Kazuo's breath hitched. His eyes flicked between them — Kaya steadying her stance, Aoi already sliding into motion, graceful and cold.
"Well… this is certainly bad."
And then he moved.
He bolted left — not a retreat, but a split-second escape route. Let them give chase. Maybe they'd break formation.
But Aoi was already there.
A step ahead.
Kazuo veered sharply, boots scraping marble — only for Aoi to slam his palm into Kazuo's chest.
Kazuo reeled back a step, teeth clenched.
Kaya lunged from the side — her leg slicing up in a rising arc.
Kazuo ducked — barely — then shot forward.
His hand caught her ankle.
Her eyes widened — too late.
With a spin, Kazuo twisted his hips and hurled her straight into Aoi's path.
A blur of limbs, and both collided in a tangle.
Kazuo didn't wait.
He dashed.
One breath.
Then—
A sharp crack.
His head snapped sideways.
Yuki's elbow met his cheek mid-run, sending Kazuo staggering.
Pain burst across his jaw.
His feet skidded across the stone — and suddenly, they were all there.
Kaya. Aoi. Yuki.
Closing in.
Not in formation — in convergence.
Kazuo caught his balance, barely upright.
Cornered.
Up in the Captain's Gallery—
Idris leaned against the railing, arms folded, eyes on the clash below. But after a moment, his gaze shifted sideways.
To Setsuna.
Usually flippant. Careless. That irritating smirk glued to his face.
But now?
Silent and focused. Eyes narrowed like a hawk tracking prey.
He said nothing. But he kept watching.
So did Setsuna.
Think, Kazuo… don't just react. Think.
At the Squad Stands—
Tetsu's hands curled on the edge of the railing. "That's cheap. Three on one?"
Sora flicked her tail, lips twisting in a half-smile. "Told you. They were gonna gang up on him."
She said it lightly, but her eyes didn't leave the ring.
On The High Balkony
Lady Elyria sat still, elegant and unreadable — except for the way her eyes kept drifting towards her father.
King Cedric hadn't moved. Fingers steepled. Posture relaxed. But he stopped drinking his wine.
His eyes were locked on Kazuo.
Elyria's gaze lingered on him.
So… he really is watching that boy.
Back in the Arena
Lyria twisted again — fifth dodge in under a minute. She didn't need to fight.
Not when the brute was doing it for her.
Let him waste his energy.
Rulthan slammed another fist forward — she slipped under it.
Elegant. Bored.
But too focused on him to notice the danger behind.
A blur.
Rhakka charged in from the side — low and fast like a stampede.
Lyria flinched right — straight into Sylvain, who cut her off with a wide step and a low sweep, forcing her to jump back.
Rhakka smiled."I think we have an idea here."
He grabbed her wrist — firm, steady.
Sylvain stepped into her path, voice calm."Apologies. But this has to be done."
Lyria's jaw clenched.
"Get your disgusting hands off me—!"
She twisted hard — elbowed Rhakka, nearly slipped free—
But Rulthan was ready
One arm snapped around her waist, the other bracing her back.
She struggled. Slammed a fist into his chest."You dare—!"
He didn't hesitate.
With a brutal pivot, he hurled her across the arena like dead weight.
She flew.
"Drop out" Rulthan muttered.
Lyria's shriek was all fury — not fear — as she collided with Kaya, both tumbling hard to the floor in a tangle of limbs and curses. Breaking the circle and making the perfect escape moment for Kazuo.
Kazuo blinked — then moved.
There.
This was his chance — a narrow, fleeting moment to defuse the situation before it ignited beyond control.
He sprinted.
Kaya shoved Lyria off, just barely rising—
Too late.
Kazuo shot through the gap like water slipping downhill.
Aoi turned — reading the movement, stepping to intercept—
But something hit his back — hard.
Kaien.
One arm to Aoi's spine — and Kaien didn't hold back.A sharp, explosive push.
"Sorry."
Aoi shot forward like a bolt, feet lifted clean off the ground — skidding and crashing across the marble with a brutal scrape of friction.
Kazuo was gone.Already halfway across the field, breath ragged, grin flickering with fire.
This was too close.
