Surviving These Unfair Scenarios [LITRPG - DIMENSION HOPPING]

The blinding flash of light consumed Katya, and in the next instant, she materialized onto the polished dark stone of the Coliseum arena. A fierce resolve burned in Katya's blue eyes, her body taut with readiness. The warmth of Kazue's hand, the fierce belief in her voice—"You can do it, Katya!"—still resonated within her, igniting a powerful, unyielding motivation. She would not disappoint her friend… She would not fail.

Across the arena, another flash of light signaled the arrival of her opponent. Anika Voronina materialized, a young woman with short, wavy brown hair, her delicate build and large, slightly shy-looking eyes giving her an unassuming appearance. Her simple shirt made her seem utterly out of place in this brutal arena, a stark contrast to the imposing figures of Tobias Radu and Kazuo Mori who had preceded her. She appeared timid, almost nervous, with her gaze sweeping over the vast arena with a visible apprehension.

In the skybox, Kazue leaned forward, her brow furrowed with concern.

"She looks so… scared."

She whispered, her usual cheerfulness tinged with worry.

"Is she really a 'Noob Reapers' member?"

Angela, observing the arena with detached analysis, offered a cold assessment.

"This could be an easy victory."

She murmured in a calm voice.

"If the system has chosen their weakest user, or perhaps a novice, then Katya should be able to finish this quickly. It might even be a perfect opportunity to conserve energy for the later matches."

Her gaze lingered on Anika, searching for any hidden strength, but seeing only visible apprehension.

Kazue, however, did not share Angela's detached optimism. Her eyes, fixed on Anika's seemingly timid form, narrowed with a subtle displeasure. The sight of someone appearing so vulnerable, so clearly intimidated, grated on her. A wave of unpleasant memories, old feelings of helpless disgust at witnessing acts of bullying, flickered through her mind. This was not a fair fight, not if the girl was truly as timid as she appeared. Kazue hated bullies, even in an arena fight.

"But… Katya wouldn't do that, right?"

Kazue muttered, a faint disapproval in her tone.

The Coliseum's announcer, a booming, disembodied voice that filled the immense space, presented the combatants, his voice echoing with customary grandeur.

"Welcome, esteemed users, to the third match of our best-of-seven wager!"

The voice boomed.

"On my left, from the formidable team 'Noob Reapers', we have the enigmatic Anika Voronina! And on my right, from the renowned 'No Name', the formidable Katya Nakamura!"

Katya, poised in the center of the arena, her gaze sharp, felt a surge of confidence. Anika, across from her, appeared to flinch, her shoulders hunched, her small form almost visibly shrinking in on itself. She seemed to be trying to cover her face with her hands, a pathetic display of fear.

The blonde felt a surge of cynical amusement. This would indeed be an easy win. The idea even crossed her mind to prolong it, to enjoy the clear terror in her opponent's eyes. This cruel thought was quickly suppressed by the lingering influence of Drake's earlier statement during the last scenario. But the temptation remained.... She smirked. This was too easy.

Anika remained cowering, almost trembling. Katya tightened her stance, her eyes fixed on the timid girl.

The blonde's grin widened, a predatory gleam in her eyes. This would be over in seconds.

Anika squeezed her eyes shut, her head bowed, and her small form shaking.

The match began.

Katya wasted no time. Her body became a blur as she launched herself forward with explosive speed, delivering a direct, aggressive assault aimed at her seemingly helpless opponent. Simultaneously, she extended her hand, and from a shimmer of dark energy, her first tulpa materialized: a faceless humanoid creature with elongated limbs, its body rippling with latent power, and insect wings buzzing softly behind it.

It moved with terrifying speed, surging forward alongside its summoner like a monstrous, protective shadow. With a second burst of energy, Katya transformed her other tulpa, twisting and reshaping its form into a massive, living scythe, its curved blade shimmering with deadly intent, its edges humming with destructive power. She wielded it with ease, even as it seemed very heavy; its weight was a natural extension of her arm, ready to carve through anything in its path. Her plan was simple: overwhelm the terrified Anika with raw speed and power to finish this quickly.

