On the first floor of the coliseum sat Madonna by a dark wooden desk. Empty bottles encircled her chair. She built a tower from them, a rather large one. In-between slower moment of the fight, she would add another flask on top of her castle.

– The knife in your leg… you probably can’t get it out, right? Huh, what a loser.

Madonna put the glass down. It looked like Katsumi had the upper-hand.

– Welp, whatever.

She looked straight into the girl’s eyes. Katsumi had a courageous look.

– Let’s see what we got in there…

Her eyes moved like a snake through the desert. They spun round and round, gradually gaining momentum. Her purple pupil dissolved into straight purple lines. They spun faster and faster. One might say, it was mesmerizing.

– You… you… I’ll kill you! – Nasturtium yelled.

Katsumi had no reaction. Her face suddenly turned emotionless and her fingers began to twitch. It looked like she was talking to someone, yet no words left her mouth.

– H-Huh?

His confused stare made Madonna chuckle, which he immediately noticed. She cheerfully waved and sent a kiss to the giant. He unsurely waved back and returned to observing the strange events.

– Well, that should do the trick. – Madonna leaned back and took a sip from her remaining wine.

– Is someone being naughty again?

Two hands obstructed her vision. They were made out of green leaves and small sticks. Madonna half-drunkenly chuckled.

– Let me guess! The forest sent you to lecture about the policies of life? – her voice was mocking, but the unusual voice shrugged it off with a laugh.

– I think yesterday was enough.

The unusual figure had a plantlike skin. She wore a toga made out of palm leaves. Rose-like petals bloomed with tiny white dots where her collarbone would begin.

Above this pinkish line sat a titan’s head. Her eyes were blue and her long black hair was tied into many small buns.

– Don’t even get me started on that! Had to invite two of my best men for a sleepover, I was so pissed.

– Well, it wasn’t you who went rampage in the forest.

– Nor was it one of my Fingers! It was one of ‘hers’.

– Hah, you still don’t have her name?

– Nobody does.

– I heard rumors the old man might know something!

– Yeah, like *he* would know anything.

They watched the battle in silence. The green flower didn’t sit down and shortly after walked away.

– Wait! – Madonna ran after her.

– Huh? What is it?

– Could you do me a favor?

– Yeah, what is it?

– I need you to create a hive.

– – –

– Fine! I’ll just bait out your shouts and eventually you’ll tire out! – Nasturtium shouted.

Katsumi spat up some blood. She summoned two apples and pulled out a carrot from her pocket. A soup was boiling.

– You forgot I’m a cook! I can replenish my health and stamina without any cost! Do you understand what that means? You stand no chance against my attacks! They’ll just keep on coming until your entire body gets all fucked up! If I were you, I’d just give up! As I said it before, I’ll spare you, just give up!

Nasturtium forced his legs to move. His ribs were broken and blood repeatedly came out of his mouth with each step.

His eyes were filled with killing intent.

– Fine! – Katsumi poured the pot’s belongings into her mouth. – This is self-defense! I won’t hold back!

– Gahh! ‘Train Tackle’!

His morbid rush was uncanny, yet fatal. Katsumi got ready to jump away when the giant gets close enough. That way, he won’t be able to change his course in time.

– Come on… you jump away and blast him into the wall…

– Uwahh! Feel the force a thousand beasts!

– Come on, you’re almost there… come on…

– Uwahh! Uwuaaah! Mommy, it’s that girl from the pictures!

– Huh?

The scenery changed to a clean white corridor. It was rather narrow and lifeless. Old images of butterflies decorated the way from one door to another. Only two people occupied it, a small and a tall figure. They had no faces, but were holding hands.

– Mommy! Help me! The girl is looking at me!

It was her old high school! She immediately recognized it! But how did she get here?

As if a lever got pulled, her instincts took over. Nasturtium was still charging at her! She jumped away towards the nearest wall. To her surprise, she fell right through it, straight into a classroom full of formless people.

– Hush-hush-hush… it’s her…

– Oh my god, she really is…

– I can’t believe they really…

She quickly got up and ran to the other side of the room. Looking back at the wall, nobody came through it. There was no giant following her.

