A lot has happened throughout the final round especially with Rei's match and his status being revealed. A dreadful atmosphere that seemed to put people on their feet and anxious over his existence.
The semi-finals that was once looked forward to by everyone almost immediately wanted for it to finish. Each match was forced to finish immediately with either of the contestants surrendering or giving up early in the fight.
There weren't as many people left since some had withdrawn themselves especially when Rei was still included which made him frustrated since people were quick to judge. A human's nature never changes no matter what era it was.
Erika and Hinata's match had begun, both girls putting everything in their effort to reclaim the once atmosphere that made a few people back on their feet to start cheering.
Erika was great with her own prowess from what Rei had observed with his passive ability. Her output and execution for her prowess whenever she made fancy techniques along with the things he had taught her from before.
It was an impressive feat to see someone who could manipulate their spiritual energy to calculate the amount of output and reserves to continue or discontinue to long range or boosted close ranged hand to hand combat.
Hinata, on the other hand, was more on speed due to the nature of her wind prowess as she continued to either dash very quickly or to immediately summon a wind slash towards Erika which resulted with both of their attacks clashing and turning into a glacier upon contact.
It wasn't long enough until the both of them were exhausted and unable to continue as Eto announced that both parties were no longer available for the final match. The rest were just pure degeneracy with ones immediately withdrawing although Sylvie's match went quickly with her just hitting the person before her in a powerful blow to advance to the final.
Rei's match didn't even get to start since the latter had already surrendered and withdrew themselves with total fear in their eyes which made the copycat frustrated.
...…
In the end, the last match was Rei and Sylvie. The two students who everyone was anticipating before the status incident prior hours ago. Tension rising as both parties entered, Rei looking like he wanted to leave but didn't want to disappoint the magenta haired girl.
"Are both contestants ready?" Eto asked which Rei was about to answer when Sylvie went first. "Not yet. I want to fight my opponent to the best of his abilities." Sylvie stated in which Rei understood since her prowess would be difficult to copy due to their massive power difference.
"Understood." Eto uttered before going to her microphone to ask if Rei could prepare in which the headmaster agreed. "With the headmaster's permission for Sylvie's request, Rei is allowed to copy one or two prowess." She announced in which the entire stadium wanted to retaliate for such atrocious move although the same commentator that explained Rei's prowess had immediately shot them down with harsh criticism while adding valid points such as Haru's brutality when it wasn't needed nor when students were complaining too much yet was too lazy to improve themselves.
Rei felt appreciated for Sylvie's action as he already looked over to the spectator side before he had told Eto which prowess that he wanted to copy. Hinata Hayasaka and Erika Delilah's prowess.
Once the two girls had activated their prowess, Rei just needed to move a couple of feet to copy their prowess within his range as he nodded his head to the proctor as he stepped back into the ring.
"Alright. Are both contestants ready?" She asked as Rei and Sylvie nodded their heads, which had the entire stadium now interested and invested in how their fight would play out after recovering from his known status and the commentator's harsh criticism.
"Begin!"
As soon as Eto had announced them to start, a large glacier was already formed as half of the stadium were shocked and impressed to have him execute it immediately although it was shattered instantly prior to Sylvie's power once she activated her prowess.
"You're so eager to end it." Sylvie said in which Rei retorted back, "Can't help it if I know you could just end me quickly." He smirked as the magenta haired girl smiled as both of them enjoyed the fight before engaging with each other in close combat without the use of their prowess except they kept it active.
Each strikes, blocks and parry were impressive due to how hard they hit each other which could be heard from the entire stadium. It was already intense when Rei started incorporating his copied prowess into the combat, making sharp ice claws or sturdy gauntlets in which Sylvie found to be impressive and annoying especially with how quick it was formed upon destroying his tools.
"Jeez. If I were the same level or a slightly lower level than him, I would've lost already." Sylvie thought to herself while focusing on parrying or misdirecting Rei's attacks to avoid fatal blows.
Meanwhile, Rei was having the best time of his life as he was now focused on himself and Sylvie. His mind is no longer on the crowd or the stares of fear aimed at him. It was somewhat a relaxing feeling, one that could go all out without thinking about other's thoughts.
"I feel… so light…" he muttered upon jumping high, performing a high back flip as Sylvie's legs just barely hit him on the head. "Euphoria…. Is that the word for this feeling?"
Rei manifested more glaciers while sending out air compressed sphere bullets made from his stockpile energy. The glaciers and sphere bullets almost hit Sylvie if it weren't for her quick reflexes and her ability to freeze time enough to dodge or to counter by hitting those away from her.
...…
Haruki and Erika only saw a fight that had no progress to move forward however, Hinata saw what everyone else couldn't see. A dance between the two as both were flawlessly fighting fairly and continuing a rhythmical flow. Each strike parried or blocked almost instantly. Rei sends out glacier spikes in which Sylvie strikes them down instantly in a rhythm.
"These two… are they conveying their expression towards each other?" Hinata questioned herself, watching how Rei was lost in the fight as his confidence was restored while having the expression of someone feeling euphoria.
The pink haired girl could see how Sylvie was enjoying the fight just like Rei did. Smiling and living the moment as if it was something to mark their fight in which Hinata found to be amusing and interesting.
After all, people who enjoyed fighting were either looking for dopamine to relieve their satisfaction, bloodthirsty or ones who just enjoy making others suffer with their overwhelming power.
"At this point. They are just dancing to make the moment even longer for them." Hinata smiled at the two since it was sweet yet fighting for victory.
"You two really are interesting…" Hinata muttered to herself.
...…
Sylvie was enjoying the moment as she could finally see Rei's genuine smile and satisfaction when fighting and having a sense of satisfaction. "I'm glad that I'm able to repay you…" she muttered to herself, freezing time for a brief moment as she dashed in to strike each glacier down while evading Rei's sphere bullets.
Even though she was fast, Rei was able to pick up as he was just barely able to dodge and evade her attacks, probably from the passive ability of his prowess and his reflexes reaction due to his constant fighting against groups.
"Rei. I want to keep up with you." Sylvie thought to herself as once again engaged in a fierce hand to hand combat except she was now keeping up with him since she started to use her prowess to suit her combat style.
Each time they strike each other down, the other one parries, evading or barely dodging it at the last second. Their match became more intense as they were both in their flow. Sylvie's spiritual energy was both replenishing and draining each time that she used her prowess to freeze time or to speed herself up.
Her control was impressive since her own prowess took a lot of spiritual energy in her reserves in which she improved by channeling more spiritual energy to replenish her reserves.
Meanwhile, Rei's spiritual energy reserves and control were almost as impressive as hers. Maintaining both output, execution and reserves as his own prowess was taxing when mimicking prowess and amplifying its firepower.
Rei's prowess was taking a toll on him especially with maintaining the output and reserves then the execution at the same time. Despite all that, the male still continued to go on while taking care of his own reserves.
Sylvie was having a blast before her mind started to wonder about a memory that she cherished the most. The memories of her slowly living the life that she wanted and to experience after being brought out of her shell.
"Sylvie. Live your life as you want."
The voice of her mother echoed in her mind as Sylvie started to remember the conversation that she had with her from a week ago after training.
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