[Two days before the B‑MAC]

As is customary for the annual Battlesphere Martial Arts Championship, entry closes three days before the event begins, the seeding decided and the provisional draw taking place the following day. With the defending champion being the first seed, the tournament organiser assigns seeds two, three, and four to Lilac, Carol, and Milla respectively, with luck resulting in Hanna Skarlett under the alias of Fiona Asuna being drawn for the fifth seed.

When the provisional raw results are announced, Lilac, Carol, Milla, and Hanna are all happy with their slots, but there is one who desires a different outcome.


[One day before the B‑MAC]

Two hours after midnight, with almost all the population of the Origin Kingdoms sound asleep, a shadow sneaks through the streets of Shuigang. Of the few who are up at this late hour, almost none notice the shadow, and those who do quickly dismiss it as a trick of the light.

The shadow quickly arrives at his destination: the Black Dragon Dojo. The shadow slips down the alleyway towards the rear of the building, then silently climbs up to the open window on the upper floor and slips inside.

Taking care not to create any sound at all, the intruder slides a black‑steel tanto from its sheath, holds it in an edge‑in reverse grip, and slowly makes his way down the corridor, listening intently for any signs his target is present.

As he nears the end of the corridor, he finally hears the shallow breathing of sleep through an open door. Excellent. Slowly pushing the door further open with his free hand, the intruder steps into the room where his target is laid on his back in bed, fast asleep.

Seconds later, the victim's shallow breathing stops, the blade of the intruder's tanto sealing his windpipe as blood runs into his lungs. In his final moments, he wakes to the sight of his ebony‑scaled ivory‑furred killer looming over him.


Early morning in Dragon Valley, and Lilac wakes naturally to the sound of birdsong outside, a softly yipping puppy, and a loudly purring wildcat. Figuring neither will be awake for a while yet, Lilac settles down and tries to snooze, but her body has other ideas.


Five minutes, a bathroom visit, and a decision not to change out of her mid‑thigh length kingfisher blue nightgown later, Lilac pads into the kitchen to get a drink of water, then returns to the den and turns on the TV while thinking about what to make for breakfast, muting the volume to avoid waking Carol and Milla. Idly flicking through the channels and passing by the usual breakfast shows, she arrives at the twenty‑four‑hour rolling news channel.

The headline on‑screen comes as quite a shock.


An hour later in their house in Rage Ravine, the same headline surprises both Hanna and Rob.

"Who'd want to murder the defending champion?" Hanna asks.

"Not a clue," Rob answers. "What confuses me more though is why someone would do so."


Late morning in Shuigang's police headquarters, Lilac (now in her usual outfit) is attempting to find what answers she can, but she's having little success.

"Are you sure that's all the info you have?" she asks the detective inspector in charge of the investigation.

"Whoever committed the murder took all possible steps to minimise the chances of being linked to the crime," the DI explains. "All we know for sure at this time is he was murdered with a bladed weapon, and that the single wound was placed with extreme precision."

Lilac thinks a moment. Sounds like something the Scarves would do, but why? "No clues about motive?"

"None," the DI replies. "Though it is suspicious that it happened so close to the start of the B‑MAC."

"Maybe another entrant is behind it then?" Lilac suspects. "Or possibly someone on the reserve list desperate to move up?"

"Possible, but highly unlikely," the DI answers. "My team is still running background checks, but so far the only name to turn up anything unusual is 'Fiona Asuna', and that's only because it's turned up nothing at all."

"Not even a speeding ticket?"

"Not even a day‑late library book."

Fiona Asuna… I wonder… "Thanks anyway," Lilac replies. "I hope you find the killer soon."

"We'll do all we can to bring them to justice," the DI assures.


Mid‑afternoon in Rage Ravine, and Hanna is sunbathing on the balcony while Rob is reading in the den. However, her enjoyment of the warm sunshine is interrupted by a sound that is both surprising and familiar. Of all the people to visit, it had to be her…

After her Dragon Boost easily carries her to the balcony, Lilac sits on the deck chair Hanna isn't reclining on. "'Fiona Asuna', huh?"

"So, there is a brain in that thick skull of yours," Hanna replies. "Shame it didn't work long enough to stop you wasting my time."

"Where were you last night?"

"Tied up with personal business."

"What business?"

"Business you need to stay the fuck out of."

"This business wouldn't happen to be in Shuigang, would it?"

"Just get to the fucking point already."

"Very well," Lilac replies. "I suspect you were involved with the murder in Shuigang last night."

"I see where this is going," Hanna sighs as she sits up, removes her sunglasses, and fixes Lilac with a look of contempt. "You think I killed the fucker to make winning the B-MAC easier."

"It wouldn't surprise me."

Hanna shakes her head in disappointment. "As much as I wish you didn't, you know me well enough to know that's bullshit."

"Well, I‑"

"Try again."

"But‑"

"For fuck's sake Lilac, think about it!"

"Fine." Lilac takes a deep breath. Obviously, Hanna had no need to eliminate the defending champion to gain entry as she was already in the tournament, but that doesn't absolve her completely. While she boasts about being the best fighter, she knows the only way to prove it is to‑ The realisation dawns on Lilac. "…you'd prefer to confirm you're the better fighter by defeating him in the tournament itself." I'm such an idiot.

"Exactly," Hanna confirms. "Now get the fuck out of my sight before I do something you'll regret."

"Alright, alright, I'm going," Lilac replies, getting to her feet. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

"Just fuck off already."

Without another word, Lilac jumps off the balcony, unleashes a quick Dragon Boost just above the ground, and disappears into the trees.

Hanna puts her sunglasses back on, reclines in the deck chair, and resumes sunbathing. So much for surprising her at the Battlesphere… Oh well, at least I made her feel stupid, and that makes me happy.


