No... that presence...
The smoke and dust swiftly dispersed in the golden flames.
At the center of the enormous crater, a figure that made every Drukhari's soul tremble slowly straightened.
He towered like a Titan, his entire body forged from flowing gold and an unknown alloy. Fierce golden flames blazed over him, seeming almost alive as they hungrily devoured the darkness and suffering in the surrounding air.
And in his arms, he held a figure familiar to many of the veteran spectators present.
The golden giant released his hold, gently setting the woman in his arms down.
Yvraine straightened her slightly disheveled robes, drew the Sword of Sorrows, and stood beside the giant. Her red hair shone like blood in the light of the golden fire.
"Is that... Yvraine?"
High on the viewing platform, Vect exclaimed in surprise. But a moment later, his face broke into a wildly excited smile unlike any he had worn in thousands of years.
"And that... big fellow. The one who saved Biel-Tan?" Vect's intelligence network spanned the galaxy, so of course he knew about recent major events. "That so-called... Ember?"
"Hahahaha!!"
Vect suddenly burst into wild laughter, rocking back and forth and nearly laughing himself to tears.
"Interesting! Absolutely fascinating! Now this is the surprise I wanted!"
He slammed the all-channel broadcast switch on his throne's armrest.
"Ladies! Gentlemen! And all you slaves with a death wish!"
Vect's resonant voice, brimming with wicked charisma, instantly rang throughout the Gladiatorial Arena, drowning out even the roar of the golden flames.
"It seems our show has welcomed a heavyweight guest! An intruder who calls himself a god! Along with our former gladiatorial champion, the daughter of the god of death!"
Vect was a born demagogue and a gambler to the core. He knew that showing panic