Blades of the Flowers

The judges' attention was focused on the battle between Devin and Morris. They were impressed, for their abilities surpassed all the others. The fight was so evenly matched that it was stunning.

They were like shining bright stars in a clear sky.

It has been 2 minutes and Devin's energy was far from depletion. It was as if he tripled his limits overnight.

"Double-handed..." Morris twisted his body and his right foot took a step back. "Giant Strike!"

It was one of his Arks. An Ark is a special move by an Exorcist. Arks were usually developed at a later stage but a student like Morris was already cultivating his first one.

Devin bent his knee, focusing all his energy to block the incoming attack. He swung his sword to meet with Morris'.

Their swords clashed. A bright white light sparked from the holy metals.

The Ark was too great for Devin though. He lost his balance and was blown away by the intense energy they created.

"Was that all you got?" Morris taunted. "I thought you said you were going to win?"

Devin's body laid flat on the ground. A few seconds had passed but he showed no movements.

"I think I'm done here–"

Devin's body twitched. "Divine Possession!"

Morris took a defensive stance when Devin yelled. An ominous aura flooded the small clearing they were on. The trees shook along with his knees.

What was that?

The wind gently blew, the leaves whispering as they danced along with the air. The forest was silent. By now, other students should've found their location, but no one was coming.

"What is going on?"

–

"So it has come to this?" Margaux asked, flailing her sword in front of her. "We know who will win in the end, right cousin?"

Rain clenched his fists, his iron gloves groaning as he did. He was at a disadvantage. His Reverence was a pair of gloves and Margaux had a whip-like sword.

Close combat was all it could take him to fight but Margaux was superior to him in that aspect.

Should I run? He thought.

But then the memories of the laser tag and the fight between Devin and Margaux replayed in his mind. All this time he had been running away. If he runs now, he'll never grow.

They were in front of South building where a park was built not long ago. There were cracks in the tiles and dried up blood that symbolized the fights that ensued before them.

Rain raised his hands and positioned them in front of him as if he was ready to fight.

"So, you'll try, huh?" Margaux chuckled and pointed her sword at her cousin. "Let's see which branch is stronger."

She dashed forward, leaning a bit in front and retreating her right hand to gather momentum. When she reached Rain, her sword instantly slashed forward.

Rain was too slow. Before he knew it, his whole body was full of shallow cuts. Margaux moved like the wind. She was fast. Turning all in different places, striking in the vital parts, and laughing as she did.

His body could only take so much pain and his knees started to wobble.

"What? Finished already?" Margaux provoked and continued attacking.

"You're still so weak!"

"Daddy always say that you were his biggest disappointment didn't he?"

"Oh, how pitiful little Rain Chan."

Rain stopped trying to block and closed his eyes. If he wanted to win this, there's no use in blocking aimlessly. Her movements were predictable just as she is, so he should learn that first.

Knowing there was a pattern on Margaux's attacks, he closed his eyes and felt the air. If he could figure where Margaux would attack next, it'll secure his victory against her.

Left leg.

Right arm.

Right thigh.

Left hand.

Left shoulder.

Right leg.

Left arm.

"Left thigh!" He bent his knees and his hands grasped for the sword that was about to hit him.

The sound of movements stopped as Margaux's eyes widened when Rain gripped her sword tightly. The metals from their grinding weapons created white sparks and an ear-piercing groan.

Her mind couldn't comprehend what was going on. How could Rain, the boy who always lose to her catch her? It was impossible!

Rain lifted the sword along with a wide-eyed Margaux. The pupils in her eyes dilated as she looked at her grinning cousin.

"I realized that I always lost not because I was weaker than you," he said. "It was because I was scared of you."

"But not anymore! I am done with running away. I am done with disappointing father. I am done with you."

Margaux's face scrunched in anger. She let go of her sword, landing on the ground, and took a step back. She retreated her right foot, gathering force to attack.

"Shut up!" she yelled and struck her foot towards Rain. She was confident that it'll hit him. She was fast, after all.

