A few days had passed since the tense yet peaceful meeting with Maou Serafall Leviathan. Everything seemed calmer now. Daniel attended classes, spent time with Alya—who still glanced at him sideways after that prank from the twins—and trained more intensely every day.
One day, during a class break, Sona Shitori approached him discreetly in the second-floor hallway. Her serious demeanor and folder in hand were clear signs she had something important to discuss.
—"Daniel." She called him without preamble.
—"Yes, President?" he responded, turning around while putting away his book.
—"I just wanted to inform you that the official handover of Reynare to Grigori has been completed. Serafall-sama handled it personally. The leader of the fallen angels, Azazel, sent a letter of thanks." Sona glanced at him sideways. —"He also mentioned he hopes to meet with you in person to offer apologies for his subordinate's behavior."
Daniel fell silent for a few seconds. A mental image of the eccentric, relaxed, yet brilliant leader of Grigori appeared in his mind. Knowing how Azazel was in the original work, he knew he wouldn't send an invitation... he'd just show up one day out of nowhere. Maybe at his house. Maybe at school. Maybe in the shower.
—"...This makes me more nervous than calm," he murmured, half-joking.
—"Pardon?" Sona asked, not understanding.
—"Nothing, nothing. Just thinking about possible... unexpected encounters." Daniel feigned a smile.
Sona looked at him with a raised eyebrow but chose not to pry. After saying goodbye, Daniel returned to the classroom with a new idea forming in his head.
---
Later at Home
That night, during dinner, Daniel spread out on the table a flyer he had found on the school bulletin board.
"Regional Martial Arts Tournament – Open Category"
Location: Kuoh Metropolitan Gymnasium
Date: This Saturday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Registration open to all ages. Public welcome.
Hikari and Hibiki, who were eating quietly, looked at the paper with curiosity.
—"Are you planning to go watch it?" asked Hikari.
—"No. I plan to participate," Daniel responded with a determined smile.
Both looked at him with wide eyes.
—"Really? You're going to expose yourself like that in front of so many people?" Hibiki frowned. —"What if someone from the supernatural world recognizes you?"
—"That might happen... but I have an idea. I'll use this as a training ground for my Observation and Armament Haki. Real fights against humans with different physical abilities. I'll have to adapt to different rhythms, stances, and strategies." Daniel clenched his fist tightly. —"I want to feel more prepared. If Azazel or someone else tests me, I don't want to rely only on the Boosted Gear or on Hikari and Hibiki."
The twins looked at each other. Their hearts beat strongly seeing him so determined.
—"What if you get hurt?" asked Hikari, with a mix of pride and concern.
—"I won't let myself. And if something goes wrong, you'll be there. Will you support me?"
Hibiki was the first to nod, with a firm smile.
—"Of course. If you're going to break bones, I want a front-row seat."
—"And I'll bring you a towel with your name embroidered on it," Hikari joked.
The three laughed. The tournament would take place on Saturday, leaving three days of intensive preparation. Daniel decided that, from that moment on, every afternoon would be a full-scale practice battle, against the unpredictable movements of his Sekirei and hardening his body by striking rock after rock.
Mornings at Kuoh Academy.
The camera shows Daniel walking through hallways with his backpack slung over his shoulder. On one side walks Hikari, on the other Hibiki. Further ahead, Alya, with her typical reserved but warm expression, turns to see them. Daniel greets and chats animatedly with her while the twins follow with knowing smiles.
Training afternoons.
A fist smashes into a rock.
Another slides under a kick from Hibiki.
Sweat runs down Daniel's face as he dodges, spins, counters, falls, gets up.
His Observation Haki improves. He no longer just perceives attacks: he visualizes intentions.
His Armament Haki allows him to withstand more, harden his knuckles, create an invisible defensive barrier.
Nights of spiritual bonding.
On a mental plane, Daniel finds himself floating in a black and red space, facing the majestic crimson dragon: Ddraig.
—"You're improving, boy," he growls with satisfaction. —"But physical strength isn't enough. Your soul must align with the Boosted Gear if you want to reach the true potential of the Red Dragon Emperor."
Daniel, sitting cross-legged, meditates, breathing deeply, surrounded by scarlet pulses. An invisible connection, but growing stronger every day.
Saturday – Tournament Day
The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when Daniel opened his eyes. His body was tense, but ready. It had been a long time since he'd felt that mix of nerves and excitement.
He ate a light breakfast—fruit, protein, a bit of rice—and dressed in comfortable combat clothes: black athletic pants, a white t-shirt, wraps on his forearms, and light gloves.
