"Huh," I mumbled.

Sereza deflated. "How is he more popular than me? Or Zog, or you?"

"Hmmm. People do love the underdog," Igas mused. "Easy to cheer for the little guy who isn't dominating his fights."

"That's… Fair. Fine, that's easier to stomach."

I chuckled along with the others and shook my head. The damn portrait proudly displayed a single headshot, one featuring a smiling shiny-boy.

"Igas is right. Zog and Cyrus are too interesting for them to believe he needs the skip. While your fighting hasn't been as flashy, you've shown yourself to be competent enough. Unlike Vincent. His fights have always been down to the wire. It makes for a good show, and for someone who people can insert themselves into narratively," Teddy explained.

"You're forgetting the bland guy who is definitely not who he is supposed to be," I pointed out.

Teddy nodded. "I suspect they orchestrated his portrait and introduction the way they did on purpose. Most likely because they expect you to fight him."

Below near one of the stands, there was a commotion. Suddenly, Vincent was thrusted into the air atop a wave of fans. Even wearing his plate armor, the excited crowd propped him up and cheered as they chanted his name.

I tapped Sereza's shoulder with my tail. "That means you get to fight the battle-obsessed maniac. Think you can handle it?"

She tapped me back. "He's a scary beast, I'll admit it. Brutal, fast, efficient. Probably one of the best fighters I've seen. That says a lot considering who's around us."

"In terms of skill, I believe that Zogrul is naturally more martially talented. We are trained, but he has good instincts and spatial awareness. Maybe skill related, but I don't think so," Celenae argued.

Sereza shrugged. "I've seen your spars, that's talented."

"We are an amazing team with absolute trust for each other. It makes us great adventurers. Raw skill, not the system kind? I would believe Zog is more deadly. Except perhaps, against Eodyne. But one does not compare a pugilist with an archer," Teddy said.

Sereza smiled but shook her head. "My point is, he's better than me. Faster, stronger, more talented." She twirled her dagger and balanced it on her finger as she smiled. "But all those muscles won't save him if I can poison him. I've made bigger creatures than him drop, twitching on the floor. I only need to up the dosage."

Igas cheered and I raised my glass. Sereza joined in, outwardly relaxed but I caught the worry in her eyes. They weren't scared, but she wasn't nearly as stress-free as she acted.

Zog and Sereza…

I had to admit, as much as I disliked Zog, she wasn't wrong. His fighting was wild, but he won every fight and shook the nobles scared nearly as much as me.

Memory of the idiot impaled on a tree, flung by Zog came to mind.

I shook my head. "Only need a scratch right? He could use some humbling."

"I'll throw in a couple of extra just for you," she chuckled. Sereza stood up and flashed her bracelet. It had pulsed, changing color. She stopped at the booth's door and looked back. "Just in case. Mind patching me up when I'm done?"

Implying you're expecting to be beat up.

"Of course," I said.

She raised a fist and left the booth. The other's smiles faded.

"She'll be in for a tough fight, but she has a chance to win," Eodyne said.

"Indeed. So we'll cheer her on, and prepare for her victory," Teddy said.

In the arena below, Zog was already standing on his side of the arena. He tested the platform with his foot, giving it a few curious stomps before grunting in satisfaction. The banner above him had stuck around, changing to show his face in red on one half while the other showed green for Sereza.

Above him, the announcer hung in the air using whatever means he had to keep him levitated. He wore a scowl on his face and stared at the opposite tunnel from which Sereza was exiting. When she reached the stage and took her place, his voice boomed across the arena.

"These two need no introductions. You know who they are, and have seen what they bring to the fight today. Poison versus fire, blade versus fist. Let the better fighter declare to the world who deserves to win. Fighters, are you ready?"

Zog nodded, and the announcer turned to Sereza.

"Ready," she said.

The announcer raised his hand like he was declaring a race. Mana flashed around his finger and shot down into the island. All around the black marble stage, glowing golden lines raised upward and a barrier appeared, stretching upward into a dome.

At its completion he chopped downward. "Begin!"

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Sereza brandished her blades and started circling. Zog remained unmoving, tracking her movements with a smile.

"You are not what I seek, but I respect your tenacity."

Sereza sent mana into her blades and they glowed a pale green. "Don't underestimate me."

He shook his head. "I do not. Those around him have to be strong lest they get swallowed beneath his chaos."

My chest tightened.

Come on, Sereza. Don't let him goad you.

Sereza didn't say anything more. In a flash, a salvo of spectral blades zipped through the air. Zog jumped to the side, and leaned back, dodging the initial volley. She hung back, releasing more of the attacks and stuck to the edge of the platform.

Zog dodged most, showing incredible control of his muscles as he contorted around the attacks. He hadn't stayed in place, with each dodge he moved closer. Finally, Sereza threw three blades. They separated, one aiming at his head while the second sliced toward his hip.

He dodged left, avoiding the dagger near his waist, and ducked, allowing the second to pass harmlessly above him.

The third dagger had curved, gaining more time in the air and delaying the hit. As Zog ducked, the third dagger rose, aimed at his throat.

A rush of flames surrounded Zog's arm, and he punched.

The spectral blade shattered and the remnants burned inside Zog's fire.

Damnit. She'll have to-

Despite expecting Sereza to jump back and maintain distance, she instead dashed forward. Zog lowered his arm, his smirk thrown off by the surprise in his eyes. Sereza sent another trio forward.

