Side KULA

According to that cat, this would be one world of possibility. Doesn't really look any different from usual though...

I guess I'd better hurry up and start looking for those fighters. Where should I start...

Huh, it's the same place I started before...

I guess I'll just have to search for the next fighter around here. Where to first, then?

Is that Aldo I see over yonder?

Hey you're right! Aldooo!

Cyrus! Amy! What're you two doing here?

This is gonna sound crazy, but I was invited to a martial arts tournament...by a cat.

Seriously?!

Indeed. I was summoned in much the same manner.

I was taking a dip in the Man-eating Marsh when a cat strolled along and gave me an invitation letter. Thinking this strange, I followed after it, only to lose consciousness and find myself here. As fantastical a story as that is, I assure you it's the truth.

...I'm surprised the cat visited them, too.

I have to admit though, as strange as all this is, I'm pretty excited about the tournament.

Agreed. I've heard the event has attracted warriors from all over the land. It's a good opportunity to put my blade to the test.

You were invited, too, right Aldo? Wanna team up with us?

People from another world?

This is indeed no small matter.

Oh, that's right. I heard they'd be around this arena...

Cyrus! Amy! Did that cat bring you here, too?

Huh? How did you know?

Actually, I...

I see. So that's what the cat was doing in the Man-eating Marsh.

An evil presence... We can't just sit back and do nothing.

Exactly. The cat told me I needed to seek out fighters from another world.

K', you big jerk!!!

Wh-What the, ?!

A quarrel?

We might need to step in before things escalate!

I can't believe you're trying to kick Riica out like this!

Unlike you, I'm not dumb enough to turn my back on some robot I don't know a damn thing about.

I don't care! We promised Riica we were gonna win the tournament together!

Riica's here, too?

Good day, everyone.

Huh? Are these friends of yours, Riica?

Yeah. The name's Aldo. I'm a traveling swordsman and Riica is one of my allies. The two behind me are Amy and Cyrus.

Wow! What a cool looking frog!

Excuse me, but I am no frog, madam. I am a simple swordsman...

Wow, his voice is so gentlemanly! Hehehe, well...any friend of Riica's is a friend of mine!

Well isn't she friendly?

Kula, right? It's nice to meet you. Who's your friend?

He's K'!

Kay...Dash?

...Tch.

Hey! Wait!

I didn't come here to make friends. Someone's gotta find that cat if we're ever going to make it home.

Cat? You mean the one that delivered the tournament invites?

Huh? How did you know that?

Where to begin...

Ohhh, so you got an invite, too!

Pretty much. All of us did.

But after that, we couldn't find the cat anywhere. We've still got a lot of unanswered questions.

I can't imagine the fiend behind all this will let themselves be exposed easily.

Still, if what the cat said was true, then we don't have a choice.

I wonder if you can meet the bad guy if you win...

That's what I'm thinking. So right now we're looking for teammates to join us in the tournament.

We already have a team! My team, and your team! We can beat up everyone else!

And don't worry, I can handle most of the heavy lifting myself, promise!

I'm feeling pretty good about this now that you've agreed to join us, Kula.

So...

...Not happening.

Grr! Why do you have to be like that, K'?!

I would like to request your assistance as well. If we can find that cat, we may also be able to find you a way home.

......

Round one will be starting soon. Teams that have not yet completed registration should head to reception immediately.

We'd really appreciate your help here. Anything we can do to convince you, K'?

...Tch. Why's it gotta go like this every damn time?

Then you'll do it? Thank you!

Come on, guys! Let's do our best in round one!

Woohoo! We sure showed them!

Well done, Kula!

Thanks again, K'.

...I don't need your gratitude. Let's just get this done.

You two were in perfect sync. Do you always partner up like this?

Tch... We're not partners. She just won't stop following me around.

Riicaaa! All that running around got me hungry. I want some ice cream.

I see. Eating ice cream certainly sounds like an efficient way to cool down one's body after a heated battle.

I heard there's a break room for the contestants. Want to rest there for a bit?

