“WELL FOLKS, IT’S TIME FOR THE SEMI-FINALS TO START. OUR FIRST MATCH WILL BE SELENE VERSUS OSWALD AND OUR SECOND ONE WILL BE LEON VERSUS HINAKO!! NOW WHO WILL BE THE TWO FIGHTERS WHO WILL FACE EACH OTHER IN THE FINAL MATCH!!” Lola announced. “WE’LL BE FINDING OUT SOON ENOUGH”
Oswald, Selene, Leon, and Hinako were inside the waiting room mentally preparing themselves for their upcoming match. Oswald was adjusting his gloves and his long sleeves, making sure no gaps could be seen.
“LET’S GET MOVING!! SELENE AND OSWALD PLEASE COME UP TO THE ARENA!!” Lola said. “THIS MATCH WILL BE A FUN ONE FOLKS!!”
Oswald looked at Selene and smiled. Selene smiled back and both of them exited the waiting room into the arena. Oswald positioned himself on the west side of the arena, while Selene positioned herself on the east side.
“I hope you’re ready!” Selene said. “Make this a fun fight!”
“I wouldn’t want this any other way!” Oswald said.
“AFTER DEFEATING CARMEN, LET’S SEE HOW SELENE DOES AGAINST OSWALD!!” Lola said. “AND START!!”
Oswald quickly activated Armor Ascension only using twenty percent of its power to cover his legs, torso, and arms. Thanks to his clothing covering all those parts of his body the blue aura he produced was not noticed by anyone. Then he ran towards Selene. Selene started smiling and began casting her Magic. Oswald began to actively sense Mana Flow and found out Selene was casting Ice Magic. Selene threw an ice chunk directly to Oswald. Oswald used his left fist to hit the ice chunk and redirect it.
“OSWALD JUST PARRIED THE MAGIC ATTACK FROM SELENE AND HE IS QUICKLY APPROACHING!!” Lola commented. “LET’S SEE HOW SELENE DOES IN CLOSE COMBAT!!”
Selene had a shocked expression, but by the time Oswald was in front of her she could not cast any Magic, so she started to block and counterattack all punches and kicks Oswald threw at her. She knew that she was at a disadvantage physically, so started to cast self-buffs to help close the physical gap. As they exchanged punches and kicks, Selene started to gather Magical Energy. Oswald noticed Selene’s plan right away. After a few more seconds, Oswald could sense that Selene was focusing her Magical Energy on the floor, so he quickly stepped back. Flames erupted from the floor and the spot where Oswald was earlier became covered in flames. AFter a moment the flames disappeared and Oswald could see Selene with an expression of joy.
“OSWALD WAS PUSHING BACK SELENE!! BUT HOW WILL HE DEAL WITH THE FIGHT NOW THAT SELENE CAN START USING HER LONG RANGE ATTACKS!!” Lola said. “SHOW US WHAT YOU CAN DO SELENE!!”
Selene quickly funneled her Magical Energy and started to throw small ice chunks towards Oswald from all directions as she ran away from him. Oswald dodged and parried the ice chunks as he tried to get close to Selene, but it seemed that the distance between them stayed the same no matter how much he ran.
“OSWALD IS TRYING TO REACH TO SELENE, BUT SHE JUST KEEPS MOVING AWAY TO MAINTAIN THE SAME DISTANCE!!” Lola announced. “KEEP GOING OSWALD!!!!”
So he put all of his strength into his leg and sprinted towards Selene as he parried all the ice chunks to the best of his abilities with some even hitting him. Right as he was about to reach Selene an Ice Wall appeared between them. Oswald stepped back and fire arrows started to rain from above, so he began to move back to where the fire arrows couldn’t reach him. Soon after, the Ice Wall came down and Oswald could see Selene still wearing a joyous expression.
“SELENE JUST KEEPS BLOCKING ALL OF OSWALD’S ATTEMPTS TO GET NEAR HER!!!” Lola said. “HOW WILL OSWALD RESPOND TO SELENE’S TACTICS!?”
This is as hard as I expected. She wasn't chosen to be a candidate for the Head of the Family for nothing! Oswald thought as he observed Selene. I’m lucky I can observe her Mana Flow. I hope that she uses that, so I can get a chance to get near!
“Getting tired?” Selene asked.
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“I still have plenty of energy left!” Oswald responded, smiling.
Selene raised her left arm and fire arrows began to rain down throughout the whole arena. Oswald observed her Mana Flow and concluded that she might give him an opening soon. Oswald began to run towards Selene as he tried to parry the fire arrows hitting him. The fire arrows that were hitting began to make holes on his clothes, so he deactivated Armor Ascension and instead used a self-buff for defense. As Oswald ran towards Selene he could observe she was gathering Magical Energy on her right hand.
