Chapter 326: Chapter 326 Applause.
The two girls sucked a lot of air into their lungs and prepared for their last attempt in the match.
With trembling hands, Hina discarded all her unnecessary thoughts and focused her being toward the figure in front of her.
Serafina makes another preparation as the magic circle with weird ancient text begins to rotate and is divided into several parts as it gives birth to something marvellous.
The wind in the surrounding area began to change its flow, splitting into two parts: Hina used it as fuel, and Serafina used it to compress it into something out of this world; it greatly shook the foundation of the Arena.
In front of Serafina, a lump of wind was created before it transformed into a figure of a green tiger.
The tiger's figure is pretty medium-built, floating in midair, looking at Hina as its enemy.
"Heavenly beast that governs over Wind, Byakko!".
The entire stadium turned upside down as the incarnation of one of the heavenly beasts appeared. It howled in might, creating a shockwave that pushed aside the weak-minded people to stay conscious, making the entire stadium tremble in fright.
Hina, who received the howl directly, felt her entire being stiffened upon a great being that blocked her way upon reaching this point. Despite her trembling heart and shivering mind, Hina grits her teeth and tightly gripped her Blazing Katana, preparing her stance. While unconsciously, her lips spread wide in a fearless grin.
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"That's more like it. Original Magic - Kusanagi no Tsurugi, forward!".
With the heavenly tiger incarnation ready, it stood in front of Serafina, serving like her loyal subordinate.
Hina lowered her stance and rushed forward like a missile, inhaling deeply and brandishing her katana.
"Go, Byakko brings me victory!".
The tiger howled lightly before it rushed forward like a mad bull, charging head-on before a collision happened.
A loud boom resonated, creating a shockwave that gave entire spectators goosebumps, and some of them even fainted from the residual energy.
The barrier that protects the spectators starts to tremble, and anxiety begins to creep up upon the spectator's hearts.
However, Viana appeared from out of nowhere and began enhancing the barrier with her magic. She sighed in amazement, seeing her students had this much accomplishment, and all of that because they were associated with none other than Soma.
It genuinely made her curious as to how they progressed this much at that age.
Hina's blade collided with the tiger's front, but her blade was halted in between because of the transparent barrier that prevented it from piercing further.
Her vision distorted before it turned red as blood sprouted streaming down her cheeks, and it also appeared from her nose.
"Haaaa!".
Even under the pressure of torture and throbbing agony that assault her physique and mind. Hina howled like a wounded beast and kept pushing forward.
Gradually, the blazing blade moved a millimetre from its place, approaching the tiger.
"Kuh!".
Knowing that her magic was being pushed back, Serafina received the backlash as her mind intensely throbbed, corrupting her thoughts.
Blood spurted from her nose and eyes, the same as Hina's, indicating that she had overused her mana.
"Go!".
Gritting her teeth, Serafina squeezed the remaining mana that gathered around her body, and her surroundings pushed it straight toward her magic, which increased the burden in her brain, spurting much more blood in the process.
The entire venue turned silently in an uproar, and their gaze couldn't leave the mesmerizing display of power by the students in the Academy. It was scary but thrilling, dangerous but Jaw-dropping.
Both girls' eyes flashed with intense light before time elapsed; it turned still for a moment, and a blinding light emerged in the entire venue.
A loud boom happened as it blasted a massive shock wave that shook the entire Academy radius.
It kept ringing for almost a couple of seconds before it settled down. In front of them, massive white smoke gathered, and there was no indication of the two contestants.
Slowly, the smoke dispersed, and everyone saw an entire gouged arena. No one was there, leaving it empty.
{This is…!}
"The match is Over!".
The emcee and Lee, who noticed the situation in the match, announced its end. But the emcee gazed, swimming to the sides, contemplating what should be said about the match.
Upon closer inspection, everyone in the venue also began to realize the situation under the Arena. Outside the Arena, Hina and Serafina lie unconsciously, which indicates both of their disqualifications.
{Um, How should I? Hm?!}
As the emcee wanted to announce the result, her terminal trembled slightly. She received a message directly from Vice-Headmaster Viana, who happened to have left the site. She gulped saliva to moisten her throat before switching her mood on.
