Chains Of Pride

"Wh-What just happened?! D-Did the Captain just disappear?" One of the Team Reiger fighters who was obviously confused exclaimed.

"No, the Captain is still in the arena, and that Ace of theirs is gonna feel that in the most brutal way possible! I can't believe that Setemaru Lanzo was able to push the Captain this far." The Ace of Team Reiger Haleo Civik explained.

He started thinking to himself, "Damn it, Cap! We agreed to use that move for the last match of the season, and only as a trump card if nothing else works. Damn it, Lanzo, why do you have to be the one the Captain goes all out for?!"

Lanzo's eyes, along with the scanner of the Armis, scanned the surrounding area at super high speed, trying to seek out the ghosted Magenai. "What the hell was that? What's Ignition?! And what the hell is this heat! I'm burning up here! Damn that Magenai! What di— … Huh?"

Lanzo only felt his feet leave the ground as he was flung back. "Wait, when did I...Argh!!! What is this, why am I...Aaaahhh!!" For Lanzo to feel the pain moments after the blow was exacted showed just how fast the Captain was moving.

Boom!!

He crashed into several rocks before he came to rest entrenched in the arena wall with a resounding smash, something that made everyone else wonder just how many boulders was within this hilly terrain to begin with.

'Cough, ack!'

Several mouthfuls of blood were coughed up, leaking through the small openings present in the helmet. He looked up through now hazy eyes and could vaguely make out the silhouette of the figure that occupied the same space he did not long ago.

Sssttsssssss!!

The crimson Armis was releasing a massive amount of steam, but amongst it, a shuddering sigh could still be heard. "Inferno, that is the name of the Armis I don." Who spoke was Captain Magenai, in a voice so calm it bordered on unfeeling. "Ignition, that is the name of the mode it has entered."

Though Tamashi spoke calmly and collectively, a strange torment could be heard within the Captain's tone.

The waiting room for Team Proelius …

"That Captain Magenai is something else, I bet you anything that they found a way for that Armis to break through its limits. The massive strain on its system is causing a ton of heat to escape. Of course, that explains the heat and everything, but how did they work out the internal cooling and life-sustaining capabilities under such extreme conditions?" Gero was staring at the screen through narrowed eyes.

"I don't think they have, or at least, not as much as they would like to," replied Kia. "The suit might be trying its best to protect its wearer, but it can only do so much. This Ignition or whatever it's called is a double-edged sword, the only question is, how long will that Captain last?."

"If that's the case, then the longer that mode is in use for—"

"The more danger the person's life is in, you got the right of it. But it makes you wonder though, how is that Captain able to move in all that pain much less fight?" asked Kia, already knowing what Gero was going to say.

Gero only offered a shrug to this before saying, "That will-power can't be compared to the average person, that's for sure. Anyways, like I said, because of Lanzo's half-assed tendencies, he'll get a decent beating before long. Heh, should've activated the Temporal Gate when he had the chance. Suck it you muscle-bound freak!"

Kia sighed when he heard this, he wondered if these two would ever be on the same page.

Somewhere really high …

"Sooo he's gonna get his a.s.s kicked," Vizio asked the man beside her.

"Yep," replied Shepherd Hide.

"And we are just gonna watch?" Questioned the purple-haired beauty.

"Very much so," confirmed the austere Shepherd.

"Then we're gonna laugh, right?" She inquired for clarity.

"The possibility is …high," Takeshi affirmed.

"T'is a day of very good things," stated Vizio who nodded her head but never took her eyes from the proceedings below.

Back in the arena …

Lanzo was firmly anchored in the arena wall but started struggling to break free. A method that seemed childish in its attempt. But then again, how many could say they have been stuck in walls to know how to expertly break free?

"Urgh c-c'mon ju-...Finally! I'm free!" He landed on his feet but took a knee shortly after, "ugh damn! I'm still feeling that last hit, and to think, I only felt it after I was sent flying too. That's come crazy power and speed that Armis is cooking. Speaking of cooking, I can still feel the heat, so I guess the bastard's still somewhere nearby."

Lanzo was surveying his surroundings, trying to catch hair or hide of the elusive Captain who disappeared shortly after the blow was dealt.

The Captain of Team Proelius, on the other hand, was trying to rack up as many points as he could by commandeering his team to effectively whittle down the enemy's numbers.

The Ace of the opposing Team Reiger, as usual, took command and was trying to do the same, which resulted in a clash of members falling and rushing to help their teammates on both sides.

