My first solo fight is now. The day after Orrin’s fight in the afternoon, it was finally my turn. Shiro had his fight in the morning, which was fantastic to watch. To my surprise, none of the fights had unique environments like the other fights. Anyway, he dominated his fight with absolute power. The poor girl he was up against was a skilled spell caster using quick casts like myself, which let her last a few minutes against him, but Shiro outclassed her in every other way. But that didn’t stop Haze from lecturing him on how long it took to win the fight. Saying he could’ve won a lot faster than he did. He argued the opposite, then they went to the training building, and Shiro returned with a black eye and a couple of broken fingers. He changed his mind after that. And I was going to heal him later that night.

I sat in the waiting room, tapping my leg nervously. I didn’t know who I was going to fight, and I didn’t know how strong they were, but I did know that according to Geoff, Jeff, and Jeph's ratios, the person has a five-to-one odds of winning. While I only have six-to-one odds. That makes things much tenser, and I’m second up in this bracket.

“Hello, Zeana!” Orrin said from the doorway, drawing everyone’s attention.

I looked up from the floor and saw him grinning and wearing his signature white suit. I waved, “Hey, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to cheer you on. You look troubled? Is something the matter?” Orrin asked as he entered the room to sit on the bench beside me, ignoring all the other competitors glaring at him.

I nodded, “Yeah, just nervous, you know.”

“No, I don’t,” Orrin said matter of factly, “But why don’t you tell me?”

I rolled my eyes, “I just don’t know what I’m running into, is all. I don’t know my opponent's capabilities or strengths, or weaknesses. I don’t know.”

Orrin nodded, “Well, your opponent is a Ruby stage with a level five core. And you’ve met her before.”

Cocking an eyebrow at him, I asked, “I have?”

“Yes. It’s Yuna. She is of the Nexus cultivation academy and is quite skilled at everything. You might have some trouble fighting her.”

I cursed under my breath, “Yuna. The psycho girlfriend of yours. Which means you told her about my abilities too. Fuck!”

“I told her nothing.”

“What?”

“I told her nothing,” Orrin repeated.

I blinked, “W-why?”

“Also, she’s not my girlfriend. She just wants us to be together. Granted, she was suitable for a few nights but she didn’t capture my interest. So, I did all I could to avoid her and break things off, but she wouldn’t listen,” Orrin sighed, “Oh, the woes of being as beautiful and handsome as I.”

“Sounds tough,” I deadpanned, shaking my head.

“Yes, it is,” Orrin agreed, “Anyways, that is not why I came to see you.”

I cocked another eyebrow at him, “Okay, why then?”

“Do you remember our last conversation? About cores, chakra options, and jobs?” Orrin asked. I nodded, and Orrin continued, “Well, I have a job for you if you choose to accept it after the tournament fights tomorrow. It should help give you an advantage in the later fights.”

“All right? What’s the job?”

“Oh, I’m not going to tell you now. You’re about to fight, and I don’t want to distract you too much from the fight now.”

“Okay, but—”

“Zeana Si’enn! You’re up!” a man at the door yelled almost on cue.

I took a deep breath and stood, clearing my head and readying myself for the fight. “Break a leg,” Orrin said as I walked by, “Preferably hers!” I chuckled as I walked out the door and down the corridor.

The crowd roared as I entered the arena, and I waved happily to them, enjoying the attention. “And we have a growing star! Zeana Si’enn!! She’s been a dark horse this entire tournament so far and has yet to disappoint! But will she make it past this one-on-one fight to advance to the next round? We shall see!” the announcer exclaimed excitedly. Walking to the center of the arena, I waited for my competitor. “And in the other corner, a beloved noble daughter whose firey temper has crushed all who opposed her, even her father! Please give it up for Yuna Kin!” the announcer introduced Yuna as she walked into the arena smiling brightly at the crowd and waving. She wore a red gi with an orange belt and four cores, the last being level five, just as Orrin said. And she was at least thirty centimeters taller than me.

She soon met me in the center of the arena and glared at me. I glared back and felt very intimidated at that moment. “Attention, fighters!” a noble-sounding voice said from high above. I looked up to see Emperor Huangjin Wong speaking before returning my gaze to Yuna. “Remember, the fight is over when you kill your opponent, your opponent submits, your opponent is knocked from the ring, is unable to continue the fight, or time runs out. You are not allowed to use all your cores at the same time, if you can at all. Do you understand the rules?” he asked.

