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

reaching out with a hand and grabbing

Orion could react, Aina

her pure strength, and he was driven into the ground with such force that he was buried

blinked in surprise, not quite understanding what just happened. How had her strength

body radiating with murderous

more strength; it was rather that her weakness was a

the next person won't make the same mistake

seem to

today, you've already signed your death

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

think about issuing

she even heard his words

...

a

inside her, a furious rage

in battle. In fact, the last time was the Joan

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

felt something pulling inside of

Blood Force. Well, at the very least, they would help her not be so

of Vital Star Force, for one. It would

well. If she looked like she was having an easy time, who knew what else they would

to force herself to toe the line, and not

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