The Crystals

"Is Flirtic a real deal or just a dilettante? He's been blabbering about how he will obliterate me in the tournament," said IV.

Zohaifa laughed and said, "How typical of him. But its hard to say how much he has improved. The first time I fought him, he was close to my level," said Zohaifa.

"Can you tell at least me what his element is?" asked IV.

"That would be unfair. How about you tell him your element and ask about his element from him?" said Zohaifa.

"Sigh. I will just figure it out in the tournament," said IV and left for the participation building.

"Umm…Mr. Hagan. Can you fix the platform again?" asked the organizer to Hagan who already used the healing Crystal.

"Sure," he said but with no richness in his voice.

IV took pieces of advice from Luna. Flirtic warmed up his muscles inside the building. The sun shined upon their well-determined eyes as they got in through the entrance. IV's eyes look calm while Flirtic's one looks wild. Both of them walked side by side to the platform fixed by Hagan and ready to show what they have inside them.

"This time both the people are unknown," said one audience.

"Will it be any fun this time?" asked another.

Zohaifa set between Lazuli and Luna's seat, all off them curious about the fighters' skills.

The bell rang as they took their position on the platform. IV took an open-palmed stance. Flirtic got his claws out, ready to fight it out.

Flirtic dashed towards IV but fell.

"What happened?" Flirtic thought. Then he noticed vines arising from the tiles and twisting his legs.

Slash!

But he cut it and tried to move on. Another vine.

Slash!

Flirtic started to move in a swift and hazardous motion to make it harder for IV to create vine in the right place. But Alas! A clever strategy mostly works on winning against an opponent of the same skill level. IV, with his intense concentration, pinpointed the exact place where Flirtic will be.

Vines emerged from nearby tiles and twisted around his leg, making him stumble and fall.

Slash! Flirtic cut it wildly.

"Vines vs Blade, huh? Logically Flirtic should have the upper hand," said Zohaifa to himself.

Aaaaaaarrrrrrghhhhhh!

With a shout, Flirtic tried to recklessly dash towards IV only to be stopped by another vine. He fell down on his chin. He cut the vines again with his blades. He took a deep breath.

"Enough of this," he said.

He calmly started to walk towards IV. When the vine twisted around his feet, he cut it and then continued patiently.

But IV took his offense to the next level. Vines came from every side and whipped Flirtic.

'Slashing Storm!' used Flirtic where he wildly slashed his claws towards every direction and cut all the vines. He then jumped on IV and landed with a slash.

Slash!

Despite the blood flowing from the wound on his forehead, his eyes still portrayed his determination as he stood up from the ground. He came to IV for another round.

"You are a persistent one, I will give you that," said IV.

'Slashing storm!'

Flirtic used again but this time at close range. IV could not dodge any of it. But he still avoided any fatal shot.

Flirtic smirked at IV whose body is now covered with a little blood flowing from different parts of his body.

"Wait a minute! With so many shots at once, he should be completely covered with blood. How is this even possible?"

"Oh my! Didn't the Great Master Lazuli teach you 'aura armor'?" taunted Luna.

"If any of my students were fighting there, he would not need the aura armor. They would just defeat him before the fight drags this long," replied Lazuli.

"We will see how good your fighter really is when our fighters collide with each other."

IV dashed backward to make a distance from Flirtic. Flirtic tried to dash forward but was stopped again by vines.

"I can't fight at close range with this guy," IV thought to himself, "It's time to end this battle."