Bidding goodbye to his friends, Ryan left for his match, leaving Eric and Mark alone to discuss his chances and Jun's victory.

As Ryan and Seryllia entered the arena, the audience burst into applause. Both fighters were popular with the fans thanks to their flashy and reckless fighting styles. Because of this fact, it seemed that their match was the most highly antic.i.p.ated fight of the top sixteen, even after Eric and Jun's ridiculous displays in their wins.

Waving to the fans, Ryan had a huge grin on his face as he surveyed the arena. In contrast, Seryllia had her face set in a scowl, not that that was anything new. In fact, Eric sometimes wondered if her face could do any other expressions, as scowling seemed to be both her default and only expression at times.

"And the fighters have entered the stage. Wavesun, who do you think has the greater chance? Riptide's members have all put up fantastic showings so far, but Seryllia is the only non-member to knock one of them out up to now. Do you think Nelo's fast and flashy swordsmanship will carry him to victory? Or will Seryllia's unbridled aggression give her the win?" Halfthur asked, directing the question towards Wavesun.

Pausing for a moment, Wavesun stroked his chin, considering the question.

"I feel that this is a rather even match. Nelo's skill with the sword is extremely high, but Seryllia's aggression makes her incredibly tough to deal with. I feel that Nelo needs to minimize his risks, and just attempt to overwhelm Seryllia with superior skill. If he gets sucked into her pace the way Boreik Griffinwing did last round, then there's a good chance he loses," Wavesun a.n.a.lyzed.

"Great a.n.a.lysis, Wavesun. Now then, the fighters are ready. Representing Riptide, Nelo Noire is looking to be the fourth Riptide member to advance, which would mean Riptide would occupy a full half of the top eight! However, Seryllia Vespin is the one who took out his fellow teammate, Boreik Griffinwing last round. Looking to repeat her feat this round, she's going to be hungry to prove that it wasn't a fluke," Halfthur shouted, causing the audience to settle down in antic.i.p.ation.

Seeing this, Halfthur smiled, "Let the fight...begin!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Seryllia began her charge forward. Reacting in kind, Ryan rushed forward to meet her, his sword held at the ready.

As Seryllia arrived in front of him, she leapt forwards, allowing her momentum to carry her forwards as she brought her axe down like a lightning bolt from above.

Throwing himself to the side, Ryan narrowly avoided the blow, Seryllia's axe kicking up shards of stone as it crashed into the stone beside him.

As Ryan rolled to his feet, he lashed out with his sword, scoring a hit upon Seryllia as he rose. Snarling at him, Seryllia lashed out with her arm, backfisting Ryan in the face and sending him backwards.

Not letting up, Seryllia brought her axe forwards, launching an upwards strike which threatened to cut Ryan from hip to shoulder. Paling slightly, Ryan leaned sideways, watching as the axe soared within a finger's length of his head.

"What a fast exchange of blows! Nelo opens the fight with a slash across Seryllia's side, but she responds with a backfist into a diagonal cut that Nelo narrowly avoids! This is still anyone's fight folks," Halfthur commented excitedly, watching as Seryllia pressured Ryan backwards across the stage.

Swearing slightly, Ryan took a Flame Strike from Seryllia, stabbing forward to score a hit of his own as his blade pierced her shoulder. Carefully avoiding her followup strike, Ryan landed another hit, his blade slashing her leg as he dodged a kick.

"It looks like Nelo is slowly starting to find his rhythm, he's struck Seryllia four times now, compared to her two hits on him. Is Seryllia in trouble?" Halfthur commented.

"Nelo's managed to avoid taking any major blows so far. But none of his attacks have dealt major damage either. While he's slowly building a lead, he's walking on thin ice here, any of Seryllia's big hits could easily reverse the tide of this battle," Wavesun replied.

As they watched, Ryan landed another hit, his sword flashing twice in the air as he followed up with another strike on the backswing, drawing blood as he brought his sword up just in time to deflect Seryllia's overhead chop.

