Chapter 8: A Friend in Need

'Ever since I took down those first five at the beginning, I haven't been able to get points' Elara thought as she crouched atop a snow covered hill, her eyes scanning the frozen terrain below. Her mission was clear: Take down enemies and earn points, she spotted two figures in the distance, their movements fluid and graceful. On closer inspection, she could see Lirien, with his striking blonde hair, who was engaged in a fierce battle against Nia, Elara's child hood friend and confidant. Nia's icy locks shimmered in the pale light, her powers manipulating the snow and ice to her advantage.

Elara's gaze narrowed as she watched Nia stumble back, her ice shield cracking under Lirien's relentless assault. Nia's eyes flashed with determination, and she summoned a wave of frozen shards, each aimed at Lirien's chest. He dodged with incredible speed, his light abilities allowing him to move with grace and precision.

Nia retaliated once more with a burst of ice bullets, each one flying towards Lirien with deadly accuracy. He weaved and bobbed, his movements a blur as he avoided the frozen projectiles. Lirien counterattacked with a flurry of punches and kicks, his light-infused fists glowing with an ethereal energy. Nia raised her hands, conjuring a wall of ice to block the attack, but Lirien's speed allowed him to shatter the barrier with ease.

Elara's heart raced as she watched her friend struggle. She knew Nia's powers where formidable, the terrain also adding to her advantage, but Lirien's hand to hand combat skills were unmatched. Seeing that her friend won't last long, with a fierce cry, Elara sprinted down her hill, her speed on full display, her feet pounding the snow as she rushed to Nia's aid.

"Lirien, you're going down!" Elara shouted, her voice carrying across the arena.

Lirien's gaze flickered towards her, a hint of amusement playing on his face. "Ah, another beauty joins the fray. How delightful."

Although Lirien was considered a very quiet guy on a normal day, on the battle field he was considered a huge blabbermouth as his love for fights filled him with excitement.

Nia's eyes met Elara's, and she nodded in gratitude. "Elara, help me take him down!"

Elara nodded before charging forward, her fists flying in a blur of motion. Lirien's eyes widened as he faced the two beauties, their powers and abilities combining in a deadly dance. 'damn, there are in total sync right now, I only stand a chance due to my speed enhanced by my light ability' Lirien thought as he parried a punch sent Elara, before widening the distance between them once more. 'I have to finish this quick, if this fight progresses on like this, I will end up being at a disadvantage'

The battle raged on, each combatant exchanging blows showcasing their martial arts. Elara's blood manipulation powers allowed her to create razor sharp claws, which she used to tear Lirien's defenses. Nia's ice abilities froze the ground, making it treacherous for Lirien to land a solid footing, even sending ice shards his way which bombarded him from time to time. With the two attacking from both long range and short range, he was left with no breathing space. Lirien's light specialty, however, granted him incredible speed and agility, allowing him to dodge and weave between the two women's attacks.

The fight was intense, each side trading blows and neither gaining the upper hand. Elara's anger fueled her strength, her memories of Nia and their childhood flashing through her mind like a montage.

In the flashbacks, Elara and Nia were laughing and playing in the snow, their bond unbreakable. They had promised to always have each other's backs, no matter what danger's lay ahead. Elara's grip on her fists tightened as she remembered those vows.

Suddenly, Lirien landed a devastating kick, sending Nia crashing to the ground. Elara's eyes widened in horror as Nia struggled to get back to her feet, her ice abilities faltering. Lirien's light abilities allowed him to move with incredible speed, and he struck Nia with a flurry of light punches and kicks as he didn't want to injure her, each one aimed at her vulnerable spots.

'Finally, got rid of the long ranged beauty' thought Lirien as he distanced himself from her with an apologetic smile plastered on his face.

Nia's eyes met with Elara's, and she mouthed s silent "thank you" before being teleported out of the arena, unable to continue fighting.

Elara was left crushed, memories flooding mind. In the middle of a snow storm, young Elara was sprawled on the snowy ground, her eyes filled with tears as she cried her eyes out due to the pain she felt on her right arm, a deep claw mark left on it. She looked up to see Nia in front of her, throwing everything she had the rabid beast in front of her, it looked like a white rabbit, with glowing red eyes and ruffled fur and sharp canines with foam forming on its mouth as it growled at the child in front of her stopping it from getting its free meal in its front. Its body size a meager 2m tall but that was still enough to leave it towering above the two girls. They had already called for help and Nia was tasked with stalling the creature. At the end of the day, before help could come, Nia was left more injured than Elara and she was immediately rushed to the hospital since she was the one who actually fought the creature. In the hospital Nia could be seen on the bed, different equipment's attached to her body. On the right where two adults who had blue hair like Nia's but of a darker shade, they carried grave expressions on their faces. While on her left side was young Elara, who was crying her eyes out while looking at her injured friend.

"I-I promise to protect you forever Nia , I owe you my life, I will never let anything happen to you again as long as am there" Elara said, her voice low, her eyes glowing with determination as she wiped her tears.

…

Elara's anger boiled over, her vision blurring with rage. "You will pay for that Lirien!" she snarled, her claws extending as she charged forward.

Lirien's apologetic smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Elara! Bring it on."

…

44 recruits remaining