44 Volume 2 Episode 38

[ Practical Zone Stadium ]

[ Semi finals ]

April stood near the entrance of the arena, warming up for the fight. She then closed her eyes for a minute to concentrate. She always used to do it because it helped to keep her calm at times of nervousness.

'I really don't want to lose.'

She looked at her hands that were full of scars. She had been intensely training to become someone like her father. But no matter how much willpower you have, you will always lose against someone better. She wanted to beat Lin because she knew that he had the potential to be better than her.

'Maybe he already is.'

A thought appeared in April's mind, but she quickly shook it away. To admit defeat before the fight even begins means disrespecting not just the opponent, but yourself as well. 

She looked over at the opposite side of the arena, and saw Lin Hamill warming up. Someday, this kid might beat her, but she told herself that it definitely won't be today. She didn't want to lose. Not yet.

"You okay?" 

Her teacher, Mr. Yusuf looked at her worriedly. She looked at the teacher and smiled.

"No. As a matter of fact, I'm actually more than ready."

Looking at April's face overflowing with confidence, Mr. Yusuf nodded and patted her on the back.

"Best of luck. Don't let your me down. I've already boasted to my fellow teacher friends that my student was definitely going to win this year's tournament."

April grinned at her teacher's words and looked over at the field. The referee was calling her into the arena. The match was now officially starting. April let out a deep sigh and stepped forward.

She arrived at the middle of the field, as did Lin Hamill, with the referee standing right in the middle of both of them.

"Alright, you both probably know the rules already, but I still gotta say them so bear with me."

The referee spoke as she looked at both the players, who nodded in confirmation. She then started reciting the rules once again, and both the contestants stayed silent throughout the process, staring at each other.

After the rules were read aloud, the referee once again asked for confirmation, to which the participants nodded once again. The referee then moved to the sidelines as both the contestants moved back to their respective sides, getting ready for the countdown.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two….

ONE!

Both the participants sprinted at each other, trying to get the first attack as soon as they possibly could.

'I won't give you a chance to attack.'

April quickly blocked Lin's pathway with an ice barrier. Lin threw a fireball at the barrier and destroyed it almost instantly, but April had already jumped over it.

'Now!'

She instantly formed an ice spear and threw at Lin from above the ground. 

Lin dodged the attack by shooting flames out of his hands in full force, propelling him backwards with the spear piercing the ground. But April blocked him from escaping further by forming another ice barrier behind him.

Lin hit his back on the barrier and tried to blast through it, but he had been distracted for a fraction of a second, and April used that to her advantage.

The spear that had been thrown before and was struck to the ground exploded into small ice crystals which launched towards Lin's direction.

Lin hurriedly thrust his hands down to the ground and burst out his flames, instantly making him fly up into the air, near April who still hadn't landed. Lin then swung his arm at April as the flame sword formed around his hands, bursting with energy.

April tried to block the attack with her ice shield, but the flame sword broke through the shield and hitting her.

'Not like this.'

April who had been hit with the attack, suddenly grabbed Lin's hand and tightly wrapped it with her arms, freezing his arm in the process. Lin tried to attack her again using his other hand, but she quickly rolled downwards, pulling him with her and doing a backflip while still being in the air.

Lin who lost his balance couldn't attack her right away and April took advantage of the opportunity. She quickly shot her ice particles in full force while halfway through the flip, shooting the particles towards the sky, forcing them to crash downwards into the ground in high speed.

The crash caused a huge explosion with dirt and grass flying everywhere as audience looked at the dust filled wreckage.

April, who had already protected her body by using the ice barrier, got up and quickly looked around to find Lin.

'Where is he?'

It was still pretty dusty and wasn't possible to see clearly, but she could make out that there was no trace of Lin lying on the ground. Which means he didn't lose.

She looked around, staying cautious.

'He couldn't have completely escaped injuries. I froze his arm and half of his chest while falling, so he'd probably be less powerful. Which means if I play it safe, I might win.'

She started moving back bit by bit while looking around and staying cautious. Just then a hand suddenly grabbed her from behind.

'No.'

She had realised where her enemy was, but was too late. He slammed her head down on the ground as he formed the flame sword once again on his other hand.

'Not yet. I have to try even harder.'

April who was pressed on the ground saw the enemy forming his next attack, which would most likely put her out of the championship and began to think quickly about ways to escape.

She then grabbed the hand she was being pressed down by and used her full ice powers, together at the same time, draining her energy in one go.

Lin who was forming the flame sword, was instantly enveloped by the ice, freezing his whole body, unable to move.

 April who had lost all of her energy, sat up with difficulty and looked at the ice statue in front of her. 

'Did I do it?'

Her happy thoughts were quickly dashed to pieces as the frozen statue suddenly started shaking, and Lin's hand emerged from the inside.

The ice quickly started melting as Lin stepped out in a calm manner, and stood right in front of April who was sitting on the ground. She smiled bitterly as Lin looked at her. She had no strength left in her body, which meant that she wouldn't be able to block whatever Lin throws at her. She watched as Lin formed a fireball in his hands and closed her eyes. But the attack didn't hit her as she expected.

"Aren't you going to surrender?" 

The question made April open her eyes and look at the boy in front of her. He was still holding the fireball in his hand, and was staring at her. She looked at him for a bit and decided to ask a question in turn.

"Is that pity?"

"No, I don't show pity. But I try my best to show respect to one's whom I consider to be my opponents. Well, unless I'm not in the danger, I guess."

April gazed at the young boy in astonishment, before smiling once again.

"Sorry, but I don't think I can do that. My dad wouldn't give up and I won't either."

Lin looked at April once more before nodding.

"Alright then, you ready?"

"I am."

April closed her eyes once again, as Lin shot the fireball at her.

****************************************

[ Practical Zone Stadium ]

[ Waiting room ]

As soon as Lin reached the waiting room, he fell down on the ground. He tried getting up, but his legs wouldn't move.

"Master Lin!"

Charles, who was waiting for Lin to arrive, quickly ran up to him and pulled him up.

"Quick! Give me the painkillers, now!'

Lin yelled in Charles's ear, and he immediately pulled out the painkillers from his pocket and gave it to Lin. Lin checked the pills for any malpractices before grabbing one from the bottle and swallowing it as fast as he could.

Charles carried Lin to his room and placed him on his bed. Lin looked at Charles, and he immediately understood what his master's wish was and left quickly.

Lin didn't get up from his bed and reached for the sedatives he kept on his nightstand and used it on himself. As he was falling asleep, he remembered what happened with yesterday's experiment.

He had been feeling a lot of pain since the procedure, and had been taking painkillers every now and then to reduce the pain. Even though he took heavy roses of the painkillers, the pain still resided in him. Which is why in the semi finals, his reaction speed was much slower than what it was supposed to be, as his body didn't move the way he wished. The experiment nearly cost him the tournament.

Fortunately, the reason he could beat his opponent was also because of the same experiment. 

"I sure hope the pain goes away soon."

Lin quietly whispered to himself as he finally fell asleep.