The hallway was quiet. Only the distant hum of mana could be heard pulsing through the walls. I cracked my neck and walked forward, my steps echoing with purpose. One more door. One more battle. I reached out and opened it.
Slam.
There she was.
Sona Shitori.
She stood at the center of the room, her usual composed demeanor fully intact—shoulders squared, eyes cold. She looked up and noticed me entering.
Sona: "You came."
I walked in with a yawn, hand casually over my mouth.
MC: "Yeah, yeah… Let's get this started."
I shut the door behind me, the tension in the air thick like fog.
She raised a brow at my nonchalant attitude. I could feel her mana vibrating in the air, but I wasn't phased. I stretched my arms behind my head and gave her a sideways glance.
MC: "But before we start… there's something I need from you."
Her head tilted, mildly curious.
Sona: "Something?"
MC: "Yeah. If we win this Rating Game… you're going to owe me a favor. No 'ifs', no 'buts'. Deal?"
She blinked, puzzled at first. Then, her lips curled into a sly smile.
Sona: "Alright. I accept."
I grinned.
MC: "Good. Then let's begin."
I stepped forward and let the air settle, standing calmly in front of her.
MC: "What I'm about to teach you isn't just combat—it's control. Calm. Precision. Understanding the flow of energy itself."
She looked at me curiously, her strategic mind always absorbing everything.
MC: "This technique comes from a martial art born beneath the sea—Fishman Karate."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, interested.
MC: "It lets the user manipulate water, even the moisture in the air, to unleash devastating strikes. Water bullets that can paralyze. Punches that send shockwaves. Kicks that hit like cannons."
I raised my arm slowly, palm open toward her.
MC: "The key isn't raw power. It's the rhythm. The timing. A calm surface with crushing depth beneath."
She nodded her head in understanding.
Sona: "I see. So it's not just magic—it's martial flow."
MC: "Exactly. Now—"
I motioned toward her.
MC: "Come at me."
She blinked again, this time surprised.
Sona: "Now?"
MC: "Yes, right now. Don't think—move."
Sona didn't hesitate.
With fluid grace, she launched toward me, her hands laced with controlled magic and discipline. Her form was tight, precise.
She aimed a blow at my shoulder—quick and calculated.
But with just one hand, I shifted my wrist.
Her entire momentum was undone.
I twisted her balance, flipped her body over my shoulder, and—
THUD!
She hit the floor hard, groaning.
MC: "You're stiff. Too focused on form, not enough on flow."
Sona sat up slowly, brushing her hair back, breathing heavy. There was irritation in her eyes, but also intrigue.
MC: "Get up. Again."
She rose to her feet.
MC: "Listen. I'm not going to go easy on you. From this moment on, you're not my Queen. You're not an ally. You're the enemy. So fight me like one."
That hit her.
Her gaze sharpened.
Sona: "Understood."
She activated her magic circles, light-blue sigils spinning beneath her feet. Her pressure increased, and she charged again.
This time faster.
Her hand launched at my side—only to meet air. I ducked low and drove my palm toward her, but she blocked it with a magic shield. Smart.
She spun around with a kick.
I leaned back just enough for it to graze my chin.
MC: "Better."
She lunged.
I sidestepped her easily, fingers loose, one arm behind my back.
Sona: "Haaah!"
Her punch aimed for my chest. I twisted my wrist, redirected her arm, and used her momentum to flip her hard onto the ground.
MC: "Again."
She growled, rolling up. Magic swirled around her.
Sona: "Don't underestimate me!"
Water magic burst toward me like a wave. I exhaled. Jumped over it. One step. Two. She didn't even see me move.
My foot slammed into her side.
MC: "Too slow."
She skidded back, coughing, but didn't fall. Good.
She came again, this time with tighter movement. Smart. I deflected the jab, caught her wrist, twisted, planted my foot on her ankle, and yanked. She hit the mat with a grunt.
MC: "You hesitate. That'll get you killed."
Sona: "I'm trying—"
MC: "Try harder."
She yelled, this time her palms glowing. She shoot water magic at me.
I grabbed a broom leaning on the wall, coated it in Haki. Her magic crashed into it, sparks flew.
I just smiled and looked at her. She followed, kicking high. I ducked, swept her legs.
She flipped mid-air, landed gracefully.
She the tried to attack Me but I dodged everyone of her attacks.
Sona: "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
MC: "You wish."
She rushed. I met her. Our fists clashed—mine wrapped in Haki, hers coated in dense water. The shockwave cracked tiles.
She jumped, spun, aimed a heel kick for my head.
I caught it with two fingers.
MC: "Predictable."
I yanked her down and drove my elbow into her gut. She gasped, folding over. I let her go. She stumbled, then roared, slamming her palms together.
A huge dome of water surrounded us, the pressure thick.
Sona: "Now fight me in my element!"
MC: "Cute trick."
I bent low. The arua around my fist churned.
MC: "Take this!!!"
I launched a Haki-infused punch. The water dome collapsed from the shock, exploding outward. She shielded her eyes. I was already behind her.
