Rika and Marciano both stood up and walked into the ring.

Rika (thoughts): So that’s his name… I never got a chance to look at his nametag. 

Rika: Looks like i get payback for earlier! 

Marciano takes a fighting stance. He Slowly circles around Rika. 

Rika: What is he...? 

Rika turns to match Marciano. Marciano suddenly pounces at Rika, and feigns a punch, Rika blocks her face, and Marciano spins around and delivers a kick to her stomach, sending her flying. Rika gets up, and unveils her star. 

Rika: Ok... no holding back this time! 

She launches herself towards Marciano, who blazes into her, knocking her onto the floor. She does a handstand explosion kick into Marciano, who blocks it, but is sent back by the impact. Rika stands up and prepares to fire a wave of explosions.

Marciano does the same. They charge at eachother.

cut to akkari

Akkari ducks and dodges Rozato’s crystal spikes, he creates barriers around her and she punches through them. 

Rozato (mind): This is going nowhere. I’ll end this now!

Rozato (outloud): Alright, i’m done playing around. This is over.

His Aegistar begins to spin rapidly and his iris and crystals emit a faint glow. Sparks appear around him. Akkari looks scared.

Rozato: I’d like to thank you for granting me this opportunity. After i absolutely destroy you, the higher ups will have no choice but to promote me.

Akkari guards her face and plants her feet firmly into the ground.

Rozato: Brace for impact.

He propels himself forward with his crystals, kicking her stomach and sending her flying.

Akkari grabs her stomach, trying not to throw up.

Rozato puts his hands to the ground and and raises them quickly, causing crystal spikes to shoot from the ground.

Akkari jumps up and bares her teeth. She swipes at the crystals, her jagged nails breaking them into shards.

Rozato: Why do you have to be so stubborn?

Akkari lands on the ground, then quickly leaps at Rozato. Rozato quickly raises a crystal wall in front of her, trapping her arm. Her hand starts to emit a red smoky glow.

Rozato: What th-

Her arm breaks through the wall, scratching Rozato’s face.

Rozato: Gah!

Akkari lands on the floor, then stands up. Rozato grabs his face. Akkari leaps at him again, and Rozato yells, sending a barrage of crystal shards at her. The crystals cut her all over her body. Rozato jumps up into the air, eyes glowing as his face is shadowed. Akkari has a look of fear on her face.

Akkari: No…

Rozato kicks her in the face, knocking her onto the ground. He grabs her and traps her inside a crystal shield. He hauls her back through the forest and takes out his receiver.

Rozato: Grayson.

Marcello: That’s Captain Marcello.

Rozato: Whatever!

Marcello: Did you capture her?

Rozato: Of course i did.

Marcello: Good, i knew you could do it.

Rozato: I don’t need your affirmation.

Marcello: …

Rozato heaves the crystal with Akkari in it into a cage at the back of the car’s trunk.

Agent 1B: Commander Rozato!

Rozato: See, i told you i’d be fine.

Agent 1C (under breath): Don’t look fine.

Rozato: Hmmmm!

Agent 1C: Nothing! Nothing.

Rozato: Alright. Let’s head back. When they all see that I captured the fabled demon girl, they’ll treat me like a king!

Rozato and his agents go back into the car and drive towards headquarters. 

Cut to tryouts

Paprika and Marciano are both injured, but Paprika significantly has taken a lot more damage. 

Paprika: Huff..that all… you got?

Marciano: No.

Marciano charges at her, running in a zigzag pattern, Paprika tries to follow with her eyes. Marciano reaches for a left hook, which Paprika raises her arm to block. Marciano quickly retreats his left arm and then swings with his right, making contact.

Paprika raises both her arms and fires a large-scale explosion, sending Marciano back a significant distance. Paprika smiles.

Marciano stands, as his hair starts to transform into a firey texture. He rushes at her with a sharp burst of speed, knocking her back. He spins in the air, raising his leg and striking her stomach with a powerful kick, making her crash into the floor. 

Paprika: Guh…

Marciano: Hm.

Paprika lays down on her side, heaving and bloodied. She turns on to her stomach, trying to push herself up with her arm.

Announcer Voice: Paprika Qhuma is down. The ten-second count will now begin.

Voice: 10….9….8….

Paprika struggles to stand, she pushes up with her other arm, and turns her head upwards, then falls again.

Voice: 7….6…..5

Paprika: I…. won’t lose….

Her hair starts to flare up, as small, bright explosions begin to form around her.

Marciano (mind): She’s still trying?

Paprika: I….WON’T LOSE!

Her eyes begin to glow, but suddenly, it fades. The explosions shrink rapidly, until there is nothing left. She collapses fully on to the ground once more.

Voice: 3……..2………..

Paprika: No……