"It is time for my own first move."

The water around the tall boy surged forward, two long streams curving like ropes around Evelyn from every direction and seeking to wrap around her.

In the same movement Evelyn gently pulled her hair behind her ears, and she raised both hands.

The incoming currents halted above her and the streams trembled violently between her palms, struggling to advance as the wind around her held them in place.

Killian and the others in the arena leaned forward to watch this. Evelyn’s brown eyes narrowed at the stream that was still forcing through.

She glanced at her opponent, who was extending his hand and pushing through. She knew she couldn’t beat him in a contest of strength just yet.

Her hands came together.

CLAP!

The two streams smashed into each other and burst apart into a spray of water in a flashy display. Evelyn wasn’t done and curled her fingers.

The scattered droplets gathered into a spinning sphere of wind. The sphere hung above her palm and she shot it straight at him.

The boy clapped his hand instantly, and yelled out his skill.

"<Piercing Stream>"

A thin line of water shot forward from the space between his palm and split the sphere apart.

BOOM!

The sight of the water escaping the wind sphere was almost cinematic. It exploded across the arena, sending the two fighters backwards by a step.

Reginald tapped Killian in awe, pointing at the stage with shock on his face.

Killian kept nodding through his continuous tapping. "I see it. I see it. It’s like that wind skill. Piercing Element might be an advanced skill for almost all elements."

"Damn." Reginald fell on his seat.

But soon, everyone noticed... the droplets of water never touched the ground after the dust settled.

They remained suspended in the air, hundreds of them floating around the entire stage.

Evelyn’s expression blanked and she immediately took another step back.

The droplets drifted through the stage in silent patterns, filling every corner of the battlefield and promising danger.

A knowing smirk appeared on the boy’s face as he mouthed his skill. His hand slowly rose.

The crowd closer to the stage had already begun moving backwards as they could guess the scale of the damage about to be done.

But Evelyn moved first. Wind burst beneath her feet and propelled her across the distance instantly. The next second she appeared before her opponent.

Before anyone reached her speed, her fingers flicked across and struck his forehead.

His head snapped backwards. The distraction lasted only a second, but it was enough. She could’ve used it to land a damage but that wasn’t her goal at the moment.

Evelyn turned towards the droplets. Her arms opened wide with her palms stretched. A burst of wind scattered from her hand as she slammed her palms together.

The pressure swept through the arena and scattered every suspended droplet in all directions.

Some flew beyond the arena walls. Some shot towards the audience. Some vanished into the air entirely.

The coordinator immediately raised his hand. He shouted loud enough for everyone to hear him. "Outside arena skills are forbidden. Dismantle!"

Evelyn turned towards the coordinator, tilting her head. "But it’s not my skill."

Her eyes shifted to her opponent who was already seething. "Sorry, but could you think about the others. Hmm?"

The boy clicked his tongue, and dissolved his skill. The suspended droplets dissolved at once and fell harmlessly to the ground. The crowd’s tensed faces faded and some even whispered thanks to Evelyn.

She accepted them with short, brief bows.

Killian smirked. "Good thinking, Evelyn. Now she’s manipulating the crowd."

Evelyn glanced towards him at that moment he muttered to himself, and their eyes met.

She smiled genuinely for the first time on that stage, but looked away before Killian could smile back.

He frowned and relaxed on his seat, as if sulking. Reginald noticed his reaction and laughed at him.

Evelyn jumped backwards, creating distance between herself and her opponent. "Good first move," her tone wasn’t taunting. "It’s my turn again."

The boy’s head lowered to the ground. "Is it?"

His right foot slammed into the stage. BAM!

The arena shook, and cracks spread across the stone floor. The coordinator stepped away from the arena, shaking his head as horror creeped to his face. Then chunks of the platform broke free, hurling into the air.

The coordinator covered his face with his palm. "No... another stage destroyed."

Evelyn blinked once. "Hey! W-What are you doing—"

Water rushed to the broken slabs, and the chunks of stone became engulfed by layers of spinning water, forming a massive projectile.

The projectile was as long and sturdy as a two-meter leather whip, and Evelyn calculated quickly how fast it should be able to move.

Her opponent swung his arm, sending the massive projectile towards her.

She jumped sideways, and the stone crashed where she had stood. She made notice of how quickly the projectile had reached her despite its length and weight.

"That’s not good," she muttered, realizing that the major disadvantage between them was finally being used against her. His strength. The impact of his hit had shattered the floor.

Evelyn stared at the destruction after the dust settled, her heartbeat quickening.

"That’s not good at all."

Before she could fully recover her breathing, the projectile changed direction. It curved through the air and came after her again.

She rolled to safety and the projectile slammed into the spot she had occupied, missing her by a quarter of a second.

The arena floor tore apart and more destruction ensued. Fragments of stone scattered everywhere.

Evelyn sucked in a breath, moving around the arena again. She stared at the last hit that would have crushed her.

"I have to do it," she muttered under her breath. "I have to do it now before it gets too late."

At the edge of the arena, Reginald folded his arms, but his fingers tapped his chest nervously.

"He’s now using his strength against her since she made his element is a bad match up for hers."

Killian kept his eyes on the arena. "That’s his only way to gain an edge. She is good at controlling skills and using others’ skills against them."

Her match with Keith must’ve pushed this growth.

Reginald nodded at Killian’s words. "Which means she’s going to have to struggle now."

The projectile swung around once more.

"And improvise."

The stone-covered whip finally connected to Evelyn.

BOOM!

The impact sent dust and broken pieces of the stage flying everywhere.

Killian was already on his feet before he realized it.

"Evelyn?!"