Rei (confidently):

  “Let’s dance.”

  Kizuki narrowed her eyes, still reeling from Makoto’s fiery assault, but she smirked.

  Kizuki:

  “You’re cocky, skeleton. Let’s see if you can back it up.”

  With a sudden burst of speed, she charged. Rei reacted instantly, twin blasts of energy shooting from his pistols, forcing her to dodge backward.

  The blasts scorched the ground and exploded in a dazzling display of light, forcing Kizuki to cover her eyes for a moment.

  Rei used that opening to vanish in a swirl of blue shadows—his skeleton form melting into a smoky mist.

  Rei (voice echoing):

  “Shadow Step!”

  He reappeared behind Kizuki, aiming a precise shot at her back. But she twisted and narrowly blocked it with her arm, magic flaring to shield her.

  Kizuki (gritting teeth):

  “Not bad, but I’m not done yet!”

  She launched a volley of corrosive shards towards Rei, who expertly dodged, countering with a rapid-fire barrage from his blasters.

  The fight escalated—each strike a dance of speed, magic, and precision. Rei’s goofy smile faded into sharp focus as he showed his true skill, matching Kizuki blow for blow.

  Sockoo (watching intently):

  “Rei’s no joke…”

  Emily (whispering):

  “Finally, some real action from the guy!”

  The battle was heating up, and Rei was just getting started.

  Rei sighed, dusted off his coat, and muttered with mock exhaustion:

  Rei:

  “Alright, enough warm-up. Let’s end this in style.”

  He raised his hand to the sky, and a ripple of magic pulsed out. Suddenly, the air darkened—the clouds seemed to freeze—and a colossal blaster began materializing above the arena. Its size cast a shadow that covered the entire stadium. The crowd went silent, mouths agape.

  The massive cannon whirred with bright blue energy, its core spinning violently with magical power. Everyone watching felt the weight of its presence.

  Kizuki (staring up, trembling):

  “…M-Mommy?”

  Rei (grinning wickedly):

  “FIRE THAT HOE—RADIANCE BEAMMMMMM!!!”

  A titanic beam of pure, concentrated energy blasted from the cannon, engulfing the battlefield with blinding light. The impact created a shockwave that sent dust, wind, and raw force through the stadium. The force alone caused the nearby fighters to shield their eyes.

  As the smoke cleared, Kizuki was flat on the ground, twitching, KO’d with cartoon swirls in her eyes.

  Rei (cracking his back):

  “…And that’s why you don’t mess with skeletons who got drip.”

  Makoto (blinking):

  “…Okay, that was fire.”

  Hajime (nervous):

  “…Did he really call it fire that hoe radiance beam?”

  Sockoo (crossing arms):

  “…This is who we added to the team.”

  The crowd exploded in cheers. The Music Strikers had just taken the lead in the first round—with flair.

  Rei stood still, caught between two forces stronger than gravity: temptation… and broship.

  Kizuki lay on the battlefield, unconscious. Her clothes were torn from the Radiance Beam, barely hanging on. The dust cleared just enough to show a silhouette—one that would tempt even the most sacred of monks.

  Rei (nosebleed starting):

  “Did I… kill her? Or did I just unlock the gates of heaven…”

  He leaned just a little closer—sparkles in his eyes, inner pervert monologue rising like a tsunami.

  Rei (whispers):

  “…Just a little peek. For research.”

  But then—

  Makoto (distant, panicked):

  “REI!!! SHINGAI’S TOO FAST—HELP!!”

  Rei’s pupils shrank. He turned to see Makoto rolling across the ground, struggling against the corrosion-charged blur that was Shingai. Sparks and acidic fumes filled the air around them.

  Rei glanced back at Kizuki.

  Then back at Makoto.

  Then back at Kizuki.

  Back at Makoto.

  A single tear fell.

  Rei (clenched teeth):

  “Damn it… the heavens will have to wait.”

