CBLT: Huntsmen in Training

Chapter 21: Determination

The crowd roars as Lapis flies across the platform. Tumbling across the ground skidding to a halt. Jade stands confidently across from her. Clouds of steam dissipate. A fire dust crystal centered against Jade's palm glows gently. Lapis shakes her head clear. 

From the stands Bianca yells at Cobalt. "See! I told you it wouldn't work!"

Within Amity Colosseum the singles round has begun. During the singles round two fighters come to the center platform which was previously surrounded by biomes instead gets elevated for the duration of the fight. Currently Jade and Lapis fight as part of the first bracket of fighters early in the freezing Solitas morning.

The speaks blare around the stadium. Moranda's voice rings out. "Right... Sorry folks we're back now. If you're just joining us or are confused with just what happened. Let me give you a short recap." Holographic screens appear throughout the arena and display a profile of Lapis Tensei. "Atlas Academy student Lapis has a semblance known as Siren's Song. With it any person who hears her voice becomes entranced by her. Eliminating all thoughts and current actions of the person. It appears that team CBLT's plan was to use her semblance to create an easy victory during the singles round. However, Atlas's tiger empress planned against this and used earplugs in advance. What you all just experienced including myself and Ian Morse was her semblance in effect. However, it looks like there will be no easy victories this time around."

Cobalt groans leaning away from Bianca. "If it wasn't Jade it would have worked fine."

Bianca leans closer fuming. "But it is Jade!"

Tanaka plants a hand on Bianca's shoulder. "It may not have worked but it was worth a shot. Now all we can do is cheer on Lapis."

Bianca settles back in her seat. She crosses her arms annoyed. "It could have at least been you. You are the closest person out of us to give Jade a challenge."

Cobalt settles back in his seat. He focuses on the match. "You're underestimating her."

Bianca stares closely at Lapis. "She's not bad but there are reasons that she isn't placed in the top ten."

Cobalt activates his semblance. Expanding his sight to encompass the platform. "She's not strong or fast. What she lacks in strength and speed she makes up for in versatility. This match." Cobalt pauses. "Is more favorable than it looks."

Lapis kneels across from Jade recovering from the recent blow to her stomach. She stares at the ground. Hiding the frown draped across her face. The realization of the match sinking in. The difference in them becomes immensely clear to her. Lapis sighs before forcing a smile.

Lapis leaps to her feet tossing her bronze colored headphones over her ears. With a smile she reveals her scroll and selects a song. Jade patiently watches. Vibrant beats and melodies flow into her head. She snaps into her fighting stance. Her bracelets spin locking a pair of dust crystals in place. Jade's eyes narrow at the ice dust flowing to her fingertips along her right hand. 

Jade leaps across the battlefield. Lapis whips her hand to the sky. A wall of ice sparks into existence. Jade swipes at the wall with fire. It melts away in an instant. Jade leaps through the steam. Gusts of wind blast Jade away. She somersaults backwards landing to her feet. Lapis flips into a handstand and begins spinning in place. Frost and Ice erupts from her hands creating a cone of ice spikes. A second later the cone explodes from a blast of wind. Lapis flies high into the air. Jade dashes forward swiping away several ice spikes and grabs one. She leaps to the sky. Her claws fire away wrapping around Lapis's arm. The mechanical spool activates flinging Jade into the air. Lapis grabs the wires with a surge of electricity that speeds towards Jade. Mechanical snapping can be heard. The once hidden spool snaps free from Jade's hand. The electricity is unable to reach its mark. Jade and Lapis fall to the platform landing perfectly.