The arena, battered and broken from the previous clash, was eerily silent as Lyra stumbled to her feet. Her rapier glowed faintly with icy energy, her trembling hands gripping it tightly. Across the shattered battlefield, Rynhara knelt, her katana planted in the ground for support. Blood dripped from both of them, forming small pools on the ruined stone.
"This is insane," muttered one of the commentators, Drollas. "How are they still standing after that?"
"Forget standing," Fira whispered, clutching her microphone. "They're ready to kill each other. But wait… what's Lyra doing?"
Lyra staggered forward, the tip of her rapier dragging along the ground as she whispered something under her breath. At first, it seemed like an incantation, but then a chilling wave of mana began to emanate from her, freezing the shattered stone beneath her feet.
Rynhara narrowed her eyes. "What's she…?"
Suddenly, Lyra snapped her head up, her gaze fierce and unrelenting. Her voice rang out, clear and resolute:
"I personally hate to admit it but you're built ford tough and so in this battle of attrition you have me beat and any more of this will result in me taking the L. If that is the case l might as well stop holding back and hit you with everythingive got." Lyra said as she raised her rapier high in one hand before her body began glowing with a pale blue light. The entire stadium started to snow.
Sensing that something was amiss Tiamora was about to warn Rynhara but Lyra moved faster as her figure practically vanished as she dashed toward Rynhara with her frost aura covered rapier already slashing its way towards Rynhara while Lyra was still chanting .
"Return all to the origin and cast my foes into the eternal frozen purgatory. Final Demolition Strike!Cascading Absolute Zero!!!!"
The crowd erupted into gasps and shouts.
"She can't!" Fira screamed into her mic. "That's an advanced-class ultimate move! She's only a first-year student!"
"Impossible!" Drollas added, nearly falling out of his chair. "How does someone her age even unlock a Demolition Strike?"
In the royal balcony, Tiamora sat forward, her eyes wide. "That brat can't possibly…" Her voice trailed off as realization dawned. "She's trying to kill my daughter! That rat bastard!"
A frosty mist spread across the arena as Lyra's frost covered rapier began to glow with an ethereal blue light. Rynhara barely had time to process what was happening before jagged spikes of ice erupted from the ground, encasing her legs and freezing her in place.
"Tch!" Rynhara growled, struggling against the encroaching ice. "Cheap trick, Frosty!"
"Cheap?" Lyra shot back, her voice cold as the ice she commanded. "Maybe.But effective nonetheless."
With a flick of her wrist, Lyra sent a wave of energy into the frozen arena. The ice around Rynhara exploded into shards, forming a swirling maelstrom that encased her entirely.
Inside the raging maelstrom, Rynhara couldn't see, move, or even breathe properly as the freezing wind tore at her skin while at the same time rippingher insides to shreds as the ice ,ana ran rampantinside her. Before she could break free, Lyra's rapier shot toward her like a blur, striking her from every direction.
Each slash landed with brutal precision, leaving deep, bloody gashes across her body. Lyra moved with inhuman speed, her figure a blur within the icy vortex as she unleashed the full fury of her skill.
"Rynhara!" someone screamed from the crowd, but their voice was drowned out by the howling wind and the sound of shattering ice.
The judges sat frozen in their seats, their jaws hanging open.
"This is… unprecedented!" one finally stammered.
"She's going to kill the Dragon Princess!" another whispered, their tone a mix of awe and horror.
Even Tiamora, who had been largely amused by the fight thus far, was no longer smiling. She gripped the edge of her seat, her eyes blazing with fury.
"You little frost-bitten pest!" she bellowed, her voice shaking the arena. "Stand up, Rynhara! I didn't raise you to lose to some overachieving peasant!"
As the final slash landed, the icy maelstrom dissipated. Lyra stood in the center of the arena, her rapier lowered, her chest heaving as she struggled to stay upright.
Rynhara lay sprawled on the ground, her katana several feet away. Blood pooled around her, her once-pristine armor shattered and her body covered in deep cuts.
The crowd fell into stunned silence as the referee stepped forward, their expression a mix of shock and unease.
"Rynhara…" Lyra murmured, barely able to keep her voice steady. "It's over."
The referee raised their hand, beginning the countdown.
"One…"
In the royal balcony, Tiamora leaped to her feet. "GET UP, RYNHARA!" she screamed, her voice echoing across the arena.
"Two…"
The crowd leaned forward, unsure whether to cheer or hold their breath.
"Three…"
Rynhara's fingers twitched.
Her eyes fluttering open as a faint grin spread across her bloodied face.