  With dramatic music in his soul, he turned sharply and blasted off toward Makoto, leaving behind what could’ve been a perverted victory.

  Rei (yelling midair):

  “Bro before glow! I’m coming, Makoto!!”

  Makoto looked up, exhausted.

  Makoto:

  “…You better not have hesitated, you bastard.”

  Rei (landing beside him with a heroic pose):

  “I hesitated for exactly 3.5 seconds. That’s growth.”

  Shingai (grinning):

  “Two-for-one? My lucky day.”

  Rei (grinning back):

  “Nah, your last day.”

  The true tag-team now begins:

  Makoto and Rei vs. Shingai – Speed, Guns, and Radiant Blasters collide.

  As Rei and Makoto stand side by side, preparing to face Shingai, a strange moment of silence hits between the two… until—

  Rei suddenly starts crying.

  Rei (wailing dramatically):

  “I could’ve seen paradise… I gave up the heavenly gates… for YOU!”

  Makoto (tearing up too):

  “You… you chose me over boobs?!”

  They both start ugly crying, gripping each other's shoulders like they just came back from war.

  Makoto (sniffling):

  “That’s the most beautiful thing anyone’s ever done for me, man…”

  Rei (choking up):

  “You’re the real treasure, Makoto… not the boobs…”

  , Emily and Angel are watching, both slowly turning red with pure cringe.

  Emily (covering her face):

  “I want to disappear.”

  Angel (groaning):

  “They’re crying over not seeing torn clothes while declaring eternal bro love… what even is this?”

  Sockoo (arms crossed, judging hard):

  “I’m so done with men.”

  Rei (pulling out dual mini blasters):

  “Let’s win this for all the bros out there who almost looked… but didn’t.”

  Makoto (loading his fire rounds):

  “Let’s burn this fool. For restraint and respect!”

  They charge Shingai as a united front, explosions of corrosion and blaster energy filling the arena, while Emily and Angel scream internally from the secondhand embarrassment of watching two grown men bond over not being perverts.

  Narrator Voice:

  Thus began the most emotionally confusing yet surprisingly wholesome battle in the Striker Tournament.

  The stadium shakes as the air tightens with rising magic pressure—Makoto and Rei stand side by side, facing the beast-like Shingai, who grins with his tongue out, corrosion magic sizzling around his arms like liquid acid.

  Rei (grinning wildly):

  “Alright, Makoto… let’s show 'em what happens when the pervy duo gets serious!”

  Makoto (twirling his guns):

  “Let’s go wild. You take high, I take low?”

  Rei:

  “Just like training!”

  With a dramatic flare, Rei's skeletal arm splits open, summoning two massive Mona Blasters glowing blue and gold. Sparks fly from the ground as they slam into position beside him.

  Rei (yelling):

  “Mona Buster Style! Dual Lock-On!”

  Makoto loads two custom high-density flame cartridges into his pistols, the chambers sparking to life.

  Makoto:

  “Flare Rounds… loaded. You’re done, Shingai.”

  Shingai snarls, corrosion energy coating his claws. “Come then, clowns—let’s see if your jokes are as sharp as my fangs!”

  Makoto dashes forward, sliding under Shingai’s first swipe, bullets whizzing past his shoulder, forcing Shingai to backflip to dodge.

  At the same time, Rei jumps into the air, crossing his arms—

  Rei:

  “Mona Buster: Skull Ray Barrage!”

  Beams of light rain from above as Makoto unleashes gunfire from below, perfectly syncing with Rei’s rhythm.

  BOOM! CRASH! ZZZAP!!

  Shingai roars in fury as blasts chip through his defense, smoke covering the field.

  Emily:

  “They’re actually… working together… like real warriors?!”

  Angel:

  “Even if they’re perverts… they’re our perverts.”

  Sockoo (grumbling):

  “I’ll allow it. This once.”

  The smoke clears—Shingai kneels, heavily wounded, sparks flying from his corroded armor-like skin.

