CHAPTER 376: CHAPTER 376: SECOND FIGHT...

"What happened is... None of your business until the whole gauntlet is over! What did you expect? Me telling you about someone’s ultimate move before you face them so that you can watch out for it? Nuuuh, that’s just not fair now is it?" Muku replied in a way that almost made all the girls cough up blood in anger.

Like, why tf did he gather them around and look all solemn when he wasn’t going to tell them anything?!

The worst part was how they couldn’t disagree with what he said. After all, it really would be unfair for them to be told about Audrey’s secret move before facing her.

They certainly wouldn’t want anyone to know about their own moves before battle. After all, such information could change everything.

So while they were scared to fight Audrey after what they witnessed. They didn’t demand anything or back out.

After all, Jade’s grave injuries were probably only so severe because she wasn’t expecting what happened.

Which was unlike their situation. Sure they didn’t know exactly what happened. But they at least knew to expect something and when to expect it. Which was already more than they deserved.

"Tsk fine..." Emily replied annoyedly.

"Good that you all understand. Anyway, now is the time to decide who’s going next" Muku replied smilingly.

"Why wasn’t that decided earlier?" Chloe couldn’t help but ask.

"That was an option, but this is more fun. One doesn’t get too much time to mentally prepare before they have to go and fight" Muku replied.

"As expected from you..." Chloe spoke in a voice which sounded somewhat like she was mocking Muku. But he didn’t pursue the matter.

After all, they could get fed up with him and refuse to fight if he bothered them too much. Which would ruin his fun since he won’t be able to do anything in such a situation...

Well, he could try begging but he’d rather not casually throw away his face like that.

"So how are we doing it?" Freya asked from the side.

She didn’t particularly want to fight. But since it had to be done anyway, she decided to get it over with as soon as possible.

"Probably the same way we decide everything..." Layla replied calmly.

"Rock-paper-scissors?" Freya asked.

"Yup! Now get to it" Muku replied in Layla’s stead. His excitement was as blazing as ever.

The girls rolled their eyes but still got on with it.

And so, several rounds of rock-paper-scissors were carried out. They all had three matches with each other. A person’s losses against another were combined then the one with the most losses would be the one to go next.

The ultimate loser ended up being... Emily.

A dark look appeared on her face when this happened.

Sure, Audrey had just come out for an intense battle and was nowhere near her peak condition. But still, she was Audrey.

A "beast" who almost completely dominated Jade from start to finish. And from what they saw, the last exchange between her and Jade didn’t take too much out of her.

This meant that she was likely nowhere near being burnt out.

Hell, she wasn’t even breathing heavily after sitting for like a minute or so. Which meant that the remaining four were pure fuel to her.

So yeah, Emily didn’t like her odds at all.

"Hehe. Are we about to see a friend’s revenge?" Muku spoke with glowing eyes as Emily slowly walked toward Audrey.

"Shut up!" Emily snapped without looking back.

She had forgotten that Muku could also be insufferable when he was excited. What made it worse was how his excitement was almost always linked to their suffering.

It was like he only experienced schadenfreude when someone close to him was involved...

Anyway, it wasn’t the time to be bothered with him. So, Emily closed her eyes as she walked forward and took a long breath to calm herself down.

.....

A few seconds later...

Audrey’s eyes which had been closed for close to five minutes suddenly snapped open.

They instantly zeroed in on Emily who was standing around ten metres away.

Emily was slightly startled. So she took an involuntary step back. The focused and somewhat predatory look in Audrey’s eyes was something she had never seen before. At least not from the gentle Audrey. So her reaction wasn’t unexpected.

"Hello..." Audrey who had noticed Emily’s increasing unease greeted her in her usual gentle voice.

The predatory look also vanished as she spoke. Her eyes quickly returned to the state Emily was familiar with.

"H...hi". Emily replied nervously..

However, her nervousness was already decreasing.

"Don’t think about it too much. Just think of this as a slightly serious spar between us. In fact, that’s exactly what it is. Just think of it as a spar in which you use all your strength that’s unrelated to mana. There’s no need to worry about hurting me since Muku will step in on time. And Hope is also here if injuries occur. So it’s completely safe" Audrey spoke as she tried to calm down Emily even more.

"... You’re right. There’s nothing to fear" Emily replied as she closed her eyes again and took another long breath.

Internally she smiles wryly at Audrey’s misunderstanding. She realised that Audrey seemed to think that she was worried about hurting her. But instead, she was worried about being hurt by Audrey.

But she didn’t correct Audrey. There was no need. Hearing Audrey’s caring voice was just what she needed. She was completely calm now.

"Little Raya..." Audrey called Raya after seeing that Emily had calmed down.

Raya silently appeared in-between the two like before. Then she announced their identities again. After which she tossed the Muku coin again and then disappeared.

"Here I come!" Audrey warned Emily then...

Boom!

She didn’t start out too strong unlike Jade.

After all, Jade was an explosive firecracker while Emily was a lot calmer.

Which was also similar to Audrey’s own style. For that reason, the two wouldn’t start out intensely.

Anyway, Emily also moved forward and the duo met at the centre.

Their exchange began. Audrey matched Emily’s physical capabilities as they exchanged blows.

After all, the gauntlet wasn’t only to crown a winner. It was also a way for the girls to improve their skills in battles with someone of a somewhat similar level.

It was easier for many to learn from people closer to their level than those way beyond it after all.

And so, Emily and Audrey sparred for close to ten minutes.

Audrey then jumped back. It wasn’t because she was forced back, so Emily didn’t pursue as there was no reason to pursue. She also suspected that Audrey wanted to say something...

"Hmm, not bad... However, you’re way too reserved in your attacks. It’s almost like you’re prepared to defend at any time instead of trying to achieve victory... I think I have an idea why you’re doing that so I won’t say anything more about it. However, I will tell you this... I’m about to get serious. Good luck..." Audrey addressed Emily then without waiting for a response she charged forward.

Her style changed from a reserved one like Emily’s, to a somewhat tyrannical one which leaned towards Jade’s way of fighting.

Her first attack was a literal stump from above. It was definitely deadly if it connected, but it was also easy to dodge. Emily successfully did.

However, she didn’t have much time to rest as Audrey followed up with a right hand. Emily successfully blocked it... Or so she thought.

The right hand turned out to be a faint as a left landed on Emily’s gut instead. She flew off into the distance. An obvious look of pain on her face.

However, Audrey who has zeroed in and gotten into the zone didn’t stop. She followed after Emily ready to throw another critical hit.

Emily panicked a bit as she saw this. She felt like she was a little rabbit being hunted by a huge snake.

However, as a battle veteran, her fear didn’t immobilise her, in fact, it made her sharper and...

BOOOOOM!

Emily punched the ground with a fist full of force.

The force flew in all directions and forced Audrey to jump back in retreat.

Emily who was now also in the zone didn’t let Audrey stabilise her position as she came after her with a force boost.

So she arrived in front of Audrey in less than a second. Then...

BOOOM!

She threw a fist full of force towards Audrey.

Audrey noticed this and threw her own fist despite the precarious position.

However, it seemed Emily was expecting this as the first turned out to be a faint and the real attack was a kick to the side of Audrey’s midsection which tossed her into the distance.

This time Emily didn’t pursue as she sensed that anything she might try at that moment would fail for whatever reason.

Audrey who was kicked on the side stopped midair and looked back at Emily.

There was pain in her eyes as she clutched her side but she was also smiling.

"Amazing. What a great combo. And the instincts not to pursue despite the seemingly obvious opening..." Audrey complimented Emily.

However, her eyes darkened immediately after. It was time to go all out!