"The rules are as stated." Agatha's voice sounded from the podium at the top of the stage. She didn't sound troubled or anything, but she couldn't help herself but have her eyes waowards her.

  Elizabeth wasn't sure at oint had it bee obvious that she nning on pounding Akira's skull against the arena floor. Or if it was something that everyone spoke and guessed on their own.

  Well, almost everyone.

  "Get on with it already, this stupid ematic is getting old." Akira was grumbling in his seat while Rena held a variety of snacks and drinks.

  She wasn't taking any of them, she was a glorified carrying stand.

  That only made her mana rumble stronger within her [Core].

  That was something else she couldn't wait to deal with, after months of training she had mao achieve additional level-ups and rise to Level 30. The increase in power was a weled one, and she did take this time to train her sedary affio get them up to date, mostly because she didn't want to be imbanced (And because it gave her new ways to approach things).

  So her status was somewhat different while staying the same.

  Status

  Name: Elizabeth Starbright

  Active Title: [Magical Girl]

  Passive Titles:

  [Awakened - Warrior] [Daughter of The Gods] [Hero]

  Level: 30

  Health: 100%

  Mana: 100%

  Stamina: 100%

  Age: Body (1), Appearance (17)

  Soul: (16-years, 9-months)

  Dragon Iance: Active

  Strength: 34

  stitution: 35

  Agility: 30

  Dexterity: 30

  Intelligence: 250

  Wisdom: 250

  Charisma: 50

  Job: Magical Hero

  Job Skills: 1eneral skills: 5

  Title Skills: 2

  Banked Skills: 3

  Her most important earnings irainihe five extra level ups and the proficy she got towards her skills, old and new.

  Level Ups:Level 25 >30

  30 > 35

  Int 200 > 250

  Wis 200 > 250

  Lighting Man 30>50

  Magic Circle Man 35>50

  Space Man: 30>50

  New Skills

  Endurance: 20

  Body Tempering: 30

  Endurand Body Tempering had been the new additions, she had gotten both after her body started breaking down from the ravages of mana, that had been one scary m. It wasn't pleasant waking up to her skin crag and leaking azure mana.

  And she got a scolding from Rossie for dumping all her points into two stats without bringing her body to level. It seemed that while there were people with this kind of stats in wisdom and intelligence. Most arrived slowly and at a more sedated pace.

  They didn't get there in a few months, and their body was used to the mana amounts they could wield, while Elizabeth got there in a fsh, and so, while her body was sturdy. It wasn't [That] sturdy (Yet).

  Thanks to that she got the skill [Endurance] for surviving that whole odyssey, and [Body Tempering] for preparing her body to withstand the ravages of mana. Her own [Mana], but ohat ravaged heless.

  At least she found out that her [Mana] was, while not focused on that aspect, ohat would burn and erode, and then from the embers and ashes returhing to normal once more.

  That was oeresting facet of her powers, her mana was ohat destroyed, but at the same time, it brought forth life and renewal. It robably something to do with how she had e back from being almost dead after swallowing the [Vestiges] of those that made her the one she was today.

  But still, while she was happy with her gains...These....may not be enough. Sure, she had more stats points than Rena & Akira. But she wasn't fident in winning in a one-on-one fight against Rena, she had tons of skill profi her, and that wasn't ting on the skills she didn't have access tht now.

  Akira oher hand...It hurt her deeply to even think about it, but the bastard if he used his [Skill], would dwarf her stats in one go.

  "...Let me say it again for everyone's sake anyway." Agatha brought her back with her speech, "No killing, no cheap punches and no hard feelings."

  Weren't there more rules?

  "I know some of you may have animosity against others for...whatever reasons we don't speak in public about." Agatha said while making a good effort to not stare at her or Akira, instead fog oher students, "But we will not tolerate such behavior on these arena grounds. Some of you may have fotten about it, but...We do accept those that wish to bee [Vilins], [SuperHeroes], and [Magical Girls] in this school."

  ...ht, but then why was she bringing this up?

  Wasn't it normal for a [Vilin] to do cheap tricks?

