I know many of you've been waiting for this! Jayden versus Kara! I hope you all enjoy!
July 6, X791
After getting knocked away by Kara, Jayden stood up and wiped the blood dripping from his mouth.
"Water Dragon…" Jayden puffed his cheeks.
Kara dashed straight for Jayden.
"Roa-"
Before Jayden could unleash his breath attack, Kara quickly grabbed him by the mouth with her bare hand, clamped it shut and slammed him head first into the ground. The sheer force managed to form a crater around the two.
Back in Domus Flau, the wizards of Phoenix Dawn watched in awe as Kara was taking down Jayden with ease without utilizing any magic.
"How can she be that strong?!" Hikari exclaimed. "There's no way she could overwhelm Jayden like that without using magic!"
"Well, she is and it's insane!" Azusa said. "Jayden's the second-most powerful wizard in our guild, only behind the Master!"
"I'd hate to admit it, but she might be even more powerful than the Wizard Saint Jura." Blaise said.
"You think she's THAT powerful?!" Aura shouted.
"I wonder what kind of training she went through to become that strong." Xanders said.
"Her magic… 'Blessings of the Valkyries'…" Blaise muttered loudly enough for her guild to hear her. "Could it be possible?"
"What could be possible, Master?" Hikari inquired.
"Much like Celestial Magic, in order for a wizard to use it they need to establish a contract with otherworldly beings." Blaise stated. "Instead of Celestial Spirits and the Celestial World, Kara makes contracts with the Valkyries from the realm of Asgard."
"Asgard?" Azusa asked.
"Residing in that realm are powerful gods and warriors, blessed with eternal life." Blaise continued. "There are differences between them and the Celestials, though. Asgardians can still be killed in battle, whereas Celestials can't die unless they spend a significant amount of time in the human world. Also, humans can survive entering the realm of Asgard, provided they are invited by one of its inhabitants."
Back in the capital, Kara stepped away from Jayden to let him stand up again.
*I won't let the past year of work be for naught!* Kara thought.
(Begin Flashback)
One year ago on a rainy night, just outside of a building in some town was Kara, sitting against it in a depressed state as she was still shaken up from having to strip down and remove her guild emblem in front of the entire Sabertooth guild as punishment for her loss.
"Miss Kara, do not let one single loss dwell on your mind." An angelic voice spoke in her head. "A true warrior does not falter, even in death. What matters is that you become stronger."
Kara then stood up, her expression now oozing with pride. "You're right… I must become stronger! Strong enough to make Sabertooth regret kicking me out of the guild!"
"You have the spirit of a Valkyrie, Miss Kara."
A bright light nearly blinded Kara and even when her eyesight adjusted, the light was obscuring whatever was beyond it.
"Loss is perhaps more important than victory in evolving as a warrior. Sabertooth refuses to acknowledge both that and your strength, but we have Asgard certainly have. That is why I have requested to have you personally trained in the art of combat by me and my sisters."
Kara looked on at the light in awe.
"Is… that…" Kara could barely speak.
"Welcome… to Asgard."
Kara walked toward the light and was completely enveloped in it.
(End Flashback)
Jayden finally got back up again and his body started surging with magical power.
"Water Drive!"
Jayden's body was engulfed in a blue aura and glowing water appeared around his body, covering everything except his face and wrists. He dashed toward Kara and surrounded his foot in water.
"Water Dragon Talon!"
Kara held up her arm to block it and the kick had sent her crashing into a nearby building within the span of less than a second and with tremendous force. A cloud of debris obscured the aftermath for a bit, but eventually Kara walked out of the hole Jayden had caused with only a couple of scrapes and bruises.
"I expected nothing less from a Dragon Slayer." Kara said.
*It's like my attack was just a trip and a fall for her.* Jayden thought.
"Out of all of the wizards participating in the games this year, you have interested me the most, Jayden Oceari." Kara said. "Perhaps, under different circumstances, we would be testing each other's strengths."
"What makes now so different?"
Kara then recalled something else Minerva had told her earlier.
(Begin Flashback)
"He is still alive, for now." Minerva coldly stated. "All you have to do is fight a specific someone. Win or lose, I set the little boy free. If you don't fight, no one will ever be able to recognize him."
Kara clenched her fists and teeth in fury and frustration as Minerva gave a sinister smile.
"Before I go, I should mention one more thing." Minerva said. "If you tell anyone of our deal, and I will know…"
The sinister look on Minerva's face was all Kara needed to know what she was implying.
(End Flashback)
"Let's just say I have something to lose." Kara replied to Jayden's question.
Kara rushed up to Jayden, wrapped her arms around his torso tightly and lifted him upward to deliver a powerful suplex which resulted in Jayden crashing into the ground headfirst. Thanks to Water Drive, Jayden wasn't hurt nearly as badly as before and nothing was broken, at least from the suplex. For his counterattack, Jayden put his hands on the ground, spun himself free from Kara's grip and streams of water swirled around him.
"Water Dragon Twister!"
The streams of water twirling around Jayden grew in size as his rotation was speeding up until it formed a tornado made purely of water. Due to being so close to him as he formed the whirlpool, Kara was sucked into it and was being tossed around it at high speed. While Kara was being hurled around with her breath being held when she started exert intense magic power that gradually strengthened until it released a shockwave strong enough to completely disperse Jayden's tornado of water.
