Chapter 66: Cold!!
As the host’s voice echoed across the arena — "Begin!" — a wave of stillness settled over the crowd.
Then, in a blink, Sora Veylen moved.
Her movements were smooth as silk, her footwork barely disturbing the dust beneath her. She darted in a blur, drawing close to her opponent in a heartbeat — launching a quick series of open-palm strikes aimed at Sayaka’s upper body. Her precision was evident, each strike calculated to test Sayaka’s balance and reaction time.
Sayaka Nozomi didn’t flinch.
She stood like a pillar of ice as Sora’s first strike came in — then with a single, elegant pivot, she redirected the blow, her sleeve trailing like a wisp of snow in the air. She responded with a swift, rising knee, catching Sora mid-motion and forcing her back with a sharp gasp.
The crowd reacted instantly.
"Whoa—did she just redirect that without even looking?"
"She’s colder than stone—didn’t even blink."
Sora recovered quickly, gritting her teeth. Her wind-step footwork flared to life — she leapt, spun mid-air, and dropped low with a sweeping kick meant to knock Sayaka off her feet.
But Sayaka stepped back precisely one inch — enough to let the kick pass harmlessly. Then she moved. Her strikes were minimal but efficient: a palm to the chest, a sweep of the arm, a rotation of her heel that forced Sora to stumble back.
Sora narrowed her eyes, sweat now beginning to form.