Mira went out of the stadium and went to the arena where Daisuke was to fight in. The ground of the battle area opened and he and his opponent floated out with their backs toward each other. The ground closed when they had risen higher than it and they both floated forward, away from each other.

Daisuke’s opponent was a female dwarf that was twice his height but still had the dwarf build. Her race was Dwarf Variant: Metal-born. She had hair, teeth and nails made of a red metal that made up the full plate armor that she wore. She and Daisuke turned around at the same time.

Daisuke compressed the space around him in his energy zone while the Dwarf made space and time still and rigid around her. She wore her helmet and took a stance, one look at her could tell anyone what she excelled at; defense.

Mira thought ‘Honestly this is the best opponent to face Daisuke, he’s too fast. Even when I use the Lepus form I have to sacrifice a ton of energy to keep up. A defensive approach is always the wisest with him’.

The host announced the start and Daisuke began walking in a circle around his opponent. The Dwarf maintained her defensive form even after seeing this gesture and only turned to ensure Daisuke was always before her. Daisuke sent a wide range psychic message that said “So passive. If I don’t attack you will you just stay there?”

But the Dwarf gave no answer. Daisuke didn’t know if the Dwarf knew about his speed. He, like most contestants, wanted to keep his capabilities as hidden as possible to maintain the advantage of being unknown.

Daisuke started walking toward the Dwarf but like a statue, she didn’t move. Daisuke asked “Is she dead? Do I win?” The audience started murmuring and complaining since nothing was happening.

Daisuke sighed when he reached the woman. He touched her armor with his finger before turning around and running away. He felt some resistance as he ran away. The source of the resistance came from the finger that had touched the armor.

A tiny thread, as thin as a web but as heavy as a chain connected his finger to the armor. It was as if the metal was dried chewing gum that got stuck on him when he touched it.

The Dwarf remained unmoving, as if a statue was her role model or something. Daisuke waved the connected hand, trying to break the thread but nothing happened. He tried to stick it to the ground but it wouldn’t stick. As if the metal was made to only stick to him.

The audience collectively sighed as the Dwarf and Daisuke refused to take any decisive action. Daisuke kept foolishly trying to rub the metal on his clothes or stretch it beyond its limits to break it but it was fruitless.

Mira laughed at his blatant refusal to take the initiative. After a while of fumbling around Daisuke got serious; he spread his hand and bent his knees. The audience went silent seeing this.

Daisuke stood straight and started walking toward the Dwarf with his arms spread out like he wanted a hug as his face got playful. The resulted in a collective groan from most of the audience and some laughter from a few like Mira.

Daisuke hugged the Dwarf that remained unmoving. His head and arms sunk to the metal like it was made of paste. Alas when he wanted to move out the metal didn’t let go. It was as if it had turned back to its correct state, rigid and unyielding.

The Dwarf finally moved. She returned his hug, pressing him into the metal and started controlling it to cover him and flood his orifices. The host said “Daisuke’s stupidity has been rewarded! Candy finally moved!”

In a few moments Daisuke was completely covered by the metal. Then something strange happened. Candy coughed up blood. Her body temperature reduced drastically and she fell to her knees before she fell forward completely.

The metal covering her body flowed away like liquid and Daisuke pushed her body aside before standing up. The audience was silent as they watched Daisuke walk away and the host said “Daisuke wins... How and Why? I don’t know”.

A rain of boos erupted from the audience as Daisuke went back to the center of the stage and dropped down through the hole that opened up there. Mira’s eyes were focused on the body of the Dwarf that was being carried away by some people through a hole in the ground.

She thought ‘He used one of his forms even though he was stuck in the metal. He absorbed her body heat by being in contact with her after the attack. No one saw it, very smooth’.

Obviously, Mira knew this because she had sparred with Daisuke many times so she knew the things he was capable of. His future opponent though would be left in confusion since he managed to win without giving anything away. Not his speed, not his fighting style, not his relation with light. The only thing the opponent would know was that he was dangerous, which was true for every candidate.

Mira teleported back to the entrance of Tian’s cave. Tian had already fought earlier, before Mira so she didn’t get to see his fight. She entered and was greeted by a locked crystal door that blocked the way deeper into the cave. Tian didn’t let anyone inside the door but he did satisfy their curiosity about what was behind it, Treasure.

Mira had no idea what Tian considered treasure though; he didn’t seem to value anything from her perspective and the door was able to block her sphere of awareness or any sense in fact. She knocked the door and Tian poked his head out some moments later.

Mira said “We have to discuss our next opponents, give ourselves some pointers… Or did you lose?” Tian harrumphed and said “Obviously not” before sliding out of the little opening of the door.