"What is going on?"
BOOM!
"Hahaha! Yes, show me more."
Amber watched dumbly as the being she had wasted so much time and Aether to summon was busy training and laughing with the enemy.
"Hey! What's that move? Pole weapons are meant for stabbing, not twirling. In a high-level battle, useless motions would get you killed," the middle-aged man shouted at Damien. "Now tell me, is this all you can do?"
[COLOR RIOT]
BOOM!
The area around the man exploded, sending him flying. Normally, this would have been impossible, but the man restricted his strength to Damien's level.
[COLOR RIOT (SELF DEVELOPED): Cause any lone color within a range of ten meters to explode]
(A/N: Aether is the energy they use to power their abilities. Lone colors: colors that exist alone, i.e., colors that only exist on one body/object)
"Oh, that was a good one. Now it's my turn."
Amber was about to blow her fuse when she received a voice transmission.
'Don't try anything, kid.'
'Hmm?'
'Haven't you noticed?'
'Noticed what?'
'*Sigh* I've told you multiple times now, be more perceptive of your state.'
'You initially refused this mission because you only care about making money, right? But you later gave in after you were given permission to extend your reach to human cities.'
'Yes, I still don't see what's wrong.'
*Sigh*
'When did your businesses in the human territory start failing?'
'Let's see, it was around three weeks ago.'
'And when did your opponent arrive?'
'Three weeks ago.'
'Do you see it now?'
'But how?'
'Just the way a nature user would be suppressed in the presence of an elf, and a blood manipulator would be suppressed when their opponent is a vampire. People with wealth based abilities or minor versions of the equivalent exchange like you would be heavily suppressed in the presence of one of us.'
'Does that mean?'
'Have you noticed it now? You haven't been able to use your full power since the beginning of this battle. Think, how would a peak C-ranked be suppressed by D-ranks?'
'But I checked it now; the guy's a human.'
'Truth can be a very elusive thing, kid. The one you see now is a clone of a very important person in our race. As a clone, his status is even higher than mine.'
Amber's eyes widened in disbelief.
'For your own good, I would suggest you surrender like your partner and become his subordinate; that's the best choice you would ever make in your life.'
'but!'
'Think of it. You don't care about the war; all you want is to expand your business. Why not join him?'
'But then I'll be against my people.'
'Oh, you're still worried about that. Don't worry; with the way things are flowing, you'll find yourself in the neutral zone very soon.'
The man smiled mysteriously as Amber fell into thought.
'Don't fantasize in front of me.'
BAM!
'Boy, weren't you taught to respect your elders?' The man shouted before continuing his attacks.
__________
Two news items sent the world into an uproar. In the human continent, a group of cybersoldiers defeated a large group of Abyssals in a city, and one of their captains successfully 'tamed' two Abyssal beauties.
Many adventurers, mercenaries, and even soldiers began fervently attacking Abyssals in hopes of building their own harem of Abyssals. If native women were going to act all high and mighty, then Abyssal slaves should do the trick.
The other news that shocked the world was in the vampire kingdom. An Aether-cow beast transformed into a human woman after reaching B-class. The owner claimed that she could already speak when she was just C-ranked, but he decided to hide it, thinking it was weird.
According to him, he found her when she was still a calf, half-dead after being attacked by a pack of Aether wolves. At that time, she was already a peak E-ranked. Shocked by her strength at such a young age, he decided to take her in.
This news was received with even more fervor, especially by beastmen. According to them, this could be a clue about their origins. As for the men of other races...
HAREM KVNG: If native women are acting high and mighty and Abyssal women playing hard to get... then I'd rather get me some cowgirls.
HAREM SAGE: You dolt, getting cowgirls is vanity. Who's to say they won't act like the natives later on? Get some wolves or dogs; loyalty is assured.
HAREM KVNG: @HAREM SAGE Ah, you've opened my eyes to the truth of the world. Take me as your disciple, master.
HAREM SAGE: @HAREM KVNG *SIGH* I'm truly sorry, but I'm currently not accepting disciples. I've yet to fully comprehend the dao of harems.
STUPID MEN SHOULD DIE: @HAREM KING @HAREM SAGE Do not let me catch you in real life. If I do, say goodbye to your useless d**ks.
I HATE PERVERTS: @STUPID MEN SHOULD DIE I'm with you, sister. Let us study the 'dao of d**k cutting' together.
__________
"Captain Peters, we heard you've been able to subdue two female Abyssals. Is this information true?"
" Yes.... it is"