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?"

out, and in that instant, Aina's

lightning, reaching out with a hand and grabbing the

could react, Aina

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

quite understanding what just happened.

Aina, still heaving for breath, her body radiating with murderous intent, Orion felt like

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

the next person won't make the same

didn't seem to

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

A cold shiver ran up Orion's spine, however he hid it

think

already disappeared. Whether she even

...

amidst a mountain of corpses. It felt like she was staring at a field of treasure and yet she was unable to touch even a single

feel a familiar rage pooling up inside her, a furious rage

her mind in battle. In fact, the last time was

her buttons. The fact she didn't get a chance to kill Orion was really pissing

and she felt something pulling

without using Blood Force. Well, at the very

Vital Star Force, for one.

If she looked like she was having an

the line, and not allow her

with the tug Forces put on her. Right now, she