Kapela, in her giant form, looked down at Rizu with a smug smirk.
Rizu glanced up at her and grinned.
"That's a nice view."
Kapela's face instantly turned crimson. She hurriedly pressed both hands against the hem of her short armored skirt, glaring at him in embarrassment.
"W-What the heck?! Where are you looking, you bastard?!"
Rizu pressed two fingers from each hand to his temples — and vanished.
"He's using the same move again," Jatin frowned.
"He can't win like that," Rudransh muttered.
Riri crossed her arms. "Master Demetrius must've taught him more than one trick. Have faith in your brother — all of you."
I stared at the field, heart pounding. You can do it, Rizu… I believe in you.
The giant Kapela scanned the arena; her booming voice shook the ground. "Where are you? Are you a coward!?"
"It's called smartness, shorty," Rizu's voice came from somewhere unseen.
Kapela's eyes narrowed. She turned her head, following the echo — and froze.
Footprints appeared on the dirt.
Kapela smirked. "Smart? Really?"
She thrust her massive hand toward the prints, cutting off any escape path.
Rizu halted, eyes widening. "Oh no…"
Her fingers closed fast. Rizu spun to run — but in his panic his focus slipped. He flickered visible.
In a flash, Kapela's hand grabbed him.
"Gotcha."
She lifted him to her face, smirking. "Now who's the midget?"
Rizu gagged. "Shut up—your breath stinks like rotten eggs!"
Kapela's grin twisted. "So you don't want to live."
Her grip tightened.
"AAAAAARGHHHHH!" Rizu screamed, struggling for air.
"Nooo!" we all shouted from the stands.
"Hahaha!" Kapela laughed wildly. "I'll stop when blood comes out of your mouth! I want to see it! I want to feel it!"
"Is she insane!?" I yelled.
"We have to stop her!" Shon stood. "She's gonna kill him!"
Everyone turned — but no one moved.
Kapela's smile widened. "Did I make a joke?" she whispered cruelly.
"You will…" Rizu muttered weakly.
His eyes suddenly glowed white.
Kapela's eyes began to glow as well.
Everything — light, sound, the arena — collapsed into black.
When Rizu opened his eyes again, he wasn't himself.
He looked down — and saw Kapela's body.
"What the…!?" he gasped, hearing his voice inside her.
Slowly, he lowered his own limp body to the ground, easing it down. Then, using Kapela's hands, he loosened her crushing grip.
"What's going on!?" Jatin asked.
"I don't know, bro," I said, eyes wide.
Rizu's body lay motionless.
"He's unconscious! He already lost!" Shon yelled. "Give him medical aid!"
But no one moved.
"Damn it — they're not listening!" Shon shouted, fists clenched.
"Alright…" Rizu muttered from inside Kapela. "Now it's my turn."
He dropped to his knees and began smashing Kapela's head into the ground.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
"Get hurt, you demon freak!" Rizu shouted. "Aaaaaaaa!"
Cracks spreaded across the arena floor.
"What is she doing!?" someone from the audience said. "She's gone mad!"
"Wait!" I said suddenly. "Did you see Rizu's eyes? They turned white before he passed out — now she's acting crazy!"
"You mean…" Rudransh said slowly, "he's inside her mind?"
"That's what it looks like," I replied. "He's controlling her!"
"Her personality's totally different now," Rudransh agreed. "She's acting like an idiot."
Shon glared at Rudransh.
Inside Kapela's body, Rizu frowned. "It's not working. She's not taking any damage… How did she change her size again?"
He clenched Kapela's fists, concentrating. "C'mon, shrink! Shrink, you demon!"
Nothing.
Rizu closed his eyes in Kapela body and started meditation. "Focus, Rizu. Focus!"
He imagined a calm white space. A single peanut appeared. Then Jatin's face popped onto the peanut.
Rizu snorted. "Hahaha… my brain's broken."
Slowly, the giant form began to shrink. The earth stopped trembling. Her horns vanished as well. Kapela's hulking frame reverted to normal.
"She's… changing back!" I said in awe.
Rizu — still in control — stood, glanced at the spiked mace she'd thrown earlier, and smirked. "Hope you don't die from this."
He bent down — preparing to smash her head.
"Okay, one… two…"
Suddenly Kapela's hands twitched.
"What the—!?" Rizu gasped.
Kapela's voice echoed inside her head. "Get out of my body!"
Her fists — under partial control — grabbed her own throat, choking.
"Stop—!" Rizu shouted.
"NO!" Kapela screamed.
They struggled violently, slamming their shared face again and again.
Then — everything turned black.
Rizu gasped awake, back in his real body.
Kapela stood in front of him, gripping his neck.
WHAM!
She punched him across the face, sending him flying.
"AAAUUGHHH!" Rizu groaned, lying on the ground. "It hurts…!"
Kapela snarled. "I'm done with your tricks."
She lifted her mace for a finishing blow.
"He'll lose if he doesn't fight back!" Ayush yelled.
"I don't think Master Demetrius ever taught him an offensive spell," Jatin said grimly. "If he had, he'd have used it by now."
Riri shook her head, sweat slicking her brow. "He'll win… I know he will. I have faith in my comrade."
Kapela leapt high, mace raised for the final strike.
Rizu, still on the ground, lifted a trembling hand.
His eyes flashed green.
The moment the weapon descended — she froze midair.
Then — THUD! — she crashed back to the ground.
Everything around them turned white. She looked around in confusion.
The arena vanished — replaced by a vast paved road beneath a blazing crimson sunset.
Kapela slowly rose, bewildered. "Where… are we?"
Rizu appeared before her, walking calmly with a confident smirk.
"This," he said softly, "is India Gate."
Kapela's eyes widened. "What have you done? What happened to the world!?"
"Oh, don't worry, dear," Rizu said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You shouldn't be scared of me."
She blinked; her rage wavered. "R-Really?"
"Yeah." He then uppercut her straight in the jaw.
CRAAACK!
Kapela flew high into the air.