  "And yes, [Vilins] are known to do cheap tricks. But...at this stage of your career, while most of you may learn the identity of other people... Do remember, that what you do here may influence how those oside treat you. If they know you like doing cheap shots or are more...[Violent] There may be doors that are closed to you. Even if you mao graduate at the top of the css as a [Hero]." Agatha seemed to be pleading at this point. "So think it through, and if you have [Evidence] of any wrongdoing bring it up to us. So long it is [Solid Evidehe school will do its best to help you with it."

  And then everyo the arena stood in silence... Elizabeth included, the only sound you could hear was the sound of someoing snacks(Akira). But this made Elizabeth think about it.

  Evidence...No [Solid Evidence], did she have that? Maybe if she allowed someoo see her [Memories] or share her [Sight], so they could see Rena's Soul.

  Was that [Solid Evidence]? Maybe, if they could prove that Rena didn't want that link. Akira seemed to want to discard it, but she somehow doubted he would allow it if someone else brought it forth.

  "So, we respond in kind if someories to cheap-shot us?" Akira suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

  "...If you want to tihe fight, and so does your oppo, then yes. If someone does an attack that breaks the rules you are allowed to tinue as a [Fight] instead of an [Exhibition Match]. This implies standard [Gdiator Arena] rules." Agatha answered with the face of someone who didn't want to address a problem in the room. "This would mean that the Arena [Barrier] would ge the setting to prevent the testant from leaving...or for people to enter. At least till both fighters accepted the oute of the fight."

  "...So if someone breaks the rules I keep them within the Arena till they accept the sequences of their as?" Akira seemed to smile more and more at this.

  "...Yes Mister Akira, should you want to tihe fight it will tinue unless your oppo is unscious or dead," Agatha answered.

  "Perfect, that was all I wao know. You carry on with the matches." Akira waved his hand dismissively.

  Most of those who had stayed silent started whispering among themselves, mostly about whether any one of them would challenge Akira or not. Of course, a single gre from Rena was enough to dissuade them from this motion.

  "Know that while an illegal a will fail you on this exhibition matd put at risk yrade, so long your oppo is willing to go further beyond and tihe match. Should you win that [Gdiator Match], yrade will be re-evaluated. You will, however, have trouble getting into the [Hero] part of the program again, should you be part of it." Agatha said again in a defeated tone.

  It seemed that the [Witch] hadn't wahat particur part of the information widespread, "So I implore you all." Agatha said while looking at every single one of them, and staying a few extra seds in Elizabeth, "Don't go that way, that isn't worth it for most. Some may thrive in those types of settings, but those are people that have what makes you a [Legend]."

  "Like me." Akira said at the back while smiling.

  "...Should you be fident in yourself, think again. Unless you have the fidehe [Talent] to match up to the [ars]. Don't." A series of pictures of the current [ars] showed up on the billboard that served to annouhe fights.

  Scorpius Rex

  Voidweaver

  Frostbite

  Mysticus

  Phantom Legionnaire

  Nightshade Seraph

  Astral Arbiter

  Sinister

  Nyctophagia

  It was iing seeing that not all of those under Ea showed up on this list, "Isn't [Nyctophagia] one of [Ea]'s followers?" Elizabeth chimed up.

  Agatha frow that and answered "He is indeed suspected to be associated with [Ea - The Mother of Monsters], but it isn't o link that with [The Mother of Shadows]. There isn't anything firming such a link, and even if it was, the [ars] vouch for her." That sounded like a scripted answer if Elizabeth had heard one before.

  "She be the Mother of MY Monster..." Akira said at the back of their versation.

  Most of course ignored him, at this point, it seemed that only Rena actually ughed or paid attention to him, such as in this instance where she blushed and pio him.

  ...It was kinda cute...?

  ....Oh god, she o stop thinking like that. Rena wasn't Rossie, she wasn't cute!

  No sir!

  ...She was more like a cute dog you found ireets, yes. She was a cute dog!

  "Eli-Eli? Why are you hitting your head against the wall?" Rossie, her always lovely girlfriend asked from the side.

  She was doing what?

  Oh, she was hitting her head against the pilr. Why was she doing that?

  "Elizabeth? Are you okay? You go to the nurse in case you o take the day off." Agatha said worried from the podium, half of the students seemed to look worriedly at her.

