Yuki peered out of the window as she watched her little sister walk onto the arena. "That's right... It's Akari's turn. Let's see how she fares.”

  As they waited, Marco continued with the announcement, "And her opponent is, from the country of Heiguo, representing the town of Gui Long...Wen Guanqiu!!”

  Rachel raised a brow, intrigued. "Gui Long? I've heard of that place. Heard they're a pretty martial-arts focused town.”

  Nika nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Gui Long is renowned for their martial arts heritage. If Akari's against someone from there, she'll have quite the challenge.”

  Alice peered through the window, her interest piqued. "You think she'll be okay?"

  Yuki kept her gaze focused out the window, her voice neutral. "Akari's strong, don't underestimate her. She's been through the same rigorous training as me.”

  Rachel nodded, trusting Akari's abilities. "Yeah, but facing someone from Gui Long, a place known for martial arts...it's a tough call.”

  Yuki's reply was matter-of-fact. "True, but that just means Akari will have to step up her game. She's trained hard for this. She better be ready."

  Akari, dressed in her traditional training attire, stood in the arena, facing Wen Guanqiu: a green-eyed, tan-skinned girl dressed in a green qipao and sporting a neutral, focused expression as a gust of air swayed her elbow green-length hair tied in twintails. Marco stood in the center, ready to begin the match.

  "Anddddd...begin!!" Marco yelled with vigor.

  Akari and Guanqiu, remaining still, had their eyes locked on one another. They stood at opposite ends of the arena, sizing each other up carefully.

  After a few moments, Akari was quick to make the first move, rushing at Guanqiu with a quick kick.

  Guanqiu swiftly dodge the attack with a smooth sidestep causing Akari to miss. In retaliation, Guanqiu created a flurry of aura-infused paper planes and sent them flying at Akari.

  Caught off guard, Akari was forced to dodge as best she could. She ducked and weaved through the barrage of flying paper, but a few caught her, their sharp edges grazing her arms.

  Unbothered by this development, Guanqiu kept her stance, channeling her aura through more paper planes, throwing them with precise aim.

  Akari, now aware of her opponent's tactic, used her reflexes to dodge and deflect the incoming barrage of paper planes with her katana. However, the constant barrage kept her on the defensive, unable to find an opening to strike back.

  With expert footwork, Akari managed to avoid most of the attacks, dodging and evading the barrage. However, the relentless assault made it difficult for her to counterattack as the paper planes kept coming, each narrowly missing their target.

  "So paper crafts are her thing," Nika pointed out, watching Akari dodge the paper airplanes. “She must be a Converter then.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  "Seems like it," Rachel agreed with concern in her voice. "But all that dodging will exhaust her eventually, and Akari hasn't landed a single hit yet.”

  "Relax," Yuki said, cool and collected. "Akari's tough. She'll find a way to turn the tables.”

  As the relentless barrage of paper planes continued, Akari realized she couldn't keep evading forever. She needed a new strategy. Thinking quickly, she used her agility to her advantage, dodging and weaving through the paper planes, closing the distance towards Guanqiu.

  "She's getting closer," Alice noted, tension in her voice. "It looks like she's closing in on her!”

  Nika bit her lip, anxious. "Yeah, but Guanqiu's not even breaking a sweat. I hope Akari has something up her sleeve.”

  As Akari closed in, she waited for the right moment, sensing a moment of distraction from Guanqiu. In a flash, Akari seized the opportunity and unleashed a swift spinning kick, aiming at Guanqiu's midsection. Reacting in the nick of time, Guanqiu made a shield of paper that blocked the attack.

  "Close one!" Blair exclaimed, tension in her voice. "She narrowly blocked that kick…”

  "She's got some quick reflexes, I'll give her that," Nika admitted, her concern not abating.

  Sensing the change in pace, Guanqiu swiftly retaliated by creating multiple paper kunais and launching them at high speed towards Akari.

  "Kunais now?!" Alice gasped, as Akari quickly ducked and dodged the incoming barrage of paper kunais. "How many tricks does she have?”

  "Too many," Rachel replied, keeping her eyes peeled. "Akari's keeping up, but she's being pushed back on the defensive again.”

  "Akari needs to find a way to counter her," Yuki observed, her expression stoic. "Just dodging and blocking won't win her the fight.”

  Amidst the barrage, Akari managed to make ground, closing the distance to a melee range distance.

  "There she goes," Nika said, seeing the close quarters battle. "She's getting up close. This is her chance to turn the tables.”

  Despite being in melee range, Akari continued to fight defensively, blocking and evading Guanqiu's attacks, each movement fluid and calculated.

  "She's trying to avoid taking too many hits first," Yuki observed. "Smart move, but she needs an opening to counterattack.”

  "And fast," Rachel added, the tension in her voice growing. "Those paper constructs are no joke, and Akari can't play defense forever.”

  "Akari's going to get tired soon," Alice pointed out. "All this dodging and evading and deflecting is taking a toll on her stamina.”

  "She's gotta push now and strike back," Nika chimed in with worry in her voice. "Akari needs to get the advantage before she runs out of steam.”

  Akari ducked and swiveled, narrowly avoiding a series of paper kunais, keeping up a steady defense. However, her fatigue was beginning to show as the effort to keep evading was taking its toll.

  "She's slowing down..." Alice worried, watching as Akari's movements became less fluid and more cumbersome.

  "Yeah, she's getting worn out," Rachel noted, concern deepening. "Guanqiu is wearing her down. Akari needs to do something quick.”

  Sensing an opportunity, Akari feinted a dodge to the left, causing Guanqiu to shift her attention, only for Akari to swiftly execute a quick, powerful sidekick, aimed at Guanqiu's exposed side.

  "She's going in for an opening!" Nika exclaimed, a glimmer of hope in her voice as Akari seized the moment.

  "Oh, she's got her now!" Rachel exclaimed, optimistic.

  However, at the last moment, Guanqiu quickly reacted, using a talisman to counter Akari's strike with uncanny precision. Akari's foot crashed into the talisman, exploding upon impact and sending her flying back.

  "Ouch!" Alice exclaimed, grimacing as Akari was sent flying backward. "That had to hurt.”

  "She didn't expect that counter," Yuki grumbled, irritation creeping into her expression. "Akari was too hasty.”

  "She had no choice," Rachel considered, trying to justify Akari's rush. "She was getting tired. She had to take that chance.”

  "That's true," Nika added, "But now it looks like it blew up in her face. Literally.”

  "No kidding," Alice chimed in, concern evident. "Akari got slammed hard. She probably didn't account for that talisman.”

  Yuki let out a sigh, her irritation clear. "I would expect Akumu to make a rookie mistake like that, but Akari should've expected something like that talisman or at least been prepared for it. We trained to be ready for such things, and it's time she starts acting like it.”

  …Don't let us down, Akari, Yuki thought as she waited for the dust in the arena to settle.