Heifer watched April closely and April moved around to get the perfect start. April stopped moving then got into her stance then her dark red aura surrounded her body. Heifer braced herself then her eyes shined brightly.
"Begin!" Ms. Ray called out.
April dashed toward Heifer and went for a spinning kick, but Heifer dodged it then noticed April had already took a different stance. April landed a powerful kick upon Heifer's stomach then launched her back. Heifer recovered then landed on her feet.
Heifer looked at April seriously then dusted herself off. 'She's pretty fast. Faster than Nina. Something about her intrigues me. No one has ever seen what she can really do until now. Not even August. She's definitely got something planned. I will shut her down though.'
Heifer walked forward then her eyes shined brightly. She charged forward and tried to ram herself into April, but April charged forward as well. The two collided and were evenly matched. Heifer yelled and pushed April back and huffed. April stumbled backwards then chuckled.
"What's wrong, Heifer?~ I'm not as easy as you thought huh?" April said then smirked.
Heifer stared at April then looked over at me, noticing I'm sunbathing again. She closed her eyes then took off her cloak. "I guess it's time to get serious."
Heifer bellowed then the Taurus Symbol shined on her back. She awakened her Zodiac Power and got into a charging stance. April smirked and her Crest slightly shined on her hand. The two had an intense staredown and the air began to grow tense.
'What the hell..? Two of my students have Zodiac Power..?! Taurus and Leona at the same place..?' Ms. Ray thought to herself in disbelief.
"As I am now, you have zero chance of beating me." Heifer said.
April chuckled then her eyes shined brightly. "Well, let's test that theory!"
April dashed toward Heifer, going for an attack, but Heifer charged forward and rammed into April. April groaned as she was blown away. She recovered then noticed rock spikes protruding toward her. She began to evade and dodge the spikes then jumped on the top of one. She propelled herself toward Heifer and landed a powerful kick on her face. Powerful black lightning flashed upon the impact of April's strike.
Heifer groaned as she was launched back. She hit the ground then rolled into a wall. Everyone watched in awe, surprised by April's power. April smirked and grunted softly as black lightning crackled around her leg.
'Fury Strike...don't tell me I landed a failed critical..' April thought to herself.
"She failed that attack. Failing such an attack can be truly fatal for the user...especially a Wrath Art. August, April just might lose this." Leona said.
'It isn't over yet. April won't let a drawback like this hold her back. I've seen it many times now. She always bounces back.' I said to Leona.
Heifer stood up and walked out of the smoke then growled as she was now pissed off. "How the hell can someone with no Zodiac Power match me?! Just who are you?!"
April stretched her legs then smiled. She hopped up then back into place. "In case you've forgotten, I'm April. August's girlfriend, just your average hero making it by~"
"Do not play dumb! I see that mark on your hand. You aren't average.." Heifer said.
April looked at her hand then smiled. "The Crest of War. Are you familiar with a planet named Utalia? Crests originated from there meaning my bloodline originated from an entirely different solar system."
"Utalia? The same Utalia that has seven suns and seven moons? I knew it, you're a part of a Royal Bloodline! I knew your strength was unnatural...Tch! To be fooled by someone like you.." Heifer said.
"Sorry, but I didn't fool anyone~ You all just assumed that I was weak. The only one who knows my true power is August, and he knows my drawbacks. I may lose in the end, but I will prove to you all what I truly am!" April bellowed then her aura surged powerfully around her body.
Heifer grunted and covered herself from the winds April produced. 'What the hell..? Her power level just skyrocketed triple her original..! She's nearly at my level now..'
"I hope you're ready because if you blink you might miss me!" April laughed then moved forward and vanished.
Heifer looked surprised and noticed multiple afterimages of April dashing around her. She tried to track April, but her eyes could not keep up with April's speed. April appeared at Heifer's blindside then landed a powerful sucker punch, knocking Heifer away. Heifer recovered onto her feet and noticed more afterimages.
"Taurus Arts: Nature's Protection!" Heifer bellowed then her Zodiac Symbol shined on her back, creating a light green barrier around herself.
