Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 402: Bet, Draco or Toxic-shadow?

The behemoth wyrm roared and tore into the ground with its claws. Ice hastily covered the ground. The wyrm bolted toward the human with teeth bared and icy lances at the ready.

The young woman leaped into the air and retrieved a spear. Before she began to fall, wind gathered around her, letting her fly through the air to avoid the frozen ground below. At the same time, flames overtook the spearhead.

“With such a big target, how can I miss?” the girl joked, lunging into the wyrm’s side.

The wyrm dodged but the woman was too quick. She readjusted the strike and rode the wind to stab into the wyrm. Then, the young woman pumped fire into the giant beast’s body, all while slashing down the beast’s side.

“It’s over!” Slazza declared, appearing on the wyrm’s back to grab the spear moments before it sliced the beast’s spine. “The winner is Draco Prefecture!”

A healing salve was given to the Permafrost Wyrm, but the wyrm only took it after bowing to the victor. In a feminine voice, the wyrm stated, “Thank you for your teachings.”

“... Don’t.” The young woman shrugged and walked up the steps.

.....

The wyrm applied the salve to stop the bleeding and made her way to the seats. She was smiling, happy to get a nod from Treeda above and the king of her region.

“I thought you were going to dominate my prefecture?” Isla chuckled.

Treeda nodded. “So? One loss doesn’t give you victory. Tell me that after you’ve gotten three wins, then maybe I’ll congratulate you. But that won’t be happening. I’m even confident enough to make a bet, in case you don’t believe me.”

“A bet? What sort?” asked Isla.

“Hmm, we could always throw out money but that’s no fun. How about... we offer cultivation techniques?”

Toseko chuckled, “Would you like me to mediate your bets?”

“I’d love that, God Toseko. Thank you,” Treeda replied, brandishing a cocky grin. “What do you say, Isla?”

“... Before I make a bet,” Isla retorted, looking at her brother in the corner of her eye, “I want to hear if Isaac will be making a bet, and on who.”

“Isaac? What will it be?” Toseko asked, forcing a reply.

Isaac sighed, “I... won’t make a bet.”

“This is your last chance... Alright, no bets from Nova Prefecture,” Toseko continued. “Isla, everyone, what have you to say?”

The other lords all looked to Isla, waiting for her to second the bet.

“... What technique are you offering?” questioned Isla.

“How about my own? Will that suffice?”

A little surprised, Isla chuckled, “Sure, I’ll take your technique. Then, I’ll put forward mine, okay?”

Each woman presented a scroll to God Toseko, sealing the deal. The eager god then asked, “Anyone else want to get in on this?”

“I’ll bet on Treeda’s victory.” Another sealed scroll appeared in front of Toseko.

“Warak??” Isla was stunned at Warak’s confident smile.

“What? You’ve got a magma technique,” reasoned Warak. “In the off chance a child in my clan is blessed with high fire affinity, they’ll benefit from your technique. Besides, Treeda and I already exchanged techniques when our children married.”

“Still... You doubt my prefecture?” Isla scoffed.

Chuckling arrogantly, Warak asked, “Then, answer me this. Why did your brother not dare to bet? Because he doesn’t know who would win? Or because he does know, and refused to piss you off?”

Isla clenched her fists and glared at her brother, who still kept quiet and avoided any glances his way.

“I’ll bet on Draco’s victory,” Peimar chimed in, handing his technique to Toseko. “Isla and her Draco Prefecture won our recent exhibition, so I trust her candidates.”

“I bet on Treeda’s victory,” Inka joined in. “I may only be a stand-in lord, but my technique isn’t weaker than any of yours. It’s a dual technique for light and nature essence. Also, as the person who officiated our exhibition against Treeda and Toxic-shadow, I’m confident in her candidates.”

Toseko was almost giggling he was so excited. “Very well! Three bets on Treeda, and two bets on Isla. How very interesting...”

“God Toseko,” Isla chimed in, “will you please offer Isaac one more opportunity to place a bet?”

Glad to have some friction between the prefecture lords to amp things up, Toseko shrugged, “I’ll permit him another chance to bet.”

“You heard him, Isaac. Who will you bet on, Brother?”

Isaac bit his lip and shook his head. “Still, I abstain from-”

“You’ll make a bet, won’t you?” demanded Isla. “Or is there something else you should tell me about?”

“... I-”

“Go on, Isaac,” Treeda teased. “Say what you must. If you’re afraid to lose, then just make a bet on the winning side. Isn’t that right, Isla?”

“Yes, you’re absolutely right, Treeda. Go on, Brother. Who will you bet on?”

“... Still, I abstain.”

Shrugging it off, Treeda laughed, “Oh well. For all we know, he’s just using his sister’s technique anyway, so it wouldn’t add much to the game.”

Toseko nodded, accepting Isaac’s answer. He took the scrolls and placed them at his sides. They were divided based on the bets, with the three for Treeda on one side and the two for Isla on the other. “Very well. These techniques shall be kept for now and divvied upon the end of the second duel. The losers shall supply a scroll for each winner. The winners shall have their techniques returned with the seal still in place.”

Getting another nod from God Toseko, Slazza called out for the next candidates, “Contestants numbered two, step down!”

A burly bull snarled and descended from Toxic-shadow’s seats. A snow-white panther got up to represent Draco Prefecture. They eyed each other carefully but said nothing. They merely waited to enter the arena and for Slazza to give them the starting signal.

“A White Panther versus a Stone Bull! Are you two ready?” Slazza asked, somewhat impressed by the professional stares between the contestants. Their gazes showed respect to their foe and still demonstrated the pride they had in their own abilities. “...FIGHT!”