The Liger is an offspring of a lion and tiger. It is the largest of the lot in the feline family. Though not ferocious like its parents, its unprecedented strength is certainly an aspect of caution. A claw strike at full power can clearly leave the opponent gasping for some last few breaths.

Marty was about to take such a blow head-on. The crowd almost stood up. It was as if time had slowed itself somehow. James was trying hard to balance the Support type opponent. Melv was trying to shout and ask Marty to evade such a blow. Kaisha and Angelika both turned towards Marty in anxiety. They could almost speculate the impact of such a blow.

But Marty was prepared. He channeled his ability quickly. This gave him the necessary strength to block the incoming strike. The muscular anatomy of a bear is well adapted to strength and power. Grizzly bears can take down prey that weighs several hundred kilos more than itself.

But this sudden increase in strength can also have an adverse effect on the human body. A proportionate amount of increase in Muscular Hypertrophy, that is both Myofibrillar, growth of muscle contraction parts and Sarcoplasmic, increased muscle glycogen storage can balance out the effects. This is the reason why Marty trained himself into a muscular figure.

“How the hell…How is it possible? How did he block it?” The crowd was stunned and stupefied. No one has even blocked that powerful of a blow before in the Underground Battle Arena.

But Marty not only blocked L, he even countered. Marty laid a huge uppercut on L. Though it did not damage much, a bit of concussion was all that Marty needed. With a sudden outburst of punches, Marty started to deliver blow after blow.

Left Jab - Right Cross - Left Jab

Left Jab - Right Cross - Left Hook to the body - Right Hook to the body

Left Jab - Right Cross - Left Hook - Right Cross

Left Jab - Left Hook - Right Cross - Left Hook

Marty started to mix up his attack combinations. L was unable to predict his moves and react in time to evade or block. The technical moves in addition to the increased strength of a Grizzly Bear were inflicting heavy damage to L.

The leader of Team Black buffed up L with his ability, Play. But if L was not able to attack back, his enhanced attack and speed meant nothing. Team Black was losing their strongest member.

The crowd felt as if a volcano had erupted suddenly. The fight was a treat to their eyes. The crowd was exhilarated as they screamed loudly, “This is Awesome!! This is Awesome!!”

Even the other members of Team RedRock were shocked at the high-intensity boxing moves displayed by Marty. They had known that Marty was quite experienced in battles, having represented the Academy on several occasions. But this is way beyond their expectations. Even all 4 combined, they cannot take down L. So this was a strength that represents RedRock Academy. All of them were far from it.

The leader of Team Black was also shocked at the sight as well. He didn’t feel this strategy would fail. He immediately signaled S, M1 and M2 to attack Marty.

But Angelika and Kaisha blocked them midway. Marty used this opportunity to deliver his final blow on L. He delivered a Right Cross, quickly slipped inside to the left and channeled all his strength in his left hand to produce a thundering Left Uppercut.

It was like Thor hitting an uppercut on the jaw of Hulk with his Mjolnir, a certain iconic scene from a movie that the crowd visualized. Not that any of the characters are portrayed in any way, but the scene felt quite similar considering the impact.

L was out and done for.

An unexpected turn of events, which no one would have guessed at the start of the match. Team Black was looking rather weak being 1 member down. The crowd burst with cheers and screams. They started chanting, “Go Go RedRock. Go Go RedRock.”

The tables had turned and they suddenly became favorites.

But on another side of the Battle Arena, someone had broken a table in anger.

“Dammit..those bunch of fools. How can they get beaten by kids?”

“Damn damn...I don’t want to give them the Antidote. If those kids lose, I get to keep both the money and the antidote. Shit.” The manager of the Underground Battle Arena put his hand on his forehead as he started thinking of another sinister plan.

“Those are kids anyways. Even if they win. I will say that they broke the contract or something. Haha. Hahaha. Hahahaha…” a burst of evil laughter followed the words.

The match continued.

4v5 was the current situation now. The leader of Team Black quickly formulated an attack pattern. Though Team RedRock had the upper hand currently due to their number advantage, not all members were able to provide their 100%.

Marty had fought a valiant battle to knock out L, but that also depleted all his strength. He was barely standing on his ground. Team RedRock was also aware of the fact. So they made a quick adjustment and swapped between Marty and Melv, in their battle formation.

