The Last Moments Before the Finale

"Um, you three do know there are still two minutes left before the start of round two?" The announcer asked with obvious surprise as if he did not expect them to return to the arena after being given a momentary break.

"Yes, and what's wrong with arriving a bit early to the party?" Wendell asked the announcer as she kept a constant on Rin and Jake, who seemed to have gotten closer in these last ten minutes.

While she took this opportunity to have a brief talk with Cory after Franz caved in and allowed her five minutes to talk with Cory.

***

A couple of minutes earlier, outside the North Fire gate…

"So, is she your girlfriend or something?" Franz asked as it seemed weird for such a powerful female to be so attached to a guy if they were not at least…

"Sorry, to disappoint you but she's honestly just someone I meet and later… grew to like being around," Cory whispered with a smile that vanished soon afterward as he knew he was not meant for her. 

Considering his past affiliations with her sister, Nyx, and the lives of her siblings he took in the name of eradicating evil. That still plagued him at night as he remembered the satisfaction, he felt…

'Sigh, stop it Cory… there is no point in harboring hatred and disgust for your past actions as what happened back then was not you but an amalgamation of darkness. That had a twisted perception of what was right and wrong, who believed killing in the name of riding evil would redeem his soul and allow him to go to Paradise.'

"Hmm, and are you sure she feels the same way?"

"… I honestly, don't know and I hope she doesn't as she deserves better than me," Cory replied softly.

"While that may be true, Cory… I think she would be a good companion for you as darkness cannot survive without light, but then again what do I know." Franz chuckled as he could not believe he would be talking to a man who destroyed a planet just to satisfy his master about trying to shoot his shot at someone he thought was out of his league.

"For a teen, you are quite philosophical," Cory uttered before asking a question that had been on his mind for a while, "So what's going to happen to me once I arrive at the church?"

"That is hard to say, Cory but you will be sealed in prison for 12 months during which you will repent for your sins before the Pope meets with you every day for a week. Now after that, I am genuinely unsure, but it would be either death, conversion, or freedom, depending on what our Lord and Savior deems fit for you, Cory."

"Damn… welp, let's just hope after everything your God can have mercy on me, Franz."

"I hope so too, Cory but since we're on this topic, why did you~" Franz was about to say before he was interrupted by Wendell who could be seen rushing towards them as her shoes made tip-tap sounds on the ground.

"Wait! Wait! Wait! Franz, I know you do not like me, but could you please spare me a few minutes to talk with Cory so that I could get something off my chest?!" Wendell asked after managing to catch up with Cory and Franz just as a group of bishops and an archbishop appeared from a golden carriage.

"Sorry, but you had your opportunity, Wendell, now say your final goodbyes and return to the competition," Franz said coldly as he was not about to let some brat ruin his opportunity to gain merit. 

"Franz, please just give me a few minutes to talk with Cory and I promise, I won't bother you any longer!" Wendell begged as tears burst from her eyes before she collapsed to the ground.

"Franz, who is this?" The archbishop asked curiously as his eyes brightened up with joy and a hint of lust, 'Hmm, a fallen Goddess who has yet to lose her virginity, what a treat my Great Lord has brought to me!'

"Sigh, she's a contestant of the Shinobi Clan's Annual Marriage Competition named Wendell, Archbishop who shares a relationship with the captive," Franz said as he gazed at Archbishop Matthew and frowned as he could sense his sight seemed to be filled with carnal desires and not the glory of God as it once did.

"Hmm, well then since we have time and the captive is already bound by the chains of heaven, why not grant her wish and allow her some time with her friend, Franz?" Archbishop Matthew said with a smile.

"Tsk, as per the orders of Archbishop Matthew, Wendall you have at the maximum five minutes to converse with the captive, so please use your time wisely," Franz said as he brought Cory to Wendell's side and left, giving the two love birds space to talk and expression themselves. 

***

"Sigh, kids nowadays… well, then since you all are so eager let's get this party on the road!" The announcer said as he took out three sticks and let Rin, Jake, and Wendell each pick one, "Now, could the contestants with numbers 1 and 2 on their stick come to the center of the arena!"

'Hmm, my stick has no number, so does that mean I get to sit this battle out and fight whoever wins between Jack and Wendell?' Rin wondered as he saw Jack and Wendell make their way to the center of the arena. 

'Lucky bastard, just which idiot chose the idea to pull sticks to decide who battles first!' The audience thought collectively considering it would make more sense for Rin and Jake to conclude their fight first.

Before one of them fought Wendell and earned the opportunity to spar with Gabriella afterward. But as they say, 'beggars cannot be choosers,' so who knows Rin might still lose in the end. So that everyone could earn some easy cash and go home happily.

"Well, then good luck and may the stars be in your favor!" The announcer said as both he and Rin left the arena and sat in the stands as Wendell and Jake began their fight without suspense soon afterward.