The Wager 2

“I would like to throw my hat in the ring, Professor.” 

“Why, Ms. Altan? Why would you do this to me?” Palm met face, and Professor Goodwitch immediately groaned, even as Arslan blinked at her.

“Like they said, training?”

The truth, however, was that she just wanted to test herself against Pyrrha. She could have done it before, of course, but this was perhaps the only time she would be able to test the champion when she was emotionally compromised. It would be a good benchmark to see how she would perform now compared to the real thing, and what better way to accomplish that than testing her herself?

There was, however, some resistance to her plan.

“Never had we had a 1v1v1, and besides, it would be unfair to expect you to fight against two students from one school.” Professor Goodwitch narrowed her eyes at her, but luckily for Arslan, she already had a solution.

“No problem, Professor. Someone else from Haven is willing to fight with me. Someone who also likes Jaune Arc.”

Her eyes bore onto the back of Emerald’s head, and try as the woman might to stay still in the hopes of becoming invisible, it was futile as Arslan decided to call her out.

“Emerald, weren’t you telling me about how you liked Jaune Arc this morning?”

Immediately, Professor Goodwitch’s sharp eyes snapped towards Emerald's
wide ones.

“Is this true, Ms. Sustrai? Are you willing to fight for Jaune Arc?” 

Emerald choked on air at that, but already, eyes were landing on her before she could even protest. Jaune himself looked at her with wide eyes, as if unable to believe what he just heard. Most intense of the stares, however, was the look Pyrrha Nikos had been sending her. 

Four times did Arslan face Pyrrha in the arena, and four times did she lose. Never in those four times, however, did she see the woman glare so much as she was now. It would be more appropriate to say that Pyrrha was a beast in human form than a champion at that moment. She looked like she wanted nothing more than to rip Emerald apart for daring to be involved. She bared her teeth, and Arslan could swear that she actually let out an honest to goodness growl. 

And Emerald, in the face of such hostility, could do nothing but balk and shake. Arslan would not let her escape, however, and she immediately walked down the stairs to stand beside Emerald’s aisle.

She watched as Cinder, Emerald’s team leader, raised an eyebrow at her, but Arslan was only stoic in her demeanor as she looked at her unwitting pawn.

“Come, Emerald. It is time you fight for your love. I will help you do so.”

Emerald gagged, flushing furiously as she sent Arslan a glare. Yet when no denial came from her mouth, Professor Goodwitch only sighed reluctantly.

“Fine, it doesn’t matter. Considering this is your last day of class before being sent out on missions, we might as well do this. Consider this a lesson in adapting to unforeseen circumstances. Now, just to confirm, you are all fighting for Jaune Arc?”

Arslan wasn’t, getting to fight Pyrrha was prize enough, but she only stayed silent as both Yang and Pyrrha shook their heads slowly with wary eyes. 

“”It’s for-””

“Spare me the excuse, you two.” Professor Goodwitch interrupted, rolling her eyes before narrowing them as she snapped her whip into her hand. “Fine, we shall do this, and if it will make you all fight even harder, the one who wins gets to spend a night with Jaune Arc.”

Jaws dropped, eyes blew wide open, mutters all around them started, and if the situation wasn’t ludicrous enough before, then it was now.

“What?!”

“Can she even do that?!”

“I can, and I will!” Professor Goodwitch snapped at the crowd, breathing heavily as her whip lashed the air sharply. “Now, if there is nothing else-”

“Excuse me, Professor. I would like to join in as well.”

Once again, Professor Goodwitch’s palm met her face, but this time, even Arslan snapped her head to look at the source with wide eyes. She didn’t have to look far because there in the back was the sight of Penny Polendina holding her hand up with a smile on her face.

“Really, Ms. Polendina? You too? Do you even understand what you are going to fight for?”

“I understand that I will be fighting to have a wonderful night with Jaune Arc!”

“P-Penny?!” Jaune squeaked, blushing at Penny’s unashamedness.

“Hello, Friend Jaune! I cannot wait to spend one wonderful night with you!” 

Jaune choked on air, even Arslan had to admit that it was amusing to see.

One thing was for sure, however, if Pyrrha Nikos was bristling before, then she was livid now.

