Voltiana

As Atomu got up from the rubble, the last match of the second round was complete. Akari walked over and gave him an overly strong hug. "Well, nice job! I almost got a little bit nervous there!"

"Hmph."

He felt as if she was bluffing. He walked back to his seat as Akari did the same. The other girls (save for Nishi and Tsugumi) crowded her in a bear hug. "Wow, you did it!"

"That seemed so intense!"

"Ow, okay. My ribs."

Tetsuya, meanwhile, gave Atomu a high five. "Well, you gave it your all! I'm impressed!" Arata almost choked on his popcorn. "A pity victory! Ha! Where's my money."

The crowd gave more gossip on the fight.

"The prince has something awfully wrong with him...is he okay?"

"I don't know, but that was one good fight. Akari is on another level!"

"Yeah, hats off to both, but it's clear who's the alpha here."

Jukai walked to the center again. "Now with the second round complete, we begin the SEMIFINALS! Take a look at the last two matches, viewers and spectators, because it's gonna be GOOD!"

The holographic bracket appeared once more, this time with the matches being:

- Tsugumi vs. Arata

- Hikari vs. Akari

Arata stood up and chomped on more popcorn. "Oh, she's EASY work." He threw it to the ground and laughed.

Tsugumi just growled. Jukai put the mic to his lips. "After a short break, we're bringing you the FIRST semi-final match: TSUGUMI vs. ARATA!"

The crowd cheered. "TWO heavy hitters going at it! Yes!"

Meanwhile, the judges were taking notes. Nakada walked over to Fujii, making her voice lower than a whisper. "Those two siblings are powerful, but Atomu seems to have some unnatural qualities to his magic."

She pointed at his face, which still had traces of glass running down it. Fujii analyzed him for a bit. "Well, it's a mystery for another day. He's pretty strong, and so is his sister. Maybe this year...will be the year..."

Himeka interrupted. "Wait, is General Morino still not back? He's missing all the action!"

Nakada nodded. "Yeah, shouldn't someone go get him...? He left a while ago..."

Fujii grabbed his chin. "Soon. I'm sure someway, somehow, he's watching."

As Fujii looked between the next two slated to fight, he smiled and stated: "But get ready for this NEXT match, it'll be one hell of a BATTLE!"

After the break, Jukai went back to center stage. "Now then, let's kick off our SEMIFINALS! We've got TSUGUMI vs. ARATA!"

Loud cheers erupted once more. Hikari gave Tsugumi a gentle shake. "Go, girl! Go get ''em'!" She didn't respond, she just groaned and got up. Akari tapped Hikari.

"So, seems you're my next opponent?"

"Oh? Uh, yeah, seems that way."

"Hope you're ready!"

Hikari fiddled with her hair with a slightly nervous smile, but she gave a thumbs up. Tsugumi took her side in the arena, and Arata, who was walking with a swag of overconfidence, took his. Jukai prepared to say the words.

"Ready? FIGHT!"

Neither used any weapons. Arata simply flexed his muscles. "Go on then, birdie! Chirp!"

Tsugumi, with a look of aggravation, prepared to touch her arms, but she had a thought.

"My last match..."

Instead, she picked up a shield and touched it, throwing it at Arata. Arata attempted to block the blow, but the shield was heading toward him with the speed and power of a bullet, and as he blocked it, the force knocked him back.

"Oh, so you're using tricks this time?"

He smiled and with a flow of white power surging in his left leg, he stomped the ground, causing a shockwave that made the ring shake. Tsugumi quickly touched her legs and stomped into the ground, anchoring herself.

"Hmm, not bad!"

When the shaking ended, she pulled her legs out, as both competitors waited to see who would make the next move. In the stands Kai tapped Tetsuya.

"Is she favored to win this?"

"Well, to be honest, for the first time...I don't know."

Atomu, who had his shirt off, weakly pointed at Tsugumi. "Look at her, she's different from her fight with Kai. That fight against the human must have done something."

Tsugumi kept her distance, as Arata slowed and walked to her. "Come on! Hit me, you spoiled brat of a child!"

She had a look of icy rage on her face, but she kept calm. Tetsuya noticed something too. "Yeah, she's refusing to attack directly. Is she scared?"

Kai tilted his head. "Huh, I guess when a human almost pulls an upset on you, you learn a few things. Wish she couldda did this to me, though."

