> Of nature, of necessity. Of the utmost note, we find.

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Leading the way at a pace decent yet hurried, the young prince walked through the halls of the Coliseum, along with the four peers of himself he had beckoned to follow him.

《Proceeding now are the champions…》

The latter of which followed behind at a steady rate, not carrying the same degree of seeming urgency, notable by Wok’s relaxed procession and Noot’s whistling.

《With haste in their feet as they move…》

Meanwhile, Probacon's mind was flooded with a thousand thoughts, all related to their destination, and what he deemed to be the needless mystery about it. Where are we going? Seems like it’s still some distance…

《But one is especially troubled…》

Also…why isn't David saying much about it? Is he waiting till we get there?

He then looked at David who was ahead pf him. Is there something in relation to the search we're gonna deal with? ‘Cause if so…why not just tell!? What's with the suspense?!

"We'll be there soon enough, so curb your rush.” David relayed as he read the Djin like a book, who in turn was jolted by the unseen response.

He then slumped forward with closed eyes and a glumly face, allowing his arms to sway every which way. "Hm? What's up, Probro?" Wok asked as he noticed the change of mood.

"...Forget it,” said a defeated Probacon as he shrugged.

"If it's about where we're headed, you might have an idea already." "Aha! So it is about the operation!,” whispered Probacon, looking to prevent David’s hearing of this commune, but simultaneously confusing the Ghouling. "Yeah…wait, why are we whispering?"

"'Cause…,” replied Probacon, with the successive action of nudging his head in the direction of the prince.

"...You know he can hear you though, yes?" Wok responded with a side glare of pure disbelief. "Psssh. No way. I don't think he's THAT adept."

"That would be correct, Wok.” David spoke with a slight turn of head, drawing another jumping reaction from the Djin. "You can do that?!"

"A Nafiman's senses are beyond the human norm.”

"...Besides that, where are we going? Why the mystery? And why are you walking so fast?"

"You know you don't really gain much from being silent about it."

"That would also be correct. However, I have my reasons…" David responded mysteriously, avoiding any proper answers.

All of a sudden he stopped upon approaching a left turn. He held up a clenched fist to indicate his allies halt as well, and they followed suit.

"We're here. Proceed cautiously" He said, receiving affirmations to his request from the others.

The group made the turn, taking into view the likes of Kai, Purogu, Yurupt and Umbra, all standing about the very portal they had uncovered.

"Oooh! A portal!” Wok said excitedly with a single clap of his hands, an act which only drew the irked glares of Probacon and Noot.

David folded his arms. "Kai…what's the situation?"

"Well, chief…can't say I'm glad to know what it is…or that we know more about it. Though that second part is a good thing, I guess.” Kai replied with a nervous chuckle. Noot had moved behind him, and assessed the portal. "So, a portal to the realm of Khanshin?".

"About right." Kai responded. "Khan-what?" Probacon asked, still ever unknowing to the things of all things. David would wave a hand. "Wok, disclose it to him.”

"Aye-aye, captain!" Wok shouted in reply, and with a military salute, as he grabbed Probacon away by the arm.

David returned his attention to Kai. "So, what have you found as of now?”

"Well, so far we discovered that the prior rift in itself wasn't opened from that realm, but rather, from here…" Kai responded in a grim tone. "So it is related..."

"Strangely, we also can't pinpoint if this was its exact location of opening.” This statement stunned David, but Kai continued nevertheless. “We also found its makeup to be far more…interesting than normal ones, even considering rifts can situationally differ. Well, Yurupt found that one out."

"That's me!" Yurupt shouted while waving. "Good job, Yurupt. And everyone else.” David stated as he directed his eyes towards them.

He continued on conversing with Kai. "Any else?" "Not really. We're still working though. I do feel as Purogu should leave, considering she is yet to fight. And we still must find the specific reason behind its usel.”

"I agree with the first note. For the second…I might have a few ideas…" David stated solemnly as he looked away, leaving Kai with a confused expression. Umbra then joined the commune, looking to present something. “We also discovered…"

He opened his clenched fist, unveiling a glowing piece of a jewel of familiar properties. “This.”

"Another Brsyet Jewel piece?" David replied with probe but not surprise. "Yes."

“Then it irrevocably ties whoever was my assailant to this as well, meaning we must–." "OH! I GET IT NOW!,” exclaimed an enlightened Probacon, just interrupting the ongoing discussion.

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"Yeah. Essentially, it's literal hell. But worse” Wok orated with a nod, crouched over alongside the Djin. "Wow. Wait…who on earth runs it though? (Can't imagine having to do that…)"

"Probacon…" David interjected in a haste, drawing the attention of the crouched duo.

"If ‘he’, the one who lords over that realm, has any hand in all of this…it is best we wait to confirm.”

Probacon raised a brow. "Wait, so I can't learn what he's called?" "For the time being." "Huh? Why?"

"Because if he is involved…then we tangle with an evil far greater than the mind can ever comprehend."

Probacon gulped, with a new wave of alarm now sweeping through him as a result of those words.

"Anyway…" David said, turning to Kai's group. "Keep up the good work. I shall come again later.”

"Yeah!"

"I'll stay back to lend a hand.” Noot said. The prince showed his gratitude with a hand to the nix’s shoulder. "Mm. Thank you, Noot.”

"No need for that. We’re in the same boat at the moment, after all.” Noot responded with a nonchalant smile, to which David chuckled.

