M: Hum, that’s quite the situati0n y0u put y0urse1f into…

P: Hey, I didn’t do nothinp!

M: Y0u just used a d0ub1e negative…

M: If the B00k br0ught y0u there, it’s pr0bab1y n0t a c0incidence.

M: I d0n’t kn0w… try t0 think 0ut 0f the b0x?

P: Can’t you hack the prison?

M: 0h, sure.

M: 1et me infi1trate a p1ace I have n0 idea where it is!!!

M: It c0u1d be 0n an0ther fucking c0ntinent f0r a11 I kn0w!

M: Y0u’re being ridicu10us!

P: …

P: You mean, Maridiculous?

M: …

M: Is it that bad?

P: Well…

S: Hey guys!

S: Sorry for the delay, I’ve been… talking with someone.

S: What did I miss, there’s a lot of messages…

M: Pr0m is in jai1.

S: Really? What did you do?

P: Nothin’! I swear!

P: I pust arrived here, and my obpective is to escape.

S: Okay… so what’s the problem then?

M: It’s a Quester jai1.

S: What?

P: We’re a dozen trapped in here.

P: The oldest has been here for more than a century.

P: And he never saw anyone escape.

S: Hum… sounds rough.

M: D0n’t w0rry guys, I’ll handle it.

P: Really?

S: How so?

M: I’11 find a way.

P: Yeah!

P: I knew I could count on my little Mar!

S: It seems quite weird though, for Quester to be trapped like that.

S: I’ve seen two ‘wanderers’ so far and none of them told us about anything like that it…

S: I’ll ask Eve or Adam if I meet them again…

M: It sh0u1d be fine.

M: W0rst case scenari0, I’11 find a way t0 create my 0wn spatia1 d00rs.

P: Really?

M: Why n0t?

As sweat and beverage were spilt on the ground, as cheers and encouragement were yielded from everywhere, as the excitement was reaching its peak, two people were standing still, in the centre of the Coliseum, scrutinizing one another. About the same height, a man against a woman.

After a close first semi-final, the public was in trance. However, this time they only had one question: how fast will it take for the Smasheress to emasculate her opponent in shiny armour?

Obviously, the man in question knew that. He was aware that the frail-looking girl in front of him destroyed all her foes without breaking a sweat, but you don’t come that far into a tournament without some kind of trick up your sleeve.

"I... I would like to propose a game."

“Hum? A game? What the fuck are you talking about…”

"Just… here me out. I propose a contest of strength, each of us attacks the other full force, taking turns. Yo-you can start if you want!"

“…”

Obviously, this was a trick. Even though she didn't pay much attention to the other contestant, she did listen to what was happening while waiting in between matches. And she never heard of such a thing in previous matches.

However, she couldn’t picture how this would backfire, and it could be quite fun.

“Fine, I accept.”

She didn’t miss the small grin he made after her statement, but that much was to be expected.

“Great! The rules are simple, you hit me, and in no way can I defend myself, no spell, no technique, nothing. Then it’s my turn.”

“Sure…”

The man flamboyantly opened his armed, inviting her attack.

“Hehe, ready when you are.”

“You sure are a weirdo.”

Alice came closer to the man, imaging the coolest way to take him down, and she found a pretty good idea.

Up close, she started to take a stance. Followed by a dance, with her arms and legs drawing circles in the air, in a continuous flow, like a calm and stream.

The public, as well as her opponent, were confused, as they couldn't divert their eyes from her.

After a solid minutes of this magestic yet ominous dance all around the man, she stopped her footwork near his flank.

With an exaggerated and controlled movement, she suddenly pulled back her leg.

Simultaneously, the man fell backwards in total shock. But he hasn't been touched yet, the blow was yet to be administered.

Following the flow, Alice’s legs was already pointed toward the ceiling, ready to administrate the blow.

Hopefully, it shouldn’t kill him.

And she slammed her foot into his stomach.

Crushing him to the ground.

Blasting slabs under him.

As blood spurted out of his mouth.

And reactivating the cheers of the public.

Even stronger than before. Nobody understood what happened, and why the guy let her attack without reacting, but at this point, they didn’t really care much.

“Really, what did he think…”

COUGH

“Hum?”

“*cough cough*”

She turned around, and the man was already up on his knee, trying to get some air.

“What the…”

“Hehe, young lady… you’ve made a terrible mistake.”

