Harem Tournament of Champions

Making a thrusting gesture with his arm through an object, he gave a creepy smile Wae's way.

Wae took a step back in shock and fear, "I would never, my lord!"

Pushing back his hair, Hisha had a wicked grin. "Sure, I was merely joking..."

Wae chuckled to hide his nervousness.

"... that's if all goes according to normal arrangements and not out of the ordinary."

Gulp!

Kritz glared at the door, understanding Hisha was merely trying to shield him from getting into a brawl with anyone.

"Now, would you get the hell out of my vicinity?! You reek of dead bodies!" Hisha pegged his nose and blew at the air.

Wae's face was contorted in displeasure but had to force a smile. "Of course, I would take a bath, my lord."

Slam!

Dusting his fingers, Hisha looked back at Kritz who seemed to be boiling with restricted actions to be taken against the tribal chief.

"My lord, his invitation sounds too suspicious and planned." Kritz voiced his concern.

Picking up a towel from one of the s-hooks on the wall-mounted metal bar.

Throwing it over his shoulder, Hisha rubbed his hair before he replied. "Since when was that a problem for me?"

[Overconfident host!]

'I learned from the best.'

[...]

Kritz went silent at being reminded of who he was serving, "I apologize for my initial outlook on it."

Waving his hand, Hisha nodded his head, needing to seclude himself so he could view Melody's progress after such a brief break in transmission.

[19:34:44]

'Thanks, HTC.'

A satisfied emoji was put up as a response and a heart-blowing it was to the right.

Hisha cringed as he witnessed his system trying its hardest to get on his nerves.

"That would be all for t–"

Bam!

Hisha stared at Kritz's fisted fingers caught by his palm. Even he was equally shocked by his reflex since he had relaxed his guard and was about to turn to leave when he was attacked by Kritz trying his best to get his goal.

"Aaah!" Kritz groaned in pain as Hisha's grip tightened while pushing against his.

Crrk!

Momentarily looking down at the cracks forming beneath his feet, he gawked at the strength put in trying to force him to submission.

"Ohh! Are we testing our strength?" Hisha had also gotten what had been the thought in the cracks.

Adding a little more effort, Kritz's legs gave way, forcing him to submission and on his knees, letting out a yell in pain before giving up on the struggle.

Bam!

A kick to Kritz's side had him thrown once more to the far end of the room.

Bang!

Hisha winced at how exaggerated that felt even to him.

'Isn't he like the strongest the previous host selected, trained as his closest friend and right-hand man?'

[Are you comparing a Vandrik's incomplete prowess with an immortal with your unique ability?]

Internally facepalming at the words 'incomplete prowess', it was the same Kritz that could still go head-on with seemingly strong individuals.

Groaning, Kritz held his side and let out a low groaning chuckle. "I still have a long way to go."

"Who would have thought you'd resort to a sneak attack?" Hisha teased, watching as Kritz's wounds on his side slowly healed.

'Vandriks do heal at a rapid pace, but why didn't Gregg and the other counterpart?'

[They are connected, sharing and giving Yoru a fraction of their energy had weakened their regenerative capabilities–needing a longer time frame and a medium]

"I will get a chance one day," Kritz vowed with burning desire.

Clap!

Clap!

"I would greatly enjoy that moment," Hisha replied.

Calling on his status, he stared at the user interface.

__________

[Name: Lord Hisha]

[Level: 1006]

[Height: 185cm]

[Position: Supreme Overlord]

[Ability: Replicate]

[Sux: 650/1000]

[Meretrix: 2]

[Points: 13600]

[Exp: 54]

[Total number of your harem: 6237]

_________

'Let me guess, my Sux depletion is because of Alta and majorly Melody's existence.'

[That is correct]

'Hmmm...' Hisha exhaled.

Taking a glance at the others, his eyes were stuck on his points.

'HTC, I never authorized anything that requires a deduction.'

