418 Chapter 418: Absorption (1/2)
One of the flowers drifted over to me and I picked it up, sniffing it a little. I could feel the throbbing mana inside flowing into me, restoring my strength considerably.
I was right. Miura had a tremendous amount of mana, despite having expended a significant amount of it during our battle. It was more than enough to replenish my own exhausted reserves and last me for another couple of rounds.
\”Thanks, I really appreciate it.\”
I watched as the flower faded away atop my palm, slowly disappearing into the night, and closed my eyes briefly.
\”This isn't fair…\”
I glanced at my fallen opponent. Miura was lying on the ground, sprawled on all fours. She was looking up at me, perspiration pouring down her ghastly white face. Her long, black hair was soaked in sweat.
\”It isn't fair…to think that you were hiding something this amazing…\”
Uh…why did this dialogue sound so familiar?
\”Let me guess…that's your ultimate technique…Bankai, was it?\”
\”Are you mixing reality up with a certain manga?\” I asked, annoyed. Miura giggled a little at that, and then used her scythe to right herself up. Frowning, I placed a hand on the hilt of Hei Yue, but she shook her head and raised a hand of her own.
\”I'm done. I surrender. I can't fight any longer – you've sucked me dry. I don't have any mana left.\”
That was the point of my ultimate wood technique, Hundred-Colored Flowers, so I wasn't surprised that she had been drained entirely of energy. So I just nodded and glanced up at the commentator.
\”Match…match over! Incredible! The winner is Richard Huang of Jing Tian Academy!\”
His announcement was drowned out by a lot of voices. I glanced up and around the arena, taking heart from the cheering spectators. Harvey, Adrian and Melina in particular were jumping up and down in joy, yelling and celebrating with their friends. I nodded in their direction, and then glanced at my team. As I expected, Harrison and the rest had also erupted in delight, hugging each other or exchanging high fives.
I smiled wearily, but before I trudged over, I strode over and offered the sprawled Miura a hand. She accepted it without hesitation and allowed me to pull her to her feet while she dismissed her scythe.
\”You're such a gentleman,\” she teased. I shrugged, and after ensuring that she could wallk on her own, turned away to approach my teammates.
\”Good job!\” Harrison congratulated me enthusiastically, slapping my shoulder in excitement. \”You have really surpassed everyone's expectations!\”
\”You did it! You maniac! You suicidal maniac! You actually pulled it off!\” Craig was howling in laughter, more from sheer delight than amusement. He still looked as if he couldn't believe what he ha just watched.
\”Hah! I always knew you could do it! I've always believed in you!\” For some reason, Dong Fang Yue Chu sounded pretty smug. I shrugged somewhat helplessly. Honestly, I found it incredibly difficult for me to believe in myself. I really didn't expect to beat Miura. That Hundred-Colored Flower technique was a move I pulled out desperately, and there was no guarantee that I would be able to suck her mana dry before her curse destroyed me.
Thankfully, it all turned out fine in the end, otherwise I would be in one hell of a pinch.
Even so, I was still exhausted from the consecutive fighting. Fortunately, there was an intermission between matches, often to allow the team captains to regroup and make their decisions. It was sort of like half-time in a soccer match, where the manager decided on substitutions, briefed his team on what to expect based on what he had seen so far, and for the participants to take a short break. I knew I could definitely use one. Harrison Reed, as usual, made use of the time to analyze the match.
\”All right…now that you've eliminated three of their core members, I believe Captain Kureha will either send out Rossetti Picket, who is their Dancer, or Kufa Van Peer, who their Samurai. If we somehow beat them, then Kureha will take to the field herself…\”
\”If we beat either of them,\” Theodore Hammond muttered darkly. He glanced at Harrison. \”What do you reckon our chances of victory are?\”
\”Not very high,\” Harrison admitted. He glanced at Craig. \”Both Rossetti and Kufa are speed-based users, so I'm thinking of sending you out to face them, since you're the fastest on our team.\”
\”Leave it to me,\” Craig said smoothly, but I shook my head and raised my hand.
\”Begging your pardon, but do you mind allowing me to go for another round? I would like to at last tire them out before Craig comes in.\”
\”Oh.\” Harrison noticed that I was still on the stage. I had decided to stay put instead of stepping down, so that Green Dragon could maintain his chibi form and hover around. I doubted I had the mana left to turn him into his giant form, despite having absorbed quite a bit from Miura. However, Harrison narrowed his eyes, concerned. \”Are you really sure you're up to it?\”
\”Yeah, don't force yourself,\” Pearl advised worriedly. I grinned.
\”Don't worry. I just absorbed quite a bit of mana from Miura, so I actually have more energy than I look. Against such powerful opponents, it's best to use our members sparingly and allow me to tire them out as much as possible. Also, don't you want Craig in the team match? It might be too risky to send him out right now.\”
\”You think I'll lose?\” Craig snorted. I shook my head.
\”Nah. But there is the possibility, and if I do tire whoever they send out first, you'll have a higher chance of winning in the final individual round, eliminating him or her, and then you can continue on to the team match without having spent more mana han necessary.\”
\”Richard has a point,\” Harrison conceded with a nod. \”That's quite the sound strategy, especially since we've agreed that he will not be participating in the team match…whereas we all know Saint Teresa Academy relies heavily on their core members for the team match, so the more of them we eliminate, the better.\”
\”Well, if you put it that way, then I have no objections.\” Craig leaned back and shrugged nonchalantly.