“Renatus is really strong when he gets serious. If only he could stay like that.”

Alexus sighed. Meanwhile, Miko was teleported into an oceanic dimension. He didn’t panic and let himself float on the water surface.

“Renatus is fine as he is, there’s nothing that needs to be improved upon other than motivation, so I’ll ignore him. I can find ways to motivate him later. Cait and Sura are different. Because Renatus avoid fights they are lacking the most when it comes to combat experience. They need to fight in this competition to gain experience….I’ll leave that to the others.”

He closed his eyes.

(My main targets are Krul, Rin, and Ashur.)

Elsewhere, there was a dimension that was a gloomy wasteland, where only giant thorny plants grew. Krul leaned on one of these plants. In front of him were two girls. Both had azure hair and eyes with golden stars for pupils. One wore an azure uniform with a skirt and dark stockings with stars on them. The other wore a similar uniform but with pants.

“Maki and Yaya, what do you think is the most appropriate action to take now?”

“Team up with the others and take down the Primus Branch.”

The girl wearing the skirt answered.

“And why is that, Maki?”

“Because it’s the quickest way to end this fiasco and focus on more important matters.”

Krul nodded.

“But there are some guys who will refuse to team up.”

“Rin and Ashur.”

The other girl answered.

“That’s right, Yaya. Ashur wants to fight everyone and Rin has unfinished business to settle with Miko. However, knowing those two they’re most likely separated from their allies so we can just ignore them and try to convince the others.”

“But will they readily team up though?”

“They will when the Primus Branch really get going. They’ll see that they’re extremely dangerous. That’s why I want you to seek out allies.”

“And if they try to fight us?”

“Then eliminate him swiftly and continue your search.”

Maki and Yaya nodded. They vanished from where they stood.

“Now then, how can I help you?”

Someone appeared from behind one of the plants. It was Ace.

“It’s nothing big. I heard about you from Miko.”

“And? Did you come to eliminate me?”

Ace grinned.

“I’m glad that you’re fast to pick up things.”

He began approaching Krul.

“No matter how much I think about it, you’re the biggest threat here to Miko. Since that’s the case…”

All emotions dropped from Ace’s face.

“Then you must be destroyed.”

“How scary. I’m a pacifist, you know?”

“There are no pacifists in this world.”

Ace cracked his fingers.

“Anyone can become bloodthirsty under the right conditions.”

Krul smiled.

“Seriously, how scary can one get?”

Elsewhere, Rin found himself on an endless Savana. In front of him was Sora.

“Rin, right?”

Rin silently placed his hand on his sword.

“Straight down to business, huh?”

Sora smiled.

“I like that.”

The two simultaneously rushed at each other. Rin pulled his sword and flew past Sora. He spun around swung his sword. Sora blocked it with his palm.

(He stopped my sword twice. First, when I accelerated past him, and now this.)

Rin flew back and sized up his opponent. He blinked.

“?!”

When he opened his eyes a palm was centimeters from his face. He bent his back and swung his sword above him. Sora faded away. Rin was hit by an invisible force. His body bounced on the ground before he managed to get to his feet. He thrust his sword in front of him. Sora appeared and twisted his body. His top was cut. He distanced himself.

“Did he just rival Rin’s speed?”

“Rival? I think he was even faster than Rin!”

“Rin was on the defensive!”

Rin tightened his grip on his sword.

(He’s fast. Not only that, he can deflect my sword…)

He grinned.

“Miko has an interesting Apostle.”

Elsewhere, Krul was facing off against Ace.

“Like I said, I have no intention of—”

“Yeah, fuck that.”

Ace rushed towards him.

“I’m gonna make you fight!”

He threw a punch. Krul blocked it with his forearm.

“Oh?”

Ace threw another punch. Krul twisted out of the way and circled behind Ace.

“Come on, let’s not—”

Krul blocked Ace’s foot from reaching his face from a back kick.

“It doesn’t look like you’re willing to listen.”

Krul’s body flickered and popped beside Ace. He slammed his fist in the side of Ace’s face.

“If that’s the case, then I’ll just have to put down.”

Ace's body bent to the side and towards the ground. Yet, his feet didn’t leave the ground.

