55TH GEAR - SHE IS BAD NEWS
It was a spectacular clash of spells from both Speedmages. A red burning arc called Phoenix Talon collided with the surging blue water quick-turn Dolphin Strike!
Poof!
The extreme heat vaporized the water, and the water extinguished the flames. As a result, a thick fog of smoke puffed that covered one-fourth of the Triangle. Both Speedmages were launched due to the repelling effect of their magical barriers colliding.
“W-Where is she!?” Amaryllis stood at the center of the smokescreen. She looked left and right, forward, and back. But she never saw her opponent… until she look upwards!
There, the pink-haired Speedmage has already set up her next course of attack! She has already created an Air Trampoline, ready to jump toward the opponent’s back!
“Yaaaaah!” Flu roared as she jumped toward the opponent!
“Son of a-”
Before Amaryllis could finish a curse, Flu was already launched at superspeed and struck her back! A pink magical circle point indicator formed!
Beep!
Point for Fluonessia, at 4:1!
“Damn, you!” Amaryllis immediately pressed her foot on the ground as an anchor to prevent the repelling force from pushing her any further. She bent her knees and finally made a step for the first time without relying on her hovering Water Accel. “I will catch you!”
“Get out of there, Flu!” I shouted out loud.
Flu was quick to pick up my command. She used the repelling effect of the magical barrier earlier to have a boost towards the next Checkpoint Tower!
We have been setting up this tag fight nearer and nearer to the 2nd Checkpoint Tower ever since Amaryllis activated her Whirlpool spell. So the moment Flu dashed away, there was not much of the ground to cover.
Beep!
Point for Fluonessia as she touched the 2nd Checkpoint Tower! The score is now an overwhelming lead of 5:1!
The moment Flu managed to get to the checkpoint was the moment the timer turned zero.
Fweeeeeet!
“Match is over! The winner is Fluonessia Asahime!” The referee announced.
The crowd cheered upon witnessing a spectacular Speed Battle. I can see that more and more people are now cheering for the Smiling Phoenix, as dubbed by the commentator on the TV. If she keeps on winning and faces off against Vincent in the finals, she will surely get a fanbase.
Maybe I can start a social media group now named Flunatics: Members are those lunatics insane enough to idolize Flu.
“I did it, Coach! I did it!” Flu jollily hopped and skipped as she climbed the viewing stage.
“Yeah! Good work!” I raised my hand to give her a fistbump, or maybe a handshake.
But Flu grabbed my wrist and put it on top of her head. Maybe she wanted to be petted instead like a dog who wanted to be rewarded for doing tricks. So I rubbed her silky smooth pink hair with my hand as a head massager.
“Here, here,” I said with a smile.
“Tehehehe.” Flu blushed while being ecstatic. She’s too straightforward about her desires and emotions.
All of a sudden, our adorable moment together was cut when I heard a stomp a few meters away from my back. When Flu and I looked at the source, we realized that it was the opponent Amaryllis Vosconovitc and her butler-slash-navigator.
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Amaryllis held her hips and stood tall like a military officer.
“That was a hard-fought win, Fluonessia Asahime! Our skills are on par with each other!” Amaryllis said.
“What hard-fought win and skills on par? You lost at 5:1! Not even tripling your score would give you a win!” I said.
“Shut up, pleb!” Amaryllis shushed me off, then she pointed at Flu with a deathly glare. “I will acknowledge your skills, and I will accept that you are my eternal rival!”
“E-Eh?” Flu hanged her jaw and her eyes are round and wide. There’s a question mark written on her face.
“Enjoy your victory for now, Fluonessia Asahime! Because mark my words, vengeance will be mine! Wohohohohohoho!”
Amaryllis elegantly walked with that stupid annoying laugh of hers. Her butler tailed her like a loyal pet, and now there’s only Flu and me on the viewing stage.
“...”
“...”
We are both silent. We do not know what just happened to that rich girl’s mood swings, and I don’t think I will ask either. I will just let it be and have my mind at rest.
I feel like we should be doing something though.
“Ah!” Flu cried. “We should check on Prez!”
“Oh shit! She was so useless that I completely forgot!” I shrieked.
