Voice: 1.

A loud alarm goes off. All the agents stand,

Voice: Paprika Qhuma has been knocked down after ten seconds, which means the winner of this round is… Marciano Fuego.

A mixture of cheers, groans, and sighs are heard from the surrounding audience.

Voice: Your third trial has now completed. May all competitors please enter the waiting room, where we will soon announce the top eight competitors, who will be taking part in the final round.

The competitors flood through the doors. Caelus rushes over to Paprika to help her up. 

Caelus: Hey.. you ok?

Paprika: If having my stomach kicked in is ok.

Caelus: Hey. Don’t beat yourself up about it. You fought well.

Paprika: If i couldn’t beat Marciano now, there’s a high chance he’ll beat me again in the final round. If i even make it to the final round.

Caelus: Don’t be crazy! If anyone is making it to the top eight, it’s definitely gonna be you.

Paprika: Thanks.

All the competitors sit in the waiting room, with a large screen on the wall at the end of it. On the right-hand side is a medical room, where the injured competitors are taken to.

Five minutes pass. Ten minutes. Half-an hour. One hour passes, and the screen lights up.

Voice: Now, the top eight competitors, who will compete in pairs in the final challenge, will now be announced. If your name is called, please walk towards the door to the next room.

Paprika’s heart races. Marciano has a stern look on his face.

Voice: First…. Darcy Ragula.

She looks up sharply, and slowly walks over the large door below the screen, grabbing her arm nervously.

Voice: Second….Lee Gantar.

A proud smile forms on his face, he jogs over to the door, as onlookers cheer him on. Alex scowls.

Voice: Third….Marciano Fuego.

Random: Hmph. To no one’s surprise.

Other Random: That guy’s insane. Did you see how he beat that explosion girl!

Marciano strides over to the door, quickly darting his eyes towards Paprika, then looking back to the door.

Voice: Fourth…..

Paprika: Please be me, please be me please be me…

Voice: Alexander Dirks.

Random: …Hate that guy.

Other Random: Don’t we all?

Alex: About time! - (loudly): All of you rejects better watch closely. he pushes up his glasses. Im about to destroy this competition!

Alex’s words are met with boos, groans, yells and sounds of disgust.

Darcy: What… like you destroyed Lee? Didn’t seem like that bad of a loss to me. In fact he was beating you for most of it.

Lee turns his head away, shyly.

Alex: Why don’t you be quiet. I can guarantee that you’re by far the weakest one standing up here!

Darcy: We’ll see, i guess.

Voice: Fifth…Caelus Caltrae.

Caelus: Yes!

He pats Paprika on the shoulder.

Caelus: You’ll be up there with me. don’t worry

Paprika: I hope so.

Caelus walks over to the door, his gaze caught by Kin Jodaku, staring furiously at him.

Caelus (mind): Is that guy seriously still mad at me?!

Voice: Sixth… Tanya Liura.

Out from the crowd steps a girl with short orange hair who Paprika doesn’t recognise much. She taps another competitor and asks them a question.

Paprika: Hey… who is that?

Random: Uhh… i think she was in match 44? She could like summon giants, or something. I wasn’t paying much attention to the match though.

Paprika: Right. Thanks.

Tanya struts past, turning to look at the crowd. A few people cheer for her. A lot of people boo her.

Paprika: She…. doesn’t seem all that nice, does she?
Random. Guess not.

Voice: Seventh…. Ray Clover.

Ray’s eyes light up, and he lets out a shocked gasp.

Ray: I got.. i got in!

Ray rushes over to the door, excitedly. The other six qualifiers turn to look at him. 

Alex: Hm. Guess they’re letting anyone pass.

Ray’s smile quickly fades as chuckles are heard. 

Darcy: Don’t let him get in your head, man.

Ray: Thanks, but it feels like you’re saying that just because you’re the one who beat me.

Darcy: If that’s what you’re gonna think, then it might as well be true.

The crowd goes quiet as the eighth qualifier is announced.

Voice: The eighth and final qualifier is… Paprika Qhuma.

A wave of relief washes over Paprika, who stares at the screen, in awe. She steps towards the door, as the other competitors stare at her. To Paprika, it felt like the whole world had it’s eyes on her. 

The crowd turns to look as she slowly goes over to the seven other finalists.

Caelus: See? I knew ‘ya could do it!

Caelus raises his fist, and Paprika hits it. Alex turns his head to look at the two, gritting his teeth. Caelus turns his eyes away from Paprika to see Kin Jodaku, staring directly at him. His slight smile turns into a frown.

Voice: This concludes the selection of the eight who will compete in the final, televised round, which will take place tomorrow. May all non-qualifiers please proceed back through the rooms and exit the building. The qualifiers will enter the large door behind them, where they will receive information for the final challenge. That is all.

The crowd starts to go back through the doors in which they came, as several sounds of disappointment and frustration are heard. Caelus runs toward the crowd, and sees Kin, walking dejectedly. 

Caelus: Hey… are you good?

