Chapter 64 – First Seat vs. Tenth Seat

A FEW MOMENTS EARLIER, Melody and Ra were somewhere in the Aeternas Kingdom’s lower zone after the latter invited the former for a talk about the Pit Valley Incident.

A few days ago, Catriona contacted the Supreme Council and requesting for their support in catching Nobunaga.

A few hours later, Supreme Council airships arrived and witnessed the massive destruction in the Pit Valley and immediately scattered mages to contain the Rakshasa mana and essence and to help the nearby kingdoms affected by the shock wave.

Melody made a detailed report about what happened, including the possible way to defeat Nobunaga whom everyone thought, for the longest time, was immortal. Melody didn’t hide the fact that she used Nobunaga’s own attack against him though, which caused the devastating explosion.

“We could have prevented that explosion,” Melody said in retrospect. She couldn’t help but feel accountable for what happened.

“And let Nobunaga kill you all?” Ra gazed at her with an empathetic look. “Trust me, anyone from the council would do the same. Nobunaga is a grave threat to our world after all.”

“But thousands were injured. There was a lot of damage.”

“And we managed to heal everyone and fix everything. You no longer have to worry about it. Besides, no one died. Except for those two unlucky victims. But it was not your or your team’s fault.”

Melody looked at Ra. Despite his age, he acts and thinks like a real grown-up. Heck, Melody was even older than him. Was he really that wise?

“Okay. What is your deal?”

Ra looked at him confused. “W-What do you mean?”

“I mean, look at you. You’re just the same age as Daisuke, Ariyani’s avatar. You are the youngest member of the Seat occupants—the First Seat occupant for that matter. How? And why?”

Ra laughed. “Come on, Melody. We all know that you are supposed to be in the First Seat. Do you want the First Seat?”

“No! Heck no,” Melody intensely shook her head. “I’m just…curious. You are the one the council is pitting against Odin and Zeus. Your predecessor should have been shouldering that burden, or at least the members of Ennead, not an eighteen-year-old kid like you.”

“Well, thank you for your concern. But the old Ra is…well…literally old and decided to retire. And yes, we are at the disadvantage. But that is where all of you come in. I will need your help. I cannot check and balance Odin and Zeus on my own.”

Melody and Ra were looking at Miho, Pirouette, and Ashe preparing to fight one Guardian each.

“Melody, we need a plan about dealing with Nobunaga. Your theory about him being vulnerable to his own Rakhanos power could be the key.”

Melody was listening to him. But she couldn’t shake off the idea of just how strong this new Ra was. She must find out on her own. And seeing her friends beat up Aeternas Guardians, she was also itching for a fight.

“How about we discuss that while having a friendly match?” Melody offered.

Ra looked at her confused. Again. “A what now?”

“I need to see it for myself. Of how strong you truly are,” Melody’s hands began to glow pink.

“Uhh…I don’t think that would be necess—”

Melody opened his left palm wide and tried to grab Ra.

Ra managed to duck and leaped backward, avoiding Melody’s touch.

“You’re quick. That's a given.”

Ra was kneeling. The wind spun around him. And his brown eyes and brown hair turned golden as the sun. Unique patterns appeared on his face as well near his eyes. Golden mana started to shroud him. His usual normal friendly look started to become more serious. More mature.

He stood up and looked at Melody. “What are the stakes? It would be boring if we just spar and discuss without anything to gain for both sides, right?” Even the tone of his voice changed. He was no longer the considerate and humble seat occupant. It was as if he was possessed by another person.

“There’s the big guy…” Melody felt the change in Ra. The tone of his voice, his facial expression. And the radiant mana he was exerting. She looked around and it seemed that no one else was sensing his mana. Now that was one great mana control. Melody took a mental note of that. “Thank you for accepting my challenge, Ra. How about we move elsewhere, to avoid damaging the kingdom?”

“Precisely. To the sky then,” said Ra as mechanical wings materialized on his back. In a matter of seconds, Ra was now in the sky higher than the aevi.

“Great. Now I have to fly,” Melody sighed as she focused a considerable amount of mana on her back. A few moments later, translucent pink-feathered wings materialized on her back, and she followed Ra.

At the sky, Ra looked impressed at Melody. “As expected. You really are living up to your reputation, Queen of Broken Glass.”