MC: "Your back's wide open."
She spun, barely catching my arm. She elbowed me in the ribs. I grinned.
MC: "Good."
She then tried to attack again but this time i blocked it with my hand.
I then grabbed her hand and Spon her around, then I throw her.
She bounced back quicker than expected. Swiped at me with a burst of high-pressure water.
I blocked it with my forearm, jumping over it like wind. I hit her three times in different places. Lower,middle and higher body. Each strike with pinpoint accuracy, each layered with haki pressure.
She flew back, hit the wall, and coughed blood.
MC: "Can you really accomplish your dream like this Sona!"
She wiped her mouth and stood.
Eyes cold. Breathing calm.
I smirked.
She dashed forward—no wasted movement. She twisted her body mid-air and struck with a full-force kick to my shoulder. I blocked, but the power cracked the tile beneath me. She spun again, hitting me with a double-palm water blast to the chest. I flew back this time.
Landed. Skidded. Laughed.
MC: "That's more like it!"
We clashed again. Her fists were faster now, tighter. Left-right-left. I blocked one, dodged another, caught her third and bent her wrist behind her. She twisted out, ducked, swept my leg. I fell backward but caught myself on one arm, spinning and hiting her face.
Sona:"Ugh!"
We met in the center again—no words. Just strikes.
Her punch scraped my cheek. Mine dented her shoulder.She swung her foot. I ducked under, drove my palm into her gut. The ground shaking as we kept attacking each other.
She grunted, spun backward, and hit me in the jaw with the back of her heel.
I stumbled, tasted blood. Smiled.
MC: "You're improving."
She didn't reply. She roared and struck down with both fists, creating a water cannon burst point-blank.
I crossed my arms and blocked, sliding ten feet across the floor.
She chased. I dropped low, drove my fist into the floor.
MC: "COME ON SONA"
I broke the ground beneath her sending a powerful shockwave. She was blasted into the air. I leapt after her, body spinning, haki-cloaked broom in hand.
Mid-air, I swung.
She raised both arms and blocked.
The impact rattled the whole room.
We crashed down together.
Dust exploded outward.
She coughed. Blood down her lip. But her eyes—focused.
She roared, slamming her fist to the ground.
Water exploded upward in a geyser.
I charged through it.
MC: "Hehe!"
We exchanged blow for blow. Her palm to my chest. My elbow to her jaw. Her knee to my ribs. My uppercut to her chin.
Her fists slowed. Her breathing heavy.
I stepped in. My hand glowed.
MC: "Try harder"
I struck.
Not her body—but the air between us.
The force exploded forward. The sheer pressure hit her like a cannon, sending her flying across the room.
She hit the wall, slid down, gasping.
But she stood.
Wobbled.
Raised her fists.
Sona (panting): "I'm not done yet..."
I walked toward her slowly, lowering my stance.
MC: "Good."
She screamed, her hands glowing bright. The water bent to her will, forming a massive wave behind her.
She launched it at me.
I didn't move.
Until the last second.
My fist glowing.
I punched.
The wave split clean in half.
She froze in awe. That pause—was all I needed.
I was behind her again.
My hand gently tapped her shoulder. Then she was sent flying.
I then stood still, she just laid there I then said.
MC:"Is that it. Is that all your dream is worth."
She didn't answer, just laid there.
MC:"Can you really achieve it with just this much effort..SONA!!"
But she didn't answer instead.
Sona stood up, her eyes calm—too calm. Her aura swirled like a storm held on a leash.
MC(Grinning):"Okay... good."
I charged at her, feet pounding the ground. She didn't move. Not an inch.
Just stared at me like I was a fly buzzing toward a bug zapper.
Right as I got within inches—
Boom.
She released it.
Water burst out around her like a tidal wave in the shape of a woman. Her face was covered in a shifting veil of water-infused fist.
I grinned wider.
MC(Thinking):"Yes... that's it, Thats fishman Karate!"
Her fist connected with my chest like a cannonball made of angry ocean.
CRACK.
I was sent flying. Back first. Through air. Across the room. I bounced once, landed on my feet, and slid to a stop like an anime protagonist who refused to skid any less than 10 feet.
I clutched my chest, still grinning like a maniac. Then I raised my both my arms.
MC(Shouting);"YOU DID IT, SONA!"
I was absolutely hyped.
She looked at me, breathing heavy, a satisfied smirk tugging at her lips. The glow in her aura dimmed.
Then her legs wobbled. Her knees gave out.
I appeared in front of her in a flash—before she could even hit the ground. She leaned against me, eyes fluttering.
Her voice was soft but smug.
Sona(weak)"You were holding back... weren't you?"
I tilted my head and gave her the most unapologetic smirk in the universe.
MC(Smiling):"Yep and by a lot."
She chuckled, her strength fading.
Sona(Smiling):"You're not even gonna try to hide it, huh..."
Her eyes closed. She collapsed in my arms.
I just smiled.
MC:"Nah aint my style."