Chapter 22

Juan got into a fighting stance and backed away from several masters. Rami did the same. I understood Juan's tactic because he needed to keep his distance to copy a power and then switch to close combat offense. But why was Rami doing the same? Did he have a similar ability?

"Well, what's wrong? Are you afraid to get closer?" Juan shouted as he retreated.

Strangely, we could hear them inside the room; there must be a microphone built into the uniform that activates when we enter the arena.

"You talk a lot for someone who's running away!" Rami retorted.

Then Rami charged at Juan without thinking.

"Just as expected," Juan whispered.

Rami activated his eyes while running and formed a sphere of water as big as his hand.

"Take this!" Rami yelled, trying to hit Juan.

Juan didn't move; he let Rami get as close as possible. Rami managed to get about 5 centimeters from Juan's face.

Juan smiled arrogantly and proudly. At the last second, Juan tilted his head, activated his eyes, copied and enhanced Rami's power, then struck him in the ribs.

"You should have thought before rushing in head-—" Juan's face suddenly showed confusion and shock.

Rami had blocked the attack at the last moment by projecting water at his feet to push himself away from Juan.

"WOAH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LAST-SECOND DODGE FROM THE GREAT RAMI!" shouted the commentator.

Rami's face showed fear.

"You're fast!" Rami said, cracking his knuckles.

"I can say the same about you," Juan replied with a smirk.

"Hey Marvens, do you think Juan has a chance to win?" Katia asked me.

"He doesn't need luck for that!" I answered confidently.

"That's an excellent answer," Komi said, tapping my shoulder. "I know he's capable!"

"It surprises me too, honestly. Making me face a psychic water user like this…" Rami said arrogantly and seriously. "But don't worry, water can't really hurt…"

"That surprises me as well, to be honest. Making me face such a weak psychic user is an insult!" Juan shouted to provoke his opponent.

From what I saw, his tactic worked well: Rami's face was veined, his fists clenched, and his gray aura appeared.

"You little brat!" he shouted.

"Come on, I'm waiting for you, big guy," Juan said.

Unlike the previous attack, Juan didn't get into a defensive stance, but I clearly saw he had an idea behind his head.

From a writing point of view, I could say Rami's eyes turned white to express great rage, but in fact, his irises really became white.

Rami charged at Juan again, this time zigzagging to distract him. Despite his imposing build, he ran very fast.

When he got close enough, he reactivated his eyes, propelled himself with a jet into Juan's side, and tried to form a new sphere of water—but unfortunately for him, Juan shattered that sphere with a long, sharp, pointed water sword.

I didn't know he was capable of such a feat just by copying. I had never seen him use copying like that before.

"I finally understand…" he whispered. Now, water holds no secrets for me. Juan's eyes were not only activated, but his aura was too, a very dark purple.

Rami fell to the ground because, from what I saw from a distance, Juan's aura was altering the surrounding gravity.

"I… I… I—"

"Shut up," Juan said calmly, pointing the water sword at the big guy.

"CONGRATULATIONS TO JUAN, WINNER OF THE FIRST ROUND OF THE TOURNAMENT! LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THIS VICTORY!" shouted the commentator, and the crowd listened and made a huge noise.

Juan's aura slowly faded, then he deactivated his eyes, making the sword disappear.

"That was a very good match!" he said with a slight honest smile, without opening his mouth.

He offered his hand to help Rami get up.

"You're right, you showed me I still have a long way to go before I can call myself a good psychic user of my power," Rami said, accepting Juan's help.

"I hope we'll meet again in a real-time fight!" Juan said, shaking his hand.

"Me too," Rami said, a little disappointed by his defeat.

The two went toward opposite doors leading to the waiting room where we were.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE NEXT FIGHT WILL START IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES. IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN GO TO THE TOILETS, BUY FOOD, OR CHAT WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR ABOUT THIS AMAZING FIRST MATCH!" announced the commentator.

Juan entered the room, and we all ran to congratulate him on the fight.

"Congrats Juan, you managed to improve your power during the fight—I'm proud of you!" I told him, giving him a friendly handshake.

"Thanks, but that's nothing new. I can use this technique when I fully understand how a power works."

I was quite surprised, but after all, in the last fights we had, Juan hadn't had many chances to use this technique.

"Great job! I'm proud of you—you worked hard to get there!" Komi said with a smile like a proud mom.

"Congratulations! I never thought you had a technique like that. You better explain it to us in detail at the end of the tournament!" Katia said, looking happy.

"I have to admit that beneath your sometimes unpleasant attitude, there's a huge psychic strength!" Seth said, bumping his fist against Juan's.

Juan bumped fists with Seth and said:

"Thanks, friends!"

"You fought well, Juan," Sabrina said with an emotionless face, no empathy.

"Well, thanks, it was pretty easy—I didn't do anything extraordinary!" Juan said, scratching the back of his head with a slightly strange smile, like he was embarrassed.

"Anyway, now go get your snack and come back to join us in the hall, the next fight will start soon."

…

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE NEXT FIGHT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN! I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TOM FROM HAPPY ACADEMY AND DARNELL FROM POWERFUL ACADEMY TO THE RING!"

"This fight will be very interesting. I suggest you study how Darnell fights, just in case you have to face him," Seth said confidently, looking out the window.

"Hmm, okay!" I replied.

The two entered the room, and people cheered for them.

Darnell was Black, about average height, around 1.75m, with freeform hair, and well-built for a skinny body judging by his uniform.

Tom was very tall, white, with a mullet, and a rather imposing build.

"I can't wait to see Darnell's power!" I thought.

"ARE YOU READY?! FIGHT!"