"Yes, yes, yes. h.e.l.lo again to everyone. Here we are finally to the semi-final round of our graduation compet.i.tion. Who will rise? Who will fail? Let"s all find out, right here, right now." As the people gather in the stadium the commentator started introducing the final four teams."For the first round, let"s all welcome Akito"s team and Daichi"s team." The first round started immediately. As the battle goes on the other two teams are in the waiting area.
"It"s finally the time, I"m really excited," Karen excitedly exclaims as they watch the battle from the side.
"We"ve practiced so hard for this, we can"t let it go to waste," Feena added beside her.
"Are you guys going to hold each other"s hand later?" Karen suddenly asked.
"Don"t be ridiculous, that was only for our practice. Right now we are already fine without doing that," Feena explained as she looked at Karen incredulously.
"Just asking," Karen raised her hand, obviously just teasing Feena.
"Oh if it wasn"t our opponent," behind where they are standing, Kyro"s voice was heard.
But before they could approach them, Eureka looked at them icily, as if saying, "one more step and you"ll regret it." Remembering what had happened back at the party, all six of them could only stand in place before speaking once again.
"What? On guard already? We haven"t done anything yet," Kyro said acting tough.
This time no one looked at them, nor answered his question. No matter what insults they tried to throw, they were just ignored.
"Tsk, see you on stage," after saying this they angrily left.
After they left. "He really loves you doesn"t he Raven?" Hideyos.h.i.+ started.
"But why did you have to react to them when they came Eureka. We have decided to completely ignore whatever they say," Karen asked.
"I am having a terrible headache, hearing his voice at a closer distance, I might end up killing him," Eureka blatantly said.
The others could only laugh nervously as she had been emitting a murderous aura for quite a while now.
"I"ll never make her mad again, I promise," Hideyos.h.i.+ whispered to Mamoru.
"Neither will I."
On the other hand, Daichi"s team, with a composition of 2 Water ability user, 2 Wind ability user, an Earth ability user, and a fog ability user, is leading a total of 2 points after winning both the individual round. But during the first tandem battle, Akito"s team, with a composition of an Electric ability user, an Earth ability user, a Water ability user, a Sand ability user and 2 Wind ability users, was able to get 1 point back. But in the end, they lost a total of 5 points, making Daichi"s team move to the final round.
"It"s our turn, let"s go," Raven lead the team towards the stage. On the other side, Kyro"s team also arrived.
"And the last battle for the semi-final round, Raven"s team versus Kyro"s team. Who will emerge victoriously? Two teams having all the four elements, having the same composition except for their sixth member. One had a fire ability user, strongest ability among the four. The other a zero, the girl who defeated their last opponent single-handedly. I know all of us can"t wait any longer. So why don"t we start the battle right away," as the commentator ended his speech, the signal for the beginning of the first individual battle was heard.
On Raven"s team, Karen was the first contender. While Kyro"s team was Suzuki, an earth ability user as well, who was supposed to play in the tandem battle but Kyro exchanged with him.
As the battle progresses, Karen, who had been training under Eureka, started getting the upper hand. No matter what attack the other throws at her, she either blocks it with her sword or with her own ability. The other started getting impatient as none of his attacks. .h.i.t Karen.
"Eureka"s training is showing itself" Karen thought as she closes the distance between her and Suzuki. Suzuki created layers of earth walls defending himself from Karen. Karen used her own ability using pillars of earth to jump higher than the walls, she then had a free fall towards Suzuki, who stupidly stood there thinking his safe just because his pride is in his walls, which was acknowledged as the strongest earth barrier on their school.
By the time he had realized that Karen was attacking from above, it was already too late. Using the sheath of her sword she hit his head, strong enough to make him stumble, then created another pillar of earth to hit his stomach, where he was knocked unconscious.
In this compet.i.tion, knocking your opponent unconscious or them surrendering, will be the only way for you to win. But you must not kill or attack to the point where your opponent will sustain permanent damage.