  Makoto (panting, spinning his guns):

  “Rei…”

  Rei (shoulder smoking, laughing):

  “Yeah?”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Makoto:

  “Let’s finish it.”

  Rei (grinning):

  “Fire at will.”

  Together:

  “BRO BARRAGEEEEE!!!”

  In a final synchronized assault, they unload everything—bullets, beams, and bravado—sending Shingai flying into the wall with an explosive impact.

  KO!

  The crowd erupts.

  And Rei turns to Makoto, tears in his eye socket:

  “Bro…”

  Makoto grabs his shoulder:

  “Bro…”

  Then they burst into tears again—hugging as Angel and Emily scream:

  Emily & Angel:

  “YOU’RE STILL CRINGE!!”

  But victory is victory. And the Music Strikers advance to Round 2—with bro power.

  As the crowd cheers and the team celebrates their supposed victory …

  Suddenly—

  BOOOOMMMMMM!!!

  The entire battlefield quakes, a blast of heat and pressure EXPLODES from behind them!

  Emily (spinning around):

  “Wait… where’s… KIMTANI?!”

  Angel’s wings flare out instinctively.

  “NO WAY—he’s still standing?!”

  Sockoo (wide-eyed):

  “WAIT—he was CHARGING that whole time?!”

  From the smoke and rubble, a massive figure rises—Kimtani, the true powerhouse of Team X, his aura flaring with molten energy. The ground beneath him melts slightly as red and orange flames spiral around his fists, forming a vortex of raw power.

  Kimtani (calmly, voice echoing):

  “…That was impressive teamwork. But you forgot one thing…”

  He lifts his arm—and a giant solar spear forms in his hand, made entirely of compressed fire magic.

  Kimtani:

  “I never lost consciousness. I was… gathering my full power.”

  Makoto (horrified):

  “OH COME ON—YOU WERE JUST STANDING THERE LIKE A BACKGROUND CHARACTER!!”

  Rei (screaming):

  “This is why you never celebrate early!!”

  Emily (readying her wand):

  “Everyone! Formation now!!”

  Angel (stepping forward):

  “No. He’s mine.”

  Everyone stops.

  Angel’s wings begin to glow with pure holy energy, her eyes fierce.

  Angel (serious for once):

  “I’ve been waiting to prove myself… and if he’s Team X’s real ace… then I’ll clip his wings myself.”

  Hajime (on sidelines, arms crossed, nodding):

  “…She’s got that look. The ‘I’m-about-to-go-godmode’ look.”

  Sockoo (grinning):

  “She might not be a heavy hitter by power—but by heart? Angel’s unstoppable.”

  The field burns as Angel floats into the air, and Kimtani spins his sun-spear, their auras clashing like day and night.

  Kimtani (smiling):

  “…Show me what your wings can really do.”

  Angel:

  “With pleasure.”

  And just like that—Round 1 wasn’t over yet. The final clash begins.

  BOOOOOMMM!!!

  In a flash—Kimtani vanished from sight.

  Rei (squinting):

  “Where’d he—”

  CRASHHHHH!!

  Before anyone could blink, Angel was SMASHED midair by a flaming fist that sent her flying like a comet. She soared across the battlefield, spiraling, until—

  FWOOOOM!!!

  —she slammed through the barrier wall, crashing into the crowd seating, knocking over popcorn, people, and probably someone's grandma.

  Makoto (jaw dropped):

  “HE JUST SENT HER TO A DIFFERENT DIMENSION.”

  Emily (horrified):

  “ANGEL!!!”

  Yosuke:

  “Oh, she’s not getting up from that one…”

  Yu (muttering):

  “…Damn, he didn’t even use the spear…”

  Back on the field, Kimtani lowers his smoking fist, standing silently like a giant made of magma. His eyes glowing, he mutters:

  Kimtani:

  “One down.”

  Rei (shaking):

  “…Okay, change of plan. New strategy. Don’t. Get. Hit.”

  Makoto (loading his guns fast):

  “No kidding! We just watched an angel get yeeted into next week!”

