The five members of Team Z.X.
They are: Noa, Émilia, Nicolas, Ranta and Hajime.
They will have to choose the 5 members of their team who will participate in the next stage, after the end of the first match.
But for now…
3 minutes earlier
In an ancient city, still located within the territory of the Kingdom of Garion, Émilia walks alone through an abandoned alley.
She holds a pure metal scythe.
The sound of her boots echoes on the cracked pavement, creating a heavy resonance through the ruins.
As she walks, she notices impact marks on the walls and ground.
— It looks like this area has already been used before…
Her gaze scans the surroundings.
A faint smell of burning still lingers in the air.
— It must have been last week… judging by the damage.
She suddenly stops.
Her eyes lock onto a black stone with violet cracks.
Her grip tightens around her scythe.
The stone, previously motionless, begins to glow with a violet light.
It slowly melts in place.
At the same time, cracks spread through the pavement.
Then…
everything disappears.
Émilia frowns but continues walking nonetheless.
She advances for a while longer.
Then closes her eyes.
She stops abruptly.
And turns around in a sharp motion.
She slices a black spike emerging from the ground.
Instantly, hundreds of black spikes erupt around her, aiming to engulf her.
The ground trembles violently.
The ancient buildings collapse, raising a cloud of dust.
Émilia is thrown into the air.
But even there…
she is not safe.
A silhouette appears behind her, facing the sun, ready to strike.
Meanwhile
Hajime runs through a cave tunnel without knowing where he is.
He clenches his lens between his fingers.
— They could have at least teleported me somewhere humid… damn it.
He keeps running.
Suddenly, a massive chaotic energy emanates from the end of the tunnel.
His expression changes immediately.
He speeds up.
At the end of the passage, he enters a vast cavern with sharp walls.
A thin layer of water covers the ground.
— What a surprise…
He looks up.
A boy sits on a rock, legs crossed, cheek resting on his hand, smiling slightly.
Guy Merie. Member of Team L.K.
Black hair, fascinating gaze.
— If someone had told me my enemy would be a beastman… I wouldn't have believed it.
Hajime grits his teeth.
Veins appear on his face.
— Who are you?
The boy smiles.
His eyes shine with a magenta glow.
He raises a finger and creates a small fireball with his aura.
— I'm Guy Merie. But unfortunately… there's no point in remembering my name.
He jumps lightly and lands elegantly.
— Because you're going to die here!
Hajime slowly exhales.
He turns his lens upside down, plants it on the ground, and activates his aura.
A pale blue, almost white light emanates from him.
The ground begins to freeze slightly.
Guy tilts his head, intrigued.
— What was that for?
Hajime closes his eyes for a moment.
Then takes a combat stance.
— Die, parasite!
Meanwhile
Noa walks against the wind.
His footsteps leave deep marks in the grass.
His gaze is fixed straight ahead.
He recalls Atela's information.
"Kanix… also called 'the Orator of God'. He is an extremely mysterious man. It is said he knows all information circulating in the world."
— If this Orator really knows everything…
He stops and looks up at the sky.
The stars are becoming more and more visible.
— If there is even the slightest chance… even a tiny one… that he has information about Hades… it will already be progress.
He resumes walking.
— But first… I need to pass this selection.
He draws his sabre, slightly irritated.
— But apparently… I want to see you attack first.
Noa disappears from sight.
Tomaru, still sitting on his rock in the distance, barely changes expression.
— He's gone?… That's really annoying.
But Noa is already behind him, ready to strike.
Tomaru grabs his wrist and blocks the attack effortlessly.
A kick forces him to step back slightly.
The ground creaks under Noa's boots, without taking visible damage.
— I see you are an experienced fighter. You managed to slip behind me without me noticing immediately…
Thus are Tomaru's calm words.
Next chapter: The intersection of the antithesis