The contestants were brought into the entrance hall once again, however three of them were missing. Sebastian looked around and noted that Broly, Jinx, and Rita were all missing from the group.
"Congratulations contestants, you have all survived the first round of the game." Jonathan called. "As a reward, you get to advance into the next round."
"Hold on!" Ragnarok erupted from Crona's back, pointing to Alexander. "We beat this kid, why is he still here?"
"Because you did not kill him." Jonathan explained. "He was still alive, so he gets to advance."
"But what about being eliminated if you lose?" Dante asked. "Isn't that how these things work?"
"I never said that." Jonathan said. "And if I did, I've changed the rules. I can do that after all, it's my game. Now, you all have the rest of the day to yourselves. The tournament shall resume when I say."
"Good." Sho said, walking back down the hall to the dorms. "This was taking away from my arts and crafts time."
"Hmmm?" Sebastian took another look around. "Where is lady Sharon?"
"I gave her the day off,"Jonathan said with a wave of the hand. "She was working so hard I figured she deserved it."
"Very well," Sebastian hummed as he walked down one of the hallways. "I suppose I shall take her place for the time being."
Sebastian walked down the hall and found a small closet full of cleaning supplies. He found a small feather duster and began to clean the halls of the castle, various portraits of who he assumed was Jonathan's relatives and other people becoming clearer as he cleaned.
Time passed and eventually Dante ended up wandering down the hall Sebastian was cleaning.
"So who'd you dance with?" He asked, he began to lean on a wall, causing Sebastian to frown for a moment.
"If you must know, it was Sir Alucard." He continued cleaning. "It ended in a draw when we realized neither of us would have an upper hand on the other."
"Hmph… interesting." Dante laughed. "I ended up fighting that feisty mage girl. Ended it with a hole in her heart."
"Miss Rita?" He smiled again. "I see… so you did kill her. Interesting to see a son of Sparda kill so heartlessly."
"Oh come on!" Dante spread his hands out as he walked around Sebastian in a mocking manner. "Everyone knows I'm a frickin half-demon now. What happened to it being a secret."
"I just simply guessed. After all you bear his amulet." Sebastian continued cleaning calmly as Dante pointed one of his guns at him.
"What do you know about that?"
"Well I know that's the amulet of the Dark Knight Sparda."
"Well I guess you'd also know this is only half the amulet." Dante replied. "My brother has the other half."
"Actually I didn't. I've actually never met your dear father. However I have heard tales of him. It is the only way to break the seal of the demon gate is it not?"
"So what if it is? As long as I have it it doesn't matter." Dante brushed the side of his jacket and began wandering down the hall again, leaving Sebastian to his cleaning.
As Dante walked down the empty hall Jonathan appeared in front of him, seeming to come out of nowhere.
"Hello Dante." Janathan said. "Enjoying the game?"
"Well let's see.. I won first round… and quite possibly have this in the bag. So yeah. I would say this is a good party."
"Good. But tell me, would you like some help?"
"No need, I'm a solo flier kid."
"Well still… here."
Jonathan tossed Dante what seemed to be a dark grey suitcase, a demonic skull with glowing eyes in the center. It pulsated yellow lines from the center as Dante looked it over.
"And just what is this?" He asked.
"Pandora, capable of transforming into various forms to annihilate your enemies. A gift from a future friend."
"Alright then, fine. If that's how we're going to go, then we'll rock the house." He raised it up, holding it loosely around the handle causing the suitcase to fall across his back. Jonathan looked out the nearby window to the yard, thinking for a moment before whistling down the hall. "Sebastian, a question."
A few minutes passed before Sebastian appears, wearing an apron. "Yes, Master Jonathan?"
"That punishment I mentioned, would you like it now or later?"
He checked a pocket watch. "I suppose it would be better to get it out of the way now, so let's get this over with shall we?"
Jonathan raised a hand and in a flash of white light his guitar appeared. "Very well, you and Alucard will be in a handicap match against Minamimoto. Right now, in the castle grounds." He plays three notes on his guitar and the three he mentioned appear in the front lawn out the window, Sebastian standing next to Alucard while they both look at Sho.
Punishment Match: Alucard and Sebastian Michaelis vs Sho Minamimoto
"This isn't much of a punishment, is it Master Jonathan?" Sebastian said looking at his partner. "It seems more of a free pass."
"You'd think that wouldn't you demon boy?" Alucard drew two guns out of his jacket.
Sho flipped the green pin with the jewels Broly once wore as it glew brightly before landing on his hat. "Two factors to answer one question? Not possible."
A green energy flowed around Sho as he levitated slightly.
"Hmmm? Well he seems to have a few tricks up his sleeves." Sebastian said.
"It doesn't matter how much power he has, he is still no match." Alucard said before unloading into Sho. Sho didn't even flinch before laughing.
"My equation has increased in difficulty, you don't stand a chance at finding the answer!" He roared as three pairs of bone-like wings appeared on his back. His hat flew off as his energy increased yet again, his hair turning from brown to a bright gold.
"I don't think this will be as easy as you think Master Alucard." Sebastian said, snapping one of his gloves on his wrists.
"No no no no…." Alucard laughed. "This wouldn't even be fair if I stood to him." He lowered his guns, "He's all yours, Sebastian."
"Hmm? I'm afraid you're-" Sebastian was cut off as Sho flew at a massive speed, crashing into Sebastian and heading skyward. He then crashed downward, creating a gigantic crater in the castle lawn. He then raised a hand, conjuring a massive green sphere, firing it downward and blasting several holes in the walls of the castle as it exploded. Jonathan sighed before playing another string, causing the castle to repair itself. Sho the walked out of the crater, a smile on his face.
"One variable eliminated, time to remove the other." Alucard laughed as Sho charges another blast.
"You know I don't think he's done ye-" He was cut off when the blast hit him, causing him to lean back, coming back up with only half of his face. The remaining half smiling widely. He placed his hands in a rectangle, similar to when Jonathan first saw him. "Releasing control art restrictions level-" He is cut off once again when Sho dashed forward, placing a foot on Alucard's chest as he grabbed both of Alucard's arms, ripping them off as Alucard is sent flying back.
Sho smiled widely before noticing Alucard's arms had regenerated in a red energy. "Now that wasn't very nice… Interrupting a man in the middle of his speech." He spread his hands out, the dark red aura emanating throughout his entire body.
"Though it is a rather smart strategy." Sebastian said, walking out of the crater without a scratch. "Shall I leave this to you, Master Alucard?"
"Both of you are incorrect." Sho said, flipping the pin with the orange Gi attire on it. It glowed before turning blank again. "It's time to reveal the true answer to X! X=A to the power of 1!"
"Releasing control art restrictions 3… 2…. 1… Approval of situation A recognized, Commencing the Cromwell invocation. Releasing ability restrictions until enemy is rendered Silent."
"Now, Variable Elimination!" A bright red light emanated throughout the entire area, blinding all who watched. When it finally faded, Alucard was no longer there, and the blank pin now bared his red hat.
Sebastian was stunned, unable to speak as Sho turned to him. Jonathan shouted from the windows "And we're done, Punishment round over. Alucard has been eliminated." He played another string and Sebastian reappeared next to him, still stunned at what he just saw.
"And that… is what happens to those who don't follow the rules." Jonathan said. "They are punished. Understand, Sebastian?"