Agent047

802 - Conversation II

“Seraphina,” Aron began, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of authority, “I’m not your enemy—unless you choose to make me one. I understand your anger, your frustration. You’ve lost control of a situation you believed was firmly under your command. But this predicament wasn’t my doing—you’re here because your leader chose to sacrifice you. What I’m offering you isn’t a chain—it’s an opportunity.”

Her sharp eyes narrowed, the intensity of her gaze ...

801 - Conversation I

[Colosseum]

Aron and Seraphina stood motionless, maintaining the same distance as at the start of their faceoff. Neither had moved, even during the spectacular fireworks show that followed Aron’s acceptance of her surrender. The only exception was Aron briefly waving to the citizens of his empire watching the broadcast, many of whom were overcome with emotion, crying in celebration of their historic victory. This event marked the first-ever interstellar combat they ha...

800 - Meeting

[Meeting Room]

Inside the Zelvora mental network, an oppressive silence hung over the gathered representatives around the meeting table. The events of the day had left them all stunned, their minds racing with the implications of what had transpired. These were not just any representatives—they were the ones who had signed off on the agreements, the architects of their civilizations’ participation in this contest.

Now, they were confronted with the brutal outcome of their deci...

799 - Fireworks

To say Aron was surprised would be the understatement of the gigaannum. The announcement had obliterated every scenario he had meticulously crafted in his mind. In all his time spent in simulations, preparing for countless contingencies, not once had he considered the possibility of the Xor’Vaks surrendering—least of all without a fight.

Their pride in their strength was legendary, surpassing even the vaunted arrogance of the Valthorins. For a race that reveled in their dominance, s...

798 - “WHAT?!!!!"

The minutes passed quickly for the viewers, their eyes glued to Aron as he sat unmoving in the same meditative position for over fifteen minutes. Speculation ran rampant on both sides, fueled by curiosity and tension.

For those in the Empire, the consensus was that Aron was in VR, likely meeting with family or key figures. Many debated who he might be speaking with, guessing that he was either calming worried loved ones or strategizing for the next fight.

On the other hand, viewer...

797 - Therapy

The moment the fight was officially declared over, Nova acted without hesitation. She immediately dispatched the collector ship, equipped with a medipod, to retrieve the Trinarian fighter's body. Simultaneously, she ensured Aron could rearm himself with a fresh set of nanomachines. For the first time, this process was being done openly, marking a significant shift.

Previously, nanomachines had been classified technology, their existence kept strictly under wraps. However, that secrecy h...

796 - Ending Things

"Him alive is better than dead, right? I can use his live brain data to study how they use their spatial abilities—it might even help accelerate my plans if things go as intended," Aron said as he stood over the fainting Trinarian fighter.

{True, having him alive presents opportunities. But dead men cause no problems, while the living carry infinite potential for chaos—especially one like him. If our spatial lockdown isn’t enough to fully contain his abilities, he could use them l...

795 - Awakening

“Nova,” Aron called out in his mind the moment his eyes snapped open, rapidly collecting information and orienting himself, realizing he had finally left the enigmatic place the system had sent him.

“Nova,” he called again, this time aloud, his voice carrying a commanding weight as it echoed faintly in the arena. Receiving no response to his first call, his sharp gaze shifted to his surroundings. It didn’t take long for him to notice his current state—nearly naked, save for ...

794 - Rebirth

Following Nova's orders and the AI referee's approval, the mana stone carriers swiftly began moving toward the Colosseum. 

As the first ship arrived and entered, it wasted no time, promptly unloading its entire cargo of mana stones before departing to make way for the next carrier to do the same. The process was conducted with remarkable efficiency, ensuring a steady flow of mana stones into the Colosseum without any unnecessary delays.

The process continued as over fifty shi...

793 - Hopelessness

The attack, fueled by every ounce of Zyranel's spatial mana, was anticipated to last several minutes at the very least. Its sheer scale and power were such that the Colosseum's repair crews were already bracing for weeks, if not a full month, of reconstruction before hosting another battle. After all, an assault of this magnitude lacked precision and would devastate everything in its wake.

But to the shock of Zyranel and the countless viewers watching, the storm began to weaken after a ...

