"...What in god's name?"
Right under their noses, In a giant hole 100m in diameter leading to a spherical chamber kilometers wide, stood a giant temple, though it was a few kilometers below ground level, it's beautiful, almost sandy color were still a sight for sore eyes to the contestants, who had all gathered here after all that noise, and as they stared at the mysterious temple, they began to notice It's architectural prowess, some even beginning to tear up from just looking at it...
Of course, this was the Pantheon, It's beauty even more pronounced under direct sunlight, and every single detail was revealed to the world, of course, what a small world, with only a few thousand people...
finally, a few seconds of silence, some more clever contestants started to connect the dots, and began to shout:
"This must be the... The inheritance of Hugo Raylei! It must contain some legendary card or skill! G-get out of the way! I'll be the first one to get it!"
"Kuuaaaah!! With your scrawny ass?! I'll kill you before you even take a step inside that place!!"
"Who do you think you are you motherfucking man-sissy?! I'll shove my sword up your throat first!"
As chaos ensued from their scuffle, other contestants also started to realize the opportunity that presented itself before them, and they started to get into fights too, while some contestants tried to be cheeky and snuck through the crowd, trying to get in that way, of course there were those that had combat based mortal cards and just tried brute-forcing their way into the pantheon...
-----at the edge of the opening-----
"Hehehe... Hahahah!! Never did I expect such a pleasant surprise, you sure are my lucky star, Anne! First, an inheritance with such a versatile spell set, and then this; The actual inheritance of Hugo Raylei..."
"Be careful, Mika... Do not throw caution to the wind, that shield was enough of a warning, even with our buff,"
As the bandit, who's name was revealed to be Mika spoke, her sister Mirca suddenly warned her. Hearing this, Mika frowned and asked:
"Even with our effect? your『Stanley Knife』couldn't destroy that flimsy shield?"
"It didn't even flicker,"
Mirca answered the question, and seeing her confirmation, Mika frowned even harder. Then whispered softly:
"Better get that inheritance then kill them then, let's go Mirca, we have an inheritance to steal,"
In a flash, they disappeared for the temple, with their dresses fluttering in the wind as they fell down the hole, leaving behind Anne and Lukas to stare at them blankly. Suddenly, Anne shook herself from her reverie, and asked Lukas:
"Lukas, didn't you increase the suit of your card? use that skill,"
"『Card Identification』?"
"Mn, That card those sisters held were strong, even though my shield didn't crack, it was from a mortal god creature I killed, and that move was only mortal grade,"
Saying this, Anne shivered a little, as even though it looked like her shield didn't budge, that was only because it was strategically meant to intimidate enemies, in actuality, half of it's durability was consumed. Agreeing to her proposal, Lukas's eyes started to glow a deep shade of purple and after a few seconds saw the cards of the sisters:
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『Charlotte, Scissor Sister』/ 『Linda, Scissor Sister』
Owner: Mirca Mulhall
Class: Mortal
[Possessive]
Cost: 350 Mana/hour
Health increase: 10
power increase: 50
[Summoned]
Cost: 1,000 Mana, Head and penis of a man, 34 years of age, virgin and impotent.
Health: 200
power: 500
Skill(Charlotte): Stanley Knife, shoot a beam of light capable of disintegrating Bedrock(Usable in both Possessive and summoned)
skill(Linda): Jackhammer, swing your hammer to the ground, apart from『Charlotte, scissor sister』everyone in a 15m radius will be knocked down.
Passive skill: Whenever within 10 meters of the owner of『Linda, Scissor sister』gain double health and power.
-Yahahaha! Me knife, me blade, me axe, me spade. Kill, kill, kill, kill!!!-
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"So that's why, they had a passive skill..."
"U-um, sis... shouldn't we be chasing them? there's also that inheritance"
As Anne finished reading their card's stats, Lukas sounded her out by questioning their next actions, she realized her blunder and quickly handed Lukas another flying potion and urged him to drink it, before drinking one herself. After throwing the potions away, they both flew down the giant hole. Of course, as they were spending time talking, other people started to enter the chamber as well, though they weren't as speedy as either Lukas or Anne or the sisters who were using a large leaf to float down after their fall.
As the brother and sister duo were flying to the temple, One of the people travelling down, a man hovering using a giant chicken to hover, shouted aloud:
"Look, those players are flying, kill them or they'll take the inheritance! Hurry!"
Seeing where the man pointed at, the other contestants started noticing the siblings as well, and after a few moments of indecision, took out bows and arrows and started firing. Of course since the speed of the siblings were relatively fast due to the pull of gravity, none of the arrows struck true, and they just wasted their arrows in vain.
"Players...?"
Curious as to why they were called players, Lukas looked at Anne, and gestured for an answer, she saw his abnormal look and understood what he meant immediately, and explained:
"It has something to do with this world's hierarchy, just like there are with cards, there are with people too; it goes something like this: Player, Dealer, Card Magi, King of Kards, Joker, Card Arbiter, Grand Arbiter, they correspond to our power measured by our card, fame, inheritance etc."
"So why did Isabelle call me a grand arbiter?"
"This is because you were the chosen inheritor of the previous grand arbiter,"
"...The?"
"Yes, the. There is only one Grand Arbiter in all 7 planes of existence, at least that's what my guide told me... Look, we're almost there, get ready to land,"
As they finished their conversation they landed right next to the entrance of the Pantheon. Looking at the building, both siblings were shocked once again by it's beauty, but more so the pressure it emitted that they couldn't feel kilometers away from it.
After a few seconds of standing still, they finally worked up the courage to go in, as they were the second ones in, they still couldn't be sure it was absolutely safe, so they continued to keep their guard up when entering. Slowly, they reached a giant hall, it's structure in the shape of a dome, and a few meters from them, there were the 2 sisters, who were looking at a statue, seeing who it was, Lukas was surprised, as it was Hugo, like the one from the city square.
Next to the statue, there was a stele, which the 2 sisters were studying, hearing the entrance of Lukas and his sister, they looked back and although Anne's presence made Mirca flinch, Mika was entirely focused on Lukas, suddenly she asked:
"You... Is your name Lukas?"
"Yes, what of it?"
"Hmm, hmm... Are you the Lukas... on this here stone?"
As she said that, she made way for them and Lukas could see the stele, his eyes suddenly widened as he saw the name on the stele, "Lukas..."
"W-why is my name on there, this must be a different Lukas,"
"No, No, It is you... I fully intended it to be you... Lukas von Falken."
As Lukas was confused at why his name was on the stele, a mysterious voice belonging to a male sounded from the chamber. All of a sudden, fog started to form at one side of the chamber, the north side, where the checkered floor was...
Slowly, a figure started to form, His face, chiseled and his eyebrows a perfect shape, he had a small smile on his face, he was... Hugo Raylei!! As Hugo finished forming he looked straight at Lukas and spoke, his tone of voice mellow and deep:
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lukas. I've not been waiting in vain,"
"W-who are you, why do you know my name?"
"You could say our meeting was fate... As to why I know, all in due time, right now, what you want... is my inheritance, Isn't that right?"
This time, Lukas firmly nodded. Seeing such determination, Hugo couldn't help but smile, before turning to everyone in the room, then in a commanding voice, called out:
"So come... Beat me at my own game. Take my inheritance for yourself, challengers, and show me something beautiful!"