Blitz rushed in low, feinting a wide slash to the left before spinning into a precise upward thrust aimed for Miyu’s shoulder. Axel, seizing the moment, launched a flurry of rapid jabs, forcing Miyu to split her focus between the two.
Miyu’s golden aura flared brighter, her movements quick as lightning. She sidestepped Axel’s strikes, her feet light on the ground, while her hand shot out to grab Blitz’s wrist mid-thrust.
With a sharp twist and a calculated kick to Blitz’s side, she sent her stumbling backward, her dagger clattering to the ground.
“Blitz!” Axel called, but he had no time to worry. Miyu was already on him.
Axel switched tactics, lowering his stance and moving in with a spinning slash aimed for Miyu’s torso. She countered with a swift backstep, narrowly avoiding the wooden blade, her golden aura crackling like thunder around her.
Before Axel could recover, Miyu darted in close. Her fist slammed into his wrist, the force making him lose his grip. The wooden dagger slipped from his hand and hit the ground with a dull thud.
“Not bad,” Axel muttered through a wince, shaking his stinging wrist.
Blitz regained her footing and charged again, barehanded now but still quick and precise. She leapt into the air, her leg swinging in a powerful kick aimed for Miyu’s side.
Miyu raised her arm, blocking the kick with her forearm, though the impact made her slide back a few inches. Using the momentum, Blitz twisted mid-air and aimed a punch at Miyu’s shoulder, but Miyu ducked under it with ease.
With Blitz momentarily off balance when she landed, Miyu spun low, sweeping Blitz’s legs out from under her. Blitz hit the ground with a grunt, and Miyu quickly pressed a fist to her chest, her golden aura flaring as if to warn her to stay down.
“You’re out,” Miyu said firmly, stepping back and turning her attention to Axel, who was already rushing her again.
Axel’s grin was wider than ever, despite his disarmed state. He moved like a whirlwind, his fists glowing with green mana as he unleashed a barrage of strikes.
Miyu met him head-on. She blocked his punches with her forearms, the golden and green auras clashing with every hit. Her eyes never left his, tracking his movements with intense focus.
As Axel stepped in for a final, desperate uppercut, Miyu sidestepped at the last second. Her hand shot out, grabbing the back of his shirt. With a twist and a well-placed shove, she sent him sprawling to the ground.
Axel groaned, looking up at her with a touch of admiration. “Okay… I admit it. You’ve got skills.”
Blitz sat up, brushing dirt from her hands, a rueful smile on her lips. “Yeah. You win, Miyu. No doubt about it.”
Miyu lowered her fists, her golden aura fading as she offered a hand to each of them. “Thanks for the spar. You both fought well.”
Axel and Blitz exchanged a glance before taking her hands and pulling themselves up.
“Boss wasn’t kidding,” Axel said, rubbing his ribs with a wince. “You’re a natural.”
Blitz laughed, though it was with exhaustion. “Guess we’ll have to step up our game if we want to keep up with you.”
“Seems we have a laser monster to chase after first.”
“Once we surpass you, we surpass boss.”
Alister, still watching from the sidelines, clapped his hands together with a proud smile. “Well done, Miyu. You’ve proven your strength… and your potential.”
Miyu returned the smile, her confidence shining as brightly as her golden aura had moments before.
“Yup big bro, your little sister is a diamond in the rough. Praise me more!”
Alister, standing with his arms crossed, didn’t say anything, instead turning to the others standing nearby.
“Anzo, Lila, Beatrice,” he called out, “It’s your turn to step into the arena. Let’s see how you fare.”
Before they could respond, Miyu suddenly pointed at Alister, her voice rising.
“Hey! Don’t ignore me! That’s so rude, big bro!”
Lila, slightly amused, glanced between the siblings. “Your sister is so sweet,” she said to Alister with a warm smile.
Miyu’s face immediately flushed, and she spun toward Lila, waving her hands in frustration. “I am not sweet! And don’t treat me like a kid! Alister and I are the same age!”
There was a brief moment of silence before Axel, Blitz, Beatrice, Lila, and Anzo tilted their heads, their voices overlapping. “Wait, you are?”
Miyu’s golden aura flared faintly as she crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks.
“Yes, we are! Why is that so hard to believe?”
Anzo scratched his head, clearly trying to process the information. “It’s just… you don’t act like it,” he said hesitantly, earning him a sharp glare from Miyu.
Lila stifled a laugh, while Beatrice raised an eyebrow in playful curiosity. “Well, this is an interesting development,” Beatrice thought aloud. “I guess you learn something new every day.”
