Colin barely had time to react when Kenneth appeared in front of him, her speed startlingly inhuman. The onlookers could hardly believe their eyes; some hadn't even seen her charge forward.
She's quick, but that's all she has—
Colin's thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Kenneth's fist flew toward him. He barely managed to dodge the punch, but it was too late; he had already fallen into her trap.
Kenneth had no intention of dragging out the fight. She needed to conserve her energy for the next round. Her stamina and endurance weren't what they had been in her past life, and it would be foolish of her to prolong this match for the sake of sportsmanship. Unlike Colin, she wasn't inclined to be merciful.
Having shaken off the initial shock, Colin quickly regained his composure, attributing his lapse to a moment of distraction. He was ready now—no more Mr. Nice Guy.
Just as he prepared to strike, Kenneth swung her leg, channeling all her power into a swift spin. Her heel connected squarely with Colin's jaw, delivering a devastating kick. The force sent the towering boy tumbling to the ground, unable to rise.
The spectators watched in disbelief as the fight ended in exactly one minute.
*
The Ventures seated on the platform stared at the battleground, wide-eyed, unable to comprehend what had just unfolded.
"What was that last move?!" Claudette exclaimed.
Ehioze, who had been stunned beyond belief, took a moment to collect himself before clearing his throat and declaring Kenneth the winner of the round.
Silence enveloped the room as everyone watched the smaller girl gaze down at her opponent, her pretty face void of any emotion. Suddenly, a loud clap broke the stillness. All eyes turned toward the sound, where a blue-haired girl was clapping enthusiastically, a beaming smile on her face. Natalia, seated beside her, quickly joined in, and the stunned students around them gradually shook off their daze, starting to applaud as well.
Kenneth bowed her head respectfully before returning to the waiting area, relieved to be in her own body, which allowed her to fight without having to holding back. Normally, such a kick would leave someone unconscious for days, but it seemed Colin would recover in a few minutes.
"I really have my work cut out for me," she thought as she took her seat.
She felt the eyes of her fellow competitors on her, and when she met their gaze, they quickly looked away, causing her to frown.
"T—That Kenneth girl is kind of amazing," Natalia finally managed to say, breaking the stunned silence.
"She ended the fight in just two moves, completely dominating Colin. That last move was the most impressive. She funneled all her force into a spin, striking him right on the chin—his weakest point—so even someone as big as him couldn't withstand that kick," she continued.
"Exactly! She minimized her own risk by using her agility and flexibility to deliver a devastating blow," Alice observed.
"When you're up against someone with a clear height and strength advantage, agility is crucial. She turned her smaller size into an asset, making Colin underestimate her. Ignoring his taunts, she cleverly planned her attack, using the first hook as a diversion to catch him off guard," Alice explained. "She's not just skilled; she's experienced. It's likely she intended to end the fight quickly to conserve her energy, especially against someone like Colin."
Natalia's eyes widened. "So you think she already knew she would win?"
"Most likely. But everything I'm saying is just my perspective; who really knows what was going through her mind?"
"...But you're usually right with your assessments, so it's more than likely that was her plan," Natalia countered.
Alice flashed her a playful smile before returning her gaze to the battleground.
"I have a feeling this year's Trials are going to be very interesting," she murmured to herself.
With round one concluded, the number of students remaining in each cohort had decreased significantly.
Everything was going according to plan, and Alcione finally felt a sense of relief for the first time this week. That relief quickly evaporated, however, when he received a message from Lucien at the end of the round, announcing that he would be observing the second round.
Alcione frowned at the sudden message and replied:
*I thought you weren't going to watch the first screening?*
Lucien's response only deepened his confusion:
*I want to ensure everything runs smoothly.*
Why wouldn't things be running smoothly? Alcione thought, but he decided to dismiss his captain's unpredictability, as this wasn't the first time he'd experienced such indecision. He just hoped nothing would go wrong while he was present.
"Round one has concluded, with forty of you successfully advancing to the next round. For those who didn't make it, I congratulate you on your efforts and wish you the best in your futures as Fighters. You can always try again next year," Alcione announced.
"The second round will follow the same rules as the first, but this time you'll be facing opponents from different cohorts. Cohort one will fight Cohort four , and Cohort two will face Cohort three."
As Cohort one and four moved to the waiting area, a buzz of excitement swept through the spectators. The atmosphere shifted dramatically when Lucien Canmore, the Captain of the Ventures, entered. Students looked around in awe and trepidation as he took a seat on the platform, his stern gaze sweeping over the crowd.
A palpable tension filled the room as they felt his intense presence. All of them averted their eyes, pretending he wasn't there, but one individual did not: Kenneth. She locked her fervent gaze onto Lucien, unable to look away. Noticing her stare, he turned to meet her eyes, and time seemed to stand still.
Electricity coursed through Kenneth as she held his amber gaze, both of them lost in a moment that felt exclusive to them. She could feel senses tingling as Lucien bore into her, searching every fibre of her being. It wasn't until Alcione nudged Lucien that he reluctantly broke the connection.
Meanwhile, Claudette, the Ventures' female member, stood to announce the participants.
With her vibrant orange hair flowing behind her, she radiated confidence. Her big green eyes sparkled as she surveyed the crowd, her voice soft yet commanding.
"Skyla White against Geoffrey Nickelson."
A beautiful girl with long grey hair tied back and warm brown skin stepped into the arena, calmly awaiting her opponent. Kenneth noticed the striking resemblance between Skyla and a familiar instructor; her amethyst eyes clearly linked her to Xander. Unlike Xander, whose strong aura stemmed from his Empath abilities, Skyla's presence was formidable due to her physique.
Tall and toned, she exuded strength that Kenneth envied. Her strong arms contrasted sharply with her soft, almost angelic face.
Kenneth could tell right away that Skyla was a skilled Fighter, likely to dominate her match, and she was proven correct when Skyla ended the fight in three minutes, with Geoffrey losing consciousness before he could forfeit.
Employing almost lethal techniques, Skyla fought like a Muay Thai master, using her knees and elbows to deliver devastating blows, never allowing her opponent a moment to recover.
The fights continued in this fashion until it was Kenneth's turn once again.