"Whoa! What's this? Someone has knocked down two people in a row, and that's not enough—he's heading straight for a third!"
The host's voice echoed throughout the arena, filled with surprise and delight:
"Ah! Starting here, someone has broken the tacit agreement of fighting in small groups and begun attacking every opponent indiscriminately! Is he trying to recreate the shocking miracle from two centuries ago, when 'Holy Law' Montague cut through the entire field alone?"
Originally, half the team-match participants had still been watching from the sidelines, conserving their strength and protecting themselves carefully in the hope of lasting until the end and securing a good ranking. But once someone broke the tacit agreement, chaos quickly spread like ripples:
A Warrior who had taken a heavy blow staggered backward and crashed into another person's back. The tense fighter hurriedly counterattacked, accidentally clashing weapons with a third opponent. Seeing an opportunity from farther out, another participant instinctively moved closer—until an ambusher who had been watching him for a long time struck him...
"Wait, the others can't sit still either! They're all launching attacks as well! Everyone's fighting, and unfair scenes of several people ganging up on one are becoming common..."
One movement triggered another. Everyone's rhythm was thrown into disarray and accelerated, and the entire arena descended into fierce, chaotic battles in which friend and foe were impossible to distinguish.
"The situation has changed! Audience, our prayers have been answered! The true melee has arrived earlier than in previous years!" The host stood on the raised platform closest to the competition area, gripping the speaking tube and roaring furiously.
Night fell, yet the entire arena remained brightly lit. The thunderous drums were even louder than before, while the team-match melee grew more intense. The participants bunched together and slaughtered one another