Episode 16: GRAND INQUISITOR!

"The name of my Pinnacle is All In!"

Miyamoto casually walks toward Lisa as if he had no care in the world. "So, girl, tell me, what are those numbers behind you?"

Lisa flips back her glowing purple hair and points behind her with her thumb toward the numbers that floated motionless yet radiantly behind her. "That's my bank. I ha...."

Before Lisa could finish her explanation, the tiny figure of Nina swings with malicious force at Lisa's head. Lisa's eyes swing toward Nina with such swiftness that Nina could see a graceful purple streak of light follow close behind her gaze. Nina, already in motion to swing grits her teeth and prepares for the worse. The floating numbers that sat motionless behind Lisa jolt as if being awakened. The giant glowing number shifted, reminiscent of a slot machine as the number that was once five-hundred thousand, morphs its image to four-hundred thousand five-hundred. Lisa leans toward the ground. Her form was so flawless that the untrained eye would conclude she was falling. However, for Miyamoto, who's eyes failed to deceive him, knew exactly what she was doing. His eyes grimly narrow as he thinks. 'Her skill has increased instantly. Her form was sloppy at best, as if she was a wild beast fighting from experience and instinct, but now she feels like a peer. A warrior from my era, a master.'

Lisa uses the full weight of her body to swing her leg over her head. The sound of her leg swinging was like a whip slicing through the air. Nina turns her body to follow through with her swing, causing her leg to whip around. The two warriors' legs collide, followed by a loud boom that reverberates throughout the stadium. The shock wave from their strike brushes by everyone's face like a violent whirlwind. Behind Lisa, the floating numbers again drop to four-hundred thousand fifty. Nina could feel a shift in Lisa's weight, however not in time to react. Lisa forces Nina's leg out of the way, throwing her off balance. Lisa plants her foot on the ground and, with a confident right hook, sends Nina crashing into the stadium wall. Nina gasp for air as she falls to her knees. Miyamoto, places his hand on his chin stroking it almost out of habit for the scruffy facial hair that was now replaced by smooth, well cared for skin. "I see, the more you spend from that "bank" of yours, the more skill you gain. How is that any different from your normal miracle?"

Lisa looks over her shoulder with a sly smirk on her face. "You are kinda right. My bank is the culmination of the wealth I have to my name. Everything I spend from my bank doubles the skill potency I can buy, allowing me to become stronger at an alarming rate. However, it's a double-edge sword. I don't decide what I buy, so even breathing could spend money and once my founds run out, I'm pretty much helpless."

Miyamoto scoffs as his curiosity shifts to disappointment. "Hence the name all in. I have to say, girl, I am disappointed. I don't get many chances to live as a warrior anymore, especially since my granddaughter inherited my pride along with my miracle. Here I thought I had the chance to fight a fellow master of our craft of battle, but in the stead of my hopes and excitement I got a girl who has to buy her power."

Lisa stares daggers at Miyamoto. "Yeah, then what does that make your granddaughter, huh?"

Miyamoto closes his eyes and lets out a deep sigh, then opening his eyes to reveal his pink eyes that burned as if they could explode. The air around Miyamoto shifts and distorts, almost making him look like a mirage. "GIRL, I WILL NOT LET YOU DISHONOR MY GRANDDAUGHTERS NAME!"

Duke and Don move to Nina's aid, helping her get to her feet. Don looks toward Miyamoto with shock. "Duke, what's going on with Mai? I know I haven't known her long, but doesn't the way she's behaving seem out of character for her?"

Duke nods in agreement as he thinks. 'It's not just her personality, it's also her way of fighting. The Mai I know would have tried to look for an opening to support Nina during that collision but, she just watched with no regard for her teammates. Watching her throughout this exam, I have come to see Mai as a shield she protects and supports rather than taking the reins. But now she's more like a spear who is only looking to strike down its opponent.' Duke frowns, dumbfounded. "Don, how much time do we have left?"

Don lightly sighs as he turns toward Duke with anxious eyes. "We still have a little over two minutes left."

Duke sits silently with narrowed eyes that flick across the battlefield. Ryan observes everyone, reading the situation as he thinks. 'Theres no room for me to enter the fray. This is a pretty dangerous situation though. Nina is still shaken up by that exchange. Mai is acting differently from whats expected of her. Then there's Duke, he's trying desperately to come up with a plan.'

Miyamoto's is now that of a stone statue, unmoving and focused. Lisa readies herself as she thinks. 'That brute of a girl almost depleted one-hundred thousand of my funds and, she was just defending herself. How long can my funds last against that monster?' Lisa shakes her head lightly as if telling herself no. 'Our miracles are the same, except hers has her body as the price. Miyamoto's skill and strength is leagues above Mai's, so if I can survive his onslaught long enough, Mai's body will give out from the strain of his skill. What will last longer, my funds or her body?'

Miyamoto calmly talks, its like a whisper, however one that everyone can hear. "This situation really matches the name of your miracle brilliantly."

Lisa flinches at Miyamoto's words. "So, you've come to the same conclusion as me. This is a war of attrition!"

In the underground prison of the Inquisitor head-quarters.

Sable and Caleb walk down a dark, dimly lit corridor on each side are cages. Each one housing a chained up figure. A chuckle emerges from one of the cages on the left side of the corridor. A deep, scruffy voice peers through the same cage. "What brings you down here, Grand Inquisitor?"

Sable and Caleb stop to see a large muscular man with short, pitch black hair. His enormous frame was covered in scars and tethered down by several large emerald chains. On his face sat a blind fold that was covered in glowing runes. Caleb spits in disdain. "Shut it, Muta!"

Muta whistles gleefully. "Is that the shield emperor Inquisitor? How you doing bud? I haven't seen you since.... oh, that's right, since I ripped apart that pretty little number who was with you."

Caleb's eyes burn bright purple as he grits his teeth. "SHUT THE HELL UP YOU...."

Sable grabs Caleb's shoulder. Caleb turns around to see Sable give him a single shake of his head. Muta burst's in laughter. "Was she your girlfriend or something, bud? If that's the case, let me apologize. I didn't know she was with you she was definitely outta ya league."

Caleb's rage was now boiling over. "I DON'T WANT YOUR APOLOGY YOU SICK FU...."

Before Caleb could finish, Muta's loud voice interrupts him. " I wasn't apologizing to you. I was apologizing to that poor girl. If I knew she was your girl, I would've shown her what being with a real man was like before I slowly ripped off her limbs one by one in front of you."

Muta chuckles wickedly. His small chuckle grows to a loud, grotesque laugh, not unlike a hyena. The rest of the prison erupts in vile laughter and stomping. Caleb stands overwhelmed. Golden light erupts from Sable. "SILENCE!"

The entire prison falls again silent for no one dared anger the man the order came from. A voice reverberates from the end of the corridor. "I see you really stepped into the role of grand inquisitor. It suits you well Bishop, much better than it did Castle. I only regret that I didn't rip out his heart sooner, but who would've known you'd be such a badass? Now stop procrastinating