Arata rushed headfirst at her, like a bull. Tsugumi used her legs to do a flip over his back, kicking him and nearly sending him out of the ring. At the last second, he stopped his movement, turning his head at her.

"Well now. You can't win THAT way!"

In quick succession, he powered both of his arms. Punching the air, multiple powerful shockwave blasts headed for Tsugumi, who elegantly dodged them all. But right after, Arata appeared in front of her, preparing to punch her.

"Damn it!"

She touched her arms, blocking the punch. It took her some visible effort to repel it. Once she managed to push him back, she began breathing heavily. Arata lifted an eyebrow.

"Don't tell me that's it?"

Hikari covered her mouth. "She's being so passive...did something happen to her?"

Akari thought for a moment. "Maybe HE's the reason?" She pointed at Tomoko, who was jumping in his chair. "Yes! Fight! Fight!"

Kazue, in the middle of eating a slab of steak, said: "Well, she needs to figure something out! This is ARATA we're talking about..."

Arata powered up another fist.

"...he'll beat her if this continues!"

As he swung his fist, Tsugumi quickly swung her own, but with the force of the impact she was blown back, while Arata only stumbled a few feet.

"Nice hit! But not nice enough!"

While he recovered, Tsugumi did a backflip to land on her feet. She looked around the ring, as Arata rushed back at her. "Now LOSE!"

She managed to get out of the way in time, but in response, Arata charged up his leg and stomped the ground again. "Don't run!"

She managed to flip onto a table, then once the shaking stopped, she began moving EXTREMELY fast, striking Arata with various blows that he became less and less able to react to. As she managed to get him closer to the edge, when she was about to land a final blow, she saw one thing...

...his smile...

The SAME one her LAST opponent gave her.

As she hesitated and drew back her fist, Arata grabbed her leg and SLAMMED her out of the ring. As a giant cloud of dust appeared, Jukai, who was coughing from it, announced:

"Well...our...winner...is ARATA!"

"ARATA! ARATA! ARATA! ARATA!"

"He's a beast!"

"Think he'll win?"

"Maybe! Only one can stop him now!"

He flexed his muscles again, earning a clap from Shinjii. "Easy finals berth, baby!" While he kept showing off, Tsugumi got up, brushing dirt off of her clothes. While Arata confidently strode over to his spot in the stands, Tsugumi slowly got up, silently sitting down.

Hikari gently grabbed her shoulders again. "Oh come on, you had that! Why didn't you hit him?"

Tsugumi just shook her head. Akari patted her on the back. "Oh well, I'll beat him after I cruise through Hikari."

"What?!?"

"Oh, sorry. Just being honest."

Hikari, taking offense, gently punched Akari in the arm. Arata sat down in his chair, with some of the boys crowding him. Kai slapped his shoulder.

"Wow man, first one in the finals!"

Tetsuya shrugged. "So how's it feel?"

Tomoko even began jumping like a maniac again. "Yay! I can't wait to see how this all goes!"

"Why are YOU even still here?"

"Haha!"

Jukai walked back to his spot in the ring. "Now, for our last semifinal match, we've got two SPECIAL ones, Hikari vs. AKARI!"

Himeka began nervously shifting again. "Oh boy, I hope Little Sis doesn't lose this! She's come so far!"

Toru scoffed. "She will. Sorry to say."

"Rude! Give her a chance!"

Fujii looked down at Hikari once again. "Hmm. I hope she surprises me..."

Both girls gave each other an awkward (hug?) before walking to their spots on the stage. Hikari took a deep breath while Akari stretched her arms and legs.

"Ready? FIGHT!"

Akari started off with a simple but HUGE blast of white energy. Hikari jumped out of the way, to come face to face with another blast. Reflexively, she put out her arms and...

"Huh?"

...it disappeared.

Akari, curious, tilted her head to the side. "I didn't know you could store ATTACKS too!"

"Uh, well—-"

Akari put her hands together, forming an even bigger energy blast that Hikari touched and caused to disappear. As the princess stretched once more, all Hikari saw was a blur, as Akari was right in front of her, ready to punch her.

"Ahh!"

Hikari barely managed to react in time, slightly grazing Akari's arm, which started to bleed. "Huh. What'd you do?"

"Uhh...."

She just simply used her other arm to backhand Hikari, sending her flying. The girl managed to recover before she fell out of the ring. She stood up, observing her surroundings. Akari lifted her arm up near her face, and IT BEGAN TO INSTANTLY HEAL.

