Chapter 35

  The Trial of Combat

  Synergy was a power intrinsic to the people of Iagorothi. It was a connection to the world, an essence of accomplishment. People could acquire Synergy by accomplishing goals, following their ambitions, or even just existing. This invisible force inside oneself could be used for growth in many ways. Small changes were easy to make, minor improvements to aspects, or even lesser cosmetic changes. These changes were gradual through intent, though meditation and training could speed up the process. For people, Synergy growth was as natural as growing in age.

  Ordinary people who spent their time in towns or cities did not accrue a large pool of Synergy through everyday life. Simple goals and relaxed living did not give much of the essence. Those with higher goals that worked towards them would see more Synergy for accomplishing steps for those goals. However, people were not the only beings who could acquire it. Though in much smaller amounts, plants and fungi would also generate Synergy through existence. For other beings Synergy was used in other ways. A tree could use Synergy in lieu of water or sunlight, a fungus could eschew nutrients in favor of Synergy, and Synergy could be found within the currents of mana in rare cases. The use of Synergy in these ways was rare, and often only in dire circumstances.

  For Adventurers, Synergy was not in short supply. In the natural path of survival, Adventurers would fight Zori to survive. In turn, the world would reward the Adventurer with the Synergy the Zori had collected. For Zori, there was no use to Synergy. But when they consumed a being with Synergy, they collected it. As the macabre cycle of death between Zori and Adventurer continued, whoever won would grow stronger. Even then, the amount of Synergy earned from slaughtering Zori seemed to pale in comparison to clearing the dungeon.

  “To earn so much Synergy at once.” Sebastian said, “It’s incredible. I should have done more delving years ago.” Sebastian sat on the porch, legs folded in a meditative pose with sheets of paper laid out before him. “I don’t even know what to do.”

  “Just spend it, I already did,” Wolf said. He lounged in a hammock, shirtless and covered in bandages around his back. He sipped at an iced drink as he lazed there.

  “You can’t expect us to just spend it without thinking, Wolf.” Lin said. The smaller of the ninja women was plotting out her own plans at the table just off the porch. A small platter of iced drinks rested next to her documents. “How’s your back?”

  Wolf winced, “Not good. I need more time to rest.”

  “So, you won’t be ready to fight tomorrow.” Hyato said. The Valon swordsman was balancing on his hands, body upside down in a handstand. His coat was folded on the ground next to him.

  Lin, Sebastian, and Jess all looked over at Wolf. The Phanokai nodded. “I’m not going to be able to do the fight.” Wolf said. “But, then again, I might have stood aside anyways.”

  “Why is that?” Jess asked. She was taking a break from practicing with the elemental forces.

  “That.” Wolf said, pointing farther into the Training Yard. Atop the jumping stones was Michael, surrounded by three elemental orbs. He moved from one stone to another, the motions fluid but heavy. He was shirtless, but seemed to be moving as if restricted by weights. As he jumped, he would also swing his sword and emit pulses of energy.

  “He’s still at it.” Jess said. “It’s been hours.”

  “He was already training when I got up.” Wolf said. “He stops to rest for five minutes every hour, and then goes right back to it.”

  “Wow...” Lin said. “He’s really... working at it.” She watched Michael for a solid minute before realizing what she was doing to turn to her work.

  “Well, he can certainly train hard.” Sebastian said. “But we should get him to gauge himself. Hyato, perhaps you should test his new style in a spar.”

  Hyato had been watching Michael’s training as well, and dropped his legs to stand. “I could do that.”

  Michael flourished his sword in his hands and stabbed at the air, cracking it. A collage of lines appeared, followed by an explosion of force. Michael’s arm shot back and he twisted, avoiding being knocked away by the attack this time. “Not quite.” Michael said to himself.

  “Michael.” Hyato said, hopping up to the stone platform. “We should spar.”

  “What? Why?” Michael asked, turning.

  “Check your progress.” Hyato said. “Just a simple spar, nothing serious.”

  “Think that’s a good idea?”