  Sockoo (on sidelines, frozen):

  “...I underestimated him. Hajime was right…”

  Hajime (gritting his teeth):

  “Tch… you guys better think fast. This is what I was warning about… he’s the anchor. If you don’t take him seriously now, you’ll all be next.”

  The crowd falls into stunned silence as Angel’s body smokes slightly from the rubble, and medics begin rushing in.

  Meanwhile—

  Kimtani stands, unfazed, raising his sun spear again.

  Kimtani:

  “Next.”

  Rei (sobbing):

  “…I wanna go home.”

  Crowd:

  “OOOOHHHHH!!!!”

  People scrambled as her body crashed into the bleachers. Dust flew. The crowd went silent. A few popcorn bags floated slowly down.

  Emily (staring in horror):

  “ANGEL!!”

  Rei (eyes bulging):

  “H-He sent her into the audience like she was a volleyball!”

  Makoto (slowly turning):

  “Bro… what is he made of??”

  Hajime (dead serious from sidelines):

  “That’s what happens when you forget who the real threat is. That wasn’t even his full strength.”

  Sockoo (clenching her fists):

  “…We underestimated him.”

  Yu (looking toward the crowd):

  “She’s alive. Barely. But she's out.”

  Kimtani lowered his smoking arm, his golden-red aura flickering like the sun itself.

  He glared toward the remaining fighters.

  Kimtani (calmly):

  “One.”

  Rei (nervously):

  “…Oh no. Oh no no no no—”

  Makoto (reloading faster):

  “Don’t get hit. Rule number one now—don’t get hit.”

  Kizuki (barely conscious, laughing):

  “That's our captain…

  The pressure in the stadium skyrockets as the crowd roars back to life, cheering madly. The Music Strikers regroup slightly, shaken.

  And far off in the crowd…

  Angel (from a crater):

  “…I’m fine. Just… give me a second… or a week…” ?????Emily’s hands trembled around her wand, her eyes darting between Rei, who was already charging in, and Kimtani, who stood there like a walking sun—his aura radiating heat and overwhelming dominance. Her heart raced.

  Emily (thinking):

  What do I do? If I go in, I’ll just get knocked out like Angel… but if I don’t—Rei’s going alone!

  But before she could decide—

  Rei:

  "LET’S GOOOOOO!!!"

  He dashed forward with wild confidence, his Mona Blastersglowing bright blue with unstable energy. His expression was hyped—but also just unhinged enough to terrify a normal person.

  Rei (grinning):

  “If I die, tell Makoto he still owes me that ramen—RADIANCE MODE: ENGAGEEEE!!”

  Hajime (from sidelines):

  “Rei, DON’T JUST RUSH IN—!”

  Too late.

  Rei opened fire mid-air, spinning and launching blaster beamslike a maniac. The attacks zipped toward Kimtani in a frenzy of wild, reckless explosions—

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

  But Kimtani simply raised one hand.

  FWOOOSH!!!

  A column of flame erased the blasts like they were paper. And then—

  Kimtani vanished.

  Emily:

  “Wha—he’s gone?!”

  Rei:

  “…Huh?”

  SLAM!!!

  Kimtani appeared mid-air behind Rei and dropkicked him into the ground, sending the skeleton-boy cratering through the stadium floor.

  Crowd:

  “OHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!”

  Emily (frozen):

  “…What am I supposed to do against that!?”

  She looked around—the other members were barely recovering from the shock. Makoto was steadying his guns, trying to find an opening. Angel was still down. Rei was groaning in a crater.

  Emily gulped.

  Emily (muttering):

  “…Okay. I’m scared. But I’m still a witch. I’m still a Music Striker.”

  Her wand lit up with glowing runes, the elements circling her as her eyes glowed.

  Emily (raising wand):

  “If he’s the sun… I’ll be the storm.”

  And just like that—she stepped forward, ready to face Kimtani.

  Let the real fight begin.

