Surviving These Unfair Scenarios [LITRPG - DIMENSION HOPPING]

The air in the Coliseum arena crackled with a palpable tension, a stark contrast to the distant, muted roar of the groups in the stands. The vast, circular expanse of polished dark stone stretched before them, illuminated by an unseen light source high above. At one end, Angela Rose, leader of 'WNATN', stood poised, with her blonde hair being a stark contrast to the dark stone and with a calm expression on her face. Opposite her, a new figure materialized, a young man with short, styled blonde hair and a lean but defined build. He wore a black leather jacket over a black shirt and ripped black jeans, his hands casually near his face and adorned with rings. This was Kazuo Mori, a member of the 'Noob Reapers'. He exuded a relaxed and almost nonchalant confidence, with a faint, cool smirk playing on his lips as he surveyed the arena.

The Coliseum's announcer, a booming, disembodied voice that echoed through the immense space, momentarily silenced the murmur of the distant crowds.

"Welcome to the second match of our best-of-seven wager!"

The voice boomed, its resonance filling every corner of the arena.

"On my left, representing the formidable team 'We need a team name… what do you mean it's already recordi…', we have their esteemed leader, Angela Rose! And on my right, from the renowned 'Noob Reapers', we present Kazuo Mori!"

A ripple of polite applause, mostly from Magnus's skybox, followed the announcement, a stark contrast to the thunderous cheers that had accompanied Tobias's victory.

In the opposite skybox, the group from 'No Name' and Moyan watched, their attention now fully fixed on the arena. Meera lay resting on a plush chair, her body still recovering from the brutal exhaustion of her previous match, though the system's lingering effects ensured her physical wounds were already mended.

Meanwhile, Kazue furrowed her brow with a fresh wave of worry, leaning forward with her hands clasping tightly. After what had happened to Meera, she felt a knot of apprehension tighten in her stomach. She knew Angela was strong, incredibly strong, but this opponent was an unknown, and the 'Noob Reapers' had already proven their terrifying capabilities.

"I hope Angela will be okay…"

Kazue whispered, her voice barely audible, her eyes fixed on the arena.

A new system screen materialized above the arena, its glowing text announcing the official rules for the match, identical to the previous one.

Kazuo Mori, his cool smirk unwavering, finally addressed Angela. His voice, smooth and relaxed, carried easily across the arena.

"Well now, Angela Rose, isn't it?"

He drawled, his tone playful, yet laced with an undeniable confidence.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard quite a bit about your team's… unique name. Quite a mouthful, isn't it?"

He chuckled softly.

"You know, if you win, I'd love to take you out for a drink sometime. Or if I win…"

His smirk widened, a glint of challenge in his eyes.

"You could at least accept a casual dinner. I'm quite the connoisseur of interdimensional cuisine."

His confidence was palpable, an almost arrogant certainty in his own victory, treating the impending battle like a mere formality before a date.

Angela, however, remained utterly unperturbed by his flirtatious banter. Her expression was calm and composed, her blue eyes sharp and analytical as she assessed him. She offered no smile, nor hint of amusement.

"My personal life is not your concern, thank you very much."

She replied, her voice cool, curt, and utterly dismissive.

"And I'm not a drinking-on-the-first-date kind of person."

Her stance was firm, her focus unwavering.

Kazuo merely chuckled, unfazed by her curtness.

"A woman of few words, I see. I like that. Makes things more interesting."

He stretched languidly, his movements fluid, radiating a casual power. Angela, meanwhile, raised her hand, and a simple, elegant paintbrush materialized in her grasp.

The Coliseum's energy field pulsed, the air growing thick with anticipation. Kazuo's smirk widened.

The match began.

Angela moved first, but she didn't charge. Instead, she brought her brush up and, with a swift, fluid stroke, painted a shimmering, ethereal line in the air before her. The line solidified instantly, becoming a gleaming, razor-sharp barrier of light, a defensive wall against any immediate assault. Kazuo, with his relaxed smile unwavering, responded with surprising speed. He didn't unleash any monstrous abilities. He simply moved in a blur of physical prowess, closing the distance with incredible speed.

His fist, imbued with superhuman strength, shot forward, aiming directly for Angela's painted barrier. The impact was a dull thud, a ripple of displaced air, but the barrier held firm, deflecting his blow harmlessly.

Angela continued to paint. Her brush danced through the air, leaving trails of vibrant, shimmering paint that solidified into various forms. She painted a series of small, metallic shuriken, which immediately detached from the air and spun towards Kazuo with lethal precision. The flashy guy, still grinning, dodged them with effortless grace, his body twisting and weaving, his movements almost too fast for the eye to follow.

