"Hey, didn't your parents ever tell you not to hit a woman? Especially, one as beautiful and sexy as me!" Melanie shouted as she jumped around the cage like a bunny while trying to get closer to Rin.
"Same here, however... my complaint is based on you playing foul and not giving me enough time to prepare," Isaac said unconvincingly with embarrassment as he just stood in place while the flames around him turned into butterflies and flew away.
A feat that may look effortless to the audience and those at home yet was far from simple or as easy as he made it appear.
"Oh, please, as if I'd do something like that," Rin replied as he rolled his eyes while sidestepping Melanie's attack and punching her in the stomach.
"Fuck! You really don't hold back your punches, kid, do you?" Melanie growled as she fell to the ground and coughed up blood as she clutched her stomach.
"Sorry to disappoint you, beautiful, but I don't take kindly to people who try attack me with the intent to kill," Rin replied as he gazed down at the demi-human, who managed to sneak her way into his and Isaac's fights unannounced.
"Also, how did you even manage to bypass the barrier around the arena and this cage? Additionally, do I know you from somewhere?" Rin questioned as he halted his attacks and focused on Melanie, while keeping a close eye on Isaac.
In case he did anything funny during the interrogation of our unexpected contestant...
***
Meanwhile, as Rin and Melanie had a brief conversation about who she was...
The judges who did not try to stop Melanie earlier, along with the audience, tried to sneakily gather insight into who she was, as not just anyone could accomplish what she pulled off.
"So, have you started regretting your decision yet, Jason?" Samuel, one of the upperclassmen from earlier, who was watching the drama from the ledge of a nearby building, asked with a bucket of popcorn in his hand.
"Tsk, can you just shut up and watch the match?" Jason replied as he kept a close eye on the trio within the cage.
"Is Mister Confident scared?" Matthew said as he mimicked a baby crying while the people around them just smiled with a chuckle.
"Enough, you two, can't you see the poor man is stressed?" Sofia said as she glared at the two upperclassmen who were making fun of their friend's situation while trying to comfort Jason.
"I know your future doesn't look bright, but don't allow the words of these two knuckleheads to influence you into doing anything stupid or outrageous, Jason. For while your chances of victory may be small, that doesn't mean you don't have an opportunity to turn things around and achieve a win. So don't give up and continue shooting for the stars, Jason, as you got this!"
She exclaimed passionately with a smile as Jason just waved his hand nonchalantly and muttered, "Thank you."
"And that right there is the reason why you're going to lose, man." Matthew and Samuel said simultaneously as they glanced at each other before bursting into laughter right afterward.
***
Sometime later...
"I see," Rin muttered after receiving all the information he needed out of Melanie as he gazed down at her, who he learned was a notorious assassin with quite a record of high-profile kills. Along with a success rate of 95% even though it would seem this would be the first stain on her record.
"However, while that was very informative and helpful, Melanie. Sadly, this is the end of your story, so goodnight, and do pick a better profession in your next life." He said with a sigh as he knocked Melanie out with a karate chop to her neck.
"… maybe… one… will," Melanie said before falling unconscious.
"So, are you ready to end this, Rin?" Isaac smiled after waiting for Rin to finish his side mission.
"It would seem so," I replied as I took a deep breath before suddenly grabbing Scarlet and dashing toward Isaac like a torpedo.
CRACK! BOOM! SWOOSH!
"Well, then let the game begin," Isaac smirked as he firmly gripped his golden swords and muttered, "Shadow Clone."
As he awaited Rin's attack which didn't take long to arrive as can be seen by the flaming kick heading toward his stomach. Along with Scarlet, which was thrown as a javelin right afterward yet all it hit was a clone, which flew backward and exploded into fairy dust.
Thud! Whoosh! Pop!
Simultaneously, as that occurred, Isaac suddenly appeared behind Rin and kicked him in the ass.
"Hey, that wasn't cool, man!" Rin complained as he rolled out of the way just as Isaac thrust his sword downward where his head once was as he swiftly created some space between them.
"Oh, shut up! You big crybaby," Isaac replied as he threw his other sword at Rin.
Swoosh.
"Tsk, just fight me like a man, instead of throwing knives at me," Rin muttered as he stood up, caught Isaac's sword, and threw it right back at him.
"If you so," Isaac smiled as he caught his sword and teleported to Rin's position.
Snap! Clang! Clash! Clang! Clash!
Leading to a battle of raw firepower, willpower, and attrition to see who will end up the winner of this match. As they moved around the arena like two dancers trying to outshine each other while firing off flashy but deadly attacks at each other.