Back in Huairuro, Ana is cooking in the kitchen, moving quickly between the stove and counter, checking on the food for her younger brother, Santiago.
"Food is ready any second, Santi! Come down!" she yells, sprinkling the last herbs on the dish, the aroma filling the room.
Minutes pass, Santiago doesn't appear, Ana frowns, she leaves the kitchen and heads toward her father's old room. There, she finds Santiago sitting on the floor, surrounded by boxes, eyes glued to scattered papers.
"There you are. What's all this?" Ana crouches beside him. Her fingers brush over strange figures, disturbing writings, and what look like ritual diagrams.
"Daddy's box!" Santiago says, smiling innocently.
Ana feels her stomach twist. She studies the papers, reading carefully. The symbols, the ancient scripts, something about them sends chills down her spine. She gently takes Santiago's hand, guiding him back downstairs.
Dinner goes by in a blur, Ana can't focus. Her mind loops over the images, the cryptic writings, the feeling of watching something dangerous.
'What could this mean?' she thinks.
Once her brother is asleep, Ana sneaks back into the room. Flickering the light of the ceiling lamp, she examines the papers more closely. Rituals, old incantations, references to Sangre De Reyes… her heart thumps faster with each line.
'That's the school Saint goes to… What has he gotten himself into?'
A sketch catches her eye: three vaguely drawn gods, their forms imposing, otherworldly. The aura of the illustration sends shivers racing down her arms. Her breathing quickens. Trembling, she puts the papers back in the box.
…
Back in Sangre De Reyes, Ayce hovers, hands glowing with Mana. His aura is calm, calculated.
"Salem Style: Cruel Murder Technique."
Beretta's eyes widen.
'There can be no casualties in this tournament!'
With incredible speed, he stops Ayce decisively. Taiho and Brugger join him just as fast with another instructor at their side.
"Match is over. Draw." Taiho's voice is firm, unshakable. Together, they restrain Ayce.
'Who knows what would've happened if he used that technique on Saint, he's clearly not himself. Saint might've killed him.' Taiho thinks,
Saint watches, fury and confusion painted across his face.
"Hey, I can still fight!" he shouts, red mana flickering and dying in his body. Pain spikes in his head, sharp and relentless.
In the stands, Ari wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead.
Saint falls to his knees, clutching his head as the pain intensifies.
"W-what is this?" he grits, teeth clenched.
Instructors teleport in, assisting. One delivers a precise strike to Saint's neck, knocking him unconscious.
The crowd gasps in unison, they whisper in confusion.
"He's unstable. Who greenlighted him?" one asks, voice tight with concern.
Taiho steps forward, calm but firm.
"He was approved by me. He's fine. Poor control is expected. Overworking himself isn't unusual."
On the arena roof, Hazu, strongest of Reiki Five, leans back and smirks.
"Saved by the bell. You can fool others, but not me. Ayce would've died there."
'Couldn't let a potential Reiki Five recruit lose against a low rank, huh?'
Instructors carry Saint to the medic room. Beyce and Plaster lie unconscious nearby.
Taiho and the other instructors move off, leaving Beretta and Ayce in the arena.
"Why did you stop me?" Ayce asks annoyed, brushing dust from his shoulders.
"No killing policy," Beretta replies professionally, escorting him back to the stands.
Beretta returns to the center.
"Well then, let's continue to the second round."
The big screen confirms Ayce advancing. shuffling names rapidly.
…
Back in Ana's household, she stares at the ceiling, thoughts racing. The scriptures describe a cosmic authority, a figure covered in a dark robe, seated on a celestial throne. Theor presence embodies power, and terrifying mystery.
Her heart races.
'I have to warn Saint… This seems dangerous. But Carmelo sent him there… Is he part of this? What do I do?'
…
Back in the arena, the screen shows the next matchup:
Monita #1999 (B22) VS Claire #2013 (B29)
Monita steps forward, clutching Dori Dori tightly.
"Dori Dori! This time, you're not getting hurt, okay? I'll protect you… Believe me! Believe me!" she repeats, voice calm but laced with manic intensity.
Claire steps down, long black hair flowing, black plague jacket tight across her frame. Her eyes are hidden behind a blindfold.
"This is it, then?" she says, voice cold.
Beretta raises a hand, The fight begins.
Immediately the arena has a dark feel to it, Monita was scary, but something about Claire was oddly unsettling too, up in the arena, Ari and the other spectators feel it too, unease settling over the crowd.
Claire triggers her ability.
"Sound Style: Cacophony Dance."
Monita clutches Dori Dori, but suddenly chokes, coughing up blood. Her throat locks, she cannot speak.
'I… I can't… I can't speak. I can't activate my ability…'
She collapses to her knees. Dori Dori drops to the ground, lifelessly,
"Enhance." Claire says calmly,
More blood escapes Monita's lips. The crowd doesn't understand what's going on,
Inside Monita's mind, her perception warps. Horrible screeches tear through her brain, disorienting her, burning her ears from the inside.
'Dori Dori… I'm so sorry… I can't protect you… I… I…'
Tears drip over the teddy bear,
"Enhance." Claire repeats,
She multiplies the effect, Monita's body shakes violently.
Suddenly, yellow Mana envelops Dori Dori, glowing bright.
'Dori… Dori? You're protecting me? I'm supposed to protect you…'
With every ounce of strength left, Monita holds Dori Dori close and forces herself upright.
"She can still stand?" Claire's thinks in brief shock before regaining her icy composure.
…