“Penny, I-”

“Not to worry, Professor! If it is fairness you seek, then friend Ciel could join me in representing Atlas!”

Said Friend Ciel, however, was only looking with wide eyes while shaking her head.

“I-uhhh, don’t think it would be fair, Penny. Considering we are in the same team when none of them are.”

Penny Polendina deflated at that, but before anything could be said, however, another hand was raised.

“I’ll fight with her.” Neon Katt smiled happily as all eyes landed on her.

“You too, Ms. Katt?” Professor Goodwitch snapped with wide eyes, but the Faunus only laughed at her while awkwardly shaking the back of her head.

“I just want to see what he’s got that has so many people interested!”

People nodded and muttered in agreement as if that was the answer to everything.

And perhaps to some people it was.

“Mr. Arc, is there anyone you have not seduced? Are you going to tell me that someone from Vacuo is going to raise their hand as well?” 

Professor Goodwitch should not have said that. She really should not have said that, because the moment she did, a hand rose quickly into the air.

“I will fight for Vacuo!”

Eyes snapped towards the source, and the classroom was silent except for Professor Goodwitch’s snort.

“The question was rhetorical, Mr…Ni?”

Said Mr. Ni only crossed his arms proudly as he stood up.

“My name is Brawnz Ni, and I will fight for Vacuo!”

All eyes slowly turned to Jaune Arc at that.

Had he actually seduced a man even if he already had Pyrrha Nikos, Yang Xiao Long, and Blake Belladonna just to name a few?

“What the fuck?”

Arslan wasn’t the one who said it, but it was a close damn thing. Instead, it was Yang Xiao Long who looked at Jaune Arc incredulously.

Jaune Arc, however, only shook his head with a pale face.

“Trust me, I do not know that man.”

Said man only stayed silent as he smirked proudly at Professor Goodwitch.

“You like Jaune Arc as well, Mr. Ni?” Professor Goodwitch sighed, her tiredness plain for all to see.

“I will fight for Vacuo!” Brawnz Ni only repeated, however, and this time, a tick formed on Professor Goodwitch’s head.

“Yes, thank you for the clarification, but as we were saying, the one who wins gets to spend a night with Jaune Arc. Do you understand what that means?” She gritted her teeth, and it seems Brawnz Ni was finally beginning to understand his situation.

“I-uhmm….Vacuo must be represented!” he stuttered, his eyes flickering away from Professor Goodwitch who only narrowed her eyes at him.

“And who will fight for Vacuo?”

“May will fight for Vacuo!” Brawnz answered, looking towards the one female in his team.

“Eep!” May squeaked as all eyes suddenly landed on her form.

“Ms. Zedong, are you willing?” Professor Goodwitch asked tiredly, waiting to just be done with it all.

“I-uh-”

Before May Zedong could answer, however, Brawnz Ni zoomed towards her with frantic eyes as his hands landed on her shoulders.

“Please, May! Someone must fight for Vacuo!”

“W-Who would even fight with me?” May asked, her eyes swirling at their proximity, even as Arslan’s own scanned the Vacuoans.

There were some who looked to be interested, either because of curiosity or genuine desire, but when they stared at those who were already confirmed to be participating, hesitation was the word of the day.

Arslan could not blame them. She herself never volunteered to fight Pyrrha 1v1 in Combat Class, despite having the opportunity to do so. She only volunteered now because she wanted to test her hypothesis, and Pyrrha thinking she and Emerald had a crush on Jaune as well would mess with her even more every time they fight. 

In fact, judging by how Pyrrha was reacting right now, Arslan was beginning to think that it would be best that she pursue a genuine relationship with Jaune Arc.

Tactical analysis of its benefits, however, would have to wait because Vacuo finally had their representatives.

Nebula Violette of Team NDGO raised her hand as she apparently won a round of rock, paper, scissors with her teammates.

“I will fight for Vacuo.”

Huh, she was braver than Arslan thought she would be. Another one to note, but not her primary target.

And with that, for the first time ever, Atlas, Beacon, Shade, and Haven would face each other in Combat Class all at the same time.

—------

Pyrrha Nikos glared.

Hussies.

