[DELEGATES REMAINING: 152]

“Alright, I am going to briefly explain the rules: This is a no-holds barred fight. Both fighters will use their abilities and engage in combat until death or incapacitation. If incapacitated, that fighter can choose to surrender their life and rights to The Grand Order. A surrender does not guarantee survival from both the opponent or The Grand Order. It is highly advised not to surrender. At the end of a ten second countdown, you are free to fight. Any of you who attempt and are caught trying to engage in battle before the countdown will be instantly eliminated and their opponent declared the winner. Let’s have a bloody and exciting fight, shall we? Game on!”

As the announcer left the arena, a tense presence took over. The audience stopped their applause, the guards and enforcers drew their guns, and my opponent stood there, menacingly. The slam of a large metal door indicated the announcer’s departure. And with that, the countdown begins.

10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…

“Mercedes…”

2…

“I am going to have fun...”

1…

“Torturing you.”

*Bzzzzzzzzzzzz*

“NO MERCY!!”

As fast as lightning, he bolted toward me with the intent to kill. I stand in place, waiting for him to get closer. I want to attack, but there’s no telling what his ability is. He’s coming closer; I need to go on the defensive…wait. Something’s happening. The environment is changing. Dark, purple clouds appear from thin air, and mountains rise from the concrete floor. Here he comes. I dodge his assault and jump away to gain distance. poison gas leaks from the cracks left behind by the mountains. So this must be his ability: to make landscapes appear in the blink of an eye. If he has control of the landscape, then I need to hide until I get a plan. Over there! That pillar is good for now. Okay, so if he can create environments, then I need to become more familiar with my…surroundings? Wait, the pillar disappeared? I need to find cov-ow! This wasn’t here a minute ago. Hold on, this looks familiar to the pillar I was hiding behind. Wait, this is the same pillar! I need to move now! If he is able to manipulate this environment, how will I get close to him? How will I defeat him? What’s his weakness? Am I going to die here? Wait wait wait Mercedes, you need to calm down. Keep a level head. You don’t want to be spiraling right now of all things. What I need to do is keep away from him.

“What wrong, Lady Mercedes? You seem awfully troubled, hmmm? Is it because you realize the true extent of my powers? It’s not a secret now that I can make whatever landscape I want a reality. I can rise above the tallest mountains and sink to the bottom of the endless depths of the sea with ease. In the normal world, I was a nobody, a loser magician trying to make a living in order to survive. But in here? I have obtained the power of a God! I control reality in the palm of my hand, Mercedes. Everything is in my power. My victory in exchange for your life. My reality in exchange for the real one out there. My ability to be God....I WILL BECOME THE ONE TRUE GOD!”

“You may believe that you’re destined to the one, true God, Maroonius, but I promise you this: one of us will be leaving this arena alive and that is going to be me! So, bring it on!”

That was all I could muster before he immediately charged at me, infuriated by my response. I need to continue to find his weakness, but also conserve my stamina. I can’t keep running forever. Lap after lap, running in endless circles. Run to the left. Now dodge to the right. I’m starting to lose steam and I’m nowhere closer to finding an opening than I was five minutes ago. No weapons, no protection, no offense or defense, just a stupid ability that doesn’t help in the slightest! What should I do? What’s my next move? Do I continue to evade, or do I try to attack? What do I….OUCH!!

“Oh my, are you okay, my dear Mercedes? It seems as though your arm has been wounded. I wonder how that happened. Hmm hmm hmm…At this rate, I believe that you will, indeed, leave this arena. Oho, but not as a winner, but a loser, carried away in a body bag! AHAHAHAHAHA!!”

He’s unfortunately correct. My precious time is shrinking by the second, and unless I find out how to attack him, I really will be leaving in a body bag! Okay okay okay…Need to focus! Snap out of it, Mercedes! First thing’s first: I need to try and stop the bleeding from my arm….Okay, these belts should be able to stem the flow. Next thing I need now is to find something that will work as a weapon. The only thing that is available are the ends of the mountains and pillars…It’s going to have to do! Beggars can’t be choosers.

“Don’t think I don’t see what plan you’re trying to scheme up, Mercedes! Do you really think you can use my own creation as a weapon against me? I made sure of it that there was nothing that could be used against me, but you decided to mock and insult me?! Remember, I’m the one who made those pillars you so hide behind like the coward you are! Such as the Lord can giveth, the Lord can TAKETH! There you are! you’ve got nowhere to hide now, Mercedes!”

~But can you take away that which you cannot see, Maroonius? ~

“No matter where you run and take cover, all I need to do is remove your cover until there is nothing else left to hide behind! Of course, I could just make all of my creation disappear at once, but where’s the fun in that? Where’s the thrill of the hunt? I have the upper hand! Just give it up and accept defeat! Do you want to keep running all of your life or fight me with that so-called courage you had before?”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

~Sometimes running momentarily is okay, especially when it's part of the master plan. ~

“Hmm hmm hmmmm. Your last pillar: erased from existence! Aww, what’s wrong there? Why are you on your knees, trembling of all things. Is it because you’ve accepted your fate to die at the hands of God? Hahaha! I am going to enjoy this even more so! I want to see the fear in your eyes as I torture you ever so slightly until I see the life inside you fade away into the void of INFINITE DARKNESS!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!”