  “Sebastian’s plan.” Hyato said.

  “Well, okay. Just a simple spar right?” Michael drew his sword and readied himself. Hyato drew his sword, and they clashed!

  Swinging blades, moving posts, energy kunai. The gauntlet of traps and obstacles that stretched before Yan had everything. She finished her meditative breath, and adopted her stance. “Okay, go.” She said.

  Her father, Odai, pulled a lever. The gate opened and Yan shot forth with an explosion of green energy. She landed on the first platform long enough to get her bearings, then jumped again. An aerial somersault over a launched kunai put Yan in position to use one of the new techniques she had learned. Energy condensed around her feet and created a platform. She landed for a moment to recover.

  The platform did not last long, and Yan jumped again, through a gap between swinging blades. She landed on a moving post and paused. “Is there any point to completing this gauntlet?” She asked, “I’ve already mastered the techniques you wanted me to, Dad.”

  “It’s tradition.” Odai said, “Just complete the gauntlet, you can’t say you did unless you do.”

  “Fine.” Yan said, “But I’ll do it my own way.” Yan pressed her hands together and focused for a moment. Two energy doubles appeared, both hopping to their own moving posts. Yan and her doubles all took off into the gauntlet, each using the mobility skills that Odai had been making her learn for the past several days.

  Yan ran along a wall to activate it's traps while her double used the opening to reach one of the levers in the gauntlet. After swapping places, Yan pulled the lever. The cage door to the end of the gauntlet opened, and began to close at a pace just fast enough to be close.

  The other energy double was already in position at the top of a tower of spinning blades. Yan swapped to the top and jumped down towards the end of the gauntlet, bypassing a dozen traps. The energy she brought this time became a nebulous sheet that let her glide as she fell. Yan reached the last platform and landed, plenty of time to spare. She flipped the last lever, switching off all the traps in the hall.

  “There.” Yan said, hopping down to the matted floor below. “All done.”

  Odai had his arms crossed, but his face turned up in a smile. “Well done. It’s not the way it was meant to be finished...” He gazed over the room, “But it’s more important that you completed it.”

  “Why?” Yan said, taking a seat and drinking some water.

  “Let me worry about that part.” Odai said. “You should keep training while there is time.” Her father began to pace back and forth, counting something on his fingers.

  “I want the evening to myself.” Yan said, “I don’t want to stay training for hours into the night again like last night.”

  “You need to get as much training in today as you can. And where is the training gear I got you?”

  “The vest thing? It broke already, you said it’s enchantment was wearing out anyways.” Yan said.

  “You already used it up?” Odai paused in his pacing. “Then... fine. You may have the evening off. After your regular training.”

  “Really? Can I go into town?” Yan asked, perking up.

  “No. Stay in the castle.” Odai said. “I have something to oversee, so make sure you train hard.” Yan’s father left the room, ignoring her pouting.

  After Odai left Yan shrugged, “I’ll just sneak out again.” She said to herself. Yan went back to her training, just like her father wanted. At some point Nayo joined her, but Aeroth was still busy. Whatever he was doing took up all of his time over the last couple of days.

  After training for hours, the day waned. Yan’s days were getting too boring. She wanted to leave, to see the world some more. Travelling with her friends, not training every day. Each day felt like the previous.

  “Big day tomorrow.” Nayo said as they changed out of their training gear.

  “It is?” Yan said, arching an eyebrow. “What’s going on?” Yan pulled off the sweaty shirt she had been training in all day and started cleaning off with a damp towel.

  “The Trial of Combat.” Nayo said, “Did no one tell you?”

  “Oh, that’s tomorrow? I thought there was another day.” Yan said. “Oh well, it’s not like Dad will let me watch it.”

  “Yan...” Nayo said. She frowned.

  “What aren’t you telling me?” Yan asked. Her younger sister remained silent and focused on getting dressed. “Nayo, I know you’re hiding something.” Yan took a step towards her, while Nayo looked at the floor.

  “I...” Nayo started.

