That's what she was waiting for!
Kirara balled her fists, her face losing that playful look as her eyes sharpened.
She only moved slightly, slapping Tex's strikes away one after the other with small clean movements.
Killian noticed the rhythm was similar to martial arts. Like she wasn't fighting him, but guiding him into losing.
The moment Tex planted his feet again to attack again, Kirara suddenly dropped low and swept his feet cleanly.
The shouts from everyone came before Tex's body hit the ground hard. Evelyn held her face. "That's crazy—"
Before anyone could fully process it, Kirara's leg came up and landed forward, kicking his face and sending him sliding across the ground to the other end.
The place fell quiet. She straightened again, bending slightly at the waist as she balled her fists, her voice commanded flatly. "Come."
Tex didn't move.
The host stepped in almost immediately, raising a hand as the silence stretched. "Winner, Kirara."
Killian and Evelyn were frozen. They watched Kirara click her tongue softly, as that serious look faded into something boring.
Evelyn's smile was gone now. "She's heartless. Why hit his face like that?"
Killian said nothing.
She led him on, enraging him, and then attacked when he was desperate.
She's really a bully.
He turned to the other four who were still doing their own thing. One looked familiar, but he couldn't be sure where he saw them. "Maybe I should say hello—"
Then his name rang out. "Killian and Elaine!"
He snapped his head toward the host, and spotted the girl already shaking where she stood.
Evelyn turned fast, and her eyes wide. "That Elaine!" She burst out laughing. "You are so dead, Killian."
Killian groaned under his breath. Elaine, the sibling of his classmate and one of Keith's henchmen.
The thing with her was that her older brother, a null in his class, was still very protective of her and would kill him if he heard he beat up his sister.
On the other hand, she was Keith's henchman so he couldn't try being easy on her even if she had been shaking since the duel started.
"I would be nice," he decided.
Evelyn teased. "Because you have a 'don't hit a lady' policy?"
Killian groaned again, and climbed to the arena.
The girl was already standing there, with a determined expression. When he stood in front of her, that expression was flat lined. "Y-You…"
Killian only shrugged. He noticed the host writing out a new rule to handle besides the 'No Element' rule hanging on the wall.
Elaine brushed her fingers on her skirt, looking down with flushed cheeks. "T-This is my first fight."
She spoke with a small voice that could make one let her go with only a slap on the wrist. "Please, don't be hard on me."
Killian studied her, no visible reaction on his face. Then he tilted his head. "Don't worry. I'd be gentle."
The arena fell silent. Evelyn's jaw dropped. Killian replayed those words in his head, and regretted it.
I should've just stuck with good old 'okay'.
Everyone turned to the new rule set up by the host.
|Rule! Only Use Elements To Enhance Your Body!|
Killian flared his hands but the flames went awry fast. He quenched it before anyone noticed. It still hadn't settled since yesterday.
Elaine's body relaxed a bit. Her arms hardened like dried mud, and increased to 15% of their usual size. The host nodded, giving it a pass.
Earth Element wouldn't be easy to hit down.
And I know she can fight.
After all, her brother bested him and became the top hand combat fighter, even if amongst four students. Earth Element Users tend to have better physical attributes. Well, let's just have fun with it.
"Start!"
Elaine stepped forward slowly, unsure, her arms were still hardened and held close to her body.
Killian watched her feet more, remembering how he once lost to her older brother during a duel because he didn't watch his feet.
She wasn't him, but he wanted to be careful. She threw a jab, but froze halfway as if she was scared to commit.
Before Killian reacted, she pulled back. "S-Sorry."
A frown flashed on Killian's face, as he moved in first. Not fast but not slow either, throwing a strike toward her side to test her reaction.
She flinched and blocked late, her body stiff as she fell back, but caught her balance and widened the distance.
Her eyes remained on him, focused, but Killian knew she was just being hesitant.
She is different from her brother.
I had my hopes up for nothing.
A girl that stood with Elaine clapped twice. "Elaine! If you don't even try, no mochi for you! I swear!"
Elaine's head snapped slightly at that.
Killian's eyes narrowed as something in her stance changed. Her leg planted forward, firmer this time.
Her hardened fist came first, slamming at Killian's arm. Her legs followed, targeting his neck but he blocked both attacks simultaneously.
The newbies cooed, returning their attention to the arena. Killian smirked. Food? Just like her brother won because of Evelyn's chicken bet.
Her usual hesitation completely vanished. She jumped back again, but only because he dodged her attacks. She readied herself for another attack.
My turn.
Killian stepped in before she could reset. His hand slammed into her chest with enough force to break her balance and push her back.
Doing more than that with her hardened arms would hurt him more than it would hurt her. So he followed with a kick aimed at her shoulder.
He expected her to block, and not dodge.
She blocked.
Good.
Killian was in closer proximity. He leaned forward and slammed his head into hers.
Someone yelled 'damn!' as the force snapped Elaine back completely, and she stumbled. She fell to the ground and landed on her butt.
She stayed there, holding her head with both hands. Her cheeks reddened and her eyes widened as she tried to process what just happened.
Blood trickled down her nose.
"Winner, Killian." The host announced.
Killian exhaled slowly, watching her for a second to make sure she was fine. That was just two minutes, I think.
He watched her hardened arms soften, and she brushed her fingers against her lips lightly.
"Are you okay?" Killian walked forward and offered to help her up. Elaine froze for a second, then slowly took his hand.
Her face was somehow even redder as her friends rushed in and pulled her away while teasing her.
Killian jumped down the arena and walked back to Evelyn. Evelyn had a flat expression. "Were you fighting or flirting?"
Killian frowned. "Fighting, obviously. I was being careful because she's our friend's sister."
"I thought you'd be a little hard on her since she's Keith's henchman." Evelyn deadpanned.
"I'm not that petty. And why do you have a change of mood all of a sudden?" Killian asked, narrowing his eyes at her carefully.
She pointed at something behind him.
His eyes shifted to it. A list of the names of those ones fighting next. A shiver ran down his spine when he saw the next names. His fists tightened.
"Next!" The host announced.
"Keith and Evelyn!"