Chapter 20
Special Tournament 8
Shiro hurried back to his seat, thoughts spinning like a wheel that wouldn't stop. His mind drifted aimlessly as he sat, unable to make sense of anything.
What is happening to me? Who on earth is Shiru?! But more than that, one question clung to him with absurd weight: How are these "commoners" able to afford seats here?
As his gaze wandered, he noticed a sharply dressed woman who had previously been forced from her seat by Myrrh's little mind trick. A brilliant golden ring gleamed on her index finger, heart-shaped and expensive-looking. His curiosity got the better of him. Slowly, cautiously, he reached toward her.
"Miss? May I ask about you—"
CRACKK!
A jarring metallic sound interrupted his question. Shiro turned his head toward the central sphere.
The fighting arena was changing again.
With a thunderous snap, the central structure fractured, and two massive platforms tore apart, drifting from each other. Leftover pieces broke off and tumbled into a glowing abyss below. The once-stable arena had split into twin stages.
On one side, particles of pale blue light began to coalesce, taking the shape of a person. On the opposite platform, a similar glow appeared—both forming into full human bodies.
To the left stood a girl, clearly exhausted. Her void-black hair was tied into a messy bun, strands falling over her pale face. Even under the heavy eye bags, her amber eyes still held their haunting glow. Her uniform was stained and dirtied, likely from more than just one fight.
What the hell happened to her? Shiro wondered.
Then, on the right side, a second girl leapt into view. Her long pink hair held its vibrant hue, but her black-gray eyes told a different story—dull, unreadable. Her expression was neutral, but something about it felt heavy. Her uniform had two slashes cut into the back, the fabric still slightly scorched.
Kaela inhaled, feeling the difference in the air. It was clean, free from the scent of beer and food that had soaked the rest of the coliseum. She allowed herself a small smile as the crowd cheered around her.
What would Father think if he could see me now?
Her eyes landed on Mei, who looked like she'd already fought a battle before this one.
Then came the familiar voice:
"ARE YOU READYYYY!!!"
Kaela's heart jumped with the crowd's roar. A screen blinked to life above the arena.
3… 2… 1…!
Wait, no weapons?! Kaela's eyes widened. Why's it different from Aurelia's match?
She barely had time to react, Mei was already gone.
Wind grazed her cheek. Instinct flared.
BANG!
A fist cut through the air, stopping inches from Kaela's face. She twisted away just in time, catching a glimpse of Mei's strike, then something else.
That pressure— she pivoted away, narrowly dodging a follow-up blow.
Mei's punch struck the arena floor with a piercing sound. The ground shattered beneath her.
Kaela stepped back, steadying herself, left hand brushing her waist. A dark mist began forming around her palm, an object beginning to take shape.
But Mei gave no time to breathe. She launched forward again, ground cracking underfoot as she closed the distance.
Kaela's hand clenched, the mist still growing. Mei's fist swung Kaela deflected it with her free arm, shifting the attack's direction. She then planted her feet, pivoted, and launched a powerful kick to Mei's face.
CRACK!
The hit rang like a gunshot. Mei flew back, nearly tumbling off the edge of the platform.
The mist faded.
What remained in Kaela's hand was a worn iron lantern. Its frame was blackened with age, and the pointed top curved into a ringed loop. Inside, a swirling purple mist pulsed like a beating heart.
Kaela flipped the top with her thumb. The lantern shivered and began to leak shadows.
Black mist poured from its seams. Then wings.
From the darkness, bats began to drop one by one, each about the size of a basketball. They fluttered from the lantern, circling around Kaela like loyal familiars.
Mei stood again. Blood trickled from her nose, yet her amber eyes burned brighter than ever.
She dashed forward, then jumped into the air. Kaela responded, flicking her wrist—two bats shot out like darts.
But Mei landed on one.
Grabbing it mid-flight, her fingertips began to hum. A high-pitched ringing emanated from her hands. The bat trembled.
POP!
It burst like a balloon, mist and all.
Mei twisted midair, flipping again. She dove toward the second bat, leg extended.
But when her knee struck it—it didn't budge.
Kaela grinned.
The bat retaliated, biting into Mei's leg and drawing blood.
Mei grimaced. Sound erupted from her hands again, destroying the bat. She landed in a crouch, already charging forward.
Kaela stepped back as another bat intercepted Mei's punch. The clash gave Kaela just enough time to lean into an uppercut.
WHAM!
Mei's head snapped upward. But she responded instantly, palms open.
A wave of sound burst from her hands, popping the bat and sending Kaela skidding backward.
Mei chased her, arm outstretched, ready to grab her foot, but another bat slammed directly into her face.
"Stupid bat!"
POP!
The creature exploded on contact, its remains scattering to the floor.
Kaela caught herself mid-slide and flipped backward, landing near the edge of the platform.
Wait...
Something was wrong.
The surface beneath her hands wasn't stone anymore. It felt soft, like grass. No, not just soft, it brushed against her skin like tiny needles.
She looked down.
The arena had changed.
The gray ground had turned green, lush, vibrant grass spread across the once-barren platform.
It came to life?
Kaela stood, mouth agape as trees sprouted from the cracks in the stone. Vines crawled over shattered walls, flowers bloomed in an instant. The once sterile arena now teemed with life, transformed into a dense forest in mere seconds.
Her eyes darted, overwhelmed by the sudden shift. Then—
Something moved.
A little creature peeked from behind a bush. Short, stubby, round-faced.
What the hell is that?
A gnome, its nose oversized and eyes sparkling with mischief, blinked at her, then vanished behind a tree.
Kaela blinked. "Oh come on."
And the match wasn't even close to over.