Now I am become .

Poor Ben.
He was never gonna be caught in the blast. Of course. Asmodeus had enough sense to detonate her little fireworks display above ground where the judge was confined. But try telling that to his nerves.
There he lay. On the ground, half-covered in sand. His trembling legs too weak to support him, even if he weren’t in a catatonic shock.

If he thought the job was safe because the dead were revived with all injuries healed, and the contestants prohibited from attacking or threatening the judge, then he clearly had no idea what he signed up for.

And worst of all? He had no one to blame but himself! Asmodeus clearly targeted her opponent when he was soaring around all slippery like, and she took care to keep the blast out of reach from the judge. So if he thought the fucking sun came crashing down on his head, that’s on him!

Either way, the judge was out cold for the foreseeable future. No one there to call out any violations of the rules.

So all gloves were off. No holds were barred. Any remote notion tying this match to the least trace of civility vanished for however long Ben remained dazed.

And that clearly suited these guys just fine.

Ithere tossed his cape in a dramatic flourish. Its dark interior grew way past its natural span, turning building-sized as it suspended itself in the air like a portal to the night sky.

From there, a godzilla sized dog-boar-snake lunged out towards the devil. It shot out so fast it looked like a black beam. Mind you, it wasn't black like how a cat or a crow might be black. It was the color you see when you don't see any colors. Quite a remarkable sight, really, as if looking at a painting where the canvas was ripped off on that spot, revealing a black hole behind it.
When its mouth opened, it looked like the creature was splitting in half. Jagged teeth poked from its open jaws like his own lances.

Asmodeus withdrew just in time to escape closing maws. She floated gracefully around the creature as it snapped at her with feral persistence. She kept up the aerial dance, turning into lightning to warp away whenever her acrobatic stunts failed to get her safely away.

When it raised its jaws to lunge at her again, it became clear that time she wasn't gonna be able to dodge. She wasn't going to try. Asmodeus stopped then and there, her eyes glowing a brilliant pink as the aura around her grew ever brighter. Just as the shadow beast was about to bite down, she opened her mouth almost as wide as the monster; the inside of which also shone with a pink light. She turned her neck to face the beast, floating around its jagged teeth. A beam of almost solid light shot from Asmodeus’s mouth like a laser cannon! Right through the kaiju’s temple. The hole looked much larger than the beam itself, especially as the shadow creature disintegrated into a pitch-black cloud around it.

Only silence remained once the creature was vanquished. Her eyes dimmed, returning to their regular gold. Her mouth closed, spreading into a satisfied smirk.

The Dark Lord whizzed at her with another pike in full swing. She dodged just short of being skewered, but remained within attacking distance. He swept his lance down with ferocity to match its precision, striking against her crossed arms with an almost metallic clank. A pink luster surrounded her wrists almost like a shield.

“Heh, good one.” She flashed him a toothy grin, “But not… Quite… Good.. ENOUGH! GWUAAAH!”

She slashed at him with a radiant claw the size of a car. The Dark Lord probably would have been cut to ribbons if he hadn’t resisted it enough to be tossed far away from her. He slowed down to hover in the air, his weapon still held in a defensive position.

He merely smirked, as if everything was falling into place just according to plan. He pointed his weapon squarely at nine o clock in a dramatic fashion, raising it above his head to point at the sky before aiming the tip below.

His looming shadow grew unnaturally, spreading along the ground. A swirling vortex of darkness formed, from where black riders charged out like a relentless storm. Black knights in bulky armor rode black horses the size of elephants into the sky. Some wielded enormous lances and spears, carrying them with or without shield. Others swung massive hammers. Others still carried swords.
Some of the riders did not charge, but rode a perimeter around the devil while pelting her with arrows. Behind them, an army of shadows marched on foot, their ranks stretching across the Arena. From this ocean of helmets, pikes and partisans poked out like the inside of a spike pit, along with axes and halberds and battle standards.
All these mindless shadows folded around their single target like a black cloak. All the meanwhile, the Dark Lord hovered over them with arms crossed, smirking as he beheld what was surely about to become a bloodbath.

