Deborah
As Athena wields Sasori and a sawn-off-shotgun, "REED" Is given the opportunity to select two items from the armory of the *Custos Regni.* His choice is to take both the shield and the bow. Athena may sacrifice the shotgun to restrict "REED"'s choice to a single item, and may additionally sacrifice both to arm herself with a single item from the armory.

"REED" Calderon is chosen to begin the battle via coin-toss.
Jean
Stepping back into the ring following a longer healing period than most — his wounds being quite deep, second-degree burns charring multiple portions of his body and the unseen beginnings of a fracture damaging his right wrist — the lizardlike Medeian warrior, Calderon, eyed Athena with a strong gaze as he examined her form, and, more pressingly, her *Weaponry.* His tail sways behind him as he tightens his gaze on the shotgun, a swelling sense of anticipation filling his heart.

*`"Mmm..."`*
*`"You are very much the wildcard of this tournament,"`* Calderon's gaze shifted, as he tilted his head. *`"The other combatants, I am sure I can defeat."`*
*`"But you?"`*

He shrugged, one hand motioning lightly toward Athena. The warrior then stanced himself in position, directly opposite Athena by the standardized distance, his left hand upon the sword sheathed at his hip.

*`"Let us go."`*

__***`ADRENALINE RUSH`***__
The very first action he takes is not unsheathing his sword, but activating a spell.
As *`Total Body Reinforcement`* Activates, a purplish aura engulfing the warrior, a much stronger mana cascades forth, washing over his mind and body. His legs are filled with tremendous strength as he begins to accelerate at breakneck speed, reaching 33 km/h in a mere 2 seconds, and his top speed of an unbelievable near-80 km/h in about eight seconds of acceleration.

All this, as he sprints directly away from Athena, building distance as soon as the battle began.

*`This much is the bare minimum,`* He thought. *`This much just to avoid that weapon she holds!`*

Calderon's feet skid to a stop, his claws digging against the smooth marble of the arena's floor just before he reaches the outer bounds of the arena, a full 15 meters away from Athena. The enchanted buckler still swaying at his wrist, he — as ***`Adrenaline Rush`**'s* Effects had just began to fade — plucked back on its magical drawstring. Having earlier witnessed in the corner of his eye that illusory warrior, Sofja, utilize the tool, he would literally give the thing a shot; it was not like he had better options against an opponent with a shotgun, anyway.

Practically starting the duel at full-range, Calderon nocked an ephemeral, mana-formed arrow, leasing the string and hurling the arcane projectile straight toward Athena's center-mass.
Sherri
As The battle begins, Athena stands in a position that allows easy movement and easy access to unsheathe her katana, Her hand laying on the handle of her katana. To her shock though, Reed brought a bow to this battle. Showing no emotion she thinks of another plan to face this new challenge, As reed backs up and draws his bow

```
Shit, Time for a new plan. Can't let the enemy know your next move. Strike Hard, Strike Fast. NO MERCY, The arena will save him afterall. 50 Feet. Most incarnations are used for battle or to help in a sense, Maybe i could throw him off. Play mindgames. Close the Distance.
```

As Reed releases the bow, Athena Jumps to the right, moving fast and keeping stance as she lands, She unsheathes her katana and Summons

```
DUALITY
```

As a Crow and Dove Manifest on Athena's shoulders, She jabs her katana in the direction of her foe as if pointing at her opponent and giving a signal for the birds, She then takes two steps forward and returns to stance. The birds fly off to Circle Reed. The birds of course would not... Can not attack... In a physical sense. But the crow has a specialty in Emotional Damage.
-
```
"Scared of a simple girl, Now are we?, Keeping your distance, You should fight like the warrior you were in your last match. You Coward!, Your weak will, Disgusts me."
```

Attempting to get under Reed's skin and anger him, The crow throws a volley of insults, Yelling in a aggressive Tone.
Jean
*`Hmm...?`*

The lizardlike irises of the warrior hone on his opponent as she dodges. Dexterously, his fingers wrap back around the ethereal mana-wrought arrow of the enchanted, metallic bow, drawing back yet another crystalline arrow as he tilted his head, sharpening his focus on his opponent...

*`Familiars... Summons made of mana? No...`*
*`...The arena reacts oddly. They are bound to the SOUL.`*
*`...Or are they of the SOUL's essence themselves?`*

Curiosity filled his reptilian irises as his gaze briefly scanned across either of his sides, maintaining a clear sense of where both birds were at all times. They seemed inaggressive, for now — yet he would never disregard them as a threat outright. As they began to speak, their nature as something beyond just mere familiars grew more clear, as well. "REED" Was right: his opponent truly did seem to be the wild-card of this tournament.

