Clash of the Superiors

**Clash of the Superiors**(超級激突) is the eighth episode of the Infinite Dendrogram anime.

## Plot

At the betting tables in Gideon's main coliseum, Ray Starling is about to bet 60,000,000 lir on Figaro before he is dropkicked by an incensed Nemesis who begins to lecture him on the importance of money. The pair are interrupted by Xunyu, carrying a dazed Lan Meihai who tells Ray that all that money is going to go to waste. They then express their displeasure at the betting rates for the match, taking it as a form of disrespect toward them. Ray is shocked at the bloodlust Xunyu is emanating and timidly asks who the woman in its arms is. Not receiving a satisfactory response, Ray turns Nemesis into the Black Blade and takes a stance opposite of Xunyu. Amused at the challenge, Xunyu lets loose a high speed attack, mocking Ray's attempt at using **Counter Absorption** as too slow. Before the attack lands, it is deflected. Xunyu, curious as to the interference, asks who it was, only for Shu Starling to reveal himself.

Xunyu remarks on Shu's strength while the latter brushes it off, declaring himself a mere costume fan. Xunyu, disbelieving, attacks again, only for Shu to deflect the attack faster than Ray can see. Xunyu praises Shu for being able to deflect his attacks despite being far slower and opines that visiting Altar would be worth it, stating that even if Figaro is no good, they can fight Shu instead. Shu says that won't be happening, as Xunyu will lose to Figaro. Getting more excited at the prospect of fighting Figaro if Shu is so confident in him, Xunyu walks off. Ray stops them, asking Xunyu what they intend to do with Meihai. Confused for an instant, Xunyu replies that Meihai is their comrade and asks if Ray attacked them because he thought Meihai was being kidnapped. As Ray blushes at the misunderstanding, Xunyu roars in laughter, finding Ray highly interesting. They lean closer, and tells Ray in a normal, unfiltered voice that they like him and wish to play together sometime. Surprised at the voice, Ray watches as Xunyu wakes up Meihai and walks off. Shu comes up to him and tells Ray that was a close call and it was too soon for him to fight a Superior. When Ray responds to the word Superior, Shu confirms that was indeed Xunyu the Yinglong, one of the Huang He Suling Ye.

At their box, Marie Adler is fiddling around with a camera while Rook Holmes and Babylon are seated at a table when Ray, Nemesis and Shu walk in. Visibly shocked by the third arrival, Marie asks who the person in the bear costume is and Ray introduces him as his elder brother. While Marie is frantically noting the similarities of Shu's voice and costume to something, Rook asks if she's ok. Flustered even further, Marie denies the accusation. Unfooled, Ray asks Marie if she is frightened of bears, an explanation which she desperately latches on to. As the introductions continue and Marie introduces herself, she is frightened when Shu lapses into thought upon hearing her name. She is relieved when he asks if she is a journalist and answers in the affirmative. When Shu replies that he liked that manga as well, a confused Ray asks what he's talking about and Shu mentions that the manga *Into the Shadow* has a protagonist named Marie Adler who is a journalist, adding that he liked the manga, which went on hiatus after its first arc and hopes it returns soon. While Marie thanks him, the stadium goes dark as the announcer, with great fanfare, announces the beginning of the main event and introduces Xunyu. As Marie adjusts her camera, Rook asks what kind of job Master Jiangshi is, with Marie replying that it is part of the Daoshi grouping. At the other side of the arena, Figaro is introduced to markedly greater cheers from the audience. While the crowd chants the name of their champion, the announcer reviews the items banned by the rules of the match, such as items that negate death or healing consumables, though items with equip skills are fine. Shu remarks that those items would give Figaro a huge advantage, much to Ray's confusion. As the barrier is activated, Xunyu raises their hands to make an announcement, declaring that she will not move until Figaro is on his knees. As the audience heaps abuse on her, Xunyu laughs, relishing in her status as a heel. The audiences' boos turn to cheers as the announcer begins the match. Figaro and Xunyu exchange a multitude of blows at incredible speeds, shocking Ray as Shu offhandedly remarks that the staff has messed up the barrier settings. At Ray's confusion, Shu clarifies that the barrier can be set to slow the internal speed to allow the viewers to see what is happening, but the two fighting are moving too fast for that. Marie chimes in that the barrier is actually fivefold to ensure the audience's safety. As the commentator announces the reduction in speed, Ray and the audience are able to view Figaro dodging an all-out barrage by Xunyu, who is fighting with gauntleted arms extending around the arena, with Ray amazed at the abilities of a speed-focused Superior. Nemesis shouts that Xunyu has not yet used any magic and a roar is heard from the arena as heat rays emanate from Xunyu's extending arms, forcing Figaro to dodge further while Fu fall from Xunyu's arms, though her attacks continue. Ray remarks on the toughness of Xunyu's arms and Shu comments that they must be her Superior Embryo, and that their characteristic is "tough arms reaching far at high speed". As Figaro approaches closer and closer to her, Xunyu reveals her Jewel and Calls a Lightning Elemental, **Baolei** to attack Figaro, though he easily defeats it. The Elemental is revealed to be merely a distraction, as Xunyu reveals a highly decorated Fu, and activates the grand spell **Zhenhuo Zhendeng - Baolongba**, which engulfs Figaro in a deluge of flames powerful enough to pierce the top of the barrier. As the flame dies out, Figaro is revealed to be fine, protected by a circular blue barrier, which shocks Marie. When Ray wonders if this is the power of Figaro's Embryo, Shu corrects him, revealing that is the power of Figaro's cloak, a special reward that can block out all external attacks for a time, though it has a 10 minutes cooldown, so Figaro is down an ace in the hole. Marie mentions that Xunyu is the same, since magic using that many Fu cannot be easy to recast. Rook then remarks that they must now figure out the effect of the skill Xunyu used while the grand magic was activated. At Ray and Nemesis' surprised look, Rook explains that he read Xunyu's lips, seeing the words "Tenaga Ashinaga". Shu interrupts to advise that Figaro's equipment skill has deactivated. To the audience's horror, Figaro drops his blade and coughs up blood as he falls to his knees. Xunyu lifts her gauntleted leg, revealing an organ clapsed in the claws, exasperatedly saying that this is just a lung and she has missed his heart as the audience looks on, shocked speechless.

