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?"

and in that

like she was wrapped in lightning, reaching out with a hand and grabbing the whip out of

could react, Aina pulled down

stay in the air shattered under her pure strength, and he

quite understanding what just happened. How

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

was a form of rejuvenation. She was trying

yourself; the next

didn't seem

done today, you've already signed

words rang loud and clear. A cold shiver

first, then think

Whether she even heard his words or not

...

again amidst a mountain of corpses. It felt like she was staring at a

familiar rage pooling up inside her, a furious rage

time was the Joan Zone. It was

were really pushing her buttons. The fact she didn't get a chance

felt

using Blood Force. Well, at the

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

she was having an easy time, who knew

had to force herself to toe the line, and

like Leonel, she had her own battles with the tug Forces put on her. Right now,