*`"A simple girl?"`*

Calderon grinned, his sharp teeth protruding beyond the obsidianlike scales that flanked his mouth.

*`"Mmmm... I do not think so."`*

His finger looses the string, and another arrow is hurled straight toward Athena's center mass. Immediately, he nocks another back, adjusting his aim in accordance with a probable dodge, and fires another for her leg. He was not a master of the bow, yet he was familiar enough with the technique to show some degree of competence and consistent accuracy.

*`"You will see,"`* He nodded his head in, slightly. *`"That I am still the very same warrior I was and always have been."`*

Lightly chuckling — unmoved by her taunts — he would nock back a second arrow, hone his gaze, and fire again. He was hoping to whittle her down before she could close the distance; that shotgun of hers was a risk he could not afford in a melee battle.
Sherri
As the first arrow, somehow missing shoots through her trench coat, Athena's reaction was swift and precise, avoiding the second arrow with a quick pivot on her supporting foot. Murmuring a phrase that harkened back to her lineage

```
"父よ、どうか私に力をお貸しください"

```

Remembering a cool attack or maybe it was a incarnation that her dad had used on multiple occasions. Whether it was a attack or incarnation doesn't matter currently.

As her foot lands on the ground, her birds disappear. And if Reed pays close attention, he can notice splashes of water around her foot as it lands. She then turns back towards reed and takes more steps towards him, moving a few feet closer. As she walks the splashes of water can still be noticed as her feet hit the ground.

Then, maintaining her advance, Athena posed a question to Reed, her voice cutting through the tension of their duel

```
"Have you heard of the poem The Knight, the Raven, and the Swan?"

```

Her idea is to use this poem to help channel a new incarnation, help her focus on what she wants to summon. One that will hopefully give her an upper hand in this battle.
Jean
The Medei warrior's eyes were careful as they followed Athena in her approach, as were his ears, as foreign words crossed into his hearing. His sharp, yellow irises locked upon the form of his opponent, Calderon's stance shifted, preparing a new route of retreat.

*`I cannot hope to beat someone with a weapon like that at close-range.`*

***`FFP`***

An arrow knocked, the warrior launches another volley of two crystalline projectiles for Athena, observing her reactions. She seemed competent; her motions were more fluid than most, and dodging almost seemed to come naturally to her. Calderon maintained his position at distance from Athena with his primary focus being to slow her down or to force her to come from a different angle by whittling her down with the bow; however, once she grew close enough, he would begin to strafe leftward, before breaking into a full sprint around the circumference of the arena, practically hugging the wall.

***`"Sorry, but I will run!"`***

In the meanwhile, Athena attempted to awaken her other Incarnation. The marble of the arena glitters alight as magic begins to envelop her and her soul — the enchantment of the arena taking effect — as some form of __new shape__ is allowed to manifest, empowered by her incantation and by the nature of the **`Margo Aeternitatis`** Itself. That is to say, her attempt would most likely be successful.

Calderon, pacing about a half-rotation around the entire arena by now, skidded to a stop, hoping to have made some extra distance between himself and Athena.

*`"Why don't we find an agreement? I will fight you head-on... If you abandon that weapon of yours!"`* —he spoke in reference to her sawn-off-shotgun, already drawing back another arrow.
Sherri
As Reed's arrows cut through the air once again towards her, Athena jumps sideways to the right, avoiding the arrows.

```
"In realms of shadow, where whispers wade,
A raven perched, in dark cascade.
Its feathers cloak the moon's soft glow,
A harbinger of prophecies fortold."
```

Athena recited, The words, more than mere poetry, were a conduit for her focus, channeling her intention and will to win.

Catching Reed's proposition, Athena smirked slightly and with a fluid motion, she sheathed her katana, her gaze locked on Reed's, she pulls out the shotgun and quipps:

```
"You mean this ol' thing? I don't even know how to use it properly, anyways"

```

 her voice laced with mock innocence. With a flick of her wrist, she emptied the shotgun's chamber, ensuring its harmlessness before casually tossing it aside. The weapon skittered across the arena floor, coming to rest far from her reach.

```
"Let's Dance"

```

With a confident declaration, Athena quickly unsheathes Sasori, as she continued her advance towards Reed. The water that manifests around her feet, occasionally crackling with electricity.

```
Maintain Focus

```

She thinks to herself. The Water now seemingly growing upward as it crackles with electricity.
Jean
*`"An honorable one!"`*
*`"Very good. Then, I will uphold my end of the bargain."`*

"REED" Gave a subtle nod toward Athena. Seeing as she had put the firearm away, the Medeian warrior mirrored her action, tossing the enchanted bow in his clutch aside. In its place, he withdrew his dependable shortsword — sheathed at his right hip — wielding the weapon in his left hand. Giving the thing an open swing as a flourish, he grinned lightly, his tail swaying behind him.