  The door opened as one of the guards of the castle strode in. “Lady Yan, you are being summoned to meet with the Elders.” He said. “I am to escort you-” A chair slammed into the guard and knocked him to the ground.

  Yan picked up and threw another one with her left hand while covering herself with her right. “Get out of here! This is the women’s changing room!”

  “But, I’m supposed to-” The guard said.

  “Are you trying to peek at my sister and me? Get out!” Yan threw a third chair before the guard realized his mistake and scrambled out of the room. Yan stood up and finished dressing. “Sorry Nayo.”

  Nayo laughed, “Don’t worry sis.” She said, “Thanks for that.”

  Yan sighed, “I’m going to make those elders tell me what’s going on.” Yan changed into her normal gear as Nayo wished her luck. Yan went to see the elders of the clan to find out what was going on.

  The day of the Trial of Combat had arrived. After a day of training and sparring with Michael, Hyato felt sore. Michael, on the other hand, seemed to have already recovered from everything. Wolf was limping, but the salve he had gotten from the healing hut was working wonders on him. Sebastian wore a big smile on his face as he walked with Lin and Jess on either side of him.

  At the other end of the bridge into town, the group was met by Aeroth. “Good morning.” He said, bags under his eyes from a lack of sleep.

  Michael completed the greeting with Aeroth, “Morning. You don’t look so great.”

  “Thanks.” Aeroth said, “You ready for the Trial? Who is fighting?”

  “I am.” Michael said.

  “Then come with me. The rest of you can proceed to the Arena and find seats to watch. We got it fixed up in time for today.” Aeroth sighed, “Finally.”

  “Alright guys, I’ll see you later then.” Michael said. He flashed everyone a smile.

  “Best of luck.” Lin said.

  “You can do this! Show that chump who’s boss!” Wolf said, patting Michael on the shoulder.

  “Don’t get too cocky, keep your wits.” Jess advised.

  “I look forward to seeing the results of your work.” Sebastian said.

  “I believe in you.” Hyato said.

  Michael chuckled, rubbing his shoulder where Wolf patted him. “Thanks guys.

  “Come on, we don’t have all day.” Aeroth said. Michael and Aeroth left the others.

  As the others passed into town they saw a large crowd around the walls of the Arena Building. “Looks like they renovated the place.” Sebastian said, admiring the architecture.

  “Okay guys, I’ll see you later.” Jess said.

  “What? Where are you going?” Sebastian said.

  “I’m meeting up with my sister to watch the fights. See ya.” Jess slipped away into the crowd of people entering the arena.

  “Aww, man.” Sebastian said.

  “What did she mean by fights?” Wolf asked.

  “Oh, there are going to be a few fights before the Trial.” Lin said. “To give those that arrived early something to watch. The Trial isn’t starting for another hour.”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “I see.” Hyato said.

  “And I’m gonna head out too.” Lin said, “See you guys after the Trial. Hope Michael wins.” Lin left without waiting for a response.

  Sebastian grumbled, folding his arms. “Chill, man.” Wolf said. “Let’s go get some snacks.”

  “Snacks?” Hyato said, looking around. Wolf pointed out a large stall where people were getting things to eat, and Hyato went straight for it.

  “May as well...” Sebastian said. They went over and got snacks. After choosing out a few, they pulled Hyato away from them and entered the arena. A ninja guard waiting at the entrance led Hyato, Sebastian, and Wolf through their own entrance.

  Up a flight of stairs and around a corner, the three walked out into a wall of sound. The large arena stands were packed with a few hundred people, all cheering on for the sparring match below. Three blue garbed ninja were attempting to fight a ninja in red, and the solo ninja seemed to be winning.

  “More people in this town than I thought.” Wolf said.

  “It makes me wonder if everyone showed up, or if this is only part of it.” Sebastian said. Hyato continued into the booth seats they had been shown too, a secluded area with chairs for all three of them.

  “Outsider seating huh.” Wolf said, taking a seat and dragging it closer to the railing. “Not a bad spot.”