All around, one could see fists, kicks and other blows being exchanged, this was one of the most heated matches since the season started, and the roar of the crowd was a testament to this claim.

However, despite how intense the various matches were, especially the one between the Ace Haleo Civik and Captain Himiya, the most attention was offered to the fight between Lanzo and Tamashi.

To be more specific, all eyes were on Lanzo, as no one was able to spot Tamashi, the latter was still seemingly nowhere to be found.

After adopting a defensive stance but seeing it fail to be used, Lanzo couldn't help but issue a yell. "C'mon Tamashi stop flittering around like a fairy and come at me will ya!"

Though Lanzo was …is a battle junkie, he wouldn't be so rash and quick to lose his cool in battle, but the earlier hits pricked his pride, causing him to be a bit impatient.

However, this was what the Captain was waiting for, that moment of impulsiveness. "I told you, you don't have permission to call me by my first name! Plus you're wide open! Perpetual Blitz!"

Bam!!

A monstrous blow was delivered to his front, flinging him back, "Ugh...Damn! Another blow like the fi- …" But before he could finish, a punch was delivered to his back as soon before he could get his bearings, and then another, and another.

Bam! Boom! Phwam!! Bash! Wham!

The crowd was in utter disbelief, Setamaru Lanza, the fighter who held the moniker of Savage One, was being knocked around the field like a ping-pong ball. As soon as he received one hit and was sent flying in one direction, he would receive another to be sent flying in the next.

"Ugh! Damn it! The Armis can't keep up with this beating! I need to- Krgh! D-Do something!!" Lanzo's mind was racing in a desperate attempt to find a way out of this quagmire!

"Wait! That Temporal...something! How could I have forgotten about it?! Well, it's now or never!"

The waiting room for Team Proelius …

"Kia, tell me something, that idiot forgot about it, didn't he?" Gero was more insisting than asking at this point.

"I...Uhm...he uh...damn it, fine yes he did, but look! After that beating, he must have remembered it by now." Kia reluctantly replied. No use defending the guy if he didn't give him much ammo to fire back with.

"Stop trying to fight for the stupid, you'll be working for days." Gero shot back, becoming less and less impressed by the fighter, not that there was much impressiveness to start with, and that's saying something.

Somewhere really high …

"Hahaha!!" Laughing to no end was Vizio who saw the human ping-pong ball below. "How are you not laughing right now?! Oooh, that must have hurt! Pffttt hahhahahahaa!"

"I am laughing," Shepherd Hide stoically replied. "Hhmm, this idiot probably forgot about the capability of his suit I'm sure of it. I had a feeling before, but now I'm positive, there's gonna be a dumb one in the group, and he's gonna be the dumb one! Just great."

Wiping a tear from her eye and controlling herself just enough, she looked to him and asked, "What kind of person laughs with literally no change in their expression?"

"This is how I laugh, now be quiet."

"That's not laughing, that's scowling! Good God, you've had the same expression for so long that your face is incapable of anything else!" Vizio exclaimed.

" …" The Shepherd stopped speaking, his attention entirely devoted below.

She simply sighed at his silence and copied his behaviour.

Back in the arena …

"G-Got it! So it's the Temporal Gate source switch, Urhk, Ngh! Damn it, Magenai's not letting up, trying to finish me off quick, aren't you?! Well sucks to be you! I'm stubborn as hell!"

Lanzo, while being knocked around and his armour reaching its limit under the pummeling, finally drew from the information begotten by his Engage with his Armis and started to activate the Temporal Gate.

He could feel the Captain closing in on him again, at this, he gritted his teeth and roared., "Temporal Gate, Open!"

Captain Magenai, who was enduring extreme pain despite the attempted protection offered by the suit, felt an unprecedented sense of danger from Lanzo. Hence the Captain sped up even more to land one more blow, but before that could happen...

Whoosh!!

Lanzo's Armis that was being knocked around, suddenly began to exude a dazzling light, nearly blinding the incoming Magenai which sent the Captain careening off course, almost crashing into a boulder.

However, the Captain quickly recovered and looked back to see what happened, but the scene in front caused nothing but shock and awe.

At this moment, everyone present, all who bore witness, was bewitched by the captivating scene.

The Armis was now in the air, encapsulated in a divine light floating gently like an otherworldly object. It slowly started to descend and soon graced the ground, much like a banished immortal.

When Gero saw this, he gently smiled before saying, "The Temporal Gate will bring forth both chaos and order in this world, but for now Lanzo, you will bring …Chaos."