Villain Retirement

"I'll follow the way my daughter solves things…

…and cull the rest of you. I am certain no one will mind."

"Oh…?"

The faint glow on Queen Adel's eyes turned fiery and wild; wild enough that it caused the variety of lights that lit up the banquet hall to flicker, further amplifying the red glow that stared directly at Jakol.

Jakol seemed to still want to say something, but before he could do so, the other champions from the other planets that agreed with him earlier all started taking their seats one by one. And with the sudden silence and the lights that flickered almost like a countdown, Jakol just took this chance to very slowly back away and return to his table as well.

And while the silence was almost worse than the squabble, Riley could not help but just be amused with what was happening. He had always known of Queen Adel's temperament—she was calm for the most parts and even completely uncaring if you are not from her circle—but as soon as someone she deems lower even dares to speak to her, she becomes ballistic.

If their circumstances were any different, then… wouldn't Queen Adel have been a perfect member of his supervillain organization? Perhaps he should restore the organization again, but this time with a…

…much wider scope?

"..." Queen Adel quickly turned to look at Riley as she felt something amiss, only to see him creepily smiling at her. She was slightly put off and wanted to just punch him there and then, but she managed to calm herself down.

"Good," And as no one there stood up to her anymore, Queen Adel's eyes quickly returned to normal as a smirk crawled on her face, "Anyone else feeling a little brave? Now will be your only—"

"Mother, please sit down," Aerith once again begged for Queen Adel to calm down. Fortunately for her, Queen Adel finally backed away and also returned to her seat.

"I am sitting down, but not because you told me to," Adel scoffed.

"..."

And with Queen Adel finally resting his legs, the other races also just decided to shut their mouths, finally allowing Ahor Zai to speak.

[Okay,] Ahor Zai seemed visibly happy, even silently clapping her hands as she started walking forward and joining the champions, [As I said before I was disrupted, I have gained knowledge that is absolutely incomparable to what I know before. My previous knowledge is now only a fraction of a percent of what I know now—and with the knowledge that I have gained from the various other universes…

…I am now capable of creating a new universe, a pocket universe.]

"Wh—"

Someone wanted to interrupt Ahor Zai again, but for some reason, anyone who even dared to open their mouth found themselves unable to move even a single limb. This subtle scene did not fail to reach the themarians' eyes, as they all turned their eyes toward Riley, who just smiled at them and waved his hand. As for Diana, she looked at the Norinlad, who seemed extremely curious about this sudden… revelation.

[Thank you for not speaking over me again,] Ahor Zai nodded, [As all of you may have already surmised, the one that will win in this Tournament will be granted a pocket universe. A pocket universe where you set the rules, where you are god itself.]

"May I ask a question?" One of the Norinlads raised his hand.

[Since you are so polite, of course,] Ahor Zai suddenly floated toward the norinlad's table as she gestured to him to speak.

"You are granting the victor a toy?" The norinlad asked, "A pocket universe is a toy. It is not real."

[I could see why you would misunderstand,] Ahor Zai wagged her finger, [I say 'pocket', but in truth, it is another universe entirely.]

"Outside of our own?" The norinlads looked at each other.

[Yes,] Ahor Zai then suddenly placed her hand on her chest, before digging it through without any hesitation and grabbing some sort… device inside of it—some sort of bracelet. 

Diana quickly recognized the ring. How could she not, when it was identical to the portable multiversal gate that Bernard created?

[In this device is a gate to that universe,] Ahor Zai raised her hand to show the large ring, [Although I say 'pocket', it is not small at all. It is only small if you compare it to our universe—it is only the size of several star systems. It has no life now, and it is up to you whether to populate it or not. As I said…

…you are god. You can control everything that happens inside it.]

And all of a sudden, a heavy weight suddenly filled the entire hall, with everyone just staring at the ring.

[As I said, transcendence,] Ahor Zai smiled as she saw the expressions surrounding her, 

[You could do so many things in this pocket universe. Migrate your entire race if you want to, become fully independent,] Ahor Zai said as she faced the Biolans.

[Recreate your people if you want to,] Ahor Zai glanced at Queen Adel and Diana, [Rebuild your lost kingdom.]

"..." Queen Adel's eyebrows lowered as she stared at the ring, before turning to look at Diana almost as if quietly asking her if this was possible. Diana, however, only responded with a hesitant shake of her head.

[Resurrect a lost love,] Ahor Zai's voice lowered as she turned her eyes to Pirate Queen Xra, who only glared at her in response.

[Or… you can even just use it as an escape from everything,] Ahor Zai continued as she looked Aerith straight in the eyes, [Free yourself from the burdens of your mistakes and just… start anew.]

"..." Aerith quickly looked away.

[Maybe you can even treat it as your home. Bring the person you love and cherish the most—where no one can judge you, not even yourself,] Ahor Zai then approached the humans, placing the Ring on their table as she looked at Hannah,

[A place where you can be true to your feelings. Feelings that even you didn't know yourself were hiding from you.]

"...Fucking creep," Hannah clicked her tongue as she slightly moved away from Ahor Zai, who was smiling at her for some reason.

[Or as I said…] Ahor Zai then transferred her smile to Bernard, [...Just play god.]

"...Me?" Bernard seemed visibly surprised.

[Maybe,] Ahor Zai let out a small giggle as she started walking back to the end of the hall, with her hand still raising the ring for everyone to see. And suffice it to say, everyone was looking at it.

"Hold on a minute…" Gracy raised an eyebrow as she looked at Riley and the others, "...Why didn't she look at me?"

"She probably did not even notice you, child," Xra breathed out; her eyes, still on the ring.

"...So, she's deliberately not looking at me because she's hiding something. Maybe… the ring is meant for me?"

"That's not even what I said."

[Well, now that everyone seems to be more excited about the Tournament—I will now announce the first bout,] Ahor Zai placed the ring inside her chest again, before clapping her hands and causing the holographic view of the space in the ceiling to change…

...with Riley and his other members being shown on it.

With the other team being Jakol and the Krukux race.

And as soon as Queen Adel saw that...

...she failed to stop the smile that was crawling on her face.