(Iris POV)

I took a deep breath, trying to keep myself calm. I was going to be fighting THE Bianca Tsuki.

Honestly, she was quite intimidating with her emotionless attitude and her extreme potential as an upcoming Adventurer.

However, I admire her. To get to Tier 7 at where she is, only few can do that. And her prowess with the spear is amazing.

I don't idolize her as much as I did before. I idolize Ken a lot more now. He works just as hard as Bianca does and even made it to Tier 5 in one year.

He caught up to me in one year, and even helped me get out of my slump. It may not seem like much to him, but it felt like a lot to me.

Maybe he's gotten even further...

That's why I need to do good on this match. But I don't think I'll win. Not against her.

Still, I want to impress Ken so he can compliment me once more. It's unfortunate that he won't be able to watch my fight, but he should be able to watch the recording.

I prioritize the health of Ken over my own satisfaction. He needs some sleep after the constant fighting. It takes a toll on the body.

"Alright everyone!" The first announcer's voice cut through my thoughts. "The second semifinal match is about to begin!"

"Let's spin the wheel and see what stage we get!" The second announcer stated, grabbing the wheel and spinning it.

The wheel spun and spun before slowly landing to a stop on a picture of multiple trees.

The ground shifted as the course changed to a forest. It was as simple as that. A bunch of trees covering a grassy plain.

"We have the classic stage 'Forest'!" The first announcer stated. "Now, for our two contestants that will be fighting..."

"Our first is Bianca Tsuki from Legacy High!" The second announcer exclaimed, the crowd going wild.

"Our second fighter is Iris Aegis, also from Legacy High!" The first added.

The crowd went wild once more.

The gate to the field opened, allowing me through. Entering the arena, I gave a short wave towards the crowd before summoning Zeus and going into the forest.

Bianca is incredibly skilled with her spear, however if I'm able to block her attacks I'll have a good chance against her.

Moving through the forest, I kept on the lookout for Bianca. She's definitely going to engage me first, so I'll have to block it.

A faint whoosh caught my attention. Spinning around, I blocked Bianca's incoming spear. My electricity shocked her in a counter-attack, but it didn't seem to have an affect on her.

Looking at her closely, it seemed a layer of ice covered her body as some sort of protective armor. Could that be blocking the current?

Bianca sent a multitude of stabs in quick succession. I barely blocked all of them due to their quick speed.

Static electricity sparked all over Bianca, yet it still had no affect over her. This isn't good.

Bianca extended her arm out, creating multiple spikes of ice in the air. I wouldn't be able to block them all with my shield.

She launched them at me. I quickly readied my shield in front of myself, before lightning spread out of it, creating a large shield which covered my whole body.

The spikes hit the electric shield, becoming nullified as they collapsed onto the ground.

Bianca created more ice spikes, sending them towards me in a barrage. However, each and every one was nullified.

Bianca finally stopped her assault, letting me release the electric shield and let it dissipate. That took quite a bit of energy, and Bianca isn't even slightly sweating.

Bianca created an ice bow in her hand, placing the spear onto the bow like an arrow. Despite logic, it actually worked as the spear was sent flying towards me.

I raised my shield up, blocking the blow. The spear bounced off, Bianca grabbing it mid-air as she was now above me.

She slammed down her spear another time, only for me to block it once more as I held Zeus above my head.

She then backed off as a thin layer ice started to form on my shield, making it tougher to hold. It was slipping in my hands!

Bianca rushed forwards me once more, sending her spear towards me in another stab.

This is going to be risky...

I threw Zeus straight at her head. She used her free hand to grab it mid-air, completely stopping it.

As she moved her hand, I was now in front of her, placing my palm against her stomach. I released a point-blank thunderbolt into her stomach.

She slid back as smoke drifted off of her stomach. She looked back up at me, still with that expressionless look.

However, you could tell that the blast had definitely affected her. It had also affected me, taking a good amount of my stamina.

This has to end soon.

Bianca stomped her foot on the ground, ice spreading from it at a rapid pace and covering the area around us in ice. Instantly the temperature gold colder as I felt myself shiver.

I desummoned Zeus from Bianca's grasp, before summoning him back into my hand so I wasn't defenseless.

On the bottom of Bianca's shoe formed two ice skate blades out of ice. She's good enough with her element to make such a precise shape...

She raced towards me, and thats when I realized that the ice on the floor was going to restrict my movement.

I braced myself, bringing my shield in front of me as Bianca's spear impacted it. She used the spear to push the shield away, before forming an sharp ice shard in her other hand and placing it against my neck.

"Bianca Tsuki wins!" The first announcer stated after a second of silence.

"Good match." I smiled at her, slightly disappointed.

"Yes...good match..." She slowly replied.

Despite her emotionless, she also seemed to be slightly disappointed. I wonder why?

We stood in a small silence, and just as I was about to leave everything changed.

A sudden explosion rocked me off of my feet. I flew backwards, crashing against the ground.

I saw Bianca crash on the other side of the explosion, where now a huge cloud of dust and dirt was floating in the air.

"What the hell just happened?" The second announcer gasped.

As the dirt and dust dissipated, it revealed a single girl our age standing in a small crater. She had long teal hair with blood red eyes.

"Who are you?" Bianca asked, standing up and brandishing her spear.

"...Aoi." She stated, just as emotionless as Bianca.

"Ah!" I heard one of the announcers gasp into the mic.

Looking up to the announcer's box, behind the two announcers, Mister Sato, and the Principal were multiple hooded men with guns to the back of their heads. One of them grabbed a mic, lifting it to their mouth.

"Watch." He stated. "Watch as your hopes and dreams die. Watch as you see how worthless the next generation of adventurers really are."

The crowd went crazy, trying to escape. More hooded men appeared, but they also had multiple monster wolves with them.

Monster wolves? Are they the same people that allied with the Takao Group?!

"The adventurers won't save you, for we will take this world in the name of our king. Be prepared, for we are The Children Of Lupercio." He continued.

The Children Of Lupercio? What?

I looked over to where Irene and the others were, seeing them summoning their Arcana's to protect the others.

But what about Ken?

Aoi glanced at Bianca and I.

"Come." She stated, gesturing to both of us. "I'll take you both on."

Bianca and I rushed forwards Aoi, ready to engage in a dangerous fight.

Ken...please be okay...

1