Hello again readers. I'm back... and very tired.
Anyways, thank you miyako14 and RAW19 for reviewing! I like reviews :) They make me happy. Seriously!
Chapter 12
Era saw her opponent once the sun came out of her eyes. Kazura was a tall, thin, female with short black hair and blue-gray eyes. Her attire contained a blue tunic and even lighter pants.
Almost immediately Era recognized her opponent as an electrical demon. Usually one would think that electricity is a water demon's weakness, just as fire was ice's, but in Era's case it was not so and that was because she was extremely powerful.
As she looked around she saw the announcer in the first row of the audience to her left. He was a middle-aged demon with no element to call his own. He had short black hair and dark eyes.
To her right she found Touya and the others; her gaze had fallen upon them when Chu, Rinku, Jin and Kuwabara cheered her name while the others looked at them oddly. Era smiled and gave a small wave in return.
"Well folks round four is moments away. There's been a nice amount of blood shed in the last two battles, particularly in the one we all just saw. Perhaps this battle will be the same," the announcer said.
Era narrowed her eyes before shaking her head. All these people wanted to see was fighting and blood shed, which were both pointless in her mind.
"Well let's get this fight started. Begin!"
Kazura raised her hand to the sky and a moment later a lightning bolt crashed down upon her open palm. As she curled her fingers around it and brought her hand down to chest level Era could hear the lightning crackling.
Era stood watching her opponent, unafraid of the electrical energy that lay dangerously in her hand. If Kazura was surprised because of this she certainly did not show it as she ran at Era.
The ancient being knew that if she did not give herself enough time she would be electrocuted, even if she evaded Kazura's hand. She jumped into the air after she judged that her opponent would not be able to react quickly enough to get her. Luckily for her she had judged correctly and Kazura missed her completely.
As Era landed Kazura was on top of her quickly, the attack still within her grasps. With a quick movement Era's foot met with Kazura's stomach. Even though the breath had been knocked from her the electric attack still existed and it wrapped relentlessly around the water maiden.
Era clenched her jaw to keep from screaming, which would have pleased her opponent and most of the audience. It had not been the pain factor that had almost made her scream; it was the surprise of it.
Her body, particularly her leg, felt numb and this was not a comforting for her since she was in the middle of the battle. As she climbed back her feet she wondered if she was even standing on her own, but it was confirmed when she looked down at her wobbly legs.
Kazura coughed as she regained the air Era had kicked out of her. When she had recovered enough he glared daggers at the water maiden, who was shaking her legs (particularly the one that received most of the shock) in an attempt to regain the feeling in them.
Noting that Era wasn't paying attention to her she clenched her fist and dove at her. Unfortunately for her Era could multitask easily and she felt Kazura's aura concentrated on her before she lunged. Era caught her opponent's fist and somehow did not slid back as most demons would have with the force that had been behind the blow.
In a fit of rage Kazura repeatedly threw her fists at her opponent. Era was forced to go on the defensive, but she did see multiple gaps in her opponent's attack in which she could easily attack back. She did not take advantage of Kazura's errors however because she thought it better to study her opponent first.
vvvvv
"What's she doing?" Kuwabara asked in surprise, "She can easily defeat her, why doesn't she just end it now?"
"She's testing her," Kurama replied as he watched the battle commence. "I don't think Era wants to hurt her anymore than she has to. At least that's what I'd expect of her after the amount of time we've known her."
"Hn. If I didn't know how strong she is I would have to believe that she was trying to get herself killed," Hiei said.
Touya listened to all that was being said, but decided to take no part in the discussion. He knew that Era was doing what she thought was right, even if it meant she would receive a few scratches because of it.
vvvvv
Era felt the wall closing in behind her and knew that if she did not do something quickly she would be in an uncomfortable situation. She waited until the proper opening came before she swiped Kazura feet out from under her. As she fell to the ground Era used the time to get away, all the while calculating a plan based on what she had seen thus far.
"Era has knocked down Kazura, yet she did not take her fall to her advantage," the announcer said somewhat surprised.
Kazura got to her feet quickly and prepared herself for battle one more. Era crossed her arms over her chest, fingers extended and her eyes were closed.
If Kazura had thought logically she probably would not have run at the concentrating water maiden. However she did not and she ran at Era with an electrical attack ready in her hands.
vvvvv
Touya looked around when he heard a squeak. He knew what had given it off, but he could not find its bearer. As he looked down to his feet he found the small silver creature that was Era's beloved pet looking up at him. "Zeek?"
Zeek squeaked once again before his little wings extended and lifted his body off the ground. He landed on the ice master's lap with another squeak. "You want to watch your mistress don't you."
The wrymling acknowledged him with another squeak. Touya picked the dragon up and placed him on his shoulder, "You'll see better from there." For the first time Zeek showed affection towards the ice master by rubbing his head against his cheek.
With a faint smile Touya looked back down to the arena before gasping.
vvvvv
Era was glowing a light blue as her aura spread over the arena. Kazura was upon her at that point but her attack never hit the water maiden, instead it hit the barrier around her. Without opening her eyes Era brought her slightly bent arms out in front of her. At that moment a wave of energy erupted from her, causing Kazura to fly into the far wall. Era had not even unleashed an eighth of her power and it had not even been in the form of an attack, but Kazura been hit by it as if it had been.
"In an amazing show of power Era has knocked back Kazura," the announcer said in awe.
A referee ran across the boundary wall to the fallen warrior. He peered down at her before raising his arm high into the air.
"Kazura is unable to fight. Era is the winner!"
Era got herself hurt eh? It might have been nothing more than a pin pick to her, but still, that's a bit odd since it wasn't even from Van-Gareth.
Speaking of which, what going to happen with him?
We'll see as the story progress!
