"Attention everyone." Agnus spoke, holding a drink in his head. His family, standing right beside him.

"Now that everyone is here, and we've all had time to catch up and finish our conversations, I'd like to make an announcement."

"Ever since we announced the party, people have been asking 'what is the purpose?' _ and as I've said before, it is to celebrate my precious daughter, Amy."

"To show the world how proud I am. We are..Of her. And everything she has achieved so far in her life."

"There have been a few little bumps, the road hasn't exactly been smooth. And we know that it will be even more rocky in the future - but we wanted to show everyone that she's not alone."

"As a media house posted yesterday, Amelia Blake isn't just the avatar of chaos, she is the daughter of sword saint and shadow queen. Sister of the greatest genius alive, sorry but no sorry, as I'm biased. And comes from the line of families with a history of thriving in Arcadia dating back to hundreds of years. "

"I wanted to celebrate that… ." Agnus was still speaking proudly, holding Amy, who buried her face in his arms, when Artemis coughed a little. Signaling how he was going off track building bridges everyone already knows.

"Ahem ahem," Agnus hummed to hide his embarrassment, before shifting the topic back to his serious announcement.

"As everyone knows, Nyx and Kali don't often get along, and when they learned of, well, such a stage and the audience, they both issued a task for my children."

"Demanding that they compete in a fair combat competition of sorts."

As he said that he waved his hand, and a skylight shone a little far from the villa. In the open ground where the duel arena was built.

"I don't need to explain the rules here, as they're the same as what's already written on arena walls, no mana, no aura, and no blessings of any kind."

"A simple clash of spirits and experience."

"Since it's a 'trial' from their goddesses I would like to request everyone to take some time, and witness their spar."

With this he raised his hand in the motion for cheers, and emptied the glass, before taking Amy to the skies, flashing towards the arena grounds.

With the loud announcement, the regular matches for public's entertainment happening in the arena were put on hold, making the stage ready for Rio and Amy to fight upon.

"Go easy on your sister, will you?" Artemis muttered in Rio's ears, before following her husband.

Her words, though a whisper, were heard by many, including her children, enunciating two vastly different reactions. Rio just chuckled and shook his head, while Amy just pouted and glared at her mother. Feigning anger over her lack of confidence in her strength,

Soon the playful moments passed, and basically all the guests surrounded the arena. To those who could fly, the sky was free, and to those who couldn't, a sitting stand was built all around.

There was even a magical carpet-like thing floating freely, somewhere in the middle, behind the stands, from where people could watch the game.

To fulfill the goddesses demand, Agnus even formed a few holographic displays at several spaces across the venue. Making sure any and all could see the unfolding scenes from every corner present.

…

When everything was said and done, under the expected eyes of the crowd, Rio and Amy both left their places entering the arena on their own.

"Go and beat him." Agnus said, watching as Amy created a portal, leading to the arena, before stepping into it.

While Rio shrugged his shoulders, unfolding the 'wings of white' or naturally referred as angel wings, before flying towards the stage.

Both methods exploding equal snaps and cheers from the crowd and cameras.

..

The moment Rio's feet touched the ground, before his wings even disappeared under the magic annulment array, a sword slashed across his neck.

His sister really didn't hold back, or waste a single second.

Rio dodged the attack with extreme precision, steadily moving towards the edge, where several types of weapons were placed on the tables.

"Should've come sooner, instead of showing off, brother." Amy said with a smile, blocking his path as she waved her other hand. Sending three metal shurikens flying through the air.

Aimed respectively at his neck, heart, and the outstretched hand.

Rio took back his hand and pivoted on his heel, jumping back from his place, narrowly dodging the attack, when Amy appeared right behind him, before he even touched the ground.

"Still want to go easy?" Amy said as she slashed upwards. Chopping right at his face.

But before the sword could touch his skin, it stopped midway.

Stuck between his palms, unable to go any further, or cause any harm.

Rio's feet touched the ground, and he immediately stepped back. Letting go of the sword with a smile, right before, Amy turned it's handle perpendicular, while kicking forward with her leg.

"You're getting better, Ames." Rio praised genuinely, before changing his style from defense to attack. "But it's still not enough to defeat me yet."

His words were accompanied by bursts of exclamations from the audience, as he easily dodged all of Amy's upcoming slashes, as if predicting her moves, before she even moved her wrist to make them.

Their speed was unmatched by mere mortals even though they had no external support to boost themselves. It wasn't enough to cause illusions or disappear from public's eyes, _ but it sure did leave behind a blur.

As if every swing, every step, they took, was like water of spring, flowing fast and free. You could see it moving, but could never find the point where it began.

Rio parried the sword with his backhand, before stepping closer, bending below Amy's arm, before grabbing her wrist and twisting it back.

"Gauri said fair, remember." Rio said, stopping her from turning around, before twisting both her hands. Causing the sword to fall down.

He kicked the sword to a corner, but just then, Amy kicked back using her feet.

Stumbling, they both fell down to the floor. And Amy successfully used this chance to get out of his grip.

They both jumped up, staring at each other for a second, before they both moved in sync, fainting to run towards the sword, while kicking at each other's head.

Their feet collided against each other, causing a burst of collision, which blasted the dirt back a couple of steps.

With this sneak failing, they both rolled back. Standing 'calmly' face to face with each other.

While silently glaring at the opponent with 'tears' in their eyes, suppressing the pain that shot through their feet.

(Damn that hurts.) They both thought, before moving their injured feet back and jumping forward to face each other again. Hand to hand.