Parallel Memory

Hiro seemed to be on the losing side.

With Misha's Belladonna Dance, she managed to slowly decrease Hiro's strength and speed. However, while Hiro was indeed getting weaker, it was only to the extent that Hiro was on equal footing with Misha. It was not like he had become so weak that he could not react to Misha's speed.

He can still manage to defend himself. It would have been a different story if Misha's rank had been higher.

-CLANG! -CLANG! -CLANK!

Misha continued using Belladonna Dance to corner Hiro. However, both of them knew Misha was the one at a disadvantage. She was consuming a huge amount of mana to continuously use Belladonna dance.

On the other hand, Hiro still has more than half his mana. While his body was not in great condition, his mana level was fully recovered. His mana capacity was already higher than Misha's and with Misha continuously burning her mana, Misha would be the first one to empty her fuel. This would naturally mean that Hiro would win.

Despite that, she cannot stop using her technique because that way she would have no way of winning. Without using her skills, she was not capable of defeating. However, even with her skills, she could not win and she knew that.

( If only I was a little stronger! )

Misha desperately thought. In this situation, she would be winning if her rank was higher or if she had just more power to take advantage of Hiro's condition to defeat him. However, because of being a lower rank, she could not take advantage of her own strength.

The feeling of grasping victory and letting it slip away was really frustrating. She is very close to winning yet it seems so far.

-CLANG! -CLANK!

[ "StarShatterer Style: Void Destruction" ]

Misha immediately dodged his attack. Hiro, despite knowing that he would win if he delayed Misha, was not only concentrating on defense but also attacking fiercely. Although Hiro was extremely cautious of Misha's attack and didn't let her attack hit him. The more hits he takes from her attack, the weaker he becomes.

-CLANG! -CLANG! -CLANK!

The fight was extremely exhausting for Misha. And her mana level was going down rapidly. She didn't think that she could even last 3 minutes in this state.

Hiro also saw that Misha's speed was decreasing. Speed was the only thing that saved Misha from getting instantly defeated.

Now that Misha was showing her weakness, Hiro immediately took advantage of it.

[ "Star Swift" ]

-WHOOSH!

Hiro increased his speed suddenly and appeared behind Misha. He had his sword lifted in the air as he swung his sword with all his power.

[ "StarShaterrer Style: StarFall Fracture" ]

Hiro used his ultimate attack. He thought that Misha would not be able to get away because her speed had decreased. However, though Misha's speed had decreased, his own speed had also decreased due to the multiple poisons that he got from Misha's skill.

Therefore, when Hiro used his skills, it was slower than normal. However, Misha had not much mana left. If she uses Petal In the Wind, then her mana would be even more exhausted. Then she would have no chance of victory.

Misha decided to confront Hiro rather than dodge. Rather than losing due to mana exhaustion, she preferred to fight until the end. Even if this was to be her last attack, she would give her best.

This was her only opportunity. It was a big gamble with the chance of losing 80 %. However, against powerful people like Hiro, she could do nothing but gamble to win.

[ "Shattering Flower Style: Withered Petal" ]

-CLANKKKKKK!

As Misha's sword clashed with Hiro's, a loud metallic clang echoed through the air. The force of their swords colliding sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, causing the earth to tremble and dust to kick up around them.

The clash was so powerful that it created a visible shockwave that rippled outwards from the point of impact, like ripples on the surface of a pond. The shockwave traveled through the air, causing nearby objects to shake and rattle.

The force behind the clash was immense, with both Misha and Hiro putting all their strength behind their attacks. The sheer force of the collision could be felt even by onlookers who were being protected by a barrier.

-THUD!

Misha's sword clashed with Hiro's, but her attack was not strong enough to match Hiro's powerful strike. The impact caused Misha to stumble back, and she realized that this was the end of the fight.

Hiro looked at Misha with respect in his eyes. He knew that Misha had given her all in this fight, and she had shown great skill and determination. Even if he was injured, it was unbelievable that Misha, who was in Rank-C could push him to this state.

"You fought well, Misha."

"You may not have won this time, but I have no doubt that you will become stronger."

Hiro said. He was neither mocking nor making fun of her. This was what he really felt and he was being honest with his words.

Misha had to also admit defeat. Going further would yield nothing but injuries to the two of them. She knew her limits and was going to surrender.

However, at that moment, something unexpected happened. Misha felt her power increasing and her body getting more energized.

( This can't be! )

She was familiar with this feeling but could not believe that this was happening. She didn't think that in this situation, at the last moment, she would break through to Rank-C+.

[ "Status" ]

===Status===

Name: Misha Kanon

Rank: C +

Strength: C +

Speed: B -

Stamina: C

Mana: C -

Luck: B

Charm: S+

- - > Skill:

[ Rank B: Vitality Flow ]

Vitality Flow is a passive skill that allows the user to regenerate their mana and stamina over time. The skill works by harnessing the natural flow of energy within the user's body and using it to replenish their reserves of mana and stamina.

- - > Art:

[ LVL 5: Shattering Flower Style: Proficient]

Shattering Flower Style is a martial arts technique that focuses on fluidity and agility, using graceful movements to evade and counter opponents. The style is named for the way its practitioners move, resembling petals floating in the wind before suddenly striking with great force and speed.

The core principle of the Shattering Flower Style is to use the opponent's movements and energy against them, deflecting and redirecting their attacks while simultaneously launching counterattacks of your own. This requires a high degree of skill in reading an opponent's movements and intentions, as well as the ability to move quickly and smoothly in response.

= = = = = = = =

Misha had really broken through to the next rank. She thought that it might be her imagination, however, upon checking her status, she had really become Rank-C +. Her strength stat as well as her mana stat had increased with her rank.

She looked again to see whether it was real. While she knew that she was capable of breaking through the ranks, she didn't expect that she would break through in the middle of the battle. And it was the final of the Tournament Of Academies as well.

She was about to give up yet such a thing happened to her. With this change, Misha felt that God had granted her another chance to fight Hiro. She can't give up yet.

Misha held her sword again showing her intention to fight.

"Sorry! Seems like I can't give up yet!"