There were hussies everywhere!

Worse than that, they were conniving hussies as well!

Every single one of them were looking towards her as they all stood on stage.

She looked towards the source of it all. The reason why everything devolved into this in the first place.

Arslan Altan.

Pyrrha had always thought of Arslan as a good acquaintance if not a distant friend for being her rival in the ring, but she never thought the woman would stoop so low as to compete with her for Jaune’s affections as well!

Try as she might to disguise it as her interest in training, Pyrrha knew the woman was really after Jaune!

And there were the others. From Emerald, to Penny, and even to those from Vacuo! Women from all over Remnant were beginning to fawn over her Jaune like flies!

Like hell Pyrrha was going to let anyone else get one night with Jaune before her!

Still, as much as rage and frustration coursed through her veins, Pyrrha was still the disciplined warrior who did not let her emotions control her actions.

She surveyed her surroundings.

Yang was to her left, Penny was to her right with Neon Katt. Arslan was across her with Emerald, and to their own right were the Vacuoans which then circled back to Yang and her.

A circle.

They all stood in a circle on top of the stage as Professor Goodwitch stared at them firmly.

“Tournament rules apply. Remember, you are all fighting against each other. There are no teams in this fight, and only one of you will be left standing. Is that understood?”

As much as Professor Goodwitch wanted to emphasize that there were no teams in this fight, Pyrrha knew the truth.

It was her against everyone else.

Except maybe Yang.

She looked towards the blonde beside her and muttered one word.

“Truce?”

Yang only grunted, narrowing her own eyes as she looked towards their competition.

“Since I am not hearing any questions or objections, I assume you are all ready?” Professor Goodwitch asked, but when everyone only stayed silent and brandished their weapons, she only sighed with one word. 

“Begin!”

Immediately, Pyrrha was rocked as she felt a punch to the side of her head.

She stared at Yang in shock, but the woman only put her hands up as she shrugged.

“Sorry, P-money, but only one of us is going next first. It’s going to me.”

A growl left her mouth then. Like she said. Hussies. Hussies were everywhere.

Before she could do anything, however, she felt something metallic whizz through the air behind her.

She raised her shield instinctively, and immediately, sparks flew as blades came into contact with it.

“Sorry, Friend Pyrrha! But I will be having one wonderful night with Friend Jaune first!” Penny Polendina beamed at her, blades spinning around her, even as Pyrrha gritted her teeth.

Like hell she was-

“Incoming!” A high-pitched voice called out, and immediately Pyrrha raised her shield as Dust grenades exploded above her while a colorful figure skated around Penny towards her.

Miló lashed out, transforming into its sword form as it blocked a glowing stick.

“Wow, I didn’t think you would block that! Maybe you shouldn’t have, though!” The same annoying voice that now revealed itself as Neon Katt chuckled as ice formed on Miló while she skated away.

Pyrrha only shook her sword angrily, breaking the ice, just as she had to duck a punch towards her head while moving her shield to block a knee.

“Pyrrha.” Her offender greeted, and she couldn’t stop the growl from leaving her mouth.

“Arslan.”

Arslan only looked at her cooly, her own olive eyes roaming her form as she leapt away lest she suffer Pyrrha’s counterstrike.

“How have you been?”

Pyrrha raised an eyebrow at the question. Arslan usually wasn’t so talkative in their fights, but again, this was not one would call usual.

To prove her point, Pyrrha leaned back a bit to avoid a sniper bullet from hitting her on the side of the head.

“Things could be better.” She admitted, casually using her Semblance to note the state of the battlefield.

As expected, they were circling her.

Yang was behind her, Neon Katt had stopped a distance away from her, Penny was brandishing her swords to her right, and the Vacuoans were to her left.

Pyrrha, however, only cracked her neck, watching as Arslan moved to a ready position in front of her.

“I see. That is good, then.” Arslan nodded.

And then they all moved.

Miló sang through the air, deflecting Arslan’s fist, even as Pyrrha raised Akoúo to block Yang’s own punch.

She had to dance away from them, however, twisting her body to the left as a crossbow bolt flew past her. It hit a sword midair, and Yang had to duck as sparks flew near her hair.