  “I suppose we simply have to wait for the battle to begin.” Sebastian said.

  The three of them watched the sparring go on. The battle was full of flashy moves and big attacks that used energy. Hyato relaxed, snacking and ignoring the battle. Wolf watched the battle with interest, and began to cheer along with the rowdier members of the crowd. As Sebastian scanned the crowds, he noticed something.

  “Look there.” Sebastian said, pointing out a large private booth on the other end of the Arena. The booth had two sections, each wide enough apart for those within to see one another. The booth on the right had some figures hidden behind bamboo shades. The other booth was empty.

  “What about it?” Hyato asked.

  “It’s the only other private booth. Those must be the leaders of the village.” Sebastian said.

  “Is Odai behind those screens?”

  “Could very well be.” Sebastian said.

  An echo of cheering rang through the arena as a sparring match concluded. The winning ninja took a bow, before being escorted off the dirt clearing of the battlefield. The fervor of the villagers died down and then a silence hung in the arena as Chief Odai stepped onto the field. “Guess not.” Hyato said.

  “Welcome!” Chief Odai said, his voice booming from the acoustics of the battlefield. “To the Trial of Combat!” A cheer spread through the arena for a few moments, fading as Odai raised a hand. “Today, we hold this special rite for a very good reason. My daughter Yan returned to the village, bringing with her outsiders, as you may know. Aeronemar Village is closed to Outsiders, yet I made an exception on her behalf and allowed them entry.”

  “No one knows these mountains better than we, and Yan brought her allies here seeking the knowledge of the passes. Therefore, I allowed them to undergo the rites of proving, just as all young Kairaetsu must complete to become a member of our elites.”

  Chief Odai paused, to catch his breath and for effect. “And they completed all four Trials!” A cheer rang out through the village, though from fewer this time. “They each completed the Trials in an odd way, but complete it they did. They proved themselves, in my eyes.”

  “However. Our village has long been closed, since the Broken Times, and throughout the Dark War. Changing such traditions is not so easy a task. Therefore, there will be one final Trial. Today’s Trial of Combat.” Odai indicated a gate with one hand, and it opened. Michael stepped forth onto the field, garbed in his green and black armor and wearing his black sword on his belt. He strode forth, standing in a circle on the field. Many members of the crowd murmured.

  “Should Michael, who represents the outsiders, manage to win the Trial,” Odai said, “Then the village will open. The years of isolationism will end.”

  “What?” Sebastian said, sitting up straight. “Wait, does Odai want to open the village or not?”

  “This is interesting.” Wolf said, rubbing his chin in the way Sebastian always did.

  A heated buzz of whispers and gossip rang through the gathered villagers in the stands. The buzz of words grew in volume for several long moments, until Odai spoke again. “Should the member of our clan be victorious, the outsiders will be expelled from the village.” He said. Odai indicated the gate on the opposite side of the arena, and it opened.

  “The strongest member of our clan.” Odai said, as the opponent stepped forth. Sebastian, Wolf, and Hyato all leaned in for a better look.

  From the other gate strode a Ninja, garbed in armor of green cloth and black bandages. Protective carapace was held in place on the chest, back, arms, knees, and feet. The numerous black bandages hid the appearance of the warrior. They strode to the starting circle and stood in a casual stance. “Through battle, we shall see if our ways are right, or if there is merit to opening our gates once more.” Odai said. “Challengers, ready yourselves.”

  Michael adopted a combat stance, drawing his sword and holding it aloft in his left hand. He angled his side towards the enemy, reducing his openings. Kunai dropped into the Ninja’s hands.

  Chief Odai jumped up and back, landing in the private booth that had been empty. Three others joined him in the booth, one of them being Aeroth putting on a hood. The other two were already hooded. “Are those three Aeroth, Yan, and Nayo?” Hyato asked.

  “Probably.” Sebastian said.

  “Yan should be over here with us.” Wolf said, raising his hands and waving. The others in the far booth did not look over.

  “Let the Trial of Combat...” Odai boomed. Michael and his opponent both tensed up, “Begin!”

