Victory!

The bustling arena fell into stunned silence. Officials from both nations turned their gaze toward Yuri and Tuss.

The enormous screen showed Tuss sprawled on the ground, a picture of dumbfounded shock. Meanwhile, Yuri, the cause of the scene, glared angrily at Tuss.

The audience stared, mouths agape. She kicked Tuss and now she's the one looking mad?

Even more surprising, Tuss, the kicked one, actually apologized. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have... without your permission—"

"Quiet. Go compete," Yuri commanded with a stern face.

Tuss looked at her with a pitiful expression. "If you're mad, I'll be distracted."

"I'm not mad," Yuri replied with a smile hiding her fury.

Tuss still didn't seem assured. "After this, wait for me. We need to handle our mecha's rule violations."

"Sure," said Yuri as her mind began to wander. "Will we have to pay a lot of fines?"

Tuss stifled a laugh. "Probably quite a few."