['And here we are, folks! We are back for the preliminary matches! Now we have Group-B! I'm sure everyone in the crowd hopes that this battle will be, if not so even more, heated just like the last one! Ain't that right?!']
The crowd started cheering so loud that it felt like I was there myself. Well, I am close. And with a loud beep, they started the match. Once again, they had five hundred people in the ring, and, what's more, is that this time, the battle seemed to be a bit more balanced.
Arcana was going full throttle from the start, but it looked like she couldn't take down everyone she came across. It was either that or she didn't take them down on purpose, but from the troubled look on her face, it didn't seem like it.
'Something is troubling Sis.'
Sirius said from beside me.
'Seems like it.'
I replied. I didn't hear many cheers compared to the first round, but there was a fair amount. As I said, this group battle was fairer than the last. I saw more even battles, rather than one being overwhelmed by the other's power. There was still the casual one versus ten, but those were also balanced. This seemed to be the more average match.
['What's this?!']
Looks like I spoke too soon.
The screen changed.
'Ah!'
The one on the screen was the white-haired smoker from earlier, Joker. He was standing in the arena, while his hand crackled with lightning. This guy was using magic! It didn't say whether the magic had to be used on an opponent but it just said that no magic was allowed. This guy was ready to get disqualified.
['Participant #1499, Joker, is using magic! According to the rules, he'll be–']
['Wait!']
It wasn't the king's voice who shouted, but, instead, it was his wife, Fiona Turdish. As her face became in view, it slowly turned into a ghastly expression. If I remember correctly, her nickname was Sagestress. Maybe she has a skill that lets her check magic.
['This... Joker... He isn't using magic. If he was, my Magic Activation skill would've reacted, but... maybe there's a way to go around it.']
Queen Fiona stood up and started thinking. It looked like she had completely disregarded that thought the moment she frantically shook her head.
['That's impossible. My Magic Activation skill has never failed me. I know something for sure, he isn't using magic. Joker shall not be disqualified!']
She raised her hand out and shouted triumphantly.
['If you want an explanation, I shall entertain everyone.']
The camera spun to the two similar-looking princes. Eustace, the older brother, had announced to everyone. His yellow eyes glared down at the arena–causing girls to "eek!"–he started to explain to the audience.
['There is something that is within everything and everyone. Something different from mana. That thing is called ki.']
Now I feel like I'm in some next up martial arts movie. Oh, seems like Joker has taken down some guys within that small time.
['We call mana, the Breath of Life, but ki would fit the name better. Those who are able to awaken their innate ki, just like Joker, are called Ki Masters. They are quite rare in this day and age.']
['And there you have it, folks! Joker isn't using magic, but ki! The fight shall go on for Joker!']
Surprising, anyone would think that he'd get disqualified. I'm learning many things in this tournament. Ki. I wonder if I can unlock that. Though that could be hard, I guess.
«At your current level, accessing ki would be a tad bit difficult.»
Oh, I see. Wait, Ai, did your way of speaking change?
«I am currently analyzing your memories to make it so that conversation is easier between the two of us. If I may ask, what is the game called, Harem Gakkō?»
Harem Gakkō? Did I ever play such a game? Let's see... I do remember playing a school harem game which was 18+...
Ai, you don't need to know about that.
«Ah, so you're like them. Pervert.»
That felt like an arrow pierced my heart.
«But I analyzed, in your memories, that when a girl calls a boy, "pervert," then they get happy and start bleeding from the nose.»
I bet that she scanned my memories on anime girls and anime. Learning can be hard, even for an all-knowing being like Ai.
The battle went on, and more and more people gradually started to get knocked out. Arcana was doing good, but one could tell that she was starting to get tired. Her uneven daggers made it all hard too. One side of her body would feel more fatigue than the other mostly because of the size of one of her daggers.
There was an elf doing well too. Just like in games and anime, elves had long, silky, blonde hair and blue eyes. His attire was mostly green too. Using two elven type daggers, he was demolishing his opponents. The daggers were curved and compacted. They looked hella weird.
Joker was fighting with a spear and his ki. He cloaked his spear with lightning and swiftly swiped at his opponents. They couldn't avoid it. The skilled ones would be able to escape with a shallow cut, but they would eventually collapse. Prince Eustace explained that it was because Joker's ki corroded his opponent's ki and ruptured, causing him to faint. If someone's ki is ruptured, it isn't as serious, compared to if someone's mana core is gone. (The Ki core regenerates over time, anyways.)
The number of people descended steadily, though it took longer than the last match, until, finally, ten people were left remaining in the ring. Ah, shit, I miscounted. Eleven. Meaning that one more person had to be eliminated.
The loud beep.
Or not...
['And here we have finished! I'm sure some of you are good at maths, but I'm not! Even so, I can tell that eleven people are standing in the ring after this match finished and I shall tell you why!']
I guess it was intentional.
['If we have 1vs1s, then there'd be fifteen people left. Not enough for more 1vs1s, so for Group-B and Group-C, we're having eleven people pass.']
Oh, if that's it, then it makes sense. So people in Group-B and Group-C have it easier than those in Group-A. Cool. I have an easier chance at surviving then.
['It's been twenty-six minutes in total, and we have finally reached the threshold of eleven people! Let's see who the eleven people, who survived, are!']
The camera changed to selective people.
['Participant #0111, Jack! Participant #1023, Hana Wilheim! Participant #1499, Joker! Participant #0951, Azaroth Raft! Participant #1170, Arcana Nox! Participant #0342, Quila! Participant #1286, X! Participant #0239, Ingroft! Participant #1398, Nul! Participant #0554, Daniel! And finally, Participant #1178, Skull! These eleven were the lucky ones to survive the Group-B stage!']
As his shout became an echo, clapping filled the atmosphere. I could see Arcana shaking from the number of people watching her. Never knew she had stage fright.
['We'll take a fifteen minutes break as we take time to clear up the bodies on the arena floor. We're taking up an extra five minutes to clear them up since there're more big participants in this group.']
After that fifteen minutes, it would be my turn. God. Fucking hell, I'm nervous. Since I was a hikikomori in my previous life, events like this are scary. Walking in public was already good enough–I've gotten used to it now–but having to fight in front of god knows how many people... Just the thought makes me want to puke!
Sadly, I can't run away now. For the money, I shall win the group stage and place top five in this tournament!