James quickly applied his Buff ability, Gift of Zeus on his teammates. He was also running out of energy. Though being a Support type fighter, he also had his limits. Long-drawn battles were not his forte. Team RedRock was also keeping him from using his main Domain ability till the last as it could surely be a deciding factor. Currently, the Support in Team Black has a greater ability to counter that of James. So unless something changes James was not able to fully leverage its effects.

Both sides were on their strongest Buff abilities and ready to fight it out.

Team Black changed their formation. With S in front and M1 and M2 on each side to lead the attack, A to cover as Support. In any natural scenario, the target should always be the weakest one and currently, that is Marty who is barely standing, but their formation suggested that they wanted to attack Melv.

Then again, Melv was the weakest among the front row attackers. But something was amiss. Angelika felt a sudden skepticism.

As Team Black started walking towards them, they cautiously moved to block.

“Combo 21”, shouted the leader of Team Black, A.

M1 and M2 tapped into their Ability Leap and converged towards Melv. Kaisha and Angelika started to match them as well, which is when Angelika noticed a certain grin on the face of the leader. But before they could do anything, M1 and M2 went past Melv at lightning speed. Everyone was trying to understand what just happened.

M1 and M2 had the ability of a Black Mau Cat and a Black Manx Cat. So naturally, they were agile. Along with the enhanced attack and speed from the Play Ability of A, their speed increased by folds. They started to run around the edges of the arena at tremendous speed. It was like the arena was in the eye of a tornado and gradually shrinking.

“Whoosh”, the only sound one could hear when they got past them. But they were not randomly running around. They were measuring each opponent and would attack them from a blindspot at times. This method was to keep an opponent on the defensive.

Also, being on the defensive to protect their Support and other teammates, Angelika and Kaisha won’t be able to attack. This balanced out the 4v5 for Team Black and rather gave them the initiative. In terms of battle art, it is often said that “The best defense is a good offense.”

Team Black was literally using this technique to tilt the scale balance.

This attack pattern continued for a while as Angelika and Kaisha had to fall back and cover James and Marty. But they forgot to keep a check on S. He totally vanished from their sights.

“Where did that guy go? He was there a moment ago.” Kaisha yelled.

“Donno. But we can’t keep on defending like this...” replied Angelika.

“Melv, can you ram your shield towards the leader? He is alone at the moment.”

“No Kaisha, that is a genuine trap…” shouted Angelika.

“Then what?”

“Let me do it. Anyways, I am not holding up properly. That way you don't have to defend me anymore and when the opponents attack me, you can take them out…” stated Marty.

“But!”

“No but.” Marty consoled Melv by putting his hand on Melv’s shoulder.

It was not a preferred plan but the only way they had at the moment. Marty gathered all his remaining strength and rushed towards A.

Team Black was waiting for this move. Being a highly intelligent Support type fighter, the leader of Team Black calculated all the possibilities and planned for the same. He smiled at Marty.

As soon as Marty approached A, M1 and M2 came out of the tornado to attack him. Kaisha and Angelika quickly rushed to use this opportunity and take them out as planned. But to their utter dismay, M1 and M2 did not attack Marty and suddenly stood their ground.

“What just happened?” Kaisha looked at Angelika.

“Ohh no.” It was then that Angelika realized where the other member of Team Black, S was.

S had the ability of a Black Serval Cat. Its speed almost rivaled a Cheetah. So using his ability, S hid himself perfectly in the tornado created by M1 and M2. His movements were so precise that the opponent's senses may misjudge at times. When M1 and M2 appeared and attracted the attention of Angelika and Kiasha, S was waiting at the back of James.

“James. Protect James…” shouted Angelika.

But before Melv could react and protect James, he had already received a high-impact kick to the gut. James was writhing in pain. The next kick landed him outside the arena. James did not even get time to apply his Domain ability when he realized a shadow behind him. It all happened so fast.

Melv tried to attack S with his shield, but his body wouldn't move. Team Black leader A has applied his Domain ability, Puzzle. As all members of Team RedRock were suffering from the Debuff effects, S, M1 and M2 started showering rapid punches and kicks on Marty. Though he tried his best, it was not enough in his current condition. He was out as well.

The tables have turned once more. Now it is 4v3.

