Rui was exhausted.
Truly exhausted.
He glanced at Nel, who was already being treated by the medical staff on site. His blood loss was immense, Rui had struck the carotid artery in advertently.
He quickly got off the ring after having consumed a rejuvenation and healing potion.
"That was an insane fight." Kane grinned.
"Congratulations Rui." Fae said. "That was incredibly close."
They all congratulated him before getting to the elephant in the room.
"How did you land that last Flowing Canon?" Fae asked curiously, it was one of the many offensive techniques she had mastered and thus she had recognized it immediately.
"I was wondering the same thing too." Kane nodded. He was already familiar with Nel's incredible speed and reflexes. He was quite curious too.
"Just some psychological tricks." Rui smiled. "I distracted him with the Stinger so that his reactions to other attacks would be much lower. And then I just to find the perfect timing and placement of the Flowing Canon with my adaptive evolution."
"Was it really that simple?" Kane scratched his head. "To think that's how you managed to create such a huge turn around."
Rui shrugged. "It was that simple. The human mind is more flawed than you we tend to think of it. As long as you learn how to exploit these flaws, you can do things that would normally be impossible."
This was something he sincerely believed. Research in neuroscience and psychology had shown that the human brain and mind were filled with a myriad of flaws and shortcomings, many of the elements of the VOID algorithm were derived from and centered around these phenomena.
Of course, several of these elements were also in effective on Gaea against Martial Artists and beasts because they were too different from baseline human. Which was, of course, one of the many reasons the VOID algorithm needed updating and upgrading.
They bantered for a bit, before a staff member interrupted them.
"Apprentice Fae Dullahan? Your scheduled match is soon to commence." He said. "Please be sure to wait by the assigned ring."
Fae nodded, turning to her friends. "I'll see you guys after."
She left for her match after being bade good luck.
"She's fighting Hever, right?" Kane scratched his head.
"Yeah."
Rui was interested in the outcome of that fight. He suspected there were too possibilities. If Fae's firepower was within the limit of capability of the Meteor Swing technique, then Fae was guaranteed to lose.
However, if her power exceeded the limits of the technique's capabilities, then she was certainly primed to win.
As for which scenario was the actual case of the matter, Rui was unable to gauge it. She had immense raw power however Meteor Swing was a grade nine as far as potency and difficulty went, furthermore Hever had mastered it to a high degree.
It was quite likely that her regular strikes would not be able to overwhelm him.
However, that was for her regular strikes alone.
He couldn't necessarily say the same for her peak power. Her peak power would probably be using Whirlpool in addition all the power striking power techniques she had mastered, such as Flowing Canon. The power of that strike would be on a whole other level.
As far as her peak power went, it must have be on another level.
Normally, she would likely only be able to exert such power momentarily and in some situations, and in many cases her opponents wouldn't let her build up the power to launch the very best of her best.
However, this condition was not necessarily true with Hever.
Hever had no voluntary capabilities. He had no maneuvering techniques and offensive technique he could pressure Fae with, his fighting style gave all the initiative to his opponent.
Meaning Hever was probably the only person she could take her time to land her most powerful strike against.
This was why Rui was unclear and quite curious about the outcome of the fight.
Eventually, they reached the ring.
Fae and Hever were already facing each other.
"It's about to start." Rui said excitedly, gazing at the two of them in anticipation.
"Out of all the people in the Academy..." Hever said to Fae. "I have looked forward to fighting you more than anybody else."
"My." Fae raised an eyebrow. "You flatter me."
"No, I don't." Hever calmly stated. "You are the only Martial Apprentice in the Academy who could show me the limits of my techniques, even when facing it at its strongest."
"Take your stances." The supervisor instructed.
"Come..." hever took his modest stance. "Let us not waste time. Show me the peak of what you can achieve."
His concentration was as imposing as a mountain.
"Let me see whether your peak exceeds mine."
"...Alright then." Fae replied as she took her stance. "This was my intention from the very start."
Hever didn't reply.
There was nothing more he had left to say.
"Begin!"
For once, Fae didn't lash out at her opponent, swiftly pummeling them with her incredible power.
Instead, she walked to the opposite end of the ring, standing at the edge. Facing Hever, she closed her eyes, exhaling.
She slowly moved in her stance, matching her movements with her inhalation.
She focused as boundless power erupted from deep within her.
Her muscles stiffened, growing more and more taut by the second. They turned from tissue into bundles of steel brimming with power.
She opened her eyes.
Rui shivered as Primordial Instinct screeched at him about the incoming danger Fae was about to unleash.
The outcome of the fight was likely going to be decided by a single strike. If she failed, it meant she wouldn't ever be able to bypass Meteor Swing, if she succeeded, the match would end right there.
And it was then.
BOOM!
RUMBLE
The very force she struck the ground with reverberated across the facility!
She flew at Hever with rocketing momentum.
And the moment had come.
BANG
Just the shockwave generated by sheer force shoved against Rui, shocking him!
Her palm propelled forward.
BOOM!!!
What happened, happened so quickly Rui was unable to even ascertain the outcome!
* * * * *
Hey guys, in case you didn't see the announcement. I'll be reducing my chapter release rate to 1 chapter a day for the next three days. Details in chapter 221. I've already released several extra chapters this month for this reason and will release more on 31st to compensate, hope you guys understand. Thanks for all the support, you guys rock.
