After that speech of Solaris, the group retreated back inside the walls, with a clear view over the arena as they talked among themselves in terms of plan making. The Hestia Familia took note of the terrain, lookin like an ancient ruin crumbled down upon itself at last. The amount of debris and rocks made it ideal for hit and run tactics for both sides. Though it made life harder for those trying to use long distance attacks. Kojiro's sword on the other hand could have some issues, even if he could cut through the rocks like butter. Resistance was resistance after all, no matter how small it was. If it weren't for the gods and the top tiers of the world watching over this field, Solaris joked that it would've been easy to set up traps or ambushes in advance. Still, there wasn't much one could plan for without knowing their opposition. They each kept quiet about any personal strategies or aces they had for each other, with only one sole exception.
"What do you mean I shouldn't use Uchide no Kozuchi?" Haruhime asked, concern filling her voice. She made it a point not to actually mention the words 'level up' or the like, in case someone was actually listening in or watching. Solaris, the one who came up with the idea first, shook her head before crossing her arms.
"We're too public. People will definitely accuse us of cheating if we did so." She cracked a smirk. "Besides, I didn't bust my ass to half ass it like that."
"Besides, this is not the final fight we will fight. The longer we keep your ability as a hidden ace, the better," Kojiro added. Bell couldn't help but agree. They were trying to clear their names in a way, to show that they were genuine in terms of being adventurers. Their training boost was already suspicious enough, but to add an actual level up to it would strain the public's willingness to look over it. Not to mention he did what to show off the fruits of his training himself. So even if he shared Haruhime's worry a bit, he simply smiled at her, causing the girl to let it rest.
"So, which of us is going first?" Bell asked. Before anyone could speak up however, they heard footsteps from behind them. Everyone took up their weapons and their stances, only to blink at the awkward laugh the blonde had while he raised his hands.
"I can answer that." He waved casually at them before adjusting his white shirt. "Hi, name's Stefan. Lulu talked a lot about you."
Bell and Kojiro shared a look after a short moment of confusion. Did he mean Lusserina? Well, he could somewhat recall her mentioning a guy called Stefan. Nostalgia dwelled up in his chest. How long has it been since he went to Altena and met the weird elf? He laughed for a moment, scratching his right cheek.
"Uhm only good things?"
The fact the de facto leader of the Cerberus in the Hades Familia bit his lip was telling enough. He cleared his throat, looking away as he suspiciously took his time as he searched for some paper.
"Anyway... " Putting on a professional smile, the man Bell recalled was sometimes called "The Mad Lad" raised his pen and pointed down at his paper. "You announce your decision to us. Someone else does the same with the Eris Familia, so that way, you won't know who goes up against whom."
"Huh. Alright. Fair is fair I guess," Solaris muttered, scratching her chin thoughtfully. Bell frowned at the rules. On the one hand, they wouldn't be able to pick an adventurer tailormade to counter Team Hestia. On the other hand, the same applied in reverse as well. So that meant they had to pick and hope they would get lucky. Alternatively...
"Should we send in Kojiro first?" Bell suggested, causing the girls to hum. It was a good idea. Kojiro was far above regular level three, so he could be able to bull through most of the opposition unless Eris Familia lied a lot about their levels... which was possible, now that he thought about it, but even then he had faith in the swordsman. To their surprise however, Kojiro shook his head with a small smile.
"I refuse. I do not want to steal your thunder, so to say." He frowned a bit as he leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. "Not to mention I feel that going first might be a mistake."
"Veteran's instinct?" Solaris asked, raising an eyebrow. In response, he shrugged nonchalantly.
"In a way. I am not Artoria, but I like to think my gut is honed in its own way."
Suddenly Haruhime raised her hand, a nervous smile on her face.
"Maybe I should go first. A-After all... I am the weakest."
"Don't say that about yourself," Bell gently admonished her. She flinched for a moment, but she didn't exactly agree with his words. He frowned a bit, wondering what Kaguya put her through to allow such low self esteem. Either that or the fact such a massive crowd was present made her more nervous than usual. Before he could say anything more, Kojiro suddenly walked forward, narrowing his eyes.
"Hm. Eris Familia is looking at us."
"Are they now?" Solaris growled, crossing her arms as she leaned forward. Following their gazes, the enemy was indeed looking at them. More specifically the dark elf in her crimson robe pointed at them. Or rather pointed at Solaris. Their captain barred her teeth, but all that did was cause the elf to laugh playfully. Then she began to mouth something at Solaris. Now Bell wasn't an expert in lip reading, but their enemy made sure to move her mouth slowly. What she said sent a shiver down his spine while Haruhime gasped in shock.
