Chapter 23
As everyone covered their ears so as to protect then from the deafening effect of that sound. There, they saw Kazein gain the upper hand, the elders who saw through Kazein's plans, were entertained.
"Hmph, throwing a flash bang. He's shrewd, he knew off Iruka's weakness when he is in the berzerk state, sound can travel through rocks and damage them from within, a strong and sudden blast like that gives no time for Iruka to retract his berzerker state.
Iruka's earthen scales broke and his back was exposed with many injuries cause from the breaking of the scales.
"Haha! If you thought I didn't come prepared, you're wrong. I'm prepared for every possible threat there is." Kazein said to Iruka who fell to the ground due to his grievous wounds.
"You bastard! That was dirty!" Iruka demanded Kazein cheated.
"Fighter no.7 Kazein, why did you use a flash bang? Did you know it would cause this much harm?" Elder Mare went down and unto the stage.
"Oh? Did the rules say I can't use items? A while ago I thought I saw someone use a smokescreen." Kazein replied "If I knew this would cause that much damage that it won't even make it a fight, I wouldn't have."
"You, for the third time, I'm warning you."
"Woman, make it clear. Am I disqualified? Or am I good to go? I won in the end, I only wanted to use the flash as cover and get my ground. I never knew it'd be this bad."
"Tsk. Woman is not my name, since you're blind, I'll let you go for that. But if one last time I see you pull something off. You're out."
She walked out after healing Iruka's grievous wounds.
"Next time, I'll fucking kill you. You brat!" Iruka barked as he exited.
"I'll be waiting!" Kazein teased him.
"Now that everything is cleared up, Kazein now holds the 2nd ring. Amari still holds the 1st ring. Arthur holds the 4th ring. Now! How shall Anna proceed? Challenge a spot and try to remove a possible contender? Or will she proceed to take an easier spot?"
As everyone watched, Anna then went to Kazein, and challenged him.
"Ho? Anna, is challenging him? Why him? Could it be! She wants him out of the competition? Now everyone! How shall this battle proceed?" The announcer yelled in surprise.
"That's her, our disciple that talks about Kazein every time she has nothing to do." Elder Mare said while looking at Kazein and Anna at the stage.
"Oh? She must be there to talk to him. I mean, you said they were separated for two years now." Elder Han Mao replied.
"Maybe, but I sense this is going to be a good match." Elder Kira joined in the talk. "Hey! Zero! Stop sleeping and wake up! A good match should be starting now!"
As he yelled at elder Zero who was sleeping. Zero woke up and had a cold air around him.
"Why disturb me?" He asked.
"Look, a good match should start."
"Oh? Anna Nishima, isn't she the girl who became an inner disciple of yours within a month?" Zero asked elder Mare.
Elder Mare nodded and looked at the stage. "She became one since she's a cut above the rest. I wonder why Kazein left her when she's clearly stronger than him."
"Oh? I guess that's a story for another time. For now let's watch how this goes."
"Kazein! I'm challenging you to a duel!" Anna declared.
"Hmm? Aren't you the woman from earlier? Why do you want a duel? Is it because I didn't remember you?"
"No, I'm just here to confirm. If you're the real Kazein or not."
"Real? I'm the only one there is."
Anna dashed forward as she drew her sword "Liar!" She screamed as she burst her strike in. Kazein blocked with his scabbard, as the swords locked. "Who are you?! It's a lie that you are Kazein!"
"Oh? Lie? I'll prove to you I'm not." As Kazein held the lock, he grabbed and unsheathed his sword. He held the scabbard in one arm and the sword with the other. He hit Anna with the scabbard removing the sword lock and put distance with them.
Anna then used water magic to coat her sword and attacked with a strong offensive water magic, Impel Down. As she finished casting, above the ring, it was covered with a large water ball, there was nowhere else to run to. As Kazein rushed to take her out, Anna already made the magic work, this hit Kazein from above. 500 kilograms of water, rained down on the ring. The others outside the ring's were flushed away as the water flowed.
"Hey, your not really Kazein. Right?" She asked once more.
"Huh? What the hell are you mumbling about?"
"Still, I see. Then you're an imposter. You leave me no choice then." As she dashed forward to rain down attacks.
Kazein smirked "No, you leave me no choice."
"Kazein, he's a tough one. With no magic training nor any path to walk. He withstood our clans rank 5 magic. He's the real deal when it comes to his power."
"Oh? Elder Mare, why do you think he withstood the magic attack? I believe he only withstood it because he found proper footing." Elder Zero asked Elder Mare.
"Probably his own physique, while it's true he found good footing so as not to get crushed under the pressure. He still would have had his body crumble under such intensity. So I think it comes from the power he uses to get a boost in strength."
The others looked at each other, and when the announcer suddenly yelled "Kazein has the upper hand!!! I repeat! Kazein has the upper hand."
The elders were shocked, a while ago, Anna had the advantage since she had wounded her opponent. And before they noticed, Kazein already drew his sword and went on the attack once more. Anna had cuts all over, Kazein was pushing her to the edge.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Where was that brave front a while ago? Come on!"
"Clang!" As Anna could only defend against his attacks, she withdrew trying to make some space. But Kazein won't give her space and time, she had to chant while parrying his attacks.
[He's different, is he really no longer the Kazein I know? Why did he change? Or did he even change? Was what we went through all a lie?] She was thinking to herself. Until she had the magic done, she casted it, and a water spirit arrived.
"Oh? Two? I see, then I'll just have to breakthrough."
"It seems, Anna is going to use that skill." Elder Mare said as she observed Anna's movements.
"Oh? A special move? It better be interesting." Zero pointed out.
"I'll say this is the first time I agree with you. Zero." Sasha replied.
"Shut up, burnt dog." Zero blurted out.
"Why you!"
As Mare restrained elder Sasha from starting a fight with Zero, the announcer suddenly yelled once more.