The audience gazes in anticipation at Natsumi and Rika in the middle of the arena.

The crimson-armored knight raised his hand to signal the start of the match.

"… Go!"

I shuffle past some seats and take my place next to Tatsuo, who looks over to me and nods.

Natsumi takes her blade from her scabbard and points it at Mimi.

"I'm gonna carve your ass up and send you running outta here with your tail between your legs."

Mimi clenches her fist as she starts to grow in size.

Her opponent scoffs, then runs to her grabbing her blade's handle with her free hand then pulling out a spiked sword with jagged edges.

Mimi gets on all fours then dashes towards her opponent with great speed.

"Wha—" Natsumi stops her advance as her opponent disappeared.

—THRACK

Natsumi's face gets implanted into the ground from Mimi's kick from the air above.

"ACK!" Her entire body rebounds from the earth as she gasps while tiny drops of blood float around her.

Mimi drops to the ground in front of her and kicks her in the stomach, making her fly backward.

A piece of her skirt's armor tears off her as she tumbles from the momentum.

She plants her blade into the ground and starts slowing down. She gets up, putting a finger closing her left nostril and snorting out some blood from her right.

"You got some nerve."

She raises both her blades and runs towards her foe.

Natsumi throws her sword to the ground while tossing the jagged-edged blade toward her opponent.

Mimi dives towards the ground as the polish of the blade glints in her eye.

"Ehehe…Gotcha!"

Natsumi throws out her palm and clenches her fist as if she was holding something.

Suddenly, the edged sword dematerializes and takes the form of a spiked ball.

The weapon's chain gleams in the sunlight as it connects to her lifted palm, where a handle is formed.

Mimi's ears flatten as the ball crashes down. The weapon leaves the ground below it shattered. She leaps to the side and advances toward her opponent.

"Not so fast!" Natsumi lifts her arm, and the entire chain follows. The spiked ball is released from the ground and is thrown into Mimi's side.

Mimi shields with her forearms but is flung into the side of the arena.

A dust cloud disperses as her body comes to contact with the surface.

Natsumi lifts the ball and starts slamming it down to where she landed.

"DIE! DIE! DIE!" Her mace slams into the side of the wall repeatedly.

"HA, HA, HA—Eh?"

After her fourth thrust, she's unable to pull the mace back into the air.

The smoke clears from the wall, and Mimi is seen holding the ball between her palm, her long claws digging into its metal surface. Blood streams from her face as she looks at her opponent.

—CRACK

She forces the mace to shatter, leaving bits of black metal to fall onto the floor.

"… Well then."

Dai stands from his seat and starts walking toward the exit.

"I think this fight is over."

Mimi runs towards Natsumi, creating a dust cloud in her path.

Natsumi picks up her sword from the ground and dashes towards her opponent.

Mimi throws a series of jabs with her claws as Natsumi counters with sword thrusts.

"Egh.." Natsumi moves her head toward the side to feint a clawed punch to her face.

"..Hah.." Mimi shields herself from a bladed attack from her opponent.

They stop dodging each other and start to clash with their weapons.

—SHING SHING SHING

Claws and blades start to create sparks as their weapons dance in the air, ringing throughout the arena.

"HAAA!" Natsumi thrusts her right sword near her opponent's head as they duck down, evading the brute attack.

Yuumi pivots onto her arm and throws a kick into Natsumi's side.

A large cracking sound is heard from her stomach as she's thrown onto the ground.

"Ugah.." From her stomach, she gets onto one knee holding herself up with her blade, the other hand clutching her side.

Mimi walks over to her whilst cracking her hands.

"Let's call it a day; You fought well."

Natsumi tries to stand, but her sword falls, leaving her heaving on the ground.

The crimson-armored knight walks forward and puts his hand on Natsumi's neck.

"I think it's safe to say that this fight is over."

The crowd cheers as Mimi shrinks to her normal size while holding a hand behind her head.

"Ahaha… Thank you…" She gives off a nervous smile.

The cloaked individuals from before pick Natsumi from the floor and teleport with a blue rune being their only trace of being there.

Mimi exits the coliseum from the side as a large shadow is seen above the crowd's heads.

General Calina jumps from the floating platform and lands in the middle of the arena.

She turns to face us, picking herself from her bent knees.

"That will conclude today's fights! Tomorrow will consist of Round 2's matches. Fighters, get some rest!"

. . .

The candles situated in lamps guiding my passage shimmered as I walked down the cobblestone path as thick clouds covered the moon.

I make my way towards Aiyoma's house in the housing quarters of the Military District.

As I go up the stairs, a brief gust of wind makes the green bushes near her building rustle.

I hold my hand up to the door, and a clicking sound is heard, allowing me to enter.

The door creaks as it closes behind me, and I make my way upstairs to my room.

My hand warrants a yawn as I hold it near my mouth.

"…Nighty night." I kick my shoes off as I enter my room and jump onto my soft bed.

`Tomorrow I finally get to fight; I'm so excited~.`

. . .