Location: Stadium of the Sacred Flame, Natlan
Current Form: Human
Status: Stretching, eating volcanic rocks, ready to brawl
The three days of preparation passed in a blur of heat and anticipation. The entire nation of Natlan had gathered at the Stadium. The Children of Echoes, the Scions of the Canopy, the People of the Springs - every tribe was there.
They weren't there for a festival. They were there to witness history.
The Pyro Archon vs. The First Harbinger vs. The Gluttonous Sovereign.
In the locker room, Raiden was finishing his pre-game meal.
"Are you... eating a rock?" Paimon asked, watching him crunch down on a chunk of glowing obsidian.
"It's not just a rock," Raiden swallowed. "It's a Phlogiston-infused Geo Cluster. I need the mineral density. Capitano hits hard. Like, 'delete a mountain' hard. I need my bones to be harder than bedrock."
Aether looked nervous. "Mavuika is strong. You are strong. But Capitano... Nahida said the Top Three Harbingers possess power comparable to gods. And he is Number One."
"Number One just means he's the biggest target," Raiden stood up, dusting crumbs off his black scale-coat. "Don't worry, Traveler. If I lose, just tell Hu Tao to give me a discount on the coffin."
"That's not funny!"
The arena was silent. No announcers. No music. Just the crackling of the Sacred Flame.
Mavuika walked out first. She wore her full Archon regalia, her hair glowing like molten lava. She carried a massive claymore that radiated the heat of a sun.
Il Capitano walked out second. He removed his heavy coat, revealing pitch-black armor with blue accents. He wore no Vision. He held no weapon. He was the weapon.
Raiden walked out last. He walked casually, hands in his pockets, yawning.
The three titans stood in a triangle in the center of the arena.
"The rules are simple," Mavuika announced, her voice echoing without a microphone. "The Gnosis is the prize. We fight until submission or inability to continue. Killing is... discouraged, but accidents happen."
"Agreed," Capitano nodded.
"Can we start?" Raiden cracked his neck. "I skipped breakfast for this."
Round 1: The Human vs. The God
"I shall test the Archon first," Capitano stated.
He moved.
It wasn't speed. It was instant transmission via sheer physical torque. One moment he was standing still; the next, his fist was inches from Mavuika's face.
BOOM.
Mavuika blocked with her claymore. The impact created a shockwave that shattered the glass in the VIP boxes. The ground beneath Mavuika cratered, turning to dust.
"Good," Capitano praised. "You have maintained your edge, God of War."
"I'm just getting started!" Mavuika roared.
She swung her blade. [Pyro Archon Art: Incineration].
A wave of fire engulfed Capitano. The heat was intense enough to melt steel instantly.
Capitano didn't dodge. He swiped his hand.
The fire parted. He physically slapped the flames away.
"What?" Paimon gasped from the stands. "He slapped the fire?!"
"He's using Cryo," Raiden observed, his eyes glowing silver. "But no Vision. No Delusion. That's innate elemental control. Or... something else."
Capitano punched Mavuika in the gut. The Archon flew backward, crashing into the arena wall. She laughed, wiping blood from her lip.
"Heavy! I felt that one in my soul!"
Round 2: The Monster Enters
"My turn," Raiden said.
He vanished. [Shadow Step].
He appeared behind Capitano. [Void Impact: Sucker Punch].
Raiden threw a punch aimed at the back of Capitano's head.
Capitano didn't turn around. He caught Raiden's fist over his shoulder.
CRACK.
The air pressure dropped.
"Sneak attacks?" Capitano turned his head slowly. "Practical. But ineffective."
"I call it efficiency," Raiden grinned.
He grabbed Capitano's wrist with his other hand. He pulled.
[Gluttony: Energy Drain].
Raiden tried to suck the stamina out of the Harbinger.
Nothing happened.
"Oh?" Raiden blinked.
"My power is not borrowed," Capitano said. "It is forged. You cannot drain what is sealed within my will."
Capitano headbutted Raiden.
CLANG.
It sounded like two church bells colliding.
Raiden stumbled back, clutching his forehead. "Ow. Is your helmet made of Wolverine bones?"
Capitano didn't let up. He unleashed a flurry of punches. Left, right, body, uppercut. Each blow was heavy enough to kill a Geovishap.
Raiden blocked, parried, and tanked.
BAM. BAM. BAM.
"Great Sage! Analysis on his armor!"
"Analysis failed. Material unknown. Likely extra-terrestrial or Abyssal alloy. Recommendation: Hit harder."
"Thanks for the tip!"
Raiden caught a fist. He coated his own hand in [Dragon Scales] and [Armament Haki].
"DRAGON CLAW!"
Raiden slashed across Capitano's chest.
SCREEE.
Sparks flew. The black armor was gouged. Capitano slid back ten feet, his boots carving trenches in the stone.
"You cut the armor," Capitano looked at the scratch. "Impressive. No mortal has done that in centuries."
Capitano straightened up. Blue energy began to leak from the cracks in his armor.
"You are a Sovereign," Capitano said. "A being of the Old World. You believe power comes from authority. From the elements."
He clenched his fists. The arena began to freeze. Not just cold - Absolute Zero.
