”Testing is the process of evaluating a system or its component(s) with the intent to find whether it satisfies the specified requirements or not" - unknown

Operation Menu: Phase Lunch (D-140 hours)

Indigo stood in a gray-walled arena adorned with banners of various colors hanging from the walls. Standing at the center of a hexagonal fighting ring, he observed Estelle positioned near the edge, muttering something barely audible under her breath. The ring itself was encased by sturdy steel bars, its surface marred by dried bloodstains and traces of ichor.

Continuing her steady clockwise pace around Indigo, Estelle's chanting gradually amplified in volume.

"In girum imus nocte et consumimur igni!" she chanted, her words resonating through the arena.

The rest of the Thornewoods, including Triumph the dog, sat in the seating area.

“What’s fearless leader up to now?” asked Heather yawning as she rubbed the sand from her eyes.

Tauru, who sat between her and the dog, shrugged.

“I think Boss Kitty is jumping in someone new,” T.C. said.

“Finally,” she replied. "We need new blood."

Upon completing the sixth circuit around Indigo, Estelle abruptly halted her movement. From her person, she retrieved a pair of sleek black steel punch daggers, which resided alongside a trench dagger tucked securely into her belt.

The hair on the back of Triumph’s neck stood up as he began to utter a low growl. Heather adjusted her glasses, her demeanor focused.

"Witch sight...greater level," she murmured, as her eyes glowed brightly.

In an instant, an array of charts and numerical figures materialized above and around Estelle and Indigo, visible only to Heather's enhanced perception.

“Finished with your circle of death?” asked Indigo.

Estelle furrowed her brow and remained silent.

Meanwhile, Heather maintained her watchful gaze on the unfolding battle, observing as the numerical values displayed above the combatants started to fluctuate. Pointing towards Estelle, she conjured a chart adjacent to her figure. Five separate windows emerged, each containing a list of skill names. These names were encompassed by green outlines, while certain boxes outlined in red indicated a zero value. By splaying her fingers around one of the boxes, Heather employed her scanning ability to delve into the green-highlighted information.

“She’s using banned assassin skills from last season,” Heather said.

“Right…Azawakh sight,” Triumph said, his eyes began to emit a similar glow to Heather’s.

“That’s guy,” T.C. said pointing to Indigo. “Said it wouldn’t be fair if Boss Kitty fought as a rank three battle make since he’s level five custom class.”

“Oh, he’s toast,” Tauru said.

“Nope,” the dog said. “Master has never bled once in combat.”

Heather, Tauru, Whisper, and T.C. all stared at the dog. Heather pointed to Indigo and brought up his skill tree.

"Ah, heck," Heather said, followed by a nervous laugh. "He has seven hidden abilities."

"What are you talking about?" asked T.C. "You forgot I only joined last season."

Heather sighed and said, "Let me see if I can remember this correctly. When you add points to one of your class skills, there's a potential to unlock other hidden abilities that can carry over to the next season or if you change battle classes."

Triumph added, "That's right, and once a hidden ability is found, it's locked out for everyone else."

"In four seasons, Estelle has only managed to find four," Tauru said. "Just having one is enough to tip the balance of a battle."

Estelle reached into a pocket of her dress and popped a grape into her mouth. Carefully studying him, she spat out a seed towards Indigo.

"Shall we finally begin?" Indigo asked. "What time would you like?"

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She shrugged and popped another seed into her mouth, and then spat out another seed.

“Thirty seconds,” Estelle said lowering her head and backing up to the edge of the cage.

“Thirty seconds? There’s no way, you need more time!” Heather said shouting towards the arena.

The countdown began…

Estelle and Indigo shifted their footing.

3…

Indigo said, “I’ve heard of your legendary…”

2…

“Demon Core build and…”

1…

“Wanted to see it up close, Est…”

0…

Behind Indigo, the steel cage bowed outward towards the seats, and Estelle suddenly appeared in the center of the depression that had formed. Her arrival was accompanied by a loud crack. Directly in front of him, the image of Estelle still lingered, grinning at him. It appeared she was in two places at once, but the image in front of him gradually faded away in a hazy fashion. The sleeves of her dress were shredded, showing off four diamonds on her arm, one of which was slightly faded.

