Group-A Preliminaries [Part I]

['Let Riel's first mixed melee tournament... Begin!']

And there was a loud beep. Everyone on the coliseum floor started to move and they would either be running, assessing their opponent or attacking. When you look at the coliseum arena from the screen, it looks like it's small but it's the exact opposite.

Any arena that's big enough to fit five-hundred participants isn't small. I wonder how big it actually is. The screen switched several times to show different angles. Makes me think that they have cameras in this time and era.

['Now, as they fight, let's see who's doing well and who're the big names in the arena!']

'I finally found the best daggers.'

A familiar girl's voice said. I looked over and Arcana walks over to me. She turns her daggers around in her hands, just like an idle character would do in an FPS game. One dagger was large and uneven while the other looked similar to a santoku knife, but a smaller version.

'What's with the unusual daggers? The match started, you know. You took too long.'

Arcana sat next to me and put her daggers into gun-like holsters on her waist. (They looked like gun holsters, but they were shaped perfectly for the daggers.)

['It's William the Executioner! He's made a name for himself by executing those who are wanted, rogues! He dislodges his opponent's limbs and breaks their spines!']

It showed an old guy with orange hair and purples eyes. There were lots of common thugs coming after him. The old guy ran around. They all attacked at once but were all countered by his flexible punches. He didn't try to kill them, meaning that killing is allowed. Not that I have the guts for that.

Made me think of something strange.

'You heard of him?'

I turned to Arcana.

'No. Doesn't look like the type of guy who'd be famous.'

Ah, it's the looks for you. Okay, okay, I get it. I was just asking because she's been in this world all of her life, but it seems like she hasn't heard of him either.

Suddenly, her face twisted into a face of seriousness. The change was too sudden for me to handle. I looked over to the screen, and I saw who she was looking at. Many of the male participants in the room started scowling and throwing insults at the screen.

['Kya~! Aaron-sama!']

['Seems like the girls have started to act up!']

The screen changed. It showed a pile of bodies and an adolescent boy sitting on top of them. His hair and eyebrows were blonde while his eyes were crystal blue. He wore a similar red military uniform to that woman from earlier. He looked like a real handsome guy.

'That's a guy who practically anyone in martial arts would know.'

'What? Is he dangerous because he's a looker?'

'Just watch.'

['Ah, people are approaching him. What will the young prodigy, Aaron Marshal do?']

An arrow was shot at Aaron Marshal–he twisted his head and it went past. I'm guessing that was Sirius, but who knows? Aaron Marshal got up and stood at the apex of the pile of bodies. He started to stretch his legs and arms. The smile on his face was peerless. Aaron Marshal charged towards separate people and either kicked or punched them in the gut. His speed was remarkable. He was flawlessly taking out people one by one.

['That's Aaron Marshal for you! The disciple of the Lilac Beauty, the Purple King, Kardiac! He's using powerful techniques to subdue his opponents! They're dropping like ragdolls!']

Aaron Marshal stopped his assault. He guarded the right side of himself, but nothing seemed to come. Around five seconds later, a figure appeared to be punching him. Pink hair, emerald eyes and a smug-looking face. Sakurako. Of course, she would go to him. Any opponent she finds strong she'd beat them. But if he was trained by the Purple King, then can she beat him?

['What's this?! Seems like we have a newcomer! And she's battling Aaron Marshal head on! Who is this?!']

You could hear the ruffling of paper behind the mic as Sakurako and Aaron Marshal traded small blows. The booings of the girls could be heard too.

['Ah, here we go. Participant #1171, Sakurako Nox! She's a Dragonic and is seventeen!']

But did she really use my surname? I guess that's fine, but it makes her look like a noble. Or so Arcana said.

['Woah, look over there! There's an amazing blue-haired archer!']

The camera turned to Sirius. He was completely concentrated as he took down his targets from afar.

['Let's see who he is... This is Participant #1173, Sirius Nox! He's a normal human and he is also seventeen!']

Gah! He used my surname too. Wait, don't tell me that she also...

I turned to Arcana but she instantly turned away. I could see the sweat dripping from the side of her face.

'You also used my surname, didn't you?'

'M-maybe...'

I grabbed her cheeks and started pinching them as hard as possible, but she just felt pleasure. Forgot for a minute that she was a masochist. I ripped my hands from her cheeks and glared at her. That got a reaction out of her.

Now, let's see the rest of the Group-A Preliminary match.