The death match

With her invisible blood blade, Sawari relentlessly attacked Yuuko, not allowing her a moment to recover. The phoenix’s flames vanished within seconds of escaping from the wings. Mitsu cut the air with his blade, passing through the flames, pushing back Yuuko. Their movements were too fast for the human eye to follow. The three students present could barely keep up with the pace of both teachers.

‘She won’t stop! I’m almost at my limit, I have to...!’ Yuuko took a small step back, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Mitsu’s sword grazed the top of Yuu’s neck superficially, because of a delayed half-second reaction. The Phoenix’s flames cauterised the wound. Mitsu didn’t stop. She let out a cry and swiftly thrust her sword, intending to pierce Yuu’s neck while she was off balance.

Yuu dodged the attack. In a swift movement, she dropped to the ground, narrowly avoiding being impaled. In a quick acrobatic motion, she leaned on her right hand and slammed Mitsu’s hand, trying to make her release the invisible blade. Sawari spun around and attempted to strike her grounded enemy with her sword. Yuuko rolled on the ground, watching as the asphalt was effortlessly penetrated by Mitsu’s weapon.

‘That was too close!’ A reddish flash surprised Yuu, who looked up and saw Mitsuko’s magical seal. Yuuko was caught in a rain of explosive flames as the vice principal snapped her fingers, sending chunks of asphalt flying in all directions. The explosions echoed through the air before fading away, leaving behind a thick cloud of black smoke. Mitsu pointed her invisible sword at Ayumu, her arm still bleeding. Masami, overwhelmed, took a step forward without thinking. Her body seemed to act of its own volition. Despite the fear that Sawari instilled in her, she kept her gaze fixed on her, trembling like a jelly.

‘What the hell am I doing?!’ She wanted to pull away with all her being, but her body didn’t respond. ‘She’s going to kill me if I don’t move!’ Ayumu was completely shocked with his eyes fixed on the curtain of dense smoke.

‘Seriza...!’ Mitsu aimed her weapon, ready to take down anyone in her path to exterminate her target. Intense flames erupted from her back, and volcanic lightning burst forth from her body, violently impacting the ground. After tracing erratic paths, the lightning seemed to reflect on the translucent blade, which became vividly red. Sawari swung the weapon, sweeping it behind her right shoulder. Masami stood rooted in place, watching with deep dread what was about to unfold. Mitsu’s expression changed as she turned towards the tower of black smoke, surprised. Her blade clashed with that pitch-black katana. She stepped back, releasing her weapon, and her shoulder wound instantly stopped bleeding. Their eyes met once again; Yuu’s gaze had turned cold, her face serious, and the flames danced frenziedly in the air.

Yuu’s blood covered part of her face and stained her uniform. She lunged again, wielding that fire-born blade. Mitsu’s face showed a hint of concern as she tried to keep track of Yuu’s movements, attempting to evade her. Serizawa’s movements were swift. Mitsuko’s blood splattered in all directions as the fiery blade slid through her flesh, piercing Mitsu’s magical armour. Yuuko slowed down and adjusted her trajectory, following the steps of her former master. Mitsu focused on Yuuko, anticipating her next move, completely cornered. Flipping the situation around, Yuuko was precise, much more precise than her former teacher, in her tireless offensive. Any mistake by Sawari and she would be murdered by her former apprentice. Yuu went into ecstasy as she moved at high speed, her heart racing, and the flames of both fighters soared and vanished.

‘I had almost forgotten the thrill of combat…’ Yuu thought. Mitsu dodged a lethal slash by stepping back a few millimetres. Blood boiled upon contact with the scorching edge of the black sword.

‘Chikage.’ Mitsu summoned her invisible blade again by touching a wound, and her blood spurted, deepening the injury. The blade clashed with the black blade, and former student and former teacher locked eyes. In a swift motion, Mitsuko deflected the black sword and thrust it through Yuu’s side. Instead of showing a face of pain, as her blood slid down the invisible blade, the opposite occurred. Yuuko maintained her expression of pleasure. She gripped the blade, causing a deep cut in her hand, immobilising the movement. Mitsu released the sword for the second time, preventing Yuu from driving the black katana directly into her neck. The Chikage vanished, and a stream of blood fell into the void.

