The fourteenth day of this year's Festa arrived.
The seventh round of matches—the semifinals—was about to begin at Sirius Dome!
The morning match: Roy & Claudia vs. Alde & Rimcy.
The afternoon match: Julis & Kirin vs. Okita & Stella.
"Wahahaha! Every single match today is absolutely heavyweight! In previous years, any of these battles could rival the finals themselves. In fact, any of these four teams could have easily won the championship in past Festas!"
"Absolutely right! The Tyrant and the Thousand-Eyes Master are naturally the strongest duo in terms of pure combat prowess, no question there. As for Alde and Rimcy, these proxy combatants have demonstrated astonishing power as artificial constructs. The fact that a single unit can deploy defensive barriers still feels like something out of a fairy tale!"
"Then we have the Crimson Witch and the Swift Wind Blade—the combination of Asterisk's top-ranked and fifth-ranked fighters, undeniably formidable. They've delivered quite a few standout performances this Festa!"
"Finally, we have contestant Okita Souji and contestant Stella. My, these two are undoubtedly this year's most unexpected dark horses—so dark they haven't even earned nicknames yet! Who could have imagined two unranked students would battle their way through the competition with championship-worthy strength all the way to the semifinals?"
"What thrilling battles will these four teams deliver today? Dear audience, I must confess—I'm already fired up!"
The moment the commentator's voice boomed through the speakers, the stadium's atmosphere ignited. The massive coliseum, capable of seating 100,000 spectators, was completely packed.
In the preparation room...
"It's about time we made our entrance."
Roy rose from the sofa, his usually gentle face now showing traces of fighting spirit.
"May you return victorious!"
"I'll wish you glorious combat fortunes instead!"
Julis and Yabuki each offered their blessings with smiles.
Roy and Claudia shared a brief chuckle before exiting the preparation room, stepping into the narrow passage leading to the stage.
The passageway, designed for media access, formed a circular route—meaning one could theoretically reach the opposing team's preparation room or even the stage entrance from either side.
When Roy and Claudia arrived at their designated stage entrance, they encountered some unexpected figures.
"Hey hey hey! Over here! Good morning, you two!"
One girl energetically waved her hand, her face brimming with delight as she greeted them.
She was a striking young woman with a vibrant chestnut ponytail, her expressions remarkably animated. Her entire demeanor radiated liveliness. Dressed in Arlequint Academy's uniform with a loose white lab coat draped over it, her ample bust drew considerable attention.
"Ernesta Kuhne? What are you doing here?"
As the pair approached the group, Claudia was the first to speak, her eyebrows lifting slightly as she identified the girl. Though her smile remained composed, a hint of wariness stirred within her.
"Don't misunderstand. I didn't want to come, but she dragged me here against my will."
The one who spoke up wasn't Erenest, but another golden-haired girl with brown skin. Her distinctly Middle Eastern features and alluring figure were every bit as striking as Claudia's, though her physique appeared even more toned and disciplined, giving off an air of meticulous professionalism.
Roy had already reviewed their profiles and recognized this brunette girl as Camilla Pareto, Erenest's partner and leader of Alde's largest faction, Ferrovius. Rimcy was her representative in the Festa.
Both girls appeared to be high school age, though Erenest seemed more youthful and energetic while Camilla visibly carried herself with colder demeanor.
Behind them stood the two-meter-tall mechanical giant Alde and Rimcy, whose appearance was nearly indistinguishable from a human woman. As Roy and Claudia appeared, both automatons fixed them with piercing stares - mechanical though they were, the intensity was unmistakable.
The two humans and two machines had clearly been waiting for them.
"So, you're the ones who wanted to see us?"
Roy's gaze shifted from Alde's penetrating stare to the bouncing figure of Erenest.
"Yep yep! It was just me who wanted to meet you, but I dragged everyone along! Ahaha!" Erenest laughed innocently while scratching the back of her head, showing no awareness or remorse for inconveniencing others.
"And? What did you want?"
"Actually, I just wanted to see our next opponents! You're so famous - wouldn't it be a shame if we eliminated you without even meeting first?" Erenest twirled a finger playfully as she spoke to Roy.
Roy's lips curled into an intrigued smile. "You're the first person in this Festa bold enough to say that to us."
"Hahaha, really? I'm just being honest!" Meaning she wasn't trash-talking - she genuinely believed Alde and Rimcy could defeat him and Claudia, and simply wanted to see their faces first. Perhaps she considered this match worth commemorating.
"Ugh..." Camilla sighed behind them, massaging her temples in visible frustration. "My apologies. Coming here to say something so pointless before the match... I should have stopped her. This feels like deliberately trying to disrupt your focus."
"No worries," Roy waved dismissively, though his expression remained amused. "This level of banter won't shake me." His gaze then moved past the two girls to the humanoid machines behind them. "You must be Alde and Rimcy. I have a question - which of your components are off-limits for destruction? I'll try to avoid those later."
The atmosphere in the corridor shifted subtly at his words. Claudia smiled silently, appreciating Roy's perfect counter.
Camilla frowned slightly, feeling a bit displeased, but then remembered they had provoked the others first. She sighed, accepting it as just deserts.
Meanwhile, Ernesta froze for a moment.
Then she narrowed her eyes, smiling like a fox, appearing thoroughly delighted.
"Ahaha, this is the first time I've seen someone greet Alde and Rimcy! I like you, kid!"
***
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