CHAPTER 138: A FIERCE COMBAT
Cithrel followed the shy Taqiyya, who was stealing glances from everyone who passed by in the hallway.
It wasn’t as if at the academy she was bullied at least not openly, but she was a rather pretty young lady, who, because of her personality, was easily manipulated by others.
It was common for other students to give her assignments and use her to not work themselves, and Taqiyya had accepted this before she showed up.
Taqiyya was not submissive, but unwilling to confront anyone and slightly fearful, but in the end, if someone approached her completely, they would discover someone kind and cute.
To Cithrel, Taqiyya was a fluffy little rabbit who trembled in fear of the world around her and she couldn’t even deny interest in this type of young lady.
“Embarrassed?” Cithrel asked, stroking Taqiyya’s head gently.
“Yes,” Taqiyya replied, embarrassed by her gesture.
She, by that show of closeness, earned the envy of some students walking nearby.
Cithrel kept her smile as if she had seen nothing, even though she identified every single person watching her.
She didn’t need to know how to read people to notice some emotions and less so when very few students could hide what they were thinking, trying not to show it on their faces.
Although Cithrel had met quite a few students who were only curious about her race and status as a fantasy princess, others had different intentions.
Approaching the princess of the Falion Empire and gaining her favor or becoming her friend, for some individuals, would be very beneficial.
Whether it be mages, fighters, swordsmen, or any individual would have ‘gains’.
Although students were in the Hero Academy, few of them could wear that title with pride.
The worst was the male students who would approach to flirt, seeking to gain her favor by foolish means, and each of them acted carefully, mainly away from Aurora and Venali.
Most of them treated her as a target for conquest and among the female students as a possible person from whom they could benefit and, among all, very few treated her normally.
Aurora and Alice were in the latter class.
Although she was the target for protection, the former treated her as a companion and the latter was aloof and practically ignored her.
Two different types of relationships and reactions that were honest in their own way.
There were some students who were similar in the academy, who either treated her as a fellow academy student or ignored her because she disliked the Falion Empire.
In that sense, the students close to Aurora and Alice were among those who treated her with companionship and they especially prioritized training more than striking up a friendship.
Leading to them forgetting her status.
Cithrel smiled at the thought of that kind of person.
“Something wrong?” Taqiyya asked, giving a slightly shy look.
“Nothing, I was just thinking that being at the academy is entertaining,” Cithrel replied sincerely.
She had attended the Falion Empire academy and because of her status; she ended up being the center of everyone and it was hard to have a real academic life.
Whether it was because she was feared, respected, or admired.
Unlike being in the Falion Empire, the Hero Academy was more fun, though she didn’t just like it for that reason.
Teasing Aurora with some flirting was fun and enjoyable, as sometimes she would blush and at those times she would become charming.
Cithrel hid her amused smile and followed Taqiyya into a single room.
“This is my forge. I like a medieval and fantasy style,” Taqiyya pointed out using a proud tone as she introduced her work center.
Taqiyya guided her around, showing the equipment and some machines that were installed that differed from a classic smithy.
The forge was in a large room compared to other adjoining rooms, where materials were stored.
The machinery, tools, and utensils used were arranged around the place, making it easy to walk around and although it had a traditional touch similar to the forges of Terra nova, it was different.
Ventilation was one of the many elements that stood out.
“I’m not strong or can fight, but I have a talent called [Dwarven Soul] that gives me an affinity for craftsmanship, metalwork, and things like rune creations,” Taqiyya explained looking at her various tools and engraving chisels.
Cithrel couldn’t hide her smile, and she reached over, stroking her head.
“That makes sense,” Cithrel said, looking at her with a slightly amused smile.
Taqiyya’s gaze shifted to her, and she slowly blushed.
Perhaps from embarrassment at her closeness, or perhaps at Cithrel’s hidden joke.
Taqiyya was short in stature and Cithrel was slightly above average height, making her taller than Taqiyya by a head.
