Well, guess who's back, back again... I have been writing, well sorta, just little bits at a time. I haven't really gotten much accomplished, I'll be honest, but I do want to get 37 and 38 up now. I'm working on 39, then obviously 40, but after that, I want to do something a little different... I'll explain after the chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 37

Uly was in the arena, waiting for Dewi. She was in her resting stance, with Pride's Revenge standing up, point in the dirt, her hand resting on the crossguard, her feet just past shoulder width apart. She was trying to figure out a way to beat Dewi. She tried to do what Grey suggested with the challenges Reece left them. Keep all the knowledge you need in your thoughts at once. He can fly and turn invisible. He uses a whip with some sort of dart launcher at the end. He can hide from sight, my hearing isn't keen enough to hear him. Same with my sense of smell. Then in clicked. Uly knew how she was going to find him. She wasn't sure if Pride's Revenge could do what she was thinking, but she hoped it could.

Dewi, meanwhile, freaking out. Rory was with him. They were standing just before the entrance to the arena.

"She's the best fighter to come to this school besides Grey!" he exclaimed, "I mean no offense to you or anyone else," he added hastily.

"I'm not naïve enough to believe I'm better than either of them, so none taken," Rory said as calmly as he could. He hoped his soft voice would calm Dewi down.

"See? Even you admit they're better than me!"

Rory shook his head.

"No Dewi, I didn't say that. I said that they could beat me. Not that they could beat you. You're stronger that you give yourself credit for. You beat Jason, and he beat Uly."

"That was different."

"I don't think so. I'm going to tell you something Grey told me. If you decide you are going to lose a fight before it even starts, you will. Believe in yourself. It'll carry you to the line. Then all you need to do is cross it. Now get out there, they're waiting for you," he said, giving Dewi a push towards the entrance.

Glancing back, he saw Rory smiling, waving him forward. Dewi sighed and kept walking until he was at his spot in the middle of the arena.

Uly smiled at him. He tried to smile back but he knew it looked forced. His stomach felt like in had been tossed in a blender. He was surprised he didn't hurl right then and there. Normally it wasn't this bad. Maybe because he knew how good she was and the fact that he didn't know her very well, despite her hanging around with them for so often lately. Either way, he knew he needed to get it under control, otherwise he won't be able to walk, let alone fight.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded at Swigg, signalling he was ready. Uly nodded as well. Swigg blew his whistle and the fight began.

Immediately Dewi went invisible. Everybody expected it, but it was still odd for most for him to suddenly disappear. Grey leaned forward. He was more than used to Dewi's fighting style, what he was curious was the way Uly would combat it.

Uly wasted no time. She picked up Pride's Revenge, and flipped a switch on the crossguard. The sword itself didn't extend much, but it widened, becoming more cylindrical. The crossguard became a handle, with a trigger, and it slid up the once-blade-now-barrel. Out the side of the rocket launcher, was a sight. With infrared.

Dewi didn't know much about rocket launchers and their tracking technologies, so he had no idea that Uly could see him. Or at least he had no idea until Uly took aim at him. His eyes widened, though of course none could see them do so.

Uly switched her launcher to a lighter payload, then made the single payload a grouping of smaller, less damaging projectiles. She was shooting at a comrade afterall.

Dewi took off, flying through the air, weaving and diving, all the while he could feel Uly's rocket trained on him.

Uly pulled the trigger, bracing against the recoil of 13 mini rockets launching. Pressing another button, she prematurely detonated 8 of those rockets, leaving only 5 rockets following Dewi around the arena, slowly gaining on him. Uly watches this through the scope, until, finally, they catch up to Dewi. Dewi was left with exactly 10% aura and the match was called.

Dewi turned visible. He was breathing heavily, tired out from trying to outrun the rockets. Uly walked up him, and helped him up.

"How," Dewi said between breaths, "did you know where I was?"

"Infrared. Pride's Revenge's ranged form is equipped with the best tracking system and with infrared sighting. You may be able to go invisible, but your body still gives off heat."

"I hope you're the only one with that kind of technology here. I don't know how to fight while being seen," Dewi said, hanging his head.

"Hey, cheer up, you made it to the quarter finals! I'm sure you could've beaten every other contestant here," Uly said, "Well," she added.

"Except Grey," they both finished. The two walked out of the arena, side by side, and they met Rory and Taelon right at the T leading to the 2 entrances.

"Good luck you two. Have fun," Uly said, nodding at two.

The two were talking on the walk but now had to go their separate ways.

"Well," Rory said, "I guess I'll see you on the field."

"That you will. Oh and you down if I swing by today after class?" Taelon asked.

"Sure, I'll let you know if anything changes but yeah, swing by."

The two then went their separate ways. When they entered the arena, they both gave Swigg a nod, letting him know they were ready. The whistle was blown to start the match.

Rory, right away, switched to LMG mode and started firing off shots, at pretty much max density. Taelon scribbled, on Pad, obviously rushed and a little flustered, considering there was flaming bullets flying through the air. Bullets that could punch holes in tanks.

