Two warriors were facing each other on the platform at the center of the training area. A four tailed-kitsune, wielding a katana, and a valkyrie using a silvery sword were gauging each others for potential openings. All around the platform, monsters and angels were chanting the name of their champion, as a man in a tuxedo was taking bets on who would win this fight.
Suddenly, the valkyrie charged with her sword raised high. Sparks flew as the kitsune parried her assault, before she ignited her blade and counterattacked with a slash aimed at her opponent's legs. Both blades clashed as the valkyrie blocked the blade, then tried to slash at the kitsune's arm.
The latter deflected the blow again while trying to sweep the valkyrie with one of her leg. The angel dodged the blow, and sneered at her opponent. She then got hit in the chest as the kitsune brought back her leg higher for a second sweep. She recoiled as she used her wings to remain steady. She resumed her assault on the kitsune, and their swords clashed faster and faster until the exchange was looking like a blurred firework.
"Lightning sword strike !"
"Cherry blossom dance !"
Eventually, the kitsune lost her footing. Exploiting the opening, the angel lunged at her opponent with her body and knocked her on the ground. She then planted her sword less than an inch from the fox's face.
"I win."
The atmosphere tensed, before the valkyrie offered a hand at her fallen opponent.
"…You're getting better."
The kitsune graciously accepted her help "Thank you, but that's still not enough to beat you"
The tension releases as angels and monsters praised the winner, while some were saddened by the defeat of their champion or their lost bet.
The valkyrie haughtily responded."I trained for hundreds of years, maybe you will be able to grasp that level in your life if you monster dedicate your training to Ilias."
The fox samurai tensed upon hearing this. The tension between both groups came back, before a cupid flew closer to her valkyrie friend, poking her playfully in the side.
"Awww, come on Victoria, don't be like that, you knew you enjoyed it." She then turned to the kitsune. "Izuna, you too enjoyed this fight, we can aaaalways enjoy each other's presence, whether monsters, angels or humans." She started grinning, as her gaze turned toward an elf on the monster's side. "Don't we ?"
The elf blushed as the valkyrie raised an eyebrow before the realization hit her. Not wanting an awkward conversation about her friend's nightly (and also daily) activities, she took the opportunity to take back control.
"Indeed, by working together, we will stand to protect the world against any threats, for our future's, for this world's sake!"
Even if the short speech was mostly platitudes, everybody cheered as they wanted to be able to enjoy this for a bit longer.
A sudden explosion rumbled across the castle. Everybody dropped down to protect themselves from possible debris. A few voices could be heard as the dust cleared.
"Are we under attack?"
"HEY ! Get off my face!"
"Awww, you no longer like me?"
"Please wrap your tentacles around someone else."
"Pleeeaase. Mooooove. Caaan't. Breaaath."
"No, no, you can stay. Also breath faster please."
"That was coming from above."
The competitors both got on their feet and climbed the stairs. The library on the second floor was looking even worse, with books scattered apart and monsters wounded lying on the floor. While their wounds didn't look critical, they would still need proper healing before being able to go back on the road.
They finally reached the third floor, and it was clear the source of the explosion was the strange (and now broken beyond recognition) device on the table. A young, red haired girl with a scholarly look and half shredded clothes put back her glasses on. The move was useless, as one of the lense was broken and the other was simply missing. She turned toward her partner, without considering that the girl was lying in front of a wall where her mark was imprinted.
"As it happens, you were right, using ancient yoma cells with a mix of chaos energy to try to stabilize the fusion between monster cells and angel cells did not resulted in the desired result, but amplified the reaction between the holy and the dark energy present in each of them, and, improperly managed in a quantum state, they do indeed generate a lot of energy. Also Luka will definitively not be happy that we blew up the lab again."
Right after her explanation, Promestein crumbled and passed out. The warrior duo looked stunned at the scientist, then at each other.
"We will defend the world if we work together, won't we ?"
"I think we all have a lot of training to do first…"
More time passed, as the valkyrie turned her back to the scene and made a few steps before pausing.
"Come on, let's get a drink."
"First round's on me."