Giving a sense of ‘superiority’ when it came to ‘teasing’ her.
“I still don’t have any way to thank you for the help, so when I get better I’ll make you something,” Taqiyya said, and seeing that Cithrel was giving her a big smile, she turned shy and muttered. “Also Aurora.”
Cithrel laughed in amusement at that quick mumble.
The laughter she released led to Taqiyya becoming even more embarrassed, leading to her turning completely red, giving the feeling that she had overloaded herself too much.
Taqiyya knew that she was a princess, and that she was not lacking in items, while Aurora had already shown her high-quality equipment.
For such a reason, she decided that instead of giving an item she could create now; she prioritized improving rather than giving her something that would be useful to both of them.
“I’ll wait, then,” Cithrel said, regaining her composure and looking at the shy Taqiyya, she leaned a little closer and whispered. “Though I think it won’t be long.”
Taqiyya, thanks to her talent, was the best student in the crafts class and would enter the international tournament in the crafts section.
The students selected her to show the ability of the craftsmen who were in the background when talking about heroes or any other profession.
Cithrel smiled as she realized Taqiyya’s eyes were watching her closely as her breathing became heavy and then pulled back just as the door opened.
Vanessa, the student from the healing section, walked in and was surprised to see her present.
“Sorry, I thought Taqiyya was alone,” Vanessa said, giving an apologetic smile for walking in without knocking.
“She was showing me her place of work,” replied Cithrel, smiling as if nothing had happened.
Taqiyya tried to control the blush on her face and unfortunately for her, she couldn’t at least not fully.
“Alice’s group fight is about to start. Shall we go watch it?” Vanessa asked without giving Taqiyya’s blushing any importance, not wanting to embarrass her even more.
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She invited Taqiyya to watch the bout.
This bout would be the final of the group bouts, and the winner would become the champions of the group tournament.
Everyone was excited about this bout despite the few participants in this section had.
Cithrel and Taqiyya looked at each other and nodded.
******
In the middle of the arena, Clémentine’s group gathered to organize.
“I’ll take the mage Rank A. Alice, go for the swordsman Rank A. Leslie will take the archer, Nicole will take Marc, and Dalia will take on the psionic,” Clémentine ordered as she looked up at the host projecting into the sky.
The hundred-meter arena had a design of a small wooded area.
Since it had a similar technology that Leslie’s father’s company’s training center had equipped, the whole place gave a realistic feeling.
Their opponent was Marc’s team, which had an A-Rank mage and swordsman.
The B-Rank members were Marc as a fighter, an archer, and a psionic.
It was a fairly strong and mixed team, making it a challenge for their group.
Alice stuck with the swordsman who seemed the weakest, while Clémentine took the mage who was the strongest.
Not only was this a strategic decision, as she did not want to see what would happen if Alice faced a mage, but she wanted to use this opponent for training.
Magical energy and psionic energy repelled each other and both would be an excellent opponent for the other... It was the same with Dalia and the psionic she would be facing.
Leslie had a similar challenge against the archer, while Nicole would face her classmate and a fighter like her.
Were there better strategies?
Surely.
What they were looking for was for this match to push them to their limits and put them in difficulty so they could show all they were capable of.
A desire shared by every member of the group except Alice.
They all nodded at those orders even Dalia herself who had been through some tough training, nodded more enthusiastically.
With Frank’s background comments projected to the center of the arena, the students looked skyward, waiting for the keywords.
“Let the group sparring finals begin!”
Those words got the group moving.
Leslie, as she was wearing her old armor, caused the scout drones to extend forward while at the same time, her sensors were activated.
Employing her holographic watch, she watched through the cameras of the wasp drones stealthily scanning the area.
On the left side, Marc along with the psionic were moving forward along the boundary to try to surround the group, in the middle the mage and swordsman were approaching fast for a direct confrontation, leaving the archer at their back seeming to want to become support.
Before they could check the area further, the wizard cast a spell and destroyed the camera drone, cutting off vision.
