Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Colosseum (2)
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8:30 a.m. An alarm rang on my Status.
E-Rank Ladder. Match venue notice for Kai.
3v3. 9:20 a.m. F Arena.
Opponent: Derren (0 matches, 0 wins, 0 losses)
3v3. 9:30 a.m. E Arena.
Opponent: Koyuz (2 matches, 2 wins, 0 losses)
3v3. 9:50 a.m. A Arena.
Opponent: Reina (4 matches, 3 wins, 1 loss)
3v3. 12:00 p.m. D Arena.
Opponent: Rosa (2 matches, 0 wins, 2 losses)
3v3. 12:20 p.m. D Arena.
Opponent: Seowan (0 matches, 0 wins, 0 losses)
Please arrive by 5 minutes before match start. Failure to arrive before the scheduled time will result in automatic forfeit and a one-week ban from matches.
It even kindly listed my opponents—and their records, no less.
I'd naturally chosen 3v3 matches. There were probably some weirdos out there who hyper-focused on powering up a single high-rank Valkyrie for 1v1s, but still.
3v3 was the most reliable way to rack up wins.
Fortunately, it looked like I could squeeze in all five matches today.
Among my opponents, the ones that concerned me were Koyuz and Reina. Reina especially—she already had three wins, so if she nabbed two more before facing me, she'd promote to D-rank and our match would get canceled.
As long as that didn't happen, the timings were manageable. I figured I could hit D-rank by the end of the day.
Muttering the opponents' names from the notice under my breath, I headed into the Colosseum.
This time, instead of the left side, I went straight to the spectator seats.
My first match was at 9:20, but there were sixteen teams—thirty-two pilots total—fighting at 9:00 and 9:10.
If I got lucky, one of my opponents might be among them. Scouting their Valkyries ahead of time would definitely help.
Knowing their comps and counters in advance was a huge edge in winning.
Sure, higher ranks meant more Valkyries in play, making it harder to predict. But at E-rank, they probably didn't have massive rosters, so it'd be useful.
Moving to the spectator area, I hit a ticket booth and bought a pass for 9:00 to 10:00.
I'd figured E-rank matches wouldn't draw crowds, but plenty of people were there to watch.
Stepping inside the Colosseum revealed arenas of staggering scale.
About the size of Gocheok Sky Dome. It looked imposing from outside, but up close, the atmosphere was utterly overwhelming.
Looking down from the stands, I saw eight separate arenas below, designed so every seat had a clear view of all action.
Each arena's center had a stage for commentators or hosts to run the show.
Opponents sat facing each other across monitors, with massive screens overhead displaying everything for the crowd.
The screens were square, visible equally from all directions—east, west, north, south.
Split into nine panels.
Panel five showed crowd shots or commentators; the rest, one through nine minus five, covered arenas A through H.
At 8:55, two commentators—a man and a woman—took the central stage and kicked things off.
The man's words snapped me to attention. Come to think of it, I'd barely paid mind to dates.
Valkyrie Year 10, March 26—that was today.
Meaning ten years, three months, and twenty-six days since Valkyries entered the world.
They still hadn't fully integrated into society. Not that it was too late to catch up.
Sixteen pilots entered their arenas and settled in, per the woman's cue.
The screens displayed opponents' names—including two of mine: Reina and Derren.
They were in B and F Arenas. Time to focus on those.
At 9:00 sharp, pilots started registering Valkyries.
3v3 rules: No duplicate Valkyries.
If they pick first, you can't use it.
You alternate registering five each; they ban two of yours.
Bans are name-only—no levels or ranks shown. Guess the class and ban accordingly.
I checked Reina and Derren's picks.
Reina: four B-ranks, one A-rank. Derren: three B-ranks, two C-ranks.
That was the gap in so-called "talent." More high-ranks meant better odds.
Then things got absurd: Reina's opponent didn't ban her A-rank.
'Seriously? Don't even know A-rank names?'
I was speechless at the sheer incompetence.
As expected, Reina crushed. Derren fought hard in his arena but lost anyway.
Next, at 9:10: Koyuz and Rosa. Rosa couldn't even fill C-ranks—threw out Ds.
'Might as well grind levels instead.'
The thought reminded me of Isteir.
Now I got why she'd warned me. A week-old pilot nosing around the Colosseum must've irked her.
Any lingering resentment melted away. Sure, she'd snapped at our first meeting, but she'd healed Sua and warned me this place was dangerous.
She's not a bad person. That was my take now.
Koyuz picked two A-ranks; opponent had none. Obvious win.
My match was up soon, so I didn't watch to the end—but picks alone told the story.
Checked Status and headed to F Arena.
Usher said the prior match wasn't over, so I waited in the lounge. Derren arrived soon after.
On the dot, we entered.
"Good luck."
Derren offered a handshake. Must've stung losing twice today, yet he carried himself with grace.
Seemed decent enough, but like Isteir said—prep first if you're not ready.
I shook his hand.
"Good luck to you too."
We entered through the same door, sat across monitors.
Placed Status on the designated spots, as instructed.
Speaker prompted Derren to pick first.
We alternated.
Picks went through Status only—no broadcasting your roster.
Privacy seemed solid.
My lineup: Sua, Garujan, Heiji, Holla, Elastra.
Derren picked like before; for his two bans, he targeted my frontliners.
Once done, two Valkyries vanished from my five on-screen.
A gasp from across: 'Gasp!' Left with two DPS and a healer—no front line.
He banned Heiji and Elastra from mine, so I had a balanced front, DPS, healer.
Match ended in seconds.
Low levels, probably—Garujan's autoattacks one-shot them.
Commentator's voice boomed.
Post-match handshake with Derren. Two losses today left him deflated, unlike our first encounter.
Wanted to say 'Come back better prepped,' but it'd sound like picking a fight. Swallowed it and left.
Quick finish—I reached E Arena five minutes early for the next.
3v3s wrapped in about five minutes from pick to end, so E-rank ran every ten.
Arriving at E, Koyuz showed up late.
He'd played 9:10 and 9:20—now 4-0.
Beat me, he'd hit E-rank promo. Fat chance.
Koyuz, red short hair, eyed me smugly.
"Beat Derren in your first? Lucky break. Drawing a noob like that."
Two A-ranks must've gone to his head.
"Anyone here not a beginner?"
He'd gone casual; so did I.
"Nah. Just trash like you—and real ones like me."
Pointing at me, fuming.
All high and mighty. Teaching him his first loss might do him good.