[Pinnacle Academy, Dystopic Simulation - The Central Apartnt Field: Sixth Floor]
Jan and Camila stood poised in the centre of the sixth-floor lobby anxiously.
The once grand space now bore the scars of neglect: peeling paint, flickering fluorescent lights, and a layer of dust that clung to every surface.
A tattered oriental rug lay askew in the centre of the room with its vibrant colours muted by years of neglect.
With each step they had taken broken shards of glass crunched underfoot as the remnants of a shattered window offered a glimpse of the realism that the simulation displayed...
Tap...tap...tap...
The rhythmic thud of footsteps echoed from the opposite side of the lobby, drawing their attention towards the stairwell opposite to the one they had entered through.
Two figures erged from the shadows.
One, of above-average height with hair tied in a bun, stood with a calmness that complented the katana at his side.
The other, tall and bulky, had a shaved head and carried a massive greatsword twice the size of Jan's.
Both sides wore different team colours, leaving only one option: to fight.
As Miya noticed the two before them he extended his arm out to signal Noah not to fight on sight.
"It's not often we encounter strong individuals,"
Miya said, a gentle smile gracing his lips as he looked at Jan.
Noah, standing beside him could only smile happily as the man he wanted to fight for a while now was standing right before him and he drew his massive greatsword from its sheath and nodded in agreent.
"The rumours of you two being a couple must be true," he chuckled in a playful arrogant tone.
Jan returned the smile, shaking his head.
"Rumors will be rumours," he replied, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword.
As he looked up towards them his smile faded and his facial expression turned tense.
"I assu we aren't here to talk right?"
With a swift motion, he drew his broadsword and as aura surged through his entire body he only aid to coat his blade with his golden aura.
Although Jan was the type to pull his punches he knew that situations where the power difference is huge is when he draws the line.
This ans in this fight, Jan will take this fight seriously.
RUMBLE!...RUMBLE!...RUMBLE!...
The building shook as Jan's aura intensified, its power radiating outwards.
Noah and Miya were forced to take a step back from the sheer force of the energy wave emitted by his golden blade.
"He's the real deal ain't he Miya?"
"Indeed."
Stunned by Jan's incredible display, Noah and Miya knew they had to take him seriously.
He had defeated Louise, the projected tournant winner, who had easily bested them both.
However, after witnessing Jan's match against Louise, a question lingered in their minds: If they faced Jan two-on-one, who would win?
They were aware of Jan's achievents and skills, but his loss to Valencia seed absurd.
They had seen him seemingly give up towards the end of that battle, convinced he had more fight left in him.
"Camila, keep your distance," Jan whispered to her, taking a few steps forward towards the duo.
"I'll fight them both, just cover ."
Camila nodded and positioned herself near the rear entrance of the staircase.
As she watched him approach them, a knot of worry tightened in her stomach.
She knew most mages excelled in open-area battles, and this confined space put her at a massive disadvantage.
Which made her think... "was I holding him back?"
"Jan..." Camila called out one last ti.
Jan turned, looking at Camila with a serious expression that quickly softened.
"Yeah?"
"Don't get hurt."
Jan smiled at her and turned to face his opponents.
"I won't."
drip...drip...drip...
A sudden drip of water echoed through the room, drawing their attention upwards.
They noticed a black flag hanging above them, the one Kolek had instructed them to capture.
"It's unfortunate you only have a mage with you,"
Miya mused, drawing his katana and imbuing it with aura.
"I'd be honoured to give you a one-on-one, but it's not possible with him here."
DASH!!!
"...!"
Miya moved first, leaping into the air and spinning as he launched himself at Jan.
"Blooming Blade Dance: Blossom Moon."
SHING!
Miya's blade curved in a perfect circle, clashing with Jan's in a standstill.
RAH!!
Simultaneously, Noah's massive greatsword roared through the air and cleaved the space where Jan had stood a mont before.
BANNGG!
The sheer force of the blow shattered the floor beneath it, sending fragnts of concrete flying.
"Close one..." Jan sighed as he quickly recovered.
"Thanks, Cami!" he shouted with a smile, causing Camila to blush.
"Don't talk during battle..." she muttered.
Thanks to Camila's tily intervention, Jan was safe.
She had narrowly summoned a portal to separate him and Miya before Noah could land a hit.
huuu...
DASH!
Jan lunged back, taking a deep breath in the brief window of opportunity he had to fight the two.
"Light Cleave!"
SHAAAAA!
Jan imbued his blade with the elental attribute of light and swung it towards Miya, who had lost sight of him.
Then... the smoke cleared.
"...!"
Before his eyes, he had witnessed a slash twice the size of Noah.
BANG!
The massive slash of light travelled with incredible speed and slamd Miya against the wall.
"Your back is wide open!"
Noah seeing the opportunity to press his advantage, roared and charged forward.
Lifting his greatsword through the air he aid his steel directly at Jan's unguarded back.
"Gale Force!"
But before the blade could connect, a gust of wind erupted from Camila's outstretched hand, deflecting the attack and sending Noah stumbling off balance.
Jan, sensing the shift in montum, turned and dashed towards Miya.
"Consecutive Slashes!"
SLASH!...SLASH!...SLASH!!
Coating his blade in aura once more, Jan unleashed seven consecutive projectile slashes at Miya.
SHING!!
Miya, caught off guard by the sudden counterattack, quickly sidestepped the first strike and barely managed to parry the others, his katana ringing with each impact.
"How can he casually release aura slashes like that?"
He wondered, realising that every attack from Jan seed to be at least a level higher than Louise's.
But Miya always rembered that each fight was a lesson, an opportunity for improvent.
"It doesn't matter... It's two against one. We can't lose..."
____________
Authors notes:
- The reason Miya believes it's a 2 on-1 is because of how destructive Camila can be and that her attacks are more than capable of harming everyone within the building.
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