[VIP Lounge – Arena Overlook]
"So it's Katie now, right?" I asked, glancing sideways at Kayda while we sat in the plush chairs of the lounge, the wide window giving us a commanding view of the arena below. The crowds outside our insulated room were a sea of noise, muffled to little more than background hums thanks to the enchantments built into the glass.
"Hmm, yes," Kayda said simply, arms folded under her chest as her crimson eyes lingered on the stage.
"Right, so what do you want to talk about? I mean, you were quite insistent that we need our own VIP room." I asked, reaching over to grab her hand as if to coax her into loosening up.
She pulled it back almost instantly, glaring at me with that sharp look that always made me feel like she was seconds away from calling me out. "Yeah, so what's your plan?"
"Hehe, of course you would realize, but don't say it, okay? And sorry, but I can't say too much myself." I leaned back in my chair with a chuckle, deliberately lounging like I didn't have a care in the world, though the truth was far from it.
"So what's the end goal of this plan?"
"I guess the end goal of this plan is to get looked down upon." I shrugged, as if that explained everything.
"They already do," Kayda said, shaking her head with a scoff.
"We don't know whether they know or not, Kayda. I mean, we had quite several leaks last year. I prefer not to rely solely on chance." I shifted my gaze back to the arena just as Katie and her opponent walked up to the stage, both of them radiating pressure even from this distance.
"Another paladin?"
"Hmm, yes, quite a high-level one at that," I replied, tilting my head as I observed his armor, his posture, and the way he carried his shield as though it were part of his body.
"Ah, she is still using my claymore, nice." I pumped my fist with pride, my chest warming at the sight of that massive blade gleaming under the arena lights.
"Of course she would. That thing is as close to a demigod sword as you can get," Kayda said, her tone making it sound obvious, like it was barely worth praising.
"Pfft, that thing isn't even close to the real thing, Kayda." I chuckled, shaking my head. "A real demigod sword? That's an entirely different level. The stat boosts alone, the way the weapon bonds with you, the abilities… That claymore doesn't even scratch the surface."
"I know. That's why I said, as close as you can get," Kayda corrected smoothly.
"Want one too?" I asked slyly, already calculating in my head what kind of weapon set she'd suit.
She gave me the most unimpressed look she could muster. "I'm a mage genius. What would I do with a weapon?"
"Close-range combat," I said without missing a beat, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Kayda deadpanned. "Thousands of spells. No need. But… Build me a catalyst that can handle all my magic, and I'll consider it." She gave me a sharp side glance, and although her expression was unreadable, the gleam in her eyes revealed that she was baiting me.
"Is that a dare?" I arched an eyebrow.
'It's not impossible, but catalysts are made out of monster parts, and there's a reason for that. Whatever monster part you use, its nature bleeds into the weapon—its instincts, its abilities. It all depends on the monster. But what would happen if I made one out of my ice? Could it even be done? A thought for another time.'
"Sure, why not? "Now be quiet; the fight is about to start." Kayda lifted her hand to silence me.
"Let the fight begin!" The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, and the crowd erupted into cheers as both fighters lunged forward.
The paladin surged at Katie with his shield raised high, wings flicking for balance.
Katie responded with a high swing, her claymore whistling through the air as she brought it down toward him with brutal force.
He caught the blow with his shield, but his knees buckled, the sheer strength behind Katie's swing catching him off guard. His jaw clenched as he fought against her pressure.
Katie didn't relent. She pivoted sharply and launched a kick toward his chest, aiming to crush his stance. But the angel's wings flared, a sudden gust of air carrying him backward just in time. Katie's foot cut through space, though she didn't let the miss go to waste. Even as her leg extended, her free hand gestured, summoning three water javelins that shot past her in a deadly follow-up barrage.
The paladin twisted midair, wings beating hard. Miraculously, he managed to avoid all three spears, his shield snapping back into position as he prepared for Katie's next swing. But each time she struck, he staggered a little more, forced back under the sheer physicality of her blows.
"Oh, the combo attacks are in full swing today!" I grinned, leaning forward, excitement sparking through me at how well Katie was performing despite her mage background.
"Yes," Kayda said simply, but I noticed the small curve of her lips.
The paladin, realizing he couldn't keep up on the ground, shot higher into the air, wings unfurling in full.
Katie, unbothered, spread her arms wide, and water burst forth across the arena floor, flooding it with a shimmering layer.
"Hmm, she is doing the same as Amari; it's quite obvious what she is intending to do with that water," I remarked, noting the tactical similarity to yesterday's match.
"Yes, but then again, water is her thing," Kayda replied, her tone making it clear she found the repetition excusable.
'Amari is more impressive than Katie,' I admitted silently, comparing the two in my mind. Amari had a flair Katie didn't yet match.
