Large puddles of muddy water littered King Khantretakhim's personal town. Zegi attempted to move along without getting stuck.
They placed crates down to use as stepping stones. All of which promptly sunk into the watery soil until mud crept onto the bottom.
But that would have to do for now. A struggle to a problem with a simple solution. However, the Ferals didn't find a struggle in this.
Instead of wondering around on the ground, they scaled homes and sat comfortably in cliques. They talked and joked about their lives and hunts.
Some even led small 'hunts' to help the Zegi out. Which really was just them snatching the lighter males and females and clamping their jaws onto their clothes as they climbed up walls.
Nestres and King Khantretakhim stood out on the porch. They conversed about sending a messenger out to all the other Kings and Noble Minds. So that their revolution against the Nine could begin at once.
Ventelu opened the door quietly and slipped to Nestres' side, his hands holding a puffy white creature. He pat his miniature Trez carefully, making sure she felt his care for her.
While hearing the two talk, Ventelu noticed mounds of mud moving on their own. They splattered on top of each other and shifted as an invisible finger drifted across them.
Ruda cheerfully sculpted faces into his mound of mud and promptly named them. He held tiny conversations with each one he finished, before introducing the newest to the group.
"Beautiful weather after such an intense storm," Befehlnadir commented.
All of them quickly turned to face the brawler. Nestres and Ventelu instantly knew what he was there for, but they decided to hear him first.
Nestres stepped towards Befehlnadir, shoulders broad and eyes narrowed to give himself a menacing look. Something that the Chaos Enabler promptly shrugged off.
"Y'know, after experimenting some more, I started firuging out how cool I really am! Here, check this one out -"
Befehlnadir's veins glowed a bright orange as streaks of golden rays grew across his arms and into his shirt. While he changed, the weather did too.
A heat-wave swallowed the town, quickly drying up the puddles and interrupting Ruda's playtime. Causing Ruda to pout and glare right at Befehlnadir.
"Shora would say you are disrespectful Yonie..." Ruda mumbled.
"Look at how hot I look - pun intended. What do you say Nestres? What about you, my King? Speaking of King, is this it? Where's the mark of your King status and overly complicated city?" Befehlnadir asked.
King Khantretakhim shook her head. "My child -"
"Ah!" Befehlnadir snapped his fingers. "You're a mother, aren't you?"
"I used to be before they left with their father. I visit them when I can. But to answer your earlier question, a King isn't an accomplishment - it's a burden.
My Noble Minds work tirelessly to ensure Koroth isn't pummeled by Goliaths. So we prefer a modest life. Being flashy doesn't make our lives easier," King Khantretakhim replied.
Befehlnadir shrugged. "Can't argue with that. But I can argue behind why I think Nestres should come down here and show me how powerful he is."
Ventelu groaned as he sluggishly stumbled down the stairs. His eyes met with Befehlnadir's, where he saw a replay of his own fight against him just hours earlier.
"Pardon me, King," Nestres excused himself.
He and Ventelu stepped onto the dried soil, which crumbled as they made their way through. Once the trio were just a step away from each other, Nestres reached for Befehlnadir.
Calm breezes swept through two fields. Befehlnadir looked all around him to realize he wasn't in King Khantretakhim's town anymore, but an endless field of boulders and scattered patches of grass.
"Welcome to the Sister Fields, my arena, Chaos Enabler. I know you don't fear being chaotic, but the fear of something so endless and perfect does exist," Nestres called out.
Befehlnadir searched all around for Nestres and Ventelu. Eyes panning quickly between gray rocks and strange formations. Until he looked up.
A field mirrored the one Befehlnadir stood on perfectly. With the only exception being Ventelu and Nestres stood on that one.
"This place is beautiful. So much empty space with many attractions. Like that one formation that looks like a Cemtras... wouldn't they fall down here?" Befehlnadir asked.
Ventelu let Trez go from his palm, allowing her to grow back to full size. The Sky Beast screeched before taking flight, once again glowing in a faint jade aura.
"Occo's law of gravity doesn't apply in arenas. They are anomalies scattered throughout the fabric of reality, meant to bend and break to our Will. So no laws we dislike come through," Nestres clarified.
Befehlnadir chuckled. "Of course, of course. Now are we going to look around, talk, or fight? I came to test you anyway."
Nestres stomped his foot, causing sharpened rocks to erupt from the ground. They traveled in a straight line before abruptly stopping.
A sharp pain caught Befehlnadir's attention to his groin. That's when the rules of the Sister Fields became clear. The fields are twin sisters in every sense of the word.
Whatever happened on one field happens on the other.
Befehlnadir chuckled as he snapped the shard of rock off the rest. He tossed the piece away before grinning like a maniac.
He charged towards the boulder Nestres stood on in the other field, hoping the impact of his attacks would translate onto the mirrored area above.
A jade arrow came lodged itself into a patch of grass that Befehlnadir passed, causing him to suddenly slow down. It felt like having chains wrapped around his ankles and wrists.
Befehlnadir looked down to realize this was the case. Grass hardened and contorted to make green chains meant to impair Befehlnadir's movement.
Nestres manifested his staff before conjuring sigils. They hovered over his hand, glowing a bright white, causing several smaller rocks to hover behind him.
"You came here to test me, Chaos Enabler. So I am going to test you, too," Nestres called out.