A/N: BLEUGH! Is what something that Tri loves to say. Really, you guys should join our chat group. These couples are so meant for each other. Who knows, you might even see them "getting it on~". anyways, This is quite a short chapter if you ask me(Sorry!) and with my slow updates, I'm also sorry about that. I'll be buying pizza while this chapter Airs itself, so eh, Ciao.
(KidoTsubomi22): D'aw~ I'd love to see that illustration of yours xD If you could, show it to me~
(lunarsaber12): Nahh~ Anju's really the mature type, she won't be doing stuff such as betrayal(or will she?)
(Dash24zappshift): Will do Zappy-kouhai~ seriously, you have too much split personalities.
(Kurama16): Thanks xD I'm sorry if some chapters will be lacking some NicoMaki moments, I tend to find the need to put some seriousness in some chapters.
(NicoMaki4Evah): Thanks~ and not really, I used to play Aura Kingdom(IGN Nico ufufufu founders~) but quickly got tired(well, 6 months was quite a good run) due to its repetitive content. Although I did(somewhat) get the idea of Umi's role in that game xD.
P.S: Feel Free to pm me for the Chat link if you want to see some Tri and her Wifey having some good action! *smirks*
The tension of the arena was heavy. with the crowds growling and shouting, Anju had this huge grin in her face which others cannot really help but wonder why. Without a single weapon in her hand, the majority of the audience laughed and boo'd at her due to them seeing her as an "easy target". Without making a dramatic entrance, it was obvious that she had gotten the wrong side with the crowd.
Fufu... It doesn't matter. I don't care if the whole world hates me, as long as they're safe, I'm willing to bet my life in the line. Anju thought to herself.
Still waiting for her opponent to come to the stage, she surveyed the crowd and finds Kotori, Nico, Maki and Umi at her right. She gave them a smile which they found odd.
"Don't you think that Anju's acting kinda too... carefree?" Nico asked as she looked at Maki who was beside her.
"I'm not sure..." Maki twirled her hair in a counter clockwise manner, "for some reason, she looks determined to win if you ask me."
"..." Umi concentrated at Anju, "I sense... something different about her."
Kotori gave Umi a confused look, "What do you mean, Umi-chan?"
"I can't find myself in saying it in words... It's just, she's giving off a different aura. Something similar to when we first met; however, it's something much stronger."
As Anju waited on the middle of the arena, Tsubasa, who was sitting on the sky tapped the microphone a few times, "Ahh Ahh testing testing one two three, welcome everyone to the 43rd tournament of the Sky Arena! This is your host, Kira Tsubasa!" Tsubasa gave them a wink which was shown on a huge screen which everyone can see, the crowd let out their loudest yells for joy and excitement. "Ehehe~ I'm glad you're all pumped up today~ now! Here we have a new face who registered in the last second, I'm not sure if she has what it takes to even beat the first opponent. Who knows~ she might be holding some sort of hidden power, give your cheers to Anju Yuuki!"
Instead of hearing a cheer, laughs filled out the whole arena. As a result, one of Nico's patience broke out and scowled at the crowd, "You may all be laughing, but I know that Anju is wayyyyyyy stronger than all of you! You're all just weaklings who I bet can't even fight against an ant!"
"Hey little girl, we're not weak!" a guy at the back who was as tall as Nozomi shouted. Hearing a certain phrase which Nico had always hated. She stood up and pulled out her pole arm and pointed it at the guy.
"Don't you dare call me a little girl! I'll have you know that I participated in the recent Sonoda conflict!" the crowd was struck in silence. It's been said that the Sonoda conflict was spreaded throughout the whole continent in an epidemic pace. Without a king to protect the town from harm and with the "prince" who was supposed to be the heir of the throne decided to "run away", the whole town was struck with confusion as it wanders itself without a leader.
Maki pulled Nico down, "Stop it, Nico-chan. I don't want you to get into trouble."
Nico sighed, "If Maki-chan says so." she sat down, hid her pole arm in her bag(game logic) and gave Maki a pout. Nico was then patted by Maki for comfort.
"Erm... Sorry about that commotion everyone. Anyways! Here in our other side is a Dark Mage of the Underworld! Sachiko Tanaka!"
Slowly, Sachiko emerged from the shadows with her blue wand held high, "Kukuku, The time has finally come for me to conquer this world with darkness!"
Anju let out a smirk, "Hmm~ Interesting~"
Sachiko walked towards Anju and pointed her wand at her showing hostility. "You can't stop me, human."
"Now that our fighters here have met, let's get this fight on the way!" Tsubasa shouted. "Are you sure you're gonna be fighting unarmed, Anju?"
"Yup~" Anju replied with a smile.
"You'll regret underestimating me, Human!" Sachiko scowled. After a minute of staring into each others eyes, a bell rang indicating the start of the match.
Sachiko pointed her wand to the ground, "Come out, Dark Devoider!" she commanded. A huge circle spreaded out off her feet and summoned a huge, dog structured animal. Its bones were visible to the whole crowd which some felt disgusted to while the others were excited upon seeing its appearance.
"This is my familiar, Dark Devoider. Whatever it touches except me disappears into the endless void." Sachiko boasted.
"Fufu, quite the interesting pet you got there." Anju said with her head held high, "however, it won't be enough to beat me."
