The contestants were all battling one another as the crowd was cheering loudly. Itsuki was using a variety of spells and his katana to eliminate others. Anna was using similar attacks, mainly trying to prevent herself from getting hit or pushed off. Itsuki looked as he noticed someone from behind trying to take out Anna. He swiftly made it to her as she used Galewind on the man behind her without moving, glaring a bit at Itsuki.

Anna: Itsuki, while I appreciate you trying to help me...this is a battle of the strongest! I don't want nor need your help; when I win or lose, I want to do it on my own!

Itsuki chuckled slightly at her as he used Tide, washing a few contestants outside the ring.

Itsuki: Fair point, okay then...but if you come at me before we both make it to the top sixteen, I'll be pissed off.

Anna: Right...!

They continued to fight as their party watched them perform.

Akeru: Both of them are doing so well!

Cleo: Indeed, I had no idea Anna had this fighting ability...

Gilbert: She doesn't like to show off any, and she gets scared easily...but she is a fighter in the end.

As the fight continued, Itsuki suddenly got attacked by someone in a silver light suit of armor, holding a lance. He blocked it as they spoke; it was a man's voice.

Man: Sorry kid, I'm going to have to push you out...think of it as saving your-

Itsuki grabbed their arm and slung them away. The armored man jumped in the air, almost like they landed on a platform, and jumped back onto the ground, landing on their feet.

Man: Clever boy...

Itsuki: I'm not getting out anytime soon, so you better worry about getting someone else out!

The man chuckled a bit and turned away from him.

Man: I see...very well then, mayhaps we will fight again in the tournament.

The man looked towards a group of ten men and blew them all out of the arena with one slash of their lance.

Itsuki: W-What the hell?!

Itsuki was attacked by others but quickly blocked their attacks and countered them. Eventually, a buzzer when off on the intercom. Itsuki looked around to see that there were sixteen left, including himself.

Ashuria: Please stop fighting! We have finally reached the end; the last sixteen have been decided!!!

The crowd yells loudly, and cheers as Itsuki looks around to see the others. He saw Anna and the man in the armor, not to mention a few others.

Itsuki: Good, Anna did make it after all...

Ashuria: Now, considering that this year the battle royale went faster...we will decide the order these sixteen will fight, and as a special prize for those watching...after an hour break, the first set of matches will be today!

The whole arena was filled with cheering as Akeru looked at Gilbert.

Akeru: I'm assuming this isn't normal...?

Gilbert: Not at all, but she is right. Usually, the battle royale would take at least another two hours or more. They tend to do the matches the next day...

Cleo: At least they get a break to prepare...

Anna went up to Itsuki and hugged him, jumping around excitedly.

Anna: Itsuki, we did it!

Itsuki broke away from her, rubbing his head a bit and blushing.

Itsuki: Y-Yeah...I didn't know you were so skilled.

Anna: Mhmm! I train every week!

Ashuria: All combatants, please proceed to the back rooms for your hour break while we set the arena! All those in the stands, please also leave for an hour to avoid any incidents while transforming the arena!

Itsuki: Guess we should go...

Anna: R-Right!

A bridge appears for them to leave and enter the back rooms. The fighters all enter through it as the watchers leave the stands. Itsuki looks around to see who stood out among the winners. He saw a man with brown skin who had metal fists attached to his sides, a steel robot with ten arms with eight of them tucked into its body, a strong woman with white hair and a greatsword on her back, and then a confidant man with navy blue hair that spiked up who was wielding a hatchet.

Itsuki: Quite the crowd...

Anna: No kidding...some look strong, and others look like they got in by luck.

Itsuki looked in the corner to see one other person who wasn't around the others: a man wearing a dark green metallic-colored hoodie and a pumpkin mask over his face. He was playing with two knives, just watching the room.

Itsuki: Yeah...strong and some creepy...

An hour later, all the watchers came back to the stands. The arena was the size of a typically sized ring; on top of that, on the balcony was the Ash Witch. She was tall, had huge breasts, was super muscular, had long red hair, and wore silver and red armor.

Ashuria: Ladies and Gentlemen, are you ready to continue?!

The crowd continues to go wild as Cleo glares at her sister.

Akeru: So that's her then...Ashuria?

Cleo: In the flesh...

Two men brought out the wheel as a bracket appeared over the top of the balcony for all to see.

Ashuria: If you are new here, let me explain how this will all play out! The bracket is displayed above me and will be tracked through each match! This wheel next to me will be spun every match, each of its eight sections holding a different obstacle for our combatants! With that underway, the first match will begin now!

The participants had a small enclosed area so they could watch the matches. Itsuki and Anna sat next to each other as they saw a man with a pitchfork and the armored man walk to the arena.

Itsuki: That's the guy who fought with me earlier...

Ashuria: Now that the two fighters are here, let's spin the wheel!!

Ashuria gave the wheel a good spin. Eventually, it stopped as Ashuria shouted.

Ashuria: How unlucky, it landed on Meteor! Good luck, fight!!

The match started as Ashuria waved her fingers, with meteors falling from the sky onto the arena. The man panicked and ran around as the armored man stood still, watching him.

Man: H-How are you just standing there?!

The armored man just stood there, grabbed the man, and instantly threw him into the water. The crowd booed as the meteors stopped.

Ashuria: What a short, boring match that was! The winner is Meta!

Itsuki: Meta...?

Anna: Maybe it's short for something? Or it's a stage name or something? Oh well...wish me luck, Itsuki.

Itsuki: Right...you are up next. You better win both your matches so we can fight each other! Mine is the one after the match after yours!

Anna: Right!

The armored man left the stage in silence as Anna walked to the arena, along with the robot with ten limbs. Before Ashuria started talking, the robot bowed his head to Anna.

Robot: My name...is Celso. I am a man's soul living in this robotic shell. Your name...?

Anna: I-It's Anna!

Celso: I am sorry, Anna. This will be your last match.

Anna: W-What...?

Ashuria: Time to spin the Wheel of Misery!!

She spun the wheel again, Anna nervously watching the wheel and her opponent as his eyes lit up red, chuckling at her.

Ashuria: It looks like they get a lucky break; make that arena expand!

The arena shook at the two's feet as it got back to the size it was at during the battle royale.

Ashuria: Let the second match of the tournament begin. Fight!

Anna got in a battle stance, aiming her staff at the robot. This was her moment; she had to win this fight!