Blair manipulated the fireball high above them to rain blobs of lava down on the arena. With a smirk on her face, she sent the molten projectiles straight at Kaitan.

  Kaitan's smirk widened as he dodged each blob of lava effortlessly, moving with such grace that it seemed as if he was dancing. "Oh, so this is what you've got planned? Not bad, I must say.”

  Blair gritted her teeth, her frustration growing once more. "Damn it...why can't I...land a hit…”

  Kaitan chuckled, still finding amusement in Blair's frustration. "Hmph, you're just not fast enough yet. But don't worry, I'll give you points for effort.”

  Blair growled in frustration, her eyes locked on Kaitan's still-smiling face. "Ugh... That's it, you're goin' down!"

  She huffed as she threw the entire ball of lava down at Kaitan.

  Kaitan chuckled once more, but this time his smirk wavered briefly as he realized the intensity of Blair's attack. "Heh…now things are getting interesting.”

  The giant ball of molten rock dropped onto Kaitan, who expertly evaded the majority of it, but unfortunately one large blob landed with an impact and shattered on impact, splattering scalding hot molten material all over him.

  The impact caused him to stumble, and he yelled out in pain, the molten material burning his skin where it hit him. "Ugh...that one...actually got me…”

  Blair pants, watching as Kaitan winced in pain, a hint of satisfaction flickering across her features. "Ha...! I actually got you...!”

  Kaitan let out a soft chuckle, still wincing at the pain. "Oh, you did indeed. Congratulations, I suppose. That was quite a move you pulled there.”

  Blair smirked, her satisfaction growing. "Ha! Finally! I knew I'd get you eventually!”

  Kaitan chuckled again, despite the pain, his respect for Blair growing. "Oh, you did indeed. And I must say, I'm impressed. You're quite formidable when you put your mind to it.”

  Blair couldn't help but smirk with pride at Kaitan's words. "Heh...you bet I am. And I won't let up until I've knocked you flat on your damn over-confident ass.”

  Kaitan nodded once, his smirk still present despite the pain. "Oh, I have no doubt about that. You're stubborn as they come, aren't you? But let's see if you can keep that intensity going.”

  Blair's determination only grew stronger with Kaitan's words. "Oh, you bet I can. I'm not stopping until I've won this thing, no matter how long it takes."

  Blair summoned a dozen balls of lava again, flinging them rapidly at Kaitan in a blind frenzy.

  Despite the pain, Kaitan still managed to dodge the lava balls, but it was becoming a more difficult task with his injuries. "Ugh...you're really not holding back now, are you? But I can still keep up with you.”

  Blair's assault continued, her concentration focused solely on landing a hit. "You've got that right! I'm not going to hold back! Not until I've beaten you into the ground!”

  Kaitan could feel his body growing weaker from the injuries, but he refused to give up. "Oh, you're very determined, I see. I'm not going down that easily, though.”

  Blair's attacks became even more fierce, fueled by her own determination and frustration. "Ha! You may be stubborn, but I'm even more stubborn. I won't stop until you've given up and admitted defeat!”

  Kaitan could feel himself slipping, but he kept up his playful demeanor despite the pain. "Oh, is that so? Well, I've got news for you — I don't plan on giving up anytime soon.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Blair refused to back down, her attacks only growing stronger. "You may be stubborn, but I'm more determined than ever. I'm not stopping until I've won!”

  Kaitan let out a small chuckle. "Oh, that may be true. But your aura reserves certainly don't agree, don't you think?"

  Blair froze in place, looking at a screen projection on the arena wall displaying Kaitan and Blair's aura reserves like health bars in a video game. Blair's aura was hanging at 30% compared to Kaitan's 88%.

  Blair's eyes widened as she saw the stark difference in their aura reserves. She realized that her intensity had caused her aura to dwindle down to a very risky 30%. "Ugh...I won't lose...not here…”

  Kaitan chuckled, seeing the sudden realization dawn in Blair's eyes. "Oh, didn't realize your aura was that low, did you? That's what happens when you rely on intensity instead of controlling your emotions.”