"That Arts grants her total invincibility via that barrier. The catch is her stamina determines how long that barrier lasts and how long she can keep her Zodiac Power active." Leona explained to me.
April dashed around the barrier then began to rush the barrier with attacks. Heifer watched April and tried to devise a plan in her head on how she was going to stop April. April stopped her onslaught of attacks and appeared a few feet away from Heifer.
'If I want to break through her speed, I need to counter her. I need to find out how she attacks and create an opening!' Heifer thought to herself.
April prepared to charge forward, having black lightning crackling around her body. She bellowed then charged forward at invisible speeds. Heifer managed to parry April then charged forward, ramming into her and blowing her back. Heifer dashed forward and landed a powerful gut punch then uppercut April, knocking her to the air. April recovered and blocked Heifer's next attack.
Heifer knocked April away then stomped her foot down and cloaked herself in Zodiac Energy. She formed Earth Clones of herself and they began to charge up. "Zodiac Arts: Quaking Stampede!"
She and her clones charged forward toward April at high speeds. April bellowed then cloaked herself in her aura and charged forward. She and Heifer collided once more and the both of them bellowed. April began to become overwhelmed my the sheer numbers on Heifer's side. Heifer broke through April's defenses then began to trample all over her.
Heifer dashed toward April then snatched her off the ground then jumped backwards. "Zodiac Arts: Destructive Charge!"
Heifer charged forward then bellowed, ramming into April head on. The impact launched April into a wall then a large smoke cloud formed. Heifer panted then stood up straight. The smoke cleared and April's Crest disappeared and so did her aura.
"Match over! Heifer wins! One point goes to Team Heifer!" Ms. Ray said.
Heifer looked at me then noticed me stand up. I walked toward the battlefield then stood in front of Heifer. Our energies clashed and the intense showdown began.
"You've defeated my Ace, so now I know Nina can't defeat you even in when you're two battles in. However, I'm an honorable fighter. I don't believe in fighting an important figure while they are weakened. Ms. Ray, allow me to give her a Recovery Capsule." I said.
Ms. Ray watched us then grunted softly. "Permission granted."
I reached into my pocket then tossed Heifer a capsule. She caught it then placed it in her mouth and swallowed it. A rush of aura spiralled around her body and her stamina had been fully recovered.
"You healed me...Why?" Heifer asked.
"It wouldn't be fair for me to be at my highest potential when you're low on stamina. Plus I want everyone to know where I truly stand on the scales. You're a high tier senior, beating you would only make my path more clear. All of the low tiers will no longer have a reason to fear knowing a hero stands with them!" I said then the sun began to shine brighter.
[Notice: Solar Charge: 100%! All skills are boosted by 100% until Solar Charge runs out! Solar Charge ends in 6:23:12.36]
'Fully charged and I remain like this until 6 PM..? Heh...This will be interesting...' I thought to myself.
"You may begin!" Ms. Ray called out.
Heifer watched me closely then shifted her foot slightly. I heard rumbling from underground then dodged a rock spike that protruded from the ground. Heifer shifted her foot once again then caused more rock spikes to protrude from the ground to strike me. I dodged the spikes then ran forward. I inhaled deeply then exhaled, rapidly firing fireballs toward Heifer.
Heifer grunted loudly as she was caught off guard by the speed of the fireballs then groaned as she was hit then the other fireballs hit her, causing a fiery explosion. I inhaled deeply then began to generate fiery energy within me then my eyes shined brightly.
'Zodiac Arts: Leo Assault Burst!' I thought to myself.
I blew out multiple fireballs in the shape of lion heads and they all connected then explode upon impact. I noticed a bright light then Heifer bellowed and her aura surged powerfully. I smirked and chuckled as I looked at her.
"He's really something else. He's pretty new as well. Seems like we shouldn't take this easy!" Taurus said.
Leona smirked and crossed her arms. "It's time to show everyone what you can really do! Roar proudly and let even the Sovereigns hear it!"