He seemed like a master of physical combat, his agility a stark contrast to his imposing physique. Angela then painted a shimmering, illusory duplicate of herself, which immediately lunged forward, drawing Kazuo's attention. While he dealt with the illusion, she painted a thick, black line on the arena floor that instantly solidified into a tripwire, hoping to catch him off guard.

"Impressive reflexes."

Kazuo drawled in a smooth voice, completely unfazed by her attacks. He effortlessly shattered the illusion with a casual backhand, then leaped over the tripwire with a fluid motion.

"But you'll have to do better than that to land a hit on me, beautiful."

He continued to advance, his movements a blur of superhuman speed, his fists flashing, forcing Angela onto the defensive.

The girl continued to paint with furious precision and concentration. Her brush became a whirlwind of motion, creating a dynamic, ever-changing battlefield of painted constructs. She painted a series of towering, solid iron pillars that erupted from the arena floor, attempting to block Kazuo's path and restrict his movements. The guy, however, merely laughed, his body twisting and flowing around the obstacles, his speed allowing him to navigate the sudden terrain changes with ease. He slammed a fist into one of the pillars and made it buckle, groaning under the force, but held. Angela then painted a network of shimmering, invisible energy nets, hoping to ensnare him, but Kazuo seemed to sense them, weaving through them with an almost supernatural awareness.

"You're quite the artist, I'll give you that."

The blond commented, his voice still relaxed, a hint of genuine appreciation in his tone. He launched a powerful kick, aiming for Angela's head, but the girl, with a swift stroke of her brush, painted a thick, circular shield of hardened light, deflecting the blow with a resounding clang. The shield shimmered, absorbing the impact, but held firm.

"But this is getting a little boring, don't you think?"

He continued, his smirk widening.

"All this dodging and defending. Why don't we make things a little more interesting? If I win, you owe me that dinner, remember? Or if you manage to land a real hit on me, I'll treat you."

His confidence was absolute, a playful challenge that underscored his unwavering belief in his own invincibility. He was clearly enjoying the dance, treating the battle like a casual flirtation.

Angela, however, offered no response. Her blue eyes remained fixed on Kazuo, her concentration absolute. She painted a series of razor-sharp, shimmering blades that erupted from the arena floor once more, forcing her opponent to leap and twist, his movements becoming more acrobatic. She then painted a massive, roaring lion, its form solidifying instantly, which lunged at Kazuo with a furious roar. He met the painted beast with a casual punch, shattering its form into a shower of paint, but the distraction allowed Angela to gain a precious few seconds.

She continued to paint, creating a complex, ever-shifting landscape of obstacles and diversions, trying to find an opening, a weakness in the guy's seemingly impenetrable defense. The exchange was a dazzling display of speed, agility, and artistic creation, a testament to both Angela's prodigious talent and Kazuo's effortless physical prowess. Neither had managed to inflict any real damage on the other, but the intricate dance of attack and defense was a mesmerizing spectacle for the onlookers.

Finally, after a prolonged exchange, Angela saw her opening. With a swift, almost imperceptible stroke of her brush, she painted a shimmering, ethereal chain that erupted from the ground, wrapping itself around Kazuo's ankle. It was a fleeting, almost invisible tether, but it was enough. The man's next powerful kick, aimed at a painted wall Angela had just created, was subtly disrupted. His balance faltered for a split second, and in that infinitesimal window, Angela acted. Her brush became a blur, painting a series of razor-sharp, glowing daggers that shot forward.

These daggers, created with Angela's paint, struck true. They were small but they pierced Kazuo's skin, embedding themselves in his flesh. His confident smirk faltered briefly for the first time; he felt a faint sting and a fleeting sensation of impact. He looked down at his arm with a casual attitude, as if it was actually no issue at all. Then, to Angela's surprise, his skin began to shimmer, and the faint marks where the daggers had entered simply vanished. His body, completely unfazed, healed instantly, leaving no trace of the attack.

Kazuo chuckled, a low, amused sound that held a hint of genuine superiority.

"Cute."

He drawled, his voice still relaxed, but with an underlying edge of condescension. He stretched languidly, his muscles rippling under his jacket.

"But utterly useless. Any attack you throw at me will simply vanish. I abandoned my humanity a long time ago, you see. And I couldn't be happier about it."

His eyes, usually so playful, held a cold light, a chilling testament to his profound transformation.

