Chapter 761  Announcement of the Participants


    By the third week, the construction of the Colosseum was finally completed, and the remainder of the week was devoted entirely to testing to ensure everything met the necessary standards. Both sides pushed every available system to its limits, stress-testing the arena’s components, shielding, and environmental controls.


    This wasn’t just about verifying functionality; it was also a matter of trust—or the lack thereof. Both sides were highly suspicious of one another, meticulously scanning for any hidden backdoors or subtle sabotage. No one wanted to risk the possibility of a sudden disadvantage due to an exploit or unseen manipulation. Both sides scrutinized every circuit, magic circle, and protocol, working tirelessly to confirm that nothing had been tampered with and that the arena was truly neutral ground.


    While the systems were being tested, Liasas met once again with the negotiator to finalize and deliver the list of contenders, a requirement that had to be fulfilled before the construction period ended.


    “The list of participants from the Conclave’s side has been completed and is as follows,” Liasas began.


    “For the Xor’Vaks, it will be Princess Seraphina. For the Valthorins, Vaxerion. The representative of Zelvora will be Xylor. The Trinarians have chosen Zynarel, and for the Symmetra, it will be Liyora. The Erythians will not send an individual but will deploy their sentient weapon, NO: 70. From the Galvinith, Yzara will enter the arena, and the Shadari have selected Zyran. The Elara will be represented by Vaelthar, and the Feryn have sent Lunaris. The Yrral Coalition has opted to field Mecha 765, with its weapons limited to those meeting the established rules...”


    Liasas continued listing the names of the remaining contenders from the other four civilizations. With each name spoken, the members of the Conclave in leadership positions—those with access to intelligence about these individuals—could feel the blood draining from their faces. A sinking realization settled in as the enormity of the situation became clear: each of these contenders was among the top one hundred strongest in their respective civilizations and, at the moment, the most powerful individuals available in the sector.


    The implication was unavoidable—no one on the Conclave''s side was holding back. This was an all-in strategy. The upcoming fight would not be a contest but a brutal demonstration, a one-sided massacre in the making. Many leaders who didn’t decide to fight and had selected the basic agreement suddenly found themselves losing any desire to even witness the battle.


    Among them, the Vlathorins and Xor''Vaks exhibited a different mindset. They were not just excited but elated at the prospect of battling the emperor of the opposing side. For the Vlathorins, defeating Aron Michael would mean regaining their lost honor, a chance to prove their worth in the eyes of their peers. Meanwhile, the Xor''Vaks saw this confrontation as an opportunity to punish those who had dared to speak their leaders'' names in vain, an act they would not forget easily.


    “Are you sure about that?” Liasas asked, her tone now more respectful than before.


    “As far as I remember, the agreement allowed for such situations,” he replied calmly, his demeanor unchanged despite his theoretically higher position.


    “What happens if you lose in the first fight and are unable to continue?” Liasas asked, regaining her composure. It was a question on many minds, as the fight agreement lacked a clause for breaks, apart from the twenty-minute intermissions to check for structural issues in the Colosseum.


    “Should I lose a fight by accepting defeat or die before the next match, you will be considered to have won all subsequent fights,” he answered, demonstrating that he had already contemplated this scenario.


    “Understood. We accept your participation, and you have until the end of the construction period to add more fighters,” she stated respectfully.


    “Thank you,” he replied, standing up and making his way back to his ship, which immediately set course for the Colosseum, where he intended to inspect the completed structure.


    Liasas remained silent, simply watching his ship as it moved away. With the construction of the Colosseum now complete and the participants officially announced, everyone was permitted to explore the arena and familiarize themselves with the surroundings during the testing period. The tests conducted posed no interference with the Colosseum’s operations, allowing participants to assess the layout and prepare for the upcoming matches.