"Don't. You. Bitch. Out. Looooooo…. Ser~!"
Little did they know that the gods themselves also noticed the tensions rising and immediately zoomed in when they could.
"Yikes, that's some smack talk right there," Loki commented, opening one eye as she whistled. Meanwhile Hestia pulled at her hair, already knowing where this was going while Alise laughed awkwardly and most others palmed their face.
"Solaris, nononono!"
Naturally, Solaris reacted exactly in the way as everyone would expect of the captain. With veins bulging out of her skin, she grinned widely, not filled with joy but utter rage as her face turned red. She cracked her neck before she turned to Stefan as she grabbed her spear and began to stomp forward.
"Yeah, she's dead."
Fortunately for them, Stefan was not the type of person to just write down what a clearly provoked, angered individual said and instead helplessly glanced at the other Familia members. Of course Bell and Haruhime moved quickly, standing in her way.
"Don't get provoked like that! This is clearly a bait!"
The Renard nodded furiously, her arms spread out like the White Fool.
"S-She has Salamander Wool too!"
"So? If she wants to reel in a shark she can't handle, that's her issue," Solaris barked back. She tapped the ground with her spear before calming down a bit, grinning with full self confidence as she jabbed her thumb at herself. "C'mon! I'm the captain! It's my responsibility to lead by example!"
"Are you certain you can do it?" Kojiro asked calmly, stopping any other objections Haruhime or Bell could raise. They snapped their heads at him at the betrayal, yet the swordsman was utterly calm, despite knowing that the enemy actively prepared against fire magic. Solaris took a deep breath, her anger still boiling underneath her serious frown.
"Hell yeah I do."
"Then we should believe in her," the swordsman said, smiling at the other two members. Reluctantly, after sharing a look, the two stepped away. The action caused Solaris to laugh as she wrapped her arms around their necks.
"Cool your tatas! I'll be right back with our first victory!"
"...Okay, I guess we say no to anonymity," Stefan muttered before pocketing the paper while shaking his head. Then he looked back at Solaris with a frown. "Screw it, I'm going to tell the refs. At least wait until you're called in."
With that said, he returned to the stands while Solaris began to lightly bounce on the ground, jabbing with her spear a few times. However, her warm up was of no interest to the people in the Twilight Mansion. Wlel, it was a bit for Hestia, but the way Kaguya leaned forward with wide eyes was more than enough to gain her attention. Following her gaze, she looked at Hermes' Divine Mirror. What she saw caused her to shoot up to her feet.
"Hey, isn't that against the rules?!" She shouted, pointing at what she was seeing. Everyone else turned their heads and inhaled in shock. The dark elf was openly and visibly shoving pills down her throat. Moments later her muscles seemed to bulge and darken as if the bloodflow increased while veins were popping out. She let out a manic laugh before seemingly dancing on the spot in high speeds that Hestia couldn't even follow. A hand rested on her shoulder and gently pulled her down. She glared at Hermes, who tipped his hat with a frown.
"Not a healing item."
"Besides, it's before the battle. Not during or after," Astraea added, not sounding happy about the sight at all. Alise huffed, eyes narrowed before she shot her arm up in frustration.
"Damn you, loopholes!"
"Who's even making those drugs?" Ryuu hissed under her breath. Then Tiona spoke up, worry filling her voice.
"Kaguya?"
They turned to the Senbonzakura, who seemed awfully pale as she covered her mouth. It was then that the Astraea Familia remembered. They talked about the drugs that warranted a way weaker reaction than this. But Kaguya herself never actually saw the drugs in question. Noticing the attention on her, the Far Eastern woman cleared her throat and folded her hands on her lap.
"...Nothing."
"Doesn't sound like nothing, hag," Bete commented, earning himself a glare from her.
"It is, so sorry to disappoint, dog."
The two growled at each other before Finn and Alise respectively made them stand down, with the former using a command and the latter groping Kaguya. Naturally only one of them was punched in the face for their action. Their shenanigans came to an end when the commentators rose to their feet once more.
"From the east, the Eris Familia sends in their rogue dark elf!" Hlokk shouted into the mic, pointing at once entrance with an excited voice. At those words, the hooded individual emerged, arms spread out as if doing a presentation.
"A level three shrouded in mystery. Is she an assassin? A seducer of the night? No man alive knows!"
She opened up her robe, revealing a rather scandalous outfit. Her midriff, arms and legs were bare, while the rest was form fitting black armor. Her cleavage was open to the world as she twirled, swinging the Salamander Wool like a tool for her seductive dance. Her silver hair fluttered in the wind, contrasting her dark skin.
