The light at the end of the tunnel, the sounds of the crowd going wild! This is the arena of life where one’s fate is decided! This where she’ll face her greatest challenge yet!

– Oh my, did it rain yesterday? – Katsumi observed the wet trees as she got off of the bus.

High school was only a few streets away from the bus stop and she arrived early today. She wasted no time and ran as fast as she could. A smile sat on her face.

Although yesterday’s events were a bit hazy, she knew her new best friend probably has some stories to tell. And how excited she was! She can finally be part of the conversation and through this experience she might just meet some new friends!

Giggling like a little girl, she turned around the corner to see a tall shadow block the road. As she looked up a veiny red eye met her gaze.

– Hehe, pretty girl ready to fight!

– H-Huh? – she recoiled, quickly jumping away from the giant.

She was in the middle of the dusty arena. Nasturtium stood before her, picking his nose.

– What the… what did just…

– Ready? Ehehe!

The crowd went wild over Katsumi’s unforeseen approach! Gladiolus had yet to hit the final gong and she was already on the other side of the arena. Unsure whether to apologize or run away, she took a few steps back and looked at the cultist leader.

He had his black robe on with the purple lines, resembling every cruse he’s gotten. A sign of dignity he was so proud of, all had to see his pretties, even when they were covered.

The Gladiolus was going crazy. The old man screamed in an excited laughter. He had no idea Katsumi was this brave! Even though she wasn’t, he was oblivious of the strange visions Katsumi experienced.

Gong! Gong-gong-gong-gong, he banged the large bronze plate as hard as he could.

– Did he do something to me? – Katsumi wavered, but quickly forgot about her thoughts as Nasturtium got a step closer.

He was more than four times larger than the girl! Fortunately for Kats, the giant had a strange posture. Something was off about his back, he had a stoop and his upper body had an almost banana-like bend.

But even then, he was clearly a very powerful and fearsome enemy.

– Ehehe, are you scared?

– Scared? Do I look scared? – she forced a laugh. – Pfff, I’m perfectly fine, I was just about to ask the same!

– Why would I be scared?

– Well, I already killed one of your stronger buddies! You’ll just be a walk in the park, nothing more!

– Madonna killed Liatris! Are you trying to take her win?

– Wait, what?

Madonna still sat by the same table drinking wine. She was a bit hard to make out from all the bottles beside her, but when Katsumi eventually met her gaze, she innocently waved and smiled.

– Motherfucker… he was one of her men! Why would she…

– Look at me! – the giant shouted, startling Katsumi and exciting the crowd even more. – You’re fighting Nasturtium, yes? Look at Nasturtium!

Drool fell all over the ground as he roared.

– Can’t you wait? God damn it, you’re way more fucking annoying than Glechoma thought!

– Huh? Who do you think you are, talking to a Finger like that?

– Boohoo! What now? You gonna’ cry? Should I call mommy to bring you home? The mean lady upset your feeling?

– I’m going to stomp you!

– Then bring it on, asshat! Show me how much of a fucking loser you are!

– ‘Train Tackle’!

Nasturtium charged her, gaining momentum faster than a hunting leopard! His shoulder split the air with the sound of steam escaping a train’s horn. Such a powerful attack could surely end a smaller being’s life.

– ‘Spirit Pot’! – she ran towards giant. – I’ll rise above this ramen of fate as steam escaping the pot!

Screaming, thumping and whistling deafened all that could hear. Gladiolus almost fell to the arena from excitement. It was his right hand, the quiet ‘titanette’ that grabbed his shoulder and put him back in his throneish chair.

Nasturtium didn’t consider Katsumi’s height. Even though his shoulder was a deadly and relentless weapon, it meant nothing to the cunning Katsumi, who slid through between his legs, spinning as the pot appeared in her hand.

The giant charged straight into the wall, shaking the coliseum.

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– Ehehaha! We’re playing catch?

Blood sprayed out of his foot as he tried to move. As Katsumi’s the pot appeared before, it sliced right through his flesh!

Katsumi’s confidence rose seeing Nasturtium almost fall to the ground, though it all quickly vanished as he rebalanced himself and looked at her with a manic smile.

– I’m gonna’ get ya! I’m gonna’ get ya!

He ran towards the girl with both his arms extended out. Katsumi took a few steps back, readying for another attack.

– Come on little piggy! Oink oink oink! Run from me, run!

Just as Nasturtium was about to grab her, Katsumi jumped away, stabbing the back of his palm. It was a small wound, a really small one. She hissed at the disappointing sight and slowly backed off, facing the giant without pause.

– ‘Spirit Pot’…

– I didn’t feel it! I didn’t feel a thing! Ehaheha! ‘Train Tackle’, let’s go!

Katsumi aimed between his legs again. As the giant’s attack gained speed, so did she. Once again, Kats got to the ground and slid through the dirt and dust, but this time…

– Eyaheha! Catch!

The titan abruptly stopped his charge and kicked the Katsumi right in the stomach! The tremendous force sent her flying towards the nearest wall!

Her body bounced off the stone, straight to the ground. An apple and two pears manifested above her head and quickly flew into the pot. The lid rumbled as the escaping steam tried to push it off.

Katsumi slowly got up to see the giant grinning.

– Is that your last food? Or meal! Last… dinner! Ehah, already giving up?

– Nah, just thought I’d give you a nice parting gift before sending your ugly face to hell!

– Oh yeah? Your face looks stupid!

– At least it’s just my face and not my entire body like yours!

– My body is good, you are fat!