“Yes,” Yuna said, her eyes not leaving mine.

“Yes,” I agreed, also not breaking eye contact.

“Good. Felix, start the countdown,” Emperor Wong declared.

“You got it! TEN! NINE! EIGHT!” the announcer, Felix, began the countdown.

I waited for the end of the countdown. I decided to keep my usual form with one tail and no wings. I’m trying to keep my options open with this fight.

“THREE!”

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Yuna brought her fists up, ready to fight.

“TWO!”

I relaxed my body, readying myself for the first strike.

“ONE! FIGHT!”

Yuna exploded forward with a massive burst of speed. I cycled my Storm chakra and jumped back, dodging her first strike that blurred past my face faster than I could follow. I recognized the abilities she used. They’re the same as the Scarlet. Air and Speed chakra, making the Sonic core. I adapted quickly and cast a level-three haste spell the size of my palm on myself. As the spell took effect, Yuna followed her first attack with an uppercut, which I dodged easily, back peddling more.

It was my turn now. I ran forward and used my shorter stature to my advantage aiming for her right knee with a lighting-infused punch. She brought her leg back and spun with lightning-fast speed and kneed me in the face using the same core as me. She, too, had a Storm core. I flew back a few meters and landed on my feet, rubbing my chin with a hand as my haste spell wore off.

I looked up at her as she readied herself for my approach. I waited a moment as I thought. The attack didn’t feel as strong as it should’ve. I should know. I have a level seven storm core. Which means her cores aren’t as strong as they should be. Is it that all her cores are level five? I shouldn’t assume anything, but if I’m right, I should have the advantage in strength. I took a deep breath, steadied my breathing, and cycled my Ice-claymore chakra. I formed a long katana of ice twice my size.

Yuna scowled but didn’t move. I brought the blade down to my side and charged forward, closing the distance between us in a breath and swiping up with the blade. She leaned back and got down low. Green claws formed on her fingertips, and she swiped at my abdomen. I couldn’t stop my momentum in time, and the attack landed. She cleaved my stomach open, disemboweling me, and as soon as I stopped moving, I got some distance between us.

Yuna didn’t approach and continued to wait. I dropped my sword and grabbed my lower intestines, pain shot through my body as I stuffed my intestines back into my body haphazardly. I then cycled my Healing chakra through my body and cast a healing spell on myself. The combination of the spell and chakra began healing my body instantly, and the pain subsided.

I scowled up at her and picked up my sword. Yuna smiled and waited for me to begin my attack. I needed a plan. She’s met all my attacks head-on and hasn’t even taken a scratch. Think. Think! Think!! I need to level the playing field. I cycled my Ice-claymore chakra again and felt my body weaken as I collapsed under the weight of my sword.

What was happening?! Then I heard a laugh. Yuna was laughing at me. “Oh, you worthless monster!” Yuna laughed, “You won’t win the fight like this. Not now. Not ever. Come on. You should stop holding back.”

I scowled as I tried speaking in my head, ‘Fengbao, can you hear me?’

“Yes,” came the quick response.

‘Why can’t I move? Do you know?’

“Yes. She used a Poison core or a core with Poison chakra within it. It latches onto your chakra and weakens when you use it instead of strengthening you.”

‘How do I undo the poison?’

“Mixing your Healing chakra with your Poisoned chakra will cleanse it. But that is illegal in the tournament and could lead to unforeseen complications. The other way is with a spell that I do not know.”

I nodded and stopped cycling my Ice-claymore chakra, ‘Cycle through my body and concentrate a bunch in my tail. I need to heal this if I’m going to win.’

“Understood,” Fengbao complied and cycled the chakra through my body. Strengthening me again. I swiftly raised my sword again and cut off my tail before darting forward. Sword raised over my head for a powerful strike.

Yuna met my charge with her own, and the same green chakra formed claws on her fingertips. Once we got within a meter of each other, I dropped my sword to the side and saw Yuna’s eyes unwillingly follow it. I grabbed her clawed hands by her wrists, startling her, and pulled her down to my level as I head-butted her with all my strength. She stumbled back, clutching at her now broken nose and cursing as blood flowed freely from her nose.

