>>5946018“Heh, not bad. You've been hiding this level of power the entire time?” Chaya asks, the woman giving a wolfish grin in return as the crowd cheers. Chaya shoves her back, Mereoleona flipping twice and landing on her feet. “Well then, let me see what you've got.”
“Mana Zone: Calidus Brachium Barrage!” Mereoleona shouts out as she dashes in, the two women punching at each other. Chaya's left and Mereoleona's rights slam into each other's faces. But as they stand there, both trying to overpower the other and knock them off their feet, Mereoleona begins conjuring dozens upon dozens of balls of fire around Chaya on all sides. Then, as the two women throw down, punching each other at full speed, her attacks fire off as well. Striking Chaya from all sides as the two exchange blows.
“Damn, she's getting cooked in there.” Ace mutters, watching the battle intensely. Showing far more attention to her than you'd thought. Causing you to elbow him in the side, drawing his gaze from that younger you to yourself. “What's up?”
“You're watching their fight rather closely, don'tcha think?” you ask him in a teasing tone. To which he looks back to the fight before speaking.
“She's around that age.” he mutters, you turning to him curiously.
“Excuse me?” you ask, wondering if you heard him right. “What did you just say?”
“Look at her.” he replies, not taking his gaze from the fight. “She's around the same age you were. The first time we met.”
Understanding dawning you turn back, watching as this timeline's Chaya does her best to not only keep up with her opponent's ferocious assault, but also deflecting at least SOME of the fiery attacks raining down on her from all sides. You see this version of you fighting her best, but it isn't enough. Dozens of shots still are getting through every second, frustration clearly building as she gets attacked repeatedly. And as you watch, you know how she's going to react. The same way you would.
“GRRRR! HRRAAAAAAAAAA!!” Chaya roars, golden and azure aura blazing up like a firestorm. Shredding Mereoleona's attack and throwing her back, the woman barely managing to right herself and avoid falling off the stage into the lava below as this timeline's Chaya ascends. Her energy shrinks to you ki sense, but thanks to all your time with Ace can also feel her divine energy begin blazing. Her strength skyrockets, growing more and more powerful as the crowd's cheers reach a fever pitch higher and louder than anything before. You can feel the power the crowd is feeding into your other self's form, their cheers emboldening her. No, not just their cheers. Their belief, their faith in their champion to win is what strengthens her divine form. And as her aura begins receding, fading back to its more normal size around her, she raises a single fist up to the audience's cheers.