Anika, still cowering, let out a high-pitched shriek of fear, a sound that seemed entirely genuine. But then, just as Katya and her monstrous tulpa, wielding the living scythe, were about to crash into her, a strange, ethereal drum set materialized directly in front of the girl, seemingly from thin air.

It was a bizarre, organic instrument, its frame appearing to be crafted from gnarled wood, twisted branches, and oversized leaves, pulsating with a faint, inner glow. It served as an instant, unexpected shield. Katya's living scythe, infused with corrupting Ki, and her tulpa's powerful strike slammed into the drum set with a resounding THWACK! … A small, localized shockwave rippled outwards from the impact, making the air shimmer. Katya gasped, her eyes widening in genuine surprise, while the drum set, despite its organic appearance, held firm. It hadn't even buckled significantly. It was surprisingly and impossibly durable.

The moment of impact was almost comical, a jarring clash between Katya's aggressive intent and Anika's peculiar defense. From the drum set, with a sudden clatter, two drumsticks, also appearing to be made of polished, gnarled wood, shot out like projectiles, arcing through the air towards her. The timid girl, still visibly shaking, instinctively snatched them from the air with surprising agility. She clutched them tightly, her small hands dwarfed by the strange instruments.

Then, with a subtle shift, her entire demeanor transformed. The fear vanished. Her shoulders straightened, her head lifted, and her eyes, previously wide with apprehension, narrowed into sharp, intense slits, burning with a fierce, almost aggressive gleam. A wide grin stretched across her face, utterly replacing her timid expression. She moved with sudden confidence, stepping up to the drum set as if it were a natural extension of her very being. She raised the drumsticks, and with a primal shout, she began to play.

A thunderous, driving beat erupted from the organic drum set, filling the arena with the raw, visceral power of heavy rock. Accompanying the drums, impossibly, the wail of distorted guitars and the thrum of a heavy bass guitar seemed to materialize from nowhere, creating a full, booming accompaniment that vibrated through the arena, despite there being no other instruments visible. Anika, with now a really powerful voice and raspy roar, began to sing, her timid persona completely gone, replaced by the raw, aggressive energy of a rockstar. Her voice, filled with a primal energy, belted out lyrics that thrummed with the raw power of nature. This was her skill, [The Song of Nature].

The moment her song began, the very arena floor seemed to come alive. Twisted, thorny vines, thick as an anaconda, burst from the polished stone, lashing out like furious whips, aiming directly at Katya. Massive cactuses, with spikes glinting like steel, erupted from the ground, forming formidable barriers and sharp, piercing stakes that shot upwards like spears. Trees, gnarled and ancient, burst from the earth, growing in seconds to form dense, living walls that stretched across the arena, blocking the blonde's path. Anika's presence commanded the very flora of the battlefield, turning the arena into a lethal, shifting garden. Her voice, raw and powerful, filled the air, the lyrics weaving a narrative of furious, untamed growth.

"Roots will rise! And claim the sky! / Vines will twist! And hold you tight!"

Anika belted out, her head thrashing to the beat. Katya, startled by the sudden, overwhelming surge of plant life, attempted to resume her assault, her living scythe raised. But the vines moved with a startling speed, wrapping around her limbs, attempting to constrict her. Katya slashed, her scythe cutting through the thorny vines, but for every one she severed, two more seemed to burst forth, endless, relentless. The dense thickets of hard cactuses formed impassable barriers, forcing her to change direction constantly. Anika, meanwhile, continued to play and sing, her movements powerful, fluid, and utterly confident. She was enjoying this, and her aggressive persona was fully unleashed.