A horn blasted from within the ranks. The shadows closed in, heavy cavalry storming bravely forward, followed by the footsoldiers advancing slowly yet inevitably with weapons at the ready. The light cavalry rode circles around her from a safe distance, pelting her with arrows. Yet the devil remained the calm in the eye of the storm, standing tall even against this fierce ****.
She twirled in place, faster and faster she spun around. Her glowing hands trailed a pink streak around her, which eventually turned into a whirlwind of pink energy. She turned into a tornado extending from the ground and nearly to the peak of the barrier, crashing into the hoard of shadow soldiers.

Even as the shadows were shredded by a thousand blades of pink light, they pressed on relentlessly in their mindless ****. One by one they were sucked into the pink blender, leaving nothing but a shadowy mist surrounded by the enormous cloud of dust it kicked up.
By that point Ben had woken up, probably by getting a wave of sand whipped across his face. And what was the first thing he spotted if not a raging storm, lit up like a Christmas tree and crackling with pink lightning?
He blinked twice. Obviously he had to pick up his glasses, wipe them and put them back again to confirm that yup; he really was eye to eye with a tornado the size of an apartment building.
And it was pink.

He scrambled away as a whimpering heap, crawling away until backed up against the edge of the Arena. The tornado closed in, leaving Ben a quivering mess. He crawled at the stone foundation like a trapped bug, and yet nothing could stop its path to devouring the poor judge.
Nothing had to. It stopped on its own. Just short of Benny Boy's itty bitty nose. His hair even flowed dramatically and everything.

The wind just sorta fizzled out. The light dimmed, and there she was; the Devil of Lust spinning in place. Her little pirouette slowed down, eventually leaving her hovering in place. She even finished up with a deep bow.

Ben was in no position to enjoy this elegant display though. He looked up at Asmodedeus, his face had drained of all color, as he pushed his glasses back up with his finger after having dropped to the tip of his nose.

A streak of black zoomed into the devil. Whatever it was it dragged her down, pounding her face first into the sand with a resounding crash.
Of course that was the Dark Lord, who had taken the opportunity to pounce on her with his black lance before she had time to recover. There she lay under him, pinned to the ground by the black pike pinning her to the sand. He gripped it like a flagpole with one hand, his other locking her arm in an awkward position.

Try as she might to kick and thrash around in place, she wasn't going anywhere.
But you know what she had no problem moving?
Her head.
She turned her neck to face him, her eyes glowing just like they did when she blasted a hole through his shadow beast. She opened her mouth to reveal a pink shine.
He responded by pushing her face back into the sand, so the beam shooting from her mouth struck the Barrier instead of his face. Ithere couldn't be happier to be spared a faceful of **** ray. The Barrier on the other hand complained by flickering erratically.

While he managed to save his own bacon, her hand was freed up, pinchier than ever. A giant ethereal claw swatted him away with. He retreated just in time though, his sleeves left in tatters when raising his guard. She got spitted through the hand by a flying lance for her trouble before she could even get off her knees. When she reached her other hand to dislodge it, another lance pierced that arm. Her arms were trapped to the ground, and the spears just kept on coming. She tried to see if she couldn't float up, out of that predicament. But the Dark Lord wasn't gonna make it easy.
The polearms turned slack like rope, coiling around her flailing arms as if animated. They slung her back to the ground, where more writhing appendages awaited, coiling around her limbs in a tightening noose.
The shackled beast was kept kneeling down in the sand by the shadowy tentacles, in spite of her **** efforts to tug and pull at the bondage. All without her savage grin so much as flickering.
Yet the black bindings remained firm.

Her pink aura grew brighter. Hotter. Crackling with evermore lightning. One by one the tendrils snapped, only for double the tentacles to shoot back at her and pull her back once more.

She was no longer smiling. Only a furious scowl remained on her face. She let out a guttural roar, scratching at the mannacles like some wild animal. All the meanwhile, Ithere looked upon her from above amused.
Her thrashing finally stopped, she was left a panting mess on the ground.

"I must commend you, devil. Your efforts have been valiant indeed. You certainly have lived up to every expectation. But this could only ever have ended one way." The Dark Lord waved his hand casually, and a single lance of darkness appeared above him, "And now to finish what we have started."
The weapon turned to lock at the devil below. A violet miasma began pulsating from it. The purple flames served to contrast the shadowy weapon, making it seem even blacker and more surreal. With another flick of his wrist, equally casual yet with a distinct finality to it, the spear launched towards the subdued devil beneath. A purple trail of light was all that could be discerned, so vibrant that it seemed solid.

