The cheers roared on continuously, like an unending splash of water, as Soot’s voice announced the final contestants in the slight distance.

“You sure about this, dad?” Peter asked, struggling to keep pace. “Not that I’m complaining, but…”

“I’M SURE, PETE!!” Rob exclaimed. “This tournament has already more than quadrupled our usual sales! SCREW MAKING MORE MONEY!!” He laughed heartily, activating his levitation bracelet at a platform.

“This is gonna be so awesome…” cooed Peter.

Lammy and Zayza followed close behind, and the group floated up, leaving their restaurant space behind in the Gloat Center main hall. They ascended past countless floors, and soon Lammy found it best not to look down—the very top balcony was the only viewing space available for vendors.

“This is unbelievable: Blue and Red are fighting our favorite champions, Kotono and Hiroko?! No way we’re missing this fight! I don’t even know who to root for!” exclaimed Rob giddily.

I do…thought Lammy. He’d admired Skrili Kay and Pang Pereo’s fighting throughout the tournament, and certainly hoped to see more of it someday, but his loyalty was decided: Hiroko and Kotono were Zayza’s friends. They promised to keep them safe after restoring Hiroko’s homeland.

On top of that, especially after all the support they showed, Lammy wanted nothing more than to see Hiroko’s people thrive.

And there was only one way to make these goals possible:

By winning.

Zayza caught Lammy’s eye and gave him an encouraging smile.

“They’ll do it,” she assured. “We have hope.”

Lammy nodded. “They’ll win the championship.”

~

Deon hadn’t eaten all day, and the audience’s incessant roar only made him queasier. This wasn’t even his fight, but he couldn’t watch Skrili and Pang fail after giving everything to make it this far. They had overcome champions, defied the known laws of their own powers, and somehow, began rekindling their friendship. But regardless, it all came down to this single fight.

He felt his heart punching his chest, swallowing hard as he watched Skrili and Pang stand off against Kotono and Hiroko down on the platform. The two teams bowed.

They have to do this, Deon thought. Irritating as Phillip was, he couldn’t fathom him succumbing to his disease if they lost. He checked on Phillip worriedly.

“What the—” stammered Deon.

In the seat beside him, Phillip was downing the rest of his third Phoenix Float, his head all the way back. He sighed as he placed the fancy glass by his feet.

“While you’re usually wrong, you and Pang were right about the Phoenix; they’re a great restaurant,” said Phillip. “They live up to the hype.”

“Why are you being so uncharacteristic?!” exclaimed Deon.

“Hm? I’m not sure what you mean,” uttered Phillip. Then he leaned under his seat and pulled out a massive, colorful sign. It looked haphazardly drawn, featuring cartoonish renditions of Pang and Skrili, and simple text: ‘The Best.’

He held the sign above his head, his expression still somehow serious.

“I’m so lost…” sighed Deon.

“You must see it by now,” Phillip said soberly. “Pang and Skrili will win this. There’s no reason to worry.”

Deon smiled. He agreed—they didn’t come this far just to fall. Especially after noticing Skrili and Pang’s confidence and solidarity last night, it was clear they could do it.

But that wasn’t what made up Deon’s mind.

After what Skrili told him last night, he simply knew she wouldn’t lose.

Because saving Phillip meant more to her than he’d realized.

Filled with fire, Deon grabbed hold of the sign with Phillip. He shot to his feet, and Phillip reluctantly followed.

“SKRILI AND PANG ARE GONNA WIN THIS THING!!!!!!” he proclaimed, briefly overpowering even the loudest of fans.

~

Skrili never thought that one day, she’d be standing face-to-face with her heroes, about to fight them in the championship round of a Fantasy Country Conscious Competition.

Life sure was bizarre.

It didn’t seem real—she couldn’t feel the ground.

“Skrili-dear…” Pang uttered beside her. “You ready?”

Trying not to tense, Skrili nodded.

“And uh…I just need to say…I’m…” started Pang. Skrili glanced over and could see the effort in her face. “Well—never mind. You said save it until after we win, right?”

“Right.”

“Then let’s save Phillip.”

Hiroko and Kotono stood staring alertly. Hiroko’s loose yet focused demeanor made it obvious she had experienced a championship many times before.

But if Skrili hadn’t already watched countless of Kotono’s fights, she would have assumed Kotono was a rookie like her. The top fighter clutched her arm tightly, cradling herself as her eyes switched between Skrili and Pang with apparent unease.

As Skrili theorized, it was Kotono’s classic technique: come across timid and unprepared, and once the fight starts, catch her opponents unawares.