Groaning with exertion, Ryan pushed Seryllia's strike to the side. As her axe slammed into the ground for the second time this fight, Ryan stepped forward, preparing to deal another blow to the defenseless fighter.

However, this time Seryllia was prepared, stepping forward, she headb.u.t.ted Ryan, causing his sword to fly past the mark as Ryan stepped back in a daze. Grabbing her axe by the handle, Seryllia pressed her advantage, activating Power Blow to deal an enormous blow to Ryan.

In the announcer's booth, Halfthur was going crazy as he attempted to commentate upon the fast paced fight below.

"And Seryllia reverses the momentum! Just as you predicted, Wavesun, Seryllia sucked Nelo into her pace, and now she punishes him hard. Nelo's on the backfoot now. Can he recover from this?"

Abandoning decorum, Ryan turned and ran, putting distance between himself and the overly aggressive axe-user, who used Charge to chase after him. Once he'd put a few metres between them, Ryan turned, his sword at the ready once more.

"Nelo seems to have regained his composure, he's standing ready to receive Seryllia's charge, does he have a plan?" Halfthur speculated, his voice rippling over the stage.

"Ryan's got a plan, doesn't he," Eric sighed as he watched the projection from the viewer's lounge.

"Looks like it," Mark replied glumly.

Jun laughed loudly, "It's either going to go really well. Or Ryan's going to lose in a hilarious way. Either way, it'll be entertaining."

Back on stage, Ryan ducked under Seryllia's swing, but didn't strike, instead opting to take a step backwards, observing her actions.

As Seryllia recovered, she sent a Flame Strike towards him, readying a Power Blow as Ryan avoided the magic.

As Seryllia approached, Ryan's eyes lit up. Holding his sword in both hands, he placed it at his waist, with the point facing backwards as he dashed forward.

With a grunt of exertion, Seryllia activated Power Blow, bringing her axe down vertically towards Ryan as he dashed forwards. Stepping slightly to the side, Ryan narrowly avoided the blow, the air from the axehead causing his hair to ripple as it pa.s.sed him by.

With a slight smile, Ryan continued his dash. As he pa.s.sed Seryllia, his sword began to glow a pale white. With a flickering motion, Ryan slashed at Seryllia's side, his sword pa.s.sing straight through as he flew past.

"And Nelo uses a skill! What incredible timing, to be able to dodge Seryllia's strike with such accuracy and then to return it with his own strike. I don't recognize the skill though," Halfthur commented excitedly.

By his side, Wavesun was staring intensely at Ryan, trying to identify the skill he'd just used.

Turning around, Seryllia attempted to go back on the offence, but Ryan wasn't done yet. Completing his dash, Ryan turned, his sword still glowing that pale white as he slashed downwards towards Seryllia's calf, aiming to cut her legs from under her.

However, even the best laid plans can crumble in the face of unknown variables, and Seryllia's aggression was one such variable. While on the surface it appeared simple, merely the absence of defence while attacking, the abandonment of defence was something truly difficult to comprehend from afar.

Aiming his skill, Ryan unconsciously aimed for where Seryllia would have to step to avoid a normal followup strike, as he'd done in practice against other members of his swordplay group countless times when creating the skill. However, Seryllia surprised him, as she ignored his attack and slammed her shoulder into his chest.

Tumbling down, Ryan's attack went wide, the white glow disappearing as his skill was disrupted. Attempting to roll, Ryan was met with Seryllia's axehead, swinging in from the side like a golf club with an ominous red glow.

With a groan, Eric, Jun, and Mark watched as the last of Ryan's healthbar disappeared and he was whisked away by the blue light, as cheers filled the stadium.

"What a fight! Seryllia's Power Blow finishes off Nelo, dispatching the valiant swordsman despite his best attempts to the contrary. And with that, Seryllia Vespin advances to the top eight, with her second consecutive victory against a member of Riptide!" Halfthur shouted, pausing briefly before continuing. "We will now have a brief intermission as we prepare for the final matches. Fighters in the top eight, please stay in the viewing lounge. I'll be down in a moment to discuss some things with you."