*`I sense this may be more difficult than it seems...`*
*`Mm, it should be no matter.`*

The Medeian warrior leaned in, preparing an assault as he stanced to dash.

*`"Let me have a tasting of your mettle then, warrior!"`*

Thrusting forward at a strong, inward angle, the reptilian warrior's strong posture was maintained despite his great acceleration in his head-on stance, his tail swaying behind him such to maintain his balance despite his impossibly-low stance. He approached at a remarkable pace of about **35 km/h**, accelerating at such a speed that seemed superhuman; he cleared the distance between himself and Athena in a matter of seconds.

***`SWING`***

A strong opener. His shortsword came up in a mostly-horizontal, though slightly-diagonal cut aimed to make first impact at around Athena's left hip, seeking to cut across her waistline and end juist beneath her right armpit. Quickly withdrawing his sword and preparing for a followup or to defend himself from a counterattack, the Medei warrior was looking to simply test the waters with his initiating attack.
Sherri
Athena would chuckle a bit at the comment of being honorable before saying:

```
"Honorable is not the word i would use to describe me, but if that's how you see it, then so be it."
```

As Reed went to swing towards her, Athena would slip on the smooth marble floor, avoiding the attack and as she did, the golden chains around her soul would tug and then the sound of two voices could be heard... No, two voices only she could hear, One that sounds like her dad, the other something... Or someone else:

```
"𓋹 I̍̅̀ṇ͛̒c͕͗̕ā̤͘r̦͕̝ṇ͛̒a̤͘te Fas̠҉ͅter. 𓋹"
" 𝒻ℴ𝒸𝓊𝓈. "
```
As these two voices spoke, the water rose up even further, and faster then previously, this time positioned slightly behind Athena. The electricity crackling more frequently. The water forms into a 8 foot tall bulky knight like shape, with two glistening golden chains around the torso. As the Incarnation forms, Athena would be caught off guard and think to herself:

```
... Dad?
```
—
```
also i should perhaps get new shoes after his, these ones are weared down quite a bit afterall. So much that I'm making a habit of slipping.
```

 The voices spoke once more, in unison:

```
"𓋹 Eͭ̉͟ṇ͛̒s̠҉͍͊ͅṇ͛̒ā̤͘r̦͕̝e̕d Sentinel 𓋹"
" ℰ𝓃𝓈𝓃𝒶𝓇ℯ𝒹 𝒮ℯ𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃ℯ𝓁 "
```

The incarnation's eyes began to crackle with electricity. The semi-liquid body was made of fresh water and appeared to have a corinthian style helmet. It would take a few steps towards Reed, stomping as it does. Its head was locked in on Reed's, the chains rattling and pulsing with a golden dim and glimmering light, it's arms swaying back and forth as its shape rippled from the weight of each step until it attempts an overhead smash by lifting both of its fists up and clutching them together. It then slams its fists downwards and as the Ensnared Sentinel does this, Athena would get on her feet, however stay low to the ground, pivoting her heels, turning towards Reed. She swiftly unsheathed her katana before making an attack herself, slashing at his legs.
Jean
*`...Hm?`*

His sword is met with neither the resistance of flesh nor a clash of another blade. His opponent had avoided it entirely, Athena having dodged — no... *Slipped?* — out of the way. The reptilian Medei's eyes hone, regaining their deep focus on the warrior's opponent, though underlain with disbelief and confusion.

*`...That doesn't seem right...`*

Suspicion was aroused, but Calderon had none of the time necessary to fully ponder the circumstances behind her uncanny dodge. Immediately, the attention he attempted to center solely upon Athena was divested by the sudden arrival of the strong, magical presence forming behind her — her *Incarnation.* The sloshing of water and the sound of electricity captured clearly within "REED"'s ears, his balance shifts rapidly out of his slash, his tail swaying behind him such to counterbalance his forward momentum, allowing him to backpedal nearly immediately after failing to hit Athena. This retreat was only expedited the moment he saw the manifest form of the Sentinel, bursting with as much speed as a single-legged step could afford him backward.