“Watch it!” Yang shouted at the Vacuoan who launched the crossbow bolt, but Pyrrha was already taking advantage of the distraction by launching a kick towards her face.

Yang managed to block it by crossing both arms, but that was all Pyrrha needed for her to do as she threw her shield towards Arslan’s chest to interrupt her own kick before it bounced back to her hand.

Arslan gasped, pushed back by the unexpected attack but by then, it was too late.

Pyrrha was already running towards the Vacuoans.

“Oh, come on! Seriously?!” Nebula Violette groaned loudly, transforming her crossbow into a sword, even as May scrambled away beside her.

“Eep!”

See, the thing about fighting multiple people was that if they weren’t a team, they were more likely to interfere with each other than work together.

It took some serious leadership skills to organize people you were fighting for the first time with into something active. Which was just another mark for Jaune on how he managed to do it back during Initiation.

Here, however, Pyrrha had used their own numbers against them by putting Arslan and Yang between her and the Atlesians.

“Excuse me! Coming through!” Neon Katt skated around them, but by then, Pyrrha had already reached the Vacuoans.

She was a flurry of motion, Miló slashed furiously through the air towards Nebula while Akuóu spun towards May. A sniper shot rang out, deflecting her shield back towards her, even as she easily overwhelmed Nebula’s defenses.

A slash here, a kick there, and Nebula was already faltering as Pyrrha twisted around her to put her between her and May. With one mighty shove, she pushed her into May. They fell in a tangle of limbs just as Neon Katt reached her with Arslan and Yang hot on her heels.

Said heels, however, immediately tripped as for the first time in the match, Pyrrha actively used her Semblance.

Polarity took hold of Neon’s skates and stopped the wheels in them. 

Neon’s eyes went wide. Her feet may have stopped, but the laws of motion forced the rest of her body forward with inertia and momentum. There was only one result. Neon Katt flew through the air head first towards Pyrrha Nikos.

By then, however, it was easy for Pyrrha to sidestep her trajectory and allow Neon to fly past her and out of the arena entirely.

“Neon Katt has been eliminated!”

Professor Goodwitch’s voice was like a clarion call, heralding her oncoming Victory as everyone paused. Pyrrha only grinned, however, brandishing her sword and shield confidently as she looked at both Yang and Arslan.

“Come.”

And come they did.

They came with a fury, but Pyrrha met them head on blow for blow. She blocked Arslan’s kick just as she had to duck away from Yang’s wrist mounted shotguns. Ember Cilica fired above her head, while Miló turned into a javelin to poke Yang’s stomach. 

Yang drew back, her Aura taking the hit for her, before lunging back into the fight again just as Pyrrha spun between her and Arslan in a storm of sparks and steel. Her shield took attacks that she couldn’t avoid while Miló turned into whatever she needed it to be, whether it be a sword, a rifle, or a javelin. 

She parried attacks, struck back unexpectedly, and she even used her feet to trip up her enemies against each other. 

It was exhilarating.

It was as if Pyrrha was immersed in something familiar. The pace of battle truly was a comfort that Pyrrha could just close her eyes and live in it forever.

She didn’t do that, of course. Closing her eyes in the middle of a fight was a surefire way of getting surprised. Instead, she only let a feral grin creep up her face as she continued to fight back against both Yang and Arslan.

They were in a dance as they continued trading blows. A kick blocked, an elbow dodged, a counter-attack with Miló, and then a leap into the air to avoid a low sweep before finishing with a twist to kick both her opponents in the face.

Pyrrha landed gracefully, a heated breath leaving her lips as she grinned at both of them.

She was a champion.

A Goddess of War.

She was Invinci-

And then a dark object was thrown between them.

“Fuck.” Yang muttered, and Pyrrha couldn’t help but nod with her as she saw what it really was.

A flashbang.

Fuck indeed.

Light enveloped the world, and Pyrrha felt her ears ring as the flashbang exploded in front of them.

“Ha! Did you forget about us?!” The muffled voice of Nebula rang out, and it was a stark reminder that they were not the only ones in the fight.

Pyrrha used her Semblance to sense her surroundings. Feeling a mishmash of metal approaching her at rapid speeds, she immediately faced the figure. Only she had to raise her shield as she felt a sniper be aimed towards her direction.