[You did, but you just don't understand it]

'What was that?'

Not wanting to speak without its host figuring it out, it chose not to respond.

'HTC! HTC!' Hisha hissed in his thoughts, hoping to get a response.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Hisha chose to let it slide and focus on leaving.

Stretching out one last time, he pulled on the door handle, looking over his shoulder. "Keep up with it, and you just might get a reward from me."

Kritz's lips curved upwards as his mood elated. 'I will strive to be stronger to be a pillar for your goals!'

*****

In Mertac,

The news about the death of a guard had spread like a raging wave.

"He had been secretly mating with a maiden..."

"It's no surprise that he's dead, he had it coming."

"What about the maiden?"

With a hood casting its dark shadow over her face, Melody looked to her left and then to her right as she pretended to be interested in purchasing a clam shell necklace from a stall.

Sweat dropping at how they hadn't gotten a glimpse of the mermaid in question, inadvertently Mira–the body she was currently possessing.

[What are you doing at the market square?]

'I... I... umm...'

Hisha rubbed his eyes so he could be sure he was seeing a female's hand, he hadn't expected her to be so quick in her change, and out in the open.

[No wonder you were so eager to leave with that mermaid.] Hisha chuckled.

'I had no choice.' Melody spoke in her defense.

Rubbing his chin, Hisha could finally understand why he had gotten a deduction in his points.

"The tavern owner was taken in for questioning."

Melody's head whipped in the direction of the middle-aged merman that had spoken with a grin.

Nudging his friend in the side as he continued, "it's about time they punish the very person who condoned the act! A big win for us!"

Melody let out a sigh of relief, confident in the truth being obscured.

"Wait, wasn't it revealed that attributes of the maiden could be a sign we all should be weary about and report to the guards?"

Melody's heart thumped hard, and her breath hitched at the info, holding onto her trembling hands.

'I blame the original host of this body, she was too flirtatious!' She screamed in disgust, disturbed about maintaining a low-key profile before acting on her new plans.

Repeatedly telling herself that they were speaking only due to a meaningless point of reference.

The arguments between the two had her exhaling in relief, not until one had been so confident to blurt out her description in great detail.

"Light blue long locks with a fringe and bangs." He argued.

All who had been eager to get a scoop on what he had to say suddenly had their hopes crushed.

"How dare you waste our time?"

"You described a fraction of our mermaids!" A draper snapped, turning his attention back to his stall.

Melody let out a sigh of relief, glad he had nothing but a vague lead.

"I was there in that tavern, and the owner was a close friend of mine." He pointed an accusing finger at all of them.

'No, there's something much more he knows, I can't let this continue!' Melody's eyes glinted with a glow.

"Thank you, but I'll come by later." Melody bowed with a bright smile, avoiding making eye contact with the jeweler.

"Young miss, do have it for half the original price–I would give you for 40 silver coins."

'I never wanted to buy this shit, I needed a cover while I gathered my information, but my cover is about to be blown!' Melody's brows twitched.

"No, kind Sir. I realized I'm short of a few coins." Melody gave a nervous chuckle.

With a downcast look, the jeweler nodded his head.

Placing a gold coin on the counter, Melody looked away so she wouldn't catch a glimpse of the jeweler's bulging eyes on the coin she placed.

This was the very coin and a few more she had found in Des' and her current host's clothing.

Knowing of her limited time frame, there was no point in hoarding them.

"I don't need the necklace anymore. How about you use this to get a more open space to get settled?" Melody advised her attention on the merman that was gathered around by curious merfolks.

She needed to act fast before he could spill more than was necessary, banking on his need for attention to explain at length how he might have met the tavern owner.

With tears brimming in his eyes, the jeweler placed a koi fish overlapping a jade pendant in her palm. "Thank you."

Nodding her head, a smile graced her lips, clutching the pendant, she shoved it into her pocket.

Looking over at a fountain in the middle of the market square, a sinister idea came to mind.