"That's better."

And with that same arm, she launched a powerful downward slash of energy, nearly shaking the core of the entire stadium. Hikari managed to get out of the way, and when Akari got close, she touched her, bringing her into Hikari's storage realm.

They both fell on opposite sides of the platform. Akari stood up and looked around, while Hikari was planning her next move.

"Oh. So this is where you brought Domen."

"Well, yeah?"

"Cool." She launched another, more powerful blast at Hikari, who used her magic to make it disappear. A (portal?) appeared over Akari's head, sending the energy blast right back down at her.

It hit, causing a massive explosion of white, and when Hikari was able to see through the plums of smoke, Akari was standing there, unharmed. A forcefield had been formed around her. Hikari groaned.

"Ugh, you and this forcefield!"

She dropped it and shot another blast of energy at Hikari, which landed, but Hikari IMMEDIATELY healed from the damage. Akari slowly walked around her.

"Okay. I want to head back now, Kari."

"Huh?"

Akari charged at Hikari, forcing her to put her hands out again. The void around them disappeared, replaced with the familiar sights of Voltiana. The two both fell into the ring, landing again on opposite sides.

Jukai commented: "And they're back!"

Hikari took another deep breath. "Okay, no more tricks."

She ran at Akari, fist glowing pink, and prepared to strike her, as Akari watched on....

...then, in a white flash of light, she was immediately blown out of the ring. Everyone gasped.

Jukai got back on the mic. "With the last match of the semifinals completed, AKARI WINS! It will be our Princess vs. Arata in the finals!"

The crowd cheered in an uproar, as Akari helped Hikari up, who sighed into her chest. "Well, good job, I guess."

"Oh don't worry, you did...pretty good."

Himeka called out to Hikari from the top. "Don't worry Sis! I think you did AMAZING! Great job!"

Hikari waved to her from above, as the girls went back to sit down. Atomu watched his sister carefully. "Hmm. Don't tell me this will be a repeat of last year."

This got Tetsuya's attention. "Well sheesh, I thought my sister was strong, but Akari is literally UNSTOPPABLE! You think Arata can take her down?"

Arata sprawled out, hitting Tetsuya, Obara, and Umeda in the face in the process. "Don't doubt me, chump! I run this event! No little pretty Princess is gonna stop me!"

Atomu pondered all of this. "You say that now..."

In the crowd, people were in a frenzy.

"Wow, can't believe she beat that girl like that! That girl was no joke either!"

"Levels, it's levels. I wonder how Arata will do."

"This final will be better than the last one for sure! And now she can get picked up!"

Kazue bear-hugged both girls when they sat down. "Well, you guys wanna get snacks after this? I got moneyyyy!"

She showed a few pearl coins, pulling them out of her purse.

"Uh, later?"

"Once I beat him."

Akari pointed to Arata, who was still lying down without a care, squishing some of the smaller competitors. Tsugumi looked at her, then at Arata, then she went back to staring into space. Nishiyama stood in front of the girls.

"Well, it should be me, but if you win, make sure you put in a good word for me. Okay?"

"Sure."

Jukai walked to his spot. "Now, let's get ready for the FINALS of our 500th Voltian Tryouts! We're bringing you ARATA vs. AKARI! Stay tuned viewers! This match will be like NO OTHER!"

The crowd roared in anticipation. The noise was so loud it could be heard from far away...

...and far away it was heard.

Back at Morino's house...

Dachii watched the mysterious crown that suddenly appeared before him. It emanated a sense of darkness. Dachii could feel the air getting much heavier.

"This a ghost or something?"

"Come...come...chosen..."

"WHAT! Mom—-!"

But as he was calling for her, he heard the crowd from the Tryouts all the way from his room. He looked at the TV, seeing the two contestants that were ready to fight:

The one that beat his brother, and the one that beat HIM.

He still wasn't able to feel his legs at all, and in the blink of an eye, the crown seemed to move closer to him.

"Accept...chosen..."

Dachii, after a moment's hesitation, reached out to touch the crown.

Down in the kitchen, Kia was preparing soup for Dachii, but she heard a loud noise.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Dachii!"

She immediately dropped the soup bowl, and another noise was heard as she rushed upstairs.

BOOOOOOM!

She instantly swung open the door to Dachii's room, but all she found was...

...a broken window, a ton of black smoke, and an EMPTY BED.

—-