The crowd was still buzzing from Jayden’s ice-shattering, one-kick knockout when the next nas flashed across the crystalline arena display.
[Jessica Smith, Class 3-C vs Irene Vess, Class 3-B]
[Modifier: Ability]
Suddenly, the arena shifted... the combat floor shimred and rose into a broad tallic disc suspended by air pressure generators. A literal sky platform, just hovering above a soft cushion of wind, swirling faintly below like clouds in a steel basin.
The students erupted in a chaos of shock and awe. The arena was now floating.
-"What the..? What’s happening?"
-"Nice. This would make the fights more exciting."
"Floating platform match?" Cassandra raised a brow. "When did the school decide to go this far for a tournant?"
Tasha smiled knowingly. "The principal thought it would be more exciting this way." she said. "And besides, it’s a floating terrain. Jessica’s gonna love that."
Jayden leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "Unless she gets caught off-balance." he muttered.
Down below, Jessica stepped out into the open platform. Her eyes narrowed slightly, the ends of her twin braids dancing in the subtle updraft.
Across from her, Irene Vess cracked her knuckles, golden kinetic wraps around her calves glowing with pulsing light.
"Hope you brought a jet engine," Irene called out with a grin. "Because I’m not slowing down for anyone."
Jessica gave her a soft smirk. "I don’t chase speed. I let the wind bring my target to ."
"Combatants—Ready," Mrs. Valerie announced. Then...
"Begin!"
BOOM!
Irene vanished, her form streaking in a
blazing line of golden blur. Jessica instinctively threw her arms up just as the first high-speed elbow clipped her cheek, sending her stumbling back.
She barely caught her footing when Irene struck again.
From the left.
WHAM
From above.
WHAM
From behind.
WHACK!
Every blow ca like a teor. Jessica’s breath caught, her body rocked by the sheer kinetic force. Sparks flew off the edge of the platform where Irene’s kicks landed like cannon fire.
"Jessie." Jacob, who had been watching silently stood up instinctively from his seat.
Jessica growled, swiping her thumb across her bloody lip. She exhaled and tapped into her affinity.
The winds responded.
A soft vortex began to coil beneath her feet.
She whispered, "Let’s dance, skyborn..."
Fwoooooom—
A blast of wind exploded outward in all directions, forcing Irene to skid back across the surface, arms shielding her face. Jessica stood upright, her body surrounded by whirling tendrils of air.
Her hair fluttered around her like ribbons caught in a tornado.
Irene didn’t hesitate. She blurred again, running low, a golden cot aid straight for Jessica’s core.
Jessica raised one hand and sliced through the air, directing the winds like she was conducting a storm symphony.
WHOOSH—!!
A sudden crosswind shoved Irene mid-strike, altering her path by just a degree enough for Jessica to dodge the wild punch and counter with a fierce knee to Irene’s gut.
BAM!
The girl gasped, but she wasn’t out yet.
She vanished again, behind Jessica this ti.
CRACK!
A spinning high kick clipped the side of Jessica’s head. She staggered.
WHOOSH. BAM’
Irene blurred and delivered a hit to Jessica’s side.
Her knees buckled. She dropped to one hand, dizzy, blood trickling down the side of her face.
"She’s too fast... I can’t predict her..." Jessica thought. But then she rembered the teachings of a certain stoic-looking teacher who helped her hone her wind abilities.
"Feel the wind. Be the wind. And bend it to your will."
Jessica’s fingers dug into the platform as the swirling currents coiled into her palm.
In that mont, Irene darted in for the finishing blow. But before she could strike, Jessica spun around and released a full-force wind burst into her chest—
KA-BOOM!!
Irene was launched skyward, spinning uncontrollably like a leaf in a hurricane.
Jessica didn’t wait.
WHOOSH!
With one leap, she soared into the air after her, using compressed wind pockets under her feet to dash upward, midair.
"Let show you what true speed feels like," Jessica said, voice low and dangerous.
She flipped above her opponent and ca crashing down...
BAM!!
She delivered a heel drop so hard it slamd Irene straight back to the floating arena platform below.
The crowd collectively gasped as Irene’s body thudded against the tal.
Jessica landed lightly, wind trailing around her limbs like a protective aura.
Irene groaned, arms trembling as she tried to push herself up, but couldn’t. And then, she stilled.
Mrs. Valerie raised her hand, and the screen flashed.
[Winner: Jessica Smith – 3-C]
The cheers were explosive. So of the Class 3-C students stood and clapped. The whole arena felt lighter. like it had shared the wind’s freedom for a mont.
Jacob stood up with a cry. "Yes! That’s my daughter!"
Jayden exhaled, letting a smile tug at the corner of his lips. "She’s getting stronger," he muttered.
"Mmhm," Tasha nodded. "She might be able to enter level 20 in no ti."
The air in the arena hadn’t even settled from Jessica’s whirlwind victory when the next match flashed across the screen.
[Natasha Smith, Class 3-A vs Donovan Kraze – Class 3-C]
[Modifier: Ability]
Jessica was just reaching the stands, breath still heavy, when she looked up at the na and smirked. "This would be a breeze."
Tasha giggled. "Oh, guess it’s my turn." she said, standing up with a smile, and walking calmly to the ring as the students hailed and cheered in admiration.
Jayden leaned forward. He was interested in seeing Tasha fight. He wanted to see the true extent of her power and why she was hailed as the strongest in the school.
Down below, the floor cracked and shifted again—this ti forming a ring of steel embedded into rocky terrain. Solid, grounded.
Donovan, broad-shouldered and jacked like a linebacker, stepped into the arena with a wild grin. His arms were already flexing, veins throbbing, muscles twitching with anticipation. He was known for his extre strength ability.
"I’m gonna fold you like laundry, sweetheart," he chuckled, slamming his fists together with a dull boom.
Tasha didn’t respond. She just walked calmly into the ring, her steps crackling with static.
"Combatants—Ready," Valerie called.
"Begin!"
Donovan roared and charged like a bull.
Tasha raised one brow. "Cute." she chuckled and raised her arm.
He was halfway across the arena when she simply snapped her fingers. Then...
CRACK-KA-BOOOOM!!!
A bolt of lightning lanced from the sky like the wrath of Olympus, slamming straight into Donovan’s chest before he even got close.
The crowd scread.
Donovan’s charge was instantly cut short, his body rocketed backward, flipping through the air like a ragdoll before smashing into the arena wall.
Smoke. Burn marks. Twitching limbs. And finally, passing out.
Everyone went silent.
Even Mrs. Valerie blinked in stunned silence for a beat before raising her hand to declare the winner.
[Winner: Natasha Smith — 3-A
Tasha dusted her palms like she’d just finished wiping a table. "Idiot," she muttered, stepping out of the ring before the d team even made it to Donovan.
The crowd didn’t even cheer right away.
They were too stunned.
But then—
"YOOO!!"
The students went feral.
Cheers exploded.
-"Did you see that?!"
-"She just—what was that? She didn’t even move."
-"Goddess Tasha is amazing!"
-"I love you Tasha! Please strike with your lightning."
Back in the stands, Jacob celebrated Tasha with another cry.
Jessica was happy but surprised. "Wow! I didn’t know she could do that." she said, then turned to Jayden. "Did you know she could do that?"
Jayden shook his head with a smile. "I definitely didn’t know she could do that. But I’m impressed." he said
anwhile, Cassandra tilted her head, watching Tasha walk back calmly with a proud smirk. "She’s trouble," she whispered to herself.
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