In the silence, Shu comments that this is the end result of Xunyu's groundwork and explains to a befuddled Ray to the reason Xunyu announced that she wouldn't move is so no one would find it odd that she wasn't moving her legs. Concurring with Marie's comment that the Fu magic and Elemental were just setups for the grand magic he says that despite it boasting power sufficent to make it a trump card, it was only used to stop Figaro from moving, since omnidirectional defense skills tend to prevent the user from moving at all. Still confused, Ray asks how Figaro was attacked, if the special reward works as Shu says it does, and Shu mentions that it only works on *external* attacks, which prompts Rook to say that Shu must have figured out how Xunyu's ultimate skill works, with Shu telling Rook the same, though Rook says he only has circumstantial evidence. When Nemesis asks how Figaro received such damage, Shu points out that though Figaro has lost an organ, his clothes are untouched. When Rook mentions that ultimate skills are the culmination of an Embryo's characteristics, Rays gasps in realization and puts the info together as Shu gives the answer: warping. On the arena floor, Figaro, still on his knees, praises Xunyu's prepwork in using a super long range skill like that in an arena, while Xunyu boasts that that is her style. Looking at the motionless duelists, Rook asks why they aren't moving. While Nemesis thinks it to be an effect of their skills, Shu states that Xunyu is being cautious, and Marie mentions that Xunyu is wary of Figaro's unknown Superior Embryo, which he has yet to use. She and the others are thus shocked when Shu points out that Figaro is using his Embryo and has been from the start, to Ray's disbelief. When Nemesis asks Shu if it is an item, Marie denies it, as she has been using Identifaction on Figaro since the match started and that all his equipment are items. On the area floor, Figaro uses **Instant Wear** to remove his upper armour. While Xunyu mocks him, asking if he found it that hard to breathe, Figaro merely smiles as the two resume the battle. When Nemesis mentions that this is exactly what happened earlier, Ray is struck by the oddity of Figaro moving like that with one lung. Figaro activates the active skill Physical Berserk, much to Marie's surprise. Excited by Figaro's battle hungry face, Xunyu increases her attacks, only for Figaro to destroy one of her Embryo's claws along with one of his swords. Tossing the broken blade away and equipping a new one, Figaro blocks another attack and destroys another claw. Distressed, Xunyu asks Figaro what he has done. Ray, coming to a realization asks Nemesis about Figaro's equipment slots, which Nemesis states are up to 25 due to the gladiator grouping's skills. Ray then asks Shu what kind of gear Figaro has equipped right now and he replies that it's mainly stuff for increasing his strength and agility, which confirms Ray's suspicions. As Figaro destroys another claw, Xunyu exclaims that he has gotten stronger again, before thinking on the sheer absurdity of someone getting stronger by removing gear, which leads her to the same conclusion as Ray. Back in the stands, Ray tells Shu his conclusion, that Figaro's Embryo increases the power of his gear the less of it he has equipped. When Shu queries his conclusion, Ray remarks that that is the only explanation for what is going on. When Shu asks if that is all the evidence he has, Ray puts out another, that it is the only way someone can solo raid the Tombstone Labyrinth. When Shu posits that would be possible for any Superior, Ray rebutts, saying that if that was so, all the Superiors would be doing that, and so Figaro has something special that lets him do it, which is utility and countermeasures. He tells Shu that Figaro must normally fight in his usual full gear to ascertain the enemy's abilities and powers up by switching to the effective gear mid battle. Shu tells him that he got it half right, and that the original stats of Figaro's gear are doubled when he is fully equipped, which shocks Ray. Rook interjects to point out that he didn't say that Figaro's current equipment stats are his starting ones. Shu agrees, telling them that the Figaro's other skill allows him to increase his equipment's stats in proportion to battle time, and that the longer the battle, the stronger Figaro becomes, with no cap on how high he can buff himself, with Rook saying that is why he is called the Endless Chain. As Figaro slices off one of Xunyu's Embryo arms, she praises him while lamenting that she should have gone for the head earlier even if it increased the chances of him dodging. Retreating a fair distance, Figaro