792 - Fear

"Is he really injured, or is he just acting?" Zynarel, the Trinarian fighter, muttered to himself. From within the safety of his subspace, he scrutinized Aron, who now hovered in plain view—battered, broken, and seemingly on the brink of death. To Zynarel, it looked almost too convenient, as though Aron was laying himself bare, ripe for the taking.

Normally, no one in Aron’s condition could possibly be suspected of having an ulterior motive. After all, no sane person would allow the...

791 - Please

The arena fell into a deafening silence as the raging flames and spatial distortions dissipated, leaving behind the shattered remnants of the Colosseum grounds. The air was heavy with tension, and a collective shiver ran through the spectators. All eyes scoured the battlefield, yet Aron was nowhere to be seen. A chilling thought began to take hold among the crowd—the possibility that the emperor had perished, his very existence erased by the devastating spatial attack.

Despite their r...

790 - Change

{Intercepting the sensation of pain and minimizing its potency,} Nova informed Aron, who was clearly not in his best condition. Although he had managed to react, albeit a fraction too late, his shield had been strong enough to block the flames that were sent back to him. However, the supplementary spatial attack shattered the shield, and the subsequent backlash from the destruction of both his modified shield and flight rune hit him hard. This forced him into a brief halt before Nova switched...

789 - Return To Sender

{Now that he's completed coordinate mapping, the entire area around here can be considered his domain. Anywhere you stop becomes a point where he can launch an attack almost instantaneously. You must keep moving,} Nova informed Aron, her tone urgent. Aron, still on the move, absorbed her words while enduring the fading pain from the backlash caused by his forcibly broken rune. 

Unlike the damage that healed seamlessly when the spatial hole vanished, the destruction caused by the sp...

788 - CRACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The tense faceoff between Aron and the Trinarian fighter lasted only a moment before the AI referee’s calm voice broke the silence: {You have five minutes to complete your preparations.} The reminder echoed through the Colosseum, signaling the countdown to the battle’s commencement.

The Trinarian fighter finally broke the face-off, closing his eyes. The act puzzled many, sparking speculation about his intentions. Was he simply waiting out the five-minute prepar...

787 - Migahty Entrance

While Aron was still processing the abrupt announcement, Nova seized the opportunity to provide a potential explanation.

{My theory is this: mental attacks function like inserting a conduit or a pipe between the caster and the target. If the target’s mental defenses are stronger than the attack can penetrate, the attack rebounds. The returning force matches the strength of the target's mental defenses. Given the system’s unknown yet undoubtedly superior level, it’s likely that the...

786 - A Month Later

{What do you mean, sir?} Nova responded, her tone laced with surprise.  

“What is your name?” Aron asked, his tone steady but scrutinizing.  

{Nova, it's the name you gave me after creating me,} she answered promptly.  

“What is…” Aron’s voice trailed off again, his eyes narrowing.  

For the next twenty seconds, the exchange between Aron and Nova intensified, becoming a rapid-fire interrogation. Aron fired off more th...

785 - The Zelvora

[A/N Sorry for messy upload I had exams last week and needed to prepare for them.]

The arena returned to its customary silence, its vast expanse now eerily still. At most, it had hosted two occupants at a time during the matches, but now only one figure remained—a steadfast presence who had not left since stepping foot inside. It was the same person who had dominated from the start: Aron.

Aron stood in the center of the arena, patiently waiting for the mandatory twenty-mi...

784 - A Second Round

Aron maintained his position, following the Shadari fighter who appeared unaware of Aron’s persistent shadowing. With his ability, Aron easily tracked the fighter through the terrain, knowing that his opponent couldn’t see through solid objects as he could.

After a lengthy journey spanning several tens of kilometers, the Shadari fighter finally halted but remained hidden beneath the surface. It seemed he needed a few moments to regain his composure and rethink his approach to the fi...

783 - The Master of Deception

As soon as the fight began, Aron noticed the Shadari fighter shifting from his original position and moving toward him, seemingly unafraid of any counterattack. Aron hesitated, curious about this bold move, but quickly understood why. Nova, sensing his confusion, displayed the live stream feed for him. On the broadcast, the Shadari fighter appeared to be standing still in his original spot, already aiming and firing. The conflicting visuals—one from his new vision and the other from the str...