~That’s it, just a little bit closer… ~

“I want to hear your cries and see your tears while you suffer! Now then, Mercedes, say goodbye to everything you ever loved!”

“NOW!”

“What?! AAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!”

The crowd is taken back by surprise, lightly applauding as a result. The untouchable God has been wounded in an unexpected counterattack! My plan to lure Maroonius was successful! With him that close to me, there wasn’t a single second for a reaction!

“How?? How is that possible?! How am I bleeding? I made sure exactly you had no weapons on you! EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!” Maroonius scowled at me, wincing from the pain.

“You really want me to explain it? I guess you’re dumber than you made yourself out to be!” I snapped back, adrenaline through my veins.

“How dare you!!”

“Now then, let me tell you in a way that is simple enough for someone like you to comprehend. While you were toying with me like some sort of plaything, I was plotting my counter offensive. Don’t tell me you forgot I had special abilities as well!”

“That still doesn’t explain how you managed to get a weapon! I used my ability to make sure any pillar dagger you held would disintegrate!”

“If a delegate can’t connect the pieces together, you don’t deserve to be called God! See for yourself: your Holiness.” I opened my hands, revealing the dagger made from the pillar stone.

“AH! Visual manipulation?!”

“Exactly! And with Her Last Cry, I will kill you where you stand!”

“Hmm Hmm Hmmm. Hahaha…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Do you really think you’ll be able to kill me now, just because you managed to catch me off guard by pure dumb luck and a stupid sleight-of-hand ability? I have the ability to create or destroy; build or crumble; give life or give death! If you wanted to win, you would’ve ended me instead of revealing your plan to me! You may have used your ability to cloak my pillar as a dagger but remember who created that pillar! Say goodbye to your only chance of winning this tournament!!”

He still believes he has the upper hand. I don’t care anymore. I want to end this fight, once and for all! Lunging toward him, I felt the biggest adrenaline rush in years. What my opponent failed to realize is that I purposely revealed the pillar dagger to lure him into a false sense of security and distract him from the true objective: the other daggers underneath my skirt! This is it! This is the end!

“Have you actually lost your mind, Mercedes? You’re going to attack me with no weapon? You’re just handing over the victory to me! And when I win, I will become God!! HAHAHA..UHGNNNN…

*Drip Drip Drip*

“H-H-H-How…how did you…?” The choking of his own blood caused him to stop talking.

“I made sure you only saw the dagger in my hand, diverting attention from the one that was hidden. I wanted you to be at your highest so when you fell and hit rock bottom, it would cause you never-ending despair.” The fear he wanted to see my eyes now reflected in his own. How ironic...

*Schlick*

“Urgh!”

“You’re finished!!”

*Stab Stab Shhtaab*

As I stabbed him once more, it was I who relished the life fading from his eyes. The dagger dissipated from his chest as his lifeless corpse slumped over itself, acknowledging defeat. I stare off into the sea of executives and business associates, their expressions with emotion as they applaud and congratulate my victory over the opponent. The announcer informs me to walk back to the gate I previously entered from to properly exit the arena. Walking back, I notice multiple knights and clean-up crew enter from the opposite side of the arena, moving my opponent’s body over into the body bag. Hmph. It’s over…I’ve done it. Although it was truly exhausting, I was able to kill and triumph over…wait a minute, what was his name again? Mars…Marik…Mar…Maroonius, yeah, that's it. Maroonius the Trickster. Why did I briefly forget his name? I’m pretty sure it’s just the adrenaline, not to mention being mentally and physically tapped out. I’m glad that this nightmare of a round is over. However, now that my power has been put out on full display, there’s no telling how the other delegates will try to counter Her Last Cry or what strategies will emerge to strengthen their own ability! The only way to beat my next opponent is to watch all other matches, coming up with some sort of quick game plans for each potential match-up. I need to get some rest, but strategizing is of the utmost importance...

■ ■ ■

The elevator dings as it opens once more. To my surprise, my medical team was waiting by the door. I wonder why they were all here? Perhaps it's to perform a check-up. I know I was just in a brutal fight, but it wasn't too bad on my body: just a few scrapes and bruises, nothing life-threatening. What's more important right now is watching the other fights; the check-up can wait until later. As I attempted to walk back to my holding room, Madam Breedlove stepped in front of me, while the other staff personnel attempted to surround me. Trying to move past them causes the surrounding circle to tighten by the second. I do my best to assure Breedlove that I was okay, and did not need the physical right now, as watching the fights were crucial to my survivability in the tournament. Breedlove immediately raised her voice to me, stating that my left arm had been severely cut in the previous fight with the magician guy. I remember the fight very clearly, and I am absolutely positive that, aside from a few scrapes, I was not cut nearly as deep as what the Madam is saying. I once again attempt to move toward my room, but the Madam signals the staff to close in even tighter. Becoming agitated, I too raised my voice toward Breedlove, telling her that I did not sustain such an injury during my fight; but before I could finish my statement, Breedlove scolded me, pointing at my arm. With no other option, I looked over at my arm trying to refute her claim...Wait, was my whole arm always covered in blood? That cut looks pretty gruesome, huh? ... ... I can still move my arm and hand, so at least it isn't too deep and damaging... ... ...When exactly did I get wounded? ... ... ... Wait a minute...I remember now... ...It was when Maroonius... ... ...Maroon...?

*KA-THUD*

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

[DELEGATES REMAINING: 152 → 151]