CHAPTER 157: MARTIAL ART GODDESS

The holographic screen flickered once more, displaying the next matchup:

[Jayden Starrk, Class 3-C vs. Jessica Smith, Class 3-C]

[Modifier: Ability]

Before the other students could even make comments, Jessica groaned dramatically, slumping back in her seat. "Oh, come on!"

Jayden smirked. "Guess we’re up."

Jessica shot him a deadpan look. "Yeah, no. I’m not fighting you." she chuckled. Having witnessed Jayden’s strength forehand and seen what he could ’really’ do, she knew there was no chance she could win against him in a fight. She was even starting to conclude that Jayden could defeat Tasha and Cassandra in a fight.

The crowd murmured in surprise as Jessica stood up and stretched, then waved a hand dismissively toward Mrs. Valerie. "I forfeit!"

A few students gasped.

"What?!"

"Jessica, you can’t just—"

"But you’re one of the strongest in our class!"

Jessica rolled her eyes. "And he’s stronger. I’ve seen what he can do. No thanks."She turned to Jayden, poking him in the chest. "But you owe me dinner for this."

Jayden chuckled. "Deal."

Mrs. Valerie sighed. "Winner by forfeit—Jayden Starrk."

Jessica plopped back down beside Tasha, who grinned. "Smart move."

"The smartest." Jessica agreed, crossing her arms. "I like my bones unbroken, thanks."

The algorithm didn’t linger, the next match flashed onto the screen:

[Cassandra Isley, Class 3-B vs Viktor Kray, Class 3-A]

[Modifier: Martial Arts]

Cassandra’s eyes narrowed. "Again?!" She stood abruptly, frustration clear in her voice. "I’ve only gotten Martial Arts modifiers this entire tournament! What’s the point of having an ability if I can’t even use it?!"

Mrs. Valerie gave her a flat look. "Adaptability is part of being a warrior, miss Isley. Get in the arena."

Cassandra exhaled sharply through her nose but complied, walking down to the combat floor with lethal grace.

Viktor, a towering wall of muscle with a shaved head and a permanent scowl, was already waiting. His arms were crossed, his stance wide and immovable.

Before Mrs. Valerie could even ask if they were ready, Viktor spoke, his voice a deep rumble.

"I request a weapon selection."

The crowd perked up. Weapon selections were rare, most students preferred hand-to-hand in Martial Arts matches. Infact, since the beginning of the tournament, no one had requested a weapon selection.

Mrs. Valerie nodded. "Alright. You may select from the available options."

A holographic menu appeared beside the arena, displaying an array of standardized weapons—swords, staffs, daggers, even whips.

Viktor didn’t hesitate. "Twin axes."

Murmurs spread. Axes were brutal, heavy, and difficult to master.

Cassandra’s lips curled into a smirk. "Well, guess I should select a weapon as well." She flicked her wrist. "Rapier."

The weapons materialized in their hands... Viktor’s twin axes gleaming wickedly, Cassandra’s rapier slender and deadly.

Mrs. Valerie raised a hand. "Combatants—ready?"

Viktor grinned. "Always."

Cassandra spun her rapier once, the blade whistling through the air. "Let’s get this over with."

"Begin."

Viktor charged, axes swinging in wide, devastating arcs. Cassandra danced back, her rapier flicking out like a serpent’s tongue, deflecting each strike with precise, minimal movements.

CLANG! CLANG!

The sheer force of Viktor’s blows sent vibrations through Cassandra’s arm, but she didn’t falter. She twisted under a horizontal slash, her rapier lashing out and drawing a thin red line across Viktor’s bicep.

He barely flinched.

"You’ll have to hit harder than that," he taunted, swinging again.

Cassandra’s eyes gleamed. "Oh, I will."

She feinted left, then dashed right, her rapier stabbing toward his ribs, but Viktor twisted, one axe slamming into her blade, the other swinging for her legs.

Cassandra leapt, flipping over the attack and kicking off Viktor’s shoulder to gain distance.

The crowd roared.

Cassandra landed lightly, adjusting her grip. Viktor was strong, but he was also slow. She just had to outlast him.

Viktor growled and lunged again, axes crisscrossing in an X-shaped slash.

Cassandra dropped low, her rapier thrusting upward. "Gotcha." she grinned, then...

SHINK!

The blade pierced Viktor’s forearm, drawing a hiss of pain from him. His grip on one axe faltered, the weapon clattering to the ground.

Cassandra didn’t let up. A flurry of thrusts followed, each one forcing Viktor back, blood welling from shallow cuts she delivered on his arms and chest.

Viktor couldn’t block the attacks, he was too slow. And within seconds, he was overwhelmed.