“Three in a group and two trying to surround it. The plan will not change. Only three of us will play in teams,” Clémentine ordered, and without looking worried, she added. “Let’s get this over with.”
Giving the order, the group moved, and Nicole signaled for Dalia to follow.
Dalia drew her wand and followed Nicole away from the primary group.
Nicole was using her senses to move and, at the same time, checking the position of their opponents via the holographic clock and drone surveillance.
As they neared where they would be, Nicole gave her a signal to get ready, and they both moved forward more cautiously.
The scenery replicated various types of forest and this section was more wooded, leading to the leaves being more many, making it difficult to see.
The sounds of birds and wind added to the feeling of realism.
It was at the moment they approached that Nicole felt a slight sense of danger and grabbed Dalia to dodge.
“...”
The daggers created by psionic energy went through the ‘wood’ of a tree without disabling the holographic effects.
“As I thought, you are skilled at dodging,” Marc said, stepping forward along with the psionic accompanying him.
Nicole signaled Dalia for what to prepare and looked at her opponent, ready for combat.
“It’s better to surrender now. I don’t want to hit women,” Marc announced in a serious tone.
Was he being chivalrous or was he just belittling them?
Nicole didn’t feel embarrassed, but slightly annoyed.
Even if he was acting chivalrous, they were fighters!
She could understand that he was acting chivalrous. Still, there had to be a limit.
Not just out of respect for the battle, but because of the reality that was out there.
Where no one would show mercy or chivalry... They would beat him no matter the condition, sex, or age and after that, they would kill his comrades.
Nicole had seen that reality in her practice and did not want it to happen to her again.
Even though she was upset, she kept her cool by controlling her emotions and cautiously watching her opponent.
She would not be angered by such matters and would not be swayed by such words.
Receiving a pat on her back that was Dalia and Nicole’s signal, she lashed out at Marc.
“Tch... You would have been better off taking my deal,” Marc replied in an annoyed tone.
The psionic threw some psionic energy daggers, and Dalia, with a mutter, raised a barrier of air that repelled such daggers.
*Boom*
Without fear of the daggers, Nicole advanced, crashing her fist against Marc’s fist, causing a shock wave and an explosive sound at the impact.
It was at that moment that Marc’s expression changed.
“So it’s...”
Without letting him speak, Nicole dodged towards the psionic that was a little behind, surprising her opponent, who tried to stop her.
However, Dalia sent a powerful air cannon that led to Marc having to stop to avoid it.
A perfect move that was taken advantage of by Nicole, who rolled on the ground dodging the psionic’s daggers and creating platforms in a leap, she tried to surround the psionic as she approached.
Each of her movements was agile and fast, leading to the psionic having a hard time turning and not being able to hit it, being taken by surprise by the speed.
*BOOM!
Nicole, on having the opportunity, pounced and hit with all her strength the psionic, who protected himself with his barrier and, using the force of impact, moved away, taking distance while grunting in pain.
*BOOM*
The next moment, Nicole received Marc’s blow that sent her flying because of the lack of stability.
In the air, she controlled her body and landed on her feet withstanding the force of the impact and even though her lip was split while bleeding; she gave a smile.
Dalia attacked the psionic who was already far away, turning the group battle into an individual battle as they both wished.
The principal aim was to draw the psionic away from Marc so that both of them would have to concentrate solely on their combat.
Now they would have no interruptions from either side and Dalia would press the psionic and both would stop each other.
Leaving Nicole to have a personal combat with Marc, just as she wished.
“Come, let’s fight properly,” Nicole said, giving a smile full of battle desire.
******
“...”
Both Aurora and Edward didn’t know what to say in the face of the battle Marc and Nicole were engaged in.
Fierce and savage, they were two fighters beating each other up, taking damage to take down their opponent.
Marc had great strength and his punches beat Nicole in terms of power, but the style and technique of that fierce young woman were splendid.