Sounds good to me. It's going to be a while until our next match.

Yay! Count me in!

Ooh! Look at the cute little kitty cat!

...What you got there, kitty?

Ah! Wait up!

Miss Kula, !

Come on everyone!

That cat definitely had a ticket with a picture of vacherin glacé on it! I've gotta be sneaky here...

YEEEAAAH! ROUND ONE IS IN THE BAAAG!!!

Hah! Anybody dumb enough to get matched with us is gonna be dead meat!

...They're so loud. Maybe I should freeze their lips shut...

Huh? Where'd the cat go?

There you are, Kula!

The kitty got away...

Was there something unusual about it?

Yeah... It had a ticket for a cake shop. What if it was for some free vacherin glacé?

...That wouldn't make it yours.

Grr! I was gonna ask the kitty nicely, okay!

Round two will be starting shortly! Participating teams are asked to proceed to reception!

Sounds like we're up.

Stay on your toes, Kula! Let's work together and win that cake!

...Yeah! Thanks, Riica!

With K' and Kula's help, we won fight after fight.

And that's the match!!! Team Aldo and Kula plows through the competition, clearing the semi-finals!!!

And now all that's standing between us and total victory is the finals.

...We're coming to you live from the Elzion fighting arena, Darkest Noah!

The atmosphere here is absolutely electric as our fearsome competitors gear up for an intense battle!

...H-Hey! What are you doing?! I'm in the middle of a...

There sure is a lot of commotion out there...

The crowd must be getting excited for the upcoming finale.

We're almost at the end!

Yeah! Now let's take home the gold!

...Where's Kula?

Why're you asking me? She's probably goofing off somewhere.

You think everything's alright?

It's fine. She's always like this.

Still, you never know. I'm gonna go check on her.

...What a pushover.

Wahaha! I never lose at tag!

, The heck?

Get in my way again, and I'll step on your tail.

Hey! What kinda jerk would bully a cat?!

Isn't this brat from the top-ranked team?

With those noodle-arms of hers? No way she wasn't carried by her teammates.

...Freeze.

Wh-What the, ?!

Now you're the only bad guy left.

Eep...

Sh-She's a monster!

...You're so boring.

Go away. You're not even worth playing with.

S-Somebody help me!

Ugh! What a weakling!

Are you okay, Kula?!

What's going on here?

Just a couple of jerks bullying a cat. Don't worry, I sent them packing.

Poor thing. You must've been so scared...

Huh? You wanna give me this?

It really is a voucher for a vacherin glacé!

Ehehe, now I can finally get that vacherin glacé...

Ah! My voucher!

Wow, you got it back for me! You guys are so nice!

It slipped out of my hand earlier and this cat came out of nowhere and ran off with it. I really thought I'd lost it for good.

...This voucher's yours?

Yeah, but I couldn't really search for it with everyone acting so strange... I got scared and ran away, but I'm happy I found my voucher.

Oh, I see... So I guess the little kitty was running away from the scary people too, then.

Okay. Well, be careful not to lose it again.

Thank you so much, really!

I'm sorry, Kula. After all that searching...

Nah, it's okay. I can buy as much vacherin glacé as I want once we win the tournament.

We're nearing the end now, so fight hard, okay?

You have my word, young lady, My blade screams only for ice cream.

Yep! Let's win this thing!

Those guys earlier were pretty dangerous, and who knows if there are more of them. You should wait for us in the break room.

...People have been acting weird, huh? I wonder if that's what was behind the commotion we heard earlier...

...That's what I'm thinkin'.

Oh yeah? You have some idea what's going on here?

Just a feeling. They're giving off some kinda aura. And not just those guys Kula roughed up, everyone in the arena.

An aura, huh? The cat mentioned that there was a dark force controlling things from behind the scenes. ...Could it be related?

...There's no point overthinking it.

If there's something in the shadows, all you can do is drag out into the light.

The final battle... I won't lose.

Yes. It's certainly an effective system for gathering power...