A meter thick sheet of metal appeared between Taelon and the bullets. Within seconds, it was torn to shreds. Taelon had to dive to side to dodge the bullets. Rolling to his feet, he scribbled on Pad, putting a block of solid iron between him and Rory. Knowing he only had a few seconds,he started drawing, not scribbling. 5 seconds later, he looked at his piece.

It'll have to do. Hopefully it'll keep him busy while I try and think of a way to deal with those bullets, he thought to himself.

Quickly diving to the side, he mentally focused his aura to his new drawings, the other two popped out of existence. Now, in their stead, there were 5 Beowolves. It was clear that they weren't real, the details were slightly off. Teeth too long, limbs too short, fur too clean, but they did their job. They charged Rory, forcing him to focus on them instead of Taelon, giving him some breathing room.

Rory had to switch back to his axe. He knew exactly what Taelon's plan was, so he dispatched the Beowolves as quickly as possible. Two whirls of his massive axe. The first cut through 2, the other, now having more momentum, obliterated the other 3.

"Dammit Rory! Can't I get a second to think!" Taelon yelled.

"Nope, not a chance."

Rory decided to keep using his axe. He lumbered up to Taelon, his feet leaving deep imprints in the dirt and kicking up dust that rotated around him.

Grey, up in the stands, had an idea and quickly pulled out his scroll and made a quick note. A few of the others gave him a look but he wasn't really paying attention to them.

Back in the arena, Taelon was on the defensive. He kept drawing shields, only to have then shorn through from Sol Force. His aura was getting lower and lower, as pieces of the shields were hitting them. Finally, after the umpteenth shield smashed, Taelon no longer had the aura to draw another.

Rory, who had been watching the aura meters, knew the fight was over and put away his axe. Swigg called the match officially and called the two up to the bleachers.

By the time they got there, the class was relaxing, talking to each other in a group. Rory and Taelon were immediately brought into the circle and the complete class got a few seconds to chat and congratulate each other while Swigg watched, thinking to himself.

This is probably the most powerful group we've had at this school in years. Sure we've had some students who've been strong, but they've been loners, only associating with their teams. These guys though, they act like they grew up together. They work like a team. Without even knowing it they passed Reece's project. Though, I don't think they understood the idea that they were supposed to work as a group, but the important part is that they did. These kids could win a war. Let's just hope they don't need to.

The kids at this point had stopped talking and were looking at Swigg.

"Great fights today. Semi's are tomorrow as well as the announcement of the prize. It's Grey vs Rose and then Uly vs Rory. Both of which I'm very much looking forward to. Anyways, you all have a good night's rest and I expect you here around 10 tomorrow. Class dismissed."

The class filed out of the classroom and pretty much all went their own way once they hit the courtyard. Grey and Uly went to the cliff about the forest, which had become their 'spot.' Amanda, Priscilla, and Courtney all went shopping in Vale, as it was still late afternoon and the shops were open. Rory and Dewi went back to their dorm, as did Taelon and Emile. Alfred hit up Swigg's gym, which was always open, and Jason joined him. Rose and Ian were chatting on a bench in a courtyard. The two seemed to really be hitting it off. Abby and Gabby were standing, facing the ground's gardens and Gabby was absent mindedly making the plants go nuts, while Abby was talking to her. Midas followee the girls to Vale, planning on buying out some expensive clothing store or turning the benches to gold again. Just the usual.

Uly and Grey went to sit in their spot, enjoying each other's company. They were just talking to hear the sound of each other's voices.

"So we are both in the semi's," Grey said, finding another thing to talk about.

"So we are. Different fights though."

"For now. I'm torn between cheering for you or Rory so I've decided I'll cheer for both. Somehow though, no offense to Rory, I think you're going to win."

"Why do you say that? You saw how easily he took down Taelon," Uly said.

"Well he's kind of your specialty if you think about it. Just like Emile was. You're set up to take down big threats."

Uly shrugged and accepted his point, knowing he was right.

"What about you and Rose? I mean I don't mean to sound mean but I honestly didn't think she would make it this far… For her to make it to the semi's without a semblance is incredible. Especially when she isn't the best fighter in the class. She's good, don't get me wrong but she's got nothing on you," Uly said, leaning against Grey.

"Or you. I know what you mean, though. I'm a little worried about hurting her, but I've been meaning to work on semblance-less combat so this is a perfect opportunity," Grey said, also leaning on Uly.

The two just sat there, leaning on each other, looking over the forest.

Alright, I think that was a longer chap, not 100% sure though. Anyway, I plan on writing chapters 41 through 50 all before posting them. By that I mean I won't be uploading 41, until I've finished 50. My reasoning for that is that Chapter 50 will be the end of... 'Volume' 1, if you will. So the whole idea behind that is I want it to end properly, and then I won't have to make the last chapter way too long or short, I can plan it all out. I'm seriously hyped for the final 'thing' though. Anyways, see ya in a few,

JaayyMann