:This will be the official start of the ALIEN STAGE Rounds. Stay tuned for more!

Miko entered the stage, ethereal lights floating above her, as if she was a descending saviour from Anakt, a saviour to the human population against the aliens - almost as if this was the last hope of the extinction of humans.

The gown she wore swayed across the stage, enlightening the poise figure she was. Each step was like a promise to win, a quiet declaration to beat ALIEN STAGE, if only it were possible for her. It was almost inevitable that one way or another, she could find herself loosing, but she held her head high. She was determined, no matter the cost.

The second contestant went on the platform, a brown-haired boy with spiky bangs - her first opponent. Unwavering determination in his gaze on Miko, an unspoken tension already rising between them.

〔Ｒｏｕｎｄ １〕

〔Ｍｉｋｏ ＶＳ Ｒｕｄ〕

Both their stage lights followed them as they stridden towards the middle, stepping on more platforms that resembled stairs, but each stage would float higher and higher, until the top of the floating staircase, the last and final step was levitating across the ground, carrying the two performers.

The aliens cheered and clapped, a spectacle of their excitement for the first round of ALIEN STAGE.

〔 Ｍｉｋｏ：０〕 〔 Ｒｕｄ：０〕

Rud smirked, confident his lead would secure him the first point, and maybe even the potential to win. Miko, however, felt no threat from him. She wasn't here to compete - she was here to dominate. The answer wasn't by how much words you sang, no matter how long the song was, it was to elevate your voice higher from others, to make sure you were above all.

"빛나는 별들 속에... 내 마음은 차가워져!"

His words were smooth, soothing, a melody to those aliens already entranced. But Miko, unfazed, waited for her turn to unleash something more powerful.

"Your touch, a fading memory~"

She couldn't lie, it was impressive that he tried to stand against her, but she was not going to be pushed around by a mere contestant like him, someone she could easily climb over. Still, maybe she'd let him have his moment, as long as she'd win.

"Frozen in the void, can you hear my voice?"

She had to unsheath her weapon - her voice, all she had to do was sing louder, clearer, with more emotion, to make sure she was heard by everyone here! To use every ounce of passion she had grew to win.

"I'm so cold, I can't feel! >

> Heart turned to stone... lo-ost in space..."

Her voice was like a siren, impossible to ignore. A voice as serene as snow falling from a sky, pure, absolute, but it was tainted, tainted with power and talent, of one no one could easily surpass.

They were both on edge, both not letting the other win on their watch.

If you could trap yourself in a cage, all over again, counting the many times you'd break free from your strains, this could perfectly replicate the feeling both of them were going through right now.

Was this really ALIEN STAGE?

"Callous! - I'm so cold!"

"Fading away, I can't (will never) let go!"

"Callous! - I can't feel! "

"Heart turned to stone, I can't heal! "

It was a relief they were singing a short song, Miko didn't have the patience to deal with Rud, let alone shower him with her presence and talent.

For now, she had to continue. If she'd let herself slip up one bit, this round could be the end of her.

"이젠 멀리 떠난 너를 찾을 수 없어~"

"Callous! - I built these walls to high...!"

The last verse. There was no sense in him trying now. Even with his will to fight, it'd never even match her own.

"Callous... so cold! - I can't let go..."

"Fading into the void... no- hope left..."

Rud's eyes narrowed when Miko effortlessly took his line, the line he'd use to make a comback, to even out the scores.

Maybe that's what you got to playing a high stake game.

〔 Ｍｉｋｏ：1%^7.8#374! 〕 〔 Ｒｕｄ：8%^2.5#169! 〕

〔 Ｍｉｋｏ：７７〕 〔 Ｒｕｄ：７１〕

He was close? Was he that close to her? That close ．．．

She should have known. Stakes weren't too high in the first round. As long as you'd win, you proceeded to the next round.

She gazed onto the ground, watching the fear in his eyes as a pool of red surrounded him on the platform, a struggle to the multiple shots he tried to fight as his breath shortened, his eyes were a quivering mess, the words he struggled to say, his last.

"L-let this pain...go away-"

He was dead.

He gasped for air, his final words strangled by the growing pool of blood beneath him. Miko watched as his fight drained away, not a flicker of emotion on her face.

The platform lowered until it had reached the ground, clicking as it reconnected with the main platform, the white glossy surface making it easier for the blood to seep to the sides, even dripping through the cracks of the stage.

She didn't even flinch at his shuddering words. It was even expectant. The many years ALIEN STAGE had been running for, there was no exception to the rules. Losing in this competition meant you'd never compete again. It was the price of failure on ALIEN STAGE.

The atmosphere was cold, numb, quiet, a stark contrast to the desperation in their voice as they sang moments ago.

But maybe, between the lines, Miko's head was racing. It wasn't filled with any despair or fear, but the weight of the game they had to play. To win, sometimes you'd have to watch others fall.

〔Ｒｏｕｎｄ １: Ｍｉｋｏ Ｗｉｎ．〕

A/N:

Yo yo!! The first round of ALIEN STAGE 49 is complete!! What did you think?? I hope it didn't sound too fast-paced, I really wanted to write the end part, which would be my most favourite part of this!

Anyways, The next Round is coming soon, so stay tuned!