Chapter 2074: Leaving The Mushroom Forest, Moving To The Colosseum City

After leaving behind the dense mushroom forest, Elayne and her group continued their journey through the winding underground caverns that led toward the great city governed by Queen Spectria. The first thing that greeted them was a gigantic line of people stretching as far as the eye could see, a restless river of bodies that wound between the stone walls and faded into the distant glow of torchlight.

After learning about the people of this underground world, the endless conflicts between the Myconid queens, the son of the Eldest Queen who had come seeking a "wish" to save his tribe from hunger, and the many rumors about what might be happening inside that colosseum city, Elayne felt a rising sense of excitement mixed with determination.

There was a great deal happening in this place. There was Queen Spectria herself and the question of what she had become, her mysterious connection to Ignis, the slaves she held, the warriors and gladiators who fought for prestige, freedom, money, or the chance to make a wish, and the tournament that would begin soon. That tournament represented Elayne’s and her party’s best opportunity to meet Spectria face to face and, at the same time, perhaps free a number of people who had been enslaved unjustly by the city’s harsh laws.

She could still clearly recall what Marble had told them earlier.

"Yeah, of course. Tell that to Queen Spectria," Marble had laughed. "Or her Guard, or her Champions. If you ever want an audience with her, you will need to win the tournament that starts soon. It’s called the Blue Flame Soul Tournament. The winner receives a personal audience with her and a wish granted—anything within her power can be yours. Some warriors fight to free their people, others seek renown, and others wish to obtain her flames and carry them back to their tribes..."

If Elayne ever hoped to convince the queen to abandon this strange culture of warrior slaves and bloodsport, she would first have to fight her way through those games until she could stand before the god-like ruler of the colosseum. Some of the people here even revered Spectria not merely as a powerful divine spirit, but as a true goddess of war and conflict.

"Is the whole purpose of these tournaments simply to fight and die?" Mark wondered as he walked alongside the slowly moving line of people. At his words, everyone else looked back at him with conflicted expressions, but Marble was quick to answer his question with a pragmatic voice and even a faint smile.

"No, well, it is the entertainment that they value," Marble laughed, the sound making everyone around her uncomfortable. "What’s wrong? Have you raised a bunch of weak-willed, cowardly people, Elayne? Life and death are fickle and walk hand in hand. This world is one of suffering and despair. Death waits in every corner. You either learn how to fight and survive by killing, or you die. It’s as simple as that, really."

"..." Elayne fell silent for a moment, absorbing the harsh words, before she finally confronted the older woman. "I don’t believe in such ways. I don’t believe that this world is purely about discord and endless battles. And I will never accept that there is no other solution, because we are creating something different. We built a community around mutual trust. People... can be good. Everyone carries some measure of goodness in their hearts. I know there are also irremediable bastards, but I prefer to believe that the majority of people can subsist in a peaceful world. I lived in that kind of world. Sure, there was conflict, but... despite everything, compared to almost any other place, it was relatively peaceful. Peaceful enough to make a person love the act of living."

"..." Marble fell quiet for a full minute, staring up at the cavern ceiling as if searching the darkness for an answer. "What an odd thing to say... you... don’t come from Arcadia? Where do you even come from?"

"Earth," Mark answered plainly.

"Where’s that supposed to be?!" Marble asked, clearly confused.

"It’s another world, connected to ours," Blank explained. "It is the place where Players come from."

"?!" Marble gasped, her eyes widening behind her glasses. "You’re Players?!"

"No. We were, but not anymore..." Elayne said carefully. "It’s complicated. We died there and ended up here."

"How? This is fascinating! Why didn’t you tell me earlier what you were?! I want to learn more—no, I must learn more! Tell me everything, I must know! Tell me!" Marble pressed, her curiosity suddenly turning almost manic.

"Enough," Blank said firmly. "Don’t take another step closer and leave Elayne alone, aunt. You hate her one moment and then suddenly change your mind the next? Stop being such a superficial person... No, this is exactly the reason my father despises you."

"Tsk. And what right do you even have to speak to me like that?!" Marble demanded, readjusting her glasses with a sharp movement. "You’ve grown so bold... I preferred the quieter days when you stayed with your father and your sister."

"I am not being bold. I am simply being pragmatic and logical," Blank replied without raising his voice. "And... I will not allow you to continue this constant slander toward Elayne."

"You really want conflict, don’t you?" Marble laughed, though the sound carried an edge. "Keep dreaming. I hate fighting myself! Besides, there’s someone out there... does he know you?"

"Huh?" Elayne looked into the distance.

A tall, muscular, red-skinned demon with long white hair was running toward them at full speed. He had a short white beard and prayer beads draped around his body that clicked softly with each powerful stride.

"Oh! Hey! You’re the woman who bought my sword! Do you remember me? Well, isn’t it a surprise to meet you here!"

It was the same man who had sold her Asteria.

Finding him here, of all places and at this exact moment, was a truly shocking surprise for the entire group.

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