  The strongest Ninja of the Aeronemar village leapt into action in an instant! Their jump made them fly over the battlefield at an angle, and they moved again the moment they landed. Their zig-zag jump landed three times on the ground before they crashed into Michael’s back with an attack, sending him tumbling to the ground before he knew what hit him.

  Michael rolled to his feet and looked for his enemy. Before he spotted them, another attack dragged along his side. Then another hit. The attacks were light and Michael was not taken off balance again. He swung his sword as he was struck a fourth time, but missed.

  The taste of blood already permeated Michael’s mouth. The Ninja he fought moved in again, that dash jump they did propelling them at insane speed. Michael swung again, almost connecting. The timing was getting closer. The enemy’s kunai slashed across Michael’s shirt, but he twisted and avoided getting cut.

  “Back off!” Michael let out a surge, which the enemy dodged without effort, before swooping in again. Unable to contain his smirk, Michael focused for a moment to emit an Arkwave, the damaging Arkpulse.

  The wave of violet energy exploded from Michael, causing the airborne Ninja to flinch and change tact. They created a platform of energy in the air to jump out of the way, but some of the Wave hit them in the leg. Michael’s body buzzed with a moment of numbness as his attack finished.

  Upon landing, the Ninja checked their leg, then shook their head. The Arkwave had done negligible damage to them. The Ninja checked themselves over to be sure.

  Michael jumped towards his foe, using the jump he perfected from his efforts in the Trial of Agility. He crossed the distance in the blink of an eye and swung his sword at the Ninja. At the last moment the foe pivoted and then hopped back. Michael wasn’t done.

  The tip of his sword struck the ground, and from it lines of dark energy burst forth, “Dark Blade!” Michael roared. Energy lanced from the ground and sent the Ninja Michael was fighting up into the air. Michael jumped, but the Ninja spun in the air to recover and threw out a rain of kunai.

  The Ninja landed on their feet as Michael slammed onto his back. He slammed his fists on the ground, creating a burst of wind, and propelled himself to his feet and away from an additional Kunai attack. “Be that way!” Michael said.

  The two warriors clashed together for a brief moment, sword locked against Kunai. It was clear that Michael had more strength, and the Ninja leapt away from the clash before being overwhelmed. Dropped caltrops as the Ninja retreated were avoided as Michael jumped to pursue. The battle was getting more hectic, and Michael felt that he was leaving more openings. The Ninja was faster than him, zipping around to escape his pursuit.

  Michael dropped to one knee, panting. He slid something into his right hand. Bring it on. Michael thought.

  They took the bait, rushing in towards Michael’s back to deliver a critical blow. Michael took the hit, charging up the pulse of energy he had already shown before. The Ninja did not bother dodging the Arkwave, moving to take down Michael instead.

  The blooming explosion of energy muted all sound for a moment as Michael’s violet energy grew in a violent sphere of force. The wave swept over the battlefield, swallowing the Ninja in the attack.

  As the attack faded, a tumbling body bounced along the ground. The Ninja got to their feet, dazed from the unexpected power of Michael’s strike.

  Michael's body trembled from the fallout of the attack, but he remained on his feet. "How's that?! I'm never going to give up, I have to win this." He said. To himself he added, "for Yan."

  The enemy Ninja staggered, pieces of their armor falling to the ground as some of the protective bandages were torn by Michael's attack. The Ninja dropped into a stance, panting a bit as they readied their kunai.

  The Ninja dashed towards Michael as he was still recovering. Rather than fall for no reason, Michael focused his mind on the air ahead of him. Just as the enemy came within range, a gust of wind knocked them aside.

  Michael followed up the initial elemancy attack with another, creating a momentary burst of wind with the force of his mind. After being knocked back several yards, the Ninja recovered and avoided Michael's third wind blast.

  The two warriors clashed a moment later, Michael bringing his sword to block just in time. "Tch." The Ninja grunted, backing away before being overpowered.

