"You should give up while you can. You must have realized by now that you can't beat me!" I called out, as she tried to move her right arm, before wincing as her bicep spasmed.

"Shut up! There's no way in hell I'm giving up!"

She could use some anger management training.

And despite her high physical stats-...at least by Mage standards...-her battle sense is pretty poor, she's just trying to brute force her way through to victory.

Right on cue, she launched herself forward with a powerful burst of wind, charging towards me blindly, intense winds swirling around her fists.

As she began to close in on me, I raced forward, tilting my head across as she drove her right fist towards me, swiftly chanting to manifest Drain.

Her fist shot straight into the white jaws of energy, the wind swirling around her fist disappearing before I slammed my fist against the middle of her stomach, eliciting a sharp gasp from her.

She shakily stumbled back, before I took aim and fired out another Pulse Bullet at her, striking her solar plexus.

She seized up in pain, before gritting her teeth as she whipped her left hand across, firing out a slashing wave of wind with a swift chant.

I swallowed the attack up with Drain, before I shot towards her, ducking as she swiped her arm across at my head, before unleashing a swift jab against her stomach, striking the same spot I'd hit earlier.

She keeled over slightly, before tensing as I lightly pressed the tip of my blade against the side of her neck, drawing out a trickle of blood as I nicked her skin.

"Ready to give up yet?"

"Fuck you!" She snapped, before I swiftly sprang back as she unleashed a burst of wind around herself, before she lunged forward as the force of the wind upset my balance slight and caused me to stumble.

She leapt towards my midsection as she closed in, in an effort to tackle me, before I drove my knee up, striking her chin and dazing her before slashing straight down at the top of her head with Desecrator.

She disappeared as my blade began to come into contact with her scalp, the barrier teleporting her out of the arena before I could split her skull open.

"No...no, I'm not done yet!" She exclaimed as the barrier faded, wind swirling around her as she began to fly up.

"Come on, don't be a sore loser," I sighed, before staring in bemusement as a figure leapt down off the bleachers and landed behind her with a loud thud, startling her.

The figure reached up and grabbed her leg, pulling her back down before smacking the back of her head with an exasperated huff.

Wait, isn't that...?

"What do you think you're doing?!"

Keira tensed, before slowly turning her gaze back, meeting the fierce glare of the person behind her.

"Uh...hey, Kel. I-I was just-..."

"You better not make any excuses," Frowned Kelsey in response.

"N-No, that's not what I was-..."

"Enough. I can't believe you did this...," She sighed, before turning her gaze to me and adding, "I'm very sorry about this."

"Stop! Don't you apologize to this asshole!" Exclaimed Keira indignantly.

"Okay, please be quiet," Frowned Kelsey, before continuing as she glanced at me, "Like I said, I'm sorry, I heard about how this happened, and I'm really sorry for the trouble my girlfriend caused."

"Uh, it's cool, it's nothing you need to apologize for. And I suppose I should apologize for what happened in the tournament, you kinda got done dirty, my bad," I apologized sheepishly.

"Oh, don't worry about that. You were stronger than me, I likely would've lost that fight either way. I was just embarrassed that I lost after talking down to you at the start of the fight," She admitted with a wry smile, as she stepped onto the arena and approached me.

Ah, so that's why she was so sullen after the match.

"Well, if I'd actually been J-Ranked, everything you said would've been right on the money. So, yeah, sorry about that whole thing."

"It's fine, consider it water under the bridge. Seeing as we're members of the same Guild now, let's get along and work together," She smiled, as she held her hand out towards me.

"Sounds good, I appreciate you saying that," I nodded, as I shook her hand.

"Come on, you can't be serious, Kel! I know, let's fight him together! And if we win, he has to leave the Guild and-...!" Began Keira.

"Are you serious? You already lost, please just accept your defeat gracefully. This isn't a good look," Frowned Kelsey disapprovingly, right as Isla teleported to the arena with Aria.

"I expect you to drop this issue, like you agreed you would if you lost the duel, Keira. You aren't to antagonize Kaivel any further. You don't have to get along with him, but you can't start any trouble either," Stated Isla firmly.

"Yeah, Kai didn't do anything wrong, and even if he did, you're way overreacting!" Huffed Aria indignantly.

"I-I was just trying to make him pay for humiliating Kelsey, it's the least he deserves!" Shot back Keira defensively.

Well, if nothing else, she's a loyal partner. Maybe a bit too loyal.

"I'll be frank, you making such a big deal out of something that really isn't a big deal is a lot more embarrassing that my defeat at the tournament. I appreciate you getting angry on my behalf, but you're taking it way too far. Let's go somewhere you can cool your head, take a moment to think about your actions and reflect. Come on," Sighed Kelsey, before dragging her away.

"I apologize, to think something like this would happen not even an hour after you signed the contract," Sighed Isla, looking stressed.

"It's fine, no harm done. Think I'll head home for the day, though," I replied, as I stretched my arms up.

"Sure, I'll see you tomorrow, then. Be here by around midday," She responded with a smile.

"Got it."

"I'll be heading out too, Guildmaster. Hey, Kai, wanna hang out somewhere?" Aria asked me.

"Yeah, sure, sounds good," I nodded as I patted her head.

"H-Hey, I said not in front of people," She muttered, before her face turned red with embarrassment as she caught Isla staring at her with an amused look on her face.

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