After the end of the fourth round, Airi made her way to the spectator stands, where her companions were already waiting.
She sat down and stared at the arena with her usual cold expression, ready to watch the next match.
Hikari watched her closely before finally gathering the courage to approach.
"Mom was amazing out there," Hikari said softly, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Airi slowly turned toward her.
"Uh... who are you?"
Hikari fell silent. Her eyes widened, and her chest tightened.
"So... you don't recognize me?"
Her voice trembled with sadness.
Airi stared at her blankly.
"Who are you calling 'Mom'?" she asked coldly.
Hikari lowered her head.
Arou stepped closer and whispered into Hikari's ear.
"It doesn't mean Airi forgot you."
Hikari quickly turned toward him.
"What do you mean?" she whispered back.
Arou let out a quiet sigh.
"In every game, things happen differently."
"In one game, Airi's family survived."
"But in this game... her family died when she was four years old."
"The Airi who used to smile a lot... became someone very cold."
Hikari remained silent for a moment before giving a small nod.
"I see..."
Airi continued staring at the arena as if the conversation had never happened.
---
Round Five Announcement
The announcer's voice echoed throughout the arena once again.
"After the terrifying battle of Round Four..."
"...it is now time for Round Five!"
"She is elegant."
"She can manipulate her opponents."
"She is... Priscilla!"
A woman stepped into the arena.
Her movements were graceful, and her aura alone was enough to pressure others without even attacking.
The audience immediately began whispering.
"Wow... she's beautiful."
"It's a shame... she's not human."
The announcer continued.
"And the one who will face Priscilla is..."
"She is unlike any human."
"She has cat ears."
"Her powers remain unknown."
"She is... Nora!"
A girl with cat ears entered the arena. Her hair was white, her eyes glowed crimson, and her face carried a calm yet curious expression.
Airi slightly frowned.
"Huh... she's participating too?" she muttered.
The audience became lively again.
"Wow... she's adorable."
"They both have white hair."
"And red eyes too."
"Is this a battle of beauty versus cuteness?"
The two stood facing each other in the arena.
Priscilla's aura of manipulation clashed against Nora's mysterious presence.
Round Five was about to begin.
---
Round Five Begins
The atmosphere in the arena immediately changed.
Priscilla stood elegantly on one side of the battlefield. Her staff emitted a steady glow, and her magic formations were complex and perfectly organized—clearly the result of years of training.
On the opposite side stood Nora.
With empty hands.
The audience began whispering.
"One uses a staff, and the other is unarmed?"
"Is she serious?"
Priscilla raised her staff.
A magic circle appeared, layered with intricate patterns.
A wave of energy shot forward and struck Nora directly.
Her body was pushed back, and a wound opened on her arm.
But only for a moment.
The wound closed rapidly, as if time itself had reversed.
The arena fell silent.
Nora looked at her arm before turning toward Priscilla.
"Oh... so that's how it works."
Light gathered around Nora.
A magic circle appeared.
Identical.
Every line, angle, and pulse of energy perfectly matched Priscilla's spell.
The audience gasped.
"Her power is similar..."
"No... it's exactly the same!"
Priscilla's eyes widened.
"That's... my spell structure."
Nora waved her hand.
A magical blast shot forward.
The same form.
The same rhythm.
The same power.
The collision shook the entire arena.
Priscilla was thrown backward and nearly lost her balance.
The crowd erupted.
"Perfect replication?!"
"She copied every single detail?!"
Airi narrowed her eyes.
"Not adaptation... replication."
Priscilla took a deep breath.
"Then I'll destroy you before you see anything else."
More magic circles appeared.
More numerous.
Faster.
Across from her, Nora remained calm.
Now every spell Priscilla revealed risked being copied and turned back against her.
This was no longer a battle of strength—
It was a battle of who dared to reveal their abilities first.
---
The pressure in the arena intensified.
Priscilla stood tall as her staff shone brighter than ever before.
Layers of complex magical formations filled the air.