  Makoto, standing tall with his jacket fluttering from the pressure waves, reloads both his magic guns with a metallic snap.

  Makoto (gritting his teeth):

  "Emily! I’ll hold him off! You do whatever weird magic chant thing you witches do!"

  He raises his guns—each glowing with a different enchantment—fire in one, lightning in the other.

  Emily (shouting):

  "But Makoto, you’ll get hurt—!"

  Makoto (smirking):

  “I’d rather be crispy fried than let him take another teammate. Let’s do this!”

  He bursts forward, firing rapid shots toward Kimtani with tactical precision. Each shot cracks the air like thunder—explosions lighting up the space between them.

  Kimtani, however, walks forward slowly through the barrage, the ground melting beneath his feet. Fire coils around him like a deity of war.

  Kimtani:

  "You’re brave… but not enough."

  He punches the air—and a compressed fire shockwave erupts forward like a missile.

  Makoto dives, dodging by a hair, his coat singed at the edges. He rolls, flips up, and keeps firing—keeping Kimtani’s attention completely locked on him.

  Meanwhile—

  Emily’s breathing slows. She holds her wand high as elemental circles form behind her—wind, fire, water, earth, lightning, ice, and shadow—orbiting her body like planets.

  Emily (chanting):

  "All elements obey the melody… Spiral into unity… awaken—WITCH’S REIGN!"

  A glowing ritual circle begins forming beneath her feet—massive, beautiful, ancient—and the pressure around the stadium shifts.

  Even Hajime, watching from the sidelines, blinks.

  Hajime:

  “…She’s not playing anymore.”

  As Makoto keeps Kimtani occupied, Emily's ultimate magicbegins forming—something that might be able to turn the tide… if Makoto can survive just long enough.

  The real match was just beginning.

  As the stadium trembles under the immense magical pressure, Emily’s yellow eyes suddenly flicker—then glow bright violet, like celestial amethysts cracking reality itself. The air becomes heavy, ancient symbols swirl around her, and the very sky above the arena begins to ripple like water touched by a divine hand.

  Gasps ripple through the crowd. Even the announcers go silent.

  Emily (in an echoing, otherworldly voice):

  “World Magic: Platousness Mirrordus Godust…”

  A colossal mirror of fractured stardust rises behind her, spinning slowly like a divine gear. It glows with seven ancient runes—each representing a primordial element. The energy from it pulses in waves, bending the battlefield itself into a mirrored realm.

  Kimtani freezes, his aura clashing against this surreal force.

  Makoto (eyes wide):

  “…What the hell is that?!”

  (He glances toward Rei)

  “Is she summoning God?!”

  Rei (ducking behind debris):

  “Bro I think she became one!”

  Emily floats into the air, her cloak rising with divine winds, her staff extending with layered runes. The battlefield now reflects like a dual realm, one real, one mirrored, trapping Kimtani between dimensions.

  Emily (voice layered with echoes of countless witches):

  “All strength you bring forth…

  shall be mirrored in ruin.

  All force you unleash…

  shall be rebounded in divine judgment.”

  Suddenly, Kimtani roars and charges a massive fire blast—

  But it reflects off the mirrored world, and reverses, striking him instead with tenfold force.

  BOOOOOOM!

  A nuclear-sized blast of mirrored magic engulfs him, creating a crater of molten glass and silence.

  Silence falls.

  Makoto (jaw dropped):

  “…Okay, remind me never to piss off Emily again.”

  Rei (clutching heart):

  “My queen…”

  Kimtani lies in the wreckage, twitching, KO’d, and steam rising from his armor. Emily descends, her eyes slowly returning to gold, legs shaky.

  Emily (softly):

  “…Don’t mess with my friends.”

  And with that, Team X’s last member falls.

  Victory: Music Strikers.

  The crowd erupts. And Hajime?

  He just sits there, stunned.

  Hajime:

  “…Platousness… Mirror-what-now…? I’m definitely not the scariest one here anymore.”