Merin smiled, "What a brilliant showcase. To think two of our Aces would have been defeated by a single hand. Perhaps you should've switched them out for some of our Seniors?"
Humive laughed, "Of course not! You know they don't participate in this. You're the only one willing to even join here."
"Well there's a reason for that."
"I know I know. Are you ready? It's your time to shine."
"Yeah I'm ready. I wonder what kind of show they're going to put up."
"I think it should be interesting."
'I doubt it will be what you're looking for.'
Merin placed a palm on the pommel of her sword, "Let's not have such thoughts. We might be surprised."
'If my sibling's wielder could only amount to that much I doubt the South has anyone worth the time.'
"Akiol hadn't used all his cards, I'm aware of that now."
Merin was then teleported into the Arena. She heard the cheering of the audience, all excited at her arrival. Yet she paid it no attention. Turning her focus to Kan'na she asked, "So, are you still going?"
Kan'na laughed, "No chance! Are you kidding me? I could last about two seconds, and that's being generous! I give up."
"A shame, perhaps you could've done something."
Kan'na lifted a hand towards her neck and thought for a moment, "No, I doubt all my cards would work. Besides that wasn't part of the plan."
"Plan?"
"I want out!"
Horrow's voice broadcasted, "With the request of Kan'na we will now withdraw this match, giving the North this match's victory."
This came as no surprise, Kan'na was far from good shape to continue. No one complained as the fighters were switched. As the next person entered the Arena Merin said, "You know I was a bit surprised when they said you were the second in line."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, but I'm certainly not going to complain. This time let's not give up so easily. . . okay?"
Akiol drew Stars from his sheath, "You're gonna have to actually finish me this time."
"Haha! That's the spirit."
Akiol took up a stance and sharpened his senses. After all for his plan it was crucial he faced against the Sword Saint first! He was positive, that in this match his loss was assured. Yet still. . .
Aura swirled about, ready to burst.
Humive watched with an interested gaze, "Merin commented on this Akiol person. Additionally since the young Dragon and Mira is following him he is without a doubt extraordinary. It's such a shame the path he followed was short term. Regardless I'm sure he has a plan."
Broadcasting his voice he said, "Let the next match. . . begin!"
'Are you sure about this?' -Stars
"Have faith. . . Stars."
'. . .'
Merin lifted her sword, "Do you understand the essence of the sword?"
Her knee bent slightly and she suddenly vanished. Akiol lifted Stars and defended himself against a powerful blow-!
Cr-twang~!
He slid back, his arms quivering from the blow. He felt astonished, ever since he linked with Mira his strength wasn't an issue when it came to Second Stages. Yet through this one attack he could tell he was at a disadvantage?!
No that wasn't right! This was sheer technique! Similar to how the {Cataclysm Technique} amplifies his strength! Merin had refined her sword to the near absolute limit! Each and every swing held the strength of a Titan!
The Sword Saint nodded in approval, "I can see it, you already grasped at the essence of the sword. That is good."
Aura spiked around Akiol, he couldn't win in this competition of technique. He would need to bridge the gap with whatever he could! Shifting his grip on Stars he charged forward, afterimages following his path.
{Expeditious Steps}!
Adjusting her position Merin watched with a casual stance. Akiol flickered into view and swung his sword, Aura spiraling across it.
{Cataclysm Technique: Eruption}!
Twang~!
Merin blocked the blow, their two blades clashing. Akiol found despite his technique that she didn't even move an inch, as if he swung normally. The gap between their technique. . . was it really insurmountable? Could he even approach that level?
{Origami Style: Sixteen Folds}!
Swinging her sword horizontally Merin created a blast of wind. Through her own movements it was enough to knock away Akiol's additional blows. The power of the {Origami Style} was about stacking several swings into one. Like folding a paper into a smaller shape. Once the initial blow landed this would then 'unfold' the attacks onto the victim. This was why the majority of those who faced the swing were unable to completely block most of the attacks. Yet Merin managed to counter it with ease.
"Whenever I see you fight, it's like seeing several people at once. How many have you learned from? Why did you expand your focus so far?", Merin closed the distance and sliced towards Akiol's neck.
He leaned back, only able to dodge it thanks to the power his Aura granted him. Merin approved, "Your senses are among the top, refined to such a sharp edge. Can you dodge this next?"
Akiol tensed, a terrifying amount of pressure suddenly fell onto his shoulders. He subconsciously slipped into the stance of {Absolute Territory}, his sense being enhanced to a new degree. He moved his body with the more precision then he ever had before. Merin's sword swung again and again, but he blocked and dodged just about all of it.
"You even reached this far, a level very few warriors have. So why did you have to expand your vision so far?"
Merin lifted her sword and her presence was enough to send chills across the audience. Akiol's instinct was shocked quiet, it almost felt like there was no danger at all. . .
'Dodge!' -Stars
BOOM-!
Akiol leapt to the side as Merin swung her sword downwards, the simple move caused a shockwave to travel across the Arena. Akiol let out a shaky breath and turned, Merin's simple swing had caused a clean cut to travel all the way across the Arena. As if it was split into two!
Lowering her sword she shook her head, "You could have had potential. It's so disappointing."
'What is she talking about?', Akiol couldn't help but think.
Merin examined Akiol's expression, "So you're not aware. Those who taught you never warned you? If I simply tell you. . . alright I guess I have no other choice then. Study this next move carefully, it might give you an insight to what is wrong with this road you travel."
Dashing to the front of Akiol Merin slashed horizontally, "If you don't then this fight is over anyway."
[Horizontal Slash]. . .
It was so simplistic. The most basic of the moves being executed. Yet as Akiol watched it approach. . . it felt nothing like that.
The tip of Merin's sword created a clean cut through the space. A level of technique those at even Fifth Stage struggle to reach. If there was a ranking of spacial reactions to technique it would be as such:
Warping Space, enough to bend it out of place and cause it to snap back. This was the weakest form of what could happen through technique. Tearing Space would be next, forcefully ripping it out of place. Cutting Space would be the peak, a point of technique that was honed enough to cut through existence itself. Anyone who faced the other end of such a technique may find that even their soul would be cut.
There are a few exceptions to this, for instance Cracking Space didn't cause much harm. Rather it was a consequence for messing with the World Law and not through sheer technique. Additionally Givale's ability to manipulate space also fell under this exception category.
As Merin's sword approached Akiol felt despair. To think there was someone who reached this level. He would have never thought. . .
He felt his shoulders drop, when faced with such a technique what could he hope to do? Blocking it was far from possible right? What about dodging? Could he even move that fast?
'Akiol!' -Stars, Givale, Mira
His mind swirled with the mentors he followed, the techniques he learned. Time slowed as he began to think at a rapid pace. Techniques he hadn't yet used, was there anything he had to handle what he was currently facing?
Going through the list the answer was rapidly becoming apparent. There was nothing, and in his haste to find something he pushed his mind to the brink and fell unconscious. A sort of anti-climatic end. . .