Miren Vs James [3]

*[Overclock]!*

I didn't care about the fight anymore. Having consciously contained my intent to just go for the kill a bit, the fight had been quite enjoyable, I would even call it fun.

However, this was not the case after James had acted like a peacock in front of me, trying to put on a show for the audience. It wasn't that I didn't understand his motives, far from it, but in my mind, we had both let go of the troubles outside of the arena as we tried to bring each other down.

This had obviously not been the case. It was blatant disrespect in my eyes, defiling our duel while also looking down on me.

*Crzzt!*

Purple tendrils of lightning started to coil around my body as I consumed the ambient mana in my surrounding.

As previously mentioned, I didn't care about enjoying myself anymore, nor did I care about honor or pride. Thus, I dropped my daggers to the ground.

"What are you doing?!"

James looked at me with unsteady eyes, unable to comprehend my actions. With dead eyes, I just brushed off his stupid question, "Ignorant dogs shouldn't ask questions they don't understand the answer to."

Not bothering to open his mouth anymore, he put his sword forward again, getting ready for what was about to happen.

*CRRZZZT!*

The lightning around me escalated in power, now starting to reach out into the air and onto the ground as if I was the center of a tesla coil.

"As you clearly don't respect me, I will show you how much I respect you."

*[Lightning Step]!*, *BAM!*

****

'What is going on?!'

Even though Sarah saw what was happening in the arena, her mind couldn't understand it. It had started out as a pretty even fight, with both parties fighting equally, not landing any blows.

Then Miren had somehow managed to slice the neck of James, who had barely managed to tilt his neck enough to not be defeated.

These were all things that she could somehow comprehend and follow along with, but then things started to get weird.

James had suddenly started shining in bright gold, almost as if he had fused with the sun. It had led to him getting a lot faster and seemingly more powerful, making it so he in turn managed to land his own attack against the smaller student, who didn't manage to retreat in time.

Miren was still standing, but his body quickly became covered in blood from his wound, all the way from his shoulders down to his stomach.

Even if she was glad that James appeared to have won, it was horrible to have to see Miren in that state.

"Surrender, Miren. You have no chance of winning!"

A loud voice suddenly rang out in the arena, as James tried to convince the blood-soaked Miren to give up.

And now, another inexplicable, yet familiar, even unfolded.

A wave of pressure exploded from the small body as huge snakes of purple electricity started to dance around his body.

I could feel my heart sink as I watched the small figure gather power in his body. It was just like when we had seen him getting his stats recorded in front of us for the first time, although not quite as chaotic.

"Miren, please don't do it!"

I couldn't stop myself from screaming, as I felt panic take a hold of me. Even though I didn't know how much stronger James had gotten by using his skill, I unconsciously knew that it wouldn't matter.

Nothing seemed to matter in front of Miren right now, all that was standing in front of him was insignificant, and James was no exception.

However, Miren dropped his daggers, letting them fall to the ground, once again confusing everyone spectating.

And then everything happened so fast.

Another explosion of energy came from Miren, the tendrils of lightning getting even more aggressive and he blinked forward, too fast for my eyes to see.

*BAM!*

James's mouth spewed out blood as Miren pinched him in the stomach, and his body folded forwards.

*BAM!*

Another punch this time landing on his face, leading to his body twisting in the air before he fell down on his back.

The rest of the fight was slow. No, it wasn't even a fight. It was a massacre.

Miren sat down on top of the knocked-down James and without hurrying started punching his face over and over again.

*BAM!*

More blood exited James's mouth, but for some reason, he was unable to fight back.

*BAM!*

His nose broke, completely smashed by another attack.

*BAM!*

*BAM!*

*BAM!*

It was a never-ending cycle of horror, but during all of this, Mirens face was still deadly calm, almost nonchalant as he kept on destroying the face of his enemy.

I couldn't say a word. Tears were streaming down my face as I kept my eyes on the brutal assault that felt sacrilegious to the academy.

But everyone was silent, and just like me, they just watched.

The only thing that could be heard was the horrible sound of the little devil's fist continuing to find its path to his opponent's face.

Then, as he raised his fist once more, my panic reached its peak. It urged me to do something as if I didn't do so now, I would never be able to.

"MIREN, PLEASE STOP!"

****

Rage had consumed me as I had started my assault against the spiteful golden boy. In just two punches he had fallen to the ground, and thus I had taken a mounted position.

*BAM!*

It was a strange sensation, the feeling of my fist landing on James's face. A mixture of feeling his facial structure deforming while at the same time feeling the bones in my hand breaking.

I had [Overclocked] so much that my entire body felt like it was about to just break down and never move again, but I didn't care. I just wanted to continue punishing the ignorant young man who had betrayed my trust once again.

*BAM!*

Blood started to flow out from his nose as I completely demolished it.

*BAM!*

*BAM!*

*BAM!*

It felt so good, too good in fact. Joy and exhilaration came over me as I continued to pound my opponent, not caring about anything else. He had chosen to become my enemy, and thus this is what he got. I was finally getting to show him his place, that he was currently underneath me, no matter how powerful he would become in the future. Even if I lost my body due to my Art, at this moment it all felt worth it.

All the times he had looked down on me, the time he tried to use me as a tool in order to show everyone how absolutely honorable he was, to now when he had tried to put himself on display in front of all these students and teachers that were spectating. This was payback for all of those times, as well as my way of showing him that I was not one to be used. I wasn't a tool for him to become a hero in the eyes of others.

Looking down at the young man, his face was completely destroyed. Teeth had gotten blown away, and his nose was, as stated, completely broken. But there was one thing he didn't lose. His eyes were still full of conviction. No matter how much pain he went through, no matter how powerless he must've felt, he didn't surrender.

'That's a hero for you, I guess...'

Even though I was full of contempt for James, I couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of respect for his determination. He was, after all, the one to ultimately save the world.

Seeing his eyes, my mind cleared a bit and my mood mellowed out slightly. This was not the time to fully destroy the hero, I still needed him to do his job after all. Accepting that I would have to end this joyful occasion, I raised my hand one more time to finally make his bracelet activate.

*Crzzzt*

I activated [Discharge] to make sure I would defeat him and I drove my arm down for the last time.

"MIREN, PLEASE STOP!"

A familiar voice rang out in the arena, making me unwittingly stop my attack right before it would end the fight. But as it turns out, if wouldn't have mattered as another individual had already arrived at the scene to stop me if needed.

"That's enough, young hare. You have won."

And with those words as the trigger, I canceled my overclocking and let my body fall unconscious.