The battle transformed into a relentless dance of pursuit and evasion, a brutal symphony orchestrated by Anika's thunderous drumbeats and powerful vocals. Katya, accompanied by her tulpa, found herself constantly on the offensive, yet perpetually unable to reach her opponent. The girl, now a vibrant, aggressive figure, remained at the center of a rapidly growing, shifting forest of deadly flora. Twisted vines continuously burst from the ground, lashing out at their enemies, attempting to ensnare, trip, or pierce them.

"Thorns will bite! And pierce your side! / Nature's wrath! You cannot hide!"

Anika belted out a powerful roar that filled the Coliseum, somehow accompanied by impossible guitar riffs and pounding bass. The arena became a living labyrinth, constantly shifting and growing. Spiky bushes erupted to block Katya's path, forcing her to constantly change direction. Giant, thorny flowers with snapping, razor-sharp petals would bloom suddenly, lunging at her with surprising speed. Anika, utterly absorbed in her performance, never missed a beat, her drumsticks a blur of motion, and her body swaying with the rhythm of her own devastating song.

Katya would use her impressive speed and agility, twisting and weaving through the dense foliage, her tulpa a dark blur at her side. She'd utilize [Shared Essence], swapping places with her summon to bypass a sudden wall of thorny trees or to evade crushing vines that shot out from beneath the ground. Her living scythe, infused with [Corrupted Ki Manifestation], ripped through the plants with ease, each strike carrying a raw, destructive power. But no matter how fast she moved, no matter how many plants she destroyed, Anika's song was relentless. New plants would burst forth, constantly replenishing the defenses, pushing Katya back, forcing her to expend more and more energy.

From the skybox, Kazue watched with a mixture of awe and growing concern.

"She's so good!"

She exclaimed, her voice filled with admiration for Anika's incredible versatility and catchy song.

"But Katya can't get close. Her plants are everywhere."

Drake nodded, his gaze grim.

"That woman's controlling the field completely. Katya's speed is being nullified by the sheer volume of obstacles. She needs to find a way to disrupt that song."

Katya was slowly losing ground. The relentless barrage of plants, coupled with the constant need to attack and defend, was beginning to take its toll. Her movements, once fluid, became subtly more strained. Small cuts and scrapes appeared on her skin, inflicted by unseen thorns or whipping vines. Her energy reserves, though vast, were being steadily depleted. However, her determination remained unwavering.

Her eyes, fierce and unyielding, scanned Anika's defenses, searching for any flicker of an opening, any weakness in the botanical fortress. She thought of Kazue, her bright smile, and her unwavering belief in her. Katya would not disappoint her; she would not lose.

She wanted to win, to be praised, to see the pride in her friend's eyes. She wanted Kazue to know how strong she was… And maybe, if she saw how strong Katya could be, then maybe she would never leave her side.

Finally, Katya saw her chance. It was a desperate gamble, a risky maneuver that would leave her vulnerable, but it was all she had for the time being. Anika had just conjured a particularly dense thicket of razor-leafed bushes to repel a coordinated attack from her opponents, so with a sudden, decisive motion, Katya used [Shared Essence], but this time, it was a sacrificial move. She launched her tulpa directly into the thicket, allowing it to take the full force of the plant attack, knowing it would be overwhelmed. The tulpa vanished in a shimmer of dark energy as it was 'defeated', its defeat transferring a portion of its fatal damage back to Katya.

A sharp, searing pain ripped through the girl's body, but she pushed through it; her will was absolute. The moment her tulpa dissolved, she used [Shared Essence] again, swapping places with its disappearing essence, appearing directly behind the now-open thicket, startling Anika.

It was a split-second opportunity. Katya, emerging from the fading mist, was already in motion. Her living scythe, humming with lethal intent, slashed out in a wide, powerful arc. The blow carried all of her strength, fueled by her desperate resolve.

The scythe slammed into Anika's drum set. A shower of sparks, identical to those from the very first impact, erupted from the instrument, illuminating the scene in a fleeting burst of light. Katya's eyes immediately registered the familiar phenomenon and began her idea immediately… Before the sparks could even dissipate and before Anika could react to the impact, Katya acted.

