And it came… the Ascendants' Gladiator Test.
Numbers—no, names—were called. One by one, the Ascendants entered the arena, a colossal space designed like an ancient Colosseum. The crowd's roar—silent or not—hung in the air, waiting for the spectacle.
Kaijou locked eyes with Yamada for a fleeting moment before stepping forward.
"Seems you call us by our names," Kaijou said, his voice sharp. "Was Kaede's murder not part of your plan?"
Yamada stood tall, unwavering. "No. To be strong is to lose. You will never understand if you chase her, Kaijou."
Kaijou froze, eyes widening slightly. He… called me by my name?
"Then I'll show you the person you've created," he muttered under his breath, stepping fully into the arena.
His gaze scanned the monitor displaying the matchups. They wanted to see him in action—sooner than expected.
His eyes lingered on a particular name.
"Kaijou Kuronami versus Raito Kisaragi. Raito… huh?" a voice muttered—one Kaijou recognized immediately.
"What do you want, Sora? Are you looking forward to our fight? Because I already know we'll be the finalists."
Sora laughed—a full, unrestrained sound that carried menace. "Your arrogance… just like mine. See? I told you, you're just like me."
He stepped closer, smirking.
Kaijou's hands slipped into his pockets, eyes cold. "I'm nothing like you. I've said it before, and I'll prove it. I'll never be you."
Sora raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face. "Interesting. I'll look forward to it. Good luck with Raito—he's dangerous. Don't die before me, Kaijou."
He turned to leave, but Kaijou called out, "Wait."
Sora paused.
"Who's this Raito guy? You seem familiar with him."
Sora grinned, spinning back to face Kaijou. "Raito's a powerhouse, comparable to Bakura… and Kouja."
Kaijou narrowed his eyes. "Every answer you give only raises more questions."
"Heh. You're probably wondering who Kouja is. You'll learn soon enough." Sora turned away, disappearing from sight, leaving a trail of tension in his wake.
Seems like this Sora guy is a threat.
"Holy shit. I forgot you exist, Shibuma." Kaijou mutters.
Kaijou's heart skipped a beat. "One way to scare me. Don't you know how to not interrupt in conversations?"
The conversation ended the moment he walked away, fool.
"Tch… your mouth's full of salt," Kaijou muttered. "But I still need to know more about Sora before our fight."
Idiot, don't worry. I've got your back. I'll show you how to defeat him. Easier done than said.
Meanwhile, in the other corner of the arena, Satou and Suki met Bakura and Hayami. Tensions are high, and Hayami is the first to notice their odd demeanor.
"You are... the pair that follows Sora," Bakura mutters, visibly uneasy.
Satou chuckles, striding forward with deliberate confidence. "Following? Our goals are aligned, which doesn't mean we are following him, correct?", he says, eyes locked on Bakura.
Bakura didn't waver under Satou's gaze. "Oh, were your goals really aligned... or you two were scared of him?"
Satou and Suki froze, Suki's eyes narrowed. "Why would we be scared of him when he was the one who guided us."
"Just like how Kaijou guided you two, right?" Satou smirks.
Hayami gazes at them both. "Well, unlike Sora, he actually works together to escape and save everyone. Do you genuinely believe that Sora will not use you two as mere pawns?"
Satou scoffs, finding her amusing. "Unlike Sora, you say? Even when everything Sora does is what Kaijou's doing?"
Satou lets out a low laugh,
"Sora said we'd have a more balanced matchup with you two, but it seems like even he overestimated you both." Satou walks away with Suki. "I can't wait to beat you in the upcoming Gladiator Test, Bakura."
Satou's warning lingers for Bakura. He sighs, contemplating his actions. His gaze drifting to the arena's floor.
"... Hey, it's okay. Don't ponder unnecessary things. You will win, I know you can." Hayami pats his shoulder.
When others are molded by survival, betrayal and greed. We'll show them teamwork still exists, we will show them... we are not like them.
Kaijou walks to the platform, it is loud and enthusiastic, with every Ascendants chanting his and Raito's names.
Sora stops Raito from entering the platform. "Yo, Raito. Hold up, would you? Why so eager? You know you'll lose anyway—it's ridiculous."
Raito stands tall, unwavering. "I know your games, Sora. I don't fall quite easily as you might've expected."
Sora grins, his gaze boring into Raito's appearance. "So you think you're above me or what? I already knew you weren't gonna fall for cheap tricks. But I will tell you a way to beat Kaijou."
Raito's eyes narrows. "And pray tell, what do I have to do to win?"
"It's simple, every time you punch him, say his mother's name, Kaede. Remind him more of his failure, dismantle him emotionally and defeat that monster." Sora whispers.
Alright, we'll see what your plans are like, Sora.
Raito enters the platform, cheers erupted even more as they see the capable fighter. Raito is ranked amongst the top, so most have widely recognised him by now.
Yamada's voice echoes through the arena. "Kuronami Kaijou up against Kisaragi Raito. Round 1. Fight."
Raito dashes forward, gasps ripple through the audiences as Raito punches Kaijou's rib. "You should've learnt to protect Kaede, you fool!"
Kaijou's eyes widen as he is knocked back. He clutches his rib with a sneer. "Leave her name out of this! Her name doesn't belong here! Only us two..." his breathing quickens
Kaijou moves swiftly as he jumps and kicks the back of Raito's head with precision.
Raito's eyes widen, as he stumbles forward. "You bastard! Maybe that's why Kaede died!"
Kaijou's eyes widen in anger. "I said... Leave her name out of this!" Kaijou dashes forward, a kick lands onto Raito's jaw, Kaijou then straddles him and pummels him relentlessly.
The Ascendants are shocked by the outcome, Hayami and Bakura froze.
Kaijou... is this who you really are? Was Sora right?
Yamada hides a smirk of interest. "Apprehend Kaijou. It's over."
The staff barges in to apprehend Kaijou, as Kaijou pants, his head hazy.
A staff checks for Raito's pulse. "It's too late, he's dead."
The arena falls still. Even the crowd forgets to breathe.
What follows is a quiet realization. Kaijou has killed someone.
Sora watches from above. His mind calm, calculating and amused.
Looks like it worked, by using Raito, I could taint Kaijou's name and ruin his reputation. Would you look at that, Kaijou? We really are the same.