Indigo turned around and firmly grasped his staff with both hands. A trickle of blood dripped from his ear. Triumph growled and started emanating a white glow.

"Stop, Triumph. This is a one-on-one duel," Indigo said, turning to face Estelle.

The radiant aura surrounding Triumph subsided, and the countdown clock ticked down to 00:25:33.

"It doesn't matter if your doggo heals you," Estelle said, her feet gripping the bars of the cage. "It won't make a difference."

Indigo twirled his staff rapidly until it transformed into a solid blur. The cage resonated with a loud dent, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of metal meeting metal. Once again, Estelle seemed to materialize in two separate locations simultaneously.

He pivoted on the balls of his feet, swiftly turning to face her once more. Another diamond faded away.

00:18:13

"Super Positioning is incredibly swift," Heather explained. "However, it exacts a toll on the user, and once the attack has commenced, no healer can mend the damage."

"Ruh-roh she’s in fur it now," the dog exclaimed. "That's why he's gonna redirect her next attack!"

Indigo aimed his staff directly at her, causing it to vibrate with intense energy. A gust of wind erupted from the weapon, hurtling towards Estelle. The powerful blast struck the cage with tremendous force, tearing through the bars and sending shards of metal flying out into the surrounding seats.

00:15:44

Another indention appeared followed by Estelle holding on to the cage.

“Two moves and it’s over,” Estelle said.

He fired another blast toward her, and the image evaporated into shabby shadows.

Indigo swiftly flipped his staff around, aiming it in the opposite direction from where Estelle had vanished. The sheer force of his action tore through more of the cage, causing it to crumble further.

"Predictable," Indigo remarked. "I was hoping to be impressed by the..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Estelle materialized just beneath the area where the wind blast had detonated. She released her Katar punch dagger and extended her index and middle finger, pointing them toward the ring floor. A maniacal laughter escaped her lips. Indigo's gaze darted around, surveying the extent of the damage, and his eyes widened in astonishment.

“You win,” Indigo said taking a knee and pressing his fist into the floor. “I’m pounding out.”

The clock stopped at 00:06:66.

Estelle descended gracefully and retrieved her weapons, sheathing them. She approached Indigo and extended her delicate hand toward him. Indigo accepted the gesture, allowing her to help him back on his feet.

"There's no way I could have won if you had completed your pentagrammic seal, but I have one question," Indigo inquired. "How did I miss?"

Estelle playfully nudged him and directed his attention toward his staff and his foot. From the floor, a slender vine, no thicker than a pinky finger, sprouted and coiled itself around his foot and the end of his staff.

"Well, that certainly explains a lot," he remarked, extending his arm towards her. “No wonder why that build got banned.”

She gladly accepted his gesture, intertwining her arm with his, and together they walked out of the arena. The rest of the Thornewoods joined them outside the arena.

Estelle said, "The build wasn't banned, but the Superposition skill is. Make no mistake; it does just as much damage to the user as it does to the intended target. Precision is critical, otherwise one will simply launch themselves right out of the arena."

Indigo surveyed the damage to the cage, "I can see why."

Estelle crossed her arms and turned to T.C., who began shuffling his feet.

She asked, her voice tinged with a hint of urgency, "How's the assault plan on the Iron Mine going? The next round is in six days."

"I... I... should have the plans done in a few days, and then we'll immediately jump into training," T.C. stammered, his anxiety evident.

"Good. I'd like to see the brief once it's completed. Do you require any assistance?" she inquired, her tone emphasizing her concern.

"What... no, I'm good, Boss Kitty," he blurted out, his words rushed.

Estelle turned and walked away, leaving T.C. feeling even more jittery. She left the rest of the gang there alone in the arena.

"Not much of a strategic advantage we would gain from taking the mines. Why there?" Indigo questioned, noticing T.C.'s unease.

T.C. shrugged, his voice wavering, and replied, "No idea, but all I know is that we need to take it at all costs."

***