Her hand, moving with impossible speed, shot to her wrist. From her [Fusion Deck], she pulled a single card.

"Elemental Fusion!"

She roared, her voice raw, empowered by her determination.

The card shimmered, dissolving into light. The living scythe, still humming from the impact, consumed the raw energy of the sparks generated by the collision, and with a surge of elemental force, the scythe transformed. Its blade, already massive, now flared, its edge becoming wreathed in roaring, hungry flames. It wasn't just fire; it was raw, elemental energy, burning with an almost sentient intensity.

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Katya was quickly repelled by Anika, who, despite her brief surprise, continued her relentless song and drumming, conjuring new plants with furious speed. But from that moment on, the tide began to turn. Katya's scythe, now a weapon of burning fire, became devastatingly effective against Anika's plant creations. The flames gnawed at the vines, incinerated the thorny bushes, and withered the massive trees with relative ease. Katya, fueled by her resolve and the searing power of her new weapon, pushed forward with renewed vigor. She combined her enhanced speed with her powerful slashes, using [Corrupted Ki Manifestation] to amplify the fiery attacks, turning each swing of her scythe into a scorching arc of destruction.

However, despite her newfound advantage, closing the distance remained incredibly difficult. Anika's song was relentless, her drumbeats a continuous rhythm that spawned an endless, overwhelming tide of new plants. The sheer speed and quantity of the plant invocations created a living wall that was almost impossible to penetrate. Katya weaved, she dodged, and she burned, but the constant barrage, the sheer volume of plant life, forced her to expend immense energy. She felt her body screaming with exertion, injuries accumulating from the relentless, unavoidable hits from whipping vines and piercing thorns. But her mind remained fiercely focused, her determination unyielding. Every attack she endured, every sting of pain, only made her think of Kazue. She wanted to return to her side and to see the pride in her eyes. This desperate, singular desire fueled her, pushing her near her limits.

Finally, after a prolonged, brutal exchange, where Katya had suffered multiple injuries, she managed to nearly close the distance. Anika, seeing the blonde almost within striking range, and with her eyes widening with a flicker of genuine surprise, made a decisive move... She activated her ultimate trump card.

As her furious drumbeats intensified, a monstrous, earth-shattering tremor ran through the arena floor. From beneath the polished stone, a colossal, grotesque form erupted, tearing through the ground with terrifying force. This was [Ghoulvine Rex], a gigantic, monstrous carnivorous plant, its central body a yellow, moon-like face with jagged, black teeth, surrounded by huge purple petals and thick, thorny green vines. It had multiple smaller, red carnivorous plant heads, each with sharp teeth, sprouting from its thorny limbs, its presence radiating a palpable sense of hunger and malevolence. Anika continued to sing, with her voice now a triumphant roar, and her drumsticks a blur as she played directly atop the monstrous plant.

The battle shifted dramatically once again with the appearance of [Ghoulvine Rex]. The monstrous plant was not only extremely powerful on its own, its thorny vines lashing out with terrifying speed, but it also visibly energized all the plants Anika had previously invoked. The vines became thicker, faster, their thorns sharper; the cactuses hardened even further, their resilience defying Katya's fiery scythe, and so on. The numerical disadvantage, coupled with the monstrous plant's overwhelming presence, became almost insurmountable. Katya's fire-wreathed scythe, though powerful, now struggled to cut through the empowered flora.

From the skybox, Angela's eyes narrowed.

"That thing…"

She murmured, her voice grim.

"It's boosting all her other summons."

Kazue, however, watched with extreme worry in her eyes.

"But she would do it… I know Katya can do it."

She muttered to herself, with her lips trembling a little bit.

Katya, battered and bleeding, understood the sudden, overwhelming disadvantage. She had to take another desperate risk. With a swift movement, she pulled another card from her fusion deck.

