“With that Class 1-E of Academy Nicely has been eliminated!”

The referee says as he rises he’s hand to point towards us. I sigh, “That was one weak team...” I say as I look disappointed.

Of course I am disappointed to see a weak team like that one reach here. The first round was won by Elena, second by Luke and third by Horrell...Seriously? Horrell?! Out of all the people in my team, Horrell is the weakest one and she defeated a guy from their team...That team never stood a chance against us. They need a better teacher for sure.

XXXXXX

“I thought that the top 16 would have been some kinda challenge for the kids but they are pretty strong.” Carly says with a disappointed sigh.

“Dan has trained them well. I can see that.” Jake says as he closely watches Dan.

XXXXXX

I walk back towards the way that leads to the locker room, “You guys did well.” Taani says with a smile.

I am worried...

Taani and her class are making her way out, “Taani!” I look at Taani.

“Yeah?” Taani looks towards me.

“Be careful...” I say.

“I am always careful.” Taani says with a smile.

Taani says as she makes her way out in the arena.

“Sir Dan?” Izumi’s face is close to my face.

“Is everything okay?” Izumi asks.

“Yeah...” I say as I look away since it kinda is...Not comfortable.

“Don’t worry! I think Miss Taani will be capable of fighting off this round. After all, she defeated you.” Izumi says with a smile.

Jack looks at me with a disappointed face.

“You really should’ve told her about the reason that you got defeated.” Jack says.

“Hmm?” Everyone seems to be confused.

“I will meet you guys at the stadium.” I say as I make my way out of the group.

“Mister Handsome...”

XXXXXX

I reach and take the seat next to Carly, “Yo, that was one helluva match and you didn’t even need to fight.” Carly says with a smirk.

“I don’t think I will need to fight the students but when it comes to the teachers, yeah I will fight them.” I say.

“I see.” Carly says with a smile.

I see Taani’s class and Tarand’s class standing in front of each other outside the arena.

“Who are you sending from your team?” The referee asks Tarand.

“I will be sending Kaileen Fracia, the King’s daughter herself and she wishes to challenge that teacher.” Tarand says with a smile as he points towards Taani.

...

“Are you joking, Sir Tarand? I mean why would she want to challenge me? I rather challenge someone of my own league-“

Tarand cuts Taani off, “You will be surprised by this young kid’s growth. You should really let her fight you.” Tarand says with a smile.

“Of course if she loses, I will give up and by give up, I mean give up on this tournament.” Tarand says with a smile.

“What?!” Everyone seems to be confused.

The crowd seems to be in disarray.

“You don’t want to do this, Sir Tarand.” Taani says.

“I do want to do this, Miss Taani.” Tarand says with a smile.

Don’t do it Taani, it’s a trap...Back off right now...I can feel it, it’s a trap! It’s a trap!

“Tsch!” Taani seems to be in a loop.

“Fine, I will fight her.” Taani says.

“Tsch!”

“Dan?” Carly looks towards me with concern written all over her face.

“This is bad...”

XXXXXX

Both Taani and Little Princess take their stand in the arena, “So the match is decided, let round one begin!”

“I will finish this quickly, girl.” Taani says as she readies herself to launch towards the Little Princess.

*Swish*

Everyone saw it, Taani made her move. She was pretty fast. In fact, I can even say that she has improved her speed by a lot since the last time I saw her and that’s just her pure physical strength. If she has that kinda strength and speed she won’t need magic to defeat The Little Princess.

At least...That’s what everyone would think but I have seen through the trap already, The Little Princess might be a little too much for Taani...

*Smack*

While everyone was surprised by Taani’s fist that was caught by The Little Princess’s right palm, I already knew what was coming.

This is the very reason that I warned Taani. That Little Princess isn’t the Little Princess I know. She is a totally different person.

*Bang*

The fist palm that Taani connected with the Princess’s palm caused a huge distortion in the stadium. It was almost as if a tremor has occurred on this very stadium.

“What strength...” Carly says.

Even if Carly says that, The Little Princess’s strength isn’t anything compared to her strength.

*Smack*

The Little Princess kicks Taani right in her guts. Taani spits out some saliva out of her mouth as she is blown away from her.

I can see Taani controlling herself from falling out of the bounds by using her feet to stop right at the edge of the ring but I already noticed it.

The Little Princess’s legs, they are like Hermes’s legs when he was ready to run with his wings. No one could catch that guy once he started running and that’s exactly what I saw in her legs.

The posture of that leg that she created where she went on her toe with her right leg which is behind and then used that very leg to push her forward, that pretty much solidified this round in a nutshell for me. Taani never stood a chance without her magic...I doubt that the Little Princess will give Taani a chance to use her magic.

