———Lynda———

  <10: 28 am>

  *Smash* *Punch* *Kick*

  They keep exchanging attacks, tanking them and keep going for a long long while now.

  “How are they still standing?” Fiss asked, bewildered at the inhumane showing of stamina. They keep going at it again and again with neither side actually showing a sense of fatigue. “You’d think with how their face is twisting that they’ll slow down, not the other way around!”

  She’s misinterpreting this. They look bored, not tired. I guess she took their rather uninterested expression as one of seriousness.

  It certainly looks like they still have a lot of energy to spare. At least their speed hasn’t changed at all. I don’t really know how much force is put in each punch, but with how fast they’re thrown, it couldn’t possibly be a weak attack.

  “

  ” The principal dy shouted through her microphone, the two came to a halt in the middle of their duel, momentarily staying still before slowly retreating from each other wordlessly. “”

  There were some cheers going on at the prompt, but many were still trying to process what was even going on. From the explosive beginning to the drawn-out war of unending attrition. Who knows how long they can st.

  “Oi! Be a bit more enthusiastic wouldn’t you!?” Rico shouted out to the crowd, clearly not impressed with the audience reaction.

  “” The principal said, sounding like she’s pleading. Never think of her as a loud outgoing type who talks nonstop, so it makes sense she’s not exactly pleased to cover this role.

  **Leap**

  The two of them then jumped back into the commentator room. How the hell does that even work? Isn’t it covered on all sides by gsses?

  “Glery, weren’t the gss wall shattered earlier, and now it’s fixed, and somehow they can enter through it? Help me out here.” I didn’t pay attention to it earlier since we were engrossed in the skits and the battle itself, but now I can’t help but ask.

  “...I don’t think those were actual gsses. They seem to be a magic barrier of some sort. I guess that’s why there weren't any gss shards flying everywhere during the opening when they broke it.” She expined. Seems weirdly convoluted, but I guess it’d be hard to make the skit safer than making the material something intangible yet effective like that.

  “I see.” I replied, not really having anything to add.

  “You two are taking this well.” Fiss remarked.

  “Both of us have been pying around with magic for a good while since that inciting incident. So we’re better adjusted to this, retively speaking.” I expined. “I guess you’ve been skimming out?”

  “It’s not exactly high on my priority list, to be honest.” She answered. “For anything reted to the Eclipse, I’ve been swimming a lot, I guess.”

  “Who would've guessed…” I sarcastically replied, taking a gnce at her fin and gills. “Can you actually breathe underwater?”

  “I wouldn’t say indefinitely. I use up more air, or rather, oxygen, than I gained while submerged.” She eborated on her physiology as she touched her gills. “They’re not exactly plentiful, so I need to be mindful of staying submerged for too long.”

  “Interesting… and also a bit of a letdown.” I said, before thinking about it a bit more. “So is there any noticeable downside? I’ve heard that every demi-humans has one or two things that are a clear downgrade.”

  “Not that I could find so far, no fishy smells or difficulty breathing on nd…” She answered. So at least even if she doesn’t have the most impressive of abilities, she has no real downside. “What about your friend? Does she have any problem?”

  “She has none of that. Her perks are the extra eyes from the snake hair, and I guess biting things.” I answered in her pce. “I don’t think the bites are poisonous, we haven’t really tested that.”

  “I see. Guess we’re both on the more fortunate side.” She remarked. “As in, more than aesthetic, and less than very life-altering. I heard some people got really… not necessarily unsavory changes, but very different and hard to adapt changes.”

  “I haven’t seen any specific examples, to be honest.” I replied. I have been focusing on reading on incidents and such.

  “” Rico is now in the driver’s seat, announcing the next event.

  Unlike the duo that appeared from their station, leaping from up high and onto the stage brazenly, the two individuals who presumably will fight each other, appeared from the two entrances on opposite ends.

  On one side is Elrik, the new P.E. teacher who… I don’t actually know where he came from, but he is one strong guy, that’s for sure. Instead of wearing his casual clothes, he wore something more akin to… a fantasy hero’s garb, let’s just say. Tunic and cape. He holds a sword in his right hand, and shield in his left.

  On the other side of the field is… I don’t know. Her appearance is quite striking. Above average height, long light green hair, long dark green coat, and an odd skin tone that is light in color with a hint of green. She wields a long eastern sword that could cut a horse in two.

  “” Rico said while taking a jab at the school’s many rumors. “”

  Yeah. Never heard that name before. Probably someone from another town or even state. As far as first impressions go, she does look like a battle-ready warrior.

  Considering she’s even here in the first pce, I can’t imagine her being weak, but I have nothing to go off on. Elrik is obviously strong, but he also clearly holds back a lot during a fight unless the students get rowdy.

  “Anyone here know who that dy is or…” Fiss can’t help but ask.

  “No freaking idea. I didn’t even know people could get turned into a dryad. Can’t imagine living well as one in today’s climate.” I said, joking around a little bit. There are probably a lot of edge cases I didn’t know about. At least it seems like things people are turned into are mythical in nature, which I guess does include dryad. I don’t really know much about them aside from being magical and nature-reted.

