CHAPTER 132: THE WINTER TRIALS 7

Scarlett stepped onto the platform, her usual cocky grin plastered across her face. Kanna followed a moment later, moving with that same measured calm she always had.

The contrast was almost comical. Scarlett bounced on her heels, rolling her shoulders and cracking her knuckles. Kanna just stood there, sword held loosely at her side, grey eyes fixed on her opponent.

"Hey!" Scarlett called out. "Ready to get your ass kicked?"

Kanna’s expression didn’t change.

"We’ll see."

Scarlett laughed, louder than necessary.

"Come on, at least give me some trash talk! Make it fun!"

"I don’t need to talk." Kanna adjusted her grip on her sword. "I just need to win."

Scarlett’s grin faltered for half a second before snapping back into place.

"Fair enough. Let’s do this."

Valdris raised her hand.

"Combatants, ready?"

Scarlett raised her sword. Kanna mirrored her.

The crowd fell silent.

Valdris’s hand dropped.

"Begin!"

Scarlett charged forward immediately, closing the distance with her usual aggressive style. She swung high, aiming for Kanna’s shoulder.

Kanna sidestepped, her movements efficient and precise. No wasted energy. No flashy flourishes.

Scarlett adjusted mid-swing, bringing her blade down in a vertical slash. Kanna blocked, the clash of steel ringing out across the arena.

They broke apart.

Scarlett pressed the attack, throwing a flurry of strikes. Kanna deflected each one, her sword moving in tight, controlled arcs.

Aegis leaned forward, watching closely.

[Scarlett’s holding back.]

She could see it in the way Scarlett’s strikes didn’t have their usual weight behind them. The way she pulled back at the last second, leaving openings that Kanna didn’t exploit.

Scarlett feinted left and swung right. Kanna stepped into the attack, closing the distance and forcing Scarlett to retreat.

Scarlett stumbled slightly, her foot catching on the edge of the platform.

She caught herself, but barely.

The crowd murmured.

Kanna didn’t press the advantage. She just stood there, watching.

Aegis clenched her jaw.

[What the hell is she doing? She’s going to lose if she keeps this up.]

Scarlett recovered, raising her sword again. She charged forward, swinging with more force this time.

Kanna blocked, then countered with a swift strike aimed at Scarlett’s ribs. Scarlett twisted away, but not fast enough. The flat of Kanna’s blade connected, knocking the wind out of her.

Scarlett gasped, staggering back.

Kanna advanced, her movements methodical. She struck again, forcing Scarlett closer to the edge.

Aegis couldn’t take it anymore.

She cupped her hands around her mouth.

"Scarlett!"

Scarlett’s head whipped around, eyes wide.

Aegis leaned over the railing.

"If you want to earn her respect, holding back is the worst way to do it!"

Scarlett blinked.

Then her face flushed red.

She turned back to Kanna, gripping her sword with both hands.

She charged.

This time, the difference was immediate.

Scarlett’s strikes came faster, harder, with the full weight of her strength behind them. She wasn’t pulling punches anymore.

Kanna’s eyes widened slightly—the first real reaction Aegis had seen from her all day.

Scarlett swung in a wide arc, forcing Kanna to block. The impact sent a visible shockwave through Kanna’s arms.

Kanna stepped back, adjusting her stance.

Scarlett didn’t let up. She pressed forward, attacking relentlessly. Her sword blurred as she unleashed everything she had.

Kanna blocked, parried, dodged. But even she was struggling to keep up now.

The crowd roared.

Scarlett feinted high, then dropped low and swept at Kanna’s legs. Kanna jumped back, but Scarlett was already moving, closing the gap with a shoulder charge.

Kanna braced herself, but the impact still sent her skidding backward.

Her heel touched the edge of the platform.

Scarlett raised her sword for a finishing strike.

Kanna moved.

In one fluid motion, she sidestepped Scarlett’s attack, grabbed her wrist, and twisted.

Scarlett’s sword flew out of her hand, clattering across the platform.