"Necro Fusion!"

She commanded, her voice raw. The card shimmered, dissolving into light, and from the fading remnants of her previously defeated tulpa, a dark energy coalesced. The tulpa, resurrected, immediately fused with Katya's fiery scythe, transforming it into an even larger, more grotesque weapon, its blade roaring with amplified flames, its handle now a sinewy, living thing. Then, almost immediately, with another swift pull of a card, Katya roared again.

"De-Fusion!"

The huge scythe shimmered, its components separating. Her tulpa reappeared beside her, solid and whole, its insect wings buzzing, and her fiery scythe reverted to its normal size, still wreathed in flames. This quick sequence had essentially allowed Katya to revive her defeated tulpa and bring it back into the fight, a momentary resurgence of her numbers.

Anika, unfazed by Katya's desperate tactics, continued to play and sing. She now controlled not only her army of plants but also the monstrous [Ghoulvine Rex], directing its massive limbs to lash out at the blonde. Katya and her revived tulpa, though fighting with desperate ferocity, were now at an even greater disadvantage. The sheer power of the monstrous plant, coupled with the empowered plant army, was overwhelming.

Katya received more and more wounds, her body bleeding from countless cuts, her movements becoming strained. But she refused to yield. With her body screaming in protest and blood streaking her face, she finally saw her opening. It was narrow, fleeting, almost invisible, created by a momentary shift in the monstrous plant's massive body. With a final, desperate surge of [Asura Mode]—her strength, speed, and pain resistance exploding to monstrous levels, her eyes burning with a bloodthirsty gleam, her mind narrowing to a singular, violent focus—she launched herself forward. She moved with impossible speed, a red blur, weaving through the empowered lianas, dodging Ghoulvine Rex's massive tentacles, ignoring the searing pain of thorns that raked her flesh. She burst through the final layer of plants, her fiery scythe held high, aimed directly at Anika.

The musician, caught by surprise by Katya's sudden, suicidal charge, opened her eyes wide with a flicker of genuine shock, but didn't stop playing. The blonde's flaming scythe slammed into something before reaching her target… An invisible barrier protected Anika, the point of contact, which sparked violently. The barrier, powered by Ghoulvine Rex, held firm, deflecting Katya's furious strike. The girl and her tulpa were repelled, thrown backward again with immense force, tumbling across the polished arena floor. Her scythe clattered from her grasp, and finally she lay there, bruised, battered, and utterly defeated. Her opponent's barrier had held against her best effort… Everything seemed lost.

Anika, her triumphant rockstar grin fixed in place, watched Katya's battered form. She began to sing, her voice laced with mockery, reverberating through the Coliseum.

"You fool! You can't harm me! This place is charged with residual energy from the previous battles! Ghoulvine Rex absorbs the 'nutrients' from that residual energy and uses it as a shield for me! And due to the immense power of those summons used in the last fights, this barrier is incredibly potent! You can't break it!"

Her song mocked Katya's futile efforts. And as the blonde lay on the ground, face up, she stared at the unmoving barrier, then at Anika's triumphant, mocking face. Residual energy… from previous battles… Anika's words, mocking as they were, sparked a sudden, desperate realization in Katya's mind. The system didn't completely reset the arena's energy; it just left it.

That's why Angela's painting worked so powerfully, and why the monstrous plant was this much of a hassle… Anika had access to a vast, untouched reservoir of power. Her mind, despite the [Asura Mode's] diminished capacity, worked furiously, connecting the dots.

Before the encroaching plants could reach her and before Ghoulvine Rex could unleash another attack, Katya rolled, pushing herself up with a desperate surge of strength. She took distance, even when her body screamed in protest. She gasped, drawing a ragged breath, then, with a raw, desperate cry that tore from her throat, she channeled every ounce of her remaining will.

"Kazue!"

She shrieked, her voice echoing through the arena, filled with an unyielding conviction.