"My body regenerates almost instantly. You cannot harm me."

Angela's blue eyes narrowed. She quickly painted a small, intricate card in her hand, its surface shimmering with arcane symbols. With a swift motion, she activated it, and the card dissolved into light, extracting information from her opponent. A system window materialized before her, displaying Kazuo Mori's profile, including his race. Her jaw tightened…

"A Minor Eldritch Horror, tsk."

She muttered, a faint hiss of annoyance escaping her lips. This was a far more dangerous opponent than she had anticipated. His regeneration was not just fast; it was absolute, and that changed everything.

The combat resumed, but this time, the dynamic had shifted. Kazuo, now fully on the offensive, moved with a terrifying confidence. He didn't hold back this time, no longer engaged in playful banter, as his body began to contort and twist, parts of his limbs elongating, transforming into massive, undulating tentacles that writhed with an unnatural life. The tentacles, shimmering with a dark, almost oily sheen, erupted from his back, his shoulders, and his arms, growing to immense proportions, some reaching the size of small buildings, their tips cracking like whips. His eyes now held a chilling, predatory gleam. He was a living nightmare, a monstrous entity unleashed.

Angela found herself pushed entirely onto the defensive. Her brush became a furious blur, painting solid walls of hardened light, shimmering energy shields, and massive, intricate barriers of reinforced steel. She created towering, defensive constructs, hoping to block his overwhelming attacks. But Kazuo's tentacles were too many, too fast, and too powerful.

They slammed into her painted defenses with bone-shattering force, tearing through the solid steel and shattering the energy shields as if they were made of glass. Each impact sent shockwaves through the arena, cracking the polished stone floor. Angela dodged, she weaved, she flew on painted platforms, desperately trying to evade the relentless onslaught, her movements a frantic dance of survival.

Kazuo's tentacles lashed out in a terrifying storm of raw, physical power. They moved with impossible speed, overwhelming Angela's defenses with their sheer number. She painted a massive, multi-layered shield, only for it to be torn apart by a dozen coiling tentacles. She painted a series of explosive charges, but Kazuo's regeneration simply absorbed the damage. She painted a net of pure energy, only for his tentacles to slice through it as if it were made of mist. The air filled with the sound of cracking stone, tearing paint, and the sickening thud of near-misses. Angela was barely holding on, her breaths coming in ragged gasps while her energy reserves were depleting rapidly.

"This is pointless."

Kazuo's voice boomed, distorted by the monstrous transformations, yet still retaining its relaxed, confident tone. He unleashed a barrage of tentacles, forcing her to leap backwards, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow.

"You cannot win. You cannot harm me. This fight has no meaning. Why prolong your suffering?"

His words were not cruel, but simply stating a fact, the truth of his invincibility. Angela, her face grim, finally found her voice, speaking with effort as she painted a new set of defensive barriers.

"You may be right…"

She admitted, her voice strained.

"I… I may not be able to win this by myself."

Her blue eyes, however, held a flicker of defiance, a spark of resolve.

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"But I don't have to do it alone."

Her gaze, sharp and unwavering, lifted from Kazuo and fixed on the skybox where Kazue and the others watched. Her voice, amplified by an unseen force, resonated through the Coliseum, carrying clearly to their ears.

"Listen, everyone! One of the key features of the Coliseum is that you can use all your skills here without needing to wait for cooldowns! And any price you might have to pay for those skills later will be nullified! There is no reason to hold back!"

Kazue and Drake exchanged a look, a sudden understanding dawning on their faces. The Coliseum wasn't just a battleground; it was a testing ground. It was like the training area in their lobby, a place where they could unleash their full potential without fear of consequence, a true measure of a user's maximum power.

Kazuo merely scoffed, a low, rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate through his monstrous form.

"A desperate plea to your friends? How quaint. You know they can't do anything to help you, right?"

He laughed in a confident, booming sound and launched another furious assault, his tentacles lashing out, aiming to overwhelm her before she could enact any desperate strategy. Angela evaded with desperate speed, creating painted diversions and barriers, desperately trying to gain a precious few seconds to create enough distance to enact her plan.

Her face was grim with concentration at the moment she finally gained a precious few meters of distance. She slammed her brush against the polished arena floor, and with a furious, precise stroke, she began to draw three distinct circles, each one pulsing with nascent energy. Her personal skill, [I will never forget you], flared to life, consuming a significant portion of her energy; normally after that, she would be unable to use it again for almost two weeks, but here, the cost was irrelevant.

