Chapter 6 Inferno's Reckoning

"You might be a level above me but I have way more..." Zaheer hurriedly rolled on his back to the left to evade the gigantic blazing Iinferno that headed straight for him he couldn't help but notice the speed and size and drastically increased in speed.

 Ryder's left fist was held out and immediately he thrust his right and left fist forward releasing an incredibly huge amount of fire it was different than his initial attacks this time it seemed like he was punching the fire out of fists, at the tip of his fists it looked like a tiny bit of fire but as it moved forward with incredible speed it expanded he was like a human cannon.

Zaheer's agility was no match for the flames' rapid spread. With a swift thrust of his arm, he unleashed a flurry of wind-shaped spears that pierced Ryder's inferno, exploding it from within, each dodging and weaving from left to right hoping to get a better aim.

The audience was thrilled as they saw fire and air dancing inside the battle arena their eyes were so focused and with every explosion you could hear their voices rising like a trumpet, Ryder had much more advantage because he was on offense while Zaheer was just defending.

Ryder didn't blink for a single second each flame he shot from his fist was getting hotter and faster than the last, on the other hand Zaheer was having a hard time keeping up with him, to make matters worse Ryder took a step forward with each flame he shot making Zaheer move backwards time and time again.

Ryder blasted more and more inferno towards Zaheer whose defense gradually began to weaken, at times he had to jump completely out of the way in order not get hit while the flames he was able to stop were only a few centimeters away from his face.

"How did he get so much better just now" Zaheer said inwardly struggling with every word he uttered. Ryder's shot kept getting faster, his aim better his movements swifter Zaheer looking for an opening at that moment was impossible he jumped from the left to the right to evade while being pushed backwards as he used his air to stop Ryder's flames which ended up exploding in his face.

 Then it started happening Ryder's flames began to hit Zaheer, at first he held his ground a little bit immediately with swift reflexes Ryder tumbled generating powerful flames from both his feet, the first knocked Zaheer into the air and the second knocked him down to the floor in a split second, the impact sent cracks spidering through the floor beneath him.

"They both have the same fighting style don't you think ?" The Principal asked Mr Zane with his eyes fixed on Ryder, "Yeah if those two could learn to work together no student in this school stands a chance" Mr Zane said. 

Zaheer struggled to his feet, his upper body a testament to the battle's fury. His outfit lay in tatters, with shredded remnants clinging to his shoulders, torso, and gut. The fabric hung in ragged strips, exposing glimpses of battered skin beneath "You still wanna go ?" Ryder asked with a sinister smile.

 Both his palms opened up ready to unleash more of his power and his chest moving up and down, Zaheer said nothing he took his time to slowly rise to his feet as if he forgot his opponent was right in front of him, Ryder wasn't cowardly enough to attack a defenseless opponent he waited for him to rise to his feet but still his eyes was as sharp as ever, his entire focus locked on his opponent, not even allowing himself to blink at this point it was obvious that Ryder no longer underestimated the power of his opponent.

Zaheer was on his feet and his stance was open, he couldn't raise his head up properly with that he stumbled backwards his arms spread wide in desperate bid for balance it was obvious he was about to fall down and with that Ryder completely let his guard down.

 Zaheer finally found the opening he longed for, he immediately held himself and spinned at a spot as fast as he could generating a mighty force of wind that soared above the entire arena the force of the wind sent Ryder flying backwards, the wind affected the entire arena all the students covered their face but the wind scattered their hairs, Ryder managed to stand up in the middle of the tornado he used both hands to cover his face, he wasn't sure what Zaheer was up to but it wasn't good for him.

As Ryder was still confused about what he was supposed to do and what Zaheer was doing, the entire tornado storm came to an end as Zaheer just stopped spinning, leaving Ryder even more confused "He stopped ?" Ryder said inwardly confused about what the whole point of the storm was.

Before Ryder could make a move or even say a word he felt something pass through his gut, it was sharp and it felt like a dagger.

 Zaheer made the tornado storm powerful enough to keep moving for about ten seconds after he stopped spinning. He covered both of his palms together as he held a little amount of air inside it he put a lot of pressure on the air as he rested both palms tightly one on top of the other.

 He raised his hands as he targeted Ryder's gut and immediately opened up the top half of both his palms sending the air at an incredible amount of speed towards Ryder immediately the hurricane stopped and then Ryder got hit by it leaving a hole in his stomach.

Ryder's eyes widened as he felt what passed through him he fell on one knee his palm held fast on the ground while using his other hand to clutch his gut tightly, Ryder's inner voice was a strained whisper heavy with anguish, "Shit, he played me, his tornado was only a distraction, I fell for his plans twice in a row, damn, I have to stand up, I have to beat this guy it's the only way forward I cannot lose" 

 Zaheer looked down on Ryder as he struggled to rise to his feet, "You have a hole in your gut just give up already I've won this fight" "Why the hell is this guy still going does he have a death wish" Zaheer said inwardly.

Ryder was able to get back on his feet, there was something different about him he had a smile stuck on his face "All this time I didn't see it why ? Fire and Air, the perfect combo for me I am sorry Zaheer you're a good opponent but I think you're gonna have to lose this one".

Zaheer felt quite uneasy after hearing what Ryder said, the whole match was now in his hands as he had about 90% chance of winning and that of Ryder just about 10% but somehow Ryder made him worry about the fate of the match.

Zaheer covered both his hands again about to unleash the final blow to seal the fate of the match as he covered both his palms air sucked into it like a vacuum different what he had done before it was obvious he was making it more powerful "This time I'll make sure you stay down for good".