⎾Tenacity⏌

The ability to withhold one fatal attack. The burden on your body is massive and repetitive use almost impossible, but in this case…

The man took out a dagger from his belt. A shiny and sharped blade, reflecting the light of the projectors toward Alice’s eyes.

“I hope you don’t mind that… hehe”

“You do know I don’t really have to follow your rules? Right?”

"Oh my, would you give up your honour? In front of so many people? You and I both know you won't do that. I saw how you handle Michaël, you're skin is tough. Don't you want to know if it's tough enough?"

‘Who the fuck is Michaël?’

"You sure talk a lot. But I guess you're right, I am curious about my own limit, so… let's see what you're made of."

However, Alice's overlooked another crucial element. For her, this match was nothing more than a brick paving her road forward, but for him, it was a deathmatch. He was ready to risk everything to win, and that's why, even though he was already one of the top contestant, for the purpose of this round he administrated to himself one of the most potent drugs in the market.

Long story short, Alice was underestimating him.

And he was planning to make good use of that.

He barely waited for her to ready herself, and rushed forward.

An instant later, his blade was planted in Alice’s throat.

“Hehehe, *cough cough* brain always win over…”

“…brawn?”

?!!!

“Too bad for you, I have both.”

At this point, for any guides following her adventure, it would be nothing short of a re-run, but still…

⎾Tenacity⏌

…this is pretty unfair.

“Wha-Wha-Wha…”

"I never thought I would come upon something useful here. I guess I should say thanks…"

But… she didn't. Instead, she added him to the growing list of man she deprived of their masculinity.

"Thinking about it, I should have done that from the start…"

In the midst of a silenced Coliseum, Alice walked over her latest victim, rejoining her waiting room.

Finally, one more fight and she’ll be done with the whole struggle.

In a dark room, lightened by a single old lamp hanging down from the ceiling, slowly balancing left and right, a person was waiting, her hair falling down behind her chair, gently floating in order to avoid any contact with the floor, and her masked face directed at the door in front of her.

In front of her stood a simple table as well as another chair.

Yes, she was waiting for someone.

And the whole situation was quite annoying for her.

Well, waiting was a strong word. She might not have the same sight as her male counterpart, but she was still the most powerful known being. She was perfectly able to detect the person approaching the room, and that will probably enter in a few minutes.

Still, she was irritated.

Not because of the wait, but…

“Why am I doing this again?”

“You know why, I explained it to you once. And it’s more than enough. And why are you speaking out loud?”

“Damn, even after all this time, I can’t stop to be amazed by your recorded messages. Feels so weird.”

A scroll was put on the table, displaying the holographic shape of Adam, harbouring his usual smile under his extravagant hat and half darkened face.

“Listen, I just want to trust you one this. As she is now, Alice will not lose. We need to trigger the change. Well, it will happen so it’s not we ‘need’ to… anyway. Just… trust me.”

"Come on. You think I didn't figure out who is coming down here? As they are now, she'll wipe the floor with Snow White."

“Who?”

“Alice.”

“Oh. Well, yes and no. Potential is one thing. Practical application is another.”

"Can you be less precise, please? It feels like you are purposely messing with me."

"Who knows. Is it me that will say what I will say? Or has it been set in stone since the beginning and I'm just playing along with the script I foresaw without realizing I do? When you can see everything past, present and future, free will become kind of pointless."

"Sigh… You're getting off topic."

"Please, Eve. Just… I've been planning this for a while, you know… I even had to get into a Safe Spot! You know how much I hate those places!"

“Fine! I’ll do it! But don’t bitch on me when the sad part comes.”

“Haha, you silly. I won’t ‘bitch’.”

"Yes, you will."

“Remind me who is the Seer here? Plus, she’ll be here in 5 seconds, so bye!”

The communication cut, and the hologram fade away as if it was made of steam.

As foretold, three distinctive knocks resonated in the room, coming from the only door.

Without waiting for an answer, the person on the other side slowly turned the handle, and opened the door.

It was a young woman, wearing a serious face and a tank top, originally white, but currently tainted in red. Her darkish blue hair was tied with a single rubber band, and even though it wasn't distinguishable from her attitude, she was completely exhausted.

“Hi. I guess you never heard of me yet. Please, take a sit.”

Eve pointed at the chair in front of her, on the other side of the table.

Intrigued, the woman accepted the invitation, and sat down, without diverting her eyes or saying a word.

"You must have some questions…"

"I… Hum. As a matter of fact. I do."

"Well, that's why I am here, Naomi. What do you want to know?"