The Oracle

Chapter 28: A Test of Strength

AKARI

"Hello, Akari," Evory smiles as she sits next to Darius in the audience, her one arm linked through his and her hand on his bicep. "Have you come to watch Sora and Carmin?"

"Yeah," I sigh and sit down next to her and Darius.

I've been worrying myself sick ever since yesterday whenever Clea told us about the fight with Carmin and Sora accepted. I hardly slept and I've been wanting to have a panic attack, but I've managed to keep myself mostly together. On the outside, anyway.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Darius assures me, noticing my unease.

"Yeah," I nod before I glance over at them and raise a brow. "When did you two start dating?"

"Oh," Evory and Darius exchange a glance before she smiles sheepishly, "about a week and a half ago. We just kinda kept it quiet and figured people would eventually figure it out. It's not like it's a secret or anything."

"In any case, I'm happy for you both," I smile.

"Thank you," Evory smiles in return.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The fourth round of the tournament is about to begin," Gambit announces and I look to see Sora and Carmin standing several feet away from each other. "I now present to you, Carmin Netherwoods versus Sora Aisawa! Ready? Set? Fight!"

Carmin summons his black and blue switch axe that radiates purple electricity at his very touch as he runs towards Sora, who slams his staff into the ground and forms a protective aura around himself as a shield. Carmin leaps up into the air and swings down into the aura, nearly depleting it in one single hit. Sora slides backwards and his white aura flickers just before Carmin swings his switch axe around again and the aura disperses.

Sora leaps back to avoid another quick blow from Carmin, whose axe strikes the ground with a loud bang in return. Sora then swings his staff around and forms a depletion glyph underneath Carmin's feet and attempts to drain his powers as he dodges Carmin's hits. Carmin easily counteracts the glyph by striking his axe into the rune with extreme energy, making the glyph implode on itself. Carmin then swings his axe at Sora, who summons another aura shield before he summons Envy energy bombs with his staff and they fly towards Carmin and surround him as they explode like a fireworks show.

Carmin holds his switch axe up as it lights up with electricity, miniature storm clouds forming in the arena around him as thunder and lightning strike. Carmin then swings his axe through the air like a baseball bat and a bolt of electricity shoots off of it and knocks Sora backwards several feet as it shoots through his shield.

"Come on, Sora," I breathe out as Carmin quickly runs up to Sora as Sora climbs back on his feet and Carmin forms a rod of lightning in his free hand that he throws at Sora.

Sora's eyes widen and he summons another shield just in time to absorb most of the shock from the blow, but by that time Carmin has used his hit as a distraction and has leapt to the side of Sora only to strike Sora in the back of the legs and make him cry out in pain as he falls to his knees.

"Come on, is that all you got?" Carmin taunts, a sly smirk on his lips.

Sora attempts to stand up but Carmin swings again and sends him flying across the arena.

"Hey! Is this even allowed?!" I exclaim and stand up.

"I'm sure he's fine..." Evory says wearily, not quite believing her own words.

Carmin approaches Sora slowly and dread fills me whenever Sora pushes his torso up to look at Carmin, blood trickling down the side of his mouth and his eyes narrowed.