I growled then my fiery energy radiated from my body then I roared loudly and activated my Zodiac Power and exhaled. "Heifer...As I am now, you can't win."
Heifer walked toward me then dashed toward me and went for a strike, but I dodged her and stepped back. Leona locked onto Heifer's weak spot and chuckled. I roared and struck Heifer's weak spot then a faint purple energy flashed and entered my body.
"Weakness Empowerment. It comes with your Negative Trait, Indomitable Pride. Hitting a weak spot will constantly boost your power. Now rush!" Leona said to me then roared.
"Don't let him land a single strike!" Taurus yelled.
Heifer began to parry and block my attacks. I feinted an attack, forcing her to dodge then landed a powerful strike on her side, another weak spot. Heifer groaned and stumbled then grunted loudly as I struck the core of her stomach with my knee. She coughed then fell to her knees. I looked down on Heifer and stared at her.
Heifer panted and coughed up a little bit of blood. She spit some blood out her mouth and looked up at me. "What the hell are you..?"
I looked over at Archer then my eyes shined. I looked back down at Heifer. "The guy that's gonna show this nation what a real hero is. I am August, The Leader of The Pride."
Heifer grunted softly then charged forward, catching me off guard. I groaned as I was knocked backwards then I caught my footing. I watched as Heifer charged forward then I rushed forward and roared.
"Blazing Lion's Assault!" I roared then palmed Heifer's face, knocking her away.
I rushed forward then generated fireballs around my hand. I knocked her upwards then raised my hand, launching a barrage of fireballs at her. Heifer groaned softly as she fell to the ground.
I formed a fireball in my hand then charged it up using the sun. My eyes shined brightly once I fully got it charged. "Zodiac Arts: Leo Flame Burst!"
I launched my fireball at Heifer at blazing speeds and grunted. Heifer opened her eyes then grunted as she swiftly formed a shield to block the attack. Heifer landed on the ground and slid backwards, trying to deflect my attack. The fireball shined brightly then split in two, allowing Heifer to deflect one to the sky and tank the explosion of the second.
I looked up at the fireball that was in the air then jumped upwards. I manipulated the fireball and it grew in size then I hurled it down toward Heifer.
Leona's ears perked up as she realized what I did. 'That looked similar to my Whiteflame Disaster...'
Heifer noticed the large fireball crashing down then created a barrier to block it. She grunted as the elemental disadvantage caused her barrier to be weakened. I used my Burning Assault to add more power to the large fireball. The smaller bolts of fire from the Burning Assault collided with the fireball, adding more pressure and power to her defenses.
Heifer began to sweat and pant as the heat began to grow more intense. She gasped as she heard her barrier crack. 'No..! My barrier has never cracked before..!'
"Just go down and take your loss with pride!" I bellowed then generated a fireball and hurled it toward the larger fireball.
Heifer groaned loudly then her eyes widened as her barrier shattered. The fireball made immediately contact then a massive explosion happened. Everyone watched in complete awe. Some even believed that Heifer died in the explosion.
The smoke cleared and revealed Heifer being protected by a barrier Leona had created. Leona let down the barrier and Heifer dropped to her knees. I walked toward Heifer and crouched down.
"Surrender. You don't need get even more hurt than you are now." I said then gently held her hand.
Heifer blushed a bit and grumbled softly. "I surrender..."
I smiled then helped her up. "She surrenders!"
"Match over by submission! August wins! Team August has four points meaning they win the battle and move on!" Ms. Ray said.
Heifer huffed and walked off. I watched her then smiled, closing my eyes.
"If you didn't have those Inhibitor Bracelets on...things probably would've ended differently. Maybe I was shown mercy..~" I said then walked off.
Heifer stopped walking then looked back toward me. She watched me walk off then scoffed and walked toward her teammates. Heifer had a slight grin on her face and shook her head a bit. "Whatever..."
With another win under our belt, the four of us took the time to celebrate by relaxing in my living room being lazy. We decided to save our outing for next week.