Team Asia vs Team Oceania

The entire coliseum was silent. Team Europe, the team that defeated their previous enemy with the shortest time was beaten in under a minute.

"Team Oceania…" Devin trailed off in horror as he watched the European pair laid unconscious on the ground. "They're monsters."

"I just got their information," Rodney said. "Those two have the same level as B-rank Exorcists. Nelson Mendel and George Sullivan. This is bad."

"They're B-ranked?" Devin asked in horror. Among their team, Morris was an A-rank level Exorcist, but after his incident, he was demoted to B-rank. Meanwhile, Sofia was only C-rank. Meaning their team was a disadvantage.

"I'll compensate for the strength gap," Morris said. "Just focus on weakening them."

Sofia looked worried but nodded. She was thinking that she might be a burden to Morris.

'I just need to get stronger.' She thought.

"And now, let us witness the second match of the preliminary round, Block B versus Block C!"

Morris and Sofia entered the ring. Nelson and George were already there, looking at the two with a stoic expression.

'The match will start in...'

'3…'

'2…'

'1…'

'Start!'

"Bring Out!"

Nelson's Reverence was a trident while George wielded a broadsword. This was a disadvantage for Sofia who fights in close-combat.

"Don't use your Ark yet," Morris reminded. "Your defense thins when you use it, making it easy for them to pierce through you."

"Okay," Sofia nodded and crept to their opponents.

Morris made sure to take all the force in since he was both strength and defense type. One blow and Sofia could be knocked out from these two.

George stretched his neck and muttered something under his breath. He nodded and Nelson assumed a stance.

"Ark!" Nelson yelled. "Oceanian Surge!"

'Ark? So early?' Morris thought and backed away.

Nelson twirled his trident above him before hacking it in front of him, making wave-like forces.

"Ark!" Morris yelled.

"Ark!" George also yelled from behind him. "Stab of the–"

"Ark! Fast Slicer Third Form!" Sofia came out of nowhere. She dashed and pushed Morris away along with her. The force from Nelson's attack hit George, making him blast away.

Sofia used the excess force from her move and transferred it to her feet, leaping and shooting herself towards the shocked Nelson.

Her short claw-like sword barely slashed Nelson's arm.

'My target is off.' She disappointingly thought.

She used her ability to put fear in Nelson. He trembled in fear just as she planned. Smirking, Sofia crept up to him to knock him out.

But the smirk was washed away from her lips when the crowd erupted in cheers.

Sofia awoke and saw Morris on his knees. She was laying on the ground and her whole body hurts.

'What happened?'

Nelson twirled his trident and hit Morris with the pole, making him fall down.

Sofia forced herself to stand up. 'What is happening? We were winning. Why?'

She replayed her memories and remember what George did just when the match started.

"He used a Sanctity," she muttered.

"That's right."

Her eyes widened after seeing two figures in front of her. "But it's too late."

A sword hit her on the side, shooting her away and clashing her body on the ground. Sofia coughed in pain, still in shock.

'We were winning.'

"Oh, stop weeping," Nelson said. The two were already in front of her. "Although you did well. Even surpassing the time the Europeans took for us to knock you out. Tough brat."

Nelson swerved the end of the pole of his trident and threw Sofia towards Morris who was already unconscious.

"The world needs stronger Exorcists, Sofia," George said. "It's just unlucky that you're not one of those."

No words could enter Sofia's ears. Her thoughts were wavering, still couldn't comprehend what happened.

'I'm not done yet.' She thought and forced herself to get up. Sofia held her karambit and analyzed the situation.

She was a stealth-type and both her enemies are power types. Her close-combat moves wouldn't work on their defense unless she breaks it forcefully with another power type.

'No.' Sofia thought and smirked.

"Why are you smirking?" George asked. "You're about to lose."

"You know, I was always wondering how to break your defense," Sofia said.

The two laughed, "Your soft moves couldn't break our defense."

"That's right, it can't." Sofia nodded. "But I know what will."

With all her might, Sofia burst out a strong aura of fear into the air. The two boys in front of her trembled. They were getting cocky since they were winning, forgetting that she still had an ace up her sleeve.