High above, the paladin discarded his shield and conjured three radiant lances of light, hurling them down like meteors. Katie countered instantly, flinging her projectiles. The resulting collisions detonated into bursts of steam and smoke, shrouding the arena in a foggy haze.
Katie surged upward through the smokescreen, riding a jet of water like a launchpad. In a blink, she was above him, claymore raised in a vicious arc.
The angel dodged, wings straining, and retaliated with another volley of light.
Katie crossed her claymore in front of her, deflecting the blasts, but the lack of footing in midair dragged her back down. She landed with a splash in the water below, looking up at him with growing irritation.
He grinned back at her, taunting, and hurled another series of light lances. The crowd gasped at the back-and-forth, the fight descending into a frustrating stalemate. Katie couldn't keep him pinned, and he couldn't hit her cleanly.
Sweat trickled down both their brows. The paladin's wingbeats grew sluggish—angels couldn't fly indefinitely. At the same time, Katie's mana reserves weren't bottomless' Obviously,
'Obviously I would have done the job differently,' I thought. 'Make the air violent, strip him of control, force him down. And the ground only needed about three centimeters of water, not the knee-deep mess Katie just created. Efficiency, Katie, efficiency.'
"Katie won," I said casually, already predicting the inevitable outcome.
And indeed, as the cycle repeated, Katie shifted her focus. Instead of going for the angel's body, she slashed at his wings. He didn't expect it. Her blade carved through one, then the other, severing feathers and flesh.
He fell, his scream cut off as he crashed into the pool of water below. The water welcomed him like a mother's embrace—before turning into his grave. He thrashed, bubbles frothing to the surface, but Katie held the water firm around him, drowning him with cold efficiency.
Katie landed beside him, her expression calm, unmoved by the life draining out of her opponent beneath the surface.
"She really was done with him, drowning him with that amount of brutality," I laughed, more amused than horrified.
"I think she learned that from you," Kayda said, blinking at the ruthlessness on display.
"Are you saying I am a bad influence?" I asked, feigning shock, hand to my chest.
"…"
"Well, Zagan is next." I switched topics smoothly, unwilling to give her the satisfaction.
"Yeah, we can finally see what that other kid can actually do," Kayda mused, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"You will be on the field with them," I reminded her, referencing Amari's fight.
"No, they weren't happy with me on the field with Amari and Rachel, so they banned that."
"Ah, I see. Do you think Zagan will actually fight?"
"Ah well, he should be good enough."
"What?"
"Dean stepped in to get him on the right track."
My eyebrow shot up. "Seriously?" Dean wasn't the type to interfere so directly. Stacy usually acted first; Dean followed up. While he participated in Black Ops work, he spent most of his time immersed in paperwork.
"Yeah, he said he had enough shit with the brat," Kayda said with a shrug.
"Damn, I should get some lessons from him."
"That's the smartest thing you've said in your life." Kayda smirked.
"What!! That was not needed." I shot her an indignant glare.
[20 minutes later.]
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen! We have finally reached the end of the day with the final fight!" The announcer's voice whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
"Now come in, contestants. Logan and Zagan…!"
The roar of the crowd nearly shook the arena walls.
Zagan entered first, his face composed, his stride steady. I almost didn't recognize him. The dark circles under his eyes were gone, his movements sharp and deli It's good to see that.
"Good, he is using my swords as well." I leaned forward, a pleased smirk tugging at my lips.
'I'm glad he is using my swords; they should be stronger than Katie's,' I thought, nodding.
"What did Dean do?" I muttered aloud.
"Who knows?" Kayda said, shrugging again.
"Damn, I should get some lessons from him," I repeated, shaking my head.
"That's the smartest thing you've said in your life," she quipped again, this time with a smirk that pushed me over the edge.
"What!! That was not needed." I shouted, glaring at her.
"Let the fight begin."
Logan, the other contestant, finally came into focus. Long blond hair cascaded down his shoulders, his green eyes burning with confidence. His aura radiated divine magic, shimmering faintly around him like a second skin.
The instant the announcer gave the signal, Logan thrust out his hand, divine magic surging forward in a wave.
Zagan scoffed and dropped into his shadow. In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
Logan's eyes widened. He spun, confused, searching—
And then Zagan emerged behind him, blade already swinging. The edge cut through Logan's neck like silk, so fast the crowd didn't even react at first.
Silence crashed over the arena.
Even Kayda blinked.
"Seriously?" I muttered.
Zagan wiped his blade clean with calm precision and turned away.
One move. One cut. He didn't even have a bead of sweat on his brow.
"Something isn't right," I whispered, my gaze narrowing as Logan's body remained eerily upright, a faint glow clinging to it.