The roar of the crowd was deafening as Seraphina stepped into the arena once again. The early morning sun bore down on the circular ring, casting sharp shadows around the enclosed space.
Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her sword as she faced her first opponent of the day.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, introducing her with a flourish.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Pink Fox returns! Will she extend her winning streak or meet her match today?"
The crowd erupted into cheers in an instant as she was introduced, some chanting her alias while others eagerly placed bets— there were a few though that weren't so happy with her presence.
After all, it was due to her that some of these very people lost a lot of money on their bets, or saw their favorite fights lose. Seraphina ignored the noise, her focus solely on the opponent stepping into the ring— a young man wielding a spear.
The match began with a sudden flurry of movement as the spearman lunged forward, his long weapon giving him the advantage of reach. Seraphina sidestepped the first thrust, her light frame allowing her to move with ease.
She countered with a quick slash aimed at his exposed side, but he twisted his spear, deflecting her blade in a sharp clang of steel— causing her to stumble back slightly.
He was skilled, far more than her opponents from the previous day, it seemed that the arena had paired her against stronger opponents the more she fought.
His movements were measured and deliberate, forcing Seraphina to stay on her toes. She couldn't rely on brute force; her strategy had to be precise.
The fight dragged on, a constant back-and-forth of strikes and counters. Seraphina felt her aura pulsing more strongly, responding to her need for speed and power— it flowed through her every muscle as it allowed her to use them to perfection.
Finally, she saw her opening— a brief pause in his defense as he overextended his thrust. She stepped inside his range and delivered a clean strike across his chest, stopping just short of cutting him.
The referee declared her the winner, and the crowd roared in approval. Seraphina offered the spearman a nod of respect before leaving the ring to prepare for her next match, thankfully she didn't need to wait long.
Her next opponent was a towering man easily twice her size, with a massive greatsword resting across his shoulders. His sheer size and strength made him an intimidating presence, and the crowd buzzed with anticipation as he stepped into the ring.
The duel began, and Seraphina immediately realized she couldn't afford to take him head-on, his swings were wide and powerful, each one creating gusts of wind that kicked up dust around the arena— if she was hit by that she would be in danger.
She relied on her agility, weaving around his attacks to keep a distance from the man, only taking the chance to dart in with quick strikes. Her new sword, with its lighter weight and sharp edge, allowed her to deliver accurate cuts without sacrificing speed.
However, the man's endurance was formidable— even as her blade scored shallow cuts along his arms and legs, he pressed forward seemingly unbothered by his bloodied body, his greatsword swinging in devastating arcs that forced her to retreat.
One such blow landed on her body, and she was just barely able to lessen the impact with her blade, however, the strength behind the sword sent her flying backward; she almost flew out of the ring altogether.
Thankfully she caught herself by digging into the ground with her sword, however, the aching pain that came from her side reminded her she couldn't rest. Jumping to her feet she kept moving once more.
The turning point came when he overcommitted to a downward slash. Seraphina sidestepped and delivered a powerful thrust to his side, her aura surging into the strike unintendedly.
Finally, he stumbled, dropping to one knee, and the referee called the match.
The third match was her most challenging yet, even after taking some time to rest from the previous match, she struggled to deal with her opponent.
Her opponent was a dual-wielding knight apprentice, their movements a seamless dance of offense and defense. They wielded short swords, their strikes coming in rapid succession from unpredictable angles.
Seraphina struggled to keep up, her single blade barely managing to parry their relentless assault in two different directions— she had to keep moving to avoid being cut.
She felt the strain in her arms as each clash of steel sent vibrations through her body and even cuts slowly added up on her body as she failed to block various slashes.
Her aura pulsed wildly, reacting to the intensity of the fight— her violet eyes glowing slightly under her mask.
The longer she fought, even though she faced injuries and exhaustion, she began to adapt, her movements becoming more fluid as she adjusted to their rhythm.
She sacrificed her guard in order to get them to lower theirs, taking a cut to her side, she used the opening they created to place her blade against their neck— ending the duel.
The crowd erupted into applause as the referee declared her the winner.
Seraphina exhaled deeply, her body trembling with exhaustion and pain. She had won the fight, but it had pushed her to the very edge of her capabilities, it made her lack of experience abundantly clear.
She took much longer than her previous fights to meditate and heal, recuperating from her lost aura, and even the wounds she had gained.
As the day wore on, her final opponent stepped into the ring.
Seraphina immediately sensed the difference— danger. This wasn't just another apprentice— this was a knight at the condensing stage, the same level she was at.
The crowd fell into hushed anticipation, sensing the gravity of the match. Both fighters were fan favorites, leaving the audience divided on whom to cheer for.
The fight began with a clash of blades that sent sparks flying.
Seraphina's opponent, a man with a calm demeanor and sharp eyes, fought a simple longsword, it had greater reach and lower than her own blade— its weight devastating.
His strikes were neither rushed nor wasteful, each one aimed to exploit a weakness in her defense.
Seraphina pushed herself, her aura flaring to enhance her speed and strength. She matched his blows with her own, their blades ringing out in a deadly symphony— yet she could feel herself being pushed back with each confrontation.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats, the tension palpable, to them, it was a close match.
But it became clear that her opponent's experience outweighed her agility.
He predicted her movements with unnerving accuracy, forcing her into a defensive stance— and his strength made her defense almost pointless. Despite her best efforts, she found herself struggling to keep up.
In a decisive moment, he feinted a low strike before twisting his blade upward, disarming her with a flick of his wrist. Her sword clattered to the ground, and his blade stopped inches from her throat.
The referee called the match, and the crowd erupted in cheers for both fighters.
Seraphina bowed her head in acknowledgment, retrieving her sword as her opponent offered her a hand, she took it, her pride stinging slightly, but she paid it no mind.
As Seraphina left the ring, her body screamed with exhaustion, and she decided to call it a day. She had lost, but the fight had shown her where she stood— and how far she still had to go.
The condensing stage was no easy feat, and her opponent's mastery of his aura and fighting experience was something she needed to replicate.
She wasn't discouraged, if anything, the loss only fueled her resolve.