Chapter 271 - The Ark Of The Gladiators

"All hell broke loose. That's where we learned about these Husks. They look like actual zombies, but with upgrades. And the younger planets stood no chance of survival when they got attacked. Small planets were consumed by the days. Even us Bahamuts had no way of helping them," said Ysabeau.

She was still guilty for not being able to help the weak Mages. Had they, had she responded quicker, things would have gone better.

Or stayed the same, since no amount of things could reverse the damage that those Husks had done. And if Valkyries themselves could not handle it, what made them think that Bahamuts could?

"And the whole thing happened within the span of a month. But the deciding fate of Valokia happened within a single night. The night I became one of the 11 Gladiators. It wasn't an easy task, it was also a rushed job. And I needed the backup of the other 10 Gladiators to pull it off."

"The 11 Gladiators? I thought they were just a myth," asked Bryan.

"I'll turn you into a myth if you don't stop asking weird questions and let her finish," growled Ysabeau.

"Easy there. I'm not a Mage like you lot. Give some time to digest. Besides, all these things are new to me. I can't possibly accept all of this info dump at once. Plus, I like her story and I want her to finish but I need to ask questions as well."

"Don't be so uptight all the time about me."

The nerve of this damned brat...

"I'll digest you if you don't get ahold of yourself and pay attention to the conversation we are having."

"Ysabeau, don't get angry at him. It isn't his fault. He still has a mind of a human. Give the boy a break."

"We've mentioned the Gladiators a couple of times by now. How is it that you only thought to ask this question now?" asked Mavislin, confused at how clueless this human was.

"It slipped my mind. I was trying to grasp how the spell structures work when you brushed about the Gladiators. So, what or who are they? From what I gathered, they were like warriors, right? They existed to fight the other planets which Valokia deemed 'hostile'," asked Bryan.

"Yes and no. I agree with you with the warriors part but I completely disagree on the 'fight other planets' part. First, the Gladiators are the only ones who can use the Final Stage and unleash all Stages if forced to. Second, they are handpicked by the Empress of each generation."

"If the Empress deemed that they were too weak or sick to continue, they would be cast out. But from what I know during my mother's reign, she kept the Gladiators as it was from the previous Empress."

"All the while, each generation has only 11 Gladiators? Then how did you fill in the position? Any requirements other than using the Final Stage?"

The barrage of questions that came out of Bryan's mouth made Mavislin super confused.

"You sound like you want to join the ranks. From what I have been told, you can't get hired from them. And I won't allow you to either," said Mavislin, blinking.

"I just want to know more about them. My mother told me about them and I was interested in them. They sound amazing," said Bryan, slightly blushing.

"Well, I'm glad that you look at us that way. Unfortunately, the Gladiators existed only to defend Valokia from abnormalities. Like against my twin. That's how that Gladiator fell, she was the first to end her own life to protect the citizens from greater harm."

"She sacrificed the one thing that made us powerful, her Elemental Core. Arcadia and the surrounding areas were saved but a Gladiator has fallen. That created and incited fear into the citizens. Chaos ensued as the Husks woke up once more."

"Even the might of the strongest Valkyries could not take him down. It is a wonder how we had faired against him all this time. He must think that we are playtoys," commented Ysabeau, thinking back to the fight.

"But if the Final Stage was used, then why was he still active? You said that the Final Stage could turn the tide of battle," quizzed Bryan.

"I said nothing about the Gladiator using the final spell. She had used a protection spell, Heaven's Wheel: Okeanos. The full moon version, which engulfed the rest of the areas which had Valkyries in them. That required everything from her."

"When a Heaven's Wheel Stage is used at maxed power, it can become deadly to the user. That's why caution must be shown when using any of the Stages."

"Oh... I guess that was remarkable of her to sacrifice herself."