"What do you mean I'm dead?" asked Akiza as she stood at the Records Office with Serph.

"Well you two went missing during the annual trip to the Immortal Realm for West Wind Academy," said the man. "Normally, this means you're dead."

"Then fix it!" said Akiza.

"It's not that easy," said the man. "In order to change it, I need the approval of a Master."

That was when Akiza remembered. The card! Kongming had added a special line to the card. Akiza took it out and showed it to the man. "Would this work?"

"G-g-grandmaster's Approval?!?" said the man in surprise. "Yes this would work, this is what is actually needed. Normally only someone of a Master rank would have this."

"So Kongming probably knew this would happen," said Serph. "That's why he did that to our cards."

"Well at least I'm not considered dead anymore," said Akiza. "There's one thing that I still have to do though."

"You mean Haman?" said Serph.

"Yes, I have to deal with him," said Akiza.

"But the rules do not allow for fighting between Disciples while on school grounds," said Serph.

"There is an exception in the rules," said Akiza. "A Duel of Life and Death. It is something meant to settle personal disputes between members of the school."

"Are you sure about this?" asked Serph. "It means that either of you can kill the other. You will have to kill him to win."

"Yes," said Akiza. "After trapping both of us in the Immortal Realm because he lost a duel, he intended to kill both of us."

"Then I will not stop you," said Serph. "But be careful. Haman is very dangerous."

Near the edge of West Wind Academy was a bell. If this bell was rung, it could be heard all over the school. But it really meant that a person called for a Duel of Life and Death. All they had to do was give their name, rank, and reason for the challenge. It was a means to settle grudges and disputes between members of the school. The person who was challenged could not back out unless the person challenging them was of a higher rank in the school. This meant if a Junior Disciple challenged a Master, the Master could not refuse it, but if a Master issued the challenge to a Junior Disciple, then the Junior Disciple could refuse it.

"You're 100% sure about this right?" Serph asked Akiza as she stood next to the bell.

"Yes," said Akiza. She rung the bell. People started gathering nearby.

"Someone rung the bell!" said a student.

"No one has rung the bell in several years," said another. "I wonder what that person did."

"I am Akiza Himura," said Akiza. "I challenge Haman to a Duel of Life and Death. The reason, he tried to kill me and Serph by trapping us in the Immortal Realm."

"She survived in the Immortal Realm for year?!?" a student said in shock. "That's impossible!"

Chatter began to spread and news of this spread out. A student that had survived for a year in the Immortal Realm had accussed someone of attempted murder. Every day, Akiza stood by the bell when she could and rang it at least once a day waiting for Haman to show up.

Haman got news of this soon after. "How is that possible?!?" thought Haman. "We left them in the Immortal Realm to die. Now everyone knows and they are still alive."

This was not a challenge that Haman could refuse. He had ascended to a Senior Disciple in the last year. It meant he must take the challenge. On top of that, his pride was on the line. As long as Akiza was still alive, it meant that he was not the best. He had defeated every other opponent before him, but Akiza was the only one who had made him suffer the humilitation of defeat. "I'm already at the peak of the Spirit Stage and a Senior Disciple," he said to himself. "She is still at the Spirit Stage and an Apprentice."

The day after that, Haman finally showed up to the duel stage. Akiza was there waiting for him. "So the spineless boy finally decided to show up," said Akiza.

"I will kill you myself this time," said Haman.

People started to gather. This was a Duel of Life and Death, a rare occurance in which two people fought outside of the safety of the Training Ground. The loser would almost certainly die.

"I am already at the peak of the Spirit Stage and a Senior Disciple of West Wind Academy!" shouted Haman as he released his Internal Energy. "I will not lose to an Apprentice."

His Internal Energy already affected a few of the nearby students who could not handle the pressure. They had to back away. There were even a few Apprentices who had fainted from the pressure. However, Akiza was unphased. She stood there in a neutral position.

Akiza got into fighting position and drew her sword. This was her first time fighting a person with a sword. It would most likely be easier than fighting a Spirit.

"We can begin whenever you're ready," said Akiza. "I will even let you have the first move."