‘Don’t get tricked, Kats! This isn’t real, none of this is real! Something is fucking with your vision!’

She ran to her right. The desks and people were all illusions too. She could go through them. Closing her eyes, she ran headfirst at another wall and easily passed through it.

‘Even if I can’t see Nasturtium, he’s still chasing after me. I cannot let my guard down! Think Kats, think! This must an illusion, which means a mirror can break right through it! There was one in my old classroom. I must get there!’

The ground trembled.

‘Shit! I can still feel that asshole charge towards me! This isn’t good, this isn’t good at all! It’s all so-so unfair!’

Empty, blank rooms following one another. Expressionless shapes and ominous whispers. The path forward was an endless road of emptiness.

Suddenly, she found herself in a room that was different. Coffee brown tiles occupied the walls. Broken sinks laid before her, bathroom stalls were on her right.

It was the women’s bathroom.

‘Jackpot!’

Above the broken sinks were mirrors. They were glitching out of reality. Some didn’t reflect anything besides white space. Yet a few ones worked.

On the other side of these dimensional walls she could see Nasturtium. He was leaning against the wall, heavily panting.

‘Heh, looks like I’m faster.’

As if he could hear her thoughts, the giant broke into an enraged charge. From his perspective, Katsumi was facing away, giving him an easy opening. In reality though, she had the upper-hand.

‘Come on… get closer so I can…’

– Oh my, some people just don’t know how to flush!

Katsumi froze down. One of the stalls opened and a female voice spoke from beyond.

– Ah, sorry dude! Thought I was alone in here.

She slowly turned towards her. It felt uncanny. Not in an unnatural way, but an all too familiar one.

– My name is Momo Katsumi! Are you new around here?

She couldn’t speak. Her mouth trembled. Cold sweat dripped down her face.

– H-Hey, uh, just so you know… whatever is beyond that door, I wasn’t the one to drop it there, alright?

It was her. She was facing herself from two years ago. The orange buns in her hair, the mossy green eyes, the slightly deep voice… it was her.

And just now, she remembered where this memory is from.

– ‘Train Tackle’!

Katsumi turned around and screamed. It was so powerful, so loud, that the memory dissolved and the arena’s layout returned once more. She could see Nasturtium, who successfully blocked her attack in time.

– Ehaheha! That was something else! Too bad you won’t…

She didn’t stop. She screamed again, louder than before. It felt like she never runs out of breath. Nasturtium blocked with both hands and tried to stand out these desperate blows.

But he couldn’t. The explosions first hammered his bones, then cut through his veins. Blood spurred all over his face. This barrage was way beyond what he could handle.

– What are you doing? Are you crazy? You’ll kill yourself if you don’t stop!

But Katsumi didn’t hear him and he couldn’t take it anymore. His arms were way beyond saving now. The best he could do is retreat and wait for the Katsumi’s lungs to blow up. H

He jumped to the ground and covered his head.

Even now, Katsumi didn’t stop. She was already on her knees, covered in tears and the blood she coughed up. But the exhaustion and ever increasing pain wasn’t the worst part.

It was the memories she finally remembered.

– – –

– Master, you’ve been awfully quiet today. Is something bothering you? – the small pig servant politely asked.

Esidezhu were sitting on their large throne. They gave no answer. A large bowl of soup sat in front of them. It was cold.

– Master – he pulled on their green robe –, should I bring you another wine?

– My apologies! I need a few minutes to decide.

– It’s been a long time since we drank one of those demon tears. I bet the guests would enjoy that too! Yes, I’m totally asking this for their sake!

– Whatever the outcome may be, today’s toast is special. Whether it be because of joy or grief.

– Fitting for such a delicate beverage! May I ask, is it because of that girl again? Master, excuse my simple minded brain, but why won’t you interfere when reality looks so grim? Are you perhaps enjoying the show too much?

Esidezhu’s body was completely still. They had no signs of life, yet their aura was the strongest in the room. Clearly, something was very wrong.

– Keep your thoughts to yourself, servant! This is more than just a fight. Death is not the biggest obstacle she’s to conquer. Whether she’s a fitting candidate or not is to be decided tonight.