"The next round will be performed with multiple contestants in the arena," the announcement made murmurs rise.

Ash stood in the room along with the other competitors.

Dawn was once again leading the explanation.

"It's simple. Seven people. Five passes." She pulled up an image on the screen, showing the arena. What looked like a pyramid stood in the middle.

"To pass, you simply need to touch the goblet first."

The image zoomed in to show a plain silver goblet spinning in the air.

"Each time the goblet is reached, the difficulty rises for the next turn." She tapped a finger on her leg. "Working together or against each other, how you reach the goblet, it does not matter. But..." her lips curled. "Don't think it will be easy."

Ash eyed the goblet. She was sure there would be barriers of some sort set up to make the journey to the top more difficult. She also didn't doubt that people would band together to weed out others.

"While the groups will be randomized," Dawn spoke, "You may choose 1 person who you would like to be in the same group."

The way she phrased it didn't escape Ash.

So...you can choose a partner or someone you want to eliminate? She asked, lips curling as her eyes jumped in the direction of a certain popular guy.

"Also," Dawn called their attention to the front once more,

"If you touch the goblet first, you can choose to leave the arena. However, if you choose to stay. You may." Her eyes ran over the contestants. "If you stay and are first to touch the goblet again, you get an extra life."

The murmurs rose and several heads lifted.

"Extra lives?" someone asked in disbelief.

Someone laughed in glee, another looked horrified. This would most certainly mean that the weaker who had planned to let the stronger ones get the goblet first and compete for the last touch, had their plan ruined, for the strong could stay and dominate if they chose. Five passes in total, which meant that the same person could hog multiple of those and stack lives.

"An extra life does not mean you can skip a stage," Dawn continued. "But it will be useful later on."

Ash tilted her head. Interesting, she mused.

"I'm so screwed," a girl whispered under her breath.

"Oh, it's so on,"

Dawn cleared her throat. "After each touch, the game resets," she shared. "After the fifth, game over, and whoever hasn't touched it is out. There are no rules."

More murmuring.

"You have fifteen minutes to decide and submit the name of someone you would like in the same group. After that, groups will be formed, and we will begin immediately. We can't keep the fans waiting much longer."

When she was done there was a pause before a sudden rush to submit names began.

Ash stayed where she was.

No one you want to suggest? Callous probed.

Let's leave it up to fate, Ash thought. Even though she said it, she hadn't expected things to turn out quite the way they did. Not too long after Ash found herself getting ready to enter the arena with the first group. And while she strapped the familiar blades to her belt, she kept her eyes on the familiar bald head with the tattoo before her.

"What?" Tobias growled as he glared at her, defenses raised like a hedgehog raising his spikes.

"Nothing," Ash replied. Her lips rose at the corners. "Though I didn't think you'd put my name in as your pick."

Tobias stiffened. "W-what makes you think I requested you?" he hissed.

Ash held back the laugh. She looked around at the other contestants getting ready. "I would have thought you'd request Daxon?" She paused, eyes turning back to Tobias and her grin widening. "Or was picking me your shield in case he decided to go after you?"

Tobias stiffened before returning to the "don't mess with me" signature glare. "Stop spewing nonsense."

"Hmm," Ash fasted another blade. "Though I'm honored that you want to team up."

"Who said I want to team up?" came the growl. The red tips of his ears gave him away "Maybe I want to make sure you get eliminated here."

Ash paused and looked up. "So, you did request me then."

Tobias stiffened

Picking up allies? Callous teased. Or admirers?

He's a ticking timebomb, Ash replied as she shot a sidelong glance at the other five contestants. Daxon didn't have to pick him because he has already gained the minions to do his job for him. It didn't escape her how one girl kept glancing in Tobias' direction with a gleam in her eyes.

Let them fight it out, Callous yawned.

Ash added the last blade and leisurely sat back on the bench in the waiting room.

Tobias and the others were doing the final checks on their armor and weapons. Like in the previous team fight, the former had the ring blades in each hand. He reached back and they magically rested on his back.

"Two minutes," and arbitrator warned.

What do you think will be the bigger threat this time? Ashi conversed with the dragon spirit. The players or whatever tricks will be used in this stage?

Threat? Callous arrogantly asked.

Ash tapped her fingers against her arm. Her eyes wandered over the other five. She recognized two. One was the girl who had been sizing up Tobias. In a previous match, she'd seen her using a weapon that worked like a bazooka. That didn't stop her from being able to fight in close combat as she swung the heavy bazooka with ease to turn it into a weapon that could bludgeon anyone that got too close.

