"He's-...too damn fast...." Yuma Lionheart said rather loudly; as he was running serpentine while dodging and leaping out of harms way with incredible speed using his Mana to focus on his legs and feet, it was battle of tag at this point the one being it was Ryoka extending his Ōdachi blade within several seconds intervals. It was clockwork, practically a Game for him as he laughed sadistically watching his Prey struggle to dodge and move around; the Psychotic Tora bent his left leg backward and had the hilt of his Alchemy Dagger laying his left arm and within the blink of an eye a burst of mana follow by the whipping of sharp metal could be heard.
"Hahaha!~....Run, keep on running....that Body won't last long at this rate. Yuma-Kun~. How do you expect to fight me if you can't get close.." Ryoka questioned with a twisted expression of pleasure on his face "I want to taste your blood again. You have no idea...how sweet it is.."
'It's like a Quick Draw. How can he focus his Mana that fast and precise?...that takes years of Training to accomplish....not even a Veteran Alchemist can summon and recall a dark weapon so much....and so quick..' Yuma thought to himself as he paced back and forth, hopping from one point to another swiftly though this time it nearly hit him as he blocked it with his gauntlet being thrown backward once again but he was able to roll midair and land on his feet, crouching in deep thought 'Cursed Mana is Crazy...What do I do here?...I can burst out some Mana...but it's no use if I can't get close and if I try; that blade'll pierce me.....I'll be a Goner..'
"This match is incredibly unfair....it's titled in the Tora Clan's favor..." Kira said gripping her fists as she glanced over at the brothers "If he has Cursed Mana...then the rumors are true. They must all have it...but even so. Ryoka..he can summon the Ōdachi blade and revert back to its dagger state in seconds...it's like casting a spell back to back...and it's not even affecting him..."
"H-hai....I don't know too much about Cursed Mana. Other than it can only be given through Dark Art Rituals...even so...the power is so wicked. Using a lot would hurt anyone...." Cole replied as they watched the Duel with Awe and curiousity "But Yuma-san's still in this...I-it's amazing he can keep up with the attacks..."
"How long will he last?...." Dante suddenly chimed in as his arms we're crossed, his expression was Serious As he observed the battle "He's only pumping Mana into his legs and feet for movement...but doing that for a long period of time will drain him. He probably will have to recall his gauntlets too...Yuma-San has to come up with something...and fast"
"If I learned anything which isn't much from that Racein the catacombs....and being paired with him. He's not an Idiot..." Rose commented as her emerald eyes gazed out of the shadows of her Hoodie "he'll do whatever he needs to do...too be in top. It's just the selfish kind of guy he is..."
"Yuma-Kun?~...are you going to keep denying my hunger any longer?...." Ryoka questioned his opponent once again, trying to get under his skin "Why?~...it's inevitable. You can't WIN!~.." he yelled continually attacking from long range at this point he had been turning in circles standing in the same spot as Yuma could not get any closer; finally he chuckled to himself "Yuma-kun~....are you going to avoid me...like you avoided..her?..."
"The hell are you talking about you psychopathic Weirdo!..." Yuma said as he dodged another bladed blast and dropped to one knee panting as the fatigue was starting to affect him; but fortunately Ryoka stopped attacking as he caught his breath. "Let me get close too you..and your done for Teme..."
"Oh....really?..." Ryoka raised his eyebrow, it's like the crazed smile was stuck on his face as he tilted his head and licked his lips "Is that what you tell the people of your clan?....the ones that laughed at you. Mocked you...belittled you for being weak. You remember don't you?..how you couldn't even summon a pen...much less a weapon....you we're shunned for it. The Lionheart's are so Prideful..they couldn't believe that a failure like you was breeded.."
"What?...how do you?-....shut your mouth will Yah. Wait right there...I'll make it too you in a sec..." Yuma grunted completely disregarding his comments as just crazy talk. 'Theirs no way...no way he can know-...'
