The air shimmered as Rufus stepped onto the glowing marble platform. His boots clinked against the runes beneath, each step sending small pulses of light up the arena's edge like a heartbeat syncing to his presence.
"Rufus the bullied, are you ready?" Arietta's voice echoed, calm yet edged with playful challenge.
"...who came up with that nickname?" Asked Rufus, his face visible through the open visor of his suit.
"I did," Raven, sitting on one of the clouds along with everyone else, smiled at him. "It's nostalgic, isn't it?"
Looking at the smile that didn't even reach his eyes, Rufus swallowed his protest. "Y-Yes. It is nostalgic."
"Rufus the bullied, are you ready?" Arietta then repeated, biting her lips to suppress her giggle.
Rufus sighed, his visor clicking back into place with a whir. "Bring it."
The divine domain trembled.
Arietta raised her hand, and a glowing glyph formed in the air, whirring like a divine computer booting up.
