Blood and Qi: A Vampire Xianxia LitRPG

Since John had no weapon of his own, he had to borrow one from the arena. All the weapons he could pick from were mundane but of decent quality. He wished the arena had armor or shields for participants to borrow, but he was out of luck there. He picked a different weapon for each match, depending on his team and what they were up against.

For every team event, someone usually took charge and dictated strategy. John would go along with it as best he could and tried sharing as much glory with his team as possible. Not out of any altruistic or sportsman-like reason. He didn’t want his odds to skew further and his payouts to get any worse.

Whatever team John was on won every event, and he was able to keep most of his manifestations and his ability to fling weapon energy a secret. He hadn’t ever cast [Glyph of Plasma Barrage] outside his Mind’s Eye. He was saving that for an emergency.

All the winnings were rolled into new wagers. The Gold Free-for-All maintained its three-for-one payout, which continued to worry him.

The next event was called ‘The Supremes,’ which saw teams face off against powerful but non-sapient beasts. Something that would never be allowed in the Kahaka arena.

The Peerless had some strange views on beasts. They didn’t eat meat or any food that used any product of an animal, including milk, eggs, or fat. Their culture held sacred beasts, animals that gained sapience through advancement, in very high regard.

The first Supreme saw John and two other Bronze aliens face three Bronze beasts that looked like giant, wingless lizard-chickens with fangs and two small arms with claws. He quickly slaughtered his beast and helped his teammates kill their own.

The crowd booed, letting John know he put on a poor show and killed the beasts too quickly.

The next Supreme had John and seven Silvers, including Marbrouk and Hux, face off against a type of Gold-tier slug from Kliee, the same world his blacksmithing master was from. It was also the same world the moon they were on was attached to.

The team wanted to kill the beast without using too much essence. John picked the heaviest weapon he could wield effectively. It was a strange type of weapon he didn’t know the name of. He thought of it as a pick-bill. Besides Hux, everyone else had a heavy weapon in hand too.

The slug was much faster than it looked like it ought to be. Even John had a hard time damaging the ridiculously tough shell of the Gold tier monster. He and six of the seven Silvers laid into the slug with mighty blows while doing well avoiding its physical attacks and manifestations. Hux nocked an arrow and jumped around here and there, pretending like he knew what he was doing, pretending like he was helping, all while maintaining a safe distance.

Marbrouk took a big hit and began bleeding badly, almost losing his whole right arm.

John knew such ammonia-based life was more susceptible to fire, regardless of the hard outer-shell the slug-like creature possessed, and seeing his friend hurt nearly caused him to cast [Least Glyph of Darkflame Jet].

Instead, John pulled Marbrouk to safety and ended the fight with three quick blows to the slug’s armored head.

The crowd made it clear they were booing John and only John. He didn’t mind. He knew he’d win them over during the Free-for-Alls and Duels. He wanted to rush things forward a little too.

In the Kahaka arena, if events dragged out, the organizers would cancel lower-tier or less popular events scheduled for later in the itinerary.

Being a Bronze, the lowest tier allowed to participate in the arena, and having bet heavily on the at-risk events while the odds were fantastic, John needed them all to take place. Especially the weapon energy event, as he was guaranteed to sweep every tier he entered.

While waiting in the competitor’s box for the Gold Supreme, John was pulled aside and told he was no longer allowed to fight with the Golds. The tier rules were now being enforced. He became nervous and prayed this only applied to the Supremes.

Fighters being restricted to their own tier events, or events up to one tier above their own, was kind of a rule, but since they allowed John to enter all the events he had wanted, and he had already fought in a few Gold and Platinum events, it clearly wasn’t ever enforced. If someone wanted to take a risk, the crowd usually loved to see it, and the organizers profited from it. The events he bet the heaviest on were two tiers above his own, the Gold FFA and Duels.

John’s heart sank as anger filled his chest. All his plans might be going down the drain.

The bursar refused to refund John’s entry fees. The bookmakers refused to refund his bets. No one would answer his question.

John, accompanied by his two friends, was trying to locate an organizer and find out what was going on. He truly hoped this was all just a mistake that would be corrected. And he needed to be refunded. Most of all, he needed answers.

Though Hux and Marbrouk were both Silvers, they weren’t very strong compared to anyone besides other terrans at that tier.

If the organizers and bookmakers were planning on robbing John, he wouldn’t let that happen peacefully. He didn’t want his friends involved if things became violent. So, he slipped away and lost them in the crowd.

If John was denied the money owed to him and the right to participate in higher-tier events, he knew he wouldn’t be able to get vengeance on all those that conspired against him, especially if any conspirators were Exalteds. He swore he’d extract a much greater price from his enemies than they stole from him.