“You know how much I hate that moniker. As for the stakes: I win and you will accept my resignation from the Supreme Council.”

“And if I win, I will accept Blaize’s resignation and you will replace him as the Second Seat.”

“Fair enough.”

The First Seat and the Tenth Seat clash.

* * * * *

What’s supposed to be a friendly match turned into a high-stake battle, at least for them, between the two of the most powerful people in the world of Laniagaea.

Ra knows exactly how Melody’s Karma works. He may have the advantage of choosing the sky battle, but he could not afford to get touched by her hands.

As their fists clashed, shockwave disrupted the clouds. Melody seemed to be unfazed by Ra’s strength. She immediately followed up with her open left hand and tried to grab Ra.

Ra used his mechanical wings to dodge by going upwards, Melody immediately followed him.

Air was getting thinner. Frost was starting to cover Melody. It became more difficult to breathe and fly. But Ra seemed to be alright.

Melody used her speed to quickly close the distance. As she suspected, Ra’s mana radiated no ordinary heat. It was somewhat revitalizing. She quickly released a barrage of jabs, occasionally trying to grab Ra, not letting him make a distance.

Ra, however, managed to deflect her attacks and dodged her grabs. Ra then materialized his signature spear and used it to counterattack. “My turn.”

The Spear of Ra glowed with golden light. Melody could feel the intense heat from the spear and immediately focused on defense.

Every stab by Ra makes the spear release light in the shape of a spear or rod. Melody knew that one hit from the spear would be fatal. Ra was not holding back.

Melody was clearly at the disadvantage, so she had to take the fight somewhere she wouldn’t need to fly. Melody released her pink-feathered wings and quickly descends. Ra immediately followed her.

A few seconds later and they landed on the back of an unsuspecting aevum. The aevum’s back was almost rocky with no sign of skin. Melody immediately used the ability she used when she fought Nobunaga. Unique patterns appeared on the back of her hands which spread to her entire body until she became shrouded with pink mana.

Ra responded by materializing a full mechanical suit with the head of a falcon. His mechanical wings grew larger. He then made it curve and extend upwards until the tip of the wings met above. As soon as the tips met, the wings changed color from red and silver into bright gold that radiated light and heat with the hole in the center turning into a gradient of the sun’s color—Ra’s well-known Sun Disk.

Melody braced herself as Ra charged at her.

* * * * *

The new recruits were filling themselves and enjoying the company of the Supreme Council seat occupants and Melody’s friends when Ra and Melody arrived, much to everyone’s surprise.

“Melody!” her friends greeted her with shock on their faces.

“What happened to your face?” Catriona looked at her swollen face.

“Ra bullied me,” said Melody as she pointed a finger at Ra, much to his astonishment.

Melody’s friends exerted pressure that made everyone jump from their seats.

“H-Hey! What are you talking about?! You’re the one who challenged me!”

Miho started to lick Melody’s face which miraculously healed the swollen face. As soon as Melody’s face was back to normal, she looked at Ra and made a raspberry as if she was a kid.

“Come on girls, let’s go to the bathhouse!” Melody suggested. Her friends gladly followed.

Ra looked at Merlin. “Seriously, I will never understand that woman.”

“Let's just be thankful that she's on our side,” said Hugo.

“Wh-What happened?” asked Merlin. Everyone was eager to know as well.

Ra told them about the friendly match he and Melody had earlier, with him winning the match. He also told them about a plan he and Melody thought would potentially end Nobunaga's threat.

“Ho-ho. You won against the Queen of Broken Glass?” Hugo said, impressed with the outcome.

“Anyway, I am accepting Blaize’s resignation from the Supreme Council. After all, he was already happy with his life on Maria Island and he made sure to have her daughter, who currently accompanies the avatar of Ariyani, the Rose Pendant.”

“What? So the Second Seat will be vacant?” asked Gallant.

“I offered it to Melody. I mean, we all know she’s supposed to be the First Seat anyway—”

Hugo, Gallant, and Merlin agreed as they nodded their head.

“—but still, it occurred to me that it might be unfair for everyone. So, we settled on a compromise. To be fair, everyone will move one seat up, which means we need to find a new Tenth Seat. I’m expecting all current Seat Occupants to present a referral. Please notify the rest, Merlin.”