Meanwhile, the lovely announcer returned to the grand arena with the same cute girl from the last round of Ryuji's battle. The sheer size and magnificence of the arena, coupled with the lively personality of the announcer, made her popular with others.
"Hi-Yo! Maki is here to announce another fight! Thank-you~ Thank-you~ to all the sexy guys and pretty girls who voted for me to continue! Today, I am cosplaying a certain fighter! Can you tell?! I'm so excited to be here!"
"Woah! Tyrant Maki is so cute!" The cheers echoed, almost causing the ground to shake. Even the royal box seemed amused by her intense energy as she hopped off the stone wall into the arena, wearing the black cloak and outfit Ryuji wore with a golden wig on her head!
The match today is between two intriguing groups! And they are..." Maki pointed at one side of the arena and shouted, "From a distant world! The party of the Heroic and mighty HOLY KNIGHT! Haruki Tanaka!" The voice of Maki sounded a little sarcastic and forced.
However, most people didn't pay attention to her—instead became excited at the strong-sounding and familiar class name, eagerly expecting the battle to come.
Meanwhile, inside the waiting room, Haruki stood near the door, wearing a slightly flashy gold and silver armour with a kite shield attached to his left arm and obviously an eastern-style sword on the left.
Although the crowd was chanting, Haruki deluded himself that it was for him and his party. "Guys, can you hear how wild they are? It seems we are far more important than that loser!" He then quickly rushed out of the tunnel with his face full of smiles; they had just received both a new knight and some money from Qwass to buy equipment, so the 'hero' was over the moon.
"Stop showing off and focus, Haruki. Otherwise, we might lose," Fuuka answered him, her armour simple with just a black cloth outfit that clung to her curves and modest chest. Although best for movement, it made her look quite erotic because of the material clinging to her crotch and breasts, revealing their shape to all who looked.
"Next up! The beautiful and dignified Fuuka Suzuhara, chosen of the moonlight blade! A rare sword master!"
"Oh? They have a sword master?! She is so beautiful!"
"Damn, I wish she was on my team!"
"I want to give her my vote!"
Fuuka was well-liked by many people, though she was from another world; her hard work and lack of complaints could rival Ryuji, and that was why she was the highest in their group.
"Wow... her nipples are hard!"
"Haha, well, combat is exciting!"
The words of the crowd entering her ear made her happy, but sometimes the lewd comments embarrassed her, so she pulled her small black face mask over her nose while gazing at the enemy entrance with her almond eyes.
After Fuuka, Kenta Suzuki entered, his huge build and massive tower shield causing the sand to sink slightly when he rushed into the arena; as for Yuki Ito, the mage and vice-captain of the kendo club, he wore a simple robe and stood behind Fuuka, his eyes watching her buttocks as she squatted, stretching her legs and muscles well.
"Finally! Kenta Suzuki, the Shield Saint, and Yuki Ito, the handsome Shadow Mage! All four have unique classes! They will do battle with the assistance of Princess Anne! However, because the enemy seems too weak, she is sitting with me, hahaha!" Maki then handed the microphone towards Anne, who waved to the crowd.
"Yo, my dear subjects, how are you enjoying the tournament so far?"
"Princess Anne, we love it!"
"More battles! More battles!"
"Alright, alright. But, sadly, I'm not fighting in this battle, but I still hope you'll support my team!" Anne then sighed.
"Aww, we will miss you, your highness!"
"Thank you! Hahaha! I love how happy you all are. It makes everything worth it." Anne then handed the microphone back to Maki. "This battle will only involve the four members of Haruki's party, without the aid of their princess; however, don't underestimate them. Now then!
Their enemy is a classmate! How cruel and harsh! Here comes Suzumi Ako! The Sorceress!"
Haruki was also shocked because he was told this sword couldn't kill people; instead, it would bring their lives to near death at worst. His hands trembled as Ako began to vomit, at first white bubbles, before blood and then a dark puss, as her entire body turned grey... and the crowd became silent.
Anne snatched the microphone from Mika and screamed, "ALAN ITS GRAVE'S KISS, HURRY!"
The next moment, Alan's body shone golden, unlike the gloomy gold of Haruki. It was bright, luminescent, and pure as he jumped from the stage and pushed out his hands, creating a massive pillar of divine light to envelop the girl now convulsing on the floor.
"Suzumi-san, stay with me!" Alan prayed.
"Grave's kiss is a unique and deadly poison... it attacks the body's important functions... even if you survive, likely, you will never be the same. The demons use it to kill targets with a weak body," Anne explained with a sad face, the crowd shocked by the revelation.
"Alan, hurry!" Haruki felt a cold sweat fall down his face; the knights were rushing towards him.
"Fuck off!" Alan slapped away the 'hero' who went flying back; the knights who served Ako all surrendered and knelt beside Alan, offering their magic to him.
"Please, Your Highness, use our mana."
"Please save our guiding light!"
"Thank you, knights, hold hands and concentrate," Alan instructed before chanting, "Divine cure!"
The next moment, his palms touched her, and a holy aura entered her body, burning away the poison, while all the crowd held hands, no matter the race, sex or age.
A solemn flicker of light followed as Alan cast the same spell more than a dozen times, his face full of cold sweat, while everyone held their breath.
Finally, after over ten casts, Ako's breathing stabilised, Alan's face full of sweat as he fell to the ground, exhausted; his mana was almost entirely drained.
"Suzumi-san, wake up! Alan saved you!" One knight shook her; however, Princess Anne tapped his shoulder and shook her head.
"She needs rest. Alan's divine cure isn't perfect, so her body is damaged. Come, knights, I'll carry her."
Anne then carried the girl's body, her knights helping, and the crowd gave them a standing ovation. Haruki's group might have won the match, but they had already vanished and retreated to their waiting room.
While walking, she traced her hand over Ako's head, scanning her with light magic... Only to show a regretful face, biting her lower lip and closing her eyes.
Quietly, Anne whispered to the knights... "She can no longer see. Are you prepared to keep helping her? If so, I will aid you all in growing stronger."
"Yes!" They all knelt tears in their eyes.
The group left the arena in a solemn mood while Maki tried her best to soothe the crowd, although they won. It was certain that Haruki and his party had the worst impression on the crowd after this match. A poison... a demon one at that was the worst of crimes to commit.
Meanwhile, Haruki paced back and forth, Fuuka looking at him quietly while Kenta and Yuki looked at the ground.
"Shit, what are we going to do?!"
"Haruki, what the hell was that sword!!" Fuuka tossed her goblet of water to the ground and trembled; she knew he had gone somewhere with Lord Qwass the night before to 'empower' his weapon. But this... it made her feel disgusted.
"That's not important!! Alan used some kind of healing, so she should be fine!"
"Haruki, that's not the point; you just used a deadly poison on our classmate; what about Suzumi?"
"Screw Suzumi!" Haruki complained before storming out of the room; his temper and arrogance seemed to increase the more time he spent with Lord Qwass in his private room.