Should I set myself a Save point? Logically, it was a no-brainer...if I set a Save point right here, before the start of the third round of this semi-final match, then even if I lose, I can come back to it once my XFE is fully recharged.

But...my pride wouldn't allow it. I just couldn't bring myself to resort to that...whatever the final result ends up being, I'm prepared to accept it. I know that isn't logical, but I've made up my mind and I'm not going back on it.

Now, then...the countdown has begun, better put my guard up. I activated my X-Blade and braced myself as the countdown reached five, keeping a close eye on my opponent, who was looking both wary and weary.

She's waiting till the last second before activating her manifestations, no doubt about it, she's running low on XFE. Alright, then, here we go...three...two...one!

The instant the countdown ended, I fired out a couple of shots from my X-Blasters, which she countered by quickly manifesting an energy wall in front of herself. I then swiftly flung my X-Blade at her with a flick of my wrist for extra spin, which caused it to curve to the left, as it spun around the right side of the energy wall.

As it curved in towards Sakura, she ducked in alarm, narrowly evading the spinning energy blade, which sliced off a couple of strands of her hair, and right as she ducked under it, I teleported myself behind her and caught the handle of the flung X-Blade, before slashing it across at her, right as she formed a shield with her left hand to block it, just in the nick of time.

And then, she formed a wind cannon with her right hand and fired a blast of wind straight down, shooting herself straight up into the air, the force upon impact causing me stumble back a bit.

I quickly took aim and fired out a barrage of shots of her from my X-Blasters, she blocked a couple of them with her wind cannon, but wincing in pain as several shots grazed her. She then fired a wind blast up to shoot herself back down towards the ground, followed by a second blast straight down to soften her fall.

She then formed the arms manifestation and tore up more of the arena, tossing the broken chunks at me with a sense of desperation...she must be starting to run low on XFE, but just because this attack is desperate, doesn't mean that it isn't effective.

I was just barely avoiding the blocks of rubble she was tossing my way, and using Cut was proving to be difficult since she was tossing two at a time, so if I stop to focus on and then select and use Cut on one chunk of rubble, the other one is bound to hit me.

She then switched her manifestation to one arm and one wind cannon, using the latter to increase the velocity of her tosses. A few small chunks brushed past and grazed me, but I was able to evade taking on any direct hits, and now, it was starting to get easier...not because I was getting used to it or anything, but because her tosses were getting weaker and sloppier.

And that's when it happened...her manifestations ceased altogether and she stumbled back, a worn out look on her face as she struggled to catch her breath, barely able to stay on her feet anymore.

It's over...kind of a pity it had to end like this, but a win's a win. I used Cut and Paste on myself to teleport in front of her, she began to respond by forming an unstable manifestation around her right arm and flinging a punch at me, which dissipated as it closed in on me, and I blocked and caught her fist with my hand.

"Heh, out of XFE...talk about a frustrating way to lose, huh?" She remarked with a wry smile.

"Yeah, I bet...still, that was quite the challenge. I doubt this'll be our last duel, and I look forward to next time," I responded, before teleporting her out as I slashed at her with my X-Blade.

"The winner of the second semi-final is...Kilzachs Light! The final match of this year's edition of the X-Warrior Championship will be Yugi Suzuki vs Kilzachs Light!" Exclaimed the announcer, prompting the audience to cheer and applaud, following a brief, stunned silence, "The final will began in exactly one hour from now, so don't go anywhere!"

Cool, I think I'll use that time to eat something and maybe spend a few minutes in a Healing Pod to make sure I'm as close to a hundred percent as possible.

"Hey, congrats, dude," Remarked Sakura, walking up to me with a tired smile and holding up her fist.

"Thanks, that was a great match," I replied, as I bumped her fist with mine.

"You better win the final, otherwise I'll look bad," She said jokingly, before adding with a stifled yawn, "Now, if you'll excuse me...I'm going to go find a place to pass out for a good ten hours or so."

"Right...good luck with that."

...

About half an hour later, I was on my way to the infirmary...I hadn't yet decided if I should use a Healing Pod, because I feel more or less fine, a bit bruised and stuff, but no real injuries.

My bigger concern is my XFE...at best, I'll have about fifty percent of my XFE recovered by the time the final begins, while my opponent will have a fair bit more since he's had a bit more time to recover than I have.

I then reached the infirmary and opened the door, walking in with a sigh. Katie was sitting on one of the beds, looking up as I shut the door. One of the Healing Pods was active, must be Sakura inside it.

"Hey, you good?" I inquired, walking over to Katie.

"I...think so," She replied, her voice sounding kinda weak, "I just feel really...unsettled and anxious."

"That guy, did he use some kind of powerful illusion on you?"

"Yeah...it was like a terrifying nightmare, except that I remember all the details clearly," She said, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Man, that guy's such a dick. I think I'll enjoy beating him up in the final," I remarked with a frown.

"Oh, congratulations...sorry, I didn't see your match, I only got out of the Healing Pod a couple of minutes before you showed up."

"No worries, I mean, you couldn't help it. Just make sure to watch the final, because I'll make sure that guy gets what's coming to him," I stated with a smirk, holding out my fist towards her.

"I look forward to it," She responded with a slight smile, as she tapped her fist onto mine.

The door to the infirmary then opened...and Yugi Suzuki stepped in, a cocky look on his face.

"I'll get what's coming to me, huh? Big words, kid, I'm not afraid of you. If anything, you should be afraid of me," He scoffed, before walking over to one of the beds and picking up a small pouch.

"And why would I be afraid of a guy who's so insecure that he went way overkill on an opponent that had run out of steam, just because said opponent happened to land a hit on him?" I countered with a glare.

"Excuse me, you little shit? Don't get cocky just because my powers won't work on you, by the time I'm done with you, you'll be in an even worse state that the little bitch next to you," He laughed, scoffing at Katie, who clenched her fist in frustration.

"You don't even feel bad about what you did, do you?" I inquired coldly.

"Huh? And why would I feel bad? I fucking won, I feel great! And you know what? I think I'll feel even better after I beat you into submission and win the final! Get ready to be humiliated, you little shit," He chuckled spitefully, before leaving with a condescending smirk.

Wow...he's an even bigger dick than I thought he was. Seriously, fuck that guy.

"Losing to horrible people is really frustrating," Sighed Katie, gripping the sheets of the bed she was sitting on with a frown.

Yeah, I'd be pretty pissed off if that guy beat me...actually, I'm pretty damn pissed off as it is right now. I have no intention of losing to him, in fact, right now I'm very highly motivated to make him eat him words, and then some...

"You know what, I don't think just defeating him is going to be enough to satisfy me. He told me to get ready to be humiliated...but I think I'll humiliate him instead. I'll crush his confidence, shatter his ego and break every single bone in his body, I won't even give him a chance to fight back, I'll have him begging for mercy," I declared, as I cracked my knuckles.

Oh, crap, I got kinda carried away...maybe I should have kept some of that to myself and-.

"Well...," Began Katie, before continuing with a faint smile, "You certainly have my support in all that."

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