"Wish me luck!"

She slammed her hand into her bracelet, pulling out a card, her eyes fixed on the distant figures in the skybox. Then, with a desperate thrust, she activated the new skill she had won in the casino, the vague, enigmatic [From the Past with Love!].

A system window immediately materialized before her, its text blazing with stark information.

Katya didn't lose a single second. Her eyes burned with a newfound, terrifying purpose. She immediately activated the skill she had just acquired… A vast, dark, incredibly powerful energy surged forth from her, rippling across the arena. Then, to the astonishment of absolutely everyone, even Anika's triumphant drumming faltered for a split second, her eyes widening in disbelief. Before Katya, shimmering into existence from the churning void of summoned power, was none other than Bhaal—the High-rank Devil, Tobias Radu's ultimate summon.

The air grew heavy, charged with the immense, malevolent power of the newly manifested Devil. Even from the 'Noob Reapers' skybox, Tobias Radu's face contorted in a mask of absolute shock, his jaw dropping in disbelief. Impossible! he thought, his mind reeling. Bhaal, too, seemed momentarily confused, its dark eyes sweeping over the arena. It turned its massive head to look at Katya, its voice a low, resonant rumble.

"It is… strange."

Bhaal mused, its tone calm, utterly devoid of emotion.

"That I would possess another summoner without my prior knowledge. My protocols dictate otherwise."

As Bhaal spoke, Anika snapped out of her astonishment. Her fingers flew back to her drumsticks, resuming her furious song and rhythm. A lot of vines, thick and thorny, shot from the ground towards Katya in a rapid, overwhelming assault. But before they could even reach her, Bhaal's golden goblet shimmered.

Without a single command from Katya, water erupted from its rim, forming into several massive, coiling tentacles that lashed out with impossible speed, pulverizing the incoming plants into green mist. Bhaal paid no mind to the destruction it wrought. It simply continued to converse with Katya, its voice resonating with cold indifference.

"I am not here to aid you, summoner."

Bhaal rumbled, its eyes fixed on the girl.

"Unless a formal pact is made. And due to these irregularities, I would demand a price of greater value than I typically would. Be prepared to lose an arm and a leg for my assistance."

However, Katya merely began to laugh, a low, rasping sound, filled with a wild, almost deranged joy.

"Before I accept your terms, Bhaal…"

She said, her voice strained but triumphant.

"Is it true… what you just said? That you are my summon?"

Bhaal tilted its massive head, its eyes gleaming.

"Technically, yes."

It rumbled.

"For the duration of this invocation, I am bound to your energy. But you cannot control me without a formal pact, and if you do not accept my terms, I will simply depart, offering you no aid."

But that was all the confirmation Katya needed. Her cynical eyes, previously burning with pain and fury, now gleamed with a wild, triumphant madness. A wide, terrifying smile stretched across her face. She raised her voice, a raw, exhilarated shout that cut through the Coliseum, echoing even over Anika's furious song.

"This is it! It ends now!"

She showed the card from her [Fusion Deck] that she drew before, her movements a blur of desperate, final energy. With a triumphant roar, she screamed.

"Forced Fusion!"

Before the astonished eyes of everyone present—the 'Noob Reapers' in their skybox, Tobias frozen in disbelief, Angela and Drake gaping, and even Anika, her furious drumming faltering—Ghoulvine Rex began to shimmer. Its massive form dissolved into a swirling vortex of green and black energy, a cloud of essence that was violently drawn across the arena towards Katya. Simultaneously, Bhaal, the mighty High-rank Devil, let out an incredibly rare, guttural scream of disbelief and rage.

"What?! Impossible! How are you doing this? … I curse you, human! I swear I will kill y…!"