Finally, with a final lunge— CHING!

Her rapier’s tip hovered at Viktor’s throat.

He froze, panting, then dropped his remaining axe.

"I yield," he grunted.

The crowd exploded into cheers.

[Winner: Cassandra Isley – 3-B]

Cassandra lowered her rapier, exhaling. "You’ve grown soft, Viktor." she chuckled. "What happened to the guy who used to teach me all the various ways of stabbing someone with a knife?"

Viktor rubbed his bleeding arm, giving her a grudging smile. "Guess I just lost my touch a little. But you did good, Cassie."

Cassandra smirked. "I know."

As she walked back to the stands, the holographic screen flickered again, revealing the next match:

[Laura Kenshin, Class 3-B vs. Derek Mills, Class 3-C]

[Modifier: Martial Arts]

A collective murmur spread through the stands.

"Holy shit! Laura’s up."

"Oh man, she’s a monster when it comes to martial arts."

"I heard she once won a fought against a karate master who had 50 years of experience."

Everyone was buzzing about this one.

If Cassandra was the heart of martial art, Laura was its spirit. She was known as the best martial artist in the school, arguably even better than Cassandra.

Laura brought more than just talent. She brought fire. A kind of intensity that made people lean in when she moved. Her reputation wasn’t built on wins alone. It was built on fearless fights, years of family training, and a modifier that seemed to enhance her already inhuman sense of rhythm, reflex, and precision.

In ability combat, she wasn’t really good. But when it came to martial art, she was a total maniac.

Even Cassandra had admitted, publicly that Laura beat her once in sophomore year. Back at the stands, she leaned forward with rare interest, a smirk forming on her lips.

"Finally, something worth watching."

Laura stood from her seat, her movements smooth and deliberate. She wore the standard school tracksuit, but the way she carried herself... back straight, shoulders relaxed, radiated the discipline of a seasoned martial artist.

Derek, meanwhile, cracked his knuckles, his wiry frame coiled with tension. He was quick, agile, and had a reputation for outmaneuvering opponents twice his size.

The arena shifted into a traditional wooden dojo floor, the scent of polished oak filling the air.

Mrs. Valerie raised a hand. "Combatants—ready?"

Laura bowed slightly, hands loose at her sides. "Whenever you are."

Derek smirked, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Try to keep up."

"Begin!"

Derek blurred forward, a whirlwind of strikes... jabs, hooks, spinning kicks, each one aimed with precision.

Laura flowed around them like water.

She didn’t block.

She didn’t counter.

She simply wasn’t there when his attacks landed.

The crowd gasped.

Derek’s confidence wavered. He feinted left, then lashed out with a sweeping low kick, but Laura countered and stepped on his shin, using it as a platform to launch herself into a spinning heel kick.

CRACK!

Her foot slammed into Derek’s jaw, sending him sprawling across the floor.

Silence.

The crowd erupted. The fight was interesting. And surprisingly, over.

Derek groaned, pushing himself up, only for Laura to appear in front of him, her fist stopping a hair’s breadth from his nose.

"Yield," she said softly.

Derek hesitated at first, but then his shoulders slumped. "I yield."

[Winner: Laura Kenshin – 3-B]

The applause was thunderous. Even the EVA agents, who had been stoic all tournament, exchanged impressed glances.

Cassandra exhaled sharply. "Still as terrifying as ever."

Jessica whistled. "Damn. She didn’t even break a sweat."

Laura bowed once more to Derek, then turned to leave the arena, when the holographic screen blinked again.

[Laura Kenshin, Class 3-B vs. Jayden Starrk, Class 3-C]

[Modifier: Martial Arts]

The crowd exploded into chaos

"No way!"

"This would be really good to watch. But I wonder who’s going to win."

"Of course it’s Laura. She’s got mastery and control. Jayden might be good, but his strength is his only advantage."

"I don’t think that’s true. But let’s watch and see for ourselves."

Laura paused, then turned back to the arena, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

Jayden, who had been lounging in his seat, slowly stood up, golden eyes gleaming with interest.

Tasha grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be good."

Mrs. Valerie crossed her arms. "Miss Kenshin? You just fought. Do you need a break? Or would you like to go on."

Laura smirked. "I do."

Jayden cracked his neck. "Alright then, let’s do this." he muttered, before walking to the arena.

The arena shifted once more, this time into a circular stone platform, reminiscent of an ancient fighting pit.

Laura took her stance, feet rooted, hands open and relaxed.

Jayden rolled his shoulders, his body loose but ready.

The entire school held its breath.

For the first time in Eleanora High’s history—

Two martial art monsters would clash.

And no one knew who would win.