  “” Coach Wana said as the two readied their weapons. “”

  Seems like she wasn’t kidding about that.

  “” The word to start the battle echoed through the stadium.

  **Dash** *Csh*

  Much like in the first fight, the two of them quickly ran into each other and started swinging. The inhumane speed that is hard to track is also still there. I can tell that they are swinging their weapons at each other.

  At one instance I can see the bde bounced off the shield, the next moment the Fern dy leaned back as the sword lunged towards her head. It’s hard to be certain what’s happening at each point and who’s on the backfoot. That’s part of why people feel so overwhelmed and unsure of what to make of this.

  I still don’t really know what makes this woman special aside from being strong though. Can’t she just… get one of the teachers instead of this unknown person?

  “Flores…” Meanwhile Glery was mumbling about something as she continued to watch the fight.

  “Something the matter?” I asked, wondering what exactly is on her mind.

  “Heard that name from somewhere… I can’t remember…” She mumbled out loud. Was she supposed to be someone famous? Or maybe her parents?

  I don’t really remember the names of most important people, so I can't really say anything to contribute. Let’s just continue with watching the fight.

  *Parry* *Block* *Evade*

  The two continued to exchange attacks that didn't really hit either side, getting dodged, getting parried, or getting blocked by a shield in Elrik’s case. Each instance getting faster and faster as they keep up the pace, and making it hard for me to tell what’s actually happening or what their pns could be.

  “” Wana commented. If it was me there I would’ve been sliced into ribbons already. “”

  *Cng*

  With their bdes cshing one st time, they have chosen to retreat and make distance from each other, standing still with apprehension. Compared to the previous fight, these two take themselves a bit more seriously, I’d wager.

  *Crackle*

  A sudden spark of light appeared. No. It was more like… lightning? It formed in a shape simir to it, but I’m not sure what just happened.

  *Zap* *Block*

  Very suddenly, the dryad raised her hand towards Elrik, who quickly raised his shield in turn and blocked a lightning strike aimed right at him.

  What the heck was that all about!? I thought she’d summon… flowers or something. Maybe something earth-reted, earth magic? What kind of pnt uses lightning!?

  The crowd is starting to get into it with the first magic shown in the battle itself.

  *Dash* *Swing* *Cng*

  In retaliation Elrik quickly ran over and managed to disarm the dryad of her weapon. That was pretty damn sudden, a moment ago he looked like he was gonna get hit with another spell… Actually, when did she raise her weapon to even defend? I really need to get my eyes checked after this, this is all moving too fast.

  *Bash* *Kick*

  “” Rico remarked. He hit her with the side of his shield, staggering her before kicking her off the stage with great force. She’s literally being sent flying and looks like she’s about to hit the-

  *Float*

  And suddenly her motion came to a stop and everyone was left speechless.

  Why is she suspended in mid-air so suddenly? Or how at all? She doesn’t look like she should be able to fly… Wait a second.

  *Glide* *Kick*

  Before I could come up with a rationalization for what just happened. She flies back in full force with a kick towards Elrik, pushing him to the edge of the arena with it while reentering it herself.

  “She can fucking fly!?” I can’t help but say out loud in shock. When in the world can people do that!? I know people with wings exist now, but even then from what I’ve read they can’t control it so easily and suddenly like she just did, and she doesn’t even have wings!

  *Dash* *Swing* *Block*

  After she recovered her bde, this Fern person quickly made her way towards the staggered Elrik who was still holding his shield up to defend himself. The tide is turning as she is relentless in her assault.

  *Trip* *Punch* *Zap* *Launch*

  I don’t know when exactly, but she tripped him over and then punched him right in the gut with her free arm with electricity clearly gushing out, sending him flying upward.

  *Crackle*

  She then wordlessly channels more electricity, clearly aiming to hit him as he is still flying upward.

  ” Coach Wana said, getting dramatic as the decisive blow was about to be unched.

  *Shoot* *Evade*

  “...What the fuck?” Did he just… dodged it in mid-air? He can also fly!?

  “” Rico said, not sounding particurly shocked. They know this, don't they? Can they also fly!?

  The crowd is in a complete uproar at this point. The st fight was intense for us, but they weren’t fucking flying! I didn’t know he could fly! He never said anything about it! Not a clue or anything!

  Elrik then nded back on the ground gracefully, despite being sent multiple stories up into the air. Just what are these people made out of? Also, are you two gonna say anything at all? Not even a little bit of banter?

  “” Rico jokingly said as the two slowly walked around, trying to find some sort of opening. It’s quite suspenseful.

  Is this going to be another draw? I can’t see either of them falling off the stage with them being able to fly. So it’s either one side got incapacitated or surrendered.

  If a clean hit to a stomach that zaps you and sent you flying didn’t do it, nor a kick that does the same, what the hell is gonna do them in?

  Is this going to end spectacurly or not?