High atop her castle, nestled on a hill that overlooked the bustling city, Queen Elara sat in regal repose. Her throne, a masterpiece of ornate design, was adorned with precious gems and intricate carvings. From her balcony, she watched the arena below, a spectacle of human endurance and brutality that brought her great pleasure.

Elara was a woman of striking stature, her silver hair, tinged with a hint of blue, cascading down her shoulders. Her eyes, a piercing shade of violet, held a depth of intelligence and a ruthlessness that belied her regal bearing. Dressed in a sumptuous gown, a symphony of purple, violet, and pink hues, she exuded an air of opulence. A delicate veil, adorned with shimmering stones, covered her mouth, adding to her enigmatic allure. In her hand, she held a fan, a symbol of her power and refinement.

A cruel smile played on her lips as she anticipated the upcoming battle. "Everything is in place," she murmured, her voice a low rumble. "Now, I shall sit back and enjoy the show."

------------------------------------------

As the anticipation for the fight reached a fever pitch, the crowd was electrified by a sudden, unexpected intrusion. Orano, with a reckless disregard for his own safety, leaped into the arena and strode towards one of the open gates.

A collective gasp swept through the audience. "Hey, what are you doing there?" they shouted, their voices filled with disbelief and anger. "Get back here! You don't belong in there!"

Caitrin, her heart pounding in her chest, called out to him. "Hey! Where are you going? Are you crazy? Come back!" But Orano seemed oblivious to her pleas. Desperate, she followed him into the arena, her feet pounding against the dusty ground.

The crowd erupted in further chaos. "Another person?" they exclaimed. "Why is everyone jumping into the arena? We can't let them go like this."

High above the arena, Queen Elara watched the unfolding drama with a mixture of shock and intrigue. "Who are these peasants, and what are they planning?" she muttered to herself.

As Caitrin caught up with Orano, she couldn't help but express her concern. "You just jumped into the arena," she said, her voice trembling. "Are you crazy? What if we get arrested? Hey! Are you listening to me? Why didn't you wait back there?"

But Orano ignored her questions, his focus fixed on something within the arena. Caitrin followed him, her curiosity piqued. "Hey! Wait for me at least!" she called out, but her voice was lost in the din of the crowd.

As they explored the arena, their search seemed random and purposeless. Caitrin had no idea what Orano was looking for, but she followed him nonetheless, her heart filled with a mix of fear and excitement.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the arena. "Hey! What do you think you're doing here?"

A towering figure emerged from the shadows, his presence casting a chilling gloom over the arena. The man, a hulking beast of a human, stood at least six feet tall, his long, black hair flowing down his back. His eyes, dark and menacing, seemed to pierce through the darkness. He was clad only in black pants, his muscular torso bare, a testament to his formidable strength. In his hand, he wielded a massive axe, a weapon capable of cleaving a man in two.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

Orano, his courage faltering for a moment, asked, "Who are you?"

The man's response was curt and dismissive. "Who am I? I am Evander Boras, the man who will face Genju Natsuki tonight. Who did you think I was?"

Caitrin, her fear evident, clung to Orano's arm. "No, no," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "We knew who you were. We were just trying to leave. Right, Tatsumi?"

Evander Boras's gaze hardened. "You two better get out of here before something bad happens," he warned, his voice a low growl.

But Orano refused to back down. He stood his ground, his eyes locked with Evander's.

Caitrin tried desperately to persuade Orano to leave. "Please," she pleaded, her voice filled with urgency. "Let's go. We don't want to get hurt."

But Evander Boras had other plans. With a savage roar, he raised his axe and swung it at Orano and Caitrin. Orano, with a quick movement, pushed Caitrin out of the way, shielding her from the deadly blow. Unfortunately, the axe sliced through Caitrin's mask, shattering it into pieces. As the fragments fell to the ground, she looked up at Orano with terror and stepped back.

Orano, his anger now ignited, drew his sword. "Perhaps we could have come to an agreement," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "But you've made that impossible."

A tense silence filled the arena as the two men stared at each other, their eyes filled with a deadly intensity. Then, without warning, Orano lunged forward, his sword flashing in the dim light. A fierce battle ensued, the clash of steel against steel echoing through the arena.

After a brutal exchange of blows, Orano emerged victorious, Evander Boras lying defeated on the ground.

"Let's go," Orano said to Caitrin, his voice filled with urgency. "We have to search here quickly."

Caitrin, still shaken by the encounter, followed Orano as he began to explore the arena. "Hey, at least tell me what's going on," she demanded, her voice trembling.

"Bachi and Miko are in trouble," Orano replied, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"What? Really?" Caitrin exclaimed, her heart pounding.

"The Emperal soldiers have found us," Orano explained. "They told me we have to find the Rift before they get here. They can't hold them back much longer. And Lydia found an escape route, but she's trying to fight the soldiers. We have to hurry, or there could be a big problem."

Orano looked at Caitrin, his expression grave. "We have to leave as soon as we find the Rift," he said. "So keep your eyes peeled for anything that might be important."

The narrow passageways and twisting corridors of the cell-like structure had a claustrophobic effect on Caitrin, her nerves frayed by their recent escape. Yet, she nodded in agreement, determined not to be chased again.

As they explored the maze-like labyrinth, Caitrin's eyes darted across the walls, searching for any sign of the Rift. Finally, she spotted it. "There it is!" she exclaimed, pointing towards a shimmering portal suspended in the air.

Orano joined her, his gaze fixed on the Rift. The destination was the Black Forest of the Third Kingdom, a place that Yuma had also seen. This revelation only added to Caitrin's confusion, as she and the others seemed to be converging on the same locations.

"Now that we've found this place, we need to contact Yuma," Caitrin suggested.

"We can't," Orano replied, his voice filled with urgency. "We don't have time. We'll travel to Idrisud and meet him there directly."

"Come on, we have to leave here as quickly as possible," he added, his tone brooking no argument.

Caitrin nodded, and they began their hasty retreat. As they made their way towards the exit, the crowd once again erupted in shouts and insults. "Hey! We told you to get out!" they yelled. "You're going to get arrested! Don't ruin our show!"

Ignoring the jeers, Orano and Caitrin pressed on, their hearts pounding in their chests. Just as they were about to reach the exit, a deep, menacing voice echoed through the arena. "Where do you think you're going after knocking out my opponent?"

The crowd fell silent, their attention drawn to the source of the voice. A thick fog began to swirl around a massive cell, obscuring the figure within. As the fog cleared, a towering man emerged, his eyes fixed on Orano and Caitrin.