"You overconfident bitch!" shouted Haman as he charged forward. Haman grinned as he Armatized. His entire sword was covered with poison. His body emitted a green fog. "You will not be able to even get close to me!" he shouted.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Akiza's face did not change. She Armatized just her wings. When Haman got close, she used Phoenix Steps and appeared behind him. She aimed to thrust the sword into Haman's spine, hoping to paralyze him again.

Haman swung to the side and dodged. "You got better," said Haman. "But the poison will slow you down and kill you eventually. You cannot leave this arena either or else you forfeit your life to me per the rules!"

What Haman did not know is that Akiza's flames heated the gases and pushed them away from her. It made the Haman's power completely useless as the weak poison of Haman could be neutralized. If Haman was fighting a group of weaker people, his poison would be good, but against a single strong opponent, it was useless. Haman did not know that though, always thinking that he had the upper hand against an opponent that was weakened by his poison.

Haman charged forward. "Die!" he shouted.

Akiza charged forward too. "I got you now!" said Haman as he threw dust that he hid in his left hand.

BOOM. A burst of power was released as Akiza fully Armatized. The dust in Haman's left hand was blown away. "I knew you would try a cheap trick like that," said Akiza.

Orange flames emerged from all over Akiza's body. Her hair turned red. Her top appeared to be a vest that showed the top of her chest and her stomach area. She had an orange skirt that covered her thighs. On her legs were long white socks and orange shoes. It was the same outfit that the woman in purple was wearing.

"Full Armatization!?!?" shouted Haman in surprise.

The chatter among the people in the crowd began to increase. They could not beliee that such a young child had such a power.

"You shouldn't be surprised," said Akiza. "After all, you can already Armatize yourself."

"This is impossible!" shouted Haman. "I'm the gifted and talented child of a noble! You're just some kid that came out of nowhere."

Haman charged forth again attempting to kill Akiza. Akiza lowered herself and positioned her sword so that it was level with her eyes.

"I will kill you!" shouted Haman.

Akiza dashed forward and stuck the sword right into his shoulder.

"AHHH" screamed Haman as he fell to the floor. "I can't move my arm! What did you do?"

"I cut the nerves in your arm," said Akiza. "You will never hold anything with that hand again."

"You can't do this! I'll pay you," said Haman.

"It is too late," said Akiza. She pulled the sword out and stabbed it into his leg.

"AHHH" screamed Haman again. "Please don't kill me."

Akiza flew up into the air.

"Thank you," said Haman. "But I will kill you," he thought to himself.

Akiza began to gather her Internal Energy into her hands. A pink flower with purple and blacked tipped petals appeared.

"Nooo...." said Haman. He could not move, Akiza had cut the nerves in his leg too.

A large ball of blue fire began to condense in front of the flower. "Elemental Strike!" shouted Akiza. The ball flew towards Haman.

The ball of fire hit the arena and a wave of fire spread across. Haman was charred all over his body.

Akiza flew back down and removed her Armatization. "Are you okay?" asked Serph.

"Yes," said Akiza. "I feel much better now."

"I'll killyou!" said another voice. It was coming for Akiza.

CLING. Another sword blocked the sword coming for Akiza.

"If you want to settle this, it has to be a Duel of Life and Death, Master Saki," said Cixi.

"Cixi!" said Akiza.

"This is a matter between her and me Master Cixi," said Master Saki. "Akiza, I, Master Saki, challenge you to a Duel of Life and Death for killing my nephew."

"I refuse," said Akiza.

"What? Why?" asked Mr. Saki.

"I do not stand a chance against you Master Saki," said Akiza. "I have no chance of winning."

"Then I will kill you right here and now!" said Master Saki.

"I have a suggestion," said Master Cixi.

"What?" asked Master Saki.

"In five years' time, Akiza will fight you," said Master Cixi. "In that time, I will train her to defeat you!"

"A mere Apprentice will defeat me in five years?" laughed Master Saki.

"He is as prideful as his nephew," Akiza said to herself.

"I accept these conditions," said Master Saki.

"Then I accept these conditions too," said Akiza.

"Then it is settled," said Master Cixi. "From this day forward, Apprentice Akiza is my personal student. On this day in five years or any time before that, Akiza will face you, Master Saki in a Duel of Life and Death."

Master Saki picked up Haman's body. "I will have my vengeance, I swear it."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spoiler: Not dead