"I believe power comes from the Human Spirit. The refusal to yield. The will to defy the Heavens."
Capitano removed his mask.
Underneath... was void.
Not a face. A dark, swirling blue void with two glowing white stars for eyes.
"He has no face!" Kachina screamed.
"He's not human," Raiden realized. "Or rather... he's what humans become when they refuse to die for too long."
"System Alert. Threat Level Updated: Catastrophe Class. Entity: Il Capitano. Nature: The Bloodstained Knight? The Strongest Human? Error. Classification: THE APEX."
"Phase Two," Capitano announced.
He summoned a sword made of pure Cryo energy.
"Glacial Waltz."
He swung.
The entire stadium froze. The Sacred Flame flickered, almost extinguished by the sheer cold pressure.
Mavuika burst from the rubble, flaming. "Don't you dare put out my fire, Captain!"
She charged. Raiden charged.
Two against one.
Raiden realized brute force might take too long. And he was getting hungry.
"Mavuika!" Raiden shouted. "Keep him busy! I'm going to try something stupid!"
"I love stupid!" Mavuika unleashed a sun-flare attack.
Raiden leaped into the air. He hovered above the frozen arena.
"Great Sage. Can we eat his attack?"
"Analysis. The Cryo energy is condensed Willpower. It is difficult to digest. Probability of stomach ache: 80%."
"Do it."
Raiden opened his mouth.
[Ultimate Skill: Beelzebuth — World Swallower].
A massive black vortex opened behind Raiden.
Capitano looked up. "You intend to consume the battlefield?"
"Just the ice!" Raiden roared.
He sucked.
The glacial ice covering the arena shattered and flew into Raiden's mouth. The absolute zero temperature was absorbed.
Raiden turned blue. Then white. Then back to normal.
Burp.
"Minty freshness," Raiden grinned.
He pointed his hand at Capitano.
"[Ice Magic: Glacial Return]."
Raiden fired Capitano's own freeze energy back at him, mixed with Void Lightning.
Capitano raised his sword to block.
BOOM.
The explosion engulfed the Harbinger.
Dust settled.
Capitano stood there. His armor was cracked. His cape was torn. But he was still standing.
Mavuika was panting, leaning on her claymore.
Raiden was floating, wiping sweat from his brow.
"He's a tank," Raiden muttered. "A literal tank."
Capitano lowered his sword. The blue void of his face seemed to... smile?
"Excellent," Capitano's voice rumbled. "I have not felt this alive since the Cataclysm."
He looked at the Sacred Flame. It was burning brightly again, fueled by the intense combat energy in the room.
"The Flame is fed," Capitano noted. "The Ode of Resurrection is secure."
He sheathed his sword.
"I withdraw."
Mavuika blinked. "What?"
"The duel is a draw," Capitano stated. "If we continue, we will destroy Natlan. My objective was to ensure the nation's survival against the Abyss. You have proven you can defend it. And..."
He looked at Raiden.
"...You have proven that the Gnosis is safe in your hands, should the Archon fall."
"You're giving up?" Raiden landed. "Just like that?"
"I do not fight meaningless battles," Capitano turned his back. "The Gnosis remains with the Pyro Archon. For now. But know this, Dragon."
He paused at the exit tunnel.
"The Tsaritsa's plan enters its final stage. When the Old World burns... choose your side wisely. We will meet again in Snezhnaya."
He walked into the shadows and vanished.
The crowd was silent for a solid ten seconds. Then, they erupted.
"THEY DEFENDED THE FLAME!"
"THE CAPTAIN RETREATED!"
"THE DRAGON ATE THE ICE!"
Mavuika slumped onto the ground, laughing. "Hah! That guy... he's impossible. He held back, didn't he?"
"We all did," Raiden sat next to her. "If he went 100%, and I went 100%, this continent would be a crater."
"True," Mavuika slapped his back. "But hey! We kept the Gnosis! And nobody died!"
"I'm starving," Raiden groaned. "Fighting him burns so many calories. I need a cow. A whole cow."
Kinich and Kachina ran onto the field.
"You guys were amazing!" Kachina cheered.
"You destroyed half the arena," Kinich pointed at the craters. "The repair costs will be astronomical."
"Send the bill to the Fatui," Raiden waved his hand.
Later that evening, Mavuika handed Raiden something.
It wasn't the Gnosis. It was a glowing red stone.
"The Heart of the Volcano," Mavuika said. "It's a crystallized chunk of ancient pyro energy. Consider it a snack."
Raiden took it.
Crunch.
"Spicy," Raiden's eyes glowed. "Tastes like victory."
"So," Mavuika leaned against the railing. "You're heading to Snezhnaya next?"
"Yeah," Raiden looked north. "The Tsaritsa. The Cryo Archon. The God of Love who has no love left. I need to see what she's cooking."
"Be careful," Mavuika warned. "Snezhnaya is cold. And the Fatui there... they won't play games like Capitano."
"I have a coat," Raiden grinned, tapping his scale-armor. "And I have an appetite."
He turned to Aether.
"Ready for the snow, Traveler? I hear the Tsaritsa has a very nice chair. I wonder if it's edible."