"The first match is between Black Ink of the Black Team and Red Marshall of the Red Team! Both teams are starting out strong!"
"Indeed Peter. Black Ink is said to be the strongest after Black Saga. Black Saga said so himself that Black Ink is a force to be reckoned with when he gets serious. And to be fair, no one really showed their true strength in the group stages. We have seen glimpses of what he is capable of in the Round-of-16 Stage and Quarter Final Stage. But he gave up every time he had to face a Predator. No doubt an instruction from his captain, Black Saga. That way they've been able to remain fit, and none of their members have ever been gravely injured. Scrapes and scratches at best. Normally, you would pick Black Ink as the winner no matter who he faced, but his opponent is different this time."
"Red Marshall is like Black Ink in the Red Team. She is just as respected, and is a powerful warrior. Red Prince has already picked her out to be his successor in the long term. In other words, when Red Marshall becomes a Predator, Red Prince would quit the Red Team so that she would take over. That alone shows you how highly her captain thinks of her. She is strong, and just like Black Ink she has never been forced into a dead end. This is bound to be an interesting match Peter"
"Indeed Maggie. So, who do you think would come out on top this time Maggie."
"Honestly, as a citizen of Asher City, I want to see Black Ink win and the Black Team come out as the winners. But their opponents are so strong that I don't know what would happen."
"It is true Maggie. This is bound to be very interesting."
Steel Fist's vision alternated between Black Ink and Red Marshall, as an intrigued expression was born on her face. She smiled and mumbled, "Interesting," before she decided to get on with things.
"Are you ready?" she asked the contestants who were facing each other with steely looks on their faces. Red Marshall's beautiful face was cold, and her eyes were fully focused on her opponent. Every little detail was absorbed into her brain and with her eyes as a window, she scanned every part of Black Ink. Her aura was serene, with hints of savagery hidden immaculately within.
Black Ink was equally focused on the task at hand. His bright eyes glowed in excitement as his hand stroked his long spear. The aura of a powerful warrior was radiated from every fiber of his muscles, and his veins rippled underneath his tough skin.
"Ready," Black Ink responded and whipped his spear out. His aura skyrocketed, and his power shook the space around him. His veins wriggled like tiny dragons and his blood boiled like a sea of magma in anticipation of the fight to come.
"Ready," Red Marshall stated as her aura responded to her opponent's. Its serene nature was very quickly overtaken by the savagery that had remained hidden until now. Like a provoked bear, or a poked hornet's nest, it exploded into a full blown murderous aura. Her eyes glowed with calm that was unbefitting of her aura as she held onto her short bow. She pulled out three arrows from her quiver of 15 – leaving her with only 12 – and strung them onto her bow, ready to draw and strike.
"The first match of the Semi-Finals Stage is between the Black Team and the Red Team. It is between Black Ink of the Black Team and Red Marshall of the Red Team. Both contestants are ready."
"Let the battle…"
"Begin!"
*Whoosh*
Both fighters sprang into action at once. Black Ink jumped at Red Marshall with a face full of madness. His eyes were clouded in savagery as he pulled his spear back and pierced towards Red Marshall. The wind itself was split apart and dust was pierced through as the spear head made its way towards Red Marshall.
"Oh? One with the Spear?" Mane exclaimed with a stunned expression from the Orange Team's viewing area. The aura that Black Ink was exuding was one of dominance and power. The man's aura of power was the same as his spear's aura of power, and that could only mean one thing – he was one with his spear.
"What is that?" Lam asked Mane. He had no idea what Mane was talking about.
"There are stages to mastering a weapon. The first stage is apprenticeship. A person is basically a slave to their weapon at this stage. Basically, you are now getting used to your weapon's weight and understanding how to use it efficiently. It is the first stage to studying a weapon."
"The second stage is intimacy. It is when you have finally understood the weapon and grown used to it. You come to love your weapon and treat it as part of you."
"The third stage is what you're seeing now – one with the weapon. The weapon becomes like an extension of yourself. It is like a part of your soul and you're basically bound to it." Mane explained.
"I never thought that in a world like this where there are no techniques, someone would reach such a realm," Hildegarde sighed as she spoke. Mane felt the same way, and that was why he was so surprised.
"To think that someone would have reached such a realm," Mane smiled from underneath his mask. Lam did not fully understand how extraordinary this was, and could only stand next to Mane and watch the match.
Black Ink's aura was like a furnace, and it burned at Red Marshall's aura, intending to swallow it whole. Her aura dissipated like a husk and Black Ink's spear penetrated her body easily.
