The Totem Rank Giant roared at the Dragon. “Are you looking down on my people? Do you think that I am just going to bring one of my people here to be amusement for the Dragons?”
{We could let them fight.} The Dragon suggested.
“And if he really can kill a Monarch in one hit? What is the difference?” The Giant complained.
Karl was beginning to suspect that this part of the negotiations was actually the most time-consuming portion of the settlement of disputes. They all had different ways of doing things, and the Black Dragon served the Death God, so his suggestion was obviously going to always be to kill someone unless there was something more amusing available.
Sure, the Black Dragons upheld the balance of life and death, but where that balance lay was a bit of a murky topic, and one or two dead wouldn’t sway things too far.
The Archbishop was a healing Cleric aligned with the World Dragon, so he would naturally choose peace in most situations, which meant either a challenge or a nonviolent wager.
Karl didn’t know much about the personality of the others, but they both seemed fairly hot headed. The Black Dragon tapped the ground with a massive onyx claw. {Why don’t you bring out your strongest Monarch, and we will pit him against the Beast Master? That should be fair, right? No matter what skills he has, it shouldn’t overcome your strongest Monarch.}
[We’re totally going to get to loot someone.] Rae cheered.
“No. Pick another challenge.” The Giant insisted.
The Archbishop tapped his staff on the ground to stop their bickering. “I have an even easier suggestion. Why not something less personal? There have been dozens of anomalies in Newbon lately. This one isn’t the sort that we can wager on easily. But if we send a team to one of the others, we can have them race.” The other Totems considered that for a bit. It would be a good way to solve things, but that would involve moving, and none of them trusted the others enough to leave here until the matter was settled.
There were already teams here from three of the four arguing nations. But if the Totems left, it would be a bloodbath for control and not a civilized contest.
[How about a slap fight?] Cara suggested.
Karl chuckled a little, and the Totems all turned to see what was so funny.
“Sorry, one of my friends suggested a slap fight.” Karl chuckled.
The Mountain Giant’s smile spread wide and he nodded happily.
“That’s a wonderful idea. We have contestants here. Do Newbon and the Golden Dragon Nation have a Monarch Rank contestant? We can do best two of three from Commander to Monarch.”
The General nodded. “I can get a contestant here. Standard elimination style?” The Giant nodded, and the Archbishop turned to Karl. “Is your team up to this? Or should we bring someone?”
Karl turned to Ophelia, who smiled. “We’re up for this contest. It should be fun.”
The four Totems silently consulted each other, then nodded.
“This challenge is acceptable.” The leader of the Giants agreed.
Karl looked up at the black dragon, then checked his nameplate using the system interface. It was a white name, denoting a cleric, and simply said [Lord Nacht].
“Lord Nacht, will you be calling contestants?” He inquired, curious to see who the Divine Beasts would send.
{No. The Divine Beast Nation and the Chromatic Dragons will wager on the Golden Dragon Nation being the winner of this contest. You have beasts and the favour of the World Dragon. It is close enough for us.}
The Archbishop sighed, then nodded. “Agreed. If we win, we will share.”
“Bring out your third competitor.” The General insisted, as he opened a portal and brought a Monarch Rank gorilla bodied centaur to them.
That thing barely had a neck, and the body looked like it was a rhino, not a horse. It would be like trying to slap out Thor.
Karl had Remi call one of her Bodyguards, and then gestured to Ophelia.
“I do hope that skills aren’t prohibited, other than attack skills.” He asked.
“Of course not. Skills are what makes it fun. But no attack skills and no barriers. Alright, we have our contestants. Which of the Giants will you choose?” The General replied.
Three Mountain Giants stepped forward, and the black dragon rumbled happily. Then his body seemed to melt and shrink as he transformed into a black robed humanoid that looked eerily like Rae in human form, except male. It was even the same 190 centimetres tall.
“I will referee this match. Starting with the Commanders, we will draw lots for the first match, short straw goes last. The contestants will trade slaps until one is knocked out or forfeits. Then we will have a recovery period before the winner faces the final contestant. If the final contestant wins, the first loser may challenge.” He explained.
Karl patted Ophelia on the shoulder and activated [Haste], [Trollish Regeneration] and [Terrorize] as the extra growth from [Brutality] didn’t stack with her [Berserk Terror] and [Titanic Berserker] skills.
She stepped up to the Black Dragon along with the Commander Rank giant and a burly Bison type Minotaur.
“We’re having a slap fight with a girl?” The Giant chuckled.
“It’s my specialty.” Ophelia joked.
The dragon held out his hand with three sticks, and the contestants pulled.
The Minotaur had a shorter stick with a red stripe on the bottom, giving him the pass, so Ophelia and the Giant would face off first. Her stick had a number one on the bottom, while his had a number two, marking the order of attack.
“Contestants, prepare yourself. The Golden Dragon Nation has drawn the first strike.” The dragon announced.
The Giant did a short stretching routine and then Ophelia raged, activating Berserk Terror, Titanic Berserker and Dire Bear Form all at once, turning her into a seven-metre tall Dire Bear, towering over the five-metre tall Mountain Giant.
One massive paw flashed out, and the Giant was thrown from his feet to land in the dirt, unconscious.
Ophelia rumbled with laughter as the groggy Giant got to his feet, facing the wrong way and staggering away from the contest.
His friends turned him around so he was facing the fight, and stood him in place in front of Ophelia.
As his vision cleared, a look of grim determination took over the confusion, and he lined up his swing for his turn.
The massive palm of the giant caught Ophelia on the cheek, and blood flew from her mouth as her head snapped to the side, but Trollish Regeneration had her back in peak form by the time she had stabilized herself and turned forward again.
She nodded at the Dragon, and the Giant braced himself for the strike.
“Second strike, contestants ready? On your time.” The dragon announced.
Ophelia lined up the strike and smacked the Giant again.
This time, there was a sickening crunch as the Giant spun and fell limp to the ground.
“That is a win for the Golden Dragon Nation.” The Dragon announced.
The other Giants rolled their comrade over, only to find he was out cold with a broken jaw and numerous missing teeth.
The Archbishop of the Golden Dragon Church waved them away with a gust of wind, and cast a healing spell on the fallen contestant.
“He will wake up soon. He is fully healed.”