“For the record, we like you two already,” Hiroko said to them calmly. “But we won’t hold back on you.”

The crowd’s roar in reply made Skrili’s legs turn to jelly.

I can’t be scared now…not when it counts the most…she thought.

“THE TIME HAS COME, FOLKS!!!” shouted Soot.

“We’re about to see an explosive fight tonight,” added Talonvorp. “It’s either gonna be the breakout rookies Pang and Skrili, or the decorated young champions, Kotono and Hiroko. Here we go…”

“Let’s kick off the Fantasy Country Conscious Competition Championship!!” Soot continued. “Count it with me one last time!”

“THREE!”

It’s happening…don’t fail… Skrili’s mind raced.

“TWO!!”

Don’t fail…don’t fail…

“ONE!!!”

Don’t fail again…

“F—”

A deafening sound bounced all over the walls of Gloat Stadium, completely drowning out the entire audience.

It was a roar—a single, rumbling roar, with a strange bit of rasp to it.

Everyone turned their gaze from the arena, and up to the large, floating platforms above the highest balconies. It was so startling, even Kotono and Hiroko turned to see.

Skrili looked, and then let out a laugh.

All the way up, close to the ceiling, Gibblezgorv flapped his massive mint wings, letting out the rest of his ferocious snarl.

“SKRILI!!” he called down, his voice shaking the platform. “FIGHT WELL!”

Her face flushed, but the weakness in her legs vanished. She sprung into her fighting stance, and Pang followed.

Oh…so that’s why Deon suddenly asked me for Gibblezgorv’s scale last night…she realized. One more chuckle escaped her.

That goofball.

Up in the stands, Deon shot a fist into the air, laughing. “He actually did it!” he exclaimed. “YEAH!”

Both teams returned to each other, fire in all of their eyes.

“The fight is on!!” shouted Soot.

The teams sprung into action.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” Pang said. “Let’s go, Kotono!”

She zipped at her opponent.

Kotono let out a cry, like someone had crept up behind her. “Oh! Okay…” she stammered. “H—Hiroko, please watch out.”

A golden glow suddenly burst all around her, the aftershock halting Pang in her tracks and launching her onto her back.

Meanwhile, Hiroko nodded confidently. She eyed Skrili for a split second, and then darted away from her teammate. Skrili rushed to follow her.

Hiroko came to an instant stop and faced Skrili in the same fighting stance she’d adopted as her own. Now, they were a good distance from Pang and Kotono, on the opposite side of the arena.

This was exactly according to Skrili and Pang’s strategy.

But…

That was too easy, thought Skrili. They walked right into our plan on purpose? They must have figured we’d do this.

There was no time to think over it: Hiroko pounced forward. Automatically, Skrili recognized her move: the low run, sudden curve to the right, and spinning kick…

Skrili ducked, barely skirting an attack that would have knocked her out in an instant.

“You really do pay attention,” Hiroko commented. “Looks like we’ll both know each other’s moves.”

Skrili sprung into an offensive, and Hiroko joined her midway. Skrili had never fought a Predictor, but it was going just as she figured: Hiroko foresaw every punch and kick she dished out, and blocked flawlessly.

But on top of that, Hiroko had clearly done her homework, too: out of all the possible actions her powers pre-visualized, she deduced which ones Skrili would pick in an instant, without fail.

This would likely become a test of endurance.

Across the arena, Pang eyed her idol warily. Kotono’s golden glow lit the air all around her.

“Here I come,” Kotono warned softly.

“Don’t tell me that,” uttered Pang.

Kotono pointed her hand and fired a harsh beam of light from it. Pang pivoted, feeling the intense heat as the beam whizzed by, exploding near the arena walls.

“Then again, you are one of the best,” Pang figured. She hopped out of the way as another light beam flew past her.

More beams and blasts came her way, but Pang managed to barely avoid them, sweat already building from the heat. It was difficult to stay ahead, but she almost felt like it should be more challenging—especially after not a single attack landed.

“What, are you not as determined anymore or something?” Pang eventually asked outright.

“Huh?” Kotono wondered.

“You’re trying to save your teammate’s people,” elaborated Pang. “So, determination: that’s gotta be the emotion feeding your powers, right?”

Kotono’s eyes bounced around quickly. “Oh—um—right…” she muttered.

Pang shrugged. “Then I guess it’s time to see,” she started, peering into Kotono’s eyes closely, “how much more determined I am.”

A golden glow flashed into existence all around Pang now, too, and then it gradually morphed into the same bright red as Kotono’s eyes and Pang’s hair.

“This should be fun,” Pang said. Mimicking Kotono’s technique, she aimed her hand and fired a piercing red energy blast at her.

