The next fight was mine.
My fingers tightened around the chakrams at my side as I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. Devin had offered words of encouragement before I walked out, and the others had chimed in with their support, but it all felt distant now. The only thing I could focus on was the field ahead.
The commentator's voice boomed over the arena. "Delight Quartz, Amanda Doll—step right up and give us a show!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, but the noise barely registered. My feet grazed the ground steadily as I stepped into the lush grassy biome. The scent of wildflowers mixed with the faint metallic tang of the weapons I carried. Across the field stood Amanda Doll.
She had straight blonde hair that fell past her shoulders and sharp green eyes that seemed to pierce through me. She was tall, her posture exuding a quiet confidence, and she carried herself like someone who didn't just expect to win—she knew she would.
Her lips curled into a small, nasty grin as she cracked her knuckles. "You're smaller than I imagined," she said, her tone mocking. "Mathew really hyped you up. Hope you don't disappoint."
I said nothing, keeping my focus on her sword. She hadn't drawn it yet, but I knew better than to let my guard down. Amanda Doll was from Squad Snow, and their reputation was no joke. Everyone knew they were dangerous—powerful in every way, with an almost perfect win record. Each member was a force to be reckoned with.
The tension coiled in my chest like a spring, but I wouldn't let it consume me. I couldn't.
"Three… two… one… fight!"
Amanda moved instantly. Her sword was out of its sheath in one smooth motion, and the air practically hummed with energy as she swung it. The blade gleamed in the sunlight, catching the reflection just enough to blind me for a split second.
I barely had time to react. I jumped back, my chakrams spinning out from the discs at my side. They felt light in my hands, the perfect extension of my body.
We stared each other down, the grassy field between us like the calm before a storm. It reminded me of those old cowboy duels—two fighters waiting for the other to make the first move.
I didn't wait long. With a flick of my wrist, I launched the chakrams forward. They cut through the air in a deadly curve, aiming for her midsection.
Amanda moved like a seasoned predator. She didn't flinch, didn't hesitate. With a fluid flick of her wrist, she deflected both chakrams with her sword. They bounced away harmlessly, embedding themselves in the ground several feet away.
She smirked. "Cute. But you'll have to do better than that."
Before I could retrieve my chakrams, Amanda swung her sword back and released a shimmering wave of energy toward me. The force was massive, rippling through the air with an almost physical weight. It was so fast I barely had time to react.
The impact sent me flying backward, hitting the ground hard. Grass and dirt scattered as I rolled to a stop. My chest ached, the wind knocked out of me.
"What the heck was that?" I gasped, forcing myself to my feet.
Amanda didn't bother to follow up the attack. Instead, she walked casually toward a nearby rock, sitting down like she had all the time in the world. Her sword rested lazily against her shoulder.
"Mathew spoke well of you," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "I hope he wasn't exaggerating. You probably don't understand what just happened, do you? I'll give you a hint—my ability is called kinetic infusion."
I ignored her, trying to shake off the pain and steady my breathing. If Mathew had spoken to her about me, it meant he'd shared more than he should have. Could he have been spying for his team?
Amanda crossed one leg over the other, grinning. "Go ahead, try something else. I want to see what you're made of."
Her overconfidence irritated me, but it also gave me an opening. I flicked my head back, sending my hair whipping toward her like a lash. With a sharp crack, it snapped forward, aiming for her torso.
But the attack backfired. The moment my hair made contact, a surge of kinetic energy hurled the force back at me. I stumbled, barely managing to catch my balance.
Amanda laughed. "Did I forget to mention? Every attack you throw at me makes me stronger. All that energy—" she gestured lazily at her sword, "—gets stored and amplified. You can't beat me with brute force. You need more than physical strength. But honestly, it doesn't matter what you do. You're going to lose."
Her words made my blood boil, but she wasn't wrong. Charging in head-on would only make her more powerful. I needed a new plan, and I needed it fast.
I retrieved my chakrams, keeping my distance as I scanned the terrain. Rocks, tall grass, uneven ground. I could use this. If I could force her to move, to expend energy without letting her absorb mine…
Amanda tilted her head, watching me like a predator sizing up its prey. "What's the matter? Already out of ideas?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I threw one chakram high, arcing it toward her left. Predictably, she deflected it with ease.
"Is that really the best you can do?" she mocked.
I threw the second chakram low, aiming for her feet. Again, she blocked it, her sword moving so fast it was almost a blur. But this time, I was already moving, dashing toward her while she was distracted.
She didn't see it coming. As I closed the distance, I grabbed a fistful of dirt and flung it toward her face.
Amanda snarled, recoiling as the dust cloud hit her eyes. "You little—"
Before she could finish, I spun, using the momentum to whip my hair toward her sword hand. The force knocked the weapon out of her grip, sending it clattering to the ground.
Her eyes widened in shock, but I didn't stop. I hurled one chakram at her exposed side, forcing her to dodge, and closed in with the other.
This time, I didn't aim for her body—I aimed for the ground beneath her feet. The chakram struck the dirt with enough force to send debris flying, destabilizing her footing.
Amanda stumbled, her confidence slipping for the first time. "You're more annoying than I thought," she growled, her tone venomous.
I smirked, gripping my chakrams tightly. "Guess Mathew didn't tell you everything."