*She broke through it?!* Jayden shouted in his head as he flipped back onto his feet. *How powerful is she?!*
Kara gracefully floated to the ground and a few feet in front of Jayden.
"You are indeed strong, and quite creative." Kara said. "You are in the same position I was in one year ago… Faced with an opponent on a far different level."
"I haven't even gone all out yet." Jayden chuckled.
"Be that as it may, the certainty is that you are not as strong as me." Kara retorted. "You mentioned you have been locked in a cell for most of your life and only in the last few months have you been honing your skills."
"Hm, yeah…"
"I've been training for the past year. You are powerful and could potentially surpass me, but as you are now, victory is unattainable."
"I thought you weren't going to underestimate me!" Jayden dashed toward Kara and formed large claws made of water around his hands. "Water Dragon Riptide Slash!"
As Jayden rushed past Kara, he slashed her with the water claws which tore up a part of her top and exposed her stomach. While no blood came out from where she was cut, there were scratch marks indicating where Jayden struck her. Kara turned around and reached out to grab Jayden, but with his enhanced speed he vanished and reappeared above, behind and right next to her.
*Water Dragon Roar!* Jayden said in his head as he shot a point blank breath attack at Kara.
Kara tried to hold her ground, but the force pushed her along the street's pavement, digging up pieces of it along the way.
*Perhaps I did underestimate him.* Kara thought. *If I don't use magic and he utilizes his full power, he can definitely beat me. It wasn't what I wanted, but I have no choice.*
Jayden stopped his attack and Kara was keeling back a bit and soaking wet, though she still had plenty of stamina to keep going.
*That did some damage, but she's barely showing any signs of slowing down.* Jayden thought as he panted in exhaustion. *If I want to win this, I'm going to have to use Dragon Force a hell of a lot sooner than I expected.*
Jayden closed his eyes and immense magical pressure could be felt all around him.
"I see you're entering Dragon Force, just like you did with the Magic Power Finder." Kara said. "Speaking of which, I didn't even use my most powerful spell then. Very well… Brynhildr, I offer you my magic power. All I ask in return is the power to claim victory."
A stream of magical power came down from the sky and right on top of Kara. When the light faded, she was adorned in heavily-plated cobalt armor covering her entire body and a matching helmet that showed her face. Jayden reopened his eyes to show that they were now reptilian and blue dragon scales grew on his arms, legs and the edge of his face. Both wizards readied themselves for the coming clash, leaped up and towards each other and were about to throw out their next attack.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art…" A whirlwind appeared around Jayden's arms and merged those winds with his magic water to combine the two elements together. "Zephyr Cyclone Blades!"
The water whirlwinds around his arms grew to the shape of large blades as he and Kara lunged at each other. After a couple of seconds, both mages landed on the ground and waited for someone to fall over. The audience back in the stadium watched, practically holding their breaths in, for what felt like an eternity for a clear victor.
Kara closed her eyes in shame. "… I'm sorry…"
Jayden's swords dissipated, his body returned to normal and his body was falling to the ground.
*I… lost?* Jayden thought as his eyes widened.
Jayden hit the ground face down like a ragdoll as Kara walked over to him.
"I know you're watching us!" Kara began shouting toward the roofs. "Now do as you promised!"
*What is she…* Jayden tried to get up, but his body wouldn't respond at all. *I… I can't even move…*
Both Jayden and Kara were surrounded by a multi-colored bubble and the next thing they knew, they were inside a crumbled building with Minerva standing right behind Kara, Erza struggling to stand on her injured leg and Kagura lying on the ground with a sword wound in her stomach.
"You made far quicker work of him than I expected, Kara." Minerva said.
"Stop talking and give Sora back!" Kara turned around and hissed at her.
*Huh?* Jayden thought.
"Mill…" Kagura tried to speak. "Millianna…"
"'Sora'? 'Millianna'? Ah, yes." Minerva said. "The boy and the kitty. Here."
Minerva waved her arm and Millianna reappeared out of thin air and fell on the ground.
"Millianna!" Erza shouted as she crawled to her friend.
"Now Sora!" Kara demanded.
"Actually, you haven't entertained me enough." Minerva responded. "I have one more task for you."
"Enough with this sick 'game'!" Kara yelled. "Let him go or I'll make you!"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you…" Minerva waved her hand again and a bubble containing an unconscious Sora appeared.
"What's this?!" Erza's voice gasped, prompting Kara to look in her direction.
Erza had lifted Millianna's cape to reveal several whipping scars all over her back.
"I find waiting to be terribly dull, so I had a little fun with her." Minerva answered with a sadistic look on her face. "Her screams were delightful!"
Kara, still in her armor, was about to grab Minerva by the throat.
"Rest assured I have yet to harm even a single hair on the boy's head." Minerva said. "And if you want him to stay like that, you will do as I command."
"And what is it you want?!" Kara questioned.
"Finish your opponent." Minerva grinned sinisterly. "Execute him!"
A/N: Yyyyeaaaahhh… I was originally planning to make this a two part fight, but then I realized I made Kara way too powerful and that Jayden has yet to lose a battle, so I figured now would be a good time. I know people think I'm making Minerva far too insane, but just remember that she said she was going to kill Erza when facing her at the games. Besides, Minerva knows Kara and is trying to exploit a psychological weakness of hers by having someone killed regardless of Kara's decision. More will be explained in the next chapter, so I hope you all enjoyed! Stay tuned for next time!