Another girl was on the bigger side. She had no weapons on her at first glance, but from the previous competitions, it was revealed that the ribbons she had tied around her arms turned into dangerous offensive and defensive weapons. Ash had seen her use them both as a blade and as a shield through various ways of manipulation. If her opponent tried to put distance between them, she'd also show she could use the long ribbons as an extension of her arms to grab them and pull them right back into her attack range.

The other three had not left much of an impression on Ash. That made it tricky as she would need to keep an eye out for the unknown—that and who knew which players were trying to lay low as long as possible.

"It's time!" came the announcement.

The seven competitors walked through the large doors into the arena to silence. The barrier was activated so not a sound of the cheering crowd made it to the contestants within.

All seven paused, taking in the scene.

Just like in the instructions, a massive pyramid stood before them, taking up most of the arena. The sides were layered, providing natural steps up the black surface. If one looked up, they would see a distant object, almost out of eyesight, floating at the very top – the goblet.

Other than the goblet and pyramid, the area had the dusty and hard ground one would expect in an arena meant for weapon training.

In the silence, the contestants looked at each other.

Going first always had a disadvantage, especially if there were no detailed instructions on how to proceed.

Ash narrowed her eyes. As there was no countdown, this round must have started the moment they entered the arena. In the instructions, no time limit was given either.

Seeming to have the same idea, four of the contestants moved at once, dashing toward the pyramid and beginning the race to the top. Tobias was included.

Ash and two others waited, choosing the more cautious approach.

Out of the four who set off, a shorter guy was the fastest. He was already up four steps when a ribbon caught his foot and the heavy-set girl dragged him back, overtaking him at a frightening pace. Tobias passed by, cutting through the ribbons for the guy as he followed – the cut was not so much as to help a friend than to make sure another opponent, and thus obstacles to others, could join. The fourth just stayed behind Tobias, tailing him.

Seeing the initial four make their climb, one of the watching three shrugged her shoulders and started after them at a steady pace.

Ash found herself waiting with one other contestant while watching the five ahead of them fighting their way up.

Is it possible the first round is the easiest and it gets progressively harder from there? Ash wondered. Those on the pyramid were making fast progress.

Ash stepped forward, deciding to join the climb. She was up the first few steps in moments, accelerating to make up for her late start. She wasn't too worried about catching up as those above were working hard at slowing each other down.

Keeping her guard up both in front, and also behind as there was a competitor still waiting at the bottom, she kept a steady pace.

All the while, she watched the girl who had been eyeing Tobias before launching her attack. Tobias dodged a crackling pink light shot from the bazooka by dashing sidewards. He threw one of his circular blades but aimed in the opposite direction of his attacker. The blade flew out of sight.

Bazooka girl ignored the strange throw and used those moments to her full advantage, attacking while with her attention completely turned away from their main target – the goblet.

It gave the others a chance to advance and the leading two continued the sprint, both trying to focus on attacking, defending, and calming their breathing.

Ash stepped on each smooth step, soon reaching the same level as Tobias and his attacker. Ash calmly dashed behind the girl, making no move to help but ducking just in time.

The round blade that had disappeared not long ago, came flying around the pyramid like a boomerang, grazing by her and flew straight for the girl attacking Tobias. Ash's eyes followed the blade.

Perhaps she sensed the danger or knew it had been coming, but the other girl turned at the last moment to dodge. She was just in time to prevent any serious injury, but not fast enough for the blade to still nick her side and draw blood.

With a hiss and a glare, the girl's hand went to the wound while she glared at Tobias who caught the blade again.

"Ahhh!" the bazooka was lifted and used more like a hammer as the girl advanced.

Ash was already further up and ignored the fight going on while she moved to catch up with the two ahead. They'd both slowed in their journey as they had moved into exchanging blows. The guy had decided close combat was safer as the ribbons the girl wielded could follow him to a great distance. Thus, they were currently engaged in a fist fight.

Ignoring the pair, Ash dashed past, taking the lead. She'd barely made it another two steps when she dodged hard to the right. A ribbon aimed at her foot caught nothing but air and she continued on her journey.

Incoming, Callous didn't need to say it as Ash had already sensed it.

The two fighting behind her tacitly agreed to put their short grievances behind them and go for the one in the lead – a tactic that would most likely be seen several times during this round of competition.

While still running, Ash dodged again. Something collided with the area where she had just stood. While it resounded in a loud boom, the surface of the pyramid did not even have so much as a scratch on it.

There was no moment of rest as another blow followed. As Ash dodged, she felt the danger. Her move had been predicted and a ribbon grasped a hold of her ankle. While a blade could have perhaps taken care of it, the attacker was faster.