She looked at the oncoming spear.
Even I could tell that thing was brimming with magic juice.
This was it.
Unable to dodge or block it, her chest heaved from heavy panting.

And yet her devilish smile grew ever wider.
"...I surrender."

The Dark Lord afforded those words a faint smile. A practiced expression to make the point he doesn't convey surprise. Intrigue, maybe. Or maybe amusement. But not surprise.

Until it dawned on him, that is, what was about to transpire. Then his face broke out in horror.
He frantically waved his arms back and forth, as if trying to steer the shadow lance away from Asmodeus. But it was no use. It was heading towards her whether he liked it or not.

The spear plunged into Asmodeus's chest and dug itself in the sand on the other side. Thick slivers of purple steam rose from her wound.
And throughout it all she was smiling.
"Now, that was unnecessary!" She shook her head with her shit-eating grin, "Didn't you hear me? I said I surrender! What about that don't you understand? It means we are done! The fight is over! You won! I lost! My, my, you really have to take the **** to the next level, huh?"
Ithere landed on the ground near the impact. The devil stood up and slid the lance off her torso.
"Oh, judge?" The devil sang out, "Can he really do that?"

Still weary from the mental trauma he underwent, he stood up on shakey legs and dusted off his knees.
"I... Uh, that's... I mean, the rules say..."
"The rules say that I can do whatever I wish with the **** I acquired." Ithere interjected, folding his arms across his chest, "And if I wish to impale her on the might of my weapon, that is my perogative."
"Well, yeah... But also, it's against the rules to attack your opponent once the match is over. And... That rule is there to protect contestants against any **** following the match, so... GHRRRK!"
Ithere lifted Ben by his collar and lifted him up.

"Listen here, you insignificant worm!" He hissed, "That was clearly not by design! I had no intention of inflicting harm upon her once the match was over! It merely happened too quickly! That was a miscalculation. Nothing more. A simple misstep even a Dark Lord could make!"
Ben chuckled awkwardly, "Oh, I am sure you would never hurt a fly. B-be that as it may, though, the rules are very clear on this m-matter. Any attacks on your opponent once the match is over counts as a surrender."

"Heh... Very well. But even if we take that preposterous logic at face value, there cannot be two winners in this match! One of us surrendered first. It was her. Her subjugation should take priority!"
"Sure." Ben patted the Dark Lord's hand, and was let down "There can't be two winners. But... There can be two losers, so... This is my call. This match ended in a draw. You both lost by surrender, and each of you will have the spell of obedience placed on you. Have fun dominating each other back and forth all day!"
Asmodeus laughed, "Good one, Darling. But yeah, no. I don't think so."
"I'm sorry, this isn't up for debate. This decision is final." He snapped his finger.
"Decide whatever you want, Darling. We devils play by our own rules. Whether or not your spell sticks is entirely up to me... And I don't feel like playing along."
"Oh," Ben cleared his throat, "Right, devils are immune to all spells."
"As am I." Ithere declared, "However powerful you imagine your magic, my Invincibility Shield renders me impervious to all spells."
"Oh, is that so?" Asmodeus clapped her hands together, "Well, let's try it out then! Touch my boob, will you?"
Ithere cupped her chest immediately and fondled her breast, much to his surprise and dismay.
Asmodeus scratched her chin, "Huh, come to think of it, that wasn't that great of a test. You were going to do that either way, I'm sure."
"What the...? No, this cannot be!"
"Oh, really now? You don't imagine your so-called ultimate defense could've been compromised from the inside? Say for example, by some runic inscription? In the form of, say, a kiss mark?"
His eyes screamed from realization as he held his hand over his neck where her kisses hit.

"You... You cannot possibly have...?"
"Haha! Oh, Darling! You took for granted that your ultimate defense wouldn't do anything against my little parlor tricks so readily, you never even stopped to think it'd just stopped working! And now," She smacked him on his cute little butt. Hard, "You're all mine!"

An ethereal lasso appeared in her hands. She circled Ithere like a predator would her prey, eyeing him up and down.
"Be nice to me now, Sweetheart! Hands behind your back!"
You could see the trembling in his arms as he resisted the impulse. And yet for all his Dark Lord-ness, he was nothing against the ancient magic that **** his wrists criss cross behind his back. Asmodeus gleefully bound his wrists together. What for I couldn't say, since he was already as subdued as it gets. Probably as a sign of ownership or something. All he could do was stand still and stare at his new owner defiantly.

