Saint steps down to the arena and nods at Beretta. Ayce steps down calmly, eyes closed.
"Ready?" Beretta asks.
Before Saint can respond, Ayce interrupts him.
"Did you hug your loved ones before this?"
Saint looks at him, confused.
"What?" Saint asks.
"Did you eat your favorite meal? Did you listen to your favorite song? Are you cherishing these last moments?" Ayce asks, calm and composed.
Saint clenches his jaw and gets into fighting position.
'Getting weird vibes from this dude…surely got an ability unlocked…'
"Begin!" Beretta announces swiftly.
A drop of sweat drips down the side of Saint's head as he anticipates Ayce's first move.
"You're not attacking?" Ayce asks with the same bored expression.
Saint stays silent, moving closer with careful steps. He throws a straight jab, but Ayce lets it hit, unfazed.
'What?!' Saint frowns in confusion. He attacks again, but Ayce shows no vulnerability.
"Is that all?" Ayce asks nonchalantly.
"Well then." He performs a one-handed hand sign.
"Salem Style: Bear's Interlude."
Saint jumps back in fear, but it's too late. He glances around and realizes he's no longer in the arena, he's in his backyard.
"W-what?" Saint whispers, scared and confused.
A woman steps out, long dark hair swaying, with a beautiful face, her bright sundress matching the sunlight.
"The hell?! Who are you?!" Saint asks, taking a fighting stance again.
The woman chuckles.
"You must not remember me… I guess that's my fault."
The sunny sky darkens abruptly, rain begins to fall, the woman starts looking bloody, disheveled and greatly injured.
"You KILLED ME!" she screams.
Saint steps back, hurt and confused.
"I-I don't understand…"
"Of course you don't! You're a mistake! You shouldn't be here… It wasn't supposed to go like this!"
The woman cries, blood staining her hands as she grabs Saint by the shoulders and shakes him.
"I hate you." she says, tears streaking Saint's cheek. He can't comprehend it, and it hurts him mentally.
Meanwhile, Ari watches from the sidelines in shock. Saint stands paralyzed, eyes fully white, while Ayce revs his hand, filled with Mana in a blade stance.
'Why is he just standing there?' Ari rises from his seat, leaning forward to watch more intently.
…
In Oshoku's lounge, he, Taiho, and the Reiki Five observe the match.
"What a brilliant technique," Oshoku says, sipping his wine.
On the arena roof, Hazu lounges alone, watching the match in secret.
"An Illusion technique? And they want this guy to join us? Pfft!" He leans back, soaking in the sun rather than watching.
…
Back to the fight, Ayce revs his power.
'I'm ending this in one blow. He's probably broken by now. May The Three be with you.'
Everyone in the lounge watches closely. Oshoku turns to Alys, the third strongest of the Reiki Five.
"Alys… how would you escape this technique?"
Alys blinks. "Well, um… it's simple, sir. I'd figure out that I'm trapped in a fake world and just… break it?" She giggles nervously.
Oshoku chuckles. "I'll take that explanation. Saint isn't as special as we thought, Taiho."
"Maybe you're right. Even if his Mana is red, it was foolish of us to think he'd live up to Carmelo's legacy." Taiho responds.
"Carmelo?" one of the Reiki Five asks.
Oshoku glares at Taiho, annoyed. "Yes, Carmelo. Saint is his son."
The Reiki Five exchange surprised looks.
"Well, then I wouldn't count him out," one responds confidently.
Ayce completes his Mana control, he lunges and strikes Saint's neck, slashing it.
Saint jolts awake from his nightmare. He looks at his hands, no blood. He's back in the arena, before collapsing unconscious.
"Pathetic." A voice inside Saint's head says darkly.
"Winner, Ay-" Beretta starts, but stops. His eyes widen as the arena gasps. Red mana starts leaking from Saint's cut.
Beretta turns to Ayce.
"Continue the fight."
Saint gets up slowly, still bloody.
"Yo." he says nonchalantly, his neck already healing.
"I don't know what's going on, but I feel power surging through my veins."
Oshoku grows nervous.
"Everything alright?" Alys asks,
"Taiho. This isn't a limit break, right?" Oshoku asks,
"Correct." Everyone in the lounge stares at Saint in shock.
Hazu senses the strong mana erupting in the arena, he gets up and sees Saint surrounded by it.
"Red? Like that old Carmelo dude…" Hazu whispers in awe,
Ayce repeats his ability to try and throw Saint off balance, but it's useless.
"Illusion tricks are dirty." Saint taunts.
He blitzes behind Ayce, locking him in a strong standing chokehold.
Ayce panics, struggling to remove Saint's grip, eyes darkening, neck burning.
"Saint, remember, killing is not allowed," Beretta warns.
Saint laughs, manic and unrecognizable.
"Then stop the fight."
Ayce kicks and wriggles, but Saint holds firm.
Beretta steps forward, effortlessly removing Saint's hold. Ayce collapses to his knees, coughing, clutching his throat.
"Continue."
Saint stands over Ayce, he kicks him in the back of the head, but just as he's about to strike, Ayce vanishes.
He reappears at the far left of the arena, clutching his throat, angered.
"Salem Style: Cruel Murder Technique."
…