Another Stupid Isekai

While Ki\'ray was being showered by compliments from Katri Xel Avakadaisu and repaid with harsh truths from my little lizard, I observed what was outside. I soon learned that even if there were no people present outside the giant, ever-present structure, there was plenty of them inside. We passed by some passageway with a window, and the numbers I saw there, were quite astonishing. The crowds were quite tight and didn\'t stop even for a second.

Later, as our journey continued, I had a few more opportunities to witness a similar view. At least to a point when we actually left the enormous complex, and through a shaft got straight above it. I could finally see the sky, and it was quite different from the one present on earth. Still, blu, but a bit mixed with green.

The surface was filled with buildings. Small and taller, similar to the cities on earth, and streets were filled with vehicles and people. There were also plenty of shops like ours in the sky, flying in different directions.

At first glance, it seemed like total chaos, but the more I observed it, the more order I found.

Eventually, we started descending down into another shaft, going deeper and deeper into another structure. The tunnel was dark, but from time to time we could see some lamps providing the light.

- We will be now going underground to travel vial tunnel - explained our guide. - We need to leave the residential area and go to the royal districts, where the arena is.

- Arena is in the royal district? - asked Boris. - Why not in the residential area, where the people are?

- The first, and the stupidest reason is, to be closer to our ruler. The second and more reasonable one is, that fights sometimes are quite... destructive, so to avoid the collapse of the complex, it should be as far as possible from it. If you are worried nobody will witness your astonishing victory, be at ease. It all is going to be transmitted to the populus. I like that word. It\'s from another one of your languages.

- We know... - said Boris.

- I didn\'t - Ki\'rai pointed out. - What does it mean?

- Populus means people - explained Will.

- You said previously that the fights will be observed by some imperial official and that whole Zor\'xal. Does it mean that they will be present there? - Boris continued with his questions.

- Yes, but if you are thinking of using this to get rid of him, I have to disappoint you. If he dies, then the whole Ixan empire will be after you. Not to mention that he will be heavily guarded, so you might forget about that. I saw several attempts and they all failed.

- You keep repeating yourself about those failures. I\'m starting to wonder if you really hate that whole emperor just as you say you do - I pointed out, looking at her.

- I speak the truth. Even if you would succeed, then you will still have to face Ixan empire. The logical move is to first win your place in the empire, and ensure your safety, then you might start plotting to remove him.

- Whatever you say - I turned back to the window.

My last experiences with wiretapping were making me very suspicious of her. She was plainly talking about rebellion in a vehicle that belonged to the one who supposedly enslaved her race, which was at least very reckless. This combined with her confidence was enough for me to not trust her at all.

Maybe she wanted to bait us into doing something, that would let Zor\'xal gain some kind of advantage over us, and bypass the Ixian laws? It was the only logical reason I could think of, but there could also be more.

Boris continued his questioning, as I focused on the darkness outside. We flew into the underground tunnel, and our vehicle accelerated a lot. The travel went on for around another hour, and then we started slowing down, to soon change direction, and go directly upwards into a shaft, that took us back to the surface.

We found ourselves in a place that looked like some kind of rocky desert. There were mountains on the horizon behind us, blocking the view. Under us was a large plaza, with more of those vehicles parked there, and ahead were vast gardens, surrounded by a high metal fence.

We landed, and left our means of transportation to be led by Katri Xel Avakadaisu to a large gate, with few soldiers guarding it. Those were even bigger than the soldiers we already met, but if they were of the same race was unknown to us, since they were wearing a large suit of armor, gray and blue, covering their whole bodies.

They were holding large spears in their hands.

In the meantime, more ships landed on the parking lot, and our friends and the rest of the hunters started to gather in front of the gate.

- It\'s the royal guard - explained our guard. - The weapons might not look impressive, but let me assure you that the holders are. They are bred and trained just for the purpose of guarding the emperor and can rip apart whole ships with their bare hands.

- Mhm - muttered Boris.

He clearly had similar thoughts of her to the ones I had. Besides, we also could do the things she mentioned, so It wasn\'t that impressive.

Katri Xel Avakadaisu came closer to one of the guards, and poke them in language we couldn\'t understand. There was a short exchange of words between them, and the effect of it was that the gate opened.

- Follow me - she said and started walking through the wide pathway made with large grey plates decorated with golden patterns.

We did as she said. The whole group entered the magnificent garden full of flowers and trees. I glanced quickly to see if the assistants and other non-hunters also were there, and they did. A whole bunch of them. Probably some officials from all around the world were sent to watch and report.