21 Chapter 20 - Potion of Nullification

** Earlier in the day - Haya's Point of View **

"Your such a disappointment! You have been training for centuries, but you couldn't beat a little pest."

"I-I know... and I'm s-sorry."

"No excuse! Even if he flew, you should have stopped him. 'She' would have been so ashamed if she saw that fight."

I look towards the ground with a sad expression.

"Geez. What a problem child. Why couldn't you have been more like your older brother? At least he was useful!"

"S-stop! It might have been my fault, and it is known that I'll never reach the same level as my older brother, but it couldn't have been helped! Sho's power is beyond human."

"..."

"?"

Why isn't he responding? Does he agree with me? Wait, he's prostrating. No, don't tell me. I slowly turn my head behind me.

"It is your fault, you useless brat! Are you even my daughter?!"

"Mom..."

"Don't 'mom' me! I'll never be your mother. No one will! Who wants a daughter that fails at every task they're given?"

"No! Please, give me one more chance!"

I prostrate in front of mo... of the superior member of the TEN.

"Fine! You have one last chance. You will be fighting him in the finals. You better not lose!"

"Y-yes! I promise!"

I was about to stand up and bow, but she stops me.

"However, if you see failer in your sights, use this. This is a gift from another member of the TEN who shares a common goal with me. He guarantees you can win with it, even in the vulnerable state you are in."

"Y-yes... I won't let you down."

"Good. Now scram!"

"Yes!"

I quickly got up, grab the item, and immediately made my escape.

'I have to win this match, even at the cost of my life...'

** Back to regular time **

It is now time for the finals. The standers called out to all finalists and informed us to go to our sections. I'm currently there, standing and waiting for him, Sho, to arrive. After a couple of seconds, he makes his appearance.

"Heh, ready for round three?"

I smile as I look at him, hiding my slight fear of him. I keep repeating in my mind, 'I have to win. Don't be afraid. I have to win.'

"Ready? Then fight!"

The announcer begins the fight, but Sho doesn't move. He looks like he isn't paying any attention to me at all. He is looking to the right. What's over there? I look where he is looking at. It's Miyu's and Elise's fight.

He thinks that he doesn't need to pay attention to win. Man, I have to beat the living crap out of him! For my pride and my life. I charge at him with everything I have and activate my skills. "[Extreme Speed] [Hidden] [Fast Thinking]"

As I charge, I move behind him and cast an attack skill. "[Extreme Attacks]!"

The skill boosts my reflex speeds, allowing me to attack 20 times in one second. I begin my attack when I slam into an invisible wall. "!"

I retreat to the front and try again; however, there are walls all around him. This time, I try attacking from the sky, but to no avail. He was in a complete box with the walls being invisible walls.

The only way to break the walls is with high-level skills, but I don't have any. I'm doom to fail from the start.

No! If I use that, I can win. I grab the item that she gave me. It's a purple potion-like item that is called [Nullifying Effect]. One of the followers informs me that it will stop Sho from using any skills and magic for 1 hour. This battle can last up to 30 minutes, so that is fine. That person also said that to activate the item; I needed to put his hair sample into the potion and smash it into the ground.

I look at my other hands and pitch the hair sample I took when I rushed him. He is still distracted, so I have time to activate it. Please work!

I insert the hair sample into the vial and smash it on the ground. A magic circle forms above the arena with a hue following Sho. It worked... I think.

"Hehe... This time you will lose!"

...

**Nii Sho's Point of View **

Interesting... I'm currently watching the fight between Miyu and Pinky; I mean Elise. Once the fight started, Elise immediately charged Miyu. While she did, I heard her activate a skill. '[Reverse Strike]'

The crowd shouted when she did. It's her signature move. I was shocked when this happens, of course. After watching the battle go on, I assumed that they are related, either by blood or non.

Oh, there is also a pest that keeps interrupted me when I watch the other fight. That pest is Haya. She keeps going invisible and trying to attack me, but she forgets that I'm stronger. I put up barriers to keep her from closing in on me.

While I was watching Miyu, something happened. The sky darkens, and smoke rises. An enormous magic circle formed above our heads, but a small hue of light was shining down on me.

"Hehe... This time you lose!"

Haya shouts as if she has already won. I put out a smile as I look at her. Does she think by darkening the sky that I'll lose? HA! Maybe I should attack to lower her expectations.

I try to activate my magic when a small window appears in front of me.

"DENIED. SKILLS AND MAGIC ARE LOCKED FOR 59 MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS."

Huh?! What is this? Does she have the nullification skill? No, my barriers are gone too. This didn't just prevent me from casting but dispelled any active ones as well.

Uh oh, this might not be good...