Civilians have all gathered around in the center of Sihalia as Sato and co. walked in. Sakura looked at Hikaru, "What''s going on?"


    Hikaru pointed to a banner hanging up on the towering castle that read Welcome to the annual Sihalia Battle Royale! "It''s starting. We better hurry up and get you three registered."


    They walked over to the registration counter where a lady behind the desk handed them a pen and paper, "Please just sign your names here."


    Once Sato, Sakura, and Arashi all signed their names, they left the counter. A small boy about Ai''s age bumped into Arashi. "Ow." The boy rubbed his spiky blue hair.


    Arashi scowled, "Hey kid, you want to die?"


    The boy quickly got up and bowed, revealing his wolf tail. "I''m so very sorry sir! Honestly, I am!"


    Arashi bared his fangs, "Don''t think apologizing will save you."


    "Arashi! The kid said he was sorry so leave him alone." Hikaru scolded him.


    The boy bowed again, "Thank you so much, kind sir." He looked back over at Arashi and his wolf ears shot up. "Again, I''m really sorry. Bye!" The blue-haired boy ran off.


    "Well, that kid is kind of weird," Sato said watching the boy run away. He couldn''t help but wonder what all the bowing and apologizing was about.


    Sakura sighed, "It''s called having manners. Something you obviously don''t know about."


    "Okay," Hikaru started. "Sato, listen to me. You can''t use your Illustrator powers in this tournament, alright?"


    Sato nodded, "Yeah, because the Bakemono around here will realize I''m a human."


    Hikaru smiled, "Exactly. So use the bronze sword I gave you instead. Let''s go find a place to stay, shall we?"


    Ai nodded, "I know just the place."


    Everyone now stood in front of a run-down apartment with broken windows and one working light. Arashi shuddered, "Aren''t you a princess?"


    "Nope," Ai lied with a straight face.


    Sato frowned, "Ai. What did I tell you? It''s okay to go back to the castle."


    Ai shrugged, "It was worth a shot."


    Everyone was now in front of the castle where Sato was greeted by a familiar voice. "Great, you''re back again? Just my luck." The same big bulky guard from before sneered at Sato.


    "Number one, deal with it. Number two, get some mouthwash." Sato waved his hand in front of his nose. He seriously didn''t want to deal with that jerk again. Seeing him one time was already one too many.


    The guard prepared to unsheathe his sword but like before Ai walked up in between them, "Stop! I told you before, you can''t hurt him. Now please let us through Nori."


    Nori sheathed his sword, "Fine. But I still don''t like him."


    Sato glared at Nori, "Feeling''s still mutual."


    And with that everyone walked into the large castle and were immediately greeted by King Akio and Queen Hikari.


    King Akio quickly questioned the presence of the two unfamiliar faces, "Who are those two? State your names!" Akio demanded.


    Hikaru went first and bowed, "I am Hikaru, Warrior Bakemono."


    Arashi bowed as well, "My name is Arashi, Fire-Bat Bakemono."Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    The king studied Arashi curiously, "So then you''re the survivor of the Fire-Bat Bakemono massacre, huh?"


    Arashi nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty."


    The king stroked his beard. "Very well. "State your business here."


    Ai spoke up, "They''re with me, Daddy. We need a place to stay while Sato, Sakura, and Arashi compete in the Sihalia Battle Royale thingy."


    Queen Hikari clapped her hands, "How wonderful!" Oh dear, you must let them stay. Maybe one of them will win."


    Akio smiled, "Of course you all are welcome anytime. As long as my daughter is safe with you."


    Hikaru bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    King Akio nodded, "Ai, show them to their rooms."


    Ai nodded and took everyone to their respective rooms. Once finished she headed up the spiral staircase to her large and elegant room decorated with orange décor. She plops down on her fluffy bed. "Phew! I''m exhausted." And at those words, Ai fell asleep.


    The next morning in the guest room Sato was sleeping in. He woke up realizing the silver sun was already out and shining bright. Sato rubbed his eyes, "Did I oversleep or something? Oh no! I''m gonna be late!" He had to get ready as fast as he could. Otherwise, he''d never hear the end of it from Sakura and Arashi.