I smirked and stepped forward as I swung a fist at her gut and sent her flying back with the full force of a storm behind the attack. She flew back ten meters and rolled across the ground before landing on her feet.

She blew her blood out her nose, and it sizzled on the ground. “That’s it! You little shit! I’m going to kill you! Hmmhmm! I’ll kill you. Hmmha! I’ll kill you! Hmmhaha! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! I’LL KILL YOU!! HAHAHAHA!!” Yuna yelled as manic laughter escaped her lips.

Oh, shit. She’s a Yandere. And now she’s pissed off at me. Great. At that moment, my vision split, and Yuna charged her eyes, blood red and black and red chakra flowing off her body. I jumped back to give myself more space while Goro charged forward to intercept Yuna. “You got her!?” I asked Goro.

“Got her. Heal yourself.”

“Right!” I agreed as I kept retreating, letting my clone fight for me.

As I sat down to cycle my healing chakra and concoct a possible healing spell for me. I lunged at Yuna with my clone. Yuna swiped a blood-red and black claw at me, passing right over my head. Yuna looked confused, and so did I for a second before I realized I was even shorter as my clones. At least another thirteen centimeters. I was my eight-year-old self again. Well, that sucked. But I still have a fight, and it’s not slowing down for me to wish to be taller.

I used the slight distraction to swipe at Yuna with my tail and kick at her front leg, which was still going down. I kicked her leg out from under her, and my tail shot up to strike her in the chest, throwing her back a few meters. She landed on her feet a breath later and charged forward again.

I sidestepped an uppercut and blocked a kick at my side with my tail. I followed it up with a quick jab at her stomach. She blocked my attack, grabbing my wrist and throwing me aside. I landed on my feet a few meters away and got back between Yuna and me. I then planted my feet and did a double fist strike, shoving her back another several meters. I didn’t let her regain her lost distance as I re-closed the distance between us.

As I closed the distance, I called back, “How’s the spell coming!?”

“Almost there!” I responded as I made the last circle. The spell was a level three, with each circle the size of my torso. The first had health and chakra runes. The second had health, mind, body, soul, and balance. The third had health and strength. While the last circle contained the haste spell. I cast it, felt my Healing chakra rush through my body, and switched to my Ice-claymore core. I felt my strength return to me as I cycled the chakra and readied myself to finish the fight.

Goro fell back to my position, and I cycled the last of her energy into me as she turned into glowing particles of power. Yuna chuckled and said, “Finally, want to fight fair and square? HAHAHA! As I said, stop holding back!!” Then her chakra formed around her in a black and red mist. She stepped forward a second later, wearing a black suit of armor. Red spikes ran along her limbs, shoulders, and knuckles. Her face was covered with a black helmet with spikes jutting from her head like a black crown.

Chakra armor. I’m not going to match that. I’d better keep that a secret for as long as I can. For now, haste spell level four. I increased my speed and agility as I picked up my sword and charged. I swung my blade in wide arcs, and Yuna dodged them easily. Then she summoned her blade. A long Scimitar appeared that looked rusted and covered in blood and darkness. Our blades met, and a flurry of attacks filled the air with loud clangs.

We broke off for a second after no attacks landed and charged at each other again. I swung full force for her head, and she raised her sword to block. A loud crack filled the air as the blades met, and my blade cut through her sword and into her neck. With a triumphant yell, I forced the sword through her neck, decapitating her. She fell to the ground and disappeared in a puff of glowing particles.

I panted, letting my sword dissolve into my body, and screamed at the top of my lungs, “YYYYYYEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!”

Felix screamed with me, “HOLY CRAP, FOLKS! Zeana finished Yuna off with a single strike through her blade! We have a winner with only ten seconds left on the clock, and the winner is ZEANA SI’ENN!!”

I basked in the glory of my victory for a moment before I walked out of the arena and down the corridor to rejoin the crowd. I was exhausted and drained, and hungry. I will get some food before I hear everything I did wrong by Haze and her blow-by-blow breakdown of the fight. But the important thing is, I fucking won!