  Even her cute do-

  ASDASDLFHASDFAS

  Even Rena seemed worried for her, and while Akira only turo look at her and raised an eyebrow befrabbing the soda from Rena's chest holder and taking a sip from it before leaving it there again.

  ...She turo look at Rossie, then at Rena...Then at Rossie...Then at Rena...

  "Appearances don't matter that much Rossie." And sincerely said as much.

  She wondered how had Rena grown such big...assets in the short time she had known her, if nothing else she looked more... humble in her [Shift] and while at csses the first year. But nowadays she had...[grown] quite well.

  "Thank you, Elizabeth. But my eyes are up here." Rossie, her always cute and lovely Rossie said while smiling.

  "I'm okay Teacher, I just wao...make sure my mind was in the game." Elizabeth didn't run away from a possible argument with her girlfriend about their assets. Of course not.

  "...Sure..." Agatha said while shaking her head, "Anyway, if that is out of the way let's start this. First from the bottom..."

  Agatha turned around and jumped from the podium that sank into the floor as the arena shifted from the usual dirt that they were used, and turned into a floor that seemed to be padded. Agatha nded in the VIP room where other teachers that she hadn't known the first year were waiting.

  The Nurse and the Head [Healer], the [Magic], [Sorcery], and [Spellcrafting] teachers stood near Agatha. The [Skill], [Evolutions] and [Power up] teachers from the [Hero] side stood he crazy old man.

  "Go into the arena and choose your oppo [Exorcist from Another World]." Agatha said and Elizabeth felt her blood go cold, did they have more interpnar travelers?

  Elizabeth narrowed her eyes as one of the students stood and then she felt fused at it, she remembered this o was the student whose [Shift] had turned him into the clothes that resembled more an [Idol] than a [Wizard] or [Magical Guardian].

  He had chosen the name of [Exorcist from Another World]?

  "I will fight against [The Android from a venieore]!" Said the student while pointing at a guy with pink hair and a weird overall...

  What?

  "The first fight will be [The Exorcist from another world] D-Tier Wizard vs [The Android from a venieore] D-Tier Hero." Agatha said without looking the least flicted by those names.

  The fight...wasn't that iing if she was being ho about it, it was closer to a slugfest match than what she would think. And the...[Idol] spent half the time trying to make some weird attack motions with a wooden sword that he pulled from god knows where.

  It seemed that his magic was mostly focused on weird [Exorcism] movements?

  He did seal some of the [Skills] the [Android] was using. She found his identity as [Android] was mostly because his [Shift] turned him into some kind of...well, an android.

  He could pull part of his body and repce it with other meical stuff he kept bringing about, it reminded her of the more meical aspects of her [Stardust Weaver] shift. If she was being ho.

  In the end however...

  "Matded!" Agatha fihe bat when both of them managed a double KO. "We will mark this as a tie sih batants are out for the mark. They will be evaluated from their use of [Skills], [Magid strategy for this bat."

  A couple of students rushed into the arena, brought both students onto stretchers, and carried them away, their [Shift] turned off as soon as they got put into the stretcher. Either the thing had some [Ent] or they ran out of mana in what they had allotted to their [Shift].

  She found it iing how no matter what modifications the [Android] suffered, as soon as the shift ended he turned into a normal human being, she wondered how would that trao more...[Serious] wounds, maybe they would need wounds that went straight to the [Soul] for them to refle reality?

  "The one will be..." Agatha however, tihe matches unworried about her musings, "... [The Avenger]!"

  A student bck stood and walked towards the arena, "Please select your oponen-" And befatha could finish speaking he raised a sword and poi straight at one of the students iands.

  "I wish to fight against Akira." He said without waiting.

  Agatha sighed and added, "You o call the [Hero] Name or [Magical Guardian] Name for the fight, we don't approve es against the civiliay, no matter what it is."

  "HE DOESN'T DESERVE THE [Warden of JustiAME!" Screamed the [Avenger] from the arena, she could see tears wanting to form in his eyes, but he wiped them and pointed again. "E DOWN AND FIGHT ME YOU COWARD!"

  Akira turo look at him, and narrowed his eyes, "[Identify-type skill detected Mistress, do you want us to try to block/hijack it?]" Her Royal Guardians prompt at her.