    Sato got dressed in a hurry and took his lighter from the lamp desk, stuffing it in in his pocket. He ran out the door and tripped, causing him to tumble down the stairs. He landed at a laughing Sakura''s feet, "Geez, Sato. How clumsy can you get?"


    Sato frowned, "I was rushing, okay?" Sato knew it. Even if he wasn''t late, Sakura still found a way to make fun of him,


    "Whatever. Just come on, the tournament''s going to start soon." She informed him. "Everyone else is already there."


    At the battle stadium, the king stood in the center and began speaking, "Welcome everyone to the annual Sihalia Battle Royale. Now as expected there are many of you, so we will begin with the traditional last eight standing all-out sudden death procedure of extreme measure towards the road to victory round!"


    Everyone sweatdropped in response to that. "That''s a long name," Sato stated.


    His friends all nodded in agreement. The king continued speaking, "This means all the competitors will fight until there are only eight left standing. Also, it is important to keep in mind that you may die here and I will not be held responsible. Drop out if you must. And with that said. Let us begin! Bakemono, fight!"


    Angel wings protruded out of the king''s back as he flew up into the sky. All the Bakemono started fighting, pounding away at each other. An array of powers collided.


    Sato gawked, "For someone like me, this is suicide." He charged head-on with his bronze sword ready. Sato thrust the sword forward at the first Bakemono he saw.


    The Bakemono turned around, kicking Sato in his mid-section. He skidded across the floor of the stadium.


    Sakura''s punches caused a domino effect and knocked out a multitude of Bakemono. She threw one into a handful of others, knocking them out of the arena initiating the referee to shout, "Out of bounds!"


    Arashi plunged straight through with his orange flaming claws, leaving his victims seriously injured. He threw them into a pile, one after the other.


    Sato backed up into a corner, "Maybe if just stay here, no one will notice me."


    Nori came rushing in with his iron blade at Sato''s neck when an alarming bell rang. "And that''s the end of the first round!" King Akio''s voice echoed through the whole stadium.


    Sato sighed out of relief. Nori brought his blade to his side, "This isn''t over low-life."


    Sato smirked, "I''d rather be a low-life than have a short life. Old man."


    "You think everything''s a joke, don''t you? Foolish kid." Nori grunted as he walked off.


    Sakura ran up and wrapped her arms around Sato, "Sato, you''re alive!"


    "Hey! What do you mean? You didn''t think I would live and you still let me compete?!" Sato couldn''t believe that at first. But then again, he had to remember how crazy all of his friends were.


    Sakura whistled in an innocent tune, "Hey guys look up there." She pointed to a monitor in the air with eight pictures on it. Sato''s Sakura''s, and Arashi''s of course, Nori''s, the blue-haired boy''s, and three unfamiliar ones. "It''s the pictures of everyone who''s competing in the next round."


    "Sato''s opponent is Nori. And you and I are going against two of the strangers." Arashi pointed out.


    Sato looked over at Nori who grinned malevolently mouthing the words, "You''re gonna die, punk."


    Sato responded by mouthing some words as well, "Bring it on. Knight in shitty armor."


    King Akio began speaking, "The next round will take place tomorrow morning. Until then please feel free to enjoy the beauty of Sihalia." He gave Sato a look of pity.


    "Why is he looking at me that way?" Sato wondered if he had something on his face.


    "Because you''re gonna get killed, human. Nori isn''t any ordinary guard. He''s also the Lieutenant of the Sihalia Army." Arashi stated.


    "Shouldn''t it be like illegal for him to compete then?" Sato questioned worriedly.


    Arashi shook his head, "Anything goes. Like the king said, if you die, you die."


    Ai and Hikaru were holding tissues to their faces mourning over a grave that had R.I.P. Yamagata Satoshi inscribed on it. Hikaru sniffled, "He was a great man."


    Ai whimpered, "He was."


    "Hey! I''m not dead yet!" Sato yelled.


    Hikaru sniffled again, "He''s speaking to us through the heavens!"


    Ai dabbed her face with her tissue, "It''s so sad!"


    Sato and Arashi sweatdropped, "Geez, talk about drama queens."


    Sakura was crying in the background now as well, "I know I teased you a lot, but you were still a good friend."


    Sato sighed, "Not you too Sakura."