Upon arrival to her team, "Easy win," Karen grinned as she shows a V using her two fingers.
"You really applied what you learn," Feena said.
"Of course."
"Even the way you were knocked out by Eureka. Very good indeed," Feena continued teasing Karen.
"Hey don"t bring up the past," Karen pouted remembering the time they tested Eureka.
"It"s my turn now." Mamoru stood up and walked up the stage.
From Kyro"s team was Minami, who was a Water ability user.
The beginning of their battle was that of them being on equal footing, but as the battle progresses Mamoru started gaining the upper hand.
"Another win for us"" Karen gleefully commented on the side.
But suddenly Mamoru made a mistake on his attacks and was knocked back by Minami who started bombarding him with water bullets. Mamoru created an Earth wall to defend himself.
"Why is confusion plastered on Mamoru"s face?" Hideyos.h.i.+ asked looking at Raven.
"Hmmm," Raven didn"t add any more, but he looks like he"s in deep thought.
Mamoru started his attacks once again, making it rain with medium-sized boulders. As Minami is busy dodging the boulders, Mamoru approached her once again to attack. Dust started filling up the stage making it impossible to see what was going inside. When the boulders stop falling and the stage once again cleared up.
"How did she trapped Mamoru?" Not just Hideyos.h.i.+ but everyone else was shocked.
When the stage cleared up, instead of Minami on the losing side, it was Mamoru who was trapped in a water bubble. Not long after Mamoru lost consciousness, and Minami released him from the bubble. Medics checked Mamoru and announced that he was just unconscious. Minami was the victor. Before the start of the tandem battle, they were given a 30-minute break. The team then went to the clinic to check on Mamoru. Upon arrival, they found him awake but confused.
"It"s unbelievable that you were suddenly careless," Feena started.
"It"s not like that, I was," he started explaining but couldn"t find the right words to say on what happened on stage.
Just then, "You should let him rest before asking him the details. You and Hideyos.h.i.+ should focus more on your own battle," Eureka stated as she was closing the door behind her.
"Eureka, where did you go? You suddenly disappeared after Mamoru created that wall," Karen asked.
"She"s right, get out and meditate the two of you," Raven commanded. Though reluctantly they followed him.
"Fine, bye Mamoru we"ll take revenge for you," Hideyos.h.i.+ said before leaving.
"I"ll just follow them and watch their meditation," Karen who thinks that Raven might scold Mamoru for being careless, left the room as well.
"What really happened?" Raven suddenly asked Eureka which made Mamoru confused.
"Your movements were momentarily stopped, am I right?" She then asked Mamoru.
"I think that"s what happened. The first time, it feels like my sword was held back by something, it was only for a bit but it still gave my opponent an opening. The second time, while the dust was covering the stage my whole body stopped for a split second just as I was about to attack Minami which ended up me being imprisoned in the bubble," Mamoru said, remembering what happened in the battle.
"It was a third party. They are doing it for split seconds in order for the higher-ups not to notice what was going on. I noticed it the first time and went to the one responsible, but was a bit too late to stop his second attack," Eureka explained.
"Shouldn"t we say this to the instructors and the headmaster?" Mamoru asked feeling frustrated upon finding out what caused him his defeat.
"Allow us to finish this battle Mamoru. Before we tell this to them." Raven sincerely asked his friend. "I just need to settle things with Kyro, or he might do something even more unforgiving."
Looking at his friend, "I understand. Tell Hideyos.h.i.+ and Feena to win, at the same time both of you should win as well. Take revenge for me will you?" Mamoru smiled as he stretches his hand, formed into a fist, towards Raven. Raven smiled and fist b.u.mped him.
"So this is the reason why you told the other two to leave."
"Yes, hearing this might distract them. They are our ace in this compet.i.tion, we can"t have them being distracted right now." Raven answered.