"I've seen enough," she said coldly.
"This will end you."
The spell was released.
A massive explosion struck Nora directly.
Her body crashed violently into the ground.
Her right arm was severed and fell lifelessly beside her.
The audience froze.
"Impossible..."
"She's..."
Airi rose halfway from her seat.
"Nora..."
Nora slowly turned her head.
Despite her injuries, she smiled.
"Airi..."
"Don't worry about me... I'm fine."
Priscilla frowned.
"Annoying."
She raised her staff once more.
"I'll finish this."
A second spell was unleashed.
Without resistance.
Nora's body shattered completely into dust, which slowly drifted through the arena.
The atmosphere froze.
"It's over..."
Priscilla lowered her staff.
"Finally."
Then—
The dust stopped moving.
A gentle light appeared in the center of the arena.
The particles began swirling together.
The audience stared in shock.
"What is that?"
"The dust..."
Within seconds, Nora's body reformed.
Whole.
Uninjured.
Her missing arm had returned as though it had never been severed.
Nora stood up and dusted off her clothes.
"I told you."
"I'm fine."
The arena exploded into chaos.
"She came back to life?!"
"That's resurrection!"
"She's alive again?!"
Priscilla stepped back.
"Impossible..."
Nora smiled softly.
"Now it's my turn."
Round Five was far from over.
And Priscilla finally realized—
Destroying Nora wasn't enough to defeat her.
---
Priscilla eventually unleashed her strongest spell.
A desperate final attack.
The explosion engulfed Nora completely.
When the dust settled—
Nora was still standing.
Her clothes were torn in several places, but her cheerful smile remained unchanged.
"Hehe... that was close."
A copied magic circle appeared above her.
Perfectly identical.
Priscilla's eyes widened.
"No..."
Nora raised her hand.
The replicated spell was released.
The impact shattered Priscilla's staff and sent her flying across the arena.
She crashed onto the ground.
Motionless.
The arena fell silent.
Nora stared for a moment.
"Oh... is it over?"
She raised her hand.
A warm light surrounded Priscilla.
A few seconds later, Priscilla coughed and opened her eyes.
"Why...?"
"Why did you bring me back?"
Nora approached with a bright smile.
"Because you're strong."
"I want to be friends with you."
Priscilla lowered her head.
"You idiot..."
"Are you trying to humiliate me in front of all these humans?"
Without saying a word, Nora hugged her.
"No."
"I genuinely want to be your friend."
Priscilla's body stiffened.
Then slowly relaxed.
Her shoulders trembled.
"This is really strange..."
"...Fine."
Nora pulled away and smiled happily.
"Hehe."
The announcer's voice thundered throughout the arena.
"Round Five has concluded!"
"The winner is... Nora!"
The audience erupted into cheers.
Round Five was officially over.
---
After Leaving the Arena
The exit corridor was quiet.
Nora's steps were light, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Priscilla walked beside her, calm but exhausted.
Nora glanced at her and smiled.
"Are you tired?"
Priscilla nodded.
"A little."
Nora stopped briefly.
"You're strong. That's cool."
Priscilla looked at her.
"You're strange," she said honestly.
"Most people wouldn't act like you."
Nora chuckled softly.
"Maybe."
Silence followed for a moment.
Then Priscilla spoke quietly.
"Thank you... for bringing me back."
Nora nodded.
"I don't want to win if it means losing someone."
Priscilla took a deep breath.
"...I'm still not used to the way you think."
"Take your time," Nora replied cheerfully.
Priscilla gave a small nod.
"Alright."
They continued walking down the corridor.
Behind them, the arena was already preparing for the next round.
The tournament would continue—
But for both of them, Round Five had left behind something neither of them could simply ignore.
---
Nora and Priscilla eventually approached Airi and the others.
Nora walked lightly as always, her cheerful smile unchanged.
"Hi," Nora greeted.
Airi glanced at her briefly.
"...You're alright."
"Of course," Nora replied casually.
"No need to worry."