Location: Private Condensed Stadium, Secret Coordinates
Spectators: 3 VIPs, 1 Staff
The moment the match began, Miyu Kohana didn’t make a move. Instead, her brown eyes began to go ghostly pale as her entire body seemed to vanish in pale mist. From behind, around, and above Kaizo, the room began to warp.
The lights began dimming, despite the fact that nothing was wrong with the electrical system. At that same time, Kaizo began to see visions and illusions of random terrifying horrors:
An ancient being, drowned in blood, emerged in front of Kaizo.
A hundred eyes blinked from the walls.
A child’s laughter echoed backward.
Any normal person might’ve screamed, shouted, shit out their pants…
Kaizo couldn’t care less about what was happening.
Kaizo (internally, monotone): “Mannnn, what the hell is this… All that time I spent mastering Aura Manipulation, relearning Zenshin, creating new abilities, just for my opponent to try to beat me by giving me the “Ick”...”
He thought about his past experiences.
His old drawn out battles.
His dad.
The day his sister died…
Death.
Pain.
Sadness.
Despair.
Depression.
There was nothing he hadn’t gone through, so he felt no need to be afraid of anything.
Kaizo (thinking): “This isn’t scary. This is sad.”
All he saw, standing in front of him, was a small, nervous girl trying her hardest to intimidate him.
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Her body language didn’t match the horror she tried to summon at all. Her legs were shaking. Her arms were tight against her chest. Her face was pale. What kind of fight was this, he wondered?
Kaizo (half-sighing internally): “I feel like I’m Lloyd trying to comfort Anya or something."
Kaizo began walking towards her, calm as ever. He decided that she couldn’t be that dangerous.
Miyu panicked. Her illusions grew louder. Blood rained from above. The room shrieked and wailed, as the grotesque images grew more disturbing and displeasing.
Kaizo ignored them, knowing that they wouldn't affect him and that they weren’t real.
In the Spectator Booth – VIP Lounge
Infinity slept curled up in Yumi’s lap, blissfully purring.
Yumi watched from her seat—attentive, yet surprisingly relaxed. From a spectators perspective, you could only see Kaizo walking towards Miyu very slowly. She couldn’t really understand what was happening but she knew Kaizo had an advantage over her.
Yumi (thinking): “He’s really doing it this calm, huh…?”
Beside her, two girls watched in disbelief.
Riko Takeda [8th place, the Magnetism Horizon user]: “Who is this guy? And how the hell is he so calm?”
Airi Koyama [9th place, the Infatuation Horizon user] (smirking): “No idea… He quite the looker, though…”
Riko (scoffing): “Please, your Horizon would shut him down. No guy, no wait, NO ONE can resist you.”
Airi (smiling faintly): “Maybe…”
Yumi, arms folded, tilted her head slightly.
Yumi (to herself): “What does that mean?...”
Back in the arena, Kaizo was now just a few steps from Miyu.
He still hadn’t changed expressions once.
Miyu’s illusions failed. Her will broke. She felt powerless at that moment. Never had anyone not shown even the slightest initial reaction to her illusions, so seeing someone like Kaizo, with zero expression changes, spooked the hell out of her. It reminded her of the Golden Goddess in a way, the way she was usually always smiling, no matter what.
Her legs gave out and her voice cracked as she struggled to even get the last few words out.
Miyu (small whisper): “…I forfeit…”
There was silence for just a moment.
Kaizo stood over her, blinking once, like he was checking if that was really it.
Kaizo (breaking the 4th wall): [“Well that was easy.”]
Winner: Kaizo Nekodaira – now the new #10 in the Top Ten
Back in the lounge, Riko leaned back, unimpressed.
Riko: “Eh. Miyu just folded. Lucky break.”
But Airi tilted her head, watching Kaizo exit the ring calmly, hands in pockets.
Airi (soft): “I don’t know…”
Yumi, silent as always, just allowed a small corner of her mouth to curve.
Yumi (thinking): “Nice job.”