The first circle, painted rapidly, depicted a gleaming golden sword. From within its shimmering confines, a figure began to coalesce, rising from the painted surface. This was a young man with short, spiky black hair and brown eyes, clad in a full suit of gleaming golden plate armor, carrying a massive golden sword. He materialized with an aura of immense, divine power, his posture radiating the silent strength of a sacred knight. A system window immediately materialized beside him:

Almost simultaneously, the second circle, painted with a bold, stylized letter "A", pulsed with energy. From its depths, a figure of raw, explosive power emerged. This was a young woman with short, blonde hair and striking blue eyes, her incredibly muscular physique visible beneath her white sports bra and a flowing red cape. She materialized with a confident smile on her face, her body radiating an aura of extraordinary power. Another system window appeared beside her.

The third circle, however, remained empty, its painted lines glowing faintly on the arena floor. Angela's face etched with intense concentration, focused all her remaining will on this final circle, her brush hovering above it, ready to complete the summoning.

"Protect me!"

She commanded, her voice strained with effort, her gaze fixed on the third circle. Ardyn and Astra responded instantly, positioning themselves defensively around the girl.

Kazuo merely laughed, a booming, confident sound that echoed through the arena. He watched the two new summons materialize with his monstrous form shifting and his tentacles writhing.

"More painted toys?"

He said, his voice laced with amusement.

"Do you truly believe these puppets can stand against me?"

He launched a ferocious attack, a massive tentacle, thicker than a building's foundation, lashing out with terrifying speed, aimed directly at Angela.

But the blow was stopped dead… Astra Force, with a single, effortless motion, slammed her bare hand against the colossal tentacle. The impact was deafening, and a shockwave rippled through the arena, but Kazuo's tentacle was halted in its tracks. Astra's small frame held firm with her muscles bulging and a confident smile on her face. Kazuo's laughter died in his throat, replaced by a flicker of genuine surprise in his many eyes.

Ardyn Wyrmsbane, meanwhile, wasted no time. He surged forward, his golden armor gleaming, his massive sword held ready. He used the immense tentacle that Astra had just halted as a literal pathway, running along its surface with impossible speed, a golden blur against the dark, writhing flesh.

The battle erupted into a maelstrom of clashing forces. The 'Noob Reapers' member, now on the defensive, found himself overwhelmed by the coordinated assault of Angela's summons. His monstrous tentacles, previously so dominant, were now met with equal, if not superior, force. Ardyn seemed a master of armed combat, moving with devastating efficiency as his golden blade, imbued with powerful divine energy, sliced through Kazuo's writhing tentacles with terrifying ease, severing them with clean, precise cuts. Each severed tentacle writhed for a moment, then dissolved into dark mist, only to regenerate slowly from Kazuo's main body. Astra, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of superhuman speed and strength and the ability to fly, intercepting any tentacle that slipped past Ardyn, stopping them with bare-handed blows, shattering them with powerful punches, or deflecting them with casual ease.

The blond roared in frustration, his monstrous form shifting, sprouting new appendages, desperately trying to regain the offensive. He lashed out with multiple tentacles, trying to overwhelm Ardyn and Astra, but they moved with perfect coordination. He even tried to target Angela directly, launching a barrage of smaller, faster tentacles towards her, but Ardyn would immediately intercept, or Astra would interpose herself, a living shield of muscle and speed. The arena floor cracked and shattered under the force of their blows, paint splattered across the stone, and the air filled with the hum of divine energy and the sickening thud of monstrous flesh. Angela, meanwhile, remained utterly focused on the third circle, her brush moving with furious concentration, the lines of paint glowing brighter with each passing second. The battle was a desperate race against time, a furious struggle to protect Angela while she completed her ultimate summoning.

Kazuo's frustration mounted… He was invincible, he knew it, but these two puppets were relentless, deflecting his attacks and constantly forcing him onto the defensive. He couldn't land a decisive blow on Angela either, and his attempts to overwhelm her summons were proving futile. His monstrous form shifted, tentacles thrashing with irritation. He needed to break their defense and create an opening, but how?

He focused his power once more, gathering a massive number of tentacles, coiling them, making them denser and stronger, imbued with a raw, crushing force. He then launched a concentrated assault on Astra, attempting to overwhelm her with sheer numbers and to pin her down with a suffocating mass of writhing flesh. The superhero-looking girl, even with her superhuman strength, found herself momentarily caught, her confident smile faltering as countless tentacles wrapped around her, binding her, threatening to crush her. It seemed even her extraordinary power might not be enough to escape this overwhelming embrace.

