hey! sorry for the long wait, people! :)
-----
Night had fallen the next day.

Purple Cabbage sat on the threadbare sofa on the third floor of their dilipidated base, watching Maria pack a small bag. Odourous Latrine was currently lying on a squeaky bed on the second floor, having been accidentally knocked out when Purple Cabbage was swinging around a bag of chewing gum rather too enthusiastically.

"Master Maria?"

"Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

"Packing."

"What for?"

Maria yanked the zipper on her black bag closed.

"I'm going."

"To the school?"

Maria nodded.

"I've been summoned."
-----
Under a streetlamp, four girls met up.

"Yo."

"Let's go, then."

"Yeah..."
-----
In the school courtyard, Don was already waiting, hands in pockets, a leer on her face.

"She looks ready to fight," murmured Sam.

Yiernoshi, beside her, nodded. They had met up with the other Guardians ten seconds ago, at the courtyard, when a cloud of smoke had appeared, obscuring everything. When it cleared, Don was standing there, smirking at her.

"So you came, trash."

Yiernoshi stared back.

the two judges leapt down from the school roof.

"We have been waiting."

They glanced at the small crowd.

"Then, for Yiernoshi's side, the Guardians of Storm, Sun, Cloud, Thunder, and Mist are here."

"Mist?!" Christine yelped. Spinning around, she saw Maria, holding a small bag in one hand, clutching her knife in the other, a look of determination on her face.

"...Maria."

She nodded.

"I'm all set."

"Eh...what's in that bag?"

"Books."

"Wha?!"

Christine was interrupted by the judges.

"Then, the only one left is the Guardian of Rain."

The sound of a shoe hitting the concrete ground alerted Yiernoshi to someone else's arrival.

"Claire!"

Indeed, it was Claire, with a scowl planted on her face.

"What do you want?"

Yiernoshi blinked.

"Er...what do I want...?"

Se Ern stepped in.

"She's one of us, right?"

"The judges said that the Guardians had to come," Jeanine added.

"That's right," the judges said. "All the Guardian were sent a compulsory summons."

Yiernoshi stared.

"Eh? Compulsory summons?"

Sam nodded.

"Those guys are here too."

Yiernoshi looked in the direction Sam was looking at.

"Cheddocheezaria!"

Indeed, there they stood.

Gladys, with the purple marks on her throat from the attempted strangulation, colouring her neck like an exotic fruit.

Chip, the deep lacerations on her body slowly healing. Already, the bandages on her face had been removed, revealing a scar shaped like an 'X' on her cheek.

Bella, burnt skin already beginning to heal.

Hini, tapping her pocket, smiling slowly.

Seet, stroking the raven on her shoulder, the other ruffling Chip's hair, oblivious to the death glares Chip was shooting at her.

And Kara, standing with her hands on her hips, looking at Seet and Chip in silent resignation.

Yiernoshi was shocked.

"But...some of them aren't even in the condition to fight!"

The judges nodded gravely.

"In the compulsory summons, nothing else is taken into account. Because in the Sky battle, the six rings, as well as the lives of the six guardians, are at stake."
-----
"Well then, let's begin the Sky battle."

"Wa..wait a minute! We haven't clarified..."

The judges cut in coldly.

"If you don't want to start, you will be disqualified, and Master Don will officially be given possession of the rings."

"What?!"

Don smirked.

"All right. Firstly, we'll collect all the Guardians' Rings."

"What?!"

Everyone started at Se Ern's outburst.

"After we fought like mad to get this ring, we have to give it back?!"

"If you are indeed the true Guardian, there is no need to worry."

Finally, all six Rings were collected.

"We will now explain the rules of the Sky battle. The Sky battle will be similar to the others. One of the conditions for victory is to join the two halves of the Ring. However, the battlefield will be the entire school."

Victoria blinked.

"Wow, that's huge..."

"In order to watch such a wide battlefield, we have installed wide-screen displays at the observation box, as well as various other locations. Also, the Guardians will be using this wristband installed with a camera-equipped monitor."

The judge held up a watch-like wristband with a small rectangular screen where the face of the watch should be. Below the screen was a small indent, shaped like a crest.

Se Ern put hers on.

"It's like a mini-TV!"

Christine looked at hers.

"Hey, Fourteenth, it's your close-up!"

"After all the Guardians have put on their wristbands, please make your way to the respective fields of your battles."

Hini looked up.

"Our battlefields? What for?"

The judge looked at her.

"We will not entertain any questions. If you do not follow the rules, you will be disqualified."

Se Ern punched the air with her fist.

"All right! Let's go!"

Christine rolled her eyes.

"Okay, see you later, Fourteenth."

"Be careful!"

"Best of luck, young Carbonara."

"Don't be rash, okay?"

"Do your best!"

"...Tch."

Five minutes later, the judges announced:

"Looks like everybody has reached their battle fields."

True enough, through the big screens at the observation box, Yiernoshi could see two people at each battle site. Also, in the middle of each field, was a tall stand, with the Ring winking happily on it.

Se Ern stared at the pole.

"What's with this pole?"

"The top of each pole contains a ring of the same type."

"So...that means we have to scramble for them again?"

"You are free to do so. That is, if you are able to."

Claire raised her eyebrow.

"Urgh!"

Across the fields, twelve people winced at the same time.

"Wha...what was that?"

"Just now, the Guardians were injected with a poison administered from the wristbands. This poison is called the Death Hitter. Once administered, it will paralyze the victim's nerves immediately. Even standing up will prove difficult. Then, a burning pain will spread throughout the body, increasing gradually, until 30 minutes later..."

"...The victim will die."