She released her blade and stumbled backwards as Max advanced. Without waiting for her to recover he appeared before her.

“ECCHHH ACCHHH!”

He grasped at her neck, denting the armor around her throat and slamming her towards the ground.

Booom! The ground cracked open as the debris was flung everywhere.

“Sarah!” The princess ran towards the fallen knight. As powerless as she was she had to do something to help her protector…

And her friend.

“Dammit!” Sarah was currently facing an unforeseen situation and didn’t notice the incoming princess. “I have got too use magic that’s my only chance!”

Being a highly trained royal knight she understood the importance of remaining calm. She wouldn’t underestimate him anymore for being a human. Sarah knew very well that this person was as strong as any other competitor in this tournament.

“Come spirits of flame!” she cried. She was going to blast this human to the other side of the universe.

Her body began to glow a faint red as she attempted to break free of her assailant.

However in response to this Max just smirked and drew close to her ears as he began to whisper.

“How cute… Fire magic I can do that too.”

And it was then it occurred. It was a scene that Sarah would remember throughout the entirety of her life.

The human before her also began to glow, not faintly like her, but rather his body morphed into a blood red color. He resembled a red star blasting radiation to the corners of the universe.

“Now let’s see if you survive this!” He exclaimed as the red glow began to converge towards his palm.

“Ah-ah,” despite being a knight of the highest order Sarah still felt fear of this palm as she had lost her ability to speak.

“Here it comes!” Max screamed as his palm crashed forth.

“No!” a high pitch scream blasted throughout the air before it was silenced.

Boooom!

A loud explosion once again ripped forth.

Sarah awoke and what greeted her was a roof she did not recognize.

“Where am I?” She questioned to no one in particular.

“You’re in one of the living quarters for contestants,” a soft voice whispered to her in response.

Turning her head to the side her gaze fell upon Princess Elizabeth who watched her with misty eyes.

“P-Princess what is wrong?” Sarah attempted to sit up and comfort her but the pain forced her down.

“N-No Sarah don’t get up, I was just incredibly worried. I thought I lost you.” The princess sobbed with her head down.

Wiping the tears from her eyes her face exploded into a vibrant smile.

“I didn’t know what I would do if I lost you but… I’m just glad you are safe.”

Sarah ruffled the princess’s hair and pulled her into her embrace.

“Don’t worry princess I won’t be beaten that easily” She said in order to comfort Elizabeth.

“So in the end what happened?” Sarah asked after Elizabeth had calmed down.

“Before the human dealt the final blow a god interrupted him as you know if a contestant kills another contestant the collar explodes” Elizabeth replied dutifully.

“I see…” Sarah responded rather weakly as she touched her own collar around her neck.

“Sarah what was wrong with that human. He used magic right?”

Sarah looked towards the roof as she contemplated on the man once again.

“I don’t know what that was but that wasn’t a human”