  Blair gritted her teeth in frustration, realizing her mistake. "Damn it...I can't believe I let myself get carried away like that…”

  Kaitan smirked, his confidence growing with each passing moment. "Oh, it's quite amusing how you let your emotions get the best of you. It's clear that you lack self-control, dear.”

  Blair's face flushed red with anger at Kaitan's words. "You...you're one to talk! You're just as cocky and confident as I am!”

  Kaitan waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, that may be true. But the difference between you and me is that I know how to control myself. I know how to keep my ego in check and stay focused. You, on the other hand, let your frustration take over and cloud your judgment.”

  Blair couldn't argue with that. Kaitan was right; her frustration had taken over, and she had let it control her actions. "Ugh...you're right. I let my emotions get the better of me…”

  Kaitan giggled, his smirk turning into a wide grin. "Oh, I know I am. And now, I have you right where I want you. You can't perform another huge attack like that lava ball from before, or you'd be using up all the little aura you have left. What are you going to do now?”

  Blair's eyes widened, realizing the gravity of her situation. She was severely low on aura, and Kaitan was right; she couldn't afford to use another huge attack like the lava ball she used before. "Damn it...I'm stuck...I can't use any more big attacks…”

  Kaitan's smirk widened. "Oh, that's right. You're stuck. You're at my mercy now like a helpless little puppy. And there's nothing you can do about it. You should forfeit this match while you're ahead.”

  Blair's pride flared up at his words. "No way! I'm not going to give up that easily! Even with my low aura reserves, I can still keep going. I'm not done yet!”

  Kaitan chuckled, his smirk never leaving his face. "Oh, you're a stubborn one, aren't you? But how long do you think you can keep going with low aura reserves? You'll eventually collapse and lose consciousness, honey.”

  Blair's eyes narrowed with determination. "I may not have much aura left, but I'm not giving up! I won't fall unconscious, no matter what. I'm going to beat you, even if it takes everything I've got!”

  Kaitan chuckled, his smirk growing even wider. "Oh, you really are stubborn. But your confidence is admirable, I must say. Even with low aura reserves, you still insist on fighting. But the fact remains, you're at a severe disadvantage. You're going to have to rely solely on technique and skill from this point on. And let me tell you, I have years of experience over you. I don't think you stand the slightest chance.”

  Blair scoffed. "You underestimate me. I may not have years of experience, but I have lots of power! I'll show you that young human warriors are stronger than you elves!”

  Kaitan chuckled, his smirk unflinching. "Oh, how naive. You have lots of power, yes. But raw power won't be enough. You need technique and skill to use that power efficiently. And unfortunately for you, I have both. I've had many, many years to develop my techniques and skills. How old are you anyway, hmm? Eighteen? Nineteen?”

  Blair gritted her teeth, her face flushed with embarrassment. "...Twenty-four…”

  Kaitan rolled his eyes, his smirk softening into a smile. "Heh, you're just a child. Only 24? How pathetic. I have over a thousand years of experience over you.”

  Blair's eyes widened at hearing Kaitan's age again, but stood her ground. "The age gap doesn't matter...I have one more attack in me that'll show you who's boss, dammit.”

  Kaitan snickered, amused by Blair's determination. "Oh, don't make me laugh. You have nothing left to fight with. Just face it, you're beaten.”

  Blair's eyes narrowed with defiance, refusing to give up. "I'm not beaten yet, old man. Even if my aura is low, I still have enough fuel left for one last attack. I don't care if I push my limits, I'll get that one attack in, damn it!”

  Kaitan shook his head, his grin growing wider. "Ahhh, you're very stubborn, aren't you? But what good will one last attack be when you're on the verge of collapsing? Your low aura reserves limit you greatly, and you're risking serious injury if you push your limits too far.”

  Blair's defiance only grew stronger, refusing to back down. "I don't care if it means risking injury! I'm going to make that one last attack count, even if it means draining all my aura! I'm not gonna give up, no matter what! Take this!”