"Black Ink's spear has gone clean through Red Marshall's body!"
"That's not true," Maggie shook her head and argued.
"But his opponent is no slouch either," Mane smiled as Red Marshall's figure disappeared.
"That was an after image," Maggie stated. "The first person to move wasn't Black Ink, but Red Marshall!"
Suddenly a powerful aura erupted from one end of the field as three powerful arrows whizzed through the air and pierced towards Black Ink. The three arrows were shot strategically, blocking all escape routes and leaving no opening for Black Ink to get away. The arrows kicked up clouds of dust as they traveled the distance, and their power carried the aura of savageness that belonged to Red Marshall. She stood at the end of the field where the arrows had been shot from, her steely eyes gazing emotionlessly at Black Ink as her arrows finally reached their target.
Black Ink span his spear around like it was a rod as the winds gathered around him, and then he swept his spear towards the arrows like a sweeper.
*Bang*
*Bang*
*Bang*
Black Ink's reflexes were far superior to his actual movement speed, and he displayed just how outrageous they were by blocking all three arrows. Yet the power of the arrows sent him skidding across the field, as he struggled to keep his balance.
He looked to the end of the field where Red Marshall stood previously, yet she wasn't there anymore. In just a split second, she had moved!
*Whoosh*
Black Ink felt the wind behind him growing stronger, and knew instinctively that the person he was looking for was right behind him. Like a ghost in the attic, a powerful arrow appeared behind Black Ink and sought to bore a hole through the Black Team member. Black Ink borrowed the momentum of the three arrows that had sent him flying into this ambush and twisted his body strangely. He didn't need to gather and power in his spear because of the momentum of his retreat. He quickly sliced at the arrow, striking it accurately on the base of the arrowhead.
*Bang*
"Smart man. But the attacks are getting stronger. I wonder what you're going to do." Mane mumbled.
"Black Ink survives another ambush from Red Marshall. This woman is truly terrifying at her full strength!" Peter wiped his sweat-filled forehead with a cleaning cloth and exclaimed. The entire stadium was quiet, as the crowd struggled to come to terms with what they were seeing. Black Ink was being pushed around!
Black Ink was forced back once again by another arrow. That was already the 12th arrow since the match began. He had only been on the receiving end since the match started. Black Ink swiveled once more as he pierced his spear towards his back.
*Clank*
A powerful force traveled through his spear wielding arm and almost broke it into several fragments. Sweat streamed down his face he struggled to hold on, but ultimately he was sent flying into the air as he coughed out a mouthful of blood. His eyes gradually regained their calm, and the madness in them from before slowly dissipated.
Red Marshall didn't miss this moment of weakness. She quickly strung her last three arrows and gathered all her power into her bow. With a mighty shout she unleashed the last of her arrows.
"The Tri-Factor," Red Prince smiled as he watched the match. His face was confident, as if he already knew how this would end. The brothers behind him were just as confident in Red Marshall as their captain, and they didn't doubt the results of this clash.
"That's' the Tri-Factor. It is Red Marshall's finishing move; one that she developed last year. Not even the commentators know this one. It is over now." Red Prince smiled.
The Black Team members watched on with dull expressions on their faces. Black Saga smiled seeing how things were going. As he watched the three arrows flying towards Black Ink, he smirked and said, "If you think he is only this strong then you are a fool."
Black Saga shook his head and continued, "Black Ink isn't at his strongest when he is in his madness mode, but when he comes out of it. It lasts only 2 minutes, but the Clarity Mode is beyond what anyone can overcome!"
*Boom*
"This is…"
"How is this possible?!" Peter exclaimed in shock.
"He isn't even injured!" Maggie was stunned as well.
Black Ink whom everyone had counted out was standing on his feet. His eyes were clear and innocent, like that of a newborn baby, yet they were filled with power and strength. In his right hand he held his trusty spear, and in his left hand he held…
"The three arrows Red Marshall shot out! Black Ink caught the seemingly unstoppable arrows" Peter exclaimed in shock.
Everyone else was stunned. Not only was Black Ink fine, he had caught those powerful arrows barehanded!
"That man… Is that…" Mane narrowed his eyes.
"Returning to Origin," Hildegarde stated with a stunned expression on her face. 'How can one person have so many secrets?' she wondered. First was One With The Spear, and now Returning To Origin.
Mane's eyes glowed with excitement as he said, "This man is a true genius"