Akuóu took the shot, and Pyrrha’s hands were forced upwards to dissipate the force lest she be completely blown back. Gravity Dust. She was just hit by Gravity Dust.

By the time she realized it, however, it was too late. Her breath left her mouth as she felt the figure from before tackle her hips. Her feet left the ground, and Pyrrha finally managed to open her eyes to see Nebula attempting to carry her off the arena.

“Are you mad?! You’ll be out of bounds too!” She gasped, but Nebula only cackled as she continued to push towards the edge.

“It will be a fair price to pay for being able to say I managed to defeat you!”

Pyrrha gritted her teeth at that, a glare forming on her face as she decided on one thing.

No more Ms. Nice Girl.

Miló turned into its javelin form, and Pyrrha immediately stabbed it at Nebula’s calf!

Nebula yelped, tripping forward face-first into the ground, even as Pyrrha landed on her feet and danced away from the edge. Her heart pounded rapidly as she noticed how close she was to losing.

One foot.

That was the difference between victory and defeat.

She almost lost by a foot. A growl left her mouth at that, and in uncontrollable fury, immediately kicked Nebula on the side with full force. Her Aura took the brunt of the damage, but she still flew with a scream past the stage and into a wall.

“Nebula Violette has been eliminated!”

“N-Nebula!” May squealed worriedly from across the arena, but by then, Pyrrha was shifting Miló into a rifle and aiming at her.

Pyrrha smirked, squeezing the trigger as May’s eyes widened towards her.

Credit where credit was due, however, May managed to roll out of the way, putting Yang and Arslan between them and using Pyrrha’s own tactics from earlier.

It was not to be, however, because even as Yang and Arslan began charging towards them, Pyrrha was already aiming Miló in their direction.

Now, whether they dodged or not, she was going to hit someone. It was just going to be a question of who.

She breathed out, and squeezed the trigger in rapid succession. Three bullets left the barrel, and time slowed as she watched Yang give her a glare before setting her hair on fire with her Semblance.

It seems like Yang had no intention of dodging, but hey, Pyrrha already knew that, it’s why she shot thrice in the first place. And as expected of her old rival, Arslan began to move to the side, setting her own fists on fire with her Semblance.

Pyrrha’s eyes, however, began to widen as May came into view, kneeling as she pointed her own sniper towards her. She felt it with her Semblance more than she saw it with her eyes, bullets whizzing towards each other. Sparks flew behind Arslan and Yang, and the reaction from the crowd was immediate.

“Holy crap!”

“Did you see that?!”

“Their bullets just collided midair!”

“Sniper battle! It’s a sniper battle!”

Sniper battle indeed, Ruby. Sniper battle indeed. 

Only this sniper battle had interlopers.

Yang grinned, leaping towards her with her fist cocked back as she took the energy of her shot. It wasn't much, but Pyrrha knew that attacking her would only allow her to build up more strength.

And so she didn’t attack her.

Instead, Pyrrha slid forward, avoiding Yang’s punch by going under her. She rose up to a knee, and she would have loved to use Akuóu to shove Yang upwards and out of the arena, but Pyrrha already had to use her shield to block Arslan’s own fist. 

Explosive force traveled through her body, and the ground cracked under as she braced herself on it. Eventually, she managed to swing Miló sideways into its sword form to knock Arslan’s fist away from her.

“You do know there are no teams in this fight, right?” She grumbled, shoving Arslan back with Akuóu as she stood up.

“Right you are, Friend Pyrrha!”

Pyrrha’s face brightened, but immediately fell flat as she realized where Penny was aiming with the use of her Semblance.

“But tactical analysis of the situation states that you need to be taken out first for any of us to have a chance!” Penny added, and swords flew through the air as Pyrrha had to twist and turn away from them before Penny charged towards her with swords in hand. 

It was then, however, did she sense Ember Cilica aiming for her liver.

“Sorry, P-money, but yeah! What Penny said!” Yang grinned, a smug look on her face even as Pyrrha used Miló to slap her hand away.

