I walk toward the center of the arena, section A1. This arena is sectioned off into multiple areas, where different fights will be taking into play. Most of the morning battles will be those who are unranked newcomers.
As I made my way to it, I find Haya waiting for me in there. She smiles as I get near. "Took you long enough!"
This is very weird. I didn't expect to face off with Haya until later on if I made it that far. It seems like this is set up, but I don't think a school on this level would do such a thing. Well, Junko got a teaching position here, so maybe...
It does make sense if you go by our temporary ranks. Newcomers get temporary positions based on our entrance exams. For some reason, I'm number one, while Haya is number two. I don't know if this rank means Haya is the number two of the newcomers, and I'm number one, but it feels like it.
As I get lost in thought, a referee comes out of nowhere. "Okay, I want a clean fight! We will begin this battle in 1 minute, so get ready and move to the left and right side. When I say 'Go!', the fight will begin. Alright? Move!"
On command, I move to the right side, and Haya moves to the left side of the arena. Once we do, the referee begins counting. "30 seconds remaining... 10 seconds... 3... 2... 1... Go!"
Haya smiles deviously and disappears in front of my sight. 'Man, not this again...'
I already know how to beat this, so I guess she isn't taking this seriously either. I activate my slow-mo skill and look for Haya, but I couldn't see her anywhere.
"?"
While I search in slow-mo, something slowly slams into my lower back. I get shoved a couple of meters in front of me. I unconsciously dis-activated the skill as I get shoved. "Ah!"
I turn around to search for her, but I get nothing. I try expanding wind magic to search for her, but I still find nothing. Unlike the last fight, it's like she's not here.
"Ha! Are your usual skills and tricks not working? Haha! Good. You are not facing me back then. I'm going 100% this time."
I whisper to myself. "Shit..."
What can I do now? I can try to go in slow-mo again, but I doubt that it is going to work. This is starting to get a bit annoying...
She starts smacking me from the left and right. I try my best to block each one but to no avail. I activate my speed skill and begin to run around at the speed of sound. This seems like it is working...
Right as I thought that, I get a kick in the stomach. "!"
This causes me to fall to the ground. "H-how?!"
Then, she appears in front of me.
"Ha! It seems your not a big shot like everyone says. I do have to give you some credit. You are fast. Faster than any normal person and faster than those who go after a speed suit, but you're still too slow for me."
She continues to laugh, but this was her downfall. I activate my nullification skill and tie her to it. I smile. "Heh, you think I'm done yet?"
She continues to laugh, however. Her smile gets even more prominent as if whatever I'm thinking about doing is irrelevant. Then, she disappears and kicks me in the back.
"How?!"
"Haha! Idiot! I already inform you that your skill in stopping skills isn't going to work. It time for me to end this..."
Shit, shit, shit! Why can't I do anything? She will stop anything I do! How is she even doing it? What training or art can stop nullification and slow-mo?
Wait! There is no time to get lost in thought! She is about to attack again... I need to think fast... Well, I guess showcasing my powers shouldn't be a problem anymore.
I teleport to the other side in the arena, healed myself to full health, and then flew about 10 meters in the air. "Huh?!"
She yells out in confusion. She reveals herself too. I look down at her and laugh.
"Heh... You are good, but I wasn't going at 100% either. Oh, I'm up here..."
Haya turns around and looks up at me. Her eyes widen as I stay in the air.
"I-impossible!"
Not only Haya, the referee, and the audience yell out in surprise. I couldn't tell if it was because I was flying or that I could fly and do everything I can do.
"Who in the hell are you!"
"Hmm? I'm a normal boy, what's it to you?"
"Don't give me that crap! In the history of flight skill, no one has ever been able to stay floating in the air. Even at level 10, people were still unable to defy gravity and float. What type of monster are you!?"
Huh, is that true? I mean, I have true flight, so that might explain that. Still, It shouldn't be that big of a deal. Well, it might be.
I ignore this fact, however, and start my turn of attacks. I decided to create some wide-area fire spells. I used [Spell Engineering] and made a spell to launch meteorites to her. As I launch the attack, Haya vanishes, trying to avoid the spell.
I used barrier magic to protect the arena. As the meteorite impacted the ground, screams begin to scream from the flames. Haya reveals herself and appears to be on fire, burning alive. I shout to her.
"Surrender and admit your defeat!"
"N-No... AHHHHHHHH!"
The flames burst her skin open, revealing blood on her boiling body. It seems that she doesn't have an art to protect her body. She continues to screams until the referee shouts at me.
"Stop! Stop! This battle is over! Nii Sho has won this battle. Now please stop! We need healers immediately!"
I shook my head. "No need."
I instantly moved to Haya and deactivated the fire. Then, I heal her body back to normal. She is on the floor as this happens. After recovering her, she looks up at me and continually apologizes to me.
I nod to her, turn around, and left the arena with her still groveling on the ground. As I made my way to my seat, the announcer from before begins telling my success.
"Our first winner of the day is from section 1A, Nii Sho! He remains at the top of the un-ranks. He will not have another fight until the un-rank finals which he might get a rematch with Haya! We will find out soon... Maybe some newcomers will beat Haya and get to fight Sho! Stay tuned."
...