While the battle is at a standstill, Miri's mind flashes back to the fight between Navar and Juyon. "When they battled, it seems they would clench the muscles in their body to trigger JōKai Amplification. Maybe If I do that, I can have the same results Navar did."
Astran stares at Miri, who appears bewildered, her chest heaving as she struggles to catch her breath. "Seems my previous attack using JōKai Amplification has her questioning how I did it. And the many attacks she used earlier in the battle have her exhausted. Now it's time to go on the offensive," Astran's arm trembles as she hoists her sword to her shoulder, rushing forward and seizing the opportunity to attack.
Miri clutches her fists, and the sound of her labored breathing fills the air as she waits for the attack. "Shoot, she's coming."
Astran springs from the ground and sends a long, sweeping swing toward Miri's midsection, the sound of it rippling in the wind. Miri reacts quickly, leaping to the left to evade Astran's attack, then tosses a dagger into her ankle slot. She jumps into the air, executing a front flip, then she descends with a dagger-wielded kick aimed at Astran's head. Astran clutches the hilt of her weapon tightly, lowers it to her waist then swings it up with JōKai Amplification shrouding her body. "Ursa Impact!" Astran digs her feet into the ground and pushes back against Miri's attack as their weapons collide, sending Miri careening through the air.
While suspended in the air, Miri performs a series of acrobatic maneuvers, each one helping her maintain her balance before she lands. Once her footing is steady, she envisions the actions Astran does while she uses JōKai Amplification. "She did it again. And each time she does it, she grips her blade tight, then goes for an attack. It seems this technique requires you to clench parts of your body to activate, or perhaps it requires you to strengthen various parts of your muscles for it to activate."
"Standing still, eh? It seems she's trying to figure out how to do what I did. I can't take any chances. Her brother somehow someway learned JōKai Amplification in just a few minutes. Since the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I must stop her before she can do it," Astran lowers her sword to her waistline with a swish of her arm, then dashes toward Miri.
"Here she comes again," Miri thinks to herself.
Astran lunges into attack range, and then her sword whistles through the air as she attacks Miri in a sequence of swings, which Miri avoids with a series of sideways jumps. "Teh. Seems I need to up the speed a bit," Astran intensifies the speed of her sword-slicing offensive, her body surrounded by JōKai Amplification.
With each attack from Astran, Miri recognizes a glowing, translucent aura that envelops Astran. "I see an aura coating her body, but it's faint," Astran drops her blade to her side, drives her legs into the ground, and vaults up with an upward slash toward Miri's midsection. "Astraeus Disturbance!"
Miri evades Astran's attack with a powerful jump, propelling herself backward. She pants, her battle fatigue weighing her down as sweat drips over her forehead. "That attack would have ended me, and to make matters worse, I still haven't figured out how she does that technique. Maybe if I were to just concentrate and tighten the muscles in my body… I could..". Miri steadies her breath, her grip tightening in a fist as her concentration sharpens. As she further envelops herself in a state of concentration, a clear aura toggles on and off Miri's body.
Astran's brow furrows with worry, a sheen of sweat gathering on her forehead. "Don't tell me she's about to learn JōKai Amplification this fast?!"
Unfortunately, Miri's attempt to sustain the use of JōKai becomes unsuccessful, causing the clear aura shrouding her body to dissipate. "Dammit, I lost the feeling."
Astran exhales, feeling the tension in her body subside. "Phew, she couldn't perform it. I was a little fearful for a second. Now, I need to go for the finishing blow; otherwise, this battle will be much tougher," Astran advances toward Miri, her blade held in both hands and propped up against her shoulder. Astran deftly removes the blade from her shoulder, then drives it down with a powerful thrust. Miri leaps backward to avoid the attack then, Astran continues her pursuit, her sword swishing through the air as she attacks Miri with a series of slashes.
As Miri evades Astran's attacks with right-to-left jumps, she recalls the feeling she felt earlier. "The feeling I felt earlier felt like a flow or a presence was coating my entire body. Maybe if I focus on the flow… I can perform the technique."