But a round wall of golden energy formed in front of Kotono, protecting her from the explosion. Pang could have sworn she heard Kotono scream underneath the booming blast.

Pang tried once more. She thought of Phillip, and felt the red energy intensify around her. Then she fired another, more powerful beam.

This time Kotono leaped out of its way, and with both hands lifted up, blasted a massive orb of steaming light straight at Pang. It looked like it had fired before Kotono even finished aiming, but due to its size it was still headed straight for her.

Pang dove, but it flew too fast: the explosion pounded against her legs, spinning her to the ground. She crashed several times before coming to a stop, remnants of smoke rising off of her.

Wincing, Pang checked her legs. As she’d hoped and appreciated, her skin and clothes weren’t burned: Kotono always used energy that didn’t scorch her opponents, out of respect for them.

But it still hurt like they were on fire.

Tapping back into Kotono’s powers, Pang summoned back her red energy. Black sparks were mixed in now, probably drawing from her frustration.

She hopped to her feet and eyed her powerful opponent. To her confusion, Kotono stood with a worried hand to her mouth, leaning forward a bit as if to make sure Pang was okay.

Pang spat. “The ‘fake-shy’ thing doesn’t work on me,” she shot. “I know your techniques.”

Kotono took a step back. “F—Fake?” she repeated. “I’m sorry.”

This didn’t seem correct: in all the fights Pang had watched and re-watched, Kotono utilized this soft demeanor like a weapon. But now, in person, it seemed too…

Genuine.

Was this really the Kotono Inoue Pang had been admiring since starting her own career?

“Whatever,” Pang dismissed. “I just need to beat you. And as long as I’m more determined than you, I will.”

Kotono winced, and then the golden light around her intensified even further.

“You can’t,” she said.

They both fired blasts, which met directly in the middle. But Kotono’s golden energy easily overwhelmed Pang’s and continued to rage forward.

Cursing, Pang tried to create a shield of energy like Kotono did earlier. But it only barely dulled the attack, and the audience shouted as the fiery blow still bashed into her.

Pang slid against the ground before struggling to stand again. Now her energy’s color was almost equal parts red and black.

“No…I won’t lose this!” she exclaimed. The light radiated even more intensely around her, forming jagged sparks on the edge, in contrast to Kotono’s round golden glow.

Pang blasted another beam. It rapidly jolted Kotono’s way in a ferocious, unsteady line.

But once again, her attempt meant nothing: a gold burst erupted from Kotono’s body, enveloping and wiping away the attack. Then the light compressed into a single, dense orb in front of her. With a contactless slap, she sent it spinning at Pang.

The crowd’s reaction was even livelier this time as Pang was launched airborne. She crashed hard, unable to recover quite as quickly.

“There we go—she’s really cooking now!” Soot commentated.

“This is the usual intensity we see from Kotono’s powers right from the start of a fight,” analyzed Talonvorp. “It took a moment, but here’s the Kotono we’re used to.”

“Meanwhile, it looks like Skrili is managing to keep up with Hiroko! Wow!”

“It’s like watching a mirror,” noted Talonvorp.

Skrili tried to block out the narration and crowd noise as she matched Hiroko’s blocks and attacks. She needed to focus with everything she had.

But they were right; she and Hiroko were more than evenly matched so far: they were identical. Skrili read all of Hiroko’s attacks accurately, and Hiroko foresaw hers each time. Skrili was beginning to regret modeling her style so much after her current opponent. On top of envisioning all of Skrili’s potential actions with her powers, Hiroko could simply base her guesses on what she would do in Skrili’s position.

Each had taken several hits by now, but only when they both simultaneously dropped their defenses to take a chance. Skrili’s Power Rebound increased steadily from the pain, but Hiroko still matched her power with raw ability.

After their spinning kicks cancelled each other out, Hiroko hopped back.

“You don’t fight like most of the pros I’m used to these days,” she shared.

“Hm?”

“You’re like me,” she explained further. “There’s a difference in the urgency between someone who fights for success, and someone who grew up fighting for their lives.”

Skrili pounced forward, but Hiroko did the same. Their kicks once again matched, pushing them both backwards.

“I guess the press is kind of right,” Hiroko admitted. “We’re a lot more alike than I thought. There’s just one thing setting me apart: the reason I’ll beat you…”

Skrili recognized Hiroko’s footing: she was about to dart forward, cut to the side, and slip right behind Skrili for a fist to the back. Skrili was quick to turn and block the attack.

But Hiroko was a blur. She came up behind Skrili, exactly where she expected—but faster than she could follow. Hiroko’s fist jolted her forward.