But it was like her world stopped when Rain's hand caught her leg, gripping it as Margaux screamed in pain. "No! Please, stop. Cousin, forgive me!"

"I-I wasn't trying to intentionally hurt you. I'm so sorry, but please don't hurt me."

He wasn't listening. Throwing Margaux's sword away that was on her other hand, Rain lifted Margaux by her leg with his two gloved hands. He spun himself, along with Margaux before throwing her towards a wall. The impact rendered her unconscious and her body fell to the marble floor.

"Arena 2 has a winner! Team Leah won!"

A smile found its way on Dr. Xia's lips and Mr. Franco laughed loudly. They were inside a medical tent, watching everything on a smaller TV.

The medical team was already dispatched to get Margaux so Dr. Xia could heal her.

"That'll teach her," Mr. Franco said, wiping his eyes from the tears out of laughing.

Margaux wasn't exactly the kindest person in the world. He disliked as much as any other person does.

Dr. Xia only shook her head before smiling, "Yep. That'll do."

–

A gush of blood escaped Kagura's lips as a large tip of a handle met her stomach forcefully.

"Blah!" she spat before flying towards a nearby food stall.

They were in the city center. The people started crowding towards the side and a shield made by talismans protected them.

"How disappointing," a man said. "I thought you were going to become Master Liu's Disciple? Or was all that a joke?"

The man was no other than Korea's notorious top gang leader, Arrest Park. He was only a few inches shorter than Adonis but his built was much larger. He lazily placed his colossal sword over his shoulder and looked at the coughing Kagura.

"This is not over," she said. She forced herself to stand up, the contents of the food stall poured as she did.

Kagura inhaled deeply, lowering her hand and concentrating on her next attack. It was an incomplete Ark.

Rodney and Kagura were training non-stop to develop the Ark. An Ark was a minimum requirement to become a Disciple, and she wanted to be one.

"Blades of the Flowers First Stance:..." She opened her eyes and an ethereal form appeared beside her. "Summer!"

She rushed towards Arrest and the man grinned, positioning himself to meet her halfway.

His large sword met with Kagura's katana. He was sure he'd win but the unthinkable happened. Kagura split into two. The ethereal figure beside her took a form that was similar to her.

"Second Stance: Fall!" Kagura and her clone slashed towards Arrest but he rotated his sword, covering his head to block the attacks. Kagura attacked with rapid hacks and slashes.

When the attacks weakened, Arrest grinned.

She must be exhausted already. He thought and pushed his sword along with Kagura.

Kagura rolled her body in the air, thanking Arrest for giving her a boost.

"Third Stance: Winter!"

Arrest clenched the handle of his sword. "You think you're the only one who's developing an Ark?!"

He raised his sword and rotated it like a fan. His hands dangled on the blades after letting go of the handle.

"Meteor Golem's Fan!"

Kagura didn't flinch even after seeing another undeveloped Ark. Instead, she hastened her speed more.

"Hiyaa!" she yelled, darting towards the rotating sword.

A burst of white light erupted from the clashing of the swords. The impact was so strong that some chairs and stalls flew and the glass-like forcefield surrounding the center shook.

A sword fell with a clank and a body followed with a loud thud. Arrest's unconscious body laid flat on the brick floor as Kagura's victorious figure emerged from the dust. With all she could, she raised her hand in the air in victory.

"Arena 1 has a winner! Team Leah won!"

"Ah, now look at that Mr. Liu!" Martin cheered. "Her undeveloped Ark is stronger than a few B ranks' already cultivated ones."

Liu nodded, focusing on Kagura's figure on the screen.

"Will she really be your disciple, Old Man Liu?" Andrei asked.

Liu looked at him before returning his gaze on the screen.

"Perhaps," he replied.

The others engaged in a discussion while Stephanie's sweat traveled down her face as she looked nervously at the screen.

Where a bloody Rodney was lying lifeless on the floor.