With the pace finally beginning to pick up for an increasingly explorative Miscreant, his gears are working overtime to sort out all that's been happening in the past however-long. He's had plenty of time to reflect on what's been learned, and in that, has found it easier than ever to adapt to the new life ahead of him. However it would come, there was only room to gain, especially if Lyric would be the one to light his way.

And now, with a horizon of new opportunities peeking over the world's edge, a showdown for the ages marks the true beginning of it all.

"Hey, up and at it, already! Today's the day, Blue, and I'm not letting your sleeping in be what takes it away from me!"

If Lyric's shouting hadn't woken him, his covers practically getting ripped off definitely did. The loss of that comfy, cozy warmth and its replacement with the bitter air of reality reminded him that this was definitely real life. With that knowledge, morning crankiness took a swift kick out of his head.

Today, he had something to prove, and shallow comfort wouldn't help him with any of that.

"Damn straight!" Kyoya sprung up out of bed, very nearly bashing his head on an overhanging lantern. He stood tall atop the cot, a cross-armed glare out the window giving him all he needed to know.

Banners with shields, spears, crossed swords and more all flew bravely amidst an even more bustling landscape than the day prior. Vastly larger transport units passed in droves, all appearing to congregate around an absolutely enormous Colosseum. It stood even taller than the castle, but, granted the shape, it still lost out in terms of covered area—even if that was still massive in its own.

Nothing shy of every part of him was suddenly frothing to get inside.

"Happy to see I'm not the only one raring to go. Now hurry up and get your greaves on, and leave anything you won't need for the fight here. We can come back later, so for now, play like you've got nothin' to lose."

The Miscreant hopped down from bed and fastened them on, leaving his shoes in the armor's place. "Joke's on you; I didn't bring anything but those other clothes, and I doubt they're dry anyway."

Lyric eyed him with her hands at her hips, looking up and down with devilish contempt. "Hmm... Y'know, you don't look half bad in some real gear. Put on a show today, and people might excuse the wacky look."

The boy tried his best to pull a counter from something, but, he had no luck. Lyric's outfit was virtually the same, the only difference being the girl's greaves covering her legs to the upper knee, only a few inches below where her skirt cut off. He couldn't get anything out of that.

"Four-three, your point. Buzz off."

"Ha! What can I say? I'm a natural."

"We'll see: this win is gonna put me up ten points, anyway... So let's get headed already!"

"If nothing else, I'll credit you for having spunk, but that'll only get you so far... Follow me if you've got it in you!"

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Kyoya was in the middle of laughing off her taunt when she slipped over to the window and opened it. She turned to him and gave a sly-eyed salute, stepping up and falling back with her arms out wide.

He stood for a moment.

"Oh, right. She uses air. Duh."

"Twenty points if I beat you there, Blue! The win won't matter if you can't make it to begin with!"

The Miscreant was jumping out with total, reckless abandon.

He wasn't too far from the ground, as their only being on the second story made for a soft enough landing, not requiring the use of breaking his fall with fire. Lyric may have gained a sizeable lead on him, but with the road being a straight shot to whatever kind of arena this was, he was more than confident in his raw speed alone to stand a fighting chance.

"You'll regret sayin' that when I end up with thirty! Enjoy your little headstart, 'cause here I come!"

Blue blazes trailed a fiery-eyed Kyoya as he found himself in a mad dash behind his partner. There was at least a mile to run, but those were rookie numbers if it meant having a double-digit deficit in his never-ending battle with the Seraph.

He caught up quickly enough, but just as he did, a burst of air left nothing but dust in the wake. Her speed, at least when she looked serious, was unreal.

The starting sprint was only the first of their obstacles, though. Once they'd gotten off the castle grounds, it was straight into the market district. And, of course, the very first thing to come about was a carriage passing right across the road.

Lyric's pace saw no change.

Kyoya winced moments before her impact, but shook it off when he watched her vault clean over it with her staff. Deciding then and there that he wouldn't win this by pulling his punches, Kyoya leapt over after her, landing at almost the same time on account of having jumped with more distance and less height.

Now, the race was even...

...Or, about as even as it could have been, anyway.

"Not bad, Blue! Let's see how you keep up, now!" She blasted ahead again, but now, a blistering determination kept their stride right in line. Onlookers stared as racers of blue and gray sped past, offering the weary eyes of travelers a sight like no other.

The track was filling up with more and more obstacles as they flew on. He was ducking under carts and jumping stands sooner than he could think, a glance to his side showing Lyric doing the same. Even if it was nearly twenty meters from side to side, there was hardly any room to run freely without blowing through something.

Their tactics evolved from foot-racing to a series of rapid jumps from cart to carriage, then to cart again, sometimes having to chance a quick rooftop run if there wasn't enough of a window to keep up pace.

They were still neck and neck, proceeding past the thicker end of the market district, landing them on clearer terrain.

As the setting around them morphed into that of a rolling domain, the pair burned past beautiful districts he'd definitely have to visit later. They all revealed spectators flocking to the road's edges to wave and cheer to the passing pair.

They'd shredded half the race now, and with nothing more than a wide open path ahead of them, he couldn't help but feel that it was inviting him to tilt things in his favor.

"Don't take this personally, but I'm not all that keen on being down twenty off the bat. Hold this for me!" Kyoya broke ahead by springing into a leap. While he had the brief lead, he built up a blistering pressure in his palms and sent a sphere of embers her way.

A direct hit ensued, but if it did anything to hinder her speed, it wasn't evident. If anything, she seemed to only get faster after that.

"Man, if I'd known playing dirty was on the table, this thing would already be over! I admire your guts, so I'll give you a taste of my Burst as an appetizer! Here's to eating my dust, newbie—that'll be the main course!"

Her polearm manifested in mid-stride, and the very first thing she did was throw it like a javelin, aimed dead between his eyes.