George stuttered, unable to use his Sanctity in the presence of the terrifying aura that's running through his entire body.

"Now!"

Morris appeared behind the two. Nelson looked at the floor where the blonde boy was laying down but he wasn't there anymore.

"I-Im… poss-ssible," he stuttered.

"Desolate Strike!"

With one swift motion, Morris hit the two at the same time. Their bodies crashed to the wall where the two previous craters were.

The crowd hollered so loud, it was shaking the coliseum. Their match was finished, Team Asia won.

"Y-You can stop now," Morris said.

"Oh, sorry," Sofia said and stopped using her Sanctity. The energy it took from her was enough to almost fell to the ground. If it wasn't for Morris catching her, she would've been knocked to the floor.

"Sorry," Morris instantly said and let his friend sit.

"We won!" she cheered and chuckled. This made Morris stare at her for a few seconds before looking away with a pink tint on his cheeks.

"Yeah, it was all thanks to you," Morris said and cleared his throat.

"No, it was thanks to our teamwork," Sofia corrected.

Morris shook his head and nodded. "Yeah. I guess so."

–

"Cheers!" the whole Squad Lewis yelled and drank their chocolate drink.

They were all underaged and Sofia wasn't allowed to drink so they settled on delicious cold chocolate drinks.

"How did Morris woke up though?" Yuri asked.

"He's a light sleeper," Sofia said. "I figured that if I put enough aura around me, it would wake him up."

There was a pause between them, the others knowingly looked at each other.

"How did you even know he was a light sleeper?" Margaux teased, wiggling her eyebrows.

Sofia's eyes widened for a moment. "B-Because at the hotel. W-When Rodney would yell in the morning, he would be the first to wake up."

The others nodded, completely unconvinced.

"Anyway, tomorrow's match will be Kagura's," Devin said. "What would be your plan?"

Kagura sighed, "I honestly don't know. It sucks that the match-type is insensitive. They knew what happened just a few weeks ago and they still pursued it."

"Tell me about it," everyone else chorused that made them snort and laugh.

Devin looked at the window. Just a couple of months ago, he wouldn't have thought that his life would take a turn like this. Laughing, telling stories, keeping secrets, and making friends.

The time when he was bullied by boys, got jealous over on by girls and was rejected by the world seemed to be a thing from a long, long time ago.

"… Leader? Squad Leader?"

Devin was snapped out of his thoughts when Rodney was calling him. "Oh, I'm sorry. What?"

"Let's sleep," Rain said holding out his hand. Devin took it and pulled himself from the floor.

"Good night guys," Devin said and walked to their room.

Meanwhile, Kagura was left alone in the living room. She felt someone walk over to her and flashed behind them, pointing her unsheathed sword on their neck.

"I'm sorry," Rodney squeaked.

"You shouldn't scare me like that," Kagura scolded, returning her sword in its scabbard.

"I was just worried. That's all," Rodney smiled. "Are you going to be okay?"

Kagura nodded, "I'm just glad it's me and not those who have been scarred deeper. Like Morris."

"Yeah," Rodney said and ruffled the girl's hair. "You can do it. I believe in you. We believe in you."

"Thanks," was all Kagura said and looked at her phone to read the match information again.

< Round 3 >

Points: 15

Game: Battle Royale

–

"Did you get it?" Andrea asked from her cameraman, Roy. They were inside the latter's apartment where Andrea decided to crash into.

"Y-Yeah, but are you sure we're doing this?" he asked.

Andrea rolled her eyes. "Of course, duh. Tomorrow, do what you just did today and you'll be fine. I've been waiting for something like this to add to my story and they gave it to me. What a bunch of blokes."

"Are you sure?"

Andrea scoffed. "Of course! I'll handle everything. If this takes a turn for the worst, I'll take full responsibility for my actions. And if we succeed, I'll drag you up with me."

"Thank you," Roy whispered. "Why do you even hate Exorcists that much."

"It's a long story," Andrea said. "Something dramatic that you'll think it's from a soap opera on the telly."

'File transfer complete.'

A smirk crept up to her lips. 'Just watch Exorcists. I will destroy all of you.'