It's almost time, it won't be long before I find out whether I'll get to face off against Ariella in the next round.

Both she and her opponent are approaching the arena, she's looking pretty amped up...though, to be fair, she's looked that way in every single one of her matches.

As the two of them stepped onto the arena, the barrier forming, her opponent said something to her, a cocky smirk on his face.

Hm...hey, Ai, any chance you could analyze this footage and read his lips or something?

<If I have to>

<Processing>

<He is saying..."Damn, you're a real cutie. Tell you what, babe, if I win this, how about you go out with me?">

Seriously? Of all the times and places he could've picked to hit on her, he chooses now?

Also, hearing you talk like a fuckboi in that deadpan tone is really funny, I know you're just quoting him, but still.

<Hm>

<Oh, she just responded..."Ew, no. Not interested", so she says>

Heh, nice.

I stood up and approached the window, peering out and narrowing my eyes at her opponent as the countdown began.

Time for Appraisal, let's have a look:

Personal Details:

Name: Trent Folling

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 91 KG

Hunter Details:

Type: Combatant

Class: Assassin

Attribute: Lightning

Spells: N/A

Skills: Stealth, Strike, Double Strike, Triple Strike, Quadruple Strike, Quintuple Strike, Lightning Strike, Double Lightning Strike, Triple Lightning Strike, Slash, Double Slash, Triple Slash, Quadruple Slash, Quintuple Slash, Lightning Slash, Double Lightning Slash, Triple Lightning Slash, Low Accel, Mid Accel, High Accel, Mid Elemental Resistance, High Status Effect Resistance, Super Dual Blades Affinity, High Dagger Affinity, Mid Throwing Weapon Affinity

Stats:

HP: 600

MP: 392

Strength: 620

Agility: 805

Vitality: 580

Perception: 825

Power Level: 637,000

Potential: 722,800

Hm, that's some serious Agility and Perception he's got, his other stats are pretty solid too.

He had spiky hair that was dyed dark blue with the sides and back shaved off, bright yellow eyes, a fair complexion, and he had an agile build.

He had a streaky pattern tattooed across the left side of his neck, with a couple of black metal piercings studded into the top of his right ear.

He had a pair of short-swords strapped to his belt on either side of his waist, and wore a dark blue, leather-armored sleeveless vest that had a streaky, electric yellow pattern across the sides, with matching arm braces that covered his forearms and went halfway up his biceps, and black trousers and boots.

I wonder, is Ariella strong enough to beat him?

I haven't used Appraisal on her, the last time I updated her stats in my Appraisal database was before our final exam.

I know she's gotten a hell of a lot stronger than she was back then, but I don't know if she's strong enough to take this guy.

Guess I'll find out soon enough.

<Or you could just use Appraisal on her and find out right now>

Nah, I'm not going to do that unless and until we face off in the semi-final, so I'll refrain.

Now, then...it's almost time.

As the countdown ended, Trent drew out his short-swords with a smirk, the blades narrow and curved, before he shot forward while chanting, sparks of lightning crackling around his blades as he shot forward with immense speed.

Ariella lunged forward as he closed in on her, getting low as he slashed at the top of her head, severing a couple of strands of her hair, before she drove her right fist towards his stomach as flames burst out around her fist.

Trent swiftly swung his knee up, striking her forearm and killing the momentum of her punch before her fist could reach him, before he slashed at her face with his left blade.

She quickly sprang back and crossed her arms in front of herself, a shallow cut appearing across her gauntlets as the tip of the blade sliced across them, before he shot towards her with a smirk, the lightning around his blades intensifying as he closed in on her and unfurled a ferocious volley of slashes and strikes.

Ariella backed away several paces, weaving across the arena as her opponent chased after her, using the armored plates on her gauntlets to deflect and block her opponent's attacks.

But he was too fast, several shallow cuts and grazes appearing across her skin as she failed to fully block some of his attacks, gritting her teeth before she suddenly caught his left blade, trickles of blood running down from her palm.

His eyes widened slightly before he stumbled forward as Ariella yanked the blade, pulling him off-balance before driving her left fist up towards his chin, a burst of flames erupting around her fist.

Right before she could land her blow, he jerked his blade out of her grasp and tilted his head back, a slight burnt spot appearing over his chin as the back of her fist grazed him, before she quickly leapt back as he whipped his other blade across at her head, inflicting a shallow cut across her forehead.

She skipped back across the space, getting some distance from him as thin trails of blood trickled down from the cut, taking a deep breath and letting out a slow exhale as she glanced at her hand, a cut across the middle of her palm.

Her opponent touched at the burn on his chin, clicking his tongue before smirking as he glanced at her, saying something.

Ai?

<"Not too bad, babe, but no one gets away with hurting my face. Tell you what though, I'll make an exception if you give up and go out with me...trust me, I'll give you an night you'll never forget. But it's going to get real ugly if you keep fighting"...so he says>

Damn, what a charmer.

<And she's responding..."Guys who can't take no for an answer are the worst. Go fuck yourself, asshole, I'm not giving up">

Nice, that's a great reply. Wish I could've heard it myself, I don't think I've ever heard her swear before.

Hm?

My eyes widened as Trent chanted something and vanished from sight, disappearing completely...that must be the Stealth Skill.

Ariella backed away, looking around warily before her expression wracked with pain as a deep slash appeared across her back, blood streaming out as she spun around and swung her fist across, before something struck her left side and sent her stumbling across with a grimace.

She backed away several paces while holding her arms up defensively, taking a deep breath to compose herself, a look of deep focus appearing in her eyes.

Suddenly, she tilted her head back, a shallow, vertical cut appearing across her right cheek, before she began to drive her fist forward, right as a force struck her in the stomach and sent her flying back a few meters through the air.

Her back hit the ground as she landed, before she quickly rolled across to the right, a cut appearing across her left bicep and the floor of the arena, as she sprang back onto her feet and backed away.

An invisible enemy, huh?

That's gotta be crazy tough to deal with, but it looks like she's starting to get a feel for it, maybe she's sensing his attacking intent or something?

But it won't be enough...even if she can sense him, she can't tell exactly how he's attacking since she can't see him.

Hm? She's saying something...

<Interesting>

<She's saying..."I was hoping to save this for my next match, but it looks like I don't have much of a choice">

Oh? What's she upto...?

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