Vol. 15 - Ch. 35 - Ultimate Clan Battle - Main Event (2/10)

The spectators’ reactions to the sudden appearance of the massive, moving structure—the Clan Houses—were a mixed spectacle. Some were violently shaken, others screamed in excitement, and there were those so overwhelmed by the sheer, impossible engineering feat of a walking building that they were moved to tears.

Rivas Hashint, the tournament's lead commentator, had been briefed by the organizers on what was coming. He’d anticipated this range of emotions from the start. So, right on cue, his magically amplified voice boomed out to introduce the first clan to arrive.

"AND LEADING THIS PARADE OF GIANTS, HAILING FROM THE HUMAN KINGDOM OF AYRLOS, WEST OF GLENDALE… PLEASE WELCOME THE ADVENTURER CLAN—THE MAGIC KNIGHTS!!!"

On cue, the Clan House raised its two colossal arms. The crowd erupted in shock. The Magic Knights were a world-famous clan, and they were also perennial finalists in this very tournament. Seeing the famous clan’s actual headquarters move before their eyes made the spectacle real, sending fresh waves of awe and shock through the stands.

"The Magic Knights have taken the ancient castle they called home and MAGICALLY MODIFIED it into a weapon of war! The engineering! The resources! And the sheer MANA required to bring this behemoth here… it’s absolutely staggering!"

Mid-sentence, a few in the crowd noticed a new, subtle tremor.

That’s right.

This was the Clan House Brawl.

In other words, the world’s strongest clans had gathered, and they’d brought their houses with them.

"OOOHH, AND HERE COMES THE NEXT CONTENDER!"

A roar even louder than when the Magic Knights entered shook the coliseum.

What appeared was a literal stone giant.

"FROM THE GREAT SOUTHERN NATION OF VALBERIA! They’ve done the impossible—transforming multiple bases and FUSING them into a SINGLE GIANT! Give it up for the DEFENDING CHAMPIONS… THE ARK UNION!!!"

Though not as bulky as the Magic Knights' castle, the Ark Union's Clan House stood taller. The fact that this colossal structure moved on two legs captivated every engineer in the audience.

"Bipedal movement… at that scale?!"

"How in the world do they balance it?!"

"It's tough enough to make a golem walk on two legs when it's only twice a man's height… but at that size? That tech is insane!!"

The Ark Union took its place beside the Magic Knights. The two giants lightly tapped their massive arms together. They were rivals, yes, but also comrades who had long dreamed of this very spectacle—a brawl between walking fortresses.

"Now, the next entry is a different story altogether! Their Clan House? A stone giant constructed in the Old Century They didn't need to make it move… because it was BORN TO MOVE! Hailing from the multi-national clan of spirit-users… PHANTOM BUTTERFLY!!!"

In this world, an era spanned a thousand years. The "Old Century" referred to events over 850 years ago—a time when stone giants, powered by spirits, walked the land. Phantom Butterfly was the clan that, with the help of greater spirits, succeeded in reactivating one for this age.

"So we have the Magic Knights and Ark Union, powered by mana! Phantom Butterfly, powered by spirits! And our next contestant is powered by…"

Chuff-chuff-chuff! A crisp, rhythmic sound echoed.

A giant emerged, belching black smoke, with wheels on its four feet and four powerful arms.

"FROM THE DWARVEN KINGDOM OF DORGUNDE, THE TECH-GUILD GEARLOT BRINGS US A GIANT POWERED BY THE ERA OF STEAM!!!"

"Look! It's moving on wheeled feet!"

"It glides!"

"Steam engines… I heard they can move without any mana at all."

"So it’s possible to power something that huge with that, huh. Incredible."

In a world where horse-drawn carriages and magic-powered ships were the norm, steam technology was still in its infancy. While the Dwarven Kingdom had developed steam locomotives and laid tracks, they'd kept the technology largely under wraps, considering it still developmental.

"And speaking of Dwarven ingenuity, our NEXT clan has a connection… though, I should warn you, they're a bit… how should I put this? They're the embodiment of 'brute force.'"

The next arrival was another bipedal giant.

Its frame was constructed of metal and timber.

The materials weren't so different from Gearlot's, but the fundamental difference lies in the power source.

"Dwarves are known for their delicate craftsmanship, but in battle, they're pure physical power—all clubs and stone axes. So, who did they team up with? None other than the beastmen, another race that lives by the creed of pure physical might! FROM THE BEASTMEN KINGDOM OF BESTIAE… THE FANG TECH SQUAD, ARRIVING IN A GIANT POWERED BY NONE OTHER THAN… MUSCLE STRENGTH!!!!"

It was a marvel made out of gears, pulleys, and levers. This giant was propelled not by mana, steam, or spirits, but by beastmen whose physiques had been strengthened and fortified with magic. Against all expectation, the behemoth performed a startlingly nimble, almost dance-like step into the center of the arena, proof of how it's powered by raw force.

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