The four individuals did not enter the same combat arena, but rather, with an unspoken understanding, allowed Aya Tone and Ying Li to pair up.
More than witnessing the two newly promoted S-ranks clash, everyone yearned to see the battle between the White-Haired Witch and the Demon Breaker.
Even Li Qing and Ge Lun, both S-ranks themselves, were no exception.
That legendary battle from years past had nearly shattered the protective barrier, forcing all subsequent matches to be relocated to an S-rank dungeon.
Currently, the S-rank combat arenas were exceptionally robust, having been thoroughly tested and proven capable of withstanding Ying Li’s full power.
As for why a demonstration match would specifically highlight the arena’s durability…
Heh, who could say?
Once the doors closed, if one wished to survive, they would have to fight with everything they had!
“Vice Principal, it’s just a demonstration match; there’s no need to be so serious, is there?”
Aya Tone gazed at Ying Li, who was meticulously wrapping bandages around her fists a short distance away, a sense of foreboding rising unbidden within him.
Yet, he still managed a jocular smile.
Surely, a mere exhibition wouldn’t devolve into a life-or-death struggle.
“What do you think?”
Ying Li turned her head, her captivating smile leaving Aya Tone utterly stunned.
‘Something out of the ordinary always signals trouble!’
‘This was certainly not a good omen.’
****
“Boom!”
No sooner had Li Qing and Ge Lun stepped into their combat arena, still chuckling as they discussed how much power to use, than a dull thud echoed from the adjacent wall.
Li Qing: –They’ve already started fighting next door. Should we still fight? I want to watch their battle.
Ge Lun: –Nonsense! Take my Silence!
–
–
One had their ability silenced, while the other was unable to attack after casting Silence.
They simply stood there, glaring at each other, in a silent contest to see who would burst into laughter first.
–How about we watch the fight next door?
–
Li Qing, still under the effect of Silence, widened his eyes but remained speechless.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to speak; the ‘Silence’ ability not only sealed his powers but also muted his voice entirely.
Realizing this, Ge Lun awkwardly scratched his head and withdrew his ability.
Finally able to speak normally, Li Qing let out a long breath, muttering in exasperation, “What a disgusting ability!”
As their match concluded in a draw, all eyes at that moment turned towards Aya Tone and Ying Li.
The qipao Ying Li wore, far from hindering her sweeping offensive, instead accentuated the southern beauty’s graceful movements.
A hundred-meter distance was traversed with a mere tap of her long leg, bringing it instantly to her foot.
It was as if she employed the legendary ‘Shrinking the Ground into Inches’ technique of immortals.
“Didn’t we agree this was a demonstration match?”
Aya Tone uttered a helpless complaint.
Yet, complaints aside, dodging was still a necessity.
If he were to take even a single hit, his slender frame would surely be sent to meet his great-grandmother.
‘He wondered what his great-grandmother in this world might be like.’
Aya Tone’s mind wandered off on a whimsical tangent.
Just as Ying Li’s attack was poised to strike Aya Tone, a searing blaze of fire instantly enveloped him.
Confronted by such intense heat, Ying Li’s brow furrowed slightly; even she had to momentarily retreat, awaiting her next opportunity.
As the fiery glow dissipated, a pure white gown shimmered into existence before everyone.
Magical Girl — Solar Form.
Aya Tone, staff in hand, parted his lips to declare, “All bodily abilities enhanced!”
Unlike his previous encounter where he had forcibly overwhelmed Ying Li with Starlight Magic, this time Aya Tone opted for a different approach.
It was also an opportunity to hone his own combat skills.
–Close combat!
‘An archer who couldn’t fight in close quarters was hardly a good mage!’
Ying Li’s eyes sharpened, a flicker of excitement gracing the corner of her lips.
“Now this is interesting.”
With those words, she surged towards Aya Tone once more, her fists unleashing a formidable gale.