– Preschoolers have better comebacks then you!

– Gahh! You look like a worm if it… if… if that… fuck you! Now die!

Ding! Katsumi’s soup was ready.

– Now let’s see just how stupid you are…

– ‘Double Fisted Train Smash’!

He put together both fists and used it like a hammer! He charged the attack up and smashed down to Katsumi, who ran at the titan and stabbed him in the leg with her knife!

The weird angle Nasturtium had to attack from lessened his power, but that wasn’t enough to stop it from landing. Katsumi lunged at his knee and he followed her with both fist, awkwardly squeezing the girl between his arms and legs.

– Gyaahah! – he burst out in pain and fell to the ground.

Katsumi stumbled away from him. Her nose bled as she fell on her knees and quickly drank the soup.

– You little bitch! Did you bite me? Gaah, it hurts!

Katsumi calmly looked at him and wiped some of the blood away.

– It was you. I held the knife against your shin. You hammered it inside the bone. Credit where credit’s due, dumbass.

– I’ll kill you!

– Nuh-uh-uh! – she raised her index finger. – Try charging me now and you’ll just make things worse. The knife in your leg… you probably can’t get it out, right? Huh, what a loser. Give up now and I might just spare you.

– You… you… you! Are you from this school?

– Huh?

It was a brown little girl in a blue uniform, wearing a red tie. She had a small bag in her hands.

– Are you from around? We just moved here with my parents. I’m from Turkey! Are you in high school too? Our uniforms match! What grade are you in?

– W-What? Who are you? Where… am I?

It was a small street right next to a tunnel. The houses were small and cozy. The cars parked around them were cheap and comfortably small.

She was a street away from her old school.

– I don’t know the street names yet, so sorry! I can’t help!

– What the… uh… what was your name again?

– My name is /////// ////.

– I’m… I’m sorry, could you please repeat?

– Sure! My name is /////// ////! Nice to meet you!

‘I… I can’t understand what she’s saying! What’s happening? Why am I back here?’

– Uhm… look, kid, I don’t know what’s happening, but…

She was in the front yard of her school. Small, purple flowers decorated the path to the building. Students walked in and out, but none of them had faces, only a colorless, chaotic void.

– Wait, is that…

– No way… she is the girl that…

– Oh, I can’t wait to…

Some of the students made remarks as she approached them, but none of them seemed to actually do anything. They just had a voice repeating the same words over and over again. Some of them were just laughs and weird noises.

– Hey, can you hear me? – Katsumi grabbed one of the student’s shoulder. – I don’t know what’s happening, could you please…

The skin around her wrist turned red. A weird sensation rushed through her body as the mark of a hand appeared as if burnt into her flesh. She quickly pulled away rushed into the building.

Entering the door, she hit her head in the arena wall.

– Ehaheha, what are you doing? Are you insane?

– What the- What the hell is happening?

– Hey! Hey! – a large shadow darkened the wall. – Who’s the stupid now?

– Huh?

Gritting his teeth together, Nasturtium stood up. He was just right behind her! The surprised Katsumi was too late to evade from the incoming attack. His fists were already flying towards her.

– ‘Train Squash’! Die, worthless bug!

Just as his fist was about to hit her, Katsumi screamed out.

– Get the fuck away from me!

As if something had just exploded, Nasturtium’s gargantuan arm was blown away. It was almost thorn off! The confused giant stepped away from the rapidly panting Katsumi.

– My… secret… surprise attack… it won’t work anymore.

– Only Liatris can create such attacks with his voice! How… how did copy his ability?

– Well… let’s just say – Katsumi cracked her neck – he gave it to me as a parting gift.

Nasturtium got back into his fighting stance. His expression changed, almost as if his confidence just wavered.

– You stole the ability of a dead man! Do you know no respect?

– Shut up with that fake heroism and fight.

– Huh? You dare order me around? Little piggy! Ehahaha, I will…

Katsumi ran at the giant as fast as she could. Nasturtium was caught off-guard and couldn’t raise his defense in time, which Katsumi used for another screaming attack.

– I said, shut up!

The giant got pushed away by the burst of sound, but he managed to stay on his legs. On the other hand, Katsumi fell on her knees. Hardly catching any air, she sounded like an exhausted horse.

‘These attacks consume too much stamina. I really can’t fuck around or my lungs might explode!’

– Ehaheha, are you tired, little worm?

Nasturtium confidently laughed. To his surprise, the crowd didn’t make a sound.

– What’s that? Come on now! Laugh!

Looking downwards, their silence gained reason. The explosion Katsumi caused hurt the giant. His chest turned completely red from all the scars blood slowly leaked out from. His bones too, they looked… weird. Deformed.

As he tried to narrow his back, a piercing pain assaulted his lungs. He screamed from the agonizing stabs, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Katsumi slowly got up from her knees, laughing at her opponent. Nasturtium gave her an upset look, to which Katsumi laughed even harder. And harder. And then she coughed. And she coughed even more.

And blood came out from her mouth.

– You… you hurt yourself to hurt me? – Nasturtium yelled.

– Yeah. – *cough* – And – *cough cough* – I’ll do it again. – she smiled.

– I’ll kill you!

– All bark, no bite? Come on now! Be a big boy and show me what you got!

But below the confident persona her thoughts were all but collected. She feared the fight’s outcome, she feared getting hurt and most of all, she feared what the weird hallucinations might lead to.

‘But even now, even if I’m scared shitless… I cannot back down! I have to face the evils of this world and erase them altogether! For I am Momo Katsumi, the Battlecook!’