Simon watched closely Azriel's movements and how he changed expression upon seeing that the fight began.
However, his expression faltered when he saw Simon before him.
'He lied,' Simon sighed. 'He will not fight serious.' Mono laughed at the thought.
'Is that supposed to be good?' She transmitted to him. 'It could mean he doesn't need to give his all.'
'Could be… that's why I can't lower my guard.' He took a combat stance.
"Ready?" Ivan shouted while his eyes looked at the arena amused.
"Start!"
TAP
Simon summoned his white flames and immediately grew tense.
However, the tension only grew stronger when he realized Azriel had vanished.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
Simon looked behind in a rush, Azriel's blade just a few steps from him and quickly cutting through the white flames.
"Damn!"
TAP TAP TAP
Simon immediately fled away, his eyes locked on Azriel who in the next moment vanished again.
Again, he was terrified. Lyna had grown to the size of a wolf and was at his side ready to bite him.
TAP
He dashed to the other side, only to see Azriel there with his blade waiting patiently. His eyes completely fixed on Simon's throat.
TAP
Simon leapt back and quickly the pair dashed to each of his flanks, one with fangs and the other with a sword.
'This won't work,' Mono transmitted quickly. 'He's stronger than I thought.'
'Destroy the ground and make him back away.'
TAP
Black flames were summoned and soon broke toward the ground around Simon. Azriel and Lyna retreated momentarily as a large cloud of dust rose.
'Use the blue flames to find him!'
TAP
Quickly the blue flames advanced through the smoke to two distinct locations.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
"I hit!" Simon smiled convinced. The flames had struck the target. Azriel should be wounded now and this would be his turning point.
WOOSH
'Get down!' Mono shouted while trying to help Simon's body react. By very little Azriel's blade hadn't cut off his head.
WOOSH
Quickly the blade cut downward, Simon jumped at the last instant and rolled aside. He clenched his teeth as Azriel laughed.
"I bet with Lyna whether you would dodge." Azriel laughed amused. "I won the bet and she is angry now."
Simon clenched his teeth hard hearing this.
'Mono, help me cast a spell.' Simon soon transmitted his plan to her and she smiled convinced of herself.
TAP TAP
Simon summoned black flames around his hands and soon joined together aiming at Azriel who at the last instant felt the danger and jumped aside.
BOOOOOM
The flames advanced in a beam and soon struck the tree from Azriel's earlier battle, burning it with his black flames. The tree fell lifeless to the ground.
"You don't know how to play, do you?" Azriel said with a frowned brow.
Ivan on the other side of the arena ran to extinguish the fire with his ice magic and soon summoned an ice arena around them.
"I'm not a good loser," Simon said to him while summoning more flames around himself with Mono's help.
TAP
Dozens of black flames appeared above his head and began spinning in circles, slowly charging more and more power.
BANG BANG BANG
Simon fired at Azriel who dodged with skill while his eyes scanned the field searching for Lyna.
Then, he suddenly heard a growl from behind, Lyna's fangs wide open behind his head.
"As expected." Simon smiled, his shadow quickly expanding, and from it emerged a horned woman with claws sharp enough to cut steel.
Lyna watched in shock as the claws came down on her.
WOOSH CLING
"Damn it!" Azriel pushed his blade against the claws at the last instant, saving Lyna. His muscles tensed from the effort of the quick dash.
CLING CLING CLING
They quickly exchanged blows in succession, Azriel slowly being forced back until he leapt away.
TAP
Simon summoned his black flames once more and swiftly fired them in their direction, a confident smile on his face.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
The two retreated for a moment, constantly dodging the rain of flames. At the edge of the ice arena, Azriel reassessed his situation.
His eyes suddenly grew sharper, his grip on the blade tightening with resolve.
Then he dashed to the flanks, repeating the same movement from the start of the battle. But this time Simon and Mono spun the dozens of flames above his head with mastery.
And like a machine gun, they fired toward the advancing pair, who slashed their way through the flames.
BOOM
"Damn it!" Azriel cursed as the flames struck his shoulder and chest. There were too many for him to keep up with.
Lyna also pulled back from her charge, realizing she couldn't break through the barrier of attacks.
"Advance!" Simon ordered Mono, who immediately stopped helping with the flames.
WOOSH WOOSH
Mono lunged at Lyna, who tried to dodge the attacks with agility.
TAP
"He'll go to help her." Simon predicted as he gathered more flames above himself, ready to unleash a decisive strike.
But then his eyes widened as he saw Azriel recklessly charging at him.
Once again the flames surged against him, but Azriel cut swiftly through them, never slowing his advance.
TAP
"TSK." Simon blasted the ground beneath him, seeing Azriel draw dangerously close.
"Mono! Come back!" he ordered, worried about his position.
"Don't let her return!" Azriel shouted, while Lyna kept Mono occupied, punishing her with bites every time she tried to turn.
Mono couldn't afford to lose focus for even an instant, or she would be defeated.
WOOSH
Simon saw Azriel slicing through the smoke cloud just steps away. He tried to think of his next move as quickly as possible, but came up empty.
"Give up!" Azriel pressed the blade to his neck. Simon clenched his teeth, then sighed heavily.
"I admit my defeat." Simon collapsed backward, exhausted, as Azriel did the same.
"You fought much better this time." Simon laughed lightly.
"I just don't want to lose like that again, that's all. At least this time I managed to resist for a while." Azriel laughed in amusement.
"You did way more than that, trust me."