Miyu huffed, clearly unsatisfied with their reactions, while Alister finally glanced her way, a faint smirk on his face. “Enough of that, Miyu, stop being problematic,” he said.
Blitz’s mischievous grin returning as she glanced between Alister and Miyu. “Wait, if what Miyu said is true…” She paused dramatically, pointing a finger at the two. “Doesn’t that mean you two are twins?”
Axel’s jaw dropped as he processed the statement. “Whoa, you’re right!” He pointed at Alister,. “Alister, you’re a twin?! How come you’ve never mentioned this before?”
Alister tilted his head slightly, placing a thoughtful hand under his jaw. “You know,” he said, “I’ve never really thought of it like that before.”
Axel and Blitz stared at him, their expressions a touch of shock and disbelief. “You’ve never thought of it like that before?!” they exclaimed, their voices echoing across the arena.
Axel threw his hands up in the air. “How does someone not realize they’re a twin? That’s like… basic sibling knowledge!”
Blitz smirked, crossing her arms. “Maybe it’s an Alister thing. Always too busy being serious and broody to notice the obvious.”
Alister’s gaze shifted to them, his eyes narrowing slightly, though his tone remained composed. “Calm down, you two. This isn’t some discovery that’s going to change the
world.”
He gestured toward the edge of the arena. “Now, if you’re done with your commentary, I believe you’re in the way. Get off the arena so Anzo, Lila, and Beatrice can have their turn.” Blitz raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. “Kicking us off already? Rude, boss.” Axel sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. “Fine, fine. We’ll make way for them. But don’t think we’re done discussing this twin thing!”
The two stepped off the arena, still muttering between themselves, as Alister turned his attention back to the others. “Anzo, Lila, Beatrice,” he said, motioning them forward.
“You’re up. Show me what you’ve got.”
Anzo stretched his arms above his head, his confident grin spreading as he stepped forward onto the arena. His red eyes sparkled as he looked over his shoulder at Beatrice and Lila.
“Alright, ladies…”
“Get over here. Let’s get this over with, so I can move on to the real fight.”
Beatrice tilted her head, a playful smirk gracing her lips. “The real fight? Are you saying we’re
not enough of a challenge for you, Anzo?”
Lila, standing just behind Beatrice, looked between the two with a touch of amusement.
“I think he’s just overly eager to lose to Alister again.”
Anzo shot Lila a mock glare, one hand on his hip. “Lose? Not this time. I’m telling you, this
time I’ll beat him. No holding back!”
Beatrice chuckled, shaking her head as she stepped into the arena. “You’re awfully confident
for someone who’s been stomped by Alister before.”
“Confidence is key,” Anzo replied with a shrug, his grin widening. “Besides, I’ve been
training. This rematch is going to be legendary.”
Lila hesitated a moment longer before joining them, her hands clasped nervously in front of
her. “I guess we better not keep you waiting too long then, huh?”
“Exactly!” Anzo said, clapping his hands together. “Let’s make this quick but fun. Alister won’t know what hit him once I’m done with you two.”
Alister, still standing at the edge of the arena with arms crossed, raised an eyebrow at Anzo’s declaration. “Big words, Anzo,” he said evenly. “But let’s see if you can actually back them
up.”
Anzo grinned, pointing at Alister. “Oh, I will. You just wait!” Then, turning back to Beatrice and Lila, he added, “Alright, let’s go, ladies. Time to show everyone what we’re made of!”
Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind the group.
“Ho ho, what do we have here? I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors lately, but due to my ever- busy schedule as the guild master, I didn’t have the chance to rectify them. But oh boy, I didn’t expect this… or at least not this fast.”
Everyone turned their heads, their gazes locking onto a figure approaching in the distance. Guildmaster Yuuto strode toward them, his silver hair catching the sunlight and shimmering like a polished blade.
His pristine white coat swayed lightly in the breeze, the golden embroidery denoting his rank and authority. His striking, youthful face was marked with his sly smile, his silver eyes
gleaming. Alister’s eyes narrowed, his stance instinctively stiffening as he addressed the guild master. “Good morning, Guildmaster Yuuto.”
Yuuto’s smile widened as he waved a hand nonchalantly. “Ah, if it isn’t Team Leader Alister!
How could you not inform me that your sister was already back on her feet? I would have
personally-“
“Wait a second… You’re the Guildmaster, aren’t you a bit too young for that?”
Miyu tilted her head, her golden eyes wide with curiosity.
As Yuuto laid his eyes on her they widened slightly.