[Once again, we'll change the landscape with the Landscaper!]
Ravi shouted and the Landscaper selector once again appeared on the holographic screen. The star symbol blurred as it spun continuously, vertically, until it finally landed on a symbol of a wave.
[It's the Aquatic Collision! The water shipwreck stage!]
The shutters over the stadium opened over the Colosseum and the sunlight shone, once again, upon it. The starry illusion disappeared while the fake suns and asteroids disintegrated. The whole arena floor opened up, leaving no space to stand on and water flooded in. A shipwreck rose from the depths of the water and set itself in. It was in two parts. There were also random objects floating in the water, acting as things to stand on.
[Now, let us welcome our contestants onto the stage! Jinrui and Qiang! It may be... Well... A bit hard to get to the middle of the shipwreck.]
The gates opened and Jinrui and Qiang made their way to the middle of the second shipwreck and faced each other. Jinrui did not have as much trouble as Qiang in getting to the middle.
[Once more, people!]
["3!"]
["2!"]
["1!"]
There was a loud beep and Jinrui drew the sword at his hip. It was a bastard sword provided by the school. The sword is best for thrusts.
Jinrui skipped backwards and landed on the first half of the shipwreck.
[Retreating already?]
Ravi asked calmly.
['He's being cautious. Seems like Jinrui does not want to rush in without knowing his opponent's capabilities.']
Sakai answered.
[Qiang seems fired up.]
"Not going to come?"
Qiang asked him. Jinrui pointed the sword at Qiang silently.
The orange-eyed boy sighed.
"Let's end this quickly."
He said.
The boy laid out his hand. There was an orange insignia on his palm. The commentators noticed this.
[That's...!]
['A summoning crest!']
"Hephaestus!"
Flames shot out from the crest and were fired upwards into the air. The flames formed a phoenix before coming back down before taking material form in Qiang's hand.
It was a greatsword with a sharp orange blade. The body of the blade was made from black scales. It had an orange eye on it too. The orange blade would not stop secreting flames.
['Hephaestus. A god-given weapon. Who would have predicted that he would summon a Monarch-Class spiritual weapon?']
[You're telling me.]
Just like his sword, Qiang's eyes would not stop flaming.
The boy smirked.
"So, you think you can defeat me now?!"
Qiang shouted, looking proud.
He was confident in his power.
Jinrui undid his sword stance and sighed while putting his free hand on his waist.
"I don't have to."
He said.
"What do you mean?"
The boy pointed at him.
"You're burying yourself."
"Huh, what do you--"
Suddenly, Qiang saw smoke and looked around. The ship was burning from the flames that escape Hephaestus' blade.
"Shit!"
[Well, doesn't look good for Qiang! The Aquatic Collision doesn't look like a good landscape for him!]
The boy jumped in the air and slashed in the direction of Jinrui. The flames of the sword shot themselves at Jinrui in the form of a slash.
"W-what?!"
Jinrui was barely able to dodge it.
Qiang landed on the ship's mast.
"Why you...!"
He kept on doing the same thing out of frustration. Jinrui calmly dodged each slash, analysing them. When he noticed that his ship was burning, he jumped onto the other one, which had few flames left.
"I'll--huh?!"
As Qiang was preparing another barrage of flame slashes, steam cloaked Jinrui. In that fit of frustration, Qiang had fired randomly at him. Some must have hit the water.
['Seems like Jinrui is using his head. Unlike his opponent.']
Sakai remarked.
Qiang jumped down from the mast and landed in the fog. No matter where he turned, he could not get a clear view of anything. He only heard quick footsteps.
"There!"
The boy slashed to the right of him. The fog cleared. He hit no one.
To his left.
"Got you!"
Another flame slash.
The fog cleared up.
Nothing.
Behind himself.
"Here!"
Another flame slash.
The fog cleared and he got nothing.
Qiang became frustrated.
"Gah! You bitch! I'll kill you!"
Instead of slashing, Qiang stuck Hephaestus into the ground and shouted.
"Infernal Crust!"
Flames shot out of Hephaestus and exploded all around him. All the fog cleared and no one was there. He only heard and saw the cackling of fire.
Jinrui was not anywhere to be found.
The orange-eyed boy instinctively moved backwards after sending a drop of bloodlust, it was lucky he did. Jinrui came from above and missed the chance to hit Qiang. The boy took up Hephaestus and hit Jinrui with a flaming slash, settling the match.
Jinrui was sent flying across the shipwreck and hit the wall.
[Oh! Qiang wins that match with a flaming finish! China now takes the lead!]
['Please be patient. We'll need to take a short break as we get the medic team and clear out the water in the arena.']
--
So far, the matches have been amazing.
I mean, I wasn't expecting to see another Shadow Magic user but the way she used the shadows was unique. I doubt I could make armour out of shadows.
The best I can do is with my Shadow Gauntlet spell, which I obtained after testing out my Shadow Magic.
"Ah, Ak--"
I was going to say 'Akane' but then remembered that Tatsuya was beside me. He'd bug me if he heard me say her first name.
"Kabura...-san is next. Then it's Kuro."
"Why the pause?"
I ignored him.
Akane's facing that pink-haired girl, Lin-Hua, right?
I didn't mention it but Lin-Hua looks well trained. I mean, the way she walked was scary in itself. Her sense of balance was amazing. She seems to be a close-ranged fighter. I don't know what Akane is capable of but I hope that she can defeat Lin-Hua.
A few minutes later, the water was drained and the shipwreck, and the random objects, were gone. They were replaced with the arena's cold, metal floor.
[Alright, guys! Time for the fourth battle! Akane vs Lin-Hua!]