Maybe this is stupid. Maybe this doesn’t fit with the persona I’m supposed to be wearing. But if my choice is being treated as if I’m a little man or being punished by my new masters and banned from this arena for sticking up for myself, that’s an easy choice.

John was a Kahaka. Kahaka had rights and were considered less subhuman than Kahako. If it came to violence, he just had to survive until the Peerless intervened and settled the matter. He would have a small window to kill as many of his enemies as possible before the fight was stopped.

John finally spotted three of the organizers entertaining a Diamond-tier matriarch of the Peerless, an Alii, in what he considered the nobles’ box, a separate and the highest section of the arena.

There were three Transcendent-tier Oli with her, the brute caste, and John assumed one would be her Oliua, her majordomo.

The Salt-tier brute guarding the entrance up to the noble’s box didn’t even look at John and let him pass unchallenged.

After climbing the stairs, the only person in the box to recognize John’s presence was the Alii, her eyes darting to him for a split second before going back to the bird-like thing talking to her.

The lowest tier of the three organizers was Platinum. All three were of some sort of avian race with a ton of eyes and a snout instead of a beak.

John stood near the Platinum, waited for a lull in the conversation to clear his throat, and said, “Excuse me, Platinum.”

The three organizers continued sucking up to the Alii, completely ignoring John through two additional lulls. Having satisfied his own sense of manners and decorum, he decided it was time to be rude. He yanked on the Platinum’s wing while nearly shouting, “Excuse me!”

The box became quiet as the avian hissed but otherwise continued ignoring John.

John yelled, “Hey,” as he shoved the avian. “I’m talking to you.”

The avian hissed again and started casting a manifestation. The other two organizers were also forming their own.

The Alii sternly snapped out, “Halt! Everyone. Stand fast, Kahaka. What’s the meaning of this?”

John knelt, bowing his head for a moment. The women of the Peerless were secure in their abilities and position, so even kneeling wasn’t really required, and they wouldn’t take offense to the absence of that form of obeisance.

John preferred mimicking the brutes when dealing with any Alii, and the brutes with lower positions and status usually knelt and bowed their heads when addressed by a matriarch.

None of the brutes had reacted to the shove at all. Not one even turned their gaze on John. They just stared out blankly, their brows furrowed. He had yet to see a brute that didn’t look angry, or one that ever looked surprised by anything. Even the brute children had permanent scowls.

When the Alii weren’t deployed and wearing their full, skimpy, and too tight outfits, they dressed very scantily, and the one in front of John hardly wore anything at all, though she wore a sheer robe marked with her clan and house symbols over her scantily clad form, pretending she was dressed decently.

Every Alii was extremely beautiful. Enough so that it made thinking hard for John when he looked at their faces, long and shapely legs, or bare shoulders, so he looked past her at nothing as he replied.

“Alii Pono, these organizers first robbed me and then ignored me. I need answers. Politeness and courtesy failed to get their attention.”

The matriarch asked, “How did they rob you?”

“Alii Pono, they allowed me to buy into events and bet on myself, then reneged on the deals, kept my entrance fees and bets, and refused to let me participate. I’m assuming this is true for other events too. I need to know what’s going on.”

“Is the denial based on your Bronze tier?”

“Yes, Alii Pono. For the Gold Supreme event that ended, and the Platinum event going on now. The Gold team lost and my bet wasn’t refunded. If I competed, we would’ve won.”

The Alii smiled. “Really, Kahaka? A Bronze would’ve made the difference between victory and defeat in a Gold event? The beast was Platinum, nearly sapient. We disagree with the killing of such majestic beasts for sport, but three Golds were injured before the event was stopped. You must have a high opinion of your ability. Did you enter into any other events for Platinums? Or Diamonds, Salts, and the next Tree?”

“Yes, Alii Pono, I did. The ones I can win. And only up to Platinum. My goal is to increase my wealth, not throw it away, regardless of what opinion I have of my ability.”

The smile left the woman’s face as she explained, “Alii Pono isn’t inaccurate, but since I’m a member of Nani Victor-Fe An, addressing me as Nani Victor-Fe An, or just Nani Victor or Nani Fe An, would be more fitting. Calling me just Alii isn’t wrong either. I have no care or preference. I’m just informing our Kahaka of our customs, as is my duty.”

“Understood, Nani Victor,” replied John.

“And just as I look at those I address, I expect to be looked at by those addressing me.”

John moved his eyes to the woman. “Apologies, Nani Victor. It’s hard to focus when I look at one of you.”

A small smile curved the corners of Nani Victor’s mouth. “It’s nice we finally have Kahaka that sees us as our boys do. Though that desire for me should give you greater focus and provide motivation to perform great deeds.”