Pyrrha twisted, throwing a kick towards Yang’s gut as she launched her shield at Penny to slow her down so that she could at least focus down on them one by one.

Alas, it was not to be. 

Penny only deflected her shield with the multiple swords floating around her back, throwing it out of the arena and only leaving Pyrrha with Miló if she didn’t want to use her Semblance to recover Akuóu.

“Please do not resist! I have already analysed your fighting style!”

So that’s what she was doing all this time! Staying back there and watching them fight after the initial engagement was devious to say the least!

Pyrrha bit back a curse at that, already she could feel the consequences of losing her shield as she had to block Arslan’s fist with an elbow while using Miló to defend against Penny. It was punishing for her especially with Yang coming back into the fray.

She twisted away, attempting to disengage from the melee by ducking low and dashing past Arslan. Before she could get far, however, Gravity Dust exploded right in front of her courtesy of May!

Four people.

Four damn people!

They weren’t Team CRDL that she could just push around either!

No!

Pyrrha Nikos was fighting a team’s worth of the best Huntresses in Remnant!

The best of Beacon, Haven, Atlas, and Vacuo were arrayed against her!

And there was nothing she could do about it!

Unless….she used her Semblance. Explicitly.

Pyrrha growled as she leaned away from Arslan’s punch, debating internally even as she used Miló to deflect Penny’s attacks. 

Was she really willing to expose her Semblance in Combat Class for everyone to see?

Her own team and Team RWBY already knew about it, of course, but the rest of the people here had no idea. Even Arslan, her longest rival, probably only had a vague idea of it.

It was a mistake, however, to be so distracted in her position. Yang feinted a hook and Pyrrha fell for it hook, line, and sinker. So distracted was she by her thoughts that she failed to see the true attack from below.

Instead of committing to a hook to the face, Yang ducked low and tackled Pyrrha. It was the same move Jaune had used to beat Yang! 

Time slowed, and Pyrrha’s eyes immediately widened as she felt her feet leave the ground.

This was it.

She was going to lose now.

She might have Miló right now, but it would be easy for Arslan to pull it away from her.

By then, it would be easy for them to pound her until her Aura went red.

This was it. She really was going to lose now. She wasn’t going to be undefeated anymore. She wasn’t going to be invincible. She was just going to be Pyrrha. 

A breath of relief left her mouth at that thought, and then she remembered.

If she lost…..Jaune was going to sleep with someone else.

Snap!

That, more than anything, made the decision for her.

Right!

No way was she going to lose here!

No way was she going to let someone else sleep with Jaune before her!

She was Pyrrha Nikos, and she was damn well going to do what Pyrrha Nikos does best!

Win.

Pyrrha wrapped her legs above Yang’s hips, and Akuóu glowed black from outside the arena just as she shifted Miló into its rifle form to shoot at Arslan.

Bang!

The shot rang out just as Pyrrha’s back hit the stage.

Arslan blocked her face, and the bullet ricocheted off of her Aura. The action, however, only allowed Pyrrha to send Akuóu flying to her gut with Semblance without her knowledge.

Aura flashed, and Arslan doubled over in shock and pain as Akuóu lifted her up to her feet and out the arena.

“Arslan Altan has been eliminated!”

Immediately, the crowd gasped as they processed what just happened.

“Holy shit, is that her Semblance?!”

“Her shield just flew through the air!”

“What are the mechanics?! Can she control metal?! Her weapons?! Does she need to have touched them or not?!”

Questions upon questions rang out, but by then, Pyrrha was already in motion.

Pyrrha blocked her face as Yang sat up to wail on her, but she only sent Miló flying past her towards Penny.

There was a moment when Penny’s eyes seemed to widen and zoom, but the moment passed as Pyrrha muttered two words.

“Analyze this.”

Miló slammed with unrelenting force into Penny's last second defense, a wall of swords that were steadily being pushed back before being blown away by the force of her will and Semblance.

“Oh dear! I did not analyze thissss!” Penny’s voice echoed just as the announcement of her elimination came.

“Penny Polendina has been eliminated!”

“Damn, P-money. You aren’t playing around.” Yang muttered with wide eyes, even as she pointed Ember Cilica towards her gut.

B-Bang!