  She de and instead used her oraisal] on the [Avenger] guy too.

  The result she got...wasn't good.

  "Hah, the vermin thinks it's important enough to fight me? A [True Hero]?" Akira smirked at him, possibly after also seeing his stats.

  He was...Barely at the D-Tier mark, he was level 35 yes...But he barely got like six points per level at best, he...He wasn't a match against Akira, no matter how much she didn't want to think about it.

  "Go and deal with it...Rena." Akira said dismissively, and it was almost as if a switch had been pushed, Rena's gaze turned from the half-clouded oo a sharp one. Her form shifted into [The Demon Sying Sword].

  "I will use my right as high-rao intercept this match," Rena said in an even voice.

  "...Of course you will..." Agatha mumbled under her breath, sighed, and then addressed the [Avenger]. "Do you wish to tihe match?"

  He gred (Hard) at Agatha after asking that, then looked at Rena and gulped, "Yes. I will." She could see him trembling uhe gaze of Rena.

  He knew how far out of his depth he was, he probably thought that Akira would fight him siheir grade were that far away from each other, but Akira instead only took his snacks from Rena (How did she mao look imposing while holding snacks? She did not know, but would ask ter). And said "Make him suffer for taking my food stand from me."

  And afterward, Rena disappeared from where she stood and reappeared in the Arena, no dust had moved or did anyoo see her moving.

  "...The fight will be [The Avenger] D-Tier vs [The Demon Sying Sword] Mid B-Tier." Agatha said, and a fes could be heard from the stands surrounding them.

  Yeah, it seemed that Agatha was stating how far away the fighters were from each other, "You still surrender, or ask for another oppo." And Agatha asked again.

  The [Avenger] shook his head and said "A true [Hero] fights for what he thinks its worth, against all odds. Even if they think that they 't win...Even if they know they 't win." And then he pointed his swainst Rena. "Even if they don't see a way of victory."

  Rena on her side answered, "A true [Hero] doesn't lose." And didn't say anything else.

  Agatha from her part, sigo the [Healers] to be on standby, and then with a st sigh, she motioned "Start the fight!"

  And there, with a scream that seemed to e from the bottom of his soul, [The Avenger] started running forward, towards Rena. He uhed a sword and after doing a running jump, he focused most (If not all) of his mana into the edge of the sword.

  It was, if nothing else, a ssh that seemed to have all his pent-up emotions and grievances.

  It was a wonderful ssh, not from the point of view of a swordsman (She wasn't one), nor from the point of view of a [Mage], sihe mana was haphazardly glued together to the sword.

  If she was willing to take a bet, that was dampening more the sword than anything, the power of that strike would be blunt instead of sharp, so he would have a better proving his attack if he ged his on to a hammer or a club.

  But that didn't matter, not here.

  What mattered was...

  "Weak." That Rena was his oppo, she just raised her left hand and caught the sword and closing it she shattered the on with her bare hands.

  Akira was smirking the whole time of course, and most of the students around seemed to know this would happen, that of course didn't stop the [Avenger]. No.

  Instead, he threw the sword away "THIS IS NOTHING! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE FOR WHAT THAT BASTARD DID TO MARY!" And brought a knife from his bad tried to stab Rena with it.

  Rena sidestepped it and instead uhed her sword, in one smooth motioerialized a sword from thin air, and with one down-guard attack she cut his hands "Too weak." And stated that as she looked down at [The Avenger].

  He was on the floor screaming, Agatha seemed to want to move forward, but was stopped by the crazed old man, "This is enough to t as the ending of the fight. Will you tinue?" He spoke in an even voice.

  His voice was a anding ohat silehe whole pce, Rena turo look at him, then back to Akira (Even if Elizabeth could swear that her eyes seemed to stop for a sed on her), who her.

  "I tinue," Rena said, turning to look at [The Avenger] on the floor.

  He who bit his lip and couldn't stop his stumps from bleeding...wait a sed, he was bleeding!

  That shouldn't be possible!

  Shouldn't he be on his [Shift]?!?!

  "...I tioo..." Said [The Avenger] who turned his gaze towards Rena once more, "I will win...for Mary..."

  And so, the fight resumed once more.