"Finally!"

Exclaimed the man, but at that precise moment, Angela acted. Her brush, which had been furiously drawing, paused. With a swift, decisive stroke, she slammed it against the arena floor. Her skill, [Paint Explosion], flared to life. Astra's body, still caught in Kazuo's crushing embrace, shimmered for a split second, then exploded in a dazzling burst of vibrant, multicolored paint. The explosion was not destructive, causing no damage, but it splattered everywhere, coating the blond's monstrous, tentacled form from head to toe in a thick, iridescent goo. Kazuo, utterly perplexed by the sudden, harmless burst, paused, his tentacles momentarily slackening as he tried to comprehend the bizarre attack.

Immediately after, Angela followed up. Her brush moved again in a swift, precise gesture, activating [Paint Implosion].

The paint that coated Kazuo's body, the vibrant, shimmering goo that covered his tentacles and monstrous form, suddenly began to violently implode. It wasn't an explosion outwards, but a terrifying suction inwards, as if countless mini black holes, shaped like the paint splatters, had suddenly manifested across his body. The paint and the parts of Kazuo's flesh it clung to vanished instantly, leaving gaping, clean holes in his monstrous form. His massive tentacles were severed and his body torn apart, leaving only scattered, grotesque pieces floating in the air, dissolving into dark mist. He had been utterly, comprehensively, destroyed, his regeneration unable to keep up with the instantaneous, conceptual removal of his mass.

From the skybox, Kazue leaped from her seat, a triumphant cry tearing from her throat.

"She did it! Angela won!"

She shrieked, her voice filled with unbridled excitement, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Drake, too, let out a rare whoop of triumph, a wide grin spreading across his face. Moyan, however, merely offered a faint, knowing smile.

"Not quite… There's no system notification for 'Critical Damage' yet."

He murmured in a calm voice, his eyes fixed on the arena.

Meanwhile, Angela, watching the scattered remnants of Kazuo's body, thought to herself. This would normally be enough. Any other opponent would be finished by that attack... But he regenerates. He was a Minor Eldritch Horror, after all. It would seem there was truly no way to defeat him in this setting, because there was no real way to inflict a critical attack on someone who could regenerate from basically nothing. However...

As if in response to her unspoken thought, the scattered pieces of Kazuo's body suddenly surged with a terrifying, dark energy. The energy coalesced, swirling violently, and then, with a sickening squelch, his body reformed. But this time, his appearance was even more bizarre, more monstrous, more utterly Lovecraftian than before. More tentacles, thicker and blacker, erupted from every part of his body, writhing and coiling. A massive, unblinking eye, pulsating with an eerie, malevolent light, opened in the center of his chest, its gaze sweeping over the arena. His human form was now barely discernible beneath the grotesque, alien mutations. Kazuo Mori, the Minor Eldritch Horror, was now truly unleashed.

"It's useless!"

Kazuo's voice boomed, distorted by the monstrous transformation, yet still retaining its confident, almost mocking tone. He spread his new, horrifying limbs as his many eyes glowed with a chilling, predatory light.

"No matter what you do, no matter how many times you destroy me, I am invincible under these conditions!"

He then created even more tentacles, dozens of them, of all shapes and sizes, erupting from his body like a living forest of writhing flesh. From these new tentacles, countless more eyes, small and unblinking, sprouted, covering his monstrous form. The air around him shimmered, and a wave of unseen energy pulsed outwards, activating his passive skill: [Insanity Aura]. The arena seemed to warp, the very light distorting under the oppressive influence of his madness-inducing presence.

But it was too late… The third circle, the final summoning, was ready. Angela's brush, having completed its intricate work, pulsed with a blinding light. From within the glowing confines of the painted circle, a figure began to coalesce, rising from the painted surface with a silent, imposing grace. This was a young man with short black hair and dark eyes behind glasses, clad in a pristine black school uniform. He materialized with a silent, unwavering gaze, a katana in one hand and a massive claymore in the other, his presence radiating an aura of immense, contained power. A system window immediately materialized beside him, its text blazing with stark warning.

Angela, watching Jeongu Kim materialize, felt a surge of grim satisfaction. Unlike last time, she was not injured, so she was able to draw the maximum power from this copy. She knew, with absolute certainty, that the combat was over.

Kazuo merely laughed, a distorted, booming sound that echoed through the arena. He watched Jeongu Kim materialize, his many eyes glowing with contempt.