‘I’m sorry, Yuuko. I won’t underestimate you again...’ Yuuko looked up in surprise, as a magical circle formed at Mitsu’s feet. Before she could finish her spell, Yuuko pounced on her, and Latin letters surrounded the circle at Sawari’s feet. Her eyes emitted a crimson glow. ‘Reduce everything to ashes... Ifrit.’ The infernal fire forced Yuuko to step back, but she hurried her weapon to block Mitsu’s first attack. Mitsu emerged from the flames as an imposing demonic figure, and the blade halted the flames before reaching Yuuko. Although the sword seemed on the verge of breaking, it continued to hold up. The sharp edge couldn’t penetrate Mitsu’s magical armour. Both combatants jumped back, creating some distance between them. Mitsu’s fiery horns crackled with fury.

‘I have to keep attacking her!’ Serizawa rushed at her opponent with a shout. Mitsu displayed a sinister smile before vanishing once again. Yuuko halted and tried to turn, sweeping her sword in a motion that Mitsu blocked with her arm. The blade pierced through the vice principal’s armour, causing a cut. Mitsu delivered a powerful punch to Yuuko, knocking her to the ground just before the sword could amputate part of her arm. The black sword struck the ground and rebounded a few meters away. Yuu was engulfed in the phoenix’s flames once more, and Mitsuko leaped into them, engaging in a fire battle.

‘Do you think I’ll allow it again!?’ Mitsu seized Yuuko by the throat, pressing her against the ground while strangling her. The intense reddish flames mixed with the orange phoenix flames, which futilely attempted to aid their speller as they yielded to Ifrit’s fire. Despite the explosions, Mitsu appeared immovable, determined to finish Yuu. Ayumu’s eyes fixated on the two fighters, and he clenched his fists, feeling the fear and alarm subside. Once again, the whitish aura seemed to envelop his body, capturing Masami’s attention.

‘This can’t be possible...’ Masami was impressed, observing the anger expression on Ayu’s face, replacing the fear.

‘She’s going to kill her…!’

‘You won’t...’ He charged forward. ‘Ayumu!’ Masami called out, attempting to stop him. Mitsu paused for a moment, glimpsing the boy in the corner of her eye, launching himself at her through the flames of Ifrit and the phoenix. With his aura of martial arts surrounding his body, he landed a powerful blow on a disoriented Mitsu. She released Yuuko and tumbled across the ground, bleeding from her nose and the corner of her mouth because of the impact. Yuuko coughed, gasping for air.

‘Miss Serizawa!’ Ayumu turned towards the teacher, diverting his gaze from Mitsu.

‘Watch out!’ Masami once again warned, witnessing how Mitsuko, consumed by rage, lunged towards both of them. The girl rummaged through her pockets and pulled out a coin that slipped through her fingers because of the pressure. Her face paled once again, feeling a knot in her throat as she watched the coin fall. Yuuko tried to move it away.

Ayumu turned his attention back to Mitsu. Once again, time froze as the gleam in his eyes foreshadowed his death. A girl wearing the Omnyou uniform appeared between Mitsu and Ayumu. Her silver hair danced in the wind, and the flames seemed to avoid her. The temperature dropped as the vapour emanating from her body. Mitsu's strike was a deceptive move that appeared to hit her head-on. The figure of ice evaporated through sublimation. Magical seals appeared around the vice principal, then thousands of blue beams of light hit Mitsuko, pinning her to the ground. The vice principal tried to move, but found herself immobilised. Ifrit’s flames intensified, and the silver-haired girl snorted as she walked towards Mitsu, passing by Yuuko and Ayumu.

‘You know you won’t achieve anything... it’s useless to resist.’ The student warned.

‘You too?! Let me go!!’

‘Are you going to attack me like Miss Serizawa? Well... we already know the answer, so...’ The girl delivered a firm blow to Mitsu’s forehead. ‘I’d better put you to sleep until you cool down...’ Her eyes emitted a gleam before Mitsu’s retort. She fell unconscious, and Ifrit’s flames vanished. The whitish aura surrounded the girl’s body as she carried Mitsu.

‘You are...’ Ayumu’s mind flashed with an image of Fuyume. She smiled at him.

‘The principal Natsume is calling for you, Yuuko!’ she showed a satisfied smile. ‘Don’t be late!’

‘Wait...’ The girl waved her hand, bidding farewell, and disappeared, taking the vice principal with her, leaving Ayumu speechless.