“I was waiting for that.”

Ace eased off Krul and punched him in the face. Krul’s feet lifted off the ground a few inches. He stumbled back with wide eyes.

“Put me down?”

Ace spat blood on the ground.

“With that weak punch? Don’t make me laugh.”

“You…You tricked me. Your first punch was weak so that I would let my guard down.”

“You royals can be so arrogant without even trying. All I need to do is act weak and you’ll be so condescending.”

He showed his Apostle Crest.

“I’m Miko’s Apostle. How can I be weak?”

At the same time. Sora and Rin were in the middle of a high-speed clash. Rin slashed at the charging Sora. He jumped over Rin’s slash. He fired concentrated sound from above. Rin cut it and leaped at him. Sora thrust his palm. Rin thrust his sword. An explosion erupted. The two were blown back. The two flew at each other again. Sword clashed with sound. Rin slashed at Sora, who blocked with bursts of sound. He took a step in and hit Rin with his palms. Rin blocked the palms with his sword. He was forced back. Sora appeared above him swinging his leg. Rin swung his sword at the leg. An explosion erupted.

(He’s using concentrated sound like an invisible armor?)

Rin flew back and tightened the grip on his sword. Demonic Vita coated his blade.

“Let’s take this up a notch!”

He blasted off the ground bursting it open.

“Demon Sword Art!”

Suddenly, all the light faded around Sora leaving him in complete darkness.

“Nightfall!”

His dark world was stained by a deep red. His chest became hot. A sharp pain assaulted him. He watched as blood sprayed from a cut on his chest. He turned around and Rin’s blade was inches away from his face. He hit the side with his palm. Rin’s strike missed.

“?!”

Sora’s eyes widen. A short sword was flying toward his face. He twisted his body and the sword flew past him. Rin popped at his side and slashed at his waist.

*Bam!*

Sora blasted off the ground and Rin’s attack missed.

(He fired sound out of his feet?!)

Sora twisted midair and turned upside down. He thrust both palms down. An explosion erupted. The ground burst open and the air shook. Rin appeared with bruises over his body. A huge dust cloud was in front of him. The dust faded and Sora was standing in the center of a crater.

“….I never thought that Rin would have this much trouble against him.”

Dario spoke what was on everyone’s mind.

“You guys underestimate Sora too much.”

Momo smirked.

“He’s someone who stuck with Miko through all of his battles. The Left Hand of Satan is what people call him, right? He’s called that for a reason. He follows Miko through hell, but not blindingly. He openly questions his leader and helps guide him to his ideals in his own way. Also, unlike us who came from famous bloodlines or possessed heavenly techniques, his strength is the real deal. He isn’t inferior to anyone in this competition.”

She looked at the monitor showing Ace and Krul.

“If the Left-Hand guides and grasps the Head’s ideals, the Right-Hand crushes everything standing in its way.”

Ace rushed at Krul without fear. Krul threw a jab. Ace moved his head out of the way. He stepped in and slammed his fist in Krul’s stomach.

(He tightened his abs to lessen the impact.)

Ace flew back and avoided an elbow strike. Krul cut the distance and threw a strong right. Ace lifted his forearms to guard. His guard was blown open. Krul followed up with a left hook. His fist lifted Ace off the ground. He spun around with a kick to Ace’s sides. Ace was blown to the right. Krul chased after him.

“Looks like I can’t fight him in base mode.”

Ace grinned.

“Character Change!”

Light engulfed him. Krul didn’t pull up and threw another punch. A loud thud resounded.

“?!”

Before he could extend his arm, Krul was punched in the face. He stumbled back. In front of him, Ace appeared in his Brawler Character.

“This should work better.”

He pounced at Krul with a kick. Krul twisted out of the way and countered with a roundhouse kick. Ace ducked underneath it and hit him with an uppercut. Krul hit him with a right hook. Ace stumbled but held his ground. The two crossed punches and hit each other in the face. They took a step back and threw kicks. Their legs clashed. They stepped in and exchanged liver shots.

“Ugh!”

Ace’s knee softened. Krul rose him off the ground with an uppercut.

“?!”