*Swish*

“What?!” Taani seems to be confused that The Little Princess is already right behind her.

That’s right, for any normal person this would be like she teleported there but that definitely was not the case. She ran till there but that’s not the only case, to have such control over that speed of hers...That’s what’s terrifying.

*Smack*

Again, Taani gets hit by The Little Princess. She has been sent flying towards the sky by the Little Princess.

*Smack*

There really is no room for Taani to breathe as The Little Princess pushes her right in the middle of the ring with a kick to her gut.

“Guh!”

Taani spits out blood...It seems that she won’t be able to hold on much longer if this continues...She must give up right now. Don’t let your pride get in the way Taani, just give up.

“Sir Dan...Is Miss Taani losing?” Izumi who just got here asks me.

“Yeah...Seems like it to me.” I say.

Izumi sits next to me, “Where are the others?” I ask Izumi.

“Jack and Luke said they had some kinda special training planned after this first round. So they will not be watching the rest of the tournament. As for Elena and Horrell, they are with their parents watching the tournament.” Izumi says.

“What about you? Don’t you wanna go greet Fracia or something?” I ask.

“Not really. I thought that I should spend time with Sir Dan.” Izumi chuckles as she speaks.

“I see...”

Why do I feel like a monster is right behind me?

“Miss Taani, are you okay? You shouldn’t fight if you can’t!” One of the students of Taani says.

This is bad...Don’t say those words. Those words...They will only hurt her pride and make her more motivated to fight.

I can see through the dust. Taani got back up but she is quite messy and there is blood dripping from her lips. There are also some cuts and bruises all over her body. Not to mention, her clothing has also been torn apart quite a bit.

Don’t fight anymore Taani...Don’t let pride get in the way of your fight.

XXXXXX

“Dan was right about you.” Taani says as she smiles.

“What?” Kaileen seems to be totally confused by Taani’s words.

It was as if Taani understood what Dan wanted to say.

“He was right when he said I should be careful while fighting you. It seems that I was the one who made a miscalculation here.”

Taani raises her hand. It means that Taani is going to give up this match just like Dan wanted her to. It was a match that she never had a chance to win without her magic.

“What are you doing?!” Kaileen asks Taani.

“Isn’t it obvious? If we continue fighting one of us will die and I rather not want that. That is why I am going to give up.” Taani say with a smile.

Just then, there was something unexpected that happened. Just as the referee was about to raise his hand, the unexpected thing happened.

“Give up? Give up? There is no such option as give up. If you give up...How the hell will you know true torment?!”

An unexpected yet horrifying way of describing things but Taani was sweating all of a sudden and it was as if...She had met a devil.

XXXXXX

“TAANI GET OUT OF THERE!” I scream as I look at the ring.

It is obvious what The Little Princess intends to do...She intends to crush Taani’s fighting spirit so that she can never be back in action again.

The Little Princess rushes in towards Taani whose feet were frozen from the terrifying aura and grabs Taani’s left hand.

Taani looks to be surprised by The Little Princess’s arrival.

“Tsch!”

I have to run towards the arena and quickly.

“You will be harming one of your so called students, Sir Dan.” Tarand says with a smile.

That smile again...It’s that dangerous smile.

“Its okay, Dan I can handl-“

Suddenly, I hear a crack sound.

“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!”

All I heard was Taani’s scream as I looked at The Little Princess pull Taani’s hand.

“TARAND, TELL KAILEEN TO GET BACK!” I scream at Tarand.

“Once she’s like that, even I can’t do anything.” Tarand says with a smile.

“She’s the King’s daughter, isn’t she?”

“I heard she is the sacrifice.”

“No wonder they want to sacrifice her.”

“She clearly is a devil incarnate. I mean just look at her, she’s enjoying it.”

People have already started to bad mouth The Little Princess and why wouldn't they? That face that she is making. She is smiling like a devil and her eyes are terrifying. It's almost as if she is possessed by some sorta demon.

“KYAAAAAAA!!!!!”

“Dan, help her!” Carly says to me.

I nod...That’s right, it doesn’t matter whether she is my student or not. It’s a matter of someone’s life and death. There is no time to think about this.

*Swish*

Just when I was about to leap forward I see a shadow pass by me. That shadow, it was none other than the same girl who was scared of The Little Princess yesterday.

*Smack*

Quickly, I saw Izumi leap in and kick the Little Princess away from Taani. My eyes had widened by what my sight had just seen. Was it just me or...Was Izumi just now covered in some kinda flame?

“She had flames over her body boi...Who is she?” The old man asks.

“She is...My student...Izumi Roka...”