For the second round of the third stage, and before anyone noticed, Danny teleported Alya once more to the arena.
It was her time to shine in a fight against Ishtar.
Danny sighed deeply as he wasn't ready to look at the monitor in the room. Alay was strong, but there was no way she would win against that damned Baal demoness.
"Why do you look so hopeless? Are you still bitter about that time she rejected your proposal to join us?"
Chaos asked Danny, and the white-haired demon felt like he was struck a critical hit.
"You tried recruiting her? I never heard of that. How badly did it go?"
Marcuse asked his purple-eyed brother, who lifted his head and looked at him with scorn.
"She bit her lip, so I'm fairly certain she had conflicted feelings about it, but she answered that Chaos and any other high-level demon who chooses to support whatever scheme I'm planning instead of supporting their clan is a despicable fool who deserves nothing but death."
Danny answered and shot a bitter look at the girl on the screen.
A pretty girl with somewhat dark skin, at least darker than his pale self, with red eyes, cow horns, and black hair.
The existence of her fan club was understandable, and even Danny felt slight admiration for her. She might be a fool when it comes to her allegiance, but she was a talented genius in every other regard.
Her rejection seemed like a rejection from a fellow comrade who went through similar experiences to Chaos and Danny in his early life. It made him want to see when she would break and join him.
********
At this point in the tournament, the announcer wasn't surprised by Alya teleporting into the arena and just preceded the introductions.
"In round two of the tournament's third stage, we have Ishtar of the Baal Clan! She will be fighting the idol of the second-years, Alya!"
The announcer called, and many cheers were heard.
Looking at this audience, Danny sighed deeply.
Are two girls fighting really such a great thing to watch?
Looking at Danny's face, Alaparos cleared his throat before he answered with a deep and clear voice that didn't show even slight wavering.
"Yes. It is."
Danny was impressed by his companion's conviction and looked back at the screen.
"Are you two ready?"
The announce asked, and the two opponents nodded.
Alya was about to launch at her opponent with a punch, but before she even lifted her legs from the ground, her legs were grabbed by vines that held her tightly.
"What is this?!"
The green-haired senior was shocked.
Were these vines always there? Did she invade their home?
Before she could ask any of those questions, she was pushed by a giant vine that erupted out of the ground and drove her beyond the edge of the arena.
As Danny predicted, Alya lost.
"The winner of the second match in the third stage of the tournament is Ishtar of the Baal Clan!"
The announcer proclaimed.
And the cheers of Ishtar's fan club were loud and clear.
********
Alya returned to the preparation room with a saddened expression.
"You did a great job getting this far."
Without her asking him, this time, it was Alaparos who praised her from his own accords.
Alya cleared a few of the tears that welled up under her eyes and hugged him tightly.
His reddening face made everyone else in the room chuckle.
********
An Oni entered the arena with his katana unsheathed and the air around as cold as frost.
The announcer shuddered as he saw the approaching participant.
The different aura surrounding Momotaro surprised all spectators but Danny.
Momotaro's previous opponents were acquaintances of Danny, whom Momotaro spared out of respect, but this miserable and unlucky soul wasn't.
Momotaro's opponent was a first-year, who, by luck, fought only the weakest among the participants in the tournament.
He entered the tournament on a dare and didn't lose since.
"Round three of the tournament's third stage! Momotaro, heir to the Oni Clan! Against Lucius of the Greek Clan!"
The announcer called.
"Are you two ready?"
The announcer asked, and before he even got an answer, Momotaro appeared in front of his opponent with a murderous stare.
"Give up, now! If you proceed, I shall advise you to abandon all hope."
The Oni said with his sword pointed at the other demon's neck.
Lucius looked at the audience as he thought of what he should do.
He was weak and knew that. That's why he couldn't argue against that dumb dare.
He looked at the audience and saw the faces of his friends, who were cheering him on. And his crush, who was watching these fights.
He couldn't come off as a coward!
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."
He said with newfound determination.
"Fine. Just don't complain that I didn't warn you."
Momotaro said and returned to his side of the arena.
"Hmm. I'll ask again. Are you two ready?"
The announcer asked.
Both opponents nodded, and the fight began.
Before Momotaro even took a single step, Lucius put both hands together and chanted.
"Oi Prógonoi Mou Dínoun Fos!"
And light covered the arena.
He tried blinding his opponent but to no avail. Momotaro didn't need to see to fight.
In a mere second, he was stabbed in the side of his stomach.
Blood gushed out of the wound.
"Don't worry. So long as you get treatment, you'll live. You chose to fight with impressive determination, so I decided to let you live."
Momotaro said to him and cleaned his sword before sheathing it.
To get more supporters, Momotaro needed to drop his demon-hunting ways and show honor to those who act valiantly.
"The winner of the match is Momotaro, heir to the Oni Clan!"
The announcer called, and the crowd cheered.
Momotaro looked at a specific corner in the crowd, where Lucius looked to garner strength and saw a crying girl.
This Lucius seemed like a lucky guy.
Momotaro couldn't help but crack a smile and crouched down to tell his opponent another thing.
"That girl you looked at. I think she likes you too. And after you heal, if you still didn't choose who you'll support, I'll save you a spot by my side."
The Oni said and finally left the arena.
Lucius was surprised.
He has a chance with the girl he likes, and his opponent offered for him to join him?!
This must be his lucky day!