Chapter 204: Shameless Asuras
The sudden reactivation of the trial feed had quieted them, but their discontent was palpable.
With a calm that defied the tumultuous atmosphere, the Overseer raised his hands.
"Attention, all!" His voice reverberated through the chamber, powerful and steady, demanding silence.
The crowd hushed, though the undercurrent of tension remained thick in the air.
"We have a special announcement," the Overseer began, his voice cold, almost detached.
"The human Lyerin has accomplished something... unprecedented in the history of this trial. He has garnered the interest of our young Asuras—those who crave the taste of true battle."
Before he could continue, the room erupted into laughter.
One of the shadow creatures, a hulking figure cloaked in swirling darkness, let out a deep, resonating chuckle. "Interest, you say? So the Asuras are now enamored by the weak?"
Another voice joined in, dripping with scorn. "They speak of \'interest\' when what they truly mean is desperation. They see their game slipping through their fingers, so they dangle this little \'special event\' before us."
The hall was soon filled with jeers and boos, the mocking laughter growing louder.
The shadow creatures—beings who had witnessed countless conquests and countless betrayals—were not easily deceived.
They knew the Asuras well. And they knew exactly what this so-called \'special event\' entailed: a desperate attempt to maintain control over a trial that had spiraled out of their grasp.
"The Asuras are indeed shameless!" one shadow bellowed, their voice shaking the very walls of the chamber. "They send their younglings to clean up a mess that they can no longer control!"
"Boo! Shame on you, Overseer! Shame on the Asuras!" another shouted.
"They dangle a treasure before us like fools!" a smaller, wispier figure hissed. "Do they think we will be swayed by such petty offerings?"
"Do they believe we will forget how they manipulate every trial to ensure their dominance?"
The boos and jeers grew louder, more venomous, filling the dark expanse like a storm.
The Overseer stood silently amidst the chaos, his face impassive, his posture unyielding.
It was clear that this was not the first time he had faced such backlash.
The rulers of galaxies were not easily cowed, and they were even less forgiving when it came to the Asuras\' heavy-handed tactics.
Still, the Overseer remained unperturbed.
He let the torrent of insults wash over him, waiting patiently for the storm to pass. And when the room finally began to quiet—though the tension still simmered—he continued, his voice as calm as ever.
"The Asuras are not here to deceive you," he said, his tone smooth, measured. "This trial, as you all know, has always been about survival and power. And Lyerin\'s actions have drawn the gaze of those who seek to test their mettle. The young Asuras are not here to intervene for the sake of politics. They are here because they have been challenged."
There was a moment of silence. Then, a mocking voice broke through. "Challenged? By a human?!"
"By a mortal from a backwater planet?" another shadow scoffed. "How far the mighty Asuras have fallen."
The Overseer\'s eyes gleamed as he raised his hand.
"This is no ordinary human. This is a being who, through sheer will and cunning, has surpassed every expectation. He has annihilated the strongest of participants.
"He has risen to power in the span of only hours, and now his tribe stands on the verge of ascension. This is why the young Asuras are eager. They seek combat with one who has defied the odds."
"And if Earth wins?" a voice shouted from the crowd, laced with sarcasm. "What treasure do the Asuras offer?"
The Overseer smiled faintly.
"Should the Earthlings win, they will be given something of great value—a treasure that would allow the intelligent creatures of Earth to evolve... smoothly.
"A treasure that would guide them toward power and strength, elevating their civilization to stand among the greatest."
The crowd erupted into laughter again. The shadows roared with amusement, their voices echoing in the vast chamber. "They offer us a fantasy!" one figure cackled.
"They pretend to be benevolent, offering evolution as if it\'s a gift, when in truth they only fear rebellion!"
"The Asuras think we are fools! They offer power to mortals to placate us, to ensure their hold over this galaxy remains unchallenged."
The Overseer remained silent, letting the laughter and mockery continue for a few moments longer before he raised his hands again.
The crowd began to quiet, though the tension in the air remained thick.
"And now," the Overseer said, his voice sharper now, cutting through the noise. "The young Asuras have already been dispatched. And they will prove their worth, as they always have."
With a flick of his wrist, the vast screen above the hall flickered to life once more.
The image shifted to a towering arena where the young Asuras, elite warriors of their race, stood on the precipice, looking down at the battlefield where Lyerin and his tribe awaited.
The first of the Asura warriors, a lean, muscular figure with shimmering red skin and glowing eyes, stood at the edge, his gaze focused and unwavering.
The Overseer\'s voice boomed over the image.
"Kairos Bloodfury," the Overseer announced. "A prodigy of the Bloodfang Clan. He has bested over a hundred foes in single combat, wielding the power of flame and shadow with unmatched precision. He will be the first to enter the fray."
As Kairos leaped from the platform, the crowd murmured, impressed despite their previous jeers. His descent was swift, and he vanished into the arena below, leaving only a trail of red light in his wake.
The screen then shifted to another Asura warrior, this one towering and broad, with skin the color of dark steel and eyes like burning coals.
His muscles rippled as he cracked his knuckles, preparing for the battle to come.
"Titanus Ironfist," the Overseer continued. "A warrior of unmatched strength and endurance. He has felled giants and crushed entire armies with his bare hands. His arrival heralds doom for any who stand in his path."
Titanus leaped from the platform, his massive form hurtling toward the battlefield like a meteor, causing the ground to quake as he landed with a thunderous impact.
One by one, the young Asura elites were introduced, each more fearsome than the last.
There was Vira Serpentscale, a lithe and deadly assassin who could strike faster than the eye could follow.
There was Vorath Stormbringer, a sorcerer who commanded the very forces of nature, calling down lightning and hurricanes with a flick of his wrist.
There was Xalia Moonshadow, a warrior who could manipulate time and space, bending reality around to her will.
As each Asura warrior descended into the trial arena, the crowd watched in anticipation, their earlier skepticism giving way to a sense of awe and tension.
These were not ordinary beings.
These were the elite of the Asura race, warriors who had spent centuries honing their craft, perfecting their deadly abilities.
Finally, the Overseer\'s voice cut through once more. "The young Asuras have arrived. The battle will begin soon. But know this—the trial has taken a new turn. What comes next will not only determine the fate of Lyerin and his tribe... it will decide the fate of Earth itself."
The camera panned back to the arena, where Lyerin and his tribe awaited, their eyes locked on the sky as the Asura warriors descended.