"From an extinct forest, she rose from the ashes caused by Rakia itself! Does vengeance motivate her?! Or is it her sadistic streak?!"
She adjusted the robe back on, only to twirl her weapons, two jagged obsidian daggers, while demonstrating her flexibility, stretching her leg up in the air.
"The one stalking in the dark, the swift shadow of the Eris Familia! Her daggers are invisible to the eyes of all! Blink, and she shall disappear in an instance!"
She licked across her right dagger, eyes slightly narrowed as if in a trance.
"The Nightshade, Lulope...Wuzil!"
She sheathed her weapons and raised her arms in the air, working her hips as she enjoyed the cheers that ensured. Her entrance made many people blush and holler. Despite her drugged state, the elf looked beautiful. Some wondered how the opposition was supposed to match up. The Renard seemed too shy to do that sort of thing and Solaris was a tomboy. Zero attractiveness.
"And on the West side, first representative of Hestia Familia... !" Shiki announced, pointing at the opposite side. Suddenly, one section of the seats in the arena rose to their feet. Instruments were in their hands, horns, trumpets, drums and the like. Then without further ado, one of the referees rose to his feet. Slowly, Romulus Quirinus raised his arms, taking a deep breath.
"The Crozzo have a history that goes back to the times of Argonaut."
The Rakian regiment began to chant, stomping their feet in rhythm, as if they were on a war march, a contrast to Romulus' loud but calm voice.
"Time and time again, their creations even gained the attention of the gods!"Blessed by a spirit of flames, when the blood of gods touched them, their weapons became second to none! Seas! Forests! Mountains! They all burned and lost against their might!"
He snapped his arm at the entrance, taking a deep breath before smiling brightly.
"And today, the world shall witness the Crozzo's greatest creation!"
With those words, the representative of Hestia finally took the stage. With purposeful steps, Solaris Crozzo didn't bother dancing around or the like. All she did was twirl her weapon, a crimson gold halberd. No sign of a shield at all as she idly grinned while walking forward. Then she suddenly turned and walked towards the Rakian side of the arena. While she did her round, Romulus continued on, clapping his hands in demonstration before pointing at his loyal soldiers.
"What is the greatest Empire?!"
"Rakia! Rakia! Rakia!"
"To which clan does this wonderful gir belongl?!"
"Crozzo! Crozzo! Crozzo!"
With each word, Solaris slammed her weapon on the ground, as if marking her territory. The Rakians themselves stomped on the rock beneath them so hard, the arena itself seemed to shake, as if an earthquake was caused. Romulus laughed loudly, as if proud of this sight.
"She is the mightiest flame of civilization! She is the scourge of monsters! Her flames incinerate everything and all! Blessed by the spirit of fire and war itself, her potential is limitless!"
Solaris entered the middle of the arena, in front of her opponent. She raised her weapon one last time before slamming it down, this time covering herself in flames once more, as if setting off explosives. The moment she did so, she took a deep breath.
"Rooooooomaaaa!" She screamed into the air. At the same time, the crowd went wild.
"Roooooomaaaaa!"
"Level two, the Flamma, the captain of the Hearth!" Romulus did a dramatic pause as she stretched out her tongue, leaning forward while holding onto her buried weapon in a mocking manner. "Solaris….Crozzo!"
It took a while for people to calm down. COmpared to Solaris' entrance, Lulope's entrance was rather tame. Maybe it was because of that, when it quieted down, that the dark elf didn't miss a beat to bark out a laugh, eyes twitching in anger.
"Hah, you Rakians are egotistical as ever!" She pointed at Solaris with her dagger, showing her teeth. "I'll enjoy gutting you like a fish!"
"Y'know I've never seen sharp eared fucks like you with that skin color! But I guess it fits!" Solaris shouted back with a drawl as she raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah?!"
"Yeah, you look exactly like the piece of shit you are!"
"Ohohoho, the brat must have practiced that line for years!" Lulope responded back, not even bothering to hold back the rage in her voice. Solaris was the same, practically letting out steam on the spot she was standing.
"Well at least I don't have to be a hundred years old to be considered a teenager, bitch!"
"Loser!"
"Fuckhead!"
A loud gong sounded in the air. They snapped their heads up, at the referees. Penthesilea had an amused expression on her face as she idly raised her hand.
"Are you ready?" She asked calmly, her regal aura pushing down on the fighters. With a curt nod, the two turned back to each other, taking on their stances. Solaris held her halbeard with both of her hands, holding the tip at her opponent. Lulope on the other hand widened her stance, daggers almost loose in their grip as she leaned forward, slightly swaying left and right.
"Fight!"
The hand was swung down and the first move was made.