The moment Shawn lunge forward without listening to the start signal, the battle was already on. And above all, he was the first one who managed to touch Changing Star...
That was because when he lunge, he immediately threw a straight punch. It was a straightforward punch no one would ever fall for. And yet, the moment Changing Star caught it and was about to throw Shawn to the floor, the hand suddenly disappeared into nothing and the real one suddenly came striking her abdomen.
Shawn smiled triumphantly at the sight but fortunately, Changing Star managed to blocked the surprise attack with her other hand. She immediately twisted her body to swipe Shawn's feet, causing him to fall…
"Huh?…"
That was all Shawn could mutter as he found himself on the ground, Changing Star's fist hovering inches away from his face.
Just like that, like any others, he was defeated swiftly.
[T-that girl is dangerous isn't she?]
Scaredy whispered in Dein's head. Clearly knowing what Dein is planning to do next.
If this was the nightmare, Dein would've run away. But it's not. This is the place to grow stronger, and he already made up his mind that he would be stronger… and so, he stood up next.
****
Dein exhaled to calm himself down the moment he entered the ring. In front of him is the invincible Changing Star, around him were the beaten sleepers who were reduced to spectators.
Strangely, Dein found himself smiling. To be honest, the moment Dein learned of Nephis's existence, he had been envious of her. After all, Nephis… was dignified, she was aloof, quiet, yet her very aura screamed of her presence. More than that, she's strong… too strong really.
And no matter how many times Dein tries to deny it, Nephis is indeed worthy of her true name Changing Star.
It was… everything Dein desired. Something that would allow him to be a worthy Legacy Scion like Caster.
It was as if the more he learned about Nephis, the more the dire seed of envy blooms in his heart. He hated that feeling. And yet, standing before Changing Star, Dein was calm as ever.
They did not waste time to speak to each other. Simply bowed and took their stances. Then, Dein lunge forward with a punch but Nephis easily parried it, she countered with a punch of her own aiming straight for Dein's face.
However, instead of dodging the punch or blocking it to continue the attack, Dein instead jumped back to disengage. That was because he already sense, or rather, felt, the attack coming from below him and to his abdomen using [Dreadful Trepidation].
"Phew, that was close…"
Dein muttered in relief. That was indeed close… if he had not felt the burning pain coming from his abdomen, Dein would've probably fell for that feint.
Changing Star on the other hand, seems to be a bit surprised that Dein managed to see through her attack. She studied him for a bit, making sure not to attack recklessly as they stared each other down.
'Hey… we need a plan don't we?'
Unable to come up with anything, Dein turned to the people living inside him. They all answered one after a other.
[Unfortunately, yes.]
[Haha, she almost got us there didn't she mister?]
[C-can't we just forfeit this? T-there's no shame in losing right?]
Dein almost choked on Scaredy's comment. I mean yes, there's no shame in losing… but there definitely is if he's just going to surrender after coming all this way already.
Sensing the other two to be useless, Dein turned his attention to the first one.
'So Serious, do you, um, have a plan?'
His answer came almost immediately, the answer that made the corner of Dein's lips twitch.
[No, I don't.]
Well, he suspected that already. This people after all, only cares about surviving. In a sparring where their life isn't on the line, they would not have the drive to do their best. Dein knew as such so he didn't expect much. However, the moment he stepped forward again, Serious spoke.
[I don't have a plan but we don't really need one. Changing Star is indeed strong but if we hold out long enough, she'll definitely show an opening. We'll use that new power of yours once she does…]
Dein clicked his tongue at that absurd plan. Holding out until Changing Star showed an opening? Will that even happen in a thousand years? More so, his new ability is too dangerous, if he failed and accidentally used all of his Soul Fragments, Dein would be severely weakened before the solstice even begun.
'Tsk, whatever!'
He screamed in his mind.
Then, the moment he closed in on Nephis, burning pain erupted on his neck, causing him to winced and stepped back. Narrowly avoiding the attack. Then he lunge forward again, throwing punches after another but all of them either got dodge or parried.
Nephis didn't threw much counter attack, focusing solely on defensive. It seems she's trying to figure out how Dein is predicting her attack, because everytime she does, Dein would accurately move to where her supposed attack wouldn't reached.
They exchanged blows like this for a while with Dein on the offensive, however, things suddenly changed when Dein felt the agony of the burning pain on five different parts of his body. Then it became six, then seven…
Before Dein could react, he was attack simultaneously on different parts of his body. When he tried to defend his head, a kick came towards his leg, and when he tried to defend it as well, it was as if Changing Star became water and wind at the same time as her body seem to flow.
Her attack turned into a feint everytime Dein tried to defend from it. One second it was a punch to the face and when he dodge, it would flow and turn towards his body instead. If he still dodge that, a kick would then follow.
It was the very definition of a barrage of attacks.
'S-shi… dammit…'
He cursed beneath his breath as he tried to block a hook aim at his chin. However, the next second, an agonizing pain erupted in his stomach and before he could react, he was punched to the gut.
"Gah!"
Water came out of Dein's mouth at the uppercut that sent his guts almost spilling out. However, Dein didn't fall to his back, instead, he smiled. His hand that were microseconds late from blocking the gut wrenching punch Changing Star threw at him suddenly grabbed at her and refused to let go.
"You bastard…"
In that swift moments, Dein activated his Aspect Ability, just like before, it's as if he drank something and that something surge around his body. He concentrated it on his left hand with a gust of wind and then…
And then, before he knows it, he was already on the ground, his nose broken, and his eyes wide as the only thing he could mutter was…
'huh?'