Dimensional Descent

Aina suffered the first strike, blocking with a swing of her ax. But the strength was so great that it blew her hands up, almost knocking the weapon out of her hands entirely.

The second came even faster, slashing against an opening in her stomach.

Battle Ax Force bloomed and spiraled, forming a protective barrier. But that just sapped at more of Aina's stores, both her Force and her mind and focus.

Even then, it didn't work well.

The barrier shattered, slashing against her abs and leaving her military garb tattered and almost torn through entirely.

Her body flew out and she landed heavily on the ground, barely managing to resist falling to a knee as the third strike came.

"You can always give up, lady," a laughter echoed with an eerie coldness, "so long as you're willing to take the risk, that is."

If Aina lost a match, she would have to win the others in dominant fashion to have a chance. If she dragged out the battles like this, she would just have points deducted instead. By then, even if she managed to eke out nine total victories, there was no way the Stele would judge her as being worthy of the Finals.

Nothing outside of this arena would be taken into account. As far as Orion and everyone else was concerned...

This was over.

The third strike landed, and blood pooled at the edge of Aina's lip. Even with the arena entirely cracked, she could feel her heels reaching the very edge of it.

Suddenly, somehow standing in the air, Orion appeared before her.

"Haha, you didn't think I would just let you fall out, right?"

whip lashed out, and in

turned around like she was wrapped in lightning, reaching out with a hand and

Orion could react, Aina pulled down

he was driven into the ground with such force that he was

rather Orion's, eyes blinked in surprise, not quite understanding what just happened. How

Aina, still heaving for breath, her body radiating with murderous

tired that she couldn't display more strength; it was rather that her weakness was a form of rejuvenation. She was trying to

exposed yourself; the next person won't make the same mistake

seem to hear

you've done today, you've already signed your

loud and clear. A cold shiver ran up Orion's spine, however he

then think

she even heard his words or not was

...

staring at a field

inside her, a

mind in battle. In fact, the last time was the Joan Zone. It was something that she had gotten under control quite easily due

she didn't get a

rumbled, and she felt something pulling inside of

to recover without using Blood Force. Well, at the very least, they would help her not

was Leonel's comprehension of Vital Star Force, for one. It

was having an easy

to toe the line, and not allow her emotions to dictate her

tug Forces put