It was finally Shinta's turn.
The weight of the entire Half-Blood Hall's fate bore down on her shoulders, and the anticipation from the spectators only added to the tension. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat fueling the simring irritation within her.
As she stepped forward, the intensity of the mont pushed her emotions to the surface, transforming them into a tangible force.
Dark, obsidian scales began to ripple across her skin, stark against the contrast of her silvery hair. The Khaos energy surged within her, filling her veins with raw, untad power. It was as if the very essence of her lineage was awakening, responding to the challenge before her.
Her eyes locked onto Zhin, the Aryan faction's golden boy, her voice dripped with venomous resolve, "I'll wipe that smirk off your pretty face."
Zhin replies with a condescending chuckle "Hahaha, little girl making scary faces… I'm so scared."
In an instant, the playful deanor disappeared as Zhin's silver chains snapped into motion. The first chain, tipped with sharp points, shot forward like a spear, aiming directly for Shinta's heart. The second chain, ending in a heavy, spiked ball, swung in a wide arc, attempting to encircle her like a constricting snake.
But Shinta was ready. Her irritation sharpened her focus, and the Khaos energy gave her reflexes an almost supernatural speed. In a flash, she sidestepped the thrusting chain, the sharp points slicing through the air just inches from her. Simultaneously, she twisted her body, evading the sweeping arc of the second chain with a fluid motion that left the heavy ball crashing into the ground where she had stood monts before.
Shinta, keenly aware of the tactics used in the previous battles, was not about to be caught off guard. As Zhin's chains snaked toward her, she released her verdant vines, letting them spring to life from the ground. The vines shot out like serpents, wrapping around the encircling chain and halting its deadly swing in midair. With the chains montarily restrained, Shinta seized the opportunity and charged forward, her body a blur of motion.
Despite her speed, the sharp points of the other chain grazed her shoulder as she darted past, leaving a shallow but stinging wound. Ignoring the pain, she closed the distance between herself and Zhin. The Aryan champion's confident expression faltered, replaced by a flash of panic. He attempted to retreat, but Shinta was relentless. With a swift, predatory strike, her clawed hand slashed across Zhin's face, leaving a jagged mark in its wake.
"ARRGHH!!! You filthy demon!!" Zhin scread, his voice a mixture of rage and disbelief.
But Shinta had no intention of letting him escape so easily. Her vines, now fully under her control, coiled around Zhin's legs and arms, restricting his movents. Simultaneously, she utilized her exceptional movent technique to stay close, darting around his defenses and exploiting the weaknesses in his form. She was inside his guard, in the zone where his chains were less effective, and she pressed her advantage ruthlessly.
A barrage of clawed attacks followed, each strike aid with deadly precision.
The audience, who had been buzzing with anticipation, fell silent in shock. The tide of the battle had turned so swiftly that many were left speechless. Zhin, once a formidable opponent, was now being driven back, his defenses crumbling under the onslaught.
His clothes were torn to shreds by the ferocity of Shinta's attacks, revealing sothing that made the spectators gasp in realization.
Beneath the tattered fabric was a full suit of silvery armor, gleaming under the arena lights. It was a high-grade Tier 5 armor, a powerful artifact that shielded Zhin's entire body. Despite Shinta's relentless strikes, her claws could not penetrate the armor's defenses, their force dissipating harmlessly against the tal. The appearance of the silver armor sent ripples through the audience. Though within the academy's regulations, its use was considered a cheap tactic, especially by soone of Zhin's high rank. However, the Aryan Church, with its unwavering commitnt to their so-called divine mission, cared little for honor or reputation when it ca to their goals.
"You half-bloods carry the taint of demons in your veins," Zhin sneered, his voice echoing with conviction. "Why would I hesitate to use the protection bestowed by the gods?"
The armor was not just a formidable defense. It also had a natural resistance to poisons, effectively neutralizing the passive toxins emitted by Shinta's [Calamity Body]. To make matters worse, the thick, enchanted tal blocked her attempts to use her devouring capabilities.