Before Scarlett could react, Kanna swept her legs and knocked her flat on her back.

The tip of Kanna’s sword hovered just above Scarlett’s throat.

Silence.

Scarlett stared up at Kanna, breathing hard.

Then she laughed.

"Okay. Okay, you got me."

Kanna didn’t lower her sword.

"Yield?"

"Yeah. I yield."

Kanna stepped back and offered her hand.

Scarlett took it, letting Kanna pull her to her feet.

For the first time since the tournament started, Kanna smiled.

It was small. Barely there. But it was real.

"Good fight," Kanna said.

Scarlett’s face turned bright red.

"Y-Yeah. You too."

The crowd erupted into applause.

Aegis grinned.

[There we go.]

Scarlett stumbled off the platform, still flustered. As she passed Aegis, she shot her a look that was equal parts grateful and mortified.

"Don’t say a word."

"Wouldn’t dream of it."

"I mean it. Not. A. Word."

"Your secret’s safe with me."

Scarlett groaned and collapsed onto the bench beside Lune.

Lune glanced at her.

"You lost."

"Thanks for the reminder."

"But you did well."

Scarlett blinked.

"Really?"

"Yes. You improved mid-fight. That’s admirable."

Scarlett’s expression softened.

"Huh. Thanks, Lune."

Lune nodded and went back to her sketching.

Aegis turned her attention back to the arena.

The next few fights blurred together.

Talia demolished her opponent in under a minute, freezing the platform beneath his feet and launching him off with a pillar of ice.

Serilla faced Kai’Lin, and it was brutal. Kai’Lin was fast, but Serilla was faster. She danced around Kai’Lin’s claws like it was choreographed, landing precise hits that slowly wore her down. By the end, Kai’Lin was panting, blood dripping from a dozen shallow cuts.

She yielded.

Serilla didn’t even look winded.

[Damn. Serilla’s more of a threat than I thought.]

Darius fought next, and once again, he made it look effortless. His opponent—a skilled archer—tried to keep distance, but Darius closed the gap in seconds and disarmed her with a single strike.

Aegis’s stomach twisted.

[He’s too good. If I have to fight him...]

She shook her head.

[One fight at a time.]

More matches. More victories. More blood.

Finally, Valdris stepped forward again.

"Next match! Aegis Starcaller versus Mei’Lin Summerfang!"

Aegis stood, her heart pounding.

Scarlett grabbed her arm.

"You got this."

"Thanks."

Sophie hugged her.

"Kick her butt, big sis!"

"I’ll try."

Lune glanced up from her sketchbook.

"Don’t die."

"Wasn’t planning on it."

Aegis walked toward the platform. Across from her, Mei’Lin was already waiting, her white hair with the brown streak tied back in a high ponytail.

Her yellow eyes locked onto Aegis, and her lips pulled back in a snarl.

"Finally," Mei’Lin hissed. "I’ve been waiting for this, nya."

Aegis climbed onto the platform and drew her daggers.

[This might be my last chance at befriending her. Today’s the cutoff. How do I befriend her while still winning?]

Mei’Lin’s claws extended, gleaming in the sunlight.

"I’m going to tear you apart, nya."

Aegis twirled Ruby once.

"You can try."

Valdris raised her hand.

"Combatants, ready?"

Aegis shifted her weight, settling into a defensive stance.

Mei’Lin crouched low, muscles coiled.

The crowd fell silent.

Valdris’s hand dropped.

"Begin!"

Mei’Lin launched herself forward with explosive speed.

Aegis barely had time to react. She threw herself to the side as Mei’Lin’s claws raked the air where her throat had been.

[Holy shit, she’s fast!]

Mei’Lin twisted mid-leap, landing on all fours and immediately springing back at Aegis.

Aegis blocked with her daggers crossed. The impact sent vibrations up her arms.

Mei’Lin’s face was inches from hers, teeth bared.

"Die, nya!"

Aegis shoved her back and retreated.