By the time his opponent had slashed toward his legs with her katana, the Medei had already begun to retreat out of her measure, dodging both the overhead attack and the slash. "REED" Slid lightly backward out of the strong, but short momentum he had built out of his powerful step-dash backward, his tongue slithering out of his mouth as he took a soft breath.

*`There is much to test here... And much to be wary of.`*

His irises honed, but he resumed a fighting stance, his buckler guarding the outer-left of his sword-arm's wrist. Shortly after sizing up the Sentinel, he took a step back in, using the momentum of his approach to fuel a thrust toward Athena's center mass—

**`A FEINT.`***

He was testing her and her reactions. As the shortsword grew closer and dominated more of the forefront of her sight, Calderon would immediately shift his weight into a sweep, thrustin

G his leg in from right-to-left to attempt to knock her off her feet. The sword would never truly make contact with her, but would grow quite close; he only cancelled the thrust to shift his weight into a sudden sweep with his legs.
Sherri
Athena right after her swing missed, would jump back and pivot on her heels to face Reed. She thinks to herself.

```
Hmmm, I wonder what would happen, and what all this new incarnation is capable of and those golden chains, not something i imagined but i feel like it has something to do with those voices. Perhaps i could do something with the electricity and water.
```

Unbeknownst to everyone, if not most people... Something is falling from the sky rapidly and as Reed approaches, a Grand Piano lands directly in front of Reed and Athena, Crashing into the ground and Breaking, Splintered wood and discordant notes filled the air. Blocking Reed's Advance. Unperturbed, her Incarnation maneuvered around the shattered piano towards Reed, and will attempt to grab Reed.

IF the incarnations manages to grab Reed, it would attempt to lift him.


```
"The Fuck, Who dropped thier piano?"
```

Athena jumped back and readied herself for a attack, confused as who would drop a fucking piano in the midst of a festival, no less a battle.
Clarence
"Wait, where'd my flying piano go??"
Sherri
Athena looks up from her position and a sense of confusion washes over her as a thought enters her mind

```
... Is that, A flying gorilla? This day keeps getting weirder and weirder. You see and learn something new everyday.
```

She then proceeds to say to the flying gorilla:

```
"You should be more careful of where you put your Piano Flying Gorilla. Someone could have gotten hurt."
```
Clarence
```"I'm sorry, Athena Ayaakiko, my irresponsible behavior might have resulted in someone seriously getting hurt. I will look out better next time I carry my pianos around in sanctum mesa."```
Stephanie
The King applauds Flying Gorilla's wholesome and family-friendly values that demonstrate the jubilant traits of a mature individual, inspiring kindness and growth in the audience.
Sherri
```
"I forgive you flying gorilla, now fly happy and free"
```
Clarence
```"Thank you for this lesson and for your forgiveness, Athena Ayaakiko. I will not forget what you've done for me. "``` He glares at Athena for a few more seconds before majestically departing into the horizon of the night sky.
Jean
Before his attack would even make contact, the unthinkably-improbable happens. His scales shiver with the unseen sensation of something approaching rapidly — beyond even his periphery — his warrior's instincts sharply singing danger. His blade and arm stopped dead in their tracks, his body stopping abruptly as his foot slid back unconsciously beneath him, removing all of the force he had dedicated into the attack in a single instant.

Then,
***CRASH!***

*`You can't be serious...`*

As the cloud of wood-dust and splintered wood ceared, Calderon still stared in a moment of disbelief as the **`Incarnation`** Made its approach. He quickly snapped back to an attentive, combat-ready stance, backpedaling as the water-formed summon continued in its approach, but quickly swapped to a counteroffensive before he had given much space. Dodging back and away from the grab, he pivoted on his heel, **`Total Body Reinforcement`** Beginning to flare as purple mana circulated throughout, and flared off of, his body, shifting inward toward Athena and the rubble of the piano.

*`Unbelievable! This must be one of her tricks, hmm...?`*
*`Conjuration... Or perhaps teleportation?`*

Theories began to flow through the Medeian warrior's head as he stepped into a leap over the rubble of the piano and toward Athena, his buckler positioned firmly ahead of himself through his trajectory and as he landed. Continuing with his momentum, he rushed down his opponent and attempted to use his speed to leverage a quick attack against her, pushing forward with a quick left-to-right slash for her center-mass. He would follow-up, given the opportunity, with another slash, one diagonally up and back toward the left, then finishing with a thrust straight for her throat. His dexterity was such that he would be able to react to a dodge and adapt in turn, fully intending to leverage his superior speed to overwhelm her.