KINTSUkuroi
[Chapter XX] - Siule's Gambit (Part I)

"Hahaha... HAHAHAHA! How amusing! Do you really think I'll let it end this way!? After all I've done to fulfil my ambition, do you really think I will allow an ant-sized nobody to thwart my efforts!?" Zeniel bellowed furiously, her breathing becoming heavier as rage continued to build within her.

"I don't think you have much of a choice. Truly, how pathetic you are." a voice was heard coming from the arena's loudspeakers, leaving Zeniel, Nicolas and the thousands of spectators in the grandstands dumbfounded.

The mysterious speaker was revealed soon afterwards as the images in the screens that were displaying the match were replaced by a human face, which confirmed the Human male's thoughts.

"Siule!" Nicolas exclaimed.

"You!" Ciel seethed.

"What's the meaning of this!? Explain yourself at once!" the Blind Titania demanded.

"It'll be my pleasure to do so. Surely you must remember the transmitter I gave you when we first met to discuss how to deal with Savan." Siule spoke calmly.

"Bullshit! I got rid of that thing before killing Savan!" the lilac-haired Giantess retorted.

"I'm certain that you did. However, the transmitter was designed to be able to connect to your brain. I assume you understand what that means. Your senses, your thoughts, your emotions, your body functions. I have full access to all of them, and I can effortlessly monitor your actions thanks to this. As for how I was able to hack the arena's sound and visual systems, that's another one of the transmitter's handy functions. You see, your brain, when influenced by the transmitter, emits a special signal, and the transmitter allows me to freely manipulate all technologically-driven hardware within a certain range from said signal. It is truly a marvel of technological development." the tawny-haired female praised her own handiwork.

"Siule! I will never forgive you for what you've done! And I will never allow Nic to fall into your murderous hands!" Ciel declared, enraged by the mere sight of the mastermind behind her mother's assassination.

"That's about what I expected. I wish there was a way to reach a peaceful resolution, but that seems impossible. However, I do believe that there's a way to at least settle this with as few casualties as possible." the Human female proposed.

"You're delusional if you think I will agree to anything you may propose!" Ciel retorted.

"Enough! I don't care about your little discussion! There's still a bug waiting to meet its end under my sole!" Zeniel interrupted.

"Didn't anyone teach you it's rude to interrupt others when they're speaking?" Siule addressed her in a patronising tone.

"What-GYAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" Zeniel screamed in agony.

"Didn't I tell you just now? I have full access —or rather, full control— of your mind. Can you even begin to imagine how laughably easy it is for me to command your heart to beat at a dangerously rapid pace, or to stop the flow of blood through your body? Right now I just gave you a weak stroke. I could kill you on a whim. But I really don't want it to come down to that. So I suggest you stay put like an obedient little Giantess and allow me to continue my 'negotiation' with Ciel." the green-eyed woman spoke as though having the power to end someone's life at will had no weight in her consciousness.

"Now, back to my proposal, I think neither of us would want another world-scale to break out, now would we? That's why I believe the most fitting way to end this is with a one-on-one confrontation. You and me, a mano-a-mano battle to the death. You win, and you won't have to worry about me taking Nicky away from you ever again. Furthermore, you'll have avenged your mother. But if I win, I will finally claim Nicky as mine, just like it should be!" Siule spoke eagerly.

The crowd fell silent. The leader of the Giants had just been challenged to a fight with no less than her own life on the line.

Ciel was in a very precarious position. Naturally, it was in her best interests to put an end to the threat that Siule represented, and being able to do so without having to risk any lives other than her own sounded like an ideal outcome. And still, her heart was filled with great anguish when she considered that her Nic could end up in Siule's clutches once again. Furthermore, the brown-haired lass had proven to be quite sneaky in her tactics, so who was to say she'd hold her end of the bargain?"

"Like Ciel said, you're delusional if you think we'd allow such a thing to happen! She is our leader! If you want to get to her, you'll have to get through the rest of us first!" Salvius interjected, noticing his daughter's struggle to make a decision.

"Dad..." the black-haired Giant female looked at Salvius.

"I did not speak to you, Deputy Regent. I spoke to your actual Governess." Siule countered.

"That's enough, Siule. This is what will happen: you'll leave Ciel and the rest of the Giants alone, or else I'll fight you myself!" Nicolas warned her.

Siule, who was now able to make out what the male was saying thanks to her having access to Zeniel's improved hearing, seemed slightly shaken by his decision.

"Nicky, you've taken leave of your senses. You think you can possibly oppose me?" the female Human genuinely asked.

"Perhaps not, but I'll protect Ciel or die trying. And if she leaves this world, I promise you, I'm going with her." the male retorted.

"I won't let Nic face you, Siule. I accept your challenge." Ciel declared, earning a loud gasp from the Giants and Giantesses in the grandstands.

"Excellent. We shall fight in three days at 12 a.m. sharp in your own Titan's Arena. I trust that's plenty enough time to evacuate the population in the vicinity? After all, we wouldn't want any outsiders to become casualties in our clash." Siule set the time and place for the battle to take place.

"Very well. I'll see you in three days, then. And in three days, I will kill you." Ciel promised.

"Haha! I look forward to seeing whether you're actually able to pull it off!" the castleton-green-eyed lass taunted before the image in the screens returned to normal.

The spectators in the stands looked at each other, their hearts overcome with anxiety and uncertainty...

The whole place was suddenly filled with a very palpable sense of death.