Chapter 85

As the countdown reaches zero, Erina's team went for an all-out attack, quickly dashing towards the enemy.

The rank S students stood still with confidence, smiling at them as they approach closer.

Yuji observed the battle carefully, "Yukina is the mid guard, and the two who stood out in the first two matches are in the front... I wonder what she's got,"

Gabriela glanced, "hm? Who?"

"Erina... She's the type to stick with her plan and modify it along the way,"

"Hm?" Gabriela tilted her head, looking confused.

"You'll see,"

"I just want to see Yukina and Erina in action!"

"You want them to fight?"

Back at the stadium.

Jack suddenly jumped high above the ground, locking his eyes on the enemy in front of him, he smashes his feet on the ground, making a huge wave of the earth move towards the enemy at a very high speed.

"Wow!" Ash said, looking amazed, "is what I'd like to say, but too bad, I was watching earlier so I already saw this coming,"

Ash smiled, raising a single hand in front of the waves of earth.

Smash*

In a split second, the waves created by Jack shattered to pieces.

"As expected," Jack said, running through the shattered pieces of the earth, closing his distance with Ash.

Ash took a quick glance around the area, "not bad,"

The earth suddenly formed below Ash, aiming to hit his chin.

Looking calm and composed, he dodged Jack's attacks.

Approaching Ash with punches and attacks from the earth, Jack looked tense as his enemy swiftly dodges his attacks.

Suddenly, Ray appeared from a corner, surprising Ash, "huh? Isn't he supposed to be on Hanazawa's side?"

Ray pulled out a small flashlight-like object, "say cheese..."

"Crap!" Ash took a step back, as he tried to cover his eyes.

Flash*

Ash's vision became pure white, making him lose vision, "the got me... But it doesn't matter, I can't still..."

Ash focused on his hearing, making his body react to the slightest sound he hears.

Rumble*

Ash reacted to the rumbling sound the ground makes whenever Jack makes an attack.

He dodges the few movements of the ground as his vision quickly came back.

Opening his eyes, he found himself in an enclosed space, surrounded by a wall of earth.

Ash let out a sigh, "so they got past me..."

Taking his time, he walked over to the wall.

Crash*

The wall in front of him suddenly crashed, as someone intercepted him.

"You let your guard down Ash," the man said, slipping his katana back to its case on his belt.

"Hanazawa? I don't want to hear that from you, how did one of the guys on your side end up on mine anyway!?"

Hanazawa nodded, "the enemy this time is pretty good, they seem to be moving according to some sort of well-thought plan,"

"Don't change the topic..."

Hanazawa moved aside as he let Ash out.

Looking at Erina's base, Ash saw emptiness, "looks like they all passed us,"

"So it seems, I told you they're doing some sort of plan,"

"It doesn't matter, we can take our time to go and help the others just in case,"

Hanazawa changed expression, putting his guard up as he turned around, "that's the problem..." Gushes of wind began to surround his body, making his long hair fly around.

"Hm? What are you..." Ash turned around, seeing an odd sight, he was surprised to a certain extent.

"Didn't they all pass us already?" Ash smiled, "why the hell is there two of them here?" He said, locking eyes with Layla and Jack, standing in front of them from a distance.

Yuji reacted in surprise, "they're... Going to stall them!?"

"Isn't that a little stupid? They know they'll lose in terms of everything," Gabriela said, "They should have just rushed for the flag,"

"No... I think they might be up to something..."

Ash and Hanazawa moved forward, looking intimidating as they approach Layla and Jack.

"Whatever they might have, there is only one thing to do in a situation like this..."

Ash nodded, "breakthrough..." Smiling menacingly, he dashed forward followed by Hanazawa.

Layla pulled out a laser gun and shot the ground, making the area filled with dust and smoke.

Ash and Hanazawa covered their nose and mouth.

"So they're trying to make us lose vision, huh?" Ash said.

"Keep alert, that girl did the same thing in the first event remember?"

"Oh yeah, that was her?"

"Yeah, she blasted the whole area covering it with smoke and dust, then she ran passes all the other students inside the smoke without a scratch..."

"Then assuming she can see us through the smoke..."

Hanazawa nodded, "it would probably be the best assumption,"

Hanazawa heard a faint noise from their west, "on the west!"

BOOM*

As Hanazawa reacted, an explosion emerged from the same direction.

"Gah! That was loud!" Ash shouted.

Hanazawa carefully observed the situation, "it didn't hit us? More importantly, what was that?"

Ash glanced, "footsteps on the right!"

BOOM*

Another explosion occurred, emerging from the same spot he mentioned.

"Ugh, so loud! Wait... Was it on the right?"

"Ash! Calm down, if you lose your sense of direction now..."

"I know!" Ash continued to smile, "this year's new students seem promising... Putting us in a situation like this,"

Hanazawa smiled, "true... It brings back unwanted feelings..."

Meanwhile.

"And Erina is rushing towards the flag! It's her and the last two guardians! Will she be able to get past them!?" The commentator shouted.

"Passing Yukina seemed a bit too easy, she only made some metal poles spin around her area, but that's just it..." Running towards the flag she glanced at her back, "Ray and Jasper stayed behind to hold Yukina back... But until now she's still standing there, not even turning around..."

"Don't get distracted when you're running!"

SLASH*

A man shouted as he slashed his blunt sword in front of Erina, stopping her from moving forward.

Erina took a quick step back, barely dodging the attack.

"That's as far as you go!" He shouted, wiping his hand on the sword, making it colored with black.

"What the!?" Erna stepped back in panic.

"I got ya!" Jiwo shouted, swinging his sword in thin air, making the black soot from the sword quickly move towards Erina in a sword-like form.

Erina noticed the attack and was barely able to make her arms guard her stomach, where the attack was aiming.

SMACK*

"Agh!" The black soot disappeared as it hit Erina, making her drift away due to the impact.

"So you blocked it? Nice reflex," Jiwo said.

Erina raised her head, glaring at him with an intimidating stare.

Jiwo felt the intimidation, making him cautious, "Woah... That actually made me..."

Suddenly, a rush of electricity quickly made its way towards Jiwo.

Jiwo raised his sword and used his full strength to move his body.

CLANG*

Hitting the metal blade, Jiwo slightly drifted away from his position, barely deflecting the attack.

"Close..."

"Don't let your guard down yet!" Erina shouted, approaching Jiwo with intense speed, holding a metal stick, producing electricity around it.

"Not giving me time to breathe, huh!?"

A small electric field covered Erina as she run towards Jiwo, shooting bolts of electricity making him focus on defense.

Shortly after, Erina reached close combat range.

"Don't underestimate my close combat!" Jiwo shouted, covering his sword with black soot.

Slash*

Erina pulled herself closer, dodging Jiwo and going straight behind him.

"I don't think so!" Jiwo quickly turned around, swinging his sword towards Erina's head.

CLANG*

Using the metal stick, Erina blocked the sword.

Raising his hand, Jiwo aimed at Erina, "Got you!"

"No..." Erina whispered, "I got YOU!"

Suddenly, electricity came rushing towards Jiwo from all directions.

"Since when did she..."

ZZAAPP*

"AAGGHHH!" Losing his consciousness, Jiwo fell to the ground.

Not wasting any time, Erina ran towards the final guard, standing right beside the Flag.

"It's a one on one! Passing the great Jiwo, she's now going to face the strongest S-ranked second year of Ace academy!" The commentator shouted, making the audience roar with excitement.

Erina thought in surprise, "strongest!?"