  "Done with the silence?" Michael asked. Michael dodged the kunai thrown in response, "Not done. Okay, cool."

  Another Dark Blade crawled along the ground, which the Ninja almost avoided with a leap to the side. They recovered before Michael could follow up, but the aftershock of the arkwave had worn off. Michael rushed towards the Ninja, “Do you want your village to be sealed away forever, is that it?” He asked, letting his feelings bubble to the surface. He swung out a sweeping slash, sending a surge of wind. “Isolated because of some war from a hundred years ago?!”

  Michael’s words made the Ninja flinch, and get struck by his attack. Withdrawing the last ulprism in his possession, Michael began to charge up another Arkwave. “I don’t know why it has to be by force,” He said, building up the power of his attack, “But I’ll open the gates so Yan can go free!”

  The distance Michael closed as he prepared his attack widened as the Ninja leapt back. Michael smirked, and focused not on his Arkwave, but on changing it. “I’ll show you what isolation has hidden from you, Techmotion!” Michael thrust his arm forth as the pulse of energy started to bloom out. Altering the flow of energy, changing the attack, felt powerful. The blooming wave of force followed the thrust of his arm, bursting forth as a pillar of energy that slammed into the Ninja as they tried to dodge.

  Michael’s Arkbeam struck the Ninja, slamming them back several yards. They maintained their footing, frowning in concentration as the attack tore the last plates of armor free. Pauldrons, bucklers, a chest plate, and a mask clattered to the ground, leaving them standing in their base combat suit. Michael’s eyes widened as he fell to one knee.

  The enemy that Michael was facing wiped some blood from her lip, flicking it to the side, and pulled two more kunai from holsters on her sides. “I didn’t have a choice, Michael.” Yan said.

  “Yan...” Michael said, his right hand trembling and numb.

  “I want to lose, but...” Yan said.

  A loud bell rang out over the arena, and someone spoke. “Yan!” rang out the voice of Elder Gyoto from behind the shades of the private platform, “You musn’t dishonor the Aeronemar clan!”

  “I won’t, Elder Gyoto,” Yan said, “But-”

  “No objections!” The old man snapped, “Fight to win, show us the true depth of your skill! I will not accept any less. If you do...” The Elder paused, “I will accept the result, even if you lose.” He grumbled.

  “Of course, Elder...” Yan said, bowing. The short conversation had let Michael recover, but he remained on one knee as Yan turned back towards him. The bell from before rang again. “I can’t go easy on you, Michael.” She said.

  “Good to see you.” Michael said, smiling.

  “What!”

  “Glad you are okay,” Michael rose to his feet.

  “Stop it! This is a fight!” Yan said, holding her kunai before her in a defensive pose.

  “I know.” Michael said, walking towards her, “I’m just glad, you know.”

  Yan didn’t let Michael approach without consequence. She spun wind to life around her and threw her Kunai. Michael parried them with his sword, slipping back into a combat stance, “Quit joking around.” She said.

  “It’s not a joke, I’m happy to see you.” Michael said.

  “Stop flirting!” Yan became three, or rather two energy doubles of her appeared and spread out. She moved around Michael, keeping back but surrounding him. She could attack from any angle.

  Michael, grinning like an idiot, spun in place with his arms outstretched. He pulled the air around him and reinforced it with Elemancy, creating a wide wind sphere that gave of flecks of purple light. The wind surrounded Michael, pushing back Yan’s doubles as they tried to approach. All his extra training and synergy use towards this paid off, it seemed.

  Yan wasn’t discouraged, and rushed into the zephyr with a green gale of her own. She made wind in a wedge before her and cut into the sphere, getting halfway to Michael before the two spiraling forces of kinetic air clashed too hard for any further progress. Yan planted her feet and changed her wind into a sphere that melded into Michael’s.

  “Michael.” Yan’s voice said, coming from behind his left ear. “Can you... -me?”

  “What?” Michael said, speaking into the howling gale.

  “Oh good.” Yan’s voice said again. “You can hear me, right?”