Seeing the flurry of punches hurtling towards him, Aya Tone lightly stroked his staff, deftly evading with agile footwork, augmented by the magic-enhanced speed, all while seeking an opening for a counterattack.
However, when it came to close-quarters combat, Aya Tone was merely a fledgling before Ying Li, his every simple dodge revealing numerous vulnerabilities.
Just as Aya Tone believed himself safe.
Suddenly!
Ying Li feinted, her right fist striking directly at Aya Tone’s chest.
“Damn it!”
Aya Tone cursed under his breath, barely managing to control his rapidly retreating body, flashing to the side just in time to narrowly evade the fist wreathed in blood-red battle aura.
Yet, he would not endure being passively beaten forever!
With a soft cry, his staff transformed into a spear, which he swiftly swung at Ying Li’s arm.
Ying Li’s delicate brows rose slightly; she swiftly retracted her arm and aimed a kick at Aya Tone’s chest.
She had originally aimed for his waist, but the significant height difference regrettably caused her attack to deviate.
Aya Tone: ‘Are you being polite?’
Witnessing the long leg drawing ever closer to his chest, Aya Tone’s pupils abruptly dilated.
At this critical juncture, his old strength had waned, and new power had yet to manifest, leaving him unable to retract the staff he had just swung.
‘He couldn’t dodge!’
‘A hundred possibilities of being sent flying a hundred meters by this blow flashed through his mind at lightning speed.’
At this moment!
The pure white rhomboid crystal on his staff erupted with a dazzling radiance.
“Round Shield!”
‘Hmph! As a magical girl, how could he not use magic?’
A small, circular light shield instantly materialized between them, perfectly intercepting the otherwise inevitable blow aimed at Aya Tone.
“Hm!?”
Ying Li felt the unexpected resistance against her leg, then lightly pushed off with her toes, leaping high into the air.
She spun in mid-air before landing gracefully some distance away.
Her eyes, filled with confusion, fixed upon the shield that was gradually dissolving into points of light.
‘Her demon-breaking ability had failed to take effect immediately!’
‘Interesting!’
Ying Li lunged towards Aya Tone once more.
Far away in the auditorium, the students watched the projected battle on the screen above, their eyes riveted and expressions awestruck, punctuated by gasps of amazement.
Though some martial artists might have considered the White-Haired Witch Aya Tone’s close-quarters combat utterly abysmal, it did not deter the spectators from watching another martial arts master ‘bully’ a ‘child’.
Moreover, the combination of magic and combat proved to be an excellent inspiration for young individuals harboring dreams of close-range fighting.
After all, consider this:
If an S-rank like the White-Haired Witch herself employed such a fighting style against an opponent, it demonstrated the viability of this combat method!
Much like a master player’s seemingly nonsensical equipment build, it often achieved an unexpectedly formidable effect.
This was true meta-understanding!
“Vice Principal, that’s enough, isn’t it…?”
Aya Tone retreated to the edge of the combat arena, warily eyeing Ying Li, who stood in the deep crater at the center.
‘He felt as though his brain had been eaten by a dog to ever think of engaging Ying Li in close combat.’
‘He had been completely suppressed throughout, with no room to maneuver!’
‘He had nearly been pinned to the ground just now; thankfully, both of his forms could use short-range flashes, otherwise, he would be the one lying in that deep crater right now.’
“Heh heh, what do you think?”
Ying Li slowly rose, a bloodthirsty smile still playing on her lips.
‘Behind him was a high wall; there was nowhere left to hide, was there…’
Aya Tone offered a wry smile.
“I want to rest…”
‘But judging by Ying Li’s expression, that was impossible…’
With a silent sigh, the Solar Regalia on his body gradually gave way to starlight.
Clutching his staff tightly with both hands, its base lightly pressed against the wall behind him.
“Starlight Breaker!!!”
In that instant, the world fell silent.
Only the starlight, in a flash, transformed into the sole melody of heaven and earth!