She manifested a pink dog collar and chain, clicking it around his neck with an adoring smile. His own frown reflected fury and revulsion, but there was nothing he could do. She tugged on the chain, walking away with a sway in her hips as he followed in tow. A pink cloud appeared before them that contained a swirling portal. The cloud engulfed them in the portal before disappearing, leaving the Arena in dead silence.

...

"Wow..." I finally said, after a good while of staring dumbfounded at the mirror,"She got the power to destroy the world, and shenanigans on her side?"
"Shenanigans is the day devils' day jobs!" Bat Girl replied, "They just so happen to become superior both physically and magically as a happy side-effect."
"Ah... So, should we be worried about what just happened?" I asked.
"Well, someone sure should be worried. But not us. That stuff is way beyond our pay grade. But... I 'm sure whatever comes of this is nothing which Goldie and his crew can't handle."
"Well, I kinda wanted this to be my business though. I mean, from the looks of it none of those guys are up against me in the Tournament. I was really looking forward to see how my babies would fare against those bad boys and girls."
"Heh... " She waved her hand, "Only you'd be disappointed that you were spared the ass-whooping from a Dark Lord or devil. Well, you and Goldie."

That's right. The Goldfish Knight wouldn't be up against his Ithere. He didn't even get the opportunity to avenge the conqueror of his ****-crush. All he had was me.
Me and the other five Finalists.

"So if it's not gonna be a Dark Lord, or a devil, who do you supposed will win this whole thing once it's over?" I gestured towards the mirror, which had started showing the lineup for the Tournament Finals.
"Well, duh!" Bat Girl tapped her forehead, "You of course!"

As obvious as that answer seemed, there's no way I could've prepared for it. I snickered awkwardly, feeling disappointment wash over me. Disappointment mixed with disgust, since that was totally what a **** would've said to whoever could make their life a living hell.
Not that she'd ever do that. No way. Not for that reason. But it's not as if you can't throw a stone without hitting someone who considers me the most promising Finalist.
"Hey, now! That's adorable!" I laughed, "But you know, being buddy with one of the finalists doesn't really make it likelier for her to win. So picking me because we're friends..."
"That doesn't matter." She said sternly, "Not one of the contestants have shown they are ready to go far beyond what they're capable of. They haven't sacrificed all they care about for just one shot at taking their opponent down. They've not broken and fallen again and again, Allie, only to stand up each time and fight like the badass they are! Except for you! When we fought, I thought I'd spotted your limits. Guess what? I couldn't have been more wrong! I now know that there's no way I could ever have beaten you. Whatever challenge is tossed your way, you always face it! And you do it with a smile! That's gonna matter every time! Much more than Goldie's little Holy Lance!

Oh...
Dammit, I couldn't help but smile for that. I had to look away.
"Well... Ahaha! Sure. But don't you think any of the other contestants would've given the same impression if you'd have befriended them instead?"
"...Allie, you're not going around here doubting yourself so close to the quarter finals, are you?"
"Of course not! I don't really mind who you think will win the Tournament. I care about why you think that! Sure I can win! Just as you said! I can't prove that it won't happen! But it's possible to be right for the wrong reasons. And if that happens, then guess what? I'm still gonna call you out!"
Bat Girl shook her head, "I can't accept that. No matter what excuse people have, you can't give up on your conviction. You're gonna win the Tournament! And you're gonna show everyone who doubted you what you're made of!"

I tossed the empty bag of chips on the floor, together with the other pile of empty snack bags, "Pressure, pressure... Why can't it be enough just to enjoy myself? Show off my little babies to the world? Maybe come up with a trick or two to make the match more interesting?"
Bat Girl laid down on the bed, "Go right ahead with that. Just keep in mind that, from now on, everyone you face is gonna be ready to do absolutely everything to make it to the Grand Final. They're not here to have fun and play games."
"Is that so?" I laid down beside her, "Then I guess I've got something to teach them."

With that we lay there together to rest. The pile of empty bags were left at our feet until we could be bothered to pick them up. The finals were over and done.
We had to rest up to be ready for the final part of Operation Chocolotastic.