Kin turns his head to look at Caelus.

Kin: Don’t mock me.

Caelus: Dude, why do you have to be like this?

Kin: I lost, and because of my failure, i’m not standing up there. That is all.

Caelus: Well… i just wanted to say i really don’t see you as worse than me, or anything like that, ok?

Kin: ….Whatever.

Kin turns away and walks to the exit, quicker than before.

Caelus heads back to the opposite door, where the other qualifiers are faced.

The large door begins to open, revealing a small room, where a small screen sits on a desk. The screen lights up, and a live stream of Captain Marcello is shown.

Marcello: Greetings, eight top competitors of this sector. I apologise for not being able to be here in person, but i have important things to do. So, how this will work. You all will have a day to return home and prepare for the challenge. When you arrive here tomorrow, you’ll be asked to form pairs, and face off against the other pairs from all other sectors in a large scale race. The first pair from each sector to make it to the end will receive a special reward, and a guarantee into the twenty competitors who will become official agents. You may now leave.

The screen shuts off. They begin to to exit through to the sign out room. Alex strides over to Paprika, his mouth contorted with contempt.

Alex: Hey!

Paprika turns her head slightly.

Paprika (mind): What does he want now?!

Paprika: What?

Alex: You better not slack off training, because i want to crush you at your best!

Paprika: Im not the one who’ll be getting crushed!

Alex: Oh really? Well at least I didn’t lose my one-on-one.

Alex quickly removes himself from the conversation, walking away with a smug look on his face. 

Paprik: You know, I was thinking, maybe his whole “I’m better than all of you” thing was like, his game attitude, but he’s really like that all the time?

Caelus: Well, that means you won’t have to feel bad about crushing him.

Paprika: Ha, Yeah.

The both of them walk together for a while.

Paprika: Hey, do you live around here?

Caelus: Nah, i live pretty far, actually.

Paprika: Then why are you still walking with me?

Caelus: Well, i just felt like it. Plus, it’s getting late!

Paprika: How chivalrous.

Caelus: Wow, if you wanted me gone that bad…

Paprika: I’m kidding. Anyways, my house is here, so…..

Caelus: Right. Well, i’ll see you tomorrow then?

Paprika: Yeah, and make sure you’re in top shape, since we’re gonna be in a pair.

Caelus: You know what the teams will be?

Paprika: Weren’t you paying attention? We choose our own partner. And i already decided it’s gonna be you.

Caelus smiles warmly at her, then turns to leave, reluctantly. Paprika stands outside of her door, her smile slowly fading as he gets further and further away, until he then completely disappears from view.

Paprika sighs, reaching into her pocket for the key to unlock her door. The keyhole slowly turns, the door creaks open. The house is quiet. She slowly and carefully treads up the stairs and into her room, so not to wake anyone up. She throws herself onto her bed, full of exhaustion, and places her hand on her forehead.

Paprika: Tomorrow….

A door slowly opens. Commander Rozato walks through it, with several agents following behind, hauling a large black box behind them. 

Rozato: One demon girl, as promised!

Marcello: Good work, Flore.

Rozato: Why can you call me by my first name, but i can’t call you by-

Marcello: Because I’m your boss.

Rozato: Alriiiight, you don’t have to be so sharp all the time. Anyway, since I was able to capture this elusive target.. that definitely deserves some sort of promotion, right?

Marcello: You and I both know there’s only one possible rank you could be promoted to, and you’re far below that.

Rozato: Yeah, i know, but can’t you make some kind of.. uhh.. i don’t know, super commander rank? Just for me?

Marcello: No. But if you insist on a reward, i’ll consider raising your pay.

Rozato: Oh come on! I don’t care about the money!

Marcello: Are you done?

Rozato: …Yes.

Marcello: Good. Now go do whatever you want since you’re free tonight.

Rozato: Hmm.. actually, i wanna stay and see what you’re gonna do to the girl.

Marcello: Fine. You four.

Marcello motions over to the agents holding the large box.

Marcello: Open it.

Agent 1D: Are you sure, sir?

Marcello: Of course.

Loud noises are heard, coming from inside the box. The agents slowly unlatch the box, revealing the large, pink crystal inside. The crystal starts to crack, and the cracks slowly grow larger, and larger, until the crystal shatters, Akkari emerging from it.

She snarls, and charges at Rozato, her sharp fangs bared. Suddenly, a metal device is launched at her, latching onto her mouth, and another onto her arms. She falls to the floor and flails around wildly, until a sudden electrical jolt is sent through her body, paralysing her.

Marcello: That’ll keep you settled. For now.

Akkari (muffled): No… stop…!

Rozato: What’s that? Can’t hear ya! You’re gonna have to speak up!

Akkari bangs her head on the floor in a violent rage.

Marcello: Listen. Im going to give you a choice. So you better listen closely.

Akkari looks up, her eyebrows slanted. Marcello looks back, with a cold look on his face. Akkari’s crimson eyes glow ominously.