It roared before being cut out as its immense form dissolved into a cloud of dark, shadowy dust, pulled irresistibly towards Katya as well. Both entities—Ghoulvine Rex and Bhaal—had been ripped from their respective owners and forced into a chaotic amalgamation. The two distinct clouds of essence hovered above Katya's head, swirling violently, a nexus of raw, conflicting power. Katya, with a final, desperate surge of will, lifted her fiery scythe. The essences of Ghoulvine Rex, Bhaal, and her own tulpa, which she had silently commanded to be part of the fusion, surged into the living weapon.

The scythe pulsed, its form twisting, growing, transforming into something monstrous and utterly unique. It was now a colossal, grotesque weapon—its blade, still wreathed in flames, was now adorned with serrated teeth like Ghoulvine Rex, its handle thick and sinewy like a coiling tentacle of Bhaal's water magic, and its very structure seemed to hum with the dark, faceless essence of her tulpa.

Katya, with her body screaming with pain and exhaustion, activated her [Asura Mode] one last time. Her strength, speed, and pain resistance exploded, with her mind narrowed to a singular, violent focus: Anika, and she went like a rocket directly at her.

The drummer, shocked, finally stopped playing her instrument for a brief moment. She stared, her eyes wide, as Katya surged towards her. She immediately began to play again and desperately tried to summon plants, but nothing happened. A system window materialized in front of her, blindingly clear.

In that instant, her ability to fight was nullified. She was exposed. Unable to defend herself in time, Anika simply tried to cover her face with her arms, a pathetic gesture against the inevitable. But it was useless. Katya's massive, fused scythe hummed with raw power and sliced through both Anika's organic drum set and her body as easily as if they were made of butter.

With a final, desperate scream, Anika was cut in two, her form dissolving rapidly into shimmering dust, instantly transported by the system back to her team's skybox.

Finally, a last message blazed across the arena screen.

At the same moment, Katya's [Asura Mode] deactivated, and the colossal, fused scythe dissolved into nothingness. She crumpled, falling heavily to the ground, utterly exhausted, too tired to move another inch, her body screaming in protest from the pain and exertion.

A flash of light consumed her, and she was instantly transported to the skybox, reappearing beside her group. Everyone rushed to her side, a flurry of concerned voices and congratulatory exclamations.

"Katya! You did it! That was incredible!"

Drake exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. Moyan clapped, a bright smile on his face. Angela simply nodded, a rare hint of relief in her eyes. But it was Kazue who was most effusive. With a joyful cry, she leaped forward, enveloping Katya in a fierce, unyielding hug.

"Katya! You were amazing! You were so strong! I knew you could do it! I'm so proud of you!"

She praised, her voice filled with adoration, covering Katya in compliments. The blonde, despite her exhaustion, felt a profound warmth spread through her chest at that very moment. Her eyes, usually so cynical, softened, and a faint blush rose on her cheeks. She returned Kazue's hug, a silent, possessive embrace, cherishing the praise.

Finally, Kazue gently separated from her friend, helping her sit down beside Meera, who was still recovering from her own brutal battle. Katya's wounds had been instantly healed by the system, but the profound exhaustion remained, a heavy weight on her limbs. Then Kazue turned her gaze back to the main screen above the arena. The score had updated once more, now emblazoned in bold, glowing letters:

The lead was theirs. She could see a massive commotion unfolding in the 'Noob Reapers' skybox opposite them, hushed murmurs and agitated gestures. She wondered what they were saying, but a faint smirk touched her lips.

After a moment and a brief, triumphant exchange of dialogue among the group, Angela spoke.

"If we can win two more…"

She said, her voice calm but filled with a rare, almost disbelieving hope.

"We'll win the wager. Honestly, I didn't think it was possible."

Drake, ever cautious, nodded.

"We can't get overconfident. Their team is still full of powerful users."

But Kazue was too excited, too filled with the thrill of victory, to be anything but optimistic. The screen indicating the next confrontation then activated, its roulette of participant images spinning rapidly. It slowed, then finally halted on two new profiles, announcing the next terrifying matchup.