The crowd at this point was unsure who they should cheer for. The battle was shifting balance so fast. It was beyond their expectation that they would see a match filled with such excitement.

Melv was holding up somehow. Kaisha and Angelika were fighting hard under the debuff effect. S, M1 and M2 were attacking them from all sides now. They were confined to a single spot, all 3 members of Team RedRock. Under the current predicament, Kaisha thought of an idea and shared it with Angelika and Melv.

Melv agreed instantly. Angelika was not happy with it but agreed to give it a try.

Seeing them formulate some plan, the members of Team Black fell back and waited for instructions from their leader. The leader was also trying to assume what the plan was.

“Come on you dumb pieces of…..What? You pissed ya pants already? Come now, daddy will spank your a**…” Melv started shouting at Team Black. This was something Melv was best at, Taunt. What better way to use it in a situation like this.

“You. What did you say? Are you tired of living?” M1 replied to Melv.

“Let us finish them.” M2 was also getting angry hearing the words from Melv.

The leader could not figure out what was happening. “Why would he taunt us knowing that he is in a miserable situation? What are they thinking?” But before he could signal his men, M1 and M2 had already attacked.

Melv quickly used the Energion crystal in his shield to electrocute, this time all of them. The Domain spell was countered. Kaisha used her whip to swing Angelika hard towards the enemy leader. Angelika flew like an arrow with her sword aiming at the leader.

But M1 and M2 had already reached Melv and Kaisha. Both Melv and Kaisha were on their last legs. Melv had already used all his strength and Kaisha kept her last bits for the final blow to M1 and M2. As the whip released Angelika, Kaisha adjusted her body position to rotate the whip creating a Poison vortex around them. All 4 of them fell into it. M1 and M2 were gradually knocked out by the Poison along with Melv. Kaisha, although immune, lost sense due to exhaustion. Using this strategy they took out 2 members of the opponent, but it had a greater meaning to it. Now Angelika does not have to carry anyone.

Angelika who aimed at the leader was blocked mid-way by S. Thus started a heated battle between S and Angelika.

The current state was 2v1.

S at full strength with the Play Buff ability from A was almost invincible on any other day given any other circumstance. But right now, the opponent who should have given up a long time ago is fighting for something. The need to bring back the antidote to save Noah was burning like a wildfire in her heart. This motivation was more powerful than any other force in the world. This is what kept her going.

Angelika rushed at S with a combination of sword movements.

Vertical Cut - Cross Cut - Thrust

Vertical Arc - Diagonal Slash - Quadruple Pain Thrust

Though A was not able to apply the Domain ability once again in such quick succession, he was supplying S with the Buff ability Play constantly. But still, it seemed like they both were fighting on equal grounds.

After a while, Angelika started to slow down, her body was unable to take any more blows. It was her willpower that kept her going thus far. Dragging this far too long was disadvantageous. But she cannot give up now. Angelika was panting badly as S fell back slightly.

“Give up girl. There is no need to continue anymore. Just surrender...” uttered A.

“I can’t do that.” Angelika mumbled.

“You will die then.”

“Try me.”

“Damn this brat.”

“Didn’t your parents teach you when to give up?”

“Ohh they might be dead. That's why you want to die so bad...” laughed S and A.

They thought they would get a reply from Angelika or at least she would try to attack them in anger. But nothing such happened. She stood still. She seemed lifeless.

One half of the crowd who still had hoped for Team RedRock to win had stood up in anxiety. But what happened next was something that would give them shivers for years to come.

Both members of Team Black suddenly fell on the ground. It was as if they had lost all their fighting capacity. Their brain was telling them to run away. Certain responses cause the body to adjust for defensive or evasive measures. This was the strongest of such triggers.

Angelika had activated her Domain ability, True Fear.

Team Black had just aggravated some old wounds, mentioning Angelika's parents. Principal Beck had instructed Angelika to never use the ability unless in a dire situation. But Angelika lost control, again. The result was clearly evident, the Demoness had returned.

Losing control, not only meant it affected Team Black. It affected the whole Underground Arena and all the people in the gallery as well. They were trembling in fear. Some had already wet their pants. Some almost fainted. Some thought of running away but their limbs were numb.

Angelika raised her head slowly. Her eyes were fixated at the leader of Team Black as she walked forward. There was this heavy presence in the air as the Demoness advanced.

...