"Haha! I can see your memories....Yuma-Kun~...the minute I tasted your blood. They flashed in my mind. It's eating away at you isn't it-....is that why you live your life the way you do?....wanting to be praised? Wanting to be number one?....how pathetic. I can end it for you...I can end it for you...at any time. Just give the word...drop your guard...and l'll take your life~ come on~ what's the point of living a life your not even sure about..." Ryoka continued to berate him walking toward him with a creepy posture before stopping only a few feet away from him and pointing "your nothing but a failure...a mistake....but if you don't believe it yourself. Hit me...I'll give you this free shot at me...." He dropped his guard standing completely still "well..Yuma...prove it. Prove your on top....show your fans...show your fellow apprentices. Hit. Me. Yuma. Kun~...unless of course. You want to forfeit..admit that you've lost to me. Admit that your a loser pretending to be a winner..."
Yuma gritted his teeth, Ryoka's comments and monologue we're getting under his skin quicker than he realized "Shut-up. What do you know about it?..." he commented softly gripping his armored fists before standing up; his eyes we're shaded in a menacing anger as he lunged forward at top speed cocking his fist back and thrusting it forward "You don't know Shit!"
With a fateful sigh, Ryoka stared at the incoming attack with an amusement "Such a disappointment. That's what your father called you....isn't it? Yuma?..." he said causing a hesitation and within that opening The Psychopathic boy ducked into a crouched position lifting his dagger upward aiming it accurately "Pierce the Sky...Kobura..." with the breathe of those words exhaled; a light ignited from his weapon along with the familiar bursting energy wave.
Practically everyone in the fields eyes went wide, except for the brothers whom just seemed amused at sight and hearing of a whipping blade piercing through flesh; the flow of blood spilling onto the battlefield.
"Yuma-san?....Yuma-San?..Yuma-SAN?!!..." The words left Cole's mouth as he fell too his knees in shock at what he was witnessing. His vision was clear as day, but blurred tears? Welled up at the sight of someone he knows being impaled on a 10 meter long sword right through Lionheart's Abdomen. "N-no way. He...he lost?..."
"YUMA-KUN?!!!!!!" Some of the crowd yelled in disbelief at the visual of Lionheart being impaled and beaten, gasps echoed around.
"Lionheart?...Lost?..." Regis commented even he wasn't exactly thrilled at the ending; as he gripped his fists and glanced at the three brothers "So....thats what you can do?..."
Rose even gasped though silently, she could slightly hear the banter between he two and it just shook her at how much mind games Ryoka played with him. 'Their a pack of monsters...that much Is for certain-...that playboy let his anger get the best of him..'
"Hahahahahaga?!!!...so much blood! It's a bloody New Year for me!..." Ryoka laughed uncontrollably as Yuma's blood spilled down from his Blade onto him on top of that he had him like a corpse on a spike before shaking his head as he retracted his summoning and kicked the Lionheart away from him adding insult to injury "that face you made...it's just perfect. Yuma-Kun~..."
"I suppose that's it then..." The Proctor Ibuki sighed as he had lit a cigarette and smoked it before beginning to walk forward toward the Laid out Yuma to check his body "Insane. Never thought I would see the day a Lionheart fight much less lose one....poor kid won't make it out in one piece after all. I Better save him.."
"Hold on!....don't call the match just yet..." Dante spoke up interrupting everyone including Ryoka's celebration; as he cussed under his breathe and walked over passed the Proctor and only a feet away from him..
"So that's it huh?...your gonna roll over and quit. Because he said somethings too you?...Where's the big shot I met at the start of this thing? The one surrounded by Fangirls?..." The white haired male Questioned crouching down as his Aqua eyes stared at Yuma whom layed there; bleeding profusely after being caught off guard who wouldn't. "I get it. He brought back some pain for you.....when I saw you. You looked like the coolest guy in the room. Those girls on the stands right now..crying at seeing you fall, they think your the absolute best. I heard what he said.....Your a Disappointment to your clan? You really let that get to you! Your gonna let that stop you from winning this thing!..."