“I’m here tonight to perform great deeds, Nani Victor,” replied John. “And the Oli and Mele earn credits. Kahaka don’t. Our desire will never be satiated.”

Smiling wider, the woman replied, “Neither will mine or my boys. Our whole society revolves around that immutable fact. And Kahaka can earn credits. If you think you can’t, there’s been a grave failure of communication.”

John knew it was possible, but since Kahaka weren’t given the chance to earn credits, what was possible didn’t matter. “As you say, Nani Victor.”

“You disagree but don’t voice your disagreement,” said Nani Victor before sighing. “And look at your action a moment ago. You shoved a guest of ours knowing I’d intervene and save you. Such stunts for attention are dishonorable and belittle you.”

John hated how easily the Peerless read intent. It was nearly impossible to lie to or manipulate any of them. They all saw too much too clearly. “Apologies, Nani Victor. I didn’t need saving. I can defeat that Platinum.”

“And his partners? Could you defeat all three? A Platinum, Salt, and low Transcendent?”

“Maybe. I’m willing to try. If the choice is death or being rooked and robbed while standing aside and letting it happen, I’ll take death.”

“Do you not fear to die so stupidly, Kahaka?”

“No. Dying stupidly is preferable to being robbed peacefully.”

For the first time ever, John saw an Alii frown. Before responding to him, she cast her eyes downward. “That is the daffy thinking of a child. To die so meaninglessly, over nothing that matters. To brag so boldly about spending your life on such foolishness...I cannot even understand it. Nothing dries my flower so much.

“Be glad you have no credits, Kahaka, or you would’ve lost many of them for stating such...such wasteful and dishonorable drivel. I...I’ve never felt this discomposed. And in public! You’ve shamed yourself, and your words shame me and the blessed and praised Aikapu my late husband and father, the venerable Akua, set us upon.”

With cheeks blushing a little from the admonishment, John lowered his head, browbeating himself for caring what his enemies thought of him. He reminded himself of what the Peerless were doing to the people of his planet, and a great anger replaced his embarrassment. The only thing good about his enemies was that they were far less tier-focused than other societies. They didn’t care that he attacked a higher tier. That didn’t matter. Just his actions and reasons.

John waited for his anger to subside before replying. “Alii Nani Victor, I’ve been taken far from my home and placed in a society I’m trying to understand and fit into, but don’t understand and fit into. I lost all my possessions and wealth before I was taken here. You supply the Peerless in your kauwa with arms and armor. Only I supply myself.

“I have little control over my life now, and I’m only allowed to have a little honor. Honor as I have always known it to be, though your idea of it seems very different than my own. This arena let me enter events and bet on myself in those events. Now they’re reneging and stealing what wealth I’ve managed to save up. I won’t allow it. Not peacefully.

“You may see it as callow and wasteful to spend my life in battle against those that robbed me, or my actions as attention seeking antics, but fighting for the little honor I’m still allowed isn’t foolishness, defending it isn’t meaningless, and dying for it certainly isn’t wasteful. No one told me being a Kahaka also meant I’m not allowed to be a man. I never agreed to that.”

Nani Victor raised her eyes and looked in John’s own. He saw anger in them. “That you say such to an Alii shows you have no true understanding of the word or what we are, and little understanding of the praised Aikapu. I thought you knew more and were better than this. You’ve proven me wrong.

“I’m the one you find fault with. I instructed this arena not to risk you in events I deemed too dangerous for you. I didn’t think about your fees and bets and gave no instructions for those.”

The woman turned her head towards the Transcendent organizer and said, “You, reimburse the Kahaka for the events and bets he has lost out on already.” She turned her gaze back to John. “Did you still want to risk yourself in later events, Kahaka?”

John nodded. “I do. I must.”

The woman scoffed. “You speak more drivel against the blessed Aikapu. There is no must here, Kahaka. You’re in desperate need of a lesson in humility. You say you have no fear of dying stupidly. I believe that’s a lie. This whole stadium will witness the truth of that claim. Then we’ll see if I allow you to compete in later events. Or if you’ll even want to.”

The Alii faced the three organizers again. “After this barbaric fight against majestic creatures has ended, this Kahaka and I will take the field.”

One of the Transcendent brutes finally moved and turned his head to look at the Alii. She sighed. Even though her head was turned away from the brute, her sigh was clearly addressed to him.

Nani Victor told the organizers, “Make it so.” She turned to face her Oliua. “You know I won’t be at any risk. You’ll be accompanying me.”

The Oliua held his Alii’s gaze for a few seconds before his beady eyes and furrowed brows were turned on John.