The crowd buzzed with excitement as the third and final match of the day was about to begin. The tension in the air was thick with anticipation, especially after the intense battles that had already unfolded. However, a surprising announcement echoed over the stadium, sending ripples of confusion through the spectators.
"Due to an unexpected mix-up, the scheduled match of Ace vs Eira will not take place today. Instead, we have a thrilling change-up: Hinata Jewel from Unit Zero will face Eira Miles of Unit Four!"
The announcer's voice was almost drowned out by the audible murmurs that ran through the crowd. Unit Zero, despite being newcomers this year, had already left a lasting impression, especially after Josuke's victory. Now, it was Hinata's turn to step into the spotlight.
Hinata, known for her shy demeanor, took a deep breath as she made her way to the arena. Her two pistols, a testament to her Fullbring abilities, hung at her sides. She tried to suppress the butterflies in her stomach, but her nerves were still apparent.
Before she could take another step, a warm, comforting hand rested on her shoulder. She turned to see Josuke's reassuring smile, the kind of smile that had always helped calm her nerves in the past.
"Good luck out there, Hina," he said softly, his words carrying warmth and encouragement.
Hinata's face flushed crimson, and she nodded quickly, trying to mask her flustered state. Josuke's words had an unexpected effect on her, and for a brief moment, all the weight of the impending match seemed to melt away.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the arena, Eira Miles stormed onto the stage with a look of pure fury etched onto her face. Her ice-blue eyes gleamed with cold hatred as she scanned the arena, her magic swirling around her like an impending blizzard. The loss of Arden earlier had ignited her anger, and she was determined to restore Unit Four's honor with a vengeance.
Her footsteps were heavy, purposeful, as she glared across the arena at Hinata, who stood silently, her posture betraying her nervousness. Eira's lips curled into a sneer as she muttered under her breath.
"You're no match for me, Jewel. The Griffins never lose," she spat, her voice thick with disdain.
The announcer, oblivious to the tension between the two, continued.
"The rules remain the same: First to be knocked out, run out of mana, or surrender loses. The winning team will earn three points! Let the battle begin!"
With that, the match officially started.
Hinata immediately drew her two pistols, positioning them in front of her, her eyes sharp despite the nervous flutter in her chest. Eira wasted no time, charging toward her with blinding speed, her ice magic crackling in the air.
In an instant, Eira launched a barrage of jagged ice spikes aimed directly at Hinata. But the long-range fighter was quick on her feet, using her agility to dodge and weave between the deadly projectiles. Each movement was precise, calculated—but the ice was relentless. A shard grazed her arm, causing her to stumble, but she quickly recovered, firing a shot from each pistol at Eira.
The bullets flew toward Eira with deadly accuracy, but the ice mage was just as fast. She conjured an icy barrier in front of her, deflecting the bullets effortlessly. Hinata cursed under her breath, knowing her shots wouldn't work on Eira's defenses.
"She's faster than I expected," Hinata thought as she continued to retreat, trying to put as much distance between them as she could. Her goal was clear: keep her opponent at range, where she had the advantage. But it wasn't as easy as it seemed.
With a fierce roar, Eira closed the gap in mere seconds, her eyes burning with determination. She swung an icy fist toward Hinata, her knuckles coated in freezing magic. Hinata managed to dodge the first blow, but the follow-up struck her side with a powerful thud. The impact sent her sprawling back, her breath knocked out of her as she hit the ground hard.
The crowd gasped at the sudden intensity of the fight. Hinata quickly regained her footing, but Eira was already upon her, her icy magic swirling around her hands like a storm waiting to erupt. Hinata tried to pull out her guns, but Eira's next move was too fast.
With a snarl, Eira slammed both fists into the ground, and the arena shook as an ice barrier shot up, encasing the two fighters in a massive igloo-like structure. The walls of ice were solid, impenetrable, and Hinata's heart raced as she realized her options were limited. The air inside the structure grew colder, the chill seeping deep into her bones.
Inside the frozen prison, Hinata was left with few options. The ice had effectively trapped her, and her guns her primary weapons were useless in close quarters. Eira, meanwhile, stood with a cruel grin on her face, her icy magic crackling with fury. She had Hinata exactly where she wanted her.
"You can't escape this, Jewel," Eira sneered, her voice thick with malice.
Hinata gritted her teeth, trying to steady her breath as the temperature around her dropped even further. She aimed to get distance, to break free, but the ice seemed to close in with every second. She fired another shot, but it was futile the bullet harmlessly bounced off the ice barrier.
Eira's eyes glinted as she raised her hand, and with a snap of her fingers, the ice surrounding Hinata expanded rapidly, pushing her back. A sharp gust of wind blew through the arena, as if the ice itself was alive, forcing Hinata into a corner.
It was then that Eira moved in for the kill. With a fluid motion, she summoned a deadly ice shards, their sharp tips gleaming in the dim light. With another flick of her wrist, the each shard shot toward Hinata with terrifying speed.
Hinata tried to dodge, but it was too late. The ice shard pierced her from every angle, causing her to gasp in pain as she staggered back as the igloo opened . The crowd watched in stunned silence as the once-fearless fighter fell to her knees, her body trembling and bleeding from the blows.
Eira stood over her, her victory all but assured. She had proven her superiority in close combat, and now, Hinata was nothing more than a defeated opponent.
"The winner is Eira Miles of Unit Four!" the announcer's voice rang out, loud and clear.
The crowd erupted into applause, but the members of Unit Zero especially Josuke watched in solemn silence. Hinata, though bruised and battered, slowly pushed herself to her feet, a forced smile on her face. She may have lost the match, but she had given it everything she had.
With the match now over, Eira's cold smirk was all that remained.