Hikari and Hibiki, dressed casually but elegantly, came down to the dining room and positioned themselves on either side of him.
—"Ready for the show?" Hikari asked with a coquettish smile.
—"Or should I say... ready to shine in front of the crowd?" Hibiki added, adjusting his armband.
Daniel smiled while finishing his energy drink.
—"I don't know if I'll shine... but I'll make sure not to go down without a fight."
---
Kuoh Metropolitan Gymnasium – 8:30 AM
The place was huge. Originally built for school events, it now looked like a high-level competition arena. The center of the gym was occupied by a smooth wooden ring, without ropes, elevated about 50 cm off the ground. It was nearly 20 meters wide, an ideal space for fights that valued technique as much as endurance. The stands were starting to fill up.
Alya, seeing the structure, was speechless. She still doubted Daniel would participate... until she saw his name on the official registration sheet.
—"...Daniel Hernández... Open Category?" she read aloud, with a shocked expression.
—"See?" Hibiki told her, pulling out the sheet with a mischievous smile. —"Our boy is serious."
—"Are you... crazy?" Alya asked, raising an eyebrow, though there was concern in her tone.
—"Maybe a little," Daniel admitted, shrugging. —"But with purpose."
Alya pressed her lips together, crossing her arms, but promised to attend. She wouldn't leave him alone.
---
A Curious Name Among the Participants
While Daniel warmed up in a waiting area, he reviewed the full list of names. Some sounded common. Others seemed like nicknames or aliases. But one in particular made him frown.
> "Videl Satan – Open Category, Satan City"
Daniel's eyes widened.
—"No... it can't be..." he murmured.
Mr. Satan's daughter. Real martial arts. Physical abilities beyond normal for a human. If that was Videl, her presence confirmed that at least a scaled-down version of the Dragon Ball universe existed here.
—"Luckily I didn't see anyone with Super Saiyan hairstyles..." he whispered, sweating slightly.
Kuoh Gymnasium – Center Ring Area, 9:30 AM
The morning sun streamed through the gymnasium's windows. The stands were almost full. Teachers, students, residents of Kuoh, and curious visitors from other cities were present to watch the Grand Local Martial Arts Tournament.
In the center of the gym, the large wooden ring, nearly twenty meters in diameter, was filled with competitors. Over a hundred participants, each warming up, stretching, or simply watching those around them attentively.
Among them all, Daniel Hernández breathed calmly, eyes half-closed, as he felt the presences around him. His muscles were relaxed but ready. He analyzed every small movement, every step, with his Observation Haki.
A few meters from him, Videl—in her classic white t-shirt, black shorts, gloves, and leg wraps—watched him intently. It wasn't unusual for her to pay attention to strong participants... but Daniel seemed different to her.
> "I've seen him in the halls of Kuoh... but he's supposed to be a playboy without discipline. He doesn't seem like that now."
Daniel, for his part, had noticed her gaze... and had chosen to avert his eyes, remaining neutral.
> "If she's the Videl I think she is... I mustn't underestimate her for a second. She's strong even without ki. And I don't need to draw her attention."
The referee, a burly man in a white suit, climbed onto the edge of the ring, raised his hand, and announced with an amplified voice:
—"Participants! This is the first phase of the tournament: the battle royale."
—"Only the last 32 standing competitors will advance to the official tournament!"
—"The rules are simple: no killing, no weapons allowed! If you fall outside the ring or are knocked unconscious, you are eliminated."
—"Ready?"
The competitors tensed. Impromptu alliances formed. Some of the larger, more muscular ones began looking for easy targets. Others moved laterally, waiting for the right moment.
The referee lowered his hand...
—"Begin!"
*CLANG!*
The bell resonated.
And chaos erupted.
---
Battle Royale – Chaos and Strategy
Shouts, blows, falls, and crashes began to echo through the gymnasium. Some tried to act fast, rushing to push others out of the ring, seeking easy eliminations. Others hid among the stronger ones, hoping to survive the first wave.
Daniel, on the other hand, maintained his position, dodging attacks with agility. Thanks to his Observation Haki, he anticipated nearby movements.
A burly fighter tried to hit him from behind.
—"Got you!"
But Daniel spun with precision, grabbed his arm, and with a simple throw, launched him out of the ring. The fighter landed on his back with a loud "THUD!"
—"One down."
On the other side, Videl was making her way with her own style: clean martial arts techniques, spinning kicks, and equally impressive combat reading.
—"Don't think a girl is an easy target!" she exclaimed, taking down two with a sweep.
In the stands, Hikari and Hibiki watched intently with serious expressions. Alya, for her part, had her hands clenched on her knees, clearly worried.