  “I can.” Michael said, “Not sure why.”

  “You gave me a great idea. Sound travels on wind. We can talk, and no one can hear us. Start swinging at me.” Yan said.

  Michael complied without hesitation, like always. He swung his sword, causing the winds around them to shift and clash more. Yan was throwing kunai, and it looked like they were fighting. “Oh, this is sneaky.”

  Yan’s giggle was cute. “If I’m the best, I should be able to deceive my own people, right?” She said.

  “Right.” Michael said. “But we can’t keep this up forever.” The winds continued to dance around them in a fierce gale, purple and green winds clashing and bouncing off one another as they swung and tried to get closer.

  “I want to lose, but I don’t know how yet. I can’t just take a fall.” Yan said.

  “You can’t lose to anything I have already used.” Michael said, “I have one more trick up my sleeve.”

  “How do you need to pull it off?” Yan asked.

  “Go on the defensive, and I’ll force you to get some distance with some Dark Blade attacks. Feel free to throw knives at me. It’s a long range one.” Michael explained.

  “You need to take out my doubles first, use that beam attack to do it.” Yan said.

  “I can’t use the beam anymore. I’ll explain later.” Michael frowned. “I have an idea to take them out.”

  “Okay. Then let’s end this fight!” Yan said. The winds around her grew in size, blooming out from her. Michael dropped the tip of his sword to the ground to use Dark Blade, forcing Yan to dodge back and break away from her attack. Michael ended his own gale as well.

  The two Yan doubles were keeping their distance to Michael’s right and left. Michael dashed towards the one on his right, taking a few steps before exploding into his Jump technique. He collided with the double, his shoulder bash bursting it into naught. Michael landed with a clatter, scattering some fallen kunai from previous attacks.

  Yan joined up with her other double, linking arms to it. She jumped into the air and spun, building up an extreme speed as she spun four times. She launched her double at Michael with that incredible speed, swapping places to tear through the air at him, feet first.

  She was fast, but Yan had a long way to travel. Michael scooped up three of the kunai and threw them at Yan. She swapped out of the way as they reached her, noticing the attack ahead of time. Now both of her doubles were dealt with, Michael just needed to end this.

  She’s letting you win, don’t mess this up. Michael thought to himself. He faced Yan with a flourish of his sword, then stabbed the air between them. The air cracked from the impact of his blade, shattering into a web of dark lines. The lines glowed, and Michael redirected the energy as he had been attempting for days. “Dark... Wind!” Michael roared.

  An explosion of kinetic force tore free from the cracks in the air, twisting in on themselves in a widening cone of black lines. The ebony windstorm stretched out towards Yan, blooming out to cover half the arena. Yan watched as a wave of darkness crashed towards her, and she shielded herself with as much energy as she could muster.

  Michael’s attack swept Yan into the air and slammed her into the wall of the arena. She hit with a heavy impact, then fell to the ground. Michael rushed over to her side at full speed, but she rolled onto her back before he reached her. “Good job.” Yan said, smiling. She wiped some blood from her lip.

  “You... you okay?” Michael asked, standing over her.

  Yan let out a halfhearted chuckle, “Yeah. I’m fine.” She said. “Help me up?” She lifted one arm towards him.

  “Of course.” Michael gripped Yan’s hand and helped her to her feet. She favored her right foot, leaning against Michael for support. “So, is the battle over?” He looked around.

  The people in the stands were all moving, talking or something, pumping their fists. They were silent, and Michael wondered why he hadn’t noticed. Then a shimmering wall of energy vanished with the ringing of a bell, and a boom of noise crashed over Michael and Yan. A cacophony of cheers.

  “Michael, has won the Trial of Combat!” Odai announced. The cheering redoubled, and Michael chuckled. The people in the stands were jumping and pumping and celebrating the fight. Michael saw Wolf, Sebastian, and Hyato enter the arena to head over. Wolf patted Michael on the back, eliciting a groan and a few chuckles.

  “You did it.” Yan said, “Cool. I’m going to take a nap now.”