The Author's POV

"Begin!"

The referee's voice boomed throughout the arena as mana simultaneously burst from both Amanda and her opponent.

With both of her hands on the handle of the sub-machine gun like artifact, a subtle red glow suddenly enshrouded the artifact as the tip slowly started to rotate. With each rotation, the faster the barrel moved.

Tat.

Eventually, after the first rotation, a small energy beam suddenly shot out from the barrel of the weapon as slowly but surely more and more energy beams started to shoot out.

Tat. Tat. Tat.

It wasn't before long that three more energy beams shot out.

Amanda wasn't standing still while this was happening. With her back arched a little bit, she taunted the string of her bow back as three translucent blue arrows materialized on her bow.

The moment the first energy beam shot out, Amanda calmly stood still.

Her decision proved to be the correct one as the projectile quickly missed her, resulting in her hair to fluttered wildly.

Following the first beam, more and more beams started to shoot out from her opponent's artifact.

Even then, Amanda refused to release her arrows the mana around her started to twist.

Whenever a beam would come hurtling towards her, she would either take a step to the side or move a small part of the body. Her movements were minimal, however, each time she moved she was able to miraculously dodge the energy beam that was hurtling towards her at incredible speed.

Amanda's actions caused almost everyone that was watching to look at her in awe as her mesmerizing figure stood in the middle of the arena like an unbeatable war goddess.

Her nimble and yet minimal movements that helped her dodge the beams caused everyone to be at a loss for breath.

'So skillful'

Everyone thought as they watched her dance around her spot, like a beautiful butterfly.

The reason why Amanda was able to do all of this was because of her skill.

[[C] Mana sense]

A skill that essentially allowed her to sense the mana as well as see the disturbances around it. Not only did the skill help her determine the direction of her arrows when she shot them, but she was also able to sense the direction of where the attack of her opponent would go.

It was thanks to this skill that she was able to do what she was doing. However, this only worked for a short period of time. From a certain point, the projectiles would become way too fast to dodge even if she knew where they were coming from.

But fortunately, Amanda was ready.

Tat. Tat. Tat.

Barely dodging three more energy beams, the mana around Amanda's body burst out like a raging storm. Then, eyeing her opponent, she released two of the three arrows.

Xiu! Xiu!

The moment she released the two arrows, the air tore apart and the two arrows disappeared from the spot.

They were so fast that by the time Amanda's opponent could retaliate they were already upon her.

Letting out a low cry, a transparent shield suddenly materialized around the dwarven girl. However, what happened next was completely out of her expectations.

Right as the arrows reached her, instead of hitting her shield as she expected them to, they suddenly expanded and formed two thin blue barriers. Trapping her from above.

In the distance, pursing her lips, Amanda softly muttered.

"Contract."

Instantly the two thin shields started to contract. And slowly but surely, they reached the dwarven girl's shield, applying heavy pressure on it.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

It wasn't long before cracks started to appear on the shield of Amanda's opponent as a helpless look appeared on her face.

Raising her bow towards the air, Amanda finally let go of the final arrow. Once again, it disappeared from her bow, tearing through the air like a comet.

Crash!

her bow, the barrier around

a powerful mana fluctuation coming from above. Lifting her head up, she watched as a terrifying arrow came hurtling down

fast that she was unable to react on

Booooom!

a couple of seconds after as Amanda's arrow came crashing

the referee appeared a couple of meters in front of Amanda's opponent with his hand raised. Behind him was the frightened opponent who couldn't stop trembling as she let

Thud.

is Amanda Stern, she

***

"How strong..."

match. If I said I wasn't impressed by

like that, was a testament to just how much she had improved over

I turned to glance at Angelica. With her head cocked to the side and a

when

the way, did you really come here

she had been isolated alone, given her resources and the fact that she wasn't

Perhaps I was overthinking.

her head

"No."

"…oh?"

something else that she wanted to

I could say anything else, turning her attention back towards the

through rank and is planning on consolidating his strength before attacking both

I started recalling

that I could use him to help me fight against the demon

"I see…that's great news."

didn't show too much

broken through, he had done none of the things that I had tasked him

unaware of where his true loyalties were,

war between two individuals whose

the element of surprise, and even with that, I

but not high at the

he say anything about the time

"No."

shook her head. Pausing for a second, she

I don't think he will attack any time soon. He is trying

"I see."

thoughtfully nodded

the big fight as soon as his strength broke through,

would put Angelica in jeopardy. I didn't want

and taking a small glance

turn

knit when she heard my

"Why?"

because people will come to visit me soon. I'm sure you

could even fade, we suddenly heard the sound

her eyes, throwing me a glare, a black shadow cast over Angelica before her figure shrunk and she turned into

her transformation, she jumped up on the bed before resting on the top of the small ledge by the side of

Clank—

she was now a full-fledged count-ranked demon, it only took a brief moment

and Kevin entered the room.

"Hey."

"Mhm."

greeted back with a nod. Looking around the place, Kevin's feet suddenly came to a halt as he pointed in the direction of where Angelica

jumped up

"Is that…?"

"Yes, it's her."

nodded my head. I had already briefed him about Angelica so

head, I

you just come

"Yeah."

down on the chair where

however, she's still

"I've heard."