Despite these setbacks, Shinta remained unfazed. She assessed the situation, quickly realizing that her usual tactics would be ineffective against this opponent. But instead of showing frustration, she smiled—a smile that was both confident and unsettling.
"You really did go all out in preparing to fight , didn't you?" she said, her tone light but laced with underlying nace. "I'm so honored."
Zhin's face twisted in disdain. "Anything to stop the Devil's work!" he retorted, his chains clinking ominously as he readied himself for the next round.
Despite her agility and keen awareness of her opponent's movents, Shinta struggled with her primary weakness: a lack of raw offensive power. Even her newest skill, the [Duskvine Hex], proved to be only a temporary hindrance. It slowed Zhin down, weakening him slightly, but he seed to shake off its effects with an almost unnerving ease.
Zhin appeared to possess so kind of additional ability that not only shielded him from physical attacks but also blocked her curses. Each ti she attempted to channel her hexes, to sap his strength further or immobilize him, Zhin countered with an unseen force that rendered her efforts futile.
"Urrggh… I feel like tearing his head apart!" Shinta growled, frustration boiling over as she realized her usual tactics weren't working. Zhin continued to defend himself like a turtle hiding under a mountain, his silver chains swinging nacingly around him, warding off any attempt Shinta made to close the distance.
The battle took a turn for the worse as Zhin managed to ensnare her with his silver chains. The bindings tightened around her, cutting into her flesh and limiting her movents. Pain shot through her body as she struggled to break free.
"Haha… Cry... cry… to your daddy!" Zhin taunted, his voice dripping with malicious glee.
The words stung, but they also ignited a deeper resolve within Shinta. She was sick of this arrogant opponent mocking her, especially her father.
At that mont, Shinta made a decision. She reached for a hidden card, sothing she had been reluctant to use, a gift from her father.
With a determined glint in her eyes, she pulled out a graceful, ethereal-looking blade as white as snow. [Gentle Sword]
This was the sword of Shinta's mother, a cherished weapon that Ery had entrusted to her. It held imnse sentintal value, and Shinta had always been reluctant to use it, unwilling to even scratch it. But she felt the will of both her parents guiding her, and drew the blade, feeling its power surge through her.
With renewed determination, Shinta began to dismantle the chains encircling her, severing them piece by piece. Zhin, burdened by the weight of his own heavy armor, found his mobility severely hampered. Despite Shinta's limited experience with Dao sword techniques, her newfound weapon, combined with her agility, made him an easy target. Every strike she delivered was precise, exploiting his every weakness.
The high-grade sword couldn't easily pierce Zhin's armor, but it didn't need to. Each strike delivered enough force to send ripples of pain through his flesh beneath the armor. Zhin, however, proved to be a formidable opponent. Not only did he possess a deep spirit pool, but his mastery of tal elents allowed him to maintain a near-impenetrable defense for an extended period while simultaneously healing his wounds. But Shinta was relentless. Despite her mounting exhaustion, she refused to give in. Her attacks beca a furious, unyielding barrage, each strike more powerful and desperate than the last. Determined to shatter his defenses, she poured every ounce of strength and willpower into each blow. With every strike, the gap between them closed. Zhin's composure began to crack under the relentless assault. "No!! Stop!! Arghh!! Bitch!! Argh!! Wait!! Argh!! Don't!!!"
The once arrogant noble was now desperate, his screams echoing across the arena as Shinta relentlessly pressed her advantage.
"Wow… you even scream like a girl…"
By the ti the match was over, Zhin's face was swollen and battered, covered in a multitude of wounds. He had been thoroughly defeated, his dignity shattered along with his body.
Cheers erupted from the crowd. It was a satisfying end to a grueling battle, one that brought a renewed sense of unity to the half-bloods
However, the Aryan instructor stord onto the field, his face twisted in fury.
He pointed an accusing finger at Shinta and demanded a full analysis of her weapon. His voice was filled with fury as he yelled,
"She's cheating!! She's a cheat!! That's a tier 6 sword!"
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