{...Woah, what an amazing performance from both contestants, which made our hearts set ablaze in flame. Sadly, both of them had to swallow a bitter pill because of their disqualification. Everyone gives applause to our contestants!}
Gradually, the entire stadium was filled with a bustling clapping noise accompanied by a cheering shout that encouraged both girls who lay unconscious.
Soma clapped his hands from the side and was quite impressed by the match. Beside him, several officials ran toward the girls and began to carry them to the infirmary.
"I guess, I should tell the others".
The officials who bypassed Soma returned, bringing the unconscious Hina with her katana that was still tightly gripped in her hands.
Soma glanced at the other side, and Serafina was also being carried by a stretcher as he walked away, leaving the place.
*****
As he arrived inside the VIP venue where his family was gathering, Hisako, Beatrice, and Violet stood up from their seats after getting permission from the others.
At first, all of them try to come together toward the infirmary, but after being reprimanded by Soma, they decide to pick only their respective mothers, including Violet, for protection.
"Soma led us!".
Hisako's face is whitened, and she urges Soma to lead her. It is also the same for Beatrice, even though she didn't express it.
"Okay!".
Soma began to leave the room, followed by the three, trespassing the deserted corridor before they arrived at the infirmaries where Hina and Serafina were being treated.
"Thank you, Soma".
Hisako pushed open the door and entered inside, which garnered the attention of the nurses.
Beatrice, who planned to enter, stopped in her tracks, for she found it weird because of Soma's passive action.
She knows that Soma is rather affectionate toward his partners and finds his nature endearing, but today, Soma was slightly different.
"Soma?".
"Yes. What is it, Mother?"
"Are you not coming in?".
"Well, I will do it later. Please take care of them for now".
Without giving a proper explanation, Soma leaves the place under the absent-minded gaze of the two women.
Soma walked away toward the tunnel where he had stood earlier, which gave it a perfect view of the Arena.
As he moved forward, a silhouette of a boy caught his sight, and the boy also realized Soma's presence.
"Hmph, why are you here? Should you stay with your girls?".
Lin Fan glanced briefly and talk with his aloof tone before he turned to look at the Arena, which was being repaired.
"Well, the two of them are strong-willed. I am sure they wouldn't be disappointed if it's not me."
"What? Aren't you just bragging now!?".
"That is not my intention, besides you are the one who started it, dude".
Soma stopped and stood beside Lin Fan, overlooking the Arena. Both of them kept their silence until Lin Fan, who occasionally glanced to the side but was afraid to express it, snorted.
"How was your breathing training?".
Caught off guard by Lin Fan's rare response. Soma glanced to the side only to see his straight face, not showing any particular change in expression.
"Well, I guess not so bad".
Lin Fan, who felt scepticism about that reply, circulated his breathing technique, which sharpened his senses further. His eyes started to probe Soma's figure, but sadly, he couldn't figure out anything.
This will lead only to either Soma failing in his attempt or He managed to do it, but he is skilful enough to hide it. Lin Fan himself had done that from the first time he broke through to his first star.
However, he is still not quite sure about the boy beside him. His entire existence screams mysterious, making him feel uncomfortable nearing him.
Silence descended once more, enveloping both of them before Lin Fan spoke up in his mind.
"How was your meeting with the Jiang Family?".
"Well, Nothing much despite that I deliberately provide a suggestion to kill the boy".
Lin Fan's body flinched as he could feel a slight killing intent from Soma's words. His heart throbbed because of the dare word Soma spouted. Internally, Lin Fan wondered just how someone could hold that much confident and fearless side within him.
Before Lin Fan could utter his words, a loud fanfare echoed throughout the venue, bringing his attention to the Arena.
{Thank you, everyone. The Arena has been fixed, and we will commence the next match soon. But, Um, I have something to say…}
Both Soma and Lin Fan stood still, looking at the entire fixed arena. Soma exhaled and kept everything within himself that he wanted to throw at Lin Fan, turning around.
"Lin Fan".
"What?".
"I will await you in the Final!".
"!?".
After uttering his wish, Soma moved his feet, dragging him from Lin Fan's side, who stood still, stiffened like a statue.