FORTY-NINTH MATCH: KENZO HOLT VS HENRIK KLEIN
The two fighters entered the arena. Kenzo was extremely nervous, clutching his katana tightly against his chest with trembling hands.
All of Rika's attention was focused on the match that was about to begin; she wanted to see Kenzo's fighting style.
Arien noticed this and, with a mischievous smile, elbowed Kaien in the side.
Kaien turned his head to look at him, and Arien tilted his head toward Rika.
He looked at Rika, confused, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, then looked back at Arien with the same expression.
Arien leaned closer to Kaien.
— Can't you see it? She's completely focused on the fight. She probably wants to watch her boyfriend fight and make sure he doesn't get hurt too badly— He whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
Kaien gave him a light tap on the head.
— He isn't her boyfriend— He replied in a whisper as well.
— Oh, he isn't? Then why is she paying so much attention to this match?
— It's probably just because he's her friend!
Arien settled back into his seat and crossed his arms.
— Well, I don't believe they're just friends.
Kaien rolled his eyes, and Haruki just chuckled softly listening to them.
The signal to start the match sounded. Kenzo slowly drew his sword, his hands still shaking.
His opponent, Henrik, noticed this and smiled.
— Are you very nervous?
— Y-yes... This is all new to me— Kenzo answered.
— It is for most of us. Don't worry, you aren't the only one feeling this way.
— Are you nervous too?
— A little, but I know how to hide it. Because if you don't, you just give your opponent confidence, and you'll most likely lose.
Kenzo lowered his gaze to the ground; his posture looked vulnerable.
Henrik moved his left foot forward and his right foot back.
— That is exactly what I mean.
He leaned back slightly, extending his left arm forward with an open palm, while with his other arm he raised his katana horizontally, the tip of the blade pointing directly at Kenzo, bringing it up to eye level.
Henrik saw how defenseless and nervous Kenzo was, and he wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
— Glass Technique: Structural Fracture!— With incredible speed, Henrik lunged forward, delivering a powerful thrust capable of shattering his enemies' bones.
Marks, Promises, and Floch were shocked to see such a dangerous attack. The principal and teachers looked worried. If that strike hit Kenzo, it would injure him severely.
Kenzo sensed the attack and looked up quickly. The thrust was only a few meters away.
He gripped the handle of his katana firmly with his right hand.
— Earth Technique: Titan's Wall!— He swung his blade sideways through the air, from bottom to top.
The technique created a massive five-meter wall of earth right in front of him, successfully stopping the thrust. Henrik was stunned to see that his attack did nothing to the wall.
He stood facing the barrier and then quickly leaped backward. The teachers exhaled in relief, and Rika felt her tension fade away, relieved that Kenzo had blocked the attack, while also being impressed by his defensive skill.
The wall lowered until it vanished completely. Kenzo assumed his fighting stance, raising his katana with both arms in a horizontal position, leaving almost no openings. Nervousness was still visible in his eyes.
— I got a little careless, but...— However, determination now burned within his gaze
— Now I am ready.
Henrik returned to his stance.
— Were you pretending? Aren't you nervous anymore?
— I wasn't pretending. Truth be told, I'm still dying of nerves, but... I have to give this everything I've got.
The two stared at each other in silence for a few seconds. The first to attack would be the one to start the real battle, and that was...
That was Henrik, who charged forward with a powerful and swift strike of his blade.
— Glass Technique: Glass Edge!
Kenzo remained still, never taking his eyes off him. When Henrik was about three meters away, he lifted his foot slightly and then slammed it hard against the ground.
— Earth Technique: Obsidian Lance— The ground vibrated softly beneath Henrik, who felt it and looked down.
Henrik jumped quickly to dodge the earth spikes that began to erupt right under his feet.
Wasting no time, Kenzo stomped the ground again to launch another attack.
— Earth Technique: Colossus Fist— A giant fist made of earth appeared above Henrik while he was still mid-air.
Henrik looked up, gritting his teeth. Desperate, he swung his katana in the air.
— Glass Technique: Glass Shield!
A small wall of crystal appeared above him and another below. The earthen fist struck the glass with immense force, pushing both the shield and Henrik downward, straight toward the spikes still protruding from the ground.
The glass beneath him crashed into the earth spikes, shattering upon impact. The dust cloud from the collision covered Henrik completely.
Kenzo maintained a defensive position, ready for any surprise attack Henrik might launch.
— Glass Technique: Glass Shards— From within the smoke, countless shards of glass shot toward Kenzo at high speed.
Kenzo quickly leaped to his right. One shard managed to graze him, cutting his cheek. The projectiles were so fast he didn't have time to summon his wall again.
The rest of the shards embedded themselves in the wall. Henrik emerged from the smoke and ran straight toward Kenzo, who prepared to receive the attack.
When Henrik was just one meter away, he suddenly vanished, leaving only pieces of crystal falling to the ground instead.
Kenzo looked confused, just like Rika and the others in the stands.
The real Henrik appeared behind him, his katana already inches from Kenzo's neck.
While hiding inside the smoke, Henrik had activated his technique "Refraction Mirage". This ability uses sunlight and his crystals to create a false image of himself, allowing the real one to remain hidden for a few seconds.
The decoy ran toward Kenzo while the real attacker stayed concealed in the smoke. Once Kenzo focused on the illusion, Henrik moved behind him to strike unseen.
Kenzo managed to react in time, spinning around quickly to clash his blade against Henrik's. Henrik had the advantage in strength, and Kenzo knew it, so he jumped back to create distance.
Without wasting a moment, Henrik gripped his sword tightly and prepared another powerful thrust. Kenzo wasn't going to let that chance slip.
— Earth Technique: Stone Pressure— Four gigantic walls began to close in, trapping Henrik inside a cube.
He wasn't worried, knowing his thrust could shatter those barriers. The cube sealed completely, plunging everything into darkness. Henrik struck out with all his might, shattering the wall in front of him.
Sunlight returned to his vision. He saw Kenzo standing before him, but he sensed something else. Looking up, he saw three massive earthen fists floating directly above him.
Henrik's eyes widened in fear and surprise. The fists descended simultaneously. He tried to block with his katana.
The ground shattered from the impact, and smoke filled most of the arena. As the dust cleared, Henrik was revealed, lying on the ground unable to stand.
FORTY-NINTH MATCH CONCLUDED.
WINNER: KENZO HOLT.
Kenzo sighed in relief and happiness. Rika allowed herself a small smile. Arien noticed this too and elbowed Kaien again.
— Look, look, now she's going to go over there and hug him to congratulate him— He whispered.
Kaien rolled his eyes.
— You are impossible, Arien.
Kenzo walked out of the arena with a huge smile, having won his first match.
— Not bad at all— Said Liang.
— Who's next?— Asked Zeik with his arms crossed.
— I don't know, but I hope it's someone interesting— Answered Metteo.
A boy walked toward one of the arena entrances. The gates opened to begin the next match.