The Reselection V - Unsuspected Contestant: Part 1

"J... J-Just what is going on?" Someone in the crowd stuttered with a shiver at the ominous weather, along with the chilly breeze that swept through the stadium.

"Not quite sure, however, whatever it is, hopefully it'll end soon," Someone else replied with unease as they began to feel powerless, as if someone had their life in the palm of their hands.

"I would shut up, if I were you, and just pay attention to the match at hand, as it seems we might get to see the true power of Rin Kurama." A woman giggled as death was always a fascinating thing to experience, especially when you were but inches away from its commencement.

"Relax, Francesca, before you blow our cover," A cloaked figure beside the woman whispered with a growl.

"Tsk, why don't you tell that to the bitch over there, who's acting like a whore in heat and grinning like a fool on Christmas." She replied, side-eying the demi-human beside them with disgust and frustration at her antics.

"Aww! Thank you, and here, I thought you were but another object with a nice body," The demi-human smiled as she licked her lips while winking at Francesca, before gazing at her contractor.

"Sparrow, please tell me this is the last mission we're going to have with her. Because if not, I might just break the pact and kill her myself before she lands us in prison," Francesca said as she glared at Melanie.

"Can you both please shut up and just focus on~" Sparrow tried to say before Melanie rudely interrupted him.

"Now, now, while I won't lie and say that I'm not turned on by that statement, Francesca. Sadly, this is where we must part ways… so, toddles and do tell my mother 'Hi' for me."

She screamed as she took off her cloak and dashed toward Rin and Isaac's cage.

***

"Sigh, and it seems another potential ally bites the dust," A fella in an all-red suit muttered with disappointment as he watched Melanie.

"Don't be sad, Pops, I'm sure there are plenty of other folks on this planet who will be of great help to our cause." A kid with a beard and a funny accent said with a smile as he tried to cheer his father up.

"Maybe, you're right, Junior... however, sadly, the people we're looking for aren't as common as they used to be back in the day when integrity and morals meant something to people." The man sighed once again as he glanced at the arena one last time before standing up and leaving with his son.

"While true, I think things will work out in our favor, Pops," Junior said with confidence as they returned to their cabin in the woods of Forbidden Blood.

'... hopefully, they do or else all will be lost once again.' Pops thought with dread and sorrow for what was to come if things didn't change.

***

Meanwhile, within one of the cages of the arena, Isaac and Rin could be seen having a standoff as they tried to overpower each other by sheer aura alone. However, things didn't go as planned as they were both surprisingly canceled, each other out.

Crack! Boom! Shatter! Pop!

"So, after lollygagging for the entire fight, you finally realized that I was a worthy opponent to take seriously?" Isaac scoffed as he glanced at Rin, who was engulfed in a reddish-black energy that caused everything around him to go haywire.

Creating a void of darkness around him that steadily destroyed the very concepts, elements, and laws that governed the world around him.

"..." Rin said as he just glanced at Isaac and shook his head, 'Maybe I should retire after this and head off to the country to find a wife and live happily ever after with three kids. But then, who am I kidding when there is still, so much I have yet to experience and see.'

"So now you're just mute, because earlier you had so many questions for me," Isaac asked with a smile that quickly turned into a weird and disturbing laugh as his left eye began to glow with a mesmerizing pinkish light.

That twisted and altered the fabric of reality within the cage, as the truth became a lie while reality became a fantasy, and vice versa, through the combination of the laws of Illusion and Creation.

"... let's just fight and get this over with. For this match is already taking longer than it was supposed to," Rin sighed as he summoned Scarlet and gently tapped it on the ground while muttering, "Domian Expansion," followed by "Catastrophe of Endless Flames."

Causing the entire cage to be shrouded in darkness for a moment, just as a crafty fox managed to sneak in under the scrutiny of the judges as light returned to the cage. That now had an extra barrier surrounding it, which suppressed and weakened all contestants except Rin.

Coincidentally, as that occurred, the ground beneath them began to heat up at an alarming rate as pillars of fire arose and struck Isaac and Melanie. Without pause, as they tried their utmost not to be lit on fire.

"Hey, didn't your parents ever tell you not to hit a woman? Especially, one as beautiful and sexy as me!" Melanie shouted as she jumped around the cage like a bunny while trying to get closer to Rin.

"Same here, however... my complaint is based on you playing foul and not giving me time to prepare," Isaac said unconvincingly with embarrassment as he just stood in place while the flames around him turned into butterflies and flew away.

"Oh, please, as if I'd do something like that," Rin sniffled as fake tears poured down his face as he sidestepped Melanie's attack and punched her in the stomach.

"Fuck! You really don't hold back your punches, kid, do you?" Melanie growled as she coughed up blood while clutching her stomach.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't take kindly to people trying to kill me," Rin replied as he gazed at the demi-human, who snuck her way into his and Isaac's fights.

"Also, how did you manage to bypass the barrier around the arena and this cage? Additionally, do I know you from somewhere?" Rin questioned as he halted his attacks and focused on Melanie, while keeping a close eye on Isaac.

In case he did anything fun during the interrogation of the unexpected contestant...