Zog followed her movements. Flames surrounded his feet and he swiped a kick at her legs.

Sereza activated her movement skill, her body briefly flickering into a cloud of vapor that quickly reformed as his leg dispersed through the cloud. She landed with a roll and jerked upward with her blades.

Zog punched the spectral daggers and jumped, using his hand as a spring. Sereza was forced to lean back, avoiding the flaming foot that scraped her nose.

When Zog completed his flip, mana rushed into his legs and he shot forward. His arms blurred as the bright flames gathered up to his elbow. He formed a palm, and deflected Sereza's dagger. His fingers reached for her shoulder but she activated her movement skill once more.

She slipped between his grasp, and reformed an inch to the right.

Damn.

She hadn't come away unscathed. Where Zog's fingers had burned through the green smoke, the leather on her arm was blackened. A small hole had formed, revealing red skin underneath.

From there, the two continued the exchange, playing cat and mouse. Sereza kept up her barrage of blades, while building mana at the tip of her tail. Zog would respond accordingly, either crushing the antagonistic mana with his skill-infused limbs or simply dodging out of the way.

Each step brought him closer, forcing Sereza to retreat around the outskirts of the platform. She couldn't leave. When her back had touched the barrier after avoiding another sweeping kick from an odd angle, it had solidified against her jacket, preventing her from moving beyond it.

Eventually they separated, Zog having to activate his movement skill to leap into the air. He activated it a second time and crashed into the platform, crushing another blade aimed at his leg.

"You have good reflexes. Not every opponent so far has been able to avoid my attacks for as long as you have," he said.

"And you're a flighty bastard for someone so large," she responded.

He laughed and changed his stance. He lowered his shoulders and twisted an arm to his side, forming a fist as flames overtook his flesh.

"You've been holding back."

She scowled. "As have you."

"True. But I am keeping them reserved for my match with him."

Sereza's scowl deepened but she didn't respond. Her tail flicked near her shoulder, the ball of mana hovering behind it's tip causing her back to tighten. She raised her daggers and adjusted her grip, quickly dipping them into one of the vials slotted in her bandolier.

The spectral mana around her blades shifted color, turning a darker shade of green with a tint of purple at the edges.

"This will be the last exchange," Teddy said.

I frowned. 'What do you mean?"

"She hasn't used her acid skill once. My senses are not as good as yours but I can see the tension in her tail. She's building it for a final burst. When she does, it'll either be enough or Zogrul will take her out."

I turned back to the screen and clicked my fangs. The ache in my chest had subsided but it kept a steady rhythm, exacerbated by the constant near hits against the felkin.

Teddy's right. Zog is doing the same thing, he's building mana in his hand. Either he gets hit and she can score a finishing blow or he does.

Teddy patted my shoulder. "Even if she loses, there's the loser's regret. She can still place in the tournament."

I breathed in and out. I nodded to Teddy and smirked.

"Right."

He patted me again and returned to stroking Arturous' fur.

In the arena, the crowd had resorted to all sorts of colorful insults directed at both Zog and Sereza. Although, judging from the majority of angry comments, it seemed that Sereza was viewed more favorably than the brute.

That's right. Whatever happens, she still has a chance. Not that it matters, none of this does. She'll be able to attend the auction anyway even if she loses.

The ache settled and I shook my head. I was being a poor friend, doubting her so easily.

On the platform, Sereza shifted her lead foot forward and her mana split. I leaned closer and stretched my senses.

Sereza launched forward. The first pair of spectral blades shattered against Zog's kick. His feet exploded in flames and he kicked off the platform and into the air. A quick jab shot flames from his knuckles, adding to his momentum.

In an instant, Sereza was there. She shot her skill forward and sliced upward. Zog maneuvered to her side, slamming his sole by her foot. She pulled back, but he cracked his knee into her stomach.

She folded, but grabbed ahold of his thigh, and pulled herself closer. He slammed a palm into the side of her leg, forcing her to a kneel.

"It's over," Zog declared.

His arm pulled back, but Sereza's tail curved behind his back. Without looking, he turned his raised fist into an open palm and snatched her stinger before it breached his skin. Mana surged, the flames roaring to life.

Then she unleashed the charge in her tail.

A bowling-ball sized glob of acrid yellow squeezed from the chitinous tip. Only for the flames around Zog's hand to harden. He backhanded the blob. The force of the hit ruptured the orb, splattering it in a wave to the side. It spilled onto the black marble, oozing at their feet but leaving the majority of the sizzling liquid separated from the two combatants.

Sereza slumped in Zog's grip. He neither smiled nor gloated. He raised her up and nodded once.

"Respectable. Tenacious. You put up a good fight, for that you have my respect."

I leaned closer, staring at the mana pooling in her chest. After releasing the final salvo, it had pulled back from her arms. Instead of empowering her blade, her mana pooled in the upper part of her chest, moving upward further.

Zog regarded her. "I see. I hope you do not carry this grudge moving forward. I will dispatch you now."

He raised his fist. The flames at the center of his hand shined blindingly bright. He pulled it back, raising Sereza above him.

She coughed, and green trailed down the sides of her lips. "Thanks for being cocky."

The mana in her throat surged and she exhaled. A plume of purple gas rushed outward, surrounding them both. The dome quickly filled, covering the inside as the dark purple cloud obfuscated everything inside the barrier.

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