<>
After the match, we immediately rushed to Healers Bay where medic tents are situated. We immediately found Ericka’s tent and we saw her sitting on the bed talking to Cruzo. When she realized that we were back, Ericka jumped towards Flu and rubbed her face to hers!
“Congratulations on making it to the Semifinals, Flu!” Ericka cried with joy. “I feel like a proud mother watching you pull off that Phoenix Talon!”
“Uwooooooogh! You are so awesome, Flu!” Cruzo wept in happiness. “I never thought that a Merry Knight Speedmage will be able to enter the Semifinals!”
“Thank you, Prez! Thank you, Sir Cruzo! I wouldn’t be able to do it if it weren’t for you two! Tahahaha!” Flu also cried with joy as Prez continue to rub their faces together.
I was surprised that they know what happened, but then I saw a small magical TV which is broadcasting the local station on this tent. I guess they watched it whole, eh?
“This calls for a celebration! Let’s have an eat-all-you-can buffet!” Cruzo cheered out loud.
“Oh, that was what I am hoping for! I vomited my breakfast and lunch, so I have to fill myself up!” Ericka clasped her hands.
“Yaaaaay! I want a Dragonfruit Ice Cream!” Flu pumped her fists. “I am gonna eat lots and lots so that I can practice much longer until morning!”
“Hey, eating a lot of food and practicing until morning are both unhealthy habits!” I groaned.
“Tahahaha! I’m just joking, Coach! Let’s just practice until dawn!”
“I refuse!” I said. “If you overslept again, we might not be able to make it tomorrow!”
“Uwuuuu, I’m sorry.” Flu sulked.
“Hmph! Cheapskate!” Ericka crossed her arms and pouted.
I was slightly annoyed by our useless president’s reaction, but I feel like a small celebration is deserved. We can celebrate en grande after the Speedmage Tournament is over.
“Fine, let’s just have dinner in a nearby restaurant. Nothing fancy.” I said.
“Yay!” Flu and Ericka pumped their fists with wide adorable smiles on their faces.
I was not surprised at the ever-so-energetic Flu, but Ericka seemed to be a lot more hyped than usual. Maybe because a Speedmage of Merry Knights entering the Semifinals of this Regional Speedmage Tournament is a big step towards her goal of restoring the guild’s former glory.
“Uwoooogh! I will eat a lot of bacon shawarmas!” Cruzo said.
I think I will let Cruzo stuff his mouth until her stomach explodes as he is in a support role anyways.
Fweeeeeeet!
I heard the whistle from the arena, and then the whistle from the live TV broadcast. I looked at the screen and saw the final Speed Battle on Block B concluded. The camera panned on the loser Speedmage who looked dead in the eyes and devoid of hope.
Then the camera focused on a Speedmage with a tall physique, possibly a six-footer woman wearing an all-black long gown that reveals her snow-white right leg. That was quite a peculiar Speedmage Suit as it makes her look like a witch from the abyss.
“Match is over! The winner is Lilith Nightshade!” The referee announced.
Lilith Nightshade is a beautiful woman with pale white skin, cracking dried blood-red lips, and heterochromia eyes. Her left eye is bloodshot red, while her right eye is glowing gold. Just looking at her, even just on TV, gives me goosebumps.
I looked at the scoreboard.
Maya Patel: 0
Lilith Nightshade: 1
Just from looking at the scoreboard, I can already see that it was a boring match. It was interesting though as it was almost impossible to have a score like that in an official tournament. Normally, the loser Speedmage would be able to score at least one point, and the winning Speedmage would do a landslide of scores. This one is different.
What is more alarming though, is what will happen tomorrow.
She will be Flu’s next opponent in the Semifinals.
I immediately sat on Ericka’s bed and browsed my Magical Tablet in a hurry. I looked at the official site of the Speedmage Tournament and looked at the previous matches of Lilith Nightshade.
I froze in fear. All her matches from the first round, second round, and this third round was the same. It is always 1:0.
What is interesting is that Lilith Nightshade’s tactic is always going first for the 2nd Checkpoint Tower, then she will prevent the opponent from scoring the point. Since striking the opponent is prohibited before touching the 2nd Checkpoint Tower, she takes advantage of the rules to win.
What a dirty and boring way to do Speed Battles.
And she is bad news.