"Invoking more toys?"

He boomed, his voice laced with mockery.

"It doesn't matter what you summon! My eyes are capable of negating absolutely anything! Any skill, any power, any illusion! Nothing can touch me!"

He began to fix his monstrous, multi-faceted gaze on Jeongu Kim, intending to nullify his very existence.

But before he could complete the action, before his gaze could fully lock onto Kim, Ardyn Wyrmsbane, Angela's first summon, moved with impossible speed. He had flanked Kazuo, unnoticed, and with a powerful, divine surge, he launched himself at the Eldritch Horror, his massive golden sword raised high, aiming for a devastating cut.

Kazuo, startled, realized the threat just in time. He roared, diverting his attention, directing all his monstrous eyes towards the knight in golden armor, attempting to negate his attack. Ardyn's form shimmered, then dissolved into light, disintegrated by the blond's power.

However, that single, infinitesimal instant of distraction was enough. Before Kazuo could fully turn, before his many eyes could re-focus, Jeongu Kim was already there. He moved like a phantom, one moment, he was at the edge of the summoning circle, and the next, he was directly in front of his target, while his twin blades, the katana and the claymore, flashed in a terrifying cross-cut.

Kazuo roared, a sound of pure agony like he hadn't felt in a long time, as he received a devastating X-shaped wound across his monstrous, regenerating body. The blades, imbued with a power that defied his Eldritch nature, tore through his flesh, leaving behind not just physical wounds, but a profound, systemic damage that his regeneration could not negate.

Two system windows materialized simultaneously above them, blazing with stark, green text.

Kazuo's monstrous form began to dissolve, his many eyes wide with disbelief, his voice a strained, broken whisper.

"I-Impossible…"

He stammered, the word barely audible as his body disintegrated into dark mist, instantly teleported from the arena.

From the skybox, Kazue leaped from her seat, a triumphant cry tearing from her throat.

"Angela won! She did it!"

She shrieked, her voice filled with unbridled excitement, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she threw her arms around Katya, pulling her into a tight, celebratory hug. Katya, caught by surprise, stiffened for a moment, then a faint blush spread across her cheeks. She allowed herself to be hugged, then subtly glanced towards Moyan... A smug, almost triumphant smile touched her lips, a silent boast of her closeness to her friend. The guy merely offered a nervous smile in return.

Before being transported from the arena, Angela approached her summoned copy of Kim. She looked at him, a complex mix of emotions in her blue eyes—affection, longing, and a profound sense of gratitude. She reached out her hand, almost touching his arm, a gesture of silent farewell.

"Just like old times, isn't it?"

She murmured, her voice soft, almost a whisper, filled with a bittersweet nostalgia.

"You were always there to save me…"

Her form shimmered, and with a soft pop, she disappeared, instantly transported back to the skybox, reappearing beside Kazue and the rest of her group.

A flurry of excited dialogue erupted in the skybox.

"Angela, that was incredible!"

Drake exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

"You won against an opponent of that level, almost without a scratch!"

Angela, with a rare, genuine smile gracing her lips, nodded, her relief palpable.

"It all worked out, fortunately."

She said in a calm voice.

"Now, let's make sure you win the next one."

Kazue turned her gaze back to the main screen above the arena. The score had updated, now emblazoned in bold, glowing letters:

She could see commotion in the 'Noob Reapers' skybox opposite them, hushed murmurs and agitated gestures, making her wonder what they were saying. Finally, the main screen flickered again. The images of the remaining participants began to spin in a rapid carousel once more, shuffling their profiles for the next bout. The carousel spun faster and faster, then slowly began to narrow, the images blurring until it finally halted on two new profiles, announcing the third combatants.

A collective gasp went through the skybox. It was Katya's turn next. Drake immediately stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"You can do it."

He said, his voice firm, encouraging. Falk, perched on Drake's shoulder, emitted a series of encouraging chirps. Meera, still recovering, offered a weak but determined thumbs-up.

The blonde girl was about to show her discomfort when Kazue, with her heart pounding with a mix of fear and fierce loyalty, took Katya's hands in hers, her grip tight. Her eyes, wide and earnest, met her friend's.

"I know you can do it, Katya!"

She said, her voice filled with unwavering belief. Katya's eyes shimmered, a rare vulnerability in their depths. A faint smile touched her lips, and she squeezed Kazue's hands.

"Yes!"

She whispered, her voice filled with a sudden, fierce resolve. A flash of light enveloped her, and she was instantly transported to the arena, ready for her fight.