," Xra nodded, "And he could do many more with the Codex by his side."
"And you...?" Hannah pointed at Ahor Zai, "My brother's literal goal in life is to destroy everything. That goes against your purpose of gaining all the knowledge—if he destroys everything, then you would have no purpose."
[Quite the contrary, in fact,] Ahor Zai smiled at Hannah, [Riley Ross offers something that none of you could, or any of your variants could, a knowledge beyond our universe, beyond all the universes. And that is also the very reason why...
...the norinlads are on our side.]
"!!!"
"We are not," the norinlads all raised their hands as everyone looked at them, "We may seek knowledge, but not to the expense of the lives of others."
[You are,] Ahor Zai giggled, [You are just not aware of it yet.]
"We—"
"I like that everyone is getting along," Riley stood up from his throne and slightly raised his hand, "But it is time for Aerith to fight against the normal races."
"Riley..." Aerith flew right in front of Riley and grabbed him by the arms, "...Don't make me do this."
"Why not? You will win, Aerith," Riley smiled, "Also, since the Normal Races are all involved—it won't really be fair that your punishment, if you lose, will only be the destruction of the remaining themarians. So...
...you will be representing the Higher Races, Aerith. If you lose, if you hold back, I will also destroy the homes of the Higher Races. If you think I can't and will not be able to do it, well, it will be interesting to see, no?"
"W—"
"Send me instead." The entire banquet hall suddenly trembled as Queen Adel stomped her foot on the floor, "I will not risk the safety of my people to Aerith."n(-OVeLbIn
"Now, where would the fun be in that, Queen Adel? Everyone already knows of your violent nature. But Aerith..." Riley placed his hand on Aerith's chin, "...I want to see what you are going to do."
"She will be the end of us!" Queen Adel raised her voice as she looked at the other Higher Races, "None of you know my daughter, but she will risk us for the reason that the Normal Races are weaker and more numerous! We—"
"Enough," Riley let out a sigh as he glanced at Ahor Zai, "We have already spent an entire chapter debating this, everyone. It is time to watch."
"Ri—"
And before Aerith could say another word of resistance, she... and all the normal races in the banquet hall were warped away—leaving less than 35 people in the hall, making it almost seem empty.
"Now then," Riley sat back on his throne as the gigantic screen behind him started to show Aerith, "What choice will you make, Aerith?"
And as everyone felt a certain way because of the situation, there was one that was incredibly anxious — Hera.
She wasn't sensing any danger from Riley yet, as is evident with her body being completely relaxed. She was, however, sensing danger somewhere else...
...she just doesn't know where yet.