A flick of the wrist tugged Ash back. While in the air, she turned, a blade appearing in her hand. Her attacker dodged the slash by jumping a few steps lower. The moment was enough to make the ribbon go slack and allow Ash to dodge a blow from the one who had joined the other girl in attacking.

While she evaded the attack, Ash didn't forget to cut the ribbon gripping her ankle. The moment she succeeded, another wrapped around the wrist with the knife, pulling hard and almost making her lose her grip on the weapon.

"Annoying," she tsked as she turned and in a smoother motion grabbed the ribbon with her free hand. She smiled at her attacker. "Come here." She pulled – hard.

It was the boy that saved the poor girl. He cut right through the ribbon and reached out a palm, steadying the girl. There was a visible pause as three sets of eyes moved to where his hand was.

A face flushed bright red.

"Pervert!" The crisp sound of a slack accompanied the sequel.

Ash couldn't help but wonder if the audience was as surprised as the boy who now sported a lovely red mark began to blossom on a face that had previously only sported some acne. While she would have loved to dwell further, a shape flashed by.

Heads turned to see Tobias moving faster than humanly possible, a red mist floating around his feet giving him a boost.

At once, bygones were bygones and the three turned to give chase.

You know you're missing one, Callous spoke up.

Ash counted. Three beside her, two up front, and one still waiting at the bottom of the pyramid while watching.

She narrowed her eyes. Invisibility?

Her eyes moved to the goblet that was growing closer by the moment. Unfortunately, she was right.

Ding!

It sounded across the stadium.

"Congratulations. Our first competitor to reach the goblet is Zoe!" a voice boomed.

At the same time, a figure shimmered into view next to the goblet on which a hand rested.

The competitors stopped their race, curses sounding from a few as they realized their mistake of getting so caught up that they'd lost track.

Starting after the first few so she's not on the radar, smart.

Ash didn't disagree. Even she had gotten caught up in a fight and had a brief lapse of memory regarding the extra competitor. It was shameful to admit, but she had been fooled.

"To leave or to stay and compete for more lives, what is your choice?" the announcer asked.

The girl at the goblet chewed her lip. The close-up cameras showed the sweat trickling down her temple, the slight tremor in her hands, and the look of pure relief in her eyes, mixed in with the exhaustion that could only follow a highly stressful situation.

"I-I'm done!" the girl got out.

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than the steps of the pyramid folded in. It was so sudden that not even Ash saw it coming.

All competitors, including the first winner, slid helplessly down the smooth side. Yells of surprise mixed with further cursing as they attempted to find any grips or way to slow the fall.

Hair whipping behind her, Ash watched the rapidly approaching ground. She pulled a knife out and tried to stab it into the black surface. A clang and sparks were her results. As she kept a blade against the surface, sparks continued to fly but not a scratch was made. It was beginning to become obvious that penetrating the surface wouldn't be easy.

Another contestant tumbled by her, the direct result of trying to stand as if that would somehow control her fall. They slammed into the dirt not long after. The girl with the bazooka miraculously used her weapon, firing a shot straight down and using the force to control her fall. After a few moments of struggling, Tobias used the red mist for a controlled descent.

Ash herself waited until she was close to the ground, tucked a leg behind, and pushed off. She went sailing into the air, flipped once, and landed in a crouch, allowing her legs to absorb the shock.

Two others were not so lucky as they crashed hard.

Ash was sure she heard a bone crack somewhere.

To her side, the winning contestant was about to crash into the ground when a hole opened up and magically swallowed her.

Silence, filled only by a few groans from those who fell hard, resumed.

There was no countdown, nor any comment from the announcer.

As one of the contestants pulled herself from the dirt, wincing when weight landed on her leg, all heads turned back to the top of the pyramid. The steps were gone.

The contestant who had waited behind for the entirety of the first climb let out a scoff. Wind gathered. He rose into the air, eyes seeming to taunt those who'd fallen. He only reached the height where the tenth step had been when an invisible wall zapped and he was violently sent tumbling into the dust.

The message was clear – climbing the pyramid was the only way up.

Just blast the dam thing to pieces, Callous told her.

Ash raised her eyebrows. Didn't you see how it has taken no damage so far? She pointed out.

I can do it, came the confident reply.

That amount of power? Ash asked. How much would that burn away at my life?

There was no reply.

Ash eyed the other contestants out of the corner of her eyes. Seeing they weren't moving, she tapped a finger against the smooth pyramid while coming to a conclusion. This may be harder than we initially thought.