—"He hasn't taken a single hit so far," Hibiki commented.
—"Yes. But this type of combat is more mental than physical," Hikari added. —"If Daniel gets too confident, they could overwhelm him with numbers."
In the ring, Daniel dodged a kick, ducked, and with his fist covered in Armament Haki, struck the stomach of a rival flying toward him. The blow knocked the opponent out immediately, who fell out of the ring.
Daniel pivoted on his heel, avoiding another strike, then used his own weight to throw another opponent over the edge. His Haki was fine-tuned, allowing him to move with an almost unnatural calm amidst the chaos.
> "I can't use Ddraig here. No abilities outside human standards. Just Haki... and my experience."
A group of four tried to surround him.
—"Now!"
But Daniel smiled faintly.
Three seconds before the attack... he already knew what they would do.
He spun, blocked, grabbed one's arm and used him as a shield against the second. He jumped over both, rolled on the ground, and kicked the third in the face. The fourth tried to flee, but Daniel caught him by the collar of his shirt and threw him out of the ring with a hip twist.
> "Thirty-five standing..."
Daniel was barely panting. His precision was surgical. Every move counted.
And not far away, Videl watched him with narrowed eyes.
> "That boy... is reading the fight like it's a board game."
End of the Battle Royale – Kuoh Gymnasium
Sweat dripped from Daniel's forehead as he stood at the center of the ring, surrounded by bodies lying down, panting or unconscious. His t-shirt was slightly torn and his breathing was labored, but his posture was still firm.
Beside him, Videl was in similar condition. Her ponytail hung to one side, her right glove was dusty from the floor, but she didn't have a single visible scratch.
The referee raised his arms and shouted loudly:
—"It's over! We now have our 32 qualifiers!"
The stands erupted in applause and cheers. Some shouted for their favorites, others simply excited by what they had just seen.
Daniel let himself sit down for a moment, wiping sweat with the back of his hand.
> "Why did EVERYONE come after me...? What did I do!?"
And as if waiting for that complaint...
Ddraig, in his deep, relaxed tone, spoke from his bearer's mind:
> —"You forgot, partner... you are my bearer. Warriors with a fighting instinct will be drawn to you like moths to a flame."
> —"Your very presence screams 'Fight me!'"
Daniel sighed, exhausted, an anime-style sweat drop rolling down his temple.
> "So basically, signing up for the tournament was like hanging a sign that says 'I'm the final boss, come at me'..."
> —"Exactly."
> "...Damn dragon."
> —"You're welcome."
While arguing mentally with his Sacred Gear, Videl approached him with her arms crossed, still somewhat panting but with an amused smile.
—"Good work out there. Do you always fight ten at a time?"
Daniel shrugged, somewhat embarrassed.
—"Only when they hate me without knowing me."
Videl let out a nasal laugh.
—"So you have a talent for attracting attention."
Daniel smiled a little in response, saying nothing more.
---
Pairings Selection – Raffle System
An hour later, after tending to the injured and preparing the qualifiers, the 32 combatants were gathered in the back area of the gymnasium.
There, the referee stood with a large transparent urn full of numbered spheres. Inside each sphere was a paper with a qualifier's name.
—"We're going to select the pairings randomly!" announced the referee. —"This will prevent favoritism and ensure a fair tournament."
One by one, the numbers were drawn. Daniel watched from the wall, arms still crossed, while Hikari and Hibiki passed him a water bottle and a towel.
—"Do you think you'll get someone weak?" asked Hibiki, amused.
—"I doubt it," murmured Daniel. —"Ddraig already ruined my odds from the moment I was born."
—"The first match will be...!" announced the referee—
"Number 12 versus number 26!"
They pulled out the papers... and amid murmurs, the names were read:
—"Videl Satan versus Ryo Masaki!"
A low murmur was heard when the name "Satan" was pronounced, and more than one fighter swallowed hard realizing who they might have to face.
—"Second match... Number 5 versus number 19!"
—"Daniel Hernández versus Tetsuya Kurono!"
Daniel raised his eyebrows. He didn't know this Tetsuya, but judging by the audience's reaction, he must be someone with a local reputation.
The referee continued drawing names, completing the full bracket. The order of matches would be organized into eight preliminary fights that same day, leaving quarterfinals, semifinals, and the grand final for Sunday.
Meanwhile, in the stands, Alya, with her arms crossed and a serious face, looked toward the waiting area with a slight blush on her cheeks.
—"If that idiot gets hurt... I'm going to kill him."
Next to her, several girls from the school murmured about how handsome Daniel looked while fighting, and some even wondered if he was single. Alya frowned.