After the announcement of an additional fight, an A Rank bout at that, the entire stadium erupted. Cheers, screams, whistles - thousands of voices crashed together into one overwhelming wave of sound.

Even Ethan straightened slightly, though he couldn’t help but have a bad feeling.

’A Rank...?’

Now that was different.

C Ranks were impressive, B Ranks were dangerous, but A Ranks?

They were on another level entirely.

"And out of the blue gate..." the announcer continued, voice rising with excitement, "none other than the Riot Valkyrie herself!"

The noise somehow grew louder, if that was even possible.

Kaela stood up slowly, changing instantly.

Gone was the relaxed, drunken woman lounging around moments ago.

In her place was something far more dangerous.

Purple energy crackled faintly around her body, like static building before a storm. Her violet eyes glowed, sharp and alive, filled with something that could only be described as hunger.

Ethan could feel it: the presence, the pressure.

’I almost forgot what she is, but this is what an A Rank really feels like.’

He exhaled slowly, watching her.

’And I’m about to see the difference firsthand.’

But then, a thought hit him.

’Wait... who’s she fighting?’

As if answering him, the announcer continued.

"And she will be facing none other than the supposed weakest A Rank..."

He paused dramatically.

"...who is really the fearsome Blood Demon!"

"Oh, shit."

Ethan was on his feet instantly, standing to, his eyes snapping toward Elara to block her from Kaela. She stood behind him anxiously, but she knew as well as Ethan did that neither of them could do anything to stop the Riot Valkyrie.

But suddenly, he felt the air around her change.

A faint crimson energy flickered along her arms, crawling like living blood beneath her skin. Her eyes were consumed by red, and when he looked by, he recognised that it wasn’t Elara in control anymore. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"They gave me a name," a hoarse, layered voice spoke, twisting unnaturally as it came from her lips. "Blood Demon... I like it."

Ethan swallowed slightly.

’To the other side of him, Kaela’s aura flared even stronger.

"Get out of the way, Ethan."

Her voice had changed too, becoming lower and sharper, focused only on fighting.

Ethan didn’t move immediately.

His body tensed slightly, not out of fear, but hesitation.

’Elara didn’t ask for this, and Kaela won’t hold back either. I can’t let this-’

A sharp chill ran down his spine.

But it wasn’t from the front like he expected, but the one behind him whom he was comically trying to protect.

"As she said..." the voice came again, closer now. "Out of the way, boy."

Ethan froze.

That presence wasn’t just strong; it was suffocating.

He stepped aside without another word, his instincts screaming at him not to interfere. His eyes flicked between the two A Ranks who had been amicably sitting in the lounge moments ago.

Kaela, the Riot Valkyrie, and Elara, who was now dubbed the Blood Demon.

The tension was palpable.

"I didn’t mean for-" Ethan started.

"It’s fine," the demon cut him off casually. "I’ve been meaning to test what humans are capable of."

It paused, lips curling slightly.

"A so-called A Rank should be... entertaining."

Kaela smirked.

"I agree, Mr Demon."

Her eyes gleamed with excitement.

"A fellow A Rank should be fun."

"Fellow?" the demon echoed, tilting its head slightly.

A faint, amused chuckle escaped it.

"Don’t class me with you, mere mortal. And it’s Sir Demon to you."

Ethan blinked.

’It actually likes the name I made as a joke.’

That was strangely reassuring, and maybe it wasn’t as bad as it outwardly seemed.

Though its words just fired Kaela up even further.

"Then why don’t you-"

She didn’t get to finish because in the next instant, Elara disappeared, leaving behind only a crimson blur.

Boom!

Before even Kaela could react, Elara had closed the distance and wrapped her hand around her throat. But she didn’t slow down and burst forward, slamming her straight through the tinted glass overlooking the arena.

Crack!

The reinforced surface shattered instantly; fragments exploded outward as both of them burst through.

Ethan’s eyes widened, lifting his hands to shield his face.

’What the-’

Everything just happened so suddenly.

The Blood Demon continued, wielding Kaela like a battering ram, slamming her straight through the invisible barrier surrounding the arena with unbelievable force.

It held for a fraction of a second, then...

Shatter!

A sound like glass breaking echoed across the entire stadium as the barrier fractured under the force. Thousands of eyes snapped toward the centre where...

Boom!

They crashed into the arena floor, the ground cratering beneath them. Dust and debris erupted upward, swallowing them both in a thick cloud of smoke.

Everyone froze in silence.

"Forget the entrances, I guess the battle has started!" the announcer roared.

And the stadium exploded into cheers.

Ethan stepped forward instinctively, stopping at the shattered edge of the VIP suite, staring down into the arena below.

His heart was pounding.

’That... was insane.’

The smoke slowly began to clear, and within it two figures stood.

Kaela wiped a thin line of blood from the corner of her mouth as the deep red marking around her neck visibly faded.

She was smiling and didn’t seem hurt.

If anything, she looked excited and couldn’t have asked for a better entrance.

"Not bad..." she muttered, rolling her shoulders.

Across from her, Elara stood still as crimson energy pulsed around her body like a living aura, distorting the air itself.

"You’re also not bad... for a human," the demon replied.

Kaela’s grin widened.

"I haven’t even gotten started."

The air shifted.

Their auras flared simultaneously and were visible as the ground beneath them trembled faintly under the pressure alone. Red clashed against purple, with wind whipping outward from the collision of their powers, sending dust spiralling through the arena.

This wasn’t just like the other fights that had taken place in this arena.

It was something far beyond that, like two forces that weren’t meant to exist in the same place.

Ethan swallowed.

’So these are A Ranks...’

This wasn’t just about strength or speed; it was something else entirely, something monstrous.

They both suddenly moved at the same time.

Boom!

The collision shook the arena; the sound alone was enough to rattle Ethan’s bones even from above.

And just like that, it began.

A battle between two beings that felt less like humans and more like deities driven by violence. Ethan stood there at the edge of the ruined VIP suite, watching while unsure what to think or do.

He had wanted to see the difference between ranks, but not like this.

That’s when a presence shifted beside him, one that was barely noticeable amidst the chaos. Ethan’s eyes flicked to the side, spotting another figure joining him in the lounge.

He had thought maybe it was Mark, but knowing his friend, if he said he was leaving, he wasn’t coming back.

It was someone he hadn’t seen before.

And despite their appearance, they were another A Rank, the third he’d interacted with tonight. Naturally, his attention was split between the new arrival and the battle below.

’This is insane.’

But something told him that things were only going to get crazier...