But—
Footsteps came fast behind him.
He didn't even have to look.
"Damn it—"
Yuki caught up — effortless, not even breathing hard.
But—
He didn't strike.
Kazuo blinked mid-sprint.
Yuki ran beside him. Calm. Eyes forward.
"Relax," he muttered. "I am not after you."
They both slowed.
Yuki's voice came again, low and sharp:
"Aoi's the bigger problem. You see it too."
Kazuo didn't respond — but his silence said enough.
Yuki's lips curled, just a little. "Thought so."
And then—
A blur slammed down beside them, kicking up grit.
Kaien — landing rough, sliding to a halt just near their feet, jaw clenched from the crash.
He winced, but pushed himself up and moved into place beside them — fists trembling faintly.
Across from them—
Aoi stood, one hand lowered from the push.
Cold and pissed.
His eyes followed Kaien's path — then flicked up, sharp as razors.
"Striking from behind," he said flatly. "Cowards do that."
Kaien spat grit as he rose, brushing his sleeve off.
He kept his eyes low, voice barely above a murmur.
"…If you'll have me… I'll help."
Kazuo glanced at him, then at Yuki — who just exhaled lazy.
Can I trust them?
He didn't know. Probably not. But right now, being alone meant dead.
He exhaled through his nose, fists curling tighter.
Fine. So be it.
But Aoi wasn't alone.
Flanking him now — silent, seamless—
Kaya. Lyria.
Kaya squared her stance, eyes locked forward. Ready to attack Kazuo again.
Lyria dusted off her sleeve with idle grace, as if this skirmish barely deserved her attention — yet her steps fell perfectly into line.
Not a word passed between them.
Just a silent alignment. An understanding.
No one could afford to be alone now.
And then—
A crunch of movement behind. The heavy beat of footsteps. The shift of air like something sharp was about to drop.
Rulthan. Rhakka. Sylvain.
Rhakka's smiled. "Three teams? Sounds fairer than I expected."
Sylvain didn't smile. His eyes scanned the others like choosing which flame to smother first.
Rulthan just stepped forward.
At the Captains Gallery
Captain Kaito's breath misted slightly in the warm air — the only sign he'd spoken at all.
"So… he allied with Setsuna's pupil."
He didn't sound surprised. Just… thoughtful.
Beside him, Captain Zahari of the Fourth leaned slightly forward, his sharp gaze locked on Kaien.
"…Didn't expect him to do this. But maybe he needed to."
A pause.
"I am truly proud that he even moved and attacked at all."
dris flicked his eyes toward Setsuna — a glance sharp as glass.
He'd known him for years. The ice prince. The jester. That annoying bastard with a smirk glued to his soul.
But now?
Still. Focused. Tense.
This is so unlike him.
Idris's eyes narrowed.
That boy must matter to him more than I thought.
But why?
What does he see in that boy to take this matter this serious?
He didn't ask.
He just kept watching.
And so did Setsuna.
At the Squad Stands —
Sora tilted her head, her tail flicking once.
"Well… finally some fairness," she purred.
Tetsu adjusted his glasses, eyes scanning the battlefield below.
"I'm more surprised no one's dropped out yet. This is practically a war."
Back in the Arena
Kazuo's chest rose and fell, the air sharp in his lungs.
He looked at them — all of them.
Lyria shifted her stance, arms bruised.
Kaya's breath came faster now.
Aoi stood poised — but not untouched. Even he was slowing.
Yuki's gaze stayed blank, but his footwork had tightened.
Kaien's fists quivered.
Rhakka's smile was still wide — but his lip was bleeding.
Sylvain? Flawless. But even fairies get exhausted when they can't fly.
And Rulthan — still glaring like he could shatter the earth itself.
No one showed it.
No one admitted it.
But they were all tired.
Every one of them.
Except maybe Lyria.
Kazuo's eyes swept the field.
All of this... and it only takes one.
One of us falls out of the ring—
And it's over.
He exhaled, low and steady. His heartbeat was a drum.
My lungs feel like fire. This needs to end as soon as possible.
At this point I just need someone to drop.
Anyone.
The battle's reaching its peak.
And the fall... is coming.