discards his two blades and equips a large ornate broadsword. Upon seeing it, Shu exclaims that Figaro is going for the kill. When Maries asks what that blade is, as even her Identification skill won't give her so much as a name, Shu replies that it is a Superior special reward, the Zenith Dragon's Brilliant Fang, Gloria α which shocks Marie. Nemesis, astonished by the blade's power, declares it as being on another level. Faced with such power, Xunyu laughs, pulling out a Superior special reward of her own: Yinglong's Fang, Suling Ye. While stating it now match for Figaro's endless buffs, she boasts of its ability to increase its attack power the more SP or MP she pours into it. Stating that she's putting everything into the next blow, she challenges Figaro to a final showdown, which he gleefully accepts. As the audience watches the two with bated breath, Ray inadverently knocks over a glass of water. As it shatters in the floor, Figaro charges at high speed and Xunyu thrusts her dagger in response. Figaro off hand is blown away as is Xunyu's remaining arm and dagger. As Figaro closes in for the kill, Xunyu shouts that she has him now, revealing that she has stabbed Figaro with a claw from her Embryo, concealed in her other hand. Shocked, Ray wonders where that came from while Rook states that the entire showdown was a setup for this. When Nemesis tries to pronounce Figaro's defeat, Shu stops her, saying that Figaro's Embryo will see him through as a bewildered Xunyu exclaims that Figaro's heart won't be pierced. Shu states that Figaro's Embryo is actually a heart, a realization which shocks Ray and the other, as well as Xunyu. Figaro deactivates **Physical Berserk** and thanks Xunyu for being a wonderful opponent. He then uses **Fang of Gloria** and slices Xunyu diagonally in half. When a screaming Xunyu attempts to do something, Figaro uses **Overdrive** to disintegrate her in a huge blasts which pierces the stadium's upper barrier and blinds the audience. As the light fades, Figaro is left alone in the field still holding his sword in his final stance as the commentator announces his victory. The audience bursts into cheers. In the stands, a middle aged man gives the match a rave review, as a young man in desert style clothing agrees, saying it was well worth crossing the desert for. When the middle aged man expresses surprise that the young man came all the way from Caldina, the young man replies that he has a fine story to take home to his friends. He then expresses surprise at something. Elsewhere in the stands, Leviathan says that it is about to begin. Behemoth declares its intent to spectate, and Leviathan agrees, saying another show is about to begin. The audience's cheers turn to unrest as Figaro remains in his stance, unmoving. When Ray asks Shu what is going on, he is surprised by Shu's suddenly serious attitude, as he states that some idiot has stopped the time in the barrier. Looking upward, Rook spots something walking on top of the barrier, which is revealed to be **Dr. Flamingo**, much to Ray and Nemesis' surprise. The penguin praises the match, and says they should skip the after match commentary for something more fun. In another box seat, the young lord of Gideon infuriatedly asks who dares to ruin such a fine match. Laughing, the penguin throws off his suit, revealing himself to be a young white hared man wearing a labcoat. His appearance further enrages the young lord and frightens the crowd. While the young man pretending to be surprised at his infamy, the count screams at him asking why he, Mr. Franklin is here. Mockingly pronouncing the count correct at stating his identity to the roar of fireworks, the young man declares himself the culprit who killed the the former king and a Superior from the Dryfe Imperium, the Giga Professor, Mr. Franklin. While Ray is shocked at the appearance of another Superior. Franklin is attacked by the spectating Masters, though he is protected by the barrier. Mocking them, he tells them that they probably don't want to go to the gaol. As a bird flies down and lands on his arm, he tells the audience to pay attention and snaps his fingers. The bird then turns into an unconscious Elizabeth S. Altar, much to the audiences, and particularly Marie's surprise. After announcing the name of his captive, he reminds them that killing a royal will land them straight in the goals and laughs as the audience watches on. Calming down, he asks them if they want to play a game.

## Characters

* Ray Starling
* Nemesis
* Xunyu
* Lan Meihai
* Shu Starling
* Marie Adler
* Rook Holmes
* Babylon
* Figaro
* Fatoum
* Leviathan
* Behemoth
* Aschbarray Gideon
* Mr. Franklin
* Elizabeth S. Altar