I, Izayoi Sakamaki, Joined the Chat Group at the Start — A Two-on-One?

"Two against one? The outcome is looking uncertain."

White Night Yaksha shook her head. She roughly knew something about Kasukabe Yō's opponent as well. If Yō faced her alone, she was not yet a match for that person.

"Good morning, everyone!"

When the Clock Tower struck ten, Black Rabbit appeared above the arena at just the right moment, cheerfully greeting the audience below with both hands.

"It's a Moon Rabbit!"

"What an adorable Moon Rabbit!!!"

"It really is a Moon Rabbit. Which Community does this Moon Rabbit belong to?"

"Moon Rabbit, Moon Rabbit, I love you, just like rabbits love carrots!!"

"Black Rabbit doesn't like carrots!"

Seeing how enthusiastic the audience was, Black Rabbit cast what seemed like a provocative glance toward Izayoi Sakamaki's location.

Only to discover that Izayoi Sakamaki and White Night Yaksha were both holding binoculars and carefully observing her.

"Eek~"

Black Rabbit hurriedly pressed down her skirt, puffed out her cheeks at the two of them, then ignored them and began hosting the thrilling Creator's Duel finals.

"Not bad. A skirt that was half-hidden and impossible to peek beneath, hss~" Izayoi Sakamaki put down his binoculars, feeling as though he could die without regrets. This was what men ought to explore!

Just like a scientist carrying a heart eager to explore a Black Hole!

"Not bad, right? I prepared it with great care. It stands right at the boundary between visible and invisible," White Night Yaksha said with a proud smile.

"Not bad, not bad. How many more Gifts like this do you have? I'll buy them all and outfit all my maids with them!"

"Hehe, true friends need no gold or coin. Ask me for as many as you want."

White Night Yaksha even quoted a line of poetry as she spoke extravagantly.

Izayoi Sakamaki's eyes lit up. He solemnly extended his right hand toward White Night Yaksha. "From now on, White Night Yaksha, you are my best friend."

"My dearest friend!"

Their palms clasped heavily together.

"These two are beyond saving. This is clearly Yō's final, yet they're staring at Black Rabbit's skirt."

Hisato Asuka covered his face speechlessly, looking as though he did not know them.

After that little incident, the two contestants finally arrived at the center of the arena.

Kasukabe Yō set down her Calico Cat and walked expressionlessly into the arena.

"Now entering the stage is No Name's contestant—Kasukabe Yō! And next is Ghost Fire's contestant, Aisha Ignifatus!"

Suddenly, a pale Ghost Fire flew out from the contestant entrance and shot straight toward Kasukabe Yō.

Kasukabe Yō merely shifted slightly to the side and dodged the small probe.

"Yo, not bad, little girl from No Name."

An Elf with white twin tails walked out of the Ghost Fire with a grin. Pointing at Kasukabe Yō, she said, "But are you really planning to fight me and my companion alone? You can't defeat Lady Aisha and Lady Aisha's partner by yourself."

Aisha snapped her fingers, and a demon with a Pumpkin Head and a lantern in its hand appeared beside her.

The moment this demon appeared, its bizarre yet comical appearance made everyone think of the Pumpkin Monster from Halloween—Jack.

"Guhaha~ Little girl, do you really not need a companion? Pumpkins are very powerful."

Pumpkin Jack floated in the air and asked as well.

"No need. I can do it."

Kasukabe Yō did not accept her opponent's goodwill. She shook her head and looked toward Black Rabbit.

"Then, the match begins. Let us invite the ruler of the Eastern Region, Lord White Night Yaksha, to provide the arena."

Understanding immediately, Black Rabbit pointed toward White Night Yaksha on the high platform.

"Ah, what a hard life." White Night Yaksha smiled, then clapped her hands. "Then I declare that the match has officially begun!"

The space of the arena shattered instantly, and all the contestants within were swallowed by the fragmented Spacetime.

Before long, they appeared inside a cave.

Arena—Underwood's Labyrinth!..

A Calamitous Demon, a Man More Terrifying Than a Demon King

"Where are we?"

Naturally active, Aisha curiously looked around. From the wood surrounding them, she quickly judged that they were inside a massive tree. The air has become more humid.

Unlike Aisha, Kasukabe Yō calmly assessed her current situation with her keen sense of smell.

"The Gift Game is called Underwood's Labyrinth."

Black Rabbit, who had been teleported here with them, took out a Contract Paper and began explaining the rules. "The first to escape wins. Destroying your opponent's Gift also counts as victory! Who will be the final winner? Let us wait and see!"

The moment Black Rabbit finished explaining the rules, Kasukabe Yō curiously looked at Aisha. "Are you Ghost Fire's leader?"

"Me?" Aisha's face brightened at Kasukabe Yō's words. Embarrassed, she covered her face and twisted her slender waist. "Eh? Do I look that much like one? That makes me so happy, but unfortunately, Lady Aisha actually isn't."

What a childish personality.

As Aisha took the opportunity to sink into her own world, Kasukabe Yō seized the chance and leaped away.

Suddenly, Pumpkin Jack poked Aisha on the shoulder. When Aisha looked behind her, Kasukabe Yō was already gone. "Wait, don't just run away! How sly!"

"Let's go, Jack! Show her how formidable Ghost Fire is!"

"Understood!"

Pumpkin Jack let out a strange laugh and flew toward the direction Kasukabe Yō had fled.

Before long, Jack reached Kasukabe Yō from behind and opened his mouth to spit out a pale flame.

Prepared in advance, Kasukabe Yō instantly dodged. The white flame swept past her.

