Carmilla walked through the United Front city. It has been 3 days since the incident at Vanguard Colosseum, but no survivor of the accident has ever been seen to walk out. Grand Saint Veuz, worrying for the safety of the denizen, chose Carmilla to investigate in the name of the United Front.
"Ahh! If it isn't Saint Carmilla..." A voice greeted Carmilla as she arrived at the gate of Vanguard Academy. Upon laying her eyes on the person, however, Carmilla stared with hostility. "Zuatha Il Zikmel. I should've known you were behind this." She declared.
"My~ My~ I believe this is our first time meeting. To have such prejudice against me. As I expected..." Zuatha walks closer and whispers to Carmilla's ear. "From Thalamik's friend."
"Stay out of my way," Carmilla said while displaying her green aura. To which, Zuatha backed away a little. "I am here to destroy that Artifact."
"My~My~ If you will it so, Saint. After all, you do have jurisdiction as part of the Grand Saint Veuz court. The question is how will you do it.... and make sure no one is harmed?" Zuatha asked with a smile. "Nonetheless, I'll take you there. To the Colosseum." She said, gesturing for Carmilla to follow her.
Upon arriving at the location, Carmilla wastes no time and makes her way to the Blastar, the Sword of Darkness. "A barrier." She said before, seemingly tapping into an invisible barrier.
"You see. This artifact really has a mind of its own. It refuses anyone who isn't worthy to..." Zuatha starts explaining.
"I already know a lot from Blastur. You in particular don't need to tell me anything." Carmilla took one slight look at Zuatha before greenish mana enveloped her. The flow of mana condensed around her body as she slowly breached through the barrier without even batting an eye.
Zuatha's eyes twitched as she saw Carmilla entering, "My~ My~ Saint Carmilla. You are really something else." Further entering the barrier, Carmilla walked slowly, inspecting the area around her as she made her way into Blastar, the Sword of Darkness.
Then a voice rang in the heads of both Carmilla and Zuatha.
The voice of Artifact speaks to them telepathically.
[This... mana.... Is that you, Evelon?]
Carmilla made her way to the front of the sword. "Pleased to meet you, Blastar. I am Carmilla. This world's Evelon."
[Ah... I see.. This world's version of Evelon]
[Fine. Speak what you must. I will listen]
"Why have you made the artifact choosing scenario to be like this?"
[It's to cull the best of the best. But, I didn't orchestrate all of this alone]
[It was mostly her idea. I was only offered and accepted.]
Blastar instinctively directed its voice.
Carmilla looked towards Zuatha Il Zikmel. "Now, you won't even have any excuse to say it's not your fault." She looked back at Blastar and asked. "Blastar, please cancel the tournament. Restore the lives of people who have been taken inside this competition."
[I am afraid it's not possible]
[Though, I am aware this turns out to be a scheme laid out by that elf. Know this, Evelon of this world, my power is essential to defeating Ars. Just as my brother's power is]
[Even if it means to sacrifice a few to save the rest. I will definitely do it]
Carmilla puts her hand on the sword.
"I am not asking twice, Blastar." Carmilla charged magical energy around her body. "You have expended most of your energy just to maintain your own dimension field, where every participant is right now. I can destroy you fairly easily without even breaking a sweat."
[That is right, Evelon of this world. You can destroy me fairly easily right now. But, even if you did, you can't guarantee the safety of the people inside it. If I died, then so would the people inside my Alterity]
Just then, Carmilla's eyes twitch, showing her uncertainty.
[Evelon of this world, I understand you are capable of cold logic. But to interrupt the process now will be more of a loss to you than it is a win. The battle of the Artifact War is almost over. Only 4 more days and my new champion will emerge as the Knight of Darkness]
"Haah... that's true. I suppose the only logical reason is to let you finish this first. But, I know I can certainly punish someone else." Carmilla said before looking towards Zuatha Il Zikmel.
The board of directors suddenly came to the colosseum, seeing what had transpired.
"What is the meaning of this, Saint Carmilla?" Principal Celathis asked, seeing her inside the impenetrable barrier of Blastar. Carmilla did not answer, walking towards them and exiting the barrier with an unreadable expression.
Then, swiftly, thousands of magical circles appeared.
Golden chains push out from these circles, binding the board of directors.
"Director Tels of Fey, Director Yu of Spiritfolk, Director Loval of Beastfolk, Vice Principal Zuatha Il Zikmel, and Principal Celathis Il Zikmel. You are all under arrest under the evidence provided to me by Blastar, the Sword of Darkness. Orchestrating a murder game inside school training grounds under the guise of a tournament."
"I HAVE DONE NO SUCH THING," Celathis said in anger, struggling to release herself from the chains Carmilla had chained her to. "Vice Principal Zuatha, tell her."
Zuatha Il Zikmel gives a grim expression before smiling towards the board of directors.
"It's all true. I surrender." She said, her face showing absolute joy. I accept that Grand Saint Veuz judge us at once.
"ZUATHA IL ZIKMEL WHY YOU!" Loval of the beastfolk moves his body, trying to bite Zuatha, who was looking ecstatic. "Don't move one more step," Carmilla said, tightening her chains that currently held them all. "Even better, don't even speak."
"All of you will face judgment. No one shall escape. I, Carmilla, will make sure of that." Carmilla said before nudging close to Zuatha Il Zikmel. "I don't know what kind of game you are playing. But, you won't win."
"I don't understand what you are talking about, Saint Carmilla. But, even if I try hard to win, I won't win against you." Zuatha Il Zikmel said towards Carmilla. "Now, shall we go to Grand Saint Veuz?"
Carmilla took one final look before escorting the directors of Vanguard Academy to the Saint HQ.
Only then did it happen.
A giant screen was shown in the colosseum.
It seems there's a live feed of the tournament firsthand.
But why has it only appeared now?
The Giant Screen suddenly emits magical energy around itself, as if reaching out to other screens, forcibly turning them into its own live feed. Forcibly changing the channel of any screen to show what it is currently showing.
On the screen, the following words were found.
[Remaining Participants are 128 Teams]
[Artifact War - The Final Stage will begin shortly]
[A 7-round two-on-two duel among participants will begin]
[My name is Nemain, I will be your announcer for this tournament]
A person that Carmilla hasn't seen for quite a while suddenly appeared on the screen.
Thalamik and Momoka walked to the colosseum, identical to the one Carmilla was in. There are two other participants present. His opponents were Istar, the Ethereal Spirit, and her mentee, Nanaya.
[Let's begin the final stage! Fight to survive, Fight till the end!]
[Live or Die by the Sword. What power do you hold in your hands...?]