"D-Dante. Maybe you shouldn't-..." Cole was about to intervene as he didn't think Yuma was in the proper state for this but Kira raised her arm to keep him quite as Dante Continued to say his piece. "You think I'm a loser. That I've got a death wish. Let me tell you something...Yuma. I'm going to be the best Knight. Out of everyone here...especially you. I'm not going to tuck my tail and run at the sight of danger. And I'm not going to put anyone else below me...I'm going to drag everyone to the top with me! So stop being lazy. Stand up and look cool like you did before"
"What are you doing you idiot? Hahahaha! He's done. I barely hit a Vital spot but the amount of Cursed Mana that hit him at point blank range...theirs no way he'll get up! Did you hit your head-..." Ryoka was going to mess with Dante but he paused as The white haired male looked up at him with a deadly glare; eyes glowing slightly 'what's this feeling?-.....this....light. So bright-...it's-..his eyes...their's killing intent...behind the purity...no. It's Greater than that...who the hell?...'
"So wake up! Yuma....you have a fight to win...." Dante stopped glaring and glanced down at Lionheart extending his hand at the same time "You want to prove who's the best?...to show the world what you can do. then do it. Get up. And beat. His. Ass.."
"Your-..annoying-...you know that...." Yuma's lips parted as his words we're groggy shocking Ryoka and Ibuki that he could still talk after all that even more when he slowly sat up looking at Dante with one eye "seriously. Your annoying-...but your not wrong. I won't let anyone stop me. From reaching the top....."
"N-Nani?!....how is he? That's not possible!..." Ryoka's eyes widened finally besides a crazed expression their was an expression of shock and fear "your supposed to be near death. Or to be dead?!.....how are you alive?!.."
"I-it's like the Village boy said. I'm not gonna quit just because you've got some smart Shit to say..." Yuma grabbed Dante's hand and slowly stood up; using his left and placing it over the intense wound "y-you got me good...Ryoka....but this ain't enough. To squash my Pride....hey, you get back to the others. I owe you some food after that pep talk...Dante"
"Heh...you better. I'll hold you to that, Yuma-San...." Dante waved his hand walking back to the others; seeing that his words we're enough to reach him.
"Nobody. Nobodies ever survived being hit like that from me...Nobody?!..." Ryoka grunted gripping his dagger in frustration, as he stepped forward "No. no. No, no, no, no..No. Your not living! not after this. I'm going to kill you here and Now!!!" The psychopath lost his control as he bolted forward at his opponent preparing to summon his Ōdachi blade "I'll end you with THIs!! Lionheart!!!"
"Tch...your to lame..." Yuma took in a breathe and exhaled as if concentrating and a burst of yellow Mana occurred, his skin turning crimson red once again. Lifting his right hand and keeping his eyes closed, he could feel it. The Mana in the Air as his Gauntlet's glowed orange. "I don't fear the man that's practiced a thousand kicks....I fear the man that's Practiced one Kick One thousand times....your flashy attacks. Are nothing when you lose control.."
Time seemed to slow down, as he could feel Ryoka enter his personal space zone "Shatter the Earth...Gilgamesh....Level Two!..." with a flick of his shoulder; his fist broke the sound barrier a thunderclap, followed by the sound of several fists colliding in a single hit crushing into his chest. Ryoka coughed up blood once again as the ground beneath them caved slightly and an explosive shockwave shook them and the other candidates witnessed in awe the Might of a Mana Alchemist.
'A-ahhh?!...my chest...it's being crushed by thousands of pounds. How can he have so much strength?...after almost dying?!...' Ryoka thought as the pressurizing Mana exploded launching him backward. 'How did I lose?...when I've given up so..much-..'
'That Attack....the strength behind it...it's incredible...' Ibuki thought even he was impressed, as he tried to figure everything out 'Gilgamesh....The Gauntlet's of Might. Their Structured with Mana of the underworld woven into its Armor increasing their output individually. Adding that to his already impressive Natural Mana....Yuma Lionheart attacks with Raw Energy concentrated into his martial arts...each blow is like being hit with a Grenade...he truly is a genius...'
"Have all the Cursed Mana you like....when I'm in front of people that adore me. I'll never lose...." Yuma said with rejuvenated confidence as the dust settled; he was standing tall though still holding his wound his brown eyes looked at the Psychopathic Tora brother unconscious and In a large crater "you're attacks we're flashy...fast. But my fists...are filled with the Pride of my Clan...You torture your opponents, make them feel helpless, attack their emotions and then go in for the kill. While me....I rather just win from the start. That's why...you lose to me. Jackass.." his gauntlets reverted into brass knuckles and he tucked them away and let out a sigh of relief.
