Holy shit.
That's how I reacted when I saw the large ice pillar. What spell could do such a thing with such little activation time?
I mean, that was done in a single second. It takes longer for me to cast a Fireball with an incantationless chant. Though only by like 0.5 seconds or so.
"That was insane."
"No joke,"
I replied to Tatsuya.
It was 20 minutes later when they were able to clean up the ice and able to get Lin-Hua out of it. Though Akane seemed to be at a disadvantage, she was calm because she knew she could win.
She wasn't overconfident, just sure.
[It's tied! What an intense competition! Will Kuroha be the one to reign victorious or will it be Li-jun? Well, before we start wondering about that, let's see what the Landscaper decides?!]
And the Landscaper selector spun.
It stopped on the symbol of a rock, not a mountain.
[Ohh... We got the second Earth landscape, it's called the Outskirts!]
The volcano shrunk into the ground and the rocky ground stayed. Earth columns appeared at random, as well as random boulders too.
It was a simple landscape compared to the others.
[Now that the landscape is complete, let us welcome our two contestants! Kuroha and Li-jun!]
The gates opened and walked toward each other. There were many discouraging shouts toward Kuro but she didn't seem to care. When they stopped before each other, Kuro yawned slightly. Li-jun looked annoyed and started to talk to her. We, the audience, couldn't hear anything.
--
Kuroha yawned.
Li-jun noticed this and became annoyed.
"Are you mocking me?!"
He growled.
"Ah, no, sorry, not you, it's the crowd that's boring me."
"Why? Did you do something to them?"
"No, not really. I'm practically a familiar. That's why they're offended that I was chosen over them. I mean, I guess they should be but it gets old after a while."
Li-jun scoffed.
"I'm fighting a familiar? I guess that the Japan Branch is short on some 'human' hands."
Kuroha squinted her eyes in annoyance.
"You know, such obvious provocation won't work on me."
Li-jun gave a pale smile.
"I think I'm starting to like you."
He drew the scimitar at his side.
Kuroha had not chosen a weapon.
[Let us count for the final time!]
["3!"]
["2!"]
["1!"]
There was a loud beep, signalling the start of the match.
With a black flash, Kuroha's physical features changed. She still had her pure black hair and crimson eyes but she had more things. Jet-black cat ears and tail, along with sharp knife-like nails.
[Is it just me or is Kuroha really hated for being both a familiar and student? Personally, I don't see what's the problem. I mean, we got over racism.]
['It is just the common conscious thoughts of the spoiled students. They see Familiars as nothing more than tools or servants. 'Lessers,' even. I find it disgusting that they are shaming someone who got on the Japanese side's team through merit and strength alone despite being shamed. They would not be shouting this many insults at her if she was not on the team. I find it hypocritical and disgusting. So, stop being pathetic.']
Sakai warned the students. Her words were heavy and enough to shut up anyone who was insulting Kuroha.
[Hoo... This cold breeze I'm feeling from the President! It couldn't be your Im--]
['It is not. Do not get your hopes up.']
Sakai retorted almost instantly.
Kuroha dashed forward, like a javelin, and swiped at Li-jun. He blocked easily with his scimitar.
"Hmm... Seems similar to Daiyu's Shadow Armament."
He muttered.
Swiftly, when his guard was down slightly, Kuroha ducked and swatted Li-jun off balance by sliding her legs under his. She then jumped slightly and prepared a fist. (Her nails retracted as she did.) Her fist shot toward Li-jun like a bullet and hit him square in the stomach. The boy coughed as she hit him.
"Done."
Kuroha spoke, looking at the unconscious body of Li-jun.
However, she felt uneasy.
(Wasn't this... too easy?)
"Are you sure?"
The girl flipped backwards, avoiding the scimitar by a hair.
Kuroha leapt backwards to gain distance against him. Her eyes widened as she looked at Li-jun. He had a cocky smile on his face as he looked at her.
"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
The grey-haired boy mocked her.
Kuroha ignored it. She was having more trouble figuring out what the boy did.
(What happened... I'm sure I hit him. There's no way I missed. I mean, he doesn't seem affected at all... Maybe some sort of shock absorption Singularity? No way, I was looking at his body when he suddenly crept behind me. So... What?)
"Let me guess what you're thinking."
Li-jun playfully played with the scimitar in his hand.
"'What happened? Did I hit him? I couldn't have missed. Maybe his Singularity absorbs physical attacks?'"
Kuroha flinched slightly when he guessed what she was thinking. The girl smirked nervously.
"Was I that obvious?"
"No, it's just that everyone, who I've fought that uses physical attacks, thought the same thing."
Kuroha focused on him, making sure that he wouldn't do anything that would endanger her.
"I'm sorry to say but your thoughts are all wrong."
The whisper came from behind herself.
As she turned and punched, Li-jun simply turned into smoke.
"An illusion?"
"You know, they asked the same thing as you did."
Li-jun's voice reverberated as Kuroha's surroundings became mist and fog.
"Try to ask a question that none of them has asked."
He edged on, mocking her.
Kuro primed herself and smiled.
"Do you always talk so much?"
--
[W-what's going on?]
Ravi asked.
That was the question in everyone's mind. The reason for that was that Kuroha was not moving. She looked emotionless.
['Seems like she has been caught in an illusion.']
Sakai said.
Ravi sighed.
[I thought I'd get to see a heated final battle but I guess not. The winner is--]
['Do not!']
Sakai shouted at him.
[Why? It's clear who's going to win. She's been immobilised so she can't move.]
['Not so. If it would be such an easy win, then Li-jun would not look like that.']
Li-jun looked challenged and conflicted. Something was happening.
"How is she...?!"
['Now, let us see what Kuroha will do next.']
The President said, noticing Kuroha's twitch of the finger.