Krul’s eyes widen as Ace wrapped his legs around his neck. Ace bent his body with a swing and flung Krul. His body hit the floor and he quickly got to his feet.

*Bam!*

Ace hit him with a boot to the face. Krul once again hit the ground. He sprung to his feet and avoided a punch. He slammed his fist in Ace’s stomach and lifted his feet off the ground. He slammed his other fist in the side of Ace’s face. The power of the punch slammed Ace to the ground. Krul followed up and buried the left side of Ace’s upper body into the earth. He lifted his fist again to finish the job. A green light engulfed Ace.

(Hot!)

Krul leaped back. The area where Ace was embedded in became scorching hot. The earth cracked and lava poured out. Ace’s body sunk into a pool of lava. The earth trembled and cracks spread out at an alarming rate. Lava sprayed out of the cracks and scorched the area.

“What the hell?”

Krul gradually retreated while observing the area.

*Bam!*

An explosion erupted behind him. He spun around and saw a creature covered in magma. It punched him in the stomach. Excruciating heat penetrated his insides. He was blown into a lava geyser.

“Did he turn into a monster?”

Sophie muttered.

“Ace possesses Beast Vita, he also trained in the Ruined World. He copied the characteristics of the monsters of that realm. Although, I never expected that he would be able to imitate them to this level.”

Momo answered.

“He fused his Vita with his Boost Player and increased his firepower considerably.”

“Boost Player? Do you mean that new technique? I thought that it was a rumor.”

Karim furrowed his brows.

“It’s real. Although, I’ve never met anyone other than Ace who has it. From the creator, everything about it is a mystery. Even I don’t really understand how it works.”

Karim looked at Alec.

“Not even you, when you’re so close to Miko’s group?”

Alec shrugged.

“It’s not like other spells or magic techniques. Just like my Bloodflame, it’s deeply embedded into the user’s body. The only way to study it or even hope of copying it is to study Ace’s corpse. I like the guy, so that’s out of the question.”

“Either way…”

Slyvia looked at Krul’s monitor.

“He just pissed off the last person he should.”

Krul emerged from the lava geyser with burns over his body.

“?!”

An oppressive pressure fell on Ace’s body when his eyes locked with Krul.

(This guy…is a monster.)

He smiled.

“Even more reason to destroy him.”

He canceled his Brawler Character.

“I can tell if I don’t give it my all I’m not walking away from his fight.”

Magic power swoll up in Krul and caused the dimension to tremble. Ace grinned as he did the same. The two released auras. The auras clashed and caused lightning to dance around them.

Something similar was occurring between Rin and Sora. Rin held both swords in his hands. Vita and mana danced around him and his blades.

(I’ve never felt a presence like this before.)

Smalls cuts appeared on the ground around Sora. He pictured himself surrounded by a thousand blades. One move would result in them thrusting towards him. Yet, he couldn’t help but smile.

“I can see why Miko let me and Ace join this competition.”

He blinked and a musical note appeared in his eyes.

“We’ll definitely be able to reach new heights fighting against people like this.”

“Both parties are going to get serious.”

Kirika mumbled. Alec nodded.

“Too bad though.”

“Huh?”

Alec smiled.

“They’re too far apart from each other to be transferred to the same dimension.”

The field became distorted. Ace, Sora, Krul, and Rin were all moved to different dimensions.

“……….”

A dead silence covered the arena.

“If they were a bit closer they could’ve continued their fights. Too bad.”

Alec broke the silence.

“Don’t fuck with us!”

“What the hell was that?!”

“Switch them back, Alec!”

“Alec, you bastard!”

Curses and trash rained down on Alec.

“Alec!”

Even his generation mates were strangling him.

“It’s not me, it’s the system! I have no control over this!”

Alec’s excuses fell on deaf ears as he was abused verbally and physically. As for the fighters themselves.

“………”

They all stood in disbelief.

“Well, there’s always next time.”

Sora’s eyes returned to normal.

“Tsk.”

Rin clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword.

“He gets to live to see another day.”

Ace stretched a bit before walking away.

“…….”

Krul continued to stand in silence. Only withdrawing his power after a few minutes. He walked away mumbling under his breath.

“Calm down, Krulty.”