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,

out with a hand and

react,

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

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

for breath, her body

tired that she couldn't display more strength; it was rather that her weakness was a form of rejuvenation. She was trying to use less strength than her body could recover, and he had slipped

already exposed yourself; the next person

seem to hear

today, you've already signed

cold shiver ran up Orion's spine, however he hid it with an even

first, then think about

she even heard his

...

felt like she was staring at a field of treasure and yet she was unable to

rage pooling up inside her, a

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

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

felt something pulling inside of

without using Blood Force. Well, at the

Force, for one. It would synergize with

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

toe the line, and not allow

her own battles with the tug