Ascension: Online

"You're up next, Hina-nee," I said as the mayor announced the next match.

"Hm… I'm facing against that guy who was nearly exhausted earlier, right?" she murmured thoughtfully. "I wonder… has he recovered?"

"He seems fine right now, so my guess is yes," Furuwa replied as Ling Tian Yu walked onto the stage nonchalantly. There was no sign of sweat or tiredness on his face whatsoever.

"Heh… he was half-dead earlier, and now he's completely fine after a mere two hours? What kind of medicine or pill did that take, I wonder~?" Nadeshiko giggled softly.

"Either way… be careful of him, Hina-nee," I said darkly. "His LUC stat is not just for show. From what I saw earlier… he causes his opponent to have bad luck, therefore in turn giving himself 'good' luck."

"Mm, I saw. Don't worry, I've never really believed in luck. My philosophy is that true power is superior to 'luck'. I'll prove that today."

I smiled. "Good luck. You got this."

Hina-nee pulled me into a gentle embrace for a few seconds, before kissing me gently on the cheek and at last letting me go and heading onto the stage.

"Wha…" I touched the spot where she had kissed me, unsure of what to do.

Furuwa glanced at me in disgust while Nadeshiko laughed.

"Damn it, Aisa… when can I get rid of my emotion of embarrassment?"

"… Hmph."

Little did I know, Hina-nee was about to walk into her own death.

*****

(Hina's Perspective)

I took out my two weapons and pointed one at my opponent, Ling Tian Yu.

"You know… your luck is really something."

"Heh, ain't that right?" he rubbed his nose proudly. "At this rate, you might even fall in love with me 'accidentally', haha! Oh, that would be awesome!"

"Were you born with this luck, or is it some artifact, I wonder…?"

"H-Huh? What's it matter to you?" he laughed awkwardly.

I grinned like a devil. "Well, if it's an artifact, I want it. Unfortunately… since I don't trust you, I'll have to kill you to do that."

The man chuckled. "K-Kill me? Not happening! Not today, no sir!"

"We'll see about that."

I rubbed my two Sai together, sharpening their edges.

"Both sides are ready!" the mayor declared, preparing to begin the match. "In that case… the match will now… BEGIN!"

Ling Tian Yu made the first move — he leaped towards me with all he had, broadsword ready to swing down and cleave me in half. However, his stats were all below mine — with the exception of LUC, of course. I also had the Inspect II skill Kaze-kun had, so I was able to verify this information.

I dodged out of the way with ease and immediately counterattacked, closing the distance between him and I right after dashing backwards, like a coiled snake, ready to strike.

His eyes widened and he leaned back slightly in a panic. My Sai just barely didn't reach. I kept trying to attack, but by now he had fully reacted to my attacks and brought his own weapon back up in defense.

In annoyance, I sent a flying kick upwards in an attempt to kick his sword out of his hand, but unfortunately, it didn't work. It still did, however, leave his stomach open for a brief moment. There was no time to use my Sai, so instead, I followed my momentum, spinning around and unleashing a second kick with my other foot right after landing back on my first one.

This one was aimed straight at his vulnerability, and even his luck didn't help him here.

Ling Tian Yu was hit directly by my powerful kick, sent skidding backwards quite the distance. He didn't fall over, surprisingly, but it still did some damage — that was for sure.

"D-Damn… that hurt," he muttered, clutching the spot where I hit him in pain.

I smirked and didn't let him catch a break, immediately moving in once more with my two Sai.

He quickly recomposed himself and braced for battle.

But this time, I was going for something different.

It was a gamble, but it was also my ultimate move. My killer one that I have been practicing ever since I first picked up the Sai, back on Earth.

I've used this against my sparring opponents multiple times. Not once has it failed. And it will not fail me this time either.

Right before our blades clashed, I suddenly tossed one of my Sai high up into the air, then met his sword with the other one. With my now-free hand, I grabbed his arm that held the sword and sank a hard kick into his stomach once more, right where I had already hit him once.

He was surprised by my sudden motion, distracted by the Sai soaring through the air, so it allowed me to get an opening and land that devastating kick.

Since I was holding his arm, it prevented him from being sent flying backward like he did the first time, and instead merely staggered him. He was now left completely disarmed and vulnerable.

Then, I let go of his arm and caught my Sai that fell from the air, before plunging it straight through his che-

"…!"

Somehow, the Sai slipped out of my hand as I caught it.

Ling Tian Yu did not miss this opportunity and immediately punched me with his free arm, right in the gut.

"Ngh-!" I fell backwards from the force, painfully hitting the stage's floor. My remaining Sai flew out of my hand as well from the impact.

"Ah…" I gasped, quickly attempting to get to my feet. But Ling Tian Yu did not let me.

He immediately rushed over and stepped on my stomach, driving his heel into my abdomen.

"K-Kah…" I groaned in agony, trying desperately to lift his foot off… but to no avail.

He wore a triumphant, perhaps slightly psychopathic, smile on his face.

"Hehehe… you lost. I'm better. I'm stronger!"

Saying this, he lifted his sword. As my vision slowly began to get hazy and eyelids heavy, he brought it down with all of his might.

"K-Kaze-kun… I'm sorry…"

*****

(Kaze's Perspective)

"The winner is Ling Tian Yu!"

I clenched my fist tightly, hard enough to draw blood.

Don't lose it, Kaze… DON'T LOSE IT!

My eyes burned with dark rage and murderous intent as I stared at the stage, where Ling Tian Yu had just stabbed his sword straight through Hina-nee's chest. He laughed and put his sword back in its sheath, before strolling off the stage happily.

I didn't feel sad about the death of Hina-nee. No… the emotion known as sadness had already been removed from my heart. The hormones that would've originally went into being sad have now all converted into one emotion and one alone:

Hatred.

Fury, amplified thousandfold.

"… I'm going to kill him," I muttered under my breath.

He shall be slain.

He shall pay.

He shall be forever lost in the dark corners of time, never to be remembered.

I would already kill someone if they laid a hand on a single strand of Hina-nee's hair. But this bastard… he actually dared to kill her. He dared to murder my sister, right before my very eyes.

I will slaughter him so harshly that not even his soul will remain. I will put him through torture, through all kinds of pain. It's really a shame that he isn't a player… otherwise, I could've killed him over and over again until I was satisfied.

He only has one life — and I intend to torment it to the fullest, before ending it for good.

If you harm or insult me, I would simply turn you into my pawns and use you as a sacrifice.

But if you dare to lay a hand on the people I care about… I will put you through eternal suffering, never to see the light of day ever again.

Prepare yourself, Ling Tian Yu. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be grateful when I finally end that pitiful life of yours.

Too bad… I lost the emotion of pity too.

"K-Kaze, calm down," Furuwa said, startled to see this side of me. "Sakura-senpai will respawn anyway-"

"Shut up."

I broke away from the crowd and began heading in the same direction Ling Tian Yu had, dead set on murdering him and carving him into tiny pieces to feed to the wolves.

But a hand grabbed my arm. To my surprise, it was not Furuwa, but Nadeshiko.

"Not now, Kaze~" she shook her head. "You'll be facing him in the finals… do it then. It won't be long."

I glared her in the eyes, as if threatening to kill her as well, but she did not back down. In her eyes was a fierce determination that did not match her usual airy and carefree nature. It didn't fit her bloodthirsty and maniacal personality when killing, either.

Perhaps… this was her true personality? Her personality beyond the abuse and loneliness she's suffered all her life?

Well… that didn't matter.

In that moment, I only had one goal:

Expunging Ling Tian Yu from this world, forever.