To make up for her poor aim and sluggish attack speed, Astran activates JōKai Amplification, feeling the rush of energy as it accelerates her speed. Astran swings her sword downward, letting out a loud whoosh as it cuts through the air toward Miri's legs, causing Miri to leap. Astran's eyes twinkle as she forms a confident grin. "I got you now, Miri."
Miri's heart drops to the pit of her stomach as she sees Astran pull the sword up for an attack. "Shit, it was a fake!"
Astran's blade cuts through the air, the force of her swing reverberating through Miri's body as it gashes her torso. "Astraeus Disturbance!" Miri's eyes glaze over as she crashes to the ground from Astran's brutal slash.
Navar's heart pounds in his chest as he holds onto the armrest, his gaze fixed on the battle from his hospital room. "Damn, that attack did a number on her. Hang in there, Miri."
Miri remains on the ground for several seconds, her cheek feeling the texture of the arena. 499 flashes into the arena and stands overtop Miri. "Can you continue, Miri?"
"Y-yeah, I can," Miri rises from the ground, bringing her hand to her upper rib cage and feeling the tender spot that throbs with pain.
"Ok, but if you're injured anymore, I'll have to concede the battle in Astran's favor," 499 flashes back to his spectating box.
As Miri waits for the pain to subside, she recalls the tingling feeling she had experienced earlier from the JōKai Amplification aura. "A Flow" is how I'd describe how she uses that technique. I don't know how, but receiving that attack from her made me feel the flow myself, but how… Maybe if I feel for it..."
Miri runs towards Astran, her fists tight and her gaze fixed, as she becomes immersed in a state of concentration. As Miri drifts deeper into this focused state, a clear aura wraps around her body. "She's using it again. I can't let her do it!" Astran darts towards Miri, her speed enhanced by the power of JōKai Amplification.
Miri's palms sweat as she approaches Astran, her control of JōKai Amplification wavering. "Don't let that feeling go... gather control... focus," Miri thrusts her arm back and sends a dagger-combined punch careening towards Astran's head. The feeling of JōKai Amplification fades from Miri, causing her attack to come up short. "Dammit…"
Miri plants her left foot into the ground and then lunges at Astran with a dagger-wielded sidekick from her right foot. Astran steadies her blade in a defensive stance to the left of her body. "I won't be able to attack her with the attack I'm about to do," Miri retracts her attack and leaps away from Astran's counter-attack. While she's far from Astran, the aura that surrounds her settles. "Concentrate, Miri Concentrate."
"I'm going to end this battle here and now!" In a fluid motion, Astran shifts from an offensive to a defensive stance and propels herself toward Miri. Astran rears her sword back and brings it across her body, the force of the swing amplified by JōKai Amplification. "Astraeus Disturbance!"
Finally, Miri gains control of her JōKai Amplification, and a feeling of relief washes over her, curving her lips into a smile. "I got it now!"
Miri rockets back a colossal distance with newfound speed and agility, avoiding Astran's attack with ease. "I made this four-dagger marital art technique to resemble the fierce offensive prowess of a Wolf. I've been honing my skills for years, attacking beasts and sparring with other people in Wellfort to become stronger. Now it's time to unveil it here and now!" She steadies her footing against the floor, feeling the grit beneath her boots. She lunges forward, her daggers glinting in the light as she thrusts them forward. "To pounce like a wolf going after its prey!"
"She's fast. I need to block the attack!" Astran tightens her grip on her blade and braces for Miri's approach, her body tensing in anticipation.
Miri attacks lightning-fast, cutting through Astran's defense and slicing a deep wound across her midsection, causing her to collapse. "Two Daggers: Pouncing Strike!"
After her recovery, Astran's gaze falls on Miri with worry; her body now encased in a shimmering, clear aura. "Damn, this is what I was afraid of. Now, this battle will be twenty times harder."
Miri lets out a light laugh as she sees Astran's furrowed brow and anxious expression. "What's the matter? Are you scared now that I figured out your little trick?"
"Oh, shut up. Don't get arrogant because of one lucky attack," Astran grips the hilt of her sword, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.
"We'll see who's arrogant when I win this battle."