Night draped over the Prismic Gathering's training yard like a velvet curtain. While recruits groaned under the weight of push-ups and sparring drills, the elite members watched from afar—hands behind backs, offering the occasional nod of approval.
But Lihanna? She had other plans.
She walked with confidence, her cerulean eyes locked on her target: Tyrone, who stood leaned back against a pillar, arms crossed, watching the newbies flail around.
Lihanna: (Stopping inches from him) "Tyrone."
Tyrone: (Turning with his usual smirk, until—boop—his arm brushed against her chest. His brain shut down instantly.)
Tyrone: (Internally screaming)Focus, man. This is NOT the time to fall into degeneracy!
Lihanna: (Tilts head, confused) "Tyrone?"
Tyrone: (Blinking rapidly) "S-sorry! I was… lost in the sauce."
Lihanna: "…What sauce?"
Tyrone: "Forget it! I'm good now. What's up?"
Lihanna: (Pouting slightly) "I asked if you had plans tonight."
Tyrone: "Just waiting for the new Please Put Them On, Takamine-san episode…"
Lihanna: "Takamine-san?"
Tyrone: (Eyes wide) "Don't worry about it! I'm free!"
Lihanna: (Grinning) "Good. I wanna spar with you."
Tyrone: (Blinking) "You… want to spar? With me?"
Tyrone's Monologue:
Lihanna's got insane agility, insane range, and an even more insane fanbase… but I've taken down Gendai pre-awakening. I might stand a chance. Maybe.
Lihanna: "I've never fought you seriously. I think it'd be fun."
Tyrone: "You read my mind."
But just as their excitement sparked…
Felicia: (Sliding in with a devilish grin) "You two going on a date or dueling? Either way, I'm watching."
Kamaki: (Clomping down the hall like a storm) "Why not make it interesting? Me and Tyrone vs you and Felicia. Girls vs boys."
Tyrone: "Kamaki? Don't you have a curfew, Grandpa?"
Kamaki: "Shut up, Dark Lord cosplay. You're just mad I'm prettier."
Lihanna: (Already walking) "Two versus two. Let's go."
[Simulation Room – Realm Load: Complete]
As the white void of the simulation chamber shifted into a surreal battlefield of broken mountains and crimson skies, the operator's voice echoed:
Operator: "Friendly match? Or trial floors?"
Tyrone: "Just a friendly match. Nothing fatal."
The ground rumbled. The realm solidified.
Weapons drawn. Spirits ignited.
Battle Start – Kamaki & Tyrone vs Felicia & Lihanna
Kamaki vs Felicia – Blazing Claws
They lunged.
Palms collided with explosive force, shockwaves rippling. Kamaki's grin widened as he spun Felicia and threw her skyward.
He clapped his hands, forming a volatile sphere of blue fire.
Kamaki: "Let's go—Azure Blaze Bomb!"
He launched it.
But Felicia—flaming aura igniting—caught it with one hand, spun, and hurled it back.
Felicia: "Return to sender."
Kamaki dodged—but she was already above him, foot coated in crimson fire.
BOOM!
She crashed into him, flames erupting into the sky.
Tyrone vs Lihanna – Shadows and Currents
Tyrone swept his scythe, slashing shadows at her.
Lihanna's form shimmered.
In an instant, she blurred through them, water trailing her movement in elegant arcs.
Tyrone flipped, firing off more projectiles. She cleaved through them.
CLANG!
Blade met scythe. Sparks flew.
Tyrone: "Let's go full throttle."
Lihanna: (Smiling) "Don't blink."
Tyrone summoned Shadow Spires from every direction—razor-sharp blades lunging in unison.
Lihanna responded with a blitz of movement, leaving only flickers of blue afterimages—zigzagging in a perfect spiral around him.
Then—an opening.
Tyrone struck with a shadow hand, slamming her into a wall.
But before he could follow up—slice—his own shadow split.
She stood in front of him.
Her blade glowed blue, water-like energy coiled around its edge. Her eyes glowed.
He blinked.
Lihanna: "Checkmate."
The blade stopped at his neck.
Meanwhile – Kamaki's Fiery Fall
Kamaki charged Felicia with flaming kicks.
Felicia caught one—countered with a punch, fire trailing from her knuckles.
Felicia: "Here—my turn."
She summoned a spear of flame, hurled it. Kamaki braced.
BOOM!
It exploded, shaking the arena. Fire rained from above—meteoric strikes surrounding Kamaki like a death storm.
No escape.
Felicia: "Gotcha."
She reappeared in front of him, a red flame spinning in her palms—identical to his earlier attack.
Felicia: "Enjoy the deja vu."
FLASH!
She blasted him point-blank. Kamaki flew back, hitting the wall with a groan.
Aftermath – Glorious Victory (and Chaos)
Lihanna: (Dusting off her shoulder.) "Girls win~"
Tyrone: (Still panting.) "Yeah… but I'm gonna need a rematch."
Kamaki: "YOU LOST TOO!"
Tyrone: "Yeah, but I looked cooler losing."
Lihanna: (Laughs) "You did great, Tyrone. Seriously. Let's do this again."
Tyrone: (Smiles softly.) "I'd love to."
They shared a moment—until the lights flickered.
SPARK. ZZZZZT.
A warning buzzed.
Operator: (From overhead) "Uh… small issue. The system's down. Simulation's stuck. Estimated fix time: three hours."
Everyone: "...WHAT?!"
Kamaki: "I'M GONNA MISS MY SHOW!"
Felicia: "You can watch it in hell, sweetie."
And so, trapped inside an artificial battlefield with nothing but banter, bruises, and each other—The night turned from a sparring match to a sleepover in the flames.