You're right, I'm sorry! The brackets [ ] are system notifications and shouldn't be italicized. Here is the corrected chapter:
[Your next opponent is Twinkle Snake Oryba and his mentee Kasruya.]
[Final Stage is about to begin. Please use this transport function to move yourself to the colosseum, where a 2 on 2 duel will begin. You can review the rules here in the wilderness, but you can also choose to review them on the way to the colosseum.]
A knock was heard from the door of Momoka and Thalamik's private room.
The private room was the size of a studio apartment — around 42 square meters. The furniture was included: a kitchen set, a private bathroom, a bed, a refrigerator. It was like their own private sanctuary to rest in.
Momoka acknowledged the knock and slowly opened the door while Thalamik stood beside her.
Nemain, the announcer in her witch-like outfit, appeared in front of Thalamik and Momoka once again.
"It's time to start Round 2!"
Thalamik nodded.
With a smile, Nemain flicked her finger and their usual vehicle appeared.
Slowly, both Thalamik and Momoka entered the vehicle with anticipation. They took their seats on the right side.
Soft but high-tension music played as the vehicle started driving.
Then, in a flash, two more people suddenly appeared across from them, on the left side of the seat.
A lamia man with purple skin and long black hair. His yellow eyes resembled that of a snake. His figure was unlike before — he now seemed more muscular, as if he had gone through rigorous training. One thing Thalamik also noticed was that he was wearing armor he had never seen before.
"Well met, Kaiser. I trust you have been well." Oryba said in a firm voice.
Beside him sat his mentee — a reptilian hybrid. The face of a draconic king cobra coupled with the body of a muscular human. Kasruya also seemed far more confident than he had been on the previous battlefield.
"I am not well. I killed Istar." Thalamik said with a hint of sadness.
"Does it matter, though?" Oryba asked.
Thalamik slowly turned his eyes toward him, staring into his soul as if asking, 'Are you serious?'
"What's done is done. We can't dwell on it. It has been a month already. If you fight me while still chasing ghosts, you won't win."
Thalamik was visibly irritated by the statement.
But before he could say anything, Momoka shook her head and commented, "I guess shedding your skin every once in a while really did get into your head, huh? Or were you always this lacking in morals?"
"What was that you said?" Kasruya joined the conversation. "I'll have you know that—"
"Someone who was defeated so easily by me should stay quiet. Or should I remind you of your place?" Momoka smiled mischievously at Kasruya.
"It matters not whether you think my way of coping is wrong. Just know the world won't stop for you just because you are sad."
The vehicle stopped.
"I'll see you there, Kaiser."
Thalamik nodded before opening and reading the rules one more time.
[Artifact War — Final Stage Rules]
1. Each team consists of a 'Master' and a 'Student', each given authority over a system.
2. The Master must not be a 1st year student. The 'game' system automatically determines which role each person takes.
3. The Master's capabilities are reduced to 10% of their original abilities. From 128 Masters and Students, each pair will do a 2 on 2 battle against one another. The Student is the only one allowed to engage in combat, while the Master is strictly prohibited from joining combat and can only provide commands, plans, or support magic. (Support magic is limited to 3 uses.)
4. The Student's capabilities are increased by 100% based on the stripped power of their Master (this includes spells the Master can use, mana reserves, and other techniques).
5. Each Master who possesses Artifact Fragments may choose to use them for their own advantage. Artifact Fragments can be spent by the Master to buy items from the Colosseum Shop, including instant healing items and other wares.
6. Each Master is entitled to 3 Overlimit uses. Each Overlimit usage has a time limit of 20 seconds. A Master may activate 2 or more Overlimit uses at once. In 'Overlimit mode,' the prohibition on combat for the Master is also lifted, and the Master will receive 100% of their original power during that time. Once the Overlimit time has passed, the Master will be paralyzed at the last position they stood.
7. The Duel ends when the Student is defeated or killed, or when their Master has no remaining Overlimit uses.
8. In the case of defeat, the victor may deliver a finishing blow. If that is somehow not enough, an automated disqualification will occur for the losers.
[End]
As he stepped out of the vehicle, Nemain greeted them and said, "Would you like to spend some fragments? You currently have 149 fragments! It's a good idea to—"
"No, thank you." Thalamik said, walking past Nemain and making his way into the colosseum.
Arriving at the entrance, Nemain appeared again and guided them towards a door, opening it to reveal an arena where Oryba and Kasruya were already standing, waiting for them.
[Let the final stage begin! Fight to survive. Fight till the end!]
[Live or die by the sword. What power do you hold in your hands...?]
[Round 2]
Kasruya charged with his dual daggers, slashing left and right. His speed seemed to have doubled since his last fight with Momoka. The blades of the daggers emitted a blue glow as they moved even faster.
SLASH!
Momoka's shoulder was caught off guard by Kasruya. He hissed instinctively before giving a cynical expression. "It seems I am faster than you now."
"That may be true. But speed isn't everything." Momoka's eyes glowed blue. Having inherited most of her Master's capabilities, and coupled with two months of training, Momoka had grasped a working comprehension of Thalamik's Mana Field — enough to use it to some degree.
Suddenly Kasruya's movements froze, as if he had been held in place. "This is..."
"Blow, Wind of Nature. I call upon you to smite my enemy!" Momoka chanted as an orb began manifesting on her palms. Slowly it transformed into a drill made of wind element.
Oryba's eyes twitched, recognizing whose technique that was.