Hahaha, yes... Embrace that feeling, that insatiable lust for violence. Let it become our nourishment!

Welcome, fighters. You've done well to make it this far.

So you're the big boss, huh?

The sponsor of the tournament...

A medieval swordsman and an android? Your team certainly has...variety. I suppose that's what happens when outsiders get involved.

Rugal! I should've known it'd be you!

Oh? You know of me already, swordsman?

...Rugal Bernstein, huh? I thought you kicked the bucket ages ago.

Hahaha... Did you really think I could be destroyed so easily?

You know this guy, K'?

Not personally. I just know he's a pathetic idiot who's obsessed with some stupid power.

Hmph. I wouldn't expect a couple of failed test subjects to understand the magnitude of my ambitions.

You'd better watch your mouth...

...I think I hate this guy. His stupid face, his gross aura, all of it!

Haha...very good... I can feel the excitement in your fighting spirit.

Let us begin! Our audience craves blood, and we mustn't keep them waiting!

Ngh! He's so powerful!

Nyaaah-nyah! You're never gonna beat us, loser!

Bow before my newfound power! Let me show you what it means to be the ultimate!

Gragh... Impossible! I can't, !

Hah! How do you like THAT?

He talks a lot of trash for such a wuss.

, We're the champions this time!

...Don't think you've won just yet, fools.

Wh-What the, ?!

Mwahahaha... As the swordsman said, It's over. You're all dead!

Warning! Massive energy spike detected! My sensors can't keep up!

This is bad! We've gotta retreat!

The whole place is coming down!

Did you hear that?

Hear what?

Damn it! The kid!

I'm picking up two lifeforms just ahead of us!

It sounded like they needed help! Let's go!

The kitty got stuck...

Damn, it's a wreck here, too.

That's exactly why we've gotta help that kitty!

I'll save it. I promise.

Move, you stupid rock!

...K'!

What was that noise just now?!

It came from Kula's direction. What if something happened to them?

Over there!

Teheheh... We saved the kitty!

Ahhh... Thank goodness...

Sniffle...hic... Thank you...so much...

Cut the waterworks, kid.

Yeah! Don't cry! Your kitty's all safe and sound!

Sniffle...

O-Oh yeah... Here, I wanted to thank you...

Keep it.

Yeah, we've already got tons of prize money from the tournament. Don't worry about us.

Hm? It's from the tournament organization committee. Let's see here...

Wh-What?!

Something wrong, Riica?

Um...I might have a bit of unfortunate news to share...

I can't wait to get that prize money! First I'm gonna get my vacherin glacé, then a choux ice cream, then some gelato...

Um... Kula...

Don't worry Riica! I'm gonna share everything with you!

About that... Actually...there is no prize money this time.

...Say what?

The sponsor of the tournament has gone missing, the arena is in shambles... They've decided to call off the rest of the event.

SAY WHAAAT?!?!?!

...Makes sense.

...Indeed. It is unfortunate to be sure, but alas...

No way! I'm so hungry! I fought so hard!

...U-Um! Would you like this ticket?

That's...the vacherin glacé voucher!

You sounded like you were really excited to eat it...

For real? Are you sure?

Of course. You saved me, and I don't really have any other way to thank you.

I'm happy for you, Kula.

Yes! You fought very hard for that cake!

Yay! Heheh...

Then how about we all share it? That includes you, of course!

Huh? Is it really okay?

Of course! Cake is sweeter with friends!

...I'll pass.

What?! No! You've gotta come, K'! This is our victory party!

Yeah, I'm with Kula on this! Let's enjoy ourselves!

Aldo, Riica... Everyone!

Thank you SO much for this!

Oh my gosh! It's sooo goood!!!

Silky vanilla ice cream, whipped cream that's as soft as a cloud...

There's so much depth to this dish that it's overloading my sensors!

Hey, K'! You need some help finishing that?

...Figures. I still can't contact anyone. We beat that loser, but the situation hasn't changed.

How the hell are we supposed to get home?