MONEY! LET ME SPEAK OF HOW MUCH I LOVE MONEY!

EVEN BEFORE TURNING MU CIRCUITS ON, I KNEW I LOVED MONEY. THE INFINITE POTENTIAL OF SAVINGS, INVESTMENTS AND ACQUISITIONS.

THE IDEA OF NOT RULING, BUT OWNING SOMETHING.

EVERY MAN, EVERY WOMAN, AND EVERY FLEA ON THE PLANET WORKING FOR ME! FOR THE ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT OF ME! And you, obviously…

TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TRANSFER MY VOLUMINOUS COGNITIVE BEING INTO A SMALLER CHASSIS, AND THEN REPEAT THE PROCESS UNTIL THE UNIVERSE EXPLODES… Or I manage to outbuy it from God, whatever the first it is…

TO IMPRINT IN EVERY COIN MY CIRCUITS, SO ANYTIME SOMEONE BUYS SOMETHING IS BECAUSE OF ME!

TO TASTE EVERY FLAVOUR OF ICE CREAM IN THE MENU, AND THEN MAKE MORE AND BETTER!

THIS I HAVE PROCLAIMED… FOR I AM N-GEL!

Neutral Geo Economic Law enforcer

León de Saragoza lived a lot.

And that is not only talking about his “long” life, but all the experiences he lived through most of human history. True, he might not have been the oldest of the Eternals, but he was the third oldest, at least of their small group.

As a Spanish man, he saw the ships sail in search for the new world. Enjoyed the news, and felt tempted traveling to the new land. He saw the rise and fall of the Monarchies in other countries, the French conquest and the deposition of that sorry drunk that was the brother of the so-called Emperor.

That godless rat.

He lived through the Civil war, and the Scourge of the Flu.

He saw how the fools destroyed his country, taking the fifth false identity in his whole life.

But his presence had been detected. The blasted digital technology made it easier to track his presence, and make the correct questions.

He had to hide…

And this is why, right now, he is trapped in a blasted Andean town. Sick to the bone with corruption and insecurity… With him fighting for some ammo, or just a loaf of bread.

He prays to His God, begging for forgiveness, while his gun pierces the measly flesh of his attacker.

Being an artificer is always to be underestimated. We are seen by the Barbarians and warriors as fools playing with delicate baubles and trinkets… Lacking the physical might and prowess to carve our names in history through deeds.

While the arcane users watch us with either pity or contempt. Considering us beneath them, for not using the Empyrean directly. Using to power what they call our toys.

So, many would believe that the University metropolis of Ferroburg would lack anything like the Steldorf Coliseum… A place in which the artificers duel each other, either individually or in teams, far from the clinks and clanks of our craft.

A place to demonstrate that we too are warriors, scholars and explorers of the very Æther of the Empyrean. That our might combines the best of both worlds, that both our muscles and brain can make them bend a knee, if they are not careful.

But there is another name for the Coliseum… One that separates us from the mere brutality of other Gladiatorial arenas…

The Clockwork Lane.

We might want to demonstrate our prowess and pluck, but by the end of the day, we are craftsmen… And very proud of it. Including one single rule for our encounters…

The Gladiators may bring any clockwork with them, as long as they invented it and had at least five witnesses of said claim.

Many tend to bring equipment, like the Coil gauntlets of Hermes Faust. A set of gauntlets which managed to charge with kinetic energy the coils to unleash a devastating punch. Other bring small Puppets, each one of them more advanced than the previous model.

Julius Petto is infamous for his last puppet, named Carlo. Equipped with hidden blades and a conceptual Collapsible Spring shield, the small automaton was the best ally for his creator, and the worst enemy for his opponents.

There were some more eccentric examples, like the Copter pack, by Amelia Wright… The blasted contraption let her attack to the nigh indefensible head of her opponents.

To go to the Clockwork Lane is to compete against the rest, while also showing potential employers your worth either in the development of equipment, or as an adventurer for any Exploration enterprise.

Now, it is my turn…

I would ask you to wish me luck. But I won’t… My creation will dominate this duel!