"Zephyr Auger!"
The technique Momoka had used was Istar's flagship spell.
Kasruya was caught off guard as the drill punctured a hole through his stomach. Oryba's mentee fell to the ground instantly. Kasruya's movements slowed before stopping completely.
Thalamik watched as Kasruya bled out, wondering why Oryba hadn't even attempted to cast a healing spell — or perhaps he had never learned one.
"I am fine with my mentee losing. But to think..." Oryba closed his eyes as his long black hair slowly turned white. His eyes went red, sparks flickering across his body.
"YOU DARE USE A SPELL PLUNDERED FROM MY FRIEND? KAISER?" Oryba shouted in fury, his Mana rising.
Thalamik was startled but managed to keep a calm head, not reacting to what Oryba had said.
"OVERLIMIT — 3 USES!" Oryba declared in anger, activating his Overlimit impulsively.
***
Istar...
I am sorry...
I never meant to use you as a reason to be angry...
It's just...
I need to let all my frustrations out...
Most of all, Thalamik...
I was the one who said to leave past behind us...
But the one seemingly stuck was me...
I am sorry...
I am sorry that I took all my frustrations out on you.
I am just so tired...
Oryba activated his Overlimit, giving him 60 seconds to act at 100% of his power. Thalamik and Momoka waited patiently, watching for any clue of what he was going to do — until it finally happened.
A notification appeared.
[You have used 100 Fragments to unleash your 'Determination'.]
Blue mana began swirling around his body as magical energy slowly formed a sphere in front of him. Then, gradually, it morphed into a black sword.
Thalamik recognized it immediately — there was no mistaking it.
"That sword is Blastar, The Sword of Darkness!" he shouted to Momoka.
"What?! Isn't that the artifact we've been after?!"
Oryba's eyes began emitting fiery blue magical energy.
From here on out.
I am releasing it all.
KUAHAHHAHAA!!!
***
Oryba suddenly laughed maniacally. "Kaiser, o' Kaiser. I will butcher you until there is nothing left."
"Momoka, be careful—" Before Thalamik could finish his command, Oryba speed-blitzed towards Momoka and swung his black blade at her in a frenzy of strikes. "MOMOKA!"
Momoka barely had time to react as the Black Blade slashed through her body — not just once, but again and again, Oryba cutting into her relentlessly. Blood poured from her wounds as she retreated away from him.
Noticing her strategy, Oryba refused to let her create distance. He gave chase, pressing forward. "DON'T RUN, FOX GIRL! KUHAHAHAHAHA!!" Instinctively, Momoka threw her kunai imbued with Fire Element Magic. "Fiery Heaven!"
BOOM!
After the explosion, a cloud of dust and smoke rose between the two fighters. Momoka had finally managed to put some distance between herself and Oryba. "KUAAAA!!" he screamed, bursting through the smoke and thrusting his sword at Momoka.
"MOMOKA!!!" Thalamik shouted.
"KUAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!" Oryba laughed as his body coiled around Momoka, immobilizing her. Momoka was so badly hurt that she stopped moving entirely. "That was for my mentee! KUHAHAHAHA!"
"I am truly sorry. About this. About all of this." Momoka's voice rang out — but strangely, it did not come from the body Oryba had coiled around. "I'll make this as painless as possible." Around Oryba, hundreds of Momoka's clones surrounded him. In the moment the smoke had appeared, Momoka had laid a trap.
She had used Nanaya's flagship strategy — creating clones of herself to overwhelm her opponent.
"YOU! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" Oryba shouted in fury.
Every one of Momoka's clones raised a single kunai and began to chant.
"Blow, Wind of Nature. I call upon you to smite my enemy!"
Oryba began sweeping his snake tail to wreak havoc on the clones. The problem was—
KUANG!
His tail couldn't reach them.
It was as if a barrier was protecting them.
Oryba looked toward the only person who could have done this.
[Thalamik has cast support magic. Remaining uses: 2.]
Thalamik had not placed a barrier around each Momoka — rather, he had created a barrier to trap Oryba in that exact spot. "KAISERRR!!"
"GO, MOMOKA!!"
Momoka and her clones finished their chant and threw their kunai all at once, shouting, "Zephyr Heaven!"
The kunai launched towards Oryba as simultaneously, Thalamik's Mana Field disengaged. Upon impact, the kunai exploded into gales of wind that tore through Oryba's body like paper caught in a wind cutter, the remains sent spiraling into the sky like a vortex.
The remains of Oryba scattered across the arena.
Momoka walked slowly towards Thalamik, her dress soaked in the blood of Oryba and Kasruya.
[Oryba and Kasruya — Killed. Congratulations, Thalamik and Momoka!]
Thalamik walked forward and hugged Momoka. "I am sorry, Momoka... I..." Momoka's eyes welled with tears as she began to sob. Thalamik patted her back as she let it all out. Even as killing became a necessity, neither Thalamik nor Momoka ever seemed able to make peace with it.
[You have gained 118 fragments.]
[Your Artifact Fragments have increased from 149 to 267.]
Oryba had revealed to Thalamik that the fragments did have a use.
But the thing weighing on Thalamik's mind was still this —
Is it necessary to use them?
Is it worth it?
Is it okay to compromise his morals in exchange for more power?
[Info! Your next opponent has been revealed.]
[Your next opponent is Thierus The Gallant and his mentee Eligret. Be sure to prepare yourself.]