Mei’Lin pursued, slashing wildly. Aegis dodged and weaved, but she could feel the wind from each strike.

One wrong move and those claws would tear through her.

[I need to slow her down.]

Aegis feinted left, then dove right. Mei’Lin followed, but Aegis was ready this time.

She cast Aether Pulse.

A burst of energy erupted from her palm, slamming into Mei’Lin’s chest and staggering her.

Mei’Lin hissed, shaking her head.

Aegis didn’t waste the opening. She darted forward and slashed at Mei’Lin’s arm with Sapphire.

The blade connected. Blood welled from the cut.

Mei’Lin snarled and swung at Aegis’s face. Aegis ducked, then drove her knee into Mei’Lin’s stomach.

Mei’Lin doubled over, gasping.

Aegis stepped back, breathing hard.

[She’s strong. But she’s reckless. All offense, no defense.]

Mei’Lin straightened, wiping blood from her mouth.

"You’re better than I thought, nya."

"Thanks?"

"Don’t thank me yet. I’m just getting started."

She charged again.

This time, Aegis was ready. She sidestepped, using Aether Step to teleport a few meters to the left.

Mei’Lin skidded to a stop, spinning around.

"Cheap trick!"

"It’s called strategy."

Mei’Lin growled and lunged.

Aegis blocked, parried, and countered. Their blades—daggers and claws—clashed over and over, the sound ringing out across the arena.

Aegis could feel her stamina draining. Every block rattled her arms. Every dodge burned her legs.

But Mei’Lin was slowing down too. Her strikes were less precise. Her breathing heavier.

[She’s wearing herself out.]

Aegis waited for an opening.

Mei’Lin swung wide, overextending. Aegis ducked under the strike and swept Mei’Lin’s legs.

Mei’Lin crashed to the ground.

Aegis pressed Ruby against her throat.

"Yield."

Mei’Lin glared up at her, chest heaving.

For a moment, Aegis thought she might refuse.

Then Mei’Lin’s ears flattened against her head.

"I yield, nya."

The crowd roared.

Aegis stepped back and offered her hand.

Mei’Lin stared at it.

Then she took it.

Aegis pulled her to her feet.

"Good fight."

Mei’Lin looked away, her cheeks pink.

"You’re strong, nya. I didn’t think a commoner could fight like that."

Aegis shrugged.

"I’ve had good teachers."

Mei’Lin’s tail flicked.

"Maybe... maybe I was wrong about you, nya."

Aegis blinked.

[Wait. Is this...?]

Aegis grinned.

"I could show you a thing or two... if you want."

Mei’Lin’s ears twitched.

"I’ll think about it, nya."

Just like that, it happened:

System Notification:

Kai’Lin & Mei’Lin Summerfang - Befriending Initiated!

Because the progress has begun, the deadline will be lifted.

Reward: Cat’s Eye: Passive Night Vision

She walked off the platform, her tail swishing behind her.

Aegis watched her go, still catching her breath.

[Holy shit. I actually did it.]

Scarlett was waiting at the edge of the platform, grinning.

"Two wins! You’re on a roll!"

"Yeah. Feels good."

Sophie tackled her in a hug.

"You were amazing!"

"Thanks, Sophie."

Vera yawned.

"Not bad. You didn’t die."

"Again, high praise."

Lune nodded.

"Well done."

Aegis glanced at the bracket board. Her name had moved up again.

[Three more fights. Just three more.]

She looked at the remaining names.

Talia. Serilla. Darius. Kanna.

[Any one of them could win this thing.]

Her stomach twisted.

[But so could I.]

Valdris stepped forward.

"Next match! Talia Stone versus Mira Firefield!"

The crowd erupted.

Aegis sat down, her legs shaking.

[Three more fights. I can do this.]

She glanced at Mei’Lin, who was sitting with Kai’Lin now, whispering in her ear.

Kai’Lin looked over at Aegis, then nodded slowly.

Aegis smiled.

[Mission accomplished.]

Now all she had to do was win a tournament.