But there was more than one pale Ghost Fire. Several flames surged after Kasukabe Yō in close pursuit.

Ghost Fire? Scientifically speaking, it's a flame formed from natural gas. Wind should be able to disperse it.

Sensing the pungent smell that had suddenly appeared at the tip of her nose, Kasukabe Yō turned and waved her hand, blowing out a fierce gust that directly scattered the pursuing Ghost Fire.

This was the Wind Familiar Gift she had received from the griffin.

Seeing the Ghost Fire successfully dispersed, Kasukabe Yō sighed in relief and accelerated toward the direction from which a faint breeze was blowing.

"Does she know where the exit is?"

Seeing Kasukabe Yō's decisive choice, Aisha realized that this little girl from No Name had a way to clear the labyrinth. If she did not act now, she would definitely lose.

"Jack, let's get serious."

"Understood, Lady Aisha."

After receiving Aisha's command, Pumpkin Jack's body glimmered faintly, and he flashed directly in front of Kasukabe Yō. "Excuse me."

The faint glow shining from his eyes and mouth made Pumpkin Jack seem as dangerous as a demon.

He extended a hand as large as an adult human body and swung it fiercely at Kasukabe Yō.

"Gift Manifestation!"

In an instant, Kasukabe Yō seemed to become a different person. Her hands and feet were enveloped in radiance.

A pair of cat paws and cat feet appeared over Kasukabe Yō's limbs. Pumpkin Jack's attack landed on the cat claws and was easily blocked.

"Oh? A Catgirl Set?"

Although Jack had only been born recently, he knew quite a bit about Gifts and recognized the origin of this one. "Reflective cat paws, cat ears that enhance hearing, cat feet that improve jumping power, and an adorable cat tail. I see."

Hey, the cat tail was for balance. Why was being cute its only function?

Kasukabe Yō had no words for that, but she did not let it distract her during the battle. Instead, she began recalling information about this demon.

"Pumpkin Jack, an immortal demon?"

Seeing Jack blocking her path, Kasukabe Yō's expression instantly grew grave.

"That's right. As a demon, the flames I breathe are undeniably demonic flames."

"Then those earlier flames were..."

Pumpkin Jack breathed flames again. This time, they were not pale Ghost Fire, but blazing crimson flames. "And since Aisha is an Elf of the earth, it is only natural for her to control the methane and gas between heaven and earth."

Was I wrong? It doesn't matter. I won't surrender because of this!

Summoning another gust of wind and barely dispersing the flames, Kasukabe Yō leaped away, trying to escape this troublesome enemy.

That little thought could not possibly escape Jack, a demon. He raised his lantern, and countless flames poured out from it. "Girl who possesses a self-created System Tree, let Jack with the lantern be your opponent!"

The flames formed a ring, sealing off Kasukabe Yō's escape route. The scorching heat forced Kasukabe Yō to stop, her face growing solemn.

Even my final retreat has been sealed off?

"An immortal demon? It's still too early for Yō to deal with one."

Izayoi Sakamaki, watching Kasukabe Yō's predicament inside the Exhibition Sphere from the high platform, shook his head.

White Night Yaksha beside him nodded in agreement. "Immortality is still too much for Kasukabe before she has fully grown. She has almost no chance of winning."

"Well, all they need to do is work hard and grow stronger. Whether they win or lose doesn't really matter."

Izayoi Sakamaki glanced up at the sky and stretched lazily.

Is it coming soon? I can already feel an interesting presence.

"An immortal demon... Even so, I have to try!"

Thinking of the match's reward, Kasukabe Yō took a deep breath and charged toward Jack with the wind at her back.

At this moment, the Gift from the Phantom Beast granted Kasukabe Yō incredible speed and strength. Sharp claws extended from the cat paws originally meant to reflect attacks.

"Your courage is admirable, girl."

Pumpkin Jack let out a strange laugh. Surging flames poured from the lantern in his hand again, blasting toward the charging Kasukabe Yō with the momentum to burn everything.

For a time, the flames and gale were evenly matched. Where the two forces collided, Kasukabe Yō gritted her teeth and threw punch after punch with all her strength.

Several minutes passed in the blink of an eye. The Catgirl Set on Kasukabe Yō's body disappeared, and she slowly collapsed toward the ground.

At the critical moment, Jack withdrew his flames. Looking at Kasukabe Yō lying on the ground, he sighed. "Courage, wisdom, and strength. Girl, strength can be gained through effort, but courage is something you already possess."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Gift Game's Contract Document appeared.

The match ended. Ghost Fire won!

The world shattered, and both sides returned to the arena once more.

Black Rabbit, serving as Referee, hurriedly helped up the fallen Kasukabe Yō, then announced the result. "The victor has been decided! It is Aisha Ignifatus!"

Amid the audience's cheers, Kasukabe Yō's expression dimmed slightly.

Just then, a silver-white beam flew over and struck Kasukabe Yō with precision.

"You did well, Yō."

Retracting his extended index finger, Izayoi Sakamaki jumped down from the high platform and spoke to Kasukabe Yō.

Although she had not won, being able to contend with Jack was already considerable progress.

"Mm."

Feeling the silver-white light rapidly restore her strength and heal her wounds, Kasukabe Yō's gloomy expression vanished under Izayoi Sakamaki's encouragement. She said in a low voice, "Next time, I definitely won't lose again."

"Save that for next time. This game is about to begin."

Patting Kasukabe Yō on the shoulder, Izayoi Sakamaki raised his head.

Black Parchment sheets fell from the sky like free flyers being scattered everywhere.

Piper Lating Is Freaking Overpowered