The two stepped forward.
Lira moved first—calm, precise. Her steps were light and deliberate as she entered the ring, posture steady, breathing controlled.
Her jet-black braid swayed behind her, and the slim Nexa dagger in her hand let out a faint, steady hum—alive, but restrained.
Rayka followed with a sharp crack of her neck. Her stance was aggressive, defiant.
Short red hair slicked back, twin knuckle-blades locked over her fists as raw energy rippled around her like heat off stone.
The contrast was immediate.
Steel versus storm.
They locked eyes from opposite ends of the ring, neither willing to blink.
Rovan raised his hand.
"Begin."
Rayka charged first, fast and headstrong. She went low, fists swinging in wide arcs. The speed was impressive – even aggressive – but Lira didn't move. She simply sidestepped at the last moment, letting Rayka's strike fly pass her.
A flick of her wrist – the dagger sliced upward, grazing Rayka's shoulder. Rayka gritted her teeth and twisted, managing to catch Lira's leg with a spinning kick. Lira stumbled back. "Got you now!"
Rayka yelled, swinging both fists forward with a flurry of jabs. But Lira ducked under the last punch, sweeping Rayka's legs with precision. Rayka fell hard – dust kicking up – but she immediately rolled back and jumped to her feet, spitting out a laugh.
"So you're not just some elegant doll, huh?"
"I don't talk in fights," Lira replied flatly.
This time, Lira went on the offensive. Her form became sharper, more clinical. The dagger moved like an extension of her arm – short strikes meant to tag, disable, test.
Rayka fought back with sheer force, absorbing glancing blows in order to deliver heavier ones – she managed to land a nasty uppercut that sent Lira sliding across the dirt.
Both girls stood, blood on their lips, breathing hard.
Rovan's eyes narrowed, watching each movement. He said nothing, letting the clash unfold.
After another minute, Lira feinted a slash to Rayka's shoulder and went for her side instead, dropping her opponent with a clean pressure-point jab to the ribs.
Rayka fell to one knee, gasping.
Rovan raised his hand. "Match concluded."
Lira stepped back and offered no bow. She simply walked to the side, her blade flickering off. Rayka coughed and laughed again. "She's good. Real good," she muttered, rubbing her ribs.
Rovan nodded faintly. "One shows control. The shows resilience. Both valuable. But only one wins."
The rest of the girls were silent, glancing at each other nervously. And then he looked back down at the slate.
Rovan's voice cut through the air once more. "Next match – Emery Suto verus Kessia Vale."
Kessia stepped forward – tall, lean and stone-faced. Her braid was tight, her stance tighter. Dull silver rings lined both ears, and an obsidian blade with a curved edge sat slung behind her lower back.
Every step she took was measured like she was walking through fire – never too fast, never too slow.
By contrast Emery Suto approached the ring with loose confidence. Short black hair tucked under her scarf, her twin batons clicked together as she spun them once, flickered her shoulders and smirked.
"Well damn," Emery muttered, "this one's already breathing like she wants to kill me."
"No talking," Kessia replied coldly, already drawing her blade.
Rovan crossed his arms.
"Begin."
The match didn't start with footwork—it exploded with metal. Kessia moved like a blade herself, sliding low with a sweeping arc of her curved weapon, forcing Emery to leap back instantly. But Emery grinned, spun in the air and landed with her batons crossed in front.
Clack-clack.
Two strikes in a heartbeat. Kessia ducked one and parried the next with the flat of her sword. She didn't retreat – instead, she advanced, pressing Emery hard with relentless pressure. Slashes came low, then reversed mid-swing to strike high.
Emery barely kept up, twirling to the side to avoid a finishing blow. "Fast…" Emery breathed. "Guess I'll stop playing."
She dashed in low, her batons sparking with faint energy. Each strike now had more bite, more intention. She used her smaller frame to slip past Kessia's guard, landing two sharp jabs to her side.
Kessia hissed and retaliated with a palm strike – not a blade, a strike – catching Emery off-guard and throwing her several feet back. The crowd gasped.
Emery flipped, skidded and landed on her knees, coughing once.
"Oof. Alright. Round two." She zipped forward, ducked under a swing, planted one baton in the ground and used it to vault over Kessia's blade arc. In mid-air, she twisted, struck Kessia's back with both batons and kicked off her spine to land safely behind her.
The blow made Kessia stumble – but she never fell.
Instead, she turned… and smirked.
For the first time. "Not bad," she said.
Both girls now stood on opposite ends of the ring, breathing hard, sweat dripping. Rovan raised a hand.
"Enough. That's sufficient."
Gasps erupted.
Some booed, wanting a winner. Others murmured about how fast, how clean, how lethal it had all looked.
"Both of you," Rovan said. "Above average control. Sharp instincts. Solid kills if this were real."
Emery twirled a baton and gave a short bow, tongue out. Kessia just nodded and walked off the platform.
As Kessia disappeared into the crowd and Emery flickered her scarf back into place, a wave of whispers rippled across the candidates. Some were still stunned, others thrilled – but all were caught off guard by how intense the clash had been.
Rovan didn't even give them long to breathe. His voice boomed again. "Next match…" He slowly turned, gaze cutting through the group like a blade.
"Kaien Mure…"
A few girls stiffened. The name was known – not for loudness, but for silence.
Kaien was already stepping forward. Her long bleached hair tied back in a sharp braid, shoulders squared, hands calm. She said nothing. Didn't need to. Her presence spoke volumes.
Then Rovan turned to the cluster of late arrivals. He raised one hand. Pointed straight at her.
"You. Step Up."
Akeno blinked, confused. "M-Me…?"
"Don't make me repeat myself."
A hush fell over the crowd.
Kinuko leaned forward, concern flickering in her eyes.
Akeno hesitated for only a second more… then stepped into the ring, her expression unreadable.
Kaien didn't even look at her – just adjusted her stance.
And the tension twisted like a drawn bow.
Something dangerous was about to unfold.