"Winner of the first Match. Yuma Lionheart!....." Ibuki announced as the crowd goes Wild; the Battle was not only spectacular but the Lionheart Clan stood tall and won as the camera panned onto his face which smirked triumphantly, the Proctor walked over lifting his hand and placing it on his abdomen a small ray of white covered the Wound and healed it "I accelerated your healing. Take it easy...let your body do the rest."
"Ryoka?...lost?..." Rin Tora said with a raised eyebrow not exactly reacting but sighing in dissatisfaction "he gets too excited..."
"What do you expect?!...he's the craziest of us..." Rei said with a shrug they truthfully weren't worried for his well being at all.
"Yuma-San!!! You won!" Cole exclaimed rushing over to him with a small hint of relief and joy; which made Yuma look away and sigh "Why do you even care? Yah know I wanted to face you and get an easy win right. I played you from the start..."
"H-Hai!..." Cole said rubbing the back of his neck with a naive look "I know...you didn't mean to really encourage me. But that's okay...I was still rooting for you. I mean..I would've done the same. Ano..but you we're really cool out there! It was great.."
Yuma couldn't believe Cole accepted that he lied so easily; he watched as Cole justified his reasoning which made him laugh a bit "your a Comedian. Haha.....I think I'll keep you around. I'll whip that shy face into a womanizing guy in no time" he said suddenly patting Cole's shoulder it seemed the Two we're on more positive terms than Lionheart realized and that's was just fine with him.
"How did you know?..." Rose asked softly turning her head toward Dante as he watched Yuma and Cole get along "How did you know your words would get to him?"
"Pfft. Neh Rose-Chan...." Dante glanced at her and winked softly before bursting out in laughter "I had no idea That would work! Hahah! I just said what I felt! I didn't think he'd actually get up..."
Rose was just dumbfounded before sighing "Your weird. Everyone here is weird..." she said though under her breathe a slight "but that's okay..." was inaudible, an irk mark was prominent "and don't call me 'Rose-Chan'. Rose is just fine.."
Kira overheard and sweatdropped at the entire ordeal 'so that's what Lionheart's can do?....I suppose I learned a good amount from that...' she thought before glancing at Dante with a bit of a impressed look 'I suppose he isn't just Trash....' She finished before looking up at the Titantron as it announced the next fight "that's interesting indeed..."
"Roselia Atarah vs Rei Tora...both Competitors step to the center of the field. The rest of you...get back..." Ibuki announced suddenly though nobody really reacted to the match up as Rose was an Unknown Warrior.
"Ah! Rose-Chan! Your fighting next!..." Dante pointed at the monitor with a hint of excitement "You can do it"
"Oh ho...so your up next Lycoris...I get to see a Beautiful girl fight...going off of what I saw you do during the Race...I think you can handle it. I might even get you a flower afterward..." Yuma said with a chuckle as he walked over to the group; his wound was healing rather well but he did feel rather tired as he pointed over at the field "Go on then. Show them what you got...don't do too much, can't have you outshining me"
Several Medics had made their way to where Ryoka laid unconscious and took him away on a Stretcher; as Rose scoffed at Yuma "That wasn't a bad performance...your still a Selfish Jerk. That won't change..." she said coldly walking toward the center where Ibuki waited for them; her eyes looked at her opponent whom seemed to be doing the same.
Amber Eye'd Rei had his hands in his pockets as he stopped a few feet away from Ibuki and turned to face his opponent; a confident smirk on his face "So...I'm facing the Quite girl. I noticed you back in the waiting room. Your Mana...it's interesting...." Licking his lips as he said so and pointing at her with a voice of curiosity "Try to not die so easily..."
'He-...noticed me? But how?...' she thought at his comment before shaking her head "Tch....I should be saying the same too you...." Rose replied placing her had on the hilt of the Katana on her waist; as a Purple Aura covered her body and anticipation began to rise "I'll make this quick...and painless.."