Chapter 123: Dance of Fire and Steel: Kaida vs. RayaKaida charged forward, her body igniting in flames, twin hammers in her hands blazing with fiery power. She lunged at Raya, her movements fierce and unrestrained.
But Raya, with calm precision, sidestepped the oncoming assault.
As Kaida's hammers struck the ground, a burst of fire and debris exploded upward, yet Raya was already repositioning herself, unharmed.
She took a steadying breath, her aura flickering with a soft glow, and her katana began to take shape, materializing in her hand as if drawn from the very air.
She exhaled softly, and a white aura began to gather around her, swirling with focused energy.
In one graceful motion, her hand reached out, and her katana began to materialize, forming from the mystic glow into solid white steel.
Kaida smirked, flames intensifying around her as she charged again. Her hammers swung with brutal force, each strike aimed to break through Raya's defense.
The crowd roared as the two clashed, steel meeting flame, the sheer intensity of their battle resonating through the arena.
Raya's movements remained fluid, her katana meeting each of Kaida's strikes with delicate, controlled precision.
She redirected rather than blocked, her blade moving as if it were an extension of her spirit. Each time Kaida swung with force, Raya countered with grace, letting the hammer's force disperse without challenging it directly.
Kaida leapt back, her eyes gleaming with determination as she activated her field spell and brought hell over the battlefield.
Flames erupted across the battlefield, turning the ground into a searing inferno. Raya darted through the flames, her steps light and quick, evading each fiery burst that Kaida threw her way.
Her aura intensified, wrapping around her as if shielding her from the heat.
Kaida smirked as she swung her hammers down, the force of her attack sending shockwaves through the arena, but Raya's movements remained fluid and controlled.
For every wild, intense strike Kaida threw, Raya countered with a precise, subtle parrying, deflecting the attack.
The two fought fiercely, trading blow for blow. Kaida fought back with relentless determination, pushing Raya to her limits.
The crowd roared as they clashed in the center of the arena, flames and swift blade movements dancing in the space between them, each blow even, their strength and speed matched, creating a wonderful balance that held the audience on the edge of their seats
From the stands, Victoria observed with a measured gaze.
"They're both exceptional," she murmured, half to herself, half to Zara beside her.
Zara nodded, her eyes wide with admiration.
"I didn't think it'd be this close. Kaida's intensity is incredible... but Raya's control is something else."
Beside her, Ryder grinned, fists clenched in excitement.
"Kaida's got her! She's pushing her back."
In the locker room, Catarina leaned forward, her eyes glued to the screen, her tail flicking anxiously.
"Come on, Kaida, show her who's the boss."
Eratz watched, his expression sharp.
Kaida gave a shout and summoned her wyvern, the massive creature filling the air above them, flames trailing from its wings. She let its power flow into her, entering beastification. With blazing wings and hammers, she looked like a devil in the flesh rather than a fire master, a sight that sent the crowd into a frenzy, chanting her name in unison.
Raya stood firm, her katana held in a ready stance, her expression composed. She offered the faintest of smiles, an acknowledgment of Kaida's prowess.
Kaida attacked with renewed ferocity, her fire-infused hammers crashing down like meteor strikes, each swing spreading waves of heat across the arena.
Raya was forced back, her calm steps turning into a measured retreat as she deflected blow after blow.
With a powerful swing, Kaida's hammer narrowly missed her, scorching the ground beside her. Raya exhaled, steadying herself, meeting Kaida's fiery gaze.
Raya stumbled back, her breathing heavy, her expression thoughtful. She steadied herself, raising her katana and facing Kaida's blazing gaze.
"I don't think I'll win this," Raya said softly, her voice calm. "Your strength... it's astounding. Thank you for going all out and pushing me to this edge."
Kaida rolled her eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Ugh, of course, the 'it's not even my final form' speech. Just get on with it already."
Raya smiled faintly, bowing her head in gratitude.
"I will honor your power..."
Her aura began to intensify, red energy swirling around her like a storm. Her katana took on a darker hue, transforming into a blade of red and black.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, her irises now a blazing red, perfectly aligned as if she could
truly see her opponent.
