Round 5: Emma versus Sofia
"Next is Emma versus Sofia," the general announced.
The two girls walked to the center of the arena and took their places.
Sofia stood with confidence, her posture relaxed and her expression sharp. Emma, by contrast, looked uneasy. Her hands trembled slightly, and worry sat heavy in her face as she stared at Sofia.
Sofia met her eyes and stepped closer.
"There's no way you're going to win," she said. "Honestly, just give up now and save yourself the embarrassment."
Emma's fear deepened. Her shoulders stiffened, and her doubt only seemed to grow.
Sofia backed away again, returning to her side of the arena.
"Begin!"
Sofia dashed forward first.
She struck Emma across the face with a quick scrape of her hand, opening a cut that made Emma flinch. Before Emma could recover, Sofia drove a kick into her stomach and sent her flying across the arena.
Sofia pursued her immediately.
She touched the blood on Emma's cheek with her fingers, then struck her again, knocking her down. After that, Sofia dragged her own hand across her arm, drawing blood there too. She pressed the blood from her arm together with the blood she had taken from Emma.
The mixed blood darkened into a nearly black-gray color.
Emma suddenly swayed.
Her vision blurred. A wave of nausea hit her all at once, and she dropped to the ground, coughing up blood.
Sofia approached and kicked her again and again, each blow forcing more blood from Emma's mouth.
But then Emma pushed herself up.
She rose to her feet, panting, and rushed Sofia with a sudden burst of strength. This time, Emma landed a clean hit of her own.
The two of them traded blows back and forth, neither willing to back down.
Sofia struck harder and faster, though. She punched Emma in the jaw, made her stagger, then kicked her again. After that, she grabbed Emma and lifted her, preparing to finish the fight with one final blow to the stomach.
Her fist stopped just before it landed.
"What?" Sofia snapped. "Why can't I hit her?"
A barrier of wind had formed around Emma.
It surrounded her body like a protective shell and lifted her slightly off the ground. Her wounds began to heal one by one, all except the first cut across her face. Then the wind faded, and Emma dropped back to the floor on her feet.
Sofia stared.
"How did you-?"
Emma looked back at her, breathing hard but steadier now.
"It doesn't matter," Sofia said, narrowing her eyes. "You still can't win, even if you're healed."
They rushed at each other again.
This time, Sofia was still stronger. Her blows drove Emma back, and Emma's body took more and more damage with every exchange. Deep wounds opened on her stomach, her left cheek, and her right arm. Even so, Emma kept fighting.
"WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE UP ALREADY?" Sofia shouted, frustration rising in her voice.
Emma answered with a punch that sent Sofia back hard enough to make her strike the wall. Blood ran down Sofia's right leg from the impact.
Emma's breathing was uneven, but her expression had changed.
"I can't lose…" she said, eyes trembling with emotion. "Because of my destiny!"
Three Years Ago
"Emma, come over here."
Emma looked up.
Her mother sat nearby, calm and gentle.
"Marine is now eighteen, and she has a house with the help of her late boyfriend."
"Yes, Mother."
Her mother drew her close and spoke softly.
"Listen carefully. One day, you will meet someone. That person will guide you toward what you desire most. Destiny and love will come together to help you find your purpose."
Emma listened intently, her eyes wide.
"I know you may not understand it now," her mother continued, "but I need you to remember this forever."
"Yes… yes, Mother. I will."
Present
"Destiny?" Emma whispered.
That memory gave her enough resolve to move again.
She charged Sofia with everything she had and threw a powerful strike meant to end the fight.
But Sofia caught it.
Then she began punching Emma over and over until Emma finally went limp and collapsed unconscious.
Sofia kicked her aside and took a fighting stance.
At once, the sky darkened.
The clouds vanished, and the battlefield seemed to be swallowed by blackness. Sofia's silhouette deepened as the shadows gathered around her. She lifted her hand and drew the darkness from above, shaping it into a blade.
Then she sprang into the air and prepared to bring it down on Emma.
But before the strike could land, everything flashed white.
The brightness flooded the arena. The spectators blinked and covered their eyes, momentarily blinded.
When the light faded, the Pharaoh stood in the arena, his hand gripping Sofia's blade.
"That is enough, Sofia," he said. "The battle is over. Emma can no longer fight."
Emma was carried to the infirmary, and Sofia returned to the stands to watch the final match.
Round 6: Amelia versus Sous
"Now, the final fight: Amelia versus Sous."
Amelia and Sous stepped forward and faced one another.
They waited for the signal.
"Remember," the general said, "this fight will determine which team you will be on. Squad One or Squad Two."
He gestured toward the children.
"Squad One consists of Magnolia, Kibo, Valentina, Matthew, and Emma. Squad Two consists of Poison, Ren, Luna, Abraham, and Sofia."
He raised his hand.
"Begin!"
They rushed at each other at once.
Their attacks collided in rapid succession, each one forcing the other to adjust. Amelia moved with speed and precision, while Sous fought with a cold, practiced calm.
"For a girl, you can fight," Sous said.
Amelia narrowed her eyes. "You say that like you're surprised. Never heard of a woman who can fight?"
"Obviously," Sous replied. "But they all lose in the end."
He struck her with a fast blow that drew a little blood.
Amelia immediately rushed back in and landed a hit of her own, cutting him slightly.
The two continued trading attacks. Sous was faster, and many of his strikes landed before Amelia could fully react. She was forced to take several hits as she tried to read his movement.
"You're fast," Amelia said.
"Yeah," Sous replied. "If I were you, I'd focus more on surviving than on talking."
The fight grew more brutal. Sous's attacks became stronger, and Amelia took several deep wounds.
But then she slowed down, watching carefully.
She studied him.
There it is, she thought. He attacks up once, then left twice. Then he alternates left, right, and up three times.
With that pattern in mind, she began dodging more effectively and countering his blows.
Sous's eyes narrowed. "How did you suddenly get faster?"
"You talk too much," Amelia replied.
They clashed again, both landing hard hits.
The pace only increased.
Neither of them backed down.
"This is taking too long," Sous muttered. "Didn't think I'd have to try."
He leapt into the air and shaped the air pressure around him into a small black combat knife. Then he dropped back down and rushed Amelia with a burst of speed.
Amelia tried to react, but he was too fast.
The blade pierced her arm.
She fell to the ground, gritting her teeth, then ripped the knife free and threw it back at him.
Sous caught it easily and hurled it back, driving it into her leg.
He rushed her again, pulled the blade free, and struck the other leg the same way.
Then he drove a punch into her and knocked her unconscious.
"Amelia can no longer fight," the general announced. "Sous is the winner."