Switching style and going from fist fighting to kicking or moving fast was dominant and the way she exchanged was never repetitive, leading to her taking her opponent by surprise.
Adding the platforms Nicole created under her feet allowed her to have footholds to perform pirouettes or to attack with more complex moves.
However, Marc was not to be underestimated, either.
His way of thinking aside, he was a tenacious and fierce fighter who did not hesitate when facing his opponents.
His equipment was also of top quality, allowing him to defend himself from powerful hits delivered by Nicole.
Both were giving and receiving blows, while around them were the members of both teams, who were watching the fight.
It was not that they had paused the battle between them, but that Clémentine’s group had won.
Alice defeated the swordsman with ease, and Leslie won her victory.
Dalia lost, and the psionic could not help Marc, as Clémentine ultimately finished off her mage foe and defeated the psionic.
At this moment, they were watching the battle, forgetting to retreat from the battlefield.
Pride or tenacity, Nicole awakened Marc’s battle spirit who did not wish to give up, and both were giving their all.
Now...
“They have become the center of attention,” Edward muttered in an impressed tone.
“And they have turned their combat into an art form. That shows the full potential of a fighter,” Aurora added, looking impressed at that development.
As a fighter, she couldn’t help but sigh as she watched the two of them fight with impressive tenacity and will.
She had to admit, compared to Nicole, as a fighter, she lacked talent.
Her desire to help was useful for her to improve, but the way Nicole fought showed in full force what a fighter was.
Someone who faced her opponent, using her body to fight, enjoying her battle.
Nicole was what Aurora was when she used her sword... A young woman who loved her art and her profession.
But she was also very different. Aurora knew that Nicole fought so tenaciously because she wanted to improve and be strong so she wouldn’t face situations like the one that happened to her in the Assault mission.
Both Nicole and Marc were exchanging blows before the expectant gaze of the silent audience.
It was at that moment where both were staggering with their bodies full of bruises, wounds, and blood, that they looked at each other, knowing that they were on the edge.
There in the arena were two fighters who looked at their opponent completely determined.
No difference in age or gender, they were just fighters who wanted their victory.
“GAH!”
Marc was the one who moved first.
Roaring, he charged towards Nicole, who prepared to resist the blow.
*BOOM*
Even though she was protecting herself, he sent Nicole flying, hitting a tree and coughing up blood from such a powerful blow from her opponent.
Unlike anyone expected, the fight was not stopped, and the referee did not intervene the fight.
That was because Nicole got up, wiping away the blood she had coughed up.
She had stepped back in the instant before the blow hit her, reducing the force of impact... Such a scene was what Aurora saw.
Marc gave his all in that blow and wounded her, unfortunately, it was not enough to prevent the counterattack.
That happened immediately.
Nicole lashed out at Marc, whose body was staggering, and she dodged her opponent’s weak punch while punching him in the stomach.
“Ugh...”
Marc hunched over, letting out a groan of pain as his body and barrier couldn’t withstand the impact of that punch.
Long ago, the personal armor barrier of each of them was weakened and earlier when delivering his blow, Marc had spent all of his magical energy, leading to him now being completely weakened.
Nicole didn’t give him a chance for him to take a breather.
She used her other arm to punch him in the face and when Marc recoiled in a daze, Nicole spun around and performed a kick, leading to Marc hitting the ground with a thud.
He lay motionless on the ground and Nicole, realizing he would not get up, sighed, throwing away all her tiredness.
There came a silence and...
“Amazing!”
“Great!”
“Awesome!”
Exclamations came from the watching audience and Clémentine, Leslie, Dalia, Alice, and the other rival group came over with a smile.
The healing mages appeared nearby, helping both of them with the healing as they helped Marc wake up.
Even after Marc woke up, he just wiped his face and gave a smile, worthy of a fighter.
All while, Nicole was embarrassed at all the comments and not realizing that the battle was long over.
Aurora smiled without denying that the battle had thrilled her.
A truly fierce fight.