782 - The Masters of Stealth

To say the Shadari were scary would be an overstatement; they were simply optimized for stealth. Their strength lay in their ability to remain unseen, to blend into the surroundings, making them masters of subtlety rather than intimidation. Their choice of attire, nothing more than a fabric that resembled a veil, made perfect sense for their specialization. To them, wearing traditional armor was akin to lighting a fire on a scorching summer day to keep warm—a completely counterproductive ch...

781 - Checking the Colosseum

{We will be taking a one-hour break to assess the Colosseum’s structural integrity before resuming,} the AI referee announced, immediately initiating a thorough diagnostic of every corner and component. Its analysis focused on identifying any damage that could compromise the Arena’s safety or functionality. Wherever damage was detected, the AI determined if repairs were necessary or if backups could seamlessly replace compromised parts, ensuring minimal downtime.

The break served as...

780 - -Begets the fall

Hearing the Valthorin's brazen invitation, Aron paused, his initial plans slipping away as he considered this unexpected opportunity.

"I won't decline your offer," he replied, a faint smile forming as the chance to hit a stationary and powerful target presented itself. "And I trust you won’t go back on it."

The Valthorin fighter, arms still spread wide, didn't respond, his expression one of complete disinterest. His silence spoke volumes, making it clear he was eager for Aron to...

779 - Pride-

Having defeated the Symmetra fighter—who, if not for a limited reserve of void energy, could have posed a significant challenge—Aron now faced the final five, each among the Conclave's top-ranking Civilizations. If the Symmetra’s abilities were any indication, these upcoming battles would be the most difficult yet. Each of the remaining civilizations possessed unique racial abilities that made them particularly formidable and fearsome opponents.

Aron chose to forgo his rest period...

778 - Please Bring in the Next Fighter

To say Aron and every viewer watching were surprised would be an understatement; disbelief rippled through across countless screens. None of them could fully grasp what they were witnessing.

Among the Conclave viewers, those familiar with the top ten civilizations’ military hierarchies recognized the significance of the creature’s designation. They knew the Erythians reserved numerical rankings for only their most dangerous weapons — and the lower the number, the more devastating ...

777 - The Erythians Sentient Weapon, NO: 70

As the Colosseum's shield parted, a colossal ship loomed into view, its engines rumbling as it glided into the Colosseum. It made its way to the designated landing area for the next challenger, casting an imposing shadow on its way. 

The viewers held their breath, eager to see what kind of warrior would emerge from such a vessel, each of them hoping—perhaps futilely—that this one might be the fighter to finally give Aron a real test.

When the ship reached the designated l...

776 - Breaking the Shackles

{Took you long enough to figure that out,} Nova replied, a hint of amusement in her tone, making it clear she’d noticed this long before Aron had caught on himself.

"Why didn’t you just tell me, so I could have corrected it earlier?" Aron asked, curious rather than surprised that Nova had already picked up on his habit.

{People rarely learn from mere warnings,} she explained with a tone that was almost like a teacher addressing a student’s oversight. {Since your life wasn’...

775 - Complacency

"Unfortunately, no!" Aron responded calmly.

The Galvinith fighter’s expression betrayed a flash of surprise. To it, the emperor was already caged, with no means of escape—meaning Aron would rather face death than accept defeat.

“Looks like you have the Valthorin disease,” the Galvinith said, its tone laced with disdain. Despite its grotesque form, the viewers could sense its disgust at what it perceived as Aron’s misplaced pride.

“You made your choice,” the Gal...

774 - SHARDS

As soon as the referee’s announcement echoed across the field, Aron raised his gun, preparing to aim and fire. However, before he could pull the trigger, a spear-like projectile came hurtling toward him at an incredible speed. It tore through the air with such velocity that it nearly reached him the instant the sound of the announcement did, indicating it had been launched with uncanny precision the moment the fight began forcing him to react swiftly, sidestepping to narrowly evade the proj...

773 - Entrance of the Grotesque Galvinith

After a few moments of silent calculation, the referee AI finally spoke. {The current situation is indeed unique. Given that you acquire ownership of everything belonging to the individuals you defeat, the mecha and its pilot are now legally considered your property. Thus, as long as they fit the weapon criteria, they should be eligible for participation. However, despite being your property, they are still classified as individual fighters, as they previously acted as one entity. Allowing th...