As afternoon turns into evening, Lilac arrives home in Dragon Valley to find her friends about to have an argument as a result of what's happening in their game of Freedom Kart.

"And another win for the wildcat!" Carol chirps as she crosses the line, though her mood switches to confusion when she notices Milla didn't finish second as planned. "What happened?"

"I would have finished second, but someone dropped an oil slick right in front of me!" Milla growls.

"But I was the only‑" Carol suddenly realises her mistake. "Ah… Heh, sorry."

"You promised not to attack me!" Milla reminds.

"…I was going after Neera?" Carol replies, hoping Milla will buy her desperate lie.

But Milla's not buying it. "You cost me three places! Is winning really that important to you?"

Carol sighs in defeat. "I'm sorry Milla, I just… I got carried away."

"Again."

"Again, yes."

Milla shakes her head in disappointment. "I'm getting a drink."

Lilac watches Milla storm off to the kitchen. "Good to see you two getting along well," she quips dryly to Carol.

"I'll make it up to her later," Carol assures. "Where have you been all day, anyway? You didn't leave a note."

"I didn't?"

"Nope."

"Ah… Sorry," Lilac apologises, sitting down on the sofa. "I assume you saw the headlines this morning?"

"No, but I did see the updated B‑MAC draw that was published about an hour ago," Carol answers. "What I don't understand is why anyone would kill the poor guy."

"Me neither, which is why I went to Shuigang to find out what I could," Lilac explains. "I spoke to the DI running the investigation, but all he could confirm is that it was a single knife wound delivered with perfect precision, and that the only name that threw up any oddities was 'Fiona Asuna', and‑"

"You went to Rage Ravine and confronted Hanna, didn't you?" Carol asks.

"…maybe?" Lilac admits, blushing slightly and fiddling with the tip of one of her hair whips.

Carol facepalms. "By the Ancients…"

"She made me feel like a complete idiot," Lilac replies.

"That's because you are a complete idiot," Carol confirms. "I keep tellin' ya to use that brain of yours before rushing in and making a fool of yourself, and ya keep forgettin'."

"I do," Lilac sighs in embarrassment. "I just…"

"Wanna be 'Little Miss Heropants'."

"Yeah."

Carol shakes her head in bemusement. "One day you'll learn… Dinner after this last race?"

"I must admit, I am a little peckish," Lilac answers.

Milla returns with a glass of water a moment later. "Sorry for getting mad Carol; I know you didn't mean to upset me."

"Don't worry about it, Magic," Carol replies. "There's one more race left, then we'll stop for dinner."

"OK," Milla agrees, settling down next to Carol and taking hold of her controller.


Meanwhile, in Rage Ravine, Hanna and Rob have just settled down for dinner, with Rob having prepared his version of Kung Pao tofu.

After a couple of minutes, conversation turns from the meal to other matters.

"Did someone come to visit earlier?" Rob asks.

"Yeah, Lilac did," Hanna replies. "Can you believe she thought I killed the defending B‑MAC champion?"

"She does know you have no motive, right?" Rob inquires, knowing what the answer will be.

"Exactly," Hanna confirms. "She knows as well as anyone that I prefer to prove myself in honourable combat, so why would I murder someone I know I can defeat in the tournament?"

"To be fair, you do find killing easier than most."

"True, but I don't indulge in it, especially not since you‑know‑what happened."

"How did she know you entered?"

"She guessed my pseudonym."

"So much for surprising her."

Hanna shrugs. "It's fine: I made her feel stupid instead."

Rob shakes his head in amusement, then thinks in silence for a few moments. "The reshuffled draw means you'll meet Lilac in the semi‑final."

"Whereas before I'd have met her in the final, giving me yet another reason not to kill the guy," Hanna replies.

"Because beating Lilac in the final would have been more satisfying than beating her in the semi‑final," Rob concludes.

"Exactly," Hanna confirms. "Then again, beating Carol in the final will be pretty cool too."

"You never know: Milla or someone else might beat Carol first."

"I doubt it: Carol's a Tea."

"Either way, it's gonna be quite a final."

"Absolutely. And I'll win."

Silence descends once again, the young couple content to dine together without feeling the need to fill the time with chatter. However, Rob's mind doesn't rest, and after a couple of minutes, it prompts him to voice a new concern: "Given the most likely outcome of the new draw is you, Lilac, Carol, and Milla in the semis, it's possible whoever murdered the guy did so to ensure that such an arrangement would happen."

"That's quite the conspiracy theory," Hanna remarks. "You're gonna find it impossible to pin on anyone."

"I guess, but I just can't shake the feeling that something stinks," Rob replies.

"You're overthinking things," Hanna dismisses kindly.

Rob decides not to argue. You may be right, but with this happening so close to the B‑MAC, and with Leader Julian being so guarded about your training and refusing to allow me access, I just… I don't know. But if there is something funny going on, I will find out, and I will put a stop to it.


An hour before midnight, in her makeshift home in the underground bunker, Akairo is making the final preparations to steal the Fire Elemental Crystal and Inhibitor Headband. Over the last six weeks, once her wings had healed from the injuries sustained in her duel with Milla, she had observed Shang Tu Palace, noting the patterns of guard patrols, likely open windows she can enter, and all options for access via unconventional means, including the sewer route previously used by the Jade Alliance during the Siege of Shang Tu, as well as Maria Shanmao and Danny Brock during the Gotoshi Naisen.

Despite all the information at her disposal, planning the theft itself proved more difficult than she anticipated. Nevertheless, a plan was eventually detailed in full, and tonight is when she will execute it. All that's left before performing her assignment is ensuring she cannot be located.


Thirty minutes later, Akairo takes off and flies towards Shang Tu, leaving the bunker to be burned of all evidence she was there by the inferno within.