Word count: 384 words.

Round Two

"It would seem your supporters have spoken. Congratulations, Prince Corrin, you've taken this round fair and square. Win or lose, these festivities are quite exhilarating, aren't they? I wish you all the best in your next skirmish, and all to come in the new year."

Corrin staggers as he reenters the gauntlet lobby, his kimono in ruin, gloves torn, the strap of his left shoe hanging by the thinnest of threads. With a tattered bundle of flags in hand, he grabs a seat and collapses. In the wake of upsetting defeat, Prince Hrid is ever humble, a sterling example of respectable sportsmanship even in the most egregious of outcomes.

"Gods, I'm done for."

Kiran only echoes his gloom as he fetches healers to patch the prince up for the next round.

"Fluke of flukes," he sneers. "Faced with ten times the support, unkempt fujos as far as the eye can see, with nothing but feather mercs by your side—and you slither ahead by the skin of your jagged teeth thanks to a bonus. Tut tut tut. I sent feedback, but those deafened pissants never listen to me."

Gripped with the pleasant delight of actually winning and the flurried guilt of denying the actually popular contestant the win his greater following so clearly strove for, Corrin is ushered onto the battlefield for the second round. As his pseudo-following returns in slightly bigger droves to feign their support, he wonders if lightning can strike twice.

"Corrin? Goodness, this is a surprise."

With forces numbering in the millions and a pinkish heap left in her wake, Azura enters the arena from the opposite side, dressed in a kimono of her own and brandishing a hagoita. The second bolt strikes, briefly illuminating her irises with an ominous, scarlet glow and granting his wishes in the sickest way possible.

"I've never lost a game of hanetsuki," she hums. "This game isn't quite the same, but a streak is a streak nonetheless,"

Eternal fear and anguish bellow as she raises the hagoita to her cheek, gently smiling as her forces ready their weapons.

"Please hold nothing back, love. Let us both give it our all and ring in the new year together!"

Her earnest cry is met with both a gong and the fetid trenches of Hel splitting open.

The Envoy and Legendary fics are still coming, an update for this is planned once the round ends as well. Thanks for your continued support.