Countess Keron's handmaidens clasp the last of her armour into place and she flexes her gauntlet's talons, letting electrical currents run along its length. Prepared for war she cuts a terrible figure, jagged edges in black and gold, one deep red eye visible from through artfully arranged straight black hair. With a snap of those talons her handmaidens pull back and she fully allows herself to glow into the spotlight.

And you realize: you are overmatched, Princess Chen. You are not overmatched because Countess Keron is faster or stronger or more skilled at fighting than you, you are overmatched because that is [i]her[/i] story. As the Naginata is placed in her grip, lightning running up the shaft to crackle along the blade, you see it clearly. Keron's story, her dance, her duel is that of the Tyrant. Slow, mighty, inevitable, shrugging off lesser blows and delivering massive and crushing strikes with a terrible weapon. 

And a tyrant is not someone who is easily defeated in single combat. Anime has taught you this much. A tyrant is best fought against as a group. Friends together, each supporting each other against a singular mighty evil. In fact, you almost recognize a number of the influences in Keron's costume design from Jessic's anime. You recognize the [i]stance[/i]. 

So you realize what she's doing when the shockwave of electrical energy explodes out from her and sends you crashing down into the sands of the arena. She hits the sand and draws herself up, tall and threatening, mighty blade resting over her shoulder. With a flick of her talons laser-lightning explodes out across the arena and detonates, causing an explosion and shockwave that fuses the calligraphic sand into a twisted sculpture of glass.

And there, in the arena with you Chen, is Tianic and Yue. Admittedly squeaking somewhat and looking for cover from the lady with the laser beam claws, but they're here. It's a strange reward for Yue, whose heart was too big to allow her to rush from the arena, but neither is it - after the dust has settled a bit - an entirely unwelcome one. You stood your ground, Yue, and so now you're part of this story too. The ride is going to continue a little longer. One more complication between you and kisses, but it's the promise of those kisses that'll let you see this battle through as well.

"On your knees," demands Countess Keron, voice rising above the chaos. "I shall not release even one of my prisoners, Princess Chen. You too will serve me, in the harem or in the arena, I care not which."