"... by going all out myself," Raya's voice echoed through the arena
Kaida braced herself, flames surging around her as she readied her stance.
"Bring it on."
In a flash, Raya vanished, reappearing beside Kaida with a swift slice of her katana.
A red trail of light followed the blade, carving a searing line across Kaida's side.
Kaida grunted, swinging her hammer in retaliation, flames erupting as she aimed to catch Raya off guard.
But Raya was everywhere and nowhere, moving with an almost supernatural speed.
Her katana struck again and again, each cut precise and leaving a glowing red mark that pulsed painfully on Kaida's skin.
Kaida let out a roar, commanding her wyvern, and it dived toward Raya, a whirlwind of fire descending upon her. Raya's aura surged, her stance low and focused as she whispered.
"Shinku no Kaze."
In one sweeping motion, she swung her katana, a crimson arc of energy slicing through the flames, halting the wyvern's attack momentarily. The creature let out a frustrated roar, but Raya advanced, her strikes relentless.
The crowd sat in stunned silence, captivated by the sheer elegance and ruthlessness of Raya's movements. Each of her attacks held purpose, each strike calculated to weaken her opponent
without wasting energy.
"Tsukikage," her katana tracing a wide arc that left a burning line across Kaida's chest,
forcing her to stagger.
Kaida gritted her teeth, summoning every ounce of her strength.
She launched herself into the air, wings blazing, her hammers raised high. She swung down with all her might, her determination burning as fiercely as her flames.
Raya's eyes narrowed, her katana raised.
"Akatsuki."
In a flash, her blade danced through the air, a series of rapid, almost invisible strikes that carved across Kaida's body with unmatched precision.
Each slash left a glowing trail, the red marks searing with an intensity that brought Kaida to her knees, her wyvern's flames faltering.
Kaida roared, her vision reddening, she refused to give in, her hammers swinging with fever.
Her wyvern joined the assault, a last desperate attempt to overpower Raya with sheer force. But Raya remained untouchable, slipping through each strike like a ghost.
Her aura absorbed the flames as she advanced, her katana moving with an artistry that left the
crowd in awe.
In the stands, Victoria watched with wide eyes.
Back in the locker room, Catarina's fists clenched, her face a mixture of frustration and awe.
"Kaida... don't give up."
Eratz watched in silence, biting his lips.
In the arena, Kaida swung her hammer in a desperate arc, but Raya evaded with ease, her
katana flashing as it delivered another searing cut along Kaida's side. The pain from each red
mark intensified, sapping Kaida's strength.
Raya took a step back, her katana poised, she exhaled.
"You've fought well. But this ends now."
Kaida gritted her teeth, summoning her final reserves, her flames surging one last time, her hammers glowing white-hot as she prepared for a final attack.
She charged, her wings flaring, bringing both hammers down with everything she had left.
Raya's body froze, her katana raised, her stance unwavering. She opened her mouth and her
words echoed in everyone's mind.
"Yamiyo no Ichirin."
In an instant, Raya moved, her katana a whirlwind of red light, slicing through the air with
blinding speed.
Her blade struck multiple times in a heartbeat, each cut leaving a crimson mark.
The slashes seemed to float in the air, glowing with an eerie beauty.
Raya reappeared behind Kaida, holding her pose, her katana pointed downward as she
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"Rest well, Blazing Tempest."
the red marks across Kaida's body ignited, a wave of energy rippling outward. Kaida's
hammers slipped from her grasp, her field spell dissolving, her wings flickering as she fell to her knees. She struggled, determination blazing in her eyes, but her body could take no more. With a final exhale, Kaida collapsed, her flames extinguished, lying unconscious upon the
battlefield.
For a moment, the arena was silent, the beauty and ferocity of the fight leaving everyone
breathless.
Then, slowly, the crowd erupted into applause, a thunderous roar of admiration for both
warriors.
Raya's katana dissolved, her aura fading as she bowed deeply to Kaida's fallen form, her respect evident.
"The winner... Raya Kobayashi!" the announcer's voice echoed,