The heat pressed against their skin.Breaths came sharp. Shallow.Their eyes darted — searching for betrayal.
Sweat rolled down spines. Fingers twitched with every shift in weight.The ground beneath them was cracked. So was the trust.
Then Aoi moved.
And the ring exploded.
Rhakka grinned — wild, breathless.His voice tore through the roar."Rulthan!"
He didn't wait.
Rulthan grabbed him and hurled him forward in one clean motion.Rhakka curled midair — arms tight, legs drawn.Kaya stood dead ahead.
Sylvain closed in on Kazuo but Kaien slammed into Sylvain with both fists, cutting him off.The strike forced him off line.Sylvain spun, caught his footing.Kaien pressed forward — no time to speak.
They vanished into their own storm.
Yuki sprinted toward Aoi.
But Aoi was faster. He shifted, twisted, and struck.His palm crashed into Yuki's chest.
Yuki left the ground — launched through the dust.He slammed against the marble and rolled hard.
Kazuo kept moving — steps light, jaw clenched.He looked once toward where Kaien had vanished.
A few minutes ago, they'd stood side by side.That alliance had already broken.
Nothing held anymore.
Everyone was on their own.
The field had no sides — only dust, noise, and survival.
Lyria moved through the wreckage like a knife through paper.Her eyes, filled with rage, never left Rulthan.
And Aoi was already in front of him before Kazuo registered the step.
Kazuo swung low — trying to catch the ribs.Aoi stepped back, light on his feet, weight slipping past.
Kazuo pressed in.A tighter jab, aimed for the gut.
Aoi jumped.
Kazuo narrowed his eyes.
He can't dodge midair! This hit will land!
Aoi twisted sideways, body tight in the air.He shifted above the strike and landed behind him.
Kazuo spun — too late.
A sharp blow cracked into his side.He gasped, stumbled forward.
What—
Another hit landed — ribs again.
Kazuo staggered.
Then came the kick.
Aoi's heel slammed into his chest.Kazuo flew backward and landed hard on his arm.
The edge was right there.
Aoi stepped forward — ready to finish it.But Sylvain cut across his path, Kaien right behind.
Their clash dragged him into the chaos.
Kazuo pushed himself up.
His ribs burned. His left arm hung heavy — sharp pain from shoulder to wrist.It might've cracked.
He rose but Yuki was already closing in.
Aimed to finish.
Kazuo shifted, just enough. Yuki's hand scraped past his collar.
Kazuo caught his balance, breath caught between pain and instinct."What was that?" His voice was raw. "I thought I wasn't your target."
Yuki turned with precision."My priorities shifted."
Kazuo stepped in and rammed his forehead into Yuki's forehead.
The crack snapped through the air.
Yuki staggered.
Kazuo raised his arm for the next strike—
Something crashed into him from the side.
A body, flung like a weapon.
He and Lyria hit the ground hard, rolling toward the edge.
Kazuo blinked through the pain.
Across the field, Rulthan's arm was still extended.
Guess they're willing to throw anyone now.Doesn't matter who — just get one off the ring.
Beside him, Lyria groaned and sat up. Her braid was loose, a smear of dust across her cheek.
"I swear," she muttered, spitting grit, "if that ugly ogre throws me one more time—"
She didn't finish. Her eyes cut to Kazuo.
He was still recovering. Still breathing hard. An easy push from here.
But she didn't move.
Instead, she extended her hand.
"Alliance," she said in a demanding tone. "Let's toss him together. Teach him a lesson."
Kazuo hesitated. Yuki was already coming back. Kaya and Rhakka were circling.
He stepped beside her — shoulder to shoulder.
The message was clear.
"Let's fight our way out," he said, eyes locked ahead.
Everyone saw it.
At the Squads Stand
Sora exhaled from her spot along the edge."This is bad," she muttered. "Even together, Kazuo's worn out…"
Tetsu nodded.
At the Captains' Gallery.
Shiranami crossed her arms. Her eyes narrowed."Why didn't she just push him off? He was right there."
A pause. Then a scoff. "Typical. She's so petty."
Captain Jin leaned forward, his elbows on the railing. "Well… they're both standing on a death line," he said. "Forming an alliance's not a bad idea. Looks better than tumbling together."
Shiranami clicked her tongue and looked away.
Back to the Arena
A desperate alliance.
That's why Lyria lowered her guard.
But Kazuo didn't. This was his only option left.
His boot slammed into her side.
She gasped, eyes wide, body twisting — then vanished over the edge.
Silence hit the ring like a wave.
Kaya froze mid-step.Rhakka's fists dropped slightly.Even Yuki halted, breath caught in his throat.
Above them, the announcer's voice roared through the stillness."—Elimination confirmed. Lyria has left the ring."
Across the battlefield, Aoi, Sylvain, and Kaien had paused.Their heads turned the same way.
Everyone looked.
Even the captains.
Shiranami blinked once, then leaned in."Did he just…?"
Setsuna finally let out a breath — loud, sharp, like he'd been holding it the whole time.
His shoulders loosened. The tension melted off with a crooked smile.
"So he actually took my advice," he said, half amused, half impressed. "Don't trust anyone."
He clicked his tongue. "Didn't think he'd weaponize it like that."
Idris glanced sideways at him, arms folded.
"I expected more of a moral compass," he muttered. "But… I suppose desperate moments demand desperate moves."
Lyria layed in the dust, flat on her back.
Eyes open.Blinking more than normal.
"…HUUUUUUUHHHH?"
he silence broke like glass.
The crowd erupted.
Cheers, gasps, voices clashing over one another like waves against stone.
Sora jumped up from her seat, fists clenched.
"HE DID IT! HE ACTUALLY—"
She grabbed Tetsu by the collar and shook him like a ragdoll."Did you SEE THAT?! I told you he was insane!"
Tetsu's glasses hung half-off his nose."I—I was watching—please stop—!"
High above, at the High Blacony, King Cedric exhaled — slowly, but with weight.
"...As expected." He said calmly.
Lady Elyria turned her head toward him. Her voice was quiet, yet edged with suspicion."You wanted him to survive?"
Cedric didn't return her gaze."I told you not to concern yourself with that boy."
a pause.
"But if you must know… I do not seek his elimination. Not for now."
A beat of silence.
His gaze dropped back to the arena, watching Kazuo's breathing slow, his limbs heavy with exhaustion.
Elyria said nothing, but her thoughts stirred.
Then why hold this preliminary at all?Was it just an assessment? A tool to measure him? Or something more?
Her eyes narrowed faintly.
Father is more cautious than ever. He's not just watching Kazuo. He's testing the entire field.
Cedric leaned back in his chair, folding his hands calmly.
He'll be ultimately be eliminated once he faces Aoi in the tournament bracket…
His eyes fixed on Kazuo below.
…There's no way he'll win. Not after what I witnessed today.
He reached for his glass and took the last sip of his wine — slow, unbothered.
Even if he somehow prevails... it won't matter.
A faint smile touched Cedric's lips as he set the glass aside.
There is nothing to fear. Everything is perfectly calculated.