"The top three ultimate geniuses. I finally learned about them yesterday while in the hospital."
"The Number three most powerful of them is Calidor Wail, the second most powerful is Morgaine Dominaire, and the first and most powerful genius is Ignatius Blade."
"I figured that out too..." Ryuk whispered back, but Quinn soon shook his head.
"There is more, Ryuk. I have heard that the majority of the elders gathered together didn’t come to just watch the battles between the geniuses."
"They all came for a single person, and that is none other than Ignatius Blade."
"There have been rumours of him being a powerful genius with an incredible amount of potential, and that rumour has drawn the attention of the elders, hence why they’re gathered here today."
"Not only that, but you have also managed to draw their attention."
"Huh?"
"All of the elders have become aware that there is a human who was recommended by the Half-Fallen one herself. The most respected Fallen in this area of the Eclipsed Citadel."
"I don’t know if it’s fate or not, but somehow, you ended up being matched with Ignatius Blade in the test."
"You—the human— who caught the attention of the most powerful Fallen in this area, and therefore the attention of the elders, get matched with Ignatius Blade, the rare genius with potential said to be jaw-dropping."
"Both of you are the only people who managed to catch the attention of the elders beforehand, and now both of you are facing off against each other."
"I don’t know about you, but somehow, I feel like that random card choosing isn’t random at all."
"This might very well have been planned by someone..." Quinn said in a whisper, as Ryuk’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
"But not only that, Ryuk. Look around..." Quinn suddenly said as Ryuk turned his gaze around.
"All of the geniuses are already here, all of the instructors, all of the elders. Everyone is already here. But still, they haven’t started the event. Doesn’t that seem odd?"
"It’s almost like all of us are still waiting for someone..." Ryuk whsipered.
"Can you guess?" Quinn said with furrowed eyes as Ryuk’s brain buzzed at full speed, and his eyes widened when he realized.
"Don’t tell me..."
"Yes, Ryuk. We are all waiting for the arrival of the Half-Fallen one herself. She will be showing up."
"And just so you know, she won’t be showing up for Ignatius. He might be a budding genius, but we Fallens don’t lack phenomenal geniuses all year round."
"That means the Half-Fallen one is coming here to watch the event, especially for you."
"She was the one who recommended you here—a human among the Fallen geniuses—so of course, she will show up here at the final event."
"But while this sounds like something you should be proud of, in a million years, I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes right now, Ryuk, because death is just over the horizon for you..."
Quinn said as Ryuk frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Our Fallen family excels at one thing more than the other families: our pride!"
"Your battle with Ignatius Blade isn’t a simple battle."
"If Ignatius loses to you, I can bet my pathetic life that his so-called potential will be thrown out by the Fallen family, and no matter how much power he shows in the fights, it would all be thrown out!"
"While the Fallen elders might not care about you defeating some nameless Fallens, if their number one genius that they have come here to watch gets defeated by a human..."
"Then Ignatius will lose his genius status, and the news will spread pretty quickly."
"That will be the end of his genius life."
"Naturally Ryuk. You must understand that not all of the elders will accept her putting you here or your existence."
"But if you win the match with Ignatius, it will prove to the elders that the Half-Fallen One knows well what she is doing, and always makes the right decision, just like always."
"She will gain face, and her ability as a leader will be even more respected by the elders and praised even more."
"But if you lose, Ryuk, your death is a sure thing."
"The Half-Fallen one herself comes all the way down from her tower just to come watch this event solely because of you, and you did nothing but lose!?"
"You essentially lose her face, her trust, and her belief in you. Even if the Half-Fallen doesn’t care much..."
"A human that disappointed the Half-Fallen one will never be left off the hook. You will most likely be killed by the Fallen elders, in the name of preserving the face of the Half-Fallen one."
"They would never allow a puny human to disappoint one of their most respected and walk away alive with it."
"You might think of it as a stupid notion, but to our Fallen pride, it absolutely makes sense, and I’m sure every genius here already understands that."
"That is why none of them are currently smiling at all."
"In short, this is no longer a battle for a spot in the Academy of Ascension, Ryuk."
"When Ignatius gets on that stage, he would do everything in his power to dominate you, brutally and show off his skills, make the win on you as easy looking as possible."
"This means he would most likely be going all out form the start and defeating you in the shortest amount of time possible"
"If he wins, he ascends to the heavens in a single step. His growth and tutelage from all of the elders would be unstoppable."
"But if he loses?" Quinn said, pausing as Ryuk’s lips slowly finished the sentence.
"He loses everything..."
"If you get on that stage, Ryuk, and you lose, you won’t just lose and go back to your family’s house. You will be killed to appease the Fallen pride."
"The fight between you and Ignatius Blade. It is a live-and-death battle!"
"Only one of you will win and the one who does ascend to the heavens in a single step; the one who loses plummets to the bottom of hell!"
Quinn’s words rang out continuously in Ryuk’s head as his brain began quickly piecing together all the bits of information.
[He’s right, Host!] The system’s notification suddenly flashed before his gaze as Ryuk’s beating heart almost stopped.
Suddenly, everyone snapped their heads up to the sky, as an incredible amount of golden lights cascaded down, falling steadily like rain, vividly blinding to the eyes.
In the next instant, a loud roar boomed through the entire colloseum.
"BOW DOWN EVERYONE AND WELCOME THE HALF-FALLEN HERSELF!!!"
BAAANG
BAAAANG
BAAAANG
BAAAAANG
What followed was the sound of every knee slamming into the ground.
The elders, students, and instructors—everyone kneeled on a knee, their heads bowed in reverence and their hands over their chest.
Not a single one dared to raise their head until the voice rang out.
"You may all rise..."