Damn, if I mess up I’ll lose! Oswald though as he got closer to Selene. I’ll just trust my instincts. There is no other way, other than gambling!
“OSWALD IS BEING HIT BY THE FIRE ARROWS, YET HE IS STILL GETTING CLOSER TO SELENE!!” Lola said with an enthusiastic tone. “I WONDER WHAT SELENE IS PLANNING BY LETTING HIM GET SO CLOSE TO HER!!!”
As soon as Oswald was ten feet away from her, Selene pointed the index and middle fingers of her right hand towards Oswald. Lighting started to surround her body. From her index and middle fingers Selene fired an Electric Beam straight towards Oswald. Less than a second before Selene fired her attack, Oswald began to slide. The unstable Electric Beam was discharging electricity as it went along its path, which managed to damage Oswald as it passed above him. When Selene noticed Oswald had avoided her attack, her face turned into a face full of surprise. Oswald used his hand to launch himself up and managed to kick Selene in the stomach. Selene stepped back holding her stomach and Oswald got up.
“THAT WAS INTENSE!! OSWALD MANAGED TO EVADE THE ELECTRIC BEAM A MORE ADVANCED TECHNIQUE THAN THE ELECTRIC BULLET THAT MADE HIS SISTER LOSE!!” Lola said with a playful tone. “IT SEEMS THAT THEIR FIGHT HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON BOTH OF THEM!! FOLKS WE SHOULD HAVE A WINNER SOON ENOUGH!!”
“That was unexpected!” Selene said heavily panting. “I thought that my Electric Magic would give me the win!”
“I told you before, I plan on winning!” Oswald said, also heavily panting. Oswald smiled and started walking towards Selene.
“I guess it has come to this!” Selene said walking towards Oswald as she surrounded her fists with Electric Magic.
Oswald quickly closed the gap and threw the first punch with his right fist, which Selene blocked with her left arm. Selene then tried to throw an Electric Punch with her right fist, but Oswald kicked her on her right side with his left leg.
“THE FIGHT HAS BECOME A CLOSE COMBAT ONE!!” Lola said. “BY THE LOOKS OF IT, SELENE DOESN’T HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY TO KEEP THROWING LONG RANGE ATTACKS!!”
The Electric Magic from Selene’s fists disappeared and she began to struggle to stay standing. She threw a punch towards Oswald with her right fist, but Oswald was faster and landed a punch on her chest with his left fist. Selene’s bracelet reached its limit and it broke into thousands of little pieces and she fell back to the floor.
“AND THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS!!!! OSWALD WIIIINNNSSS!!” Lola shouted. “THAT WAS A FINE BATTLE BETWEEN COUSINS!! LET’S WAIT AND SEE HOW WELL OSWALD DOES IN THE FINALS!!”
“HAHAHAHAHAHA! I lost!” Selene was laughing. “That was fun! From now on you can call me Big Sis and I’ll call you Oz!”
“I’ll just keep calling you Selene!” Oswald said, smiling. He then offered his hand to Selene and she took it.
Oswald pulled Selene up and helped her support herself on him. The Healers quickly arrived at the arena and healed up both Oswald and Selene. After being healed, they went back to the waiting room.
“I am going to the VIP Section to find my parents!” Selene said, looking at Oswald. “Good luck on the final match, Oz!”
“Thanks, Selene!” Oswald said, smiling. “Don’t forget we are all going to Moon Cafe tomorrow!”
“I won’t, this will be my first time going out with friends!” Selene said with a big smile.
As Selena left Oswald for a brief moment could feel something that filled him with dread, but he was unable to pinpoint where it was coming from. He began to shake and as soon as the presence could not be felt anymore Oswald stopped shaking.
“NOW FOR THE LAST MATCH OF THE SEMI-FINALS!! LEON AND HINAKO PLEASE STEP INTO THE ARENA!!” Lola announced.
Oswald saw both Leon and Hinako headed towards the exit. Leon looked back at Oswald and smiled.
“It seems we’ll be facing each other at the final match!” Leon said with a playful tone.
“You really are confident about this match, huh!?” Oswald replied.
“It’ll be somewhat challenging, but in the end victory will be mine!” Leon responded. “Make sure to watch closely. That way you can better see how I fight! Later, Oz!”
Leon exited the waiting room into the arena and headed towards the west side of the arena. He turned to face Hinako, who was attentively observing him. Leon smirked and cracked his knuckles.