The quartet of David, Probacon, Wok and Purogu would then make their way back to the seating spaces, communing with themselves along the way.

And upon their return, Fighter had now taken seat with Kuroko, with the next bout just about to begin.

It was one contended between Adashu and Couch.

《A new challenge, one between two half-acquaintances.》

It proved itself a battle of great intensity, one where both personas showed their previously noted skills and intellect at a higher level than before. Where more bizarre occurrences would happen, like Adashu restricting the Ōyōkai with his special eyes, the shows of versatility of an Emotion Ring and the Synflow, and Couch’s victory through his unnamed Nimbus, which could seemingly accelerate the flow of time itself.

《In this contest, much took place…》 《As great capacities were explored to their fullest.》

《And many absurdities took centre stage…》

《From which a battle of wills ensued…》 《One that vibrates through the very cords of space.》

But Couch’s end-of-battle attitude would show signs of improvement, as he would raise up a fallen Adashu and leave with Jmlehvu immediately after.

《And glimmers of a brightness in the depth of his heart…》

Thereafter, there was a multitude of battles, with more victories, more losses, more deaths and punishments. But the round still proved to be of interest, as the stakes and the masses’ anticipation were beginning to go beyond their heights.

《And the show goes on.》

《Fiercely uncontainable.》

《Might and capacity are displayed…》 To their extents unknown.》

《The bouts proceed…》 《They go and they come…》

And with the final match of the round finally concluding, there was much preparation and anticipation for the next stage.

《And now… 》 《The battlers are halved yet again.》

***

During the span of some of these final battles, Probacon, Wok and Hether walked down some halls in discourse about the current states of things.

“But, I think if we had to do it, it'd have to be one of you two…” Hether said, looking at the two, much to the disimpressing of Probacon. “Why are you looking at us like that?” “What even is it, anyways?,” inquired a truly naive and forgetting Wok.

“No way you forgot that early!!” Probacon exclaimed in shock. But Hether noticed something, or someone more precisely. “Wait, guys!...Look…”

Bora walked with a noble spring in their direction, at a pace of great steadiness.

The three stared at him intrigued, noting his actions.

“Ah, hello, young ones!” He exclaimed upon catching sight of them. “Urk! Hello, Lord Bora…” Hether replied with an avulsion of eye contact, followed suit by the others. And to the demigod, this was rather perplexing. “Is all well? (Your aversions are rather bizarre.)”

“Nothing really…” Wok stated with eyes appearing to have been struck by an emotion. “Just…you're very pleasing to behold…” His last phrase drew a dual stare of great antagonism from his fellow allies, but laughs from Bora himself. “Oh, my! Well, how truly I'm flattered.”

“But nevertheless, I must head away. May we meet again.” He said as he began to walk away. “Wait!” Probacon exclaimed.

“Hm?” Bora asked, turning to face the three again. “Ah…well…” Probacon began to mutter, scratching his head and avoiding eye contact.

“You see…” He continued, whilst Bora kept staring at him, with expressions slowly shifting into irritated gestures.

Probacon gulped, knowing the risk of asking this certain being. But being ever curious, and ever willing to inquire and learn, he took his chance.

“Do you…know of any happenings of this tournament?” He asked without fail. His two peers would react with astonished jumps.

“Hahaha! Sorry, please pay him no heed!” Hether stated hurriedly, nervously attempting to water down Probacon's words. “Yeah! This little fella's just a big ol’ joker! A-aren't you, faw!?” Wok added in a similar manner. Bora just stared at them, befuddled by their reactions.

“Wait! I have my reasons!!” Probacon yelled, as the other two dug their hands into and stretched various parts of his face in an attempt to pull him back as Hether whispered in an annoyed tone. “That's not the point here! You're not supposed to tell anyone.” “But–.” “Yes.” Bora finally responded.

“…You just said ‘yes’, yes?,” asked a perplexed Probacon. “Yes, young Djin. I'm all too familiar with the current.” Bora responded as he rolled up his sleeve.

He raised the exposed arm to his torso, so that the three’s focus was on it. And their collective shock was evident, as what they saw was the now scarred, mildly grotesque but healing arm of Bora's. Clear indications of a mauling.

“What the-!? How?!!” Wok inquired with an exclamation point. “Assaulted by strange agents, of an unknown nature, even to myself.”

“I believe this means you three at least…are perhaps occupied with uncovering these shadowy notions?” He questioned the still bundled trio, who were all but slow to respond. “Uhh…”

They then created measurable distances between one another. “Pfft. Right. Us, solve what we don't understand…” Hether noted with a nervous scoff, looking to the other direction with hands akimbo. “Y-yeah. And something we can't do much ‘bout,” added Wok, nervously looking up with his hand scratching his neck. “T-true…” Probacon stated, looking down and swivelling his left leg on a spot. “Hmm, a shame…” Bora said somberly.

But once again he spoke, drawing all their attentions. “Well, if you do involve yourself in this sinister mess…”

“Place caution of who you suspect,...and who you trust.”

Their nervousness left them, becoming moods of grim dispositions. “For looks can deceive,...and eyes can fail…”

He turned around, beginning to take his leave. “Decipher with frugality, and grasp the initiative…”

“I shall see you…soon enough…once again…” He finished, walking towards the place of the gates, searing his words onto the minds of those three…

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