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?"

lashed out, and in that instant, Aina's

wrapped in lightning, reaching out

Orion could react, Aina pulled down

in the air shattered under her pure strength, and he was driven into the ground

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

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

weakness was a form of

yourself; the next person won't

seem

what you've done today, you've already

words rang loud and clear. A cold shiver ran up Orion's spine, however he hid it with an even deeper

first, then think

Whether she even heard his words

...

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 hint

up inside her, a

the last time was the Joan

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

blood rumbled, and she felt

could do to recover without using Blood Force.

Star Force, for one.

also couldn't perform too well. If she looked like she was having an easy

to force herself to toe the line, and not allow

she had her own battles with the tug Forces put on her. Right now, she was stewing