“Experience,” Hiroko finished.

Skrili stumbled, almost falling as she recovered her footing. But Hiroko was upon her again, and landed more direct hits than she could comprehend. This time Skrili fell back, pain shooting all over.

Energy quickly coursed through her, giving her the strength to shoot back to her feet.

But as a more experienced fighter, Hiroko should know better than to trigger my Power Rebound so directly, Skrili thought. Why is she walking right into my advantage?

It was just like the beginning of the fight: when Skrili and Pang initiated matchups, Hiroko and Kotono just let it happen, seemingly unconcerned with the implications.

Skrili immediately realized her brief moment of contemplation was a mistake when fighting the best of the best: Hiroko seized the opportunity to score another frenzy of perfect punches and kicks, sending Skrili on the defense.

High above, in the standing room of the highest balcony, Lammy and Zayza watched on with peering eyes. The fight was practically a spec, but it was clear who had the lead. While Kotono kept overpowering Pang’s energy blasts with her own reactionary attacks, Hiroko had seized control, knocking Skrili to her back over and over.

Rob and Pete muttered endlessly to each other about the ongoing battle so fast, even Lammy didn’t bother listening.

He looked to Zayza and smiled. “At this rate, they can really do it,” he said.

She nodded. “Yes…but if this is anything like Dreamer combat, it’s still too soon to tell,” she cautioned.

Skrili slammed against the ground once more, breath fleeing her lungs. Hiroko was about to be in pursuit again, but for some reason, she stopped short.

“Oh crap...” Hiroko started.

A ground-shaking burst rang in Skrili’s ears, and the accompanying light blinded her for an instant. She heard a grunt as Pang smacked against the ground beside her.

After shaking her head, Skrili saw Pang, surrounded by mostly black waves of hot energy. Her eyes flared as she forced her battered body back up.

Kotono stood a short distance away, still completely unscathed, her eyes wide with apparent surprise. “Um—I’m s—sorry,” she uttered.

The crowd filled the air with “aw’s” and fanatic cheers.

“So sweet—even when she’s pounding her opponent!” gushed Soot.

But Pang wasn’t having any of it. “IT’S NOT HAPPENING LIKE THIS!” she shouted, her energy escalating. “Kotono: I’m taking you down, just like everyone else I’ve fought!”

The black and red energy surged high and wide, its shockwave tossing Skrili to the side and causing Hiroko to retreat further back.

Much of the audience applauded, wooed by Pang’s ferocity. But even more of the crowed cheered Kotono on.

“Yeah right—you got this!” someone bellowed.

“Show her you’re the strongest! For the Mainland Desert!”

“We’re counting on you!!”

Only an instant after Pang’s emotion energy heightened, Kotono’s followed form—its round illumination practically washing Pang’s light out. A sweltering heat overcame the fighting platform, wind shooting out from Kotono like a vicious storm. It increased with every second.

After a delay, Kotono mustered a flushed smile. “I…won’t let you down!” she promised.

Barely able to adjust her eyes against the light, Skrili watched Kotono closely. Something about her smile wasn’t right.

The hesitation before her smile wasn’t right.

The edges of her mouth were crooked, hardly able to uphold her cheery expression.

This wasn’t the face of a confident champion. But it was a face so familiar to her, so nostalgic in the most discomforting way, that her heart briefly forsook its purpose.

We were wrong, Skrili realized. This whole time…all this time, we were completely wrong about her.

Everyone is.

How could I be so ignorant?

Pushing against the destruction rising from Kotono, Skrili turned to her fiery teammate.

“Pang! We need to switch the matchup!” she demanded.

“I give you room to call a shot or two, and now you’re in charge?” retorted Pang.

“Just listen! We were wrong—I need to take Kotono!”

Pang’s raging gaze suddenly eased when her eyes met Skrili’s. She glanced warily at her opponents. “You…sure look dead-set on this,” she noticed.

“I am.”

With a sigh, Pang renounced the energy flowing around her. As it faded, she turned slid into a fighting stance, this time facing Hiroko as the wind tugged at her flaming hair.

“I’m…counting on you…” uttered Pang to Skrili. “This better work.”

Skrili nodded, and then climbed to her feet, her focus on her new main opponent, Kotono.

She still couldn’t believe she’d never realized it. But now, standing across from Kotono, Skrili understood her true source of power.

She had seen this crooked, fragile smile before. It was all-too familiar, and now it was blatantly clear how wrong everyone was.

Determination wasn’t the emotion powering Kotono Inoue’s endless, boundless stream of Emovert strength.

It was fear.

Absolute fear.