Angered, Sachiko commanded her familiar. "Dark Devoider! Tear that pile of trash limb by limb!" upon hearing its master, the familiar ran towards Anju who was still keeping a smile in her face.
"Anju, watch out!" Umi shouted. The familiar opened its vicious mouth as it readied itself to pounce Anju by her shoulder. In the last split second, Anju dodged the attack and axe kicked the dog-like creature which pummeled it to the ground and rebounded to the air. The familiar let out a whimper on the air as it descended back to the ground. Thud it goes, although it was not enough to defeat the familiar.
"That was impressive, I tell you that. But too bad for you that my familiar won't go down that easily!" she pointed and shot three dark spherical objects to her familiar which made the familiar's body even bigger and covered more skin. Its eyes changed from yellow to red as these changes happened.
"Hmm~ I'm sure I broke a rib or two on that dog of yours, guess it needs more discipline~" Anju pulled out a whip from her back pocket and stared at the dog with sadistic eyes, "Now come~ I'll treat you well~"
"Ohoh~ I guess Anju had a weapon with her afterall! Gosh those sadistic eyes gives me the chills(but it's so sexy at the same time)" Tsubasa announced.
"Go Anju!" Kotori cheered on. Anju looked and smiled at her as thanks.
She extended her whip and whipped it on the ground, "Come~" she taunted. The beast galloped its way towards Anju at a frightening speed which did not faze Anju one bit. As the distance between them closen, Anju whips the leg of the beast which forced the beast to wail in pain although this didn't stop the beast from trying its best to fight back, it charged towards again and again but all had lead to the same result. After its 7th attempt, the beast fell and dissipated into nothingness.
The crowd was struck with silence as this happened. A 20-feet monster to be taken down by a single woman with a whip, such a feat is nearly impossible if done by a normal human.
"Kuh... You seem to be no ordinary human, what are you!" Sachiko shouted.
Anju simply smiled, "I'm just your ordinary human with her friends by my side~ by the way, I don't really feel satisfied yet, so could you please be my toy since your familiar ran away from you?"
"D-don't underestimate the Wizard of the Abyss!" as she started to chant a spell, a huge violet circle expanded once again below her feet which nearly blinded the audience due to its bright luster. In that span of time, a huge medium-sized unknown dark sphere with electric surging from its outer shell was formed at the tip of Sachiko's wand.
"W-what the, that's too dangerous!" Tsubasa shouted, "Please stop her, Anju!"
"You don't even need to tell me that." Anju rushed to the wall and sprinted her way up with ease, as she reached the peak of the arena which Sachiko was at, she took out four daggers and threw them at the sphere.
"W-what have you done!" Sachiko shouted as she gave Anju a grimace look.
"Obviously saving my friends from harm" no longer having full control of the dark matter, the sphere exploded at a very small radius but was big enough to consume the pour Sachiko with it. Anju slowly fell down from the sky and landed safely.
"Oh... That was... AWESOME! Right people!?"
The crowd replied with their shouts of excitement. Nico, Maki, Umi and Kotori's eyes widened, seeing someone to "die" in front of them. Nico hugged the shivering Maki tightly as the sight was too brutal for the young one.
"What happened... To Sachiko?" Kotori mumbled.
"I don't know Kotori... I don't know..." Umi tilted her head down and thought to herself, Is it really necessary for someone to lose their lives...?
"With that, Yuuki Anju-san's the winner! However! This tournament is far from over! Our next match is gonna be interesting... If I may ask, Yuuki-san, can you please vacate to your friends for a while for the next two challengers to face off?"
Anju nodded in response. She then walked towards the others and sat beside them hoping to get a praise from at least one of them. Umi clutched Anju's shoulder, shivering, "Was it really necessary? For that Sachiko girl to disappear?"
"Well... If I didn't do that, something might have happened to you girls, there was no choice." Anju replied.
"Still..." Umi gripped even harder.
Anju held Umi's hand which was on her shoulder and gave it a gentle grip, "I don't want you to hate me, I'm trying to be someone who I could be of help to you all with the best of my abilities, so please... Forgive me just this once."
Umi sniffed, "... All right..."
Little did the two know that Kotori, who was beside them the whole time was staring at the two with burning jealousy. She knew that it was a bad time to try and get closer to the bluenette, but she knows that she wants the bluenette's attention to be only centered to her alone. She knows that Anju was just a friend of Umi, but she can't help but wonder why her heart pains up if she were to see the bluenette to act close to someone other than her. She gripped her skirts hem tightly as an attempt in pushing all the jealousy burning inside her heart. "Umi-cha-"
"-Looks like the match is over! Since Rebecca's down, I guess Shiga Hitomi's the winner!" Tsubusa shouted, announcing what just happened in the span of Anju's resting time.
"What the, that was too fast." Umi looked at the scene, seeing a blonde who was named Rebecca one-sidedly beaten up by the girl who was standing beside her with a sharp katana on her hand.
"Tch, there was no demon within her, why am I even participating in this massacre." the girl said but was not heard by everyone due to the loud cheers. The girl turned back and head to the chambers in which she emerged from earlier, moments later, two guys with a came out of the gate in which Rebecca used and carried her away on a stretcher.
"Looks like there's lots of strong opponents for you to face, Anju" Umi said.
"Don't worry," Anju fist pumped at the air, "I'll do whatever it takes to win and free Honoka from that wicked gate."