“Damn right, I’m not.” Pyrrha grunted as she felt shotgun shells smash against her Aura, but she only used her Semblance to pull Ember Cilica upwards closer to her arms before grabbing them into her guard. She then raised her legs and, in a feat of flexibility, wrapped them around Yang’s shoulders and neck.

It was a triangle chokehold.

“F-Fuck!” Yang gasped, her eyes widening even as she triggered Ember Cilica once again.

B-Bang!

This time, the shots hit her chest, and for a moment, her hold loosened.

But only for a moment.

She gritted her teeth, veins popping out of her forehead as she tightened her hold over Yang!

Try as the blonde might with her Semblance, Jaune had already shown everyone there what to do to beat her.

Grappling.

Yang began to turn blue, and despite her Aura reserves, despite her Semblance still burning, it was no use as Pyrrha cut her air supply off.

Yang began to weaken, no longer were her hands formed into fists, instead they were grasping claws as she tried to get in some. Eventually, however, she went limp as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

“Yang Xiao Long has been eliminated!”

A scream came out of Pyrrha’s mouth at that. It was a cry of victory. A roar of triumph. It was a declaration that she was about to get laid.

“Ms. Nikos! Let go of Yang Xiao Long or you will be disqualified!”

She immediately let go and Yang fell weakly over her as she breathed heavily.

She….She would have to apologize, didn’t she?

No matter, that was for later.

For now, however, she had a fight to finish. She pushed Yang away from her, and immediately rolled over to push herself to stand.

Looking towards May Zedong, a feral grin crept up her face as she estimated her own Aura.

40%.

Pyrrha had 40%

It was enough.

“D-Don’t come any closer! I have a gun, and I’m not afraid to use it!” May called out fearfully, but already, Pyrrha could see how much her gun shook.

Unbidden, a chuckle left her mouth as she began to amble towards May.

Bang!

Pyrrha didn’t even need to dodge. The shot went high above her head as she continued coming closer casually.

Credit where credit was due, however, May turned her sniper rifle into an axe. It wasn’t a big axe by any means, but her willingness to fight close range was something to be admired.

“You can do it, May! You can fight back!”

“She’s on her last legs! You only need to hit her once!”

“”””May Zedong! May Zedong! May Zedong!””””

Cheers rang out from the Vacuoans led by her team, but everyone knew where this was going to end.

May swung her axe.

And missed.

Pyrrha leaned back even as she subtly used Polarity to slow down the axe. 

May’s eyes widened at her blunder, but by then, it was too late. Pyrrha grabbed the haft, and pulled, making May trip into her. Pyrrha only put a hand on her shoulder, however, even as she pried the axe away from May’s arms.

“N-Not the face, please!” May squeaked out, closing her eyes, even as Pyrrha chuckled.

“It’s okay, May. I’m not going to hit you in the face.”

“You aren’t?!” May blinked up at her, but Pyrrha only pushed her near the edge of the arena.

“No. Stand proud, May. You are strong. In fact, you all are. You stood your ground against me, after all.” She smiled as they both stood before the edge with her hand on May’s back.

She couldn’t be angry at May.

In fact, she couldn’t really be angry with anyone.

It felt frustrating to be ganged up upon, sure, but they did what they thought would bring them victory. Pyrrha could hardly fault them for that. In fact, she would have done the same thing if she was in their shoes!

Besides, it was the most fun she had ever had!

It was frustrating, but overcoming the odds also felt liberating. She actually felt like she earned this victory, especially after everyone worked so hard.

They all did their best and that was all that mattered. From Neon, to Nebula, to Arslan, Penny, and Yang. They all did their best. 

And now here May was….

Pyrrha blinked.

Neon, Nebula, Arslan, Penny, Yang, and May.

One, two, three, four, five, six…..

Where’s the-

Pyrrha gasped as she felt a foot kick her ass. Time slowed down, and she could only watch in horror as slowly, almost torturously, her body went over the edge.

She turned her head at the last second, and there she was with her green hair, red wide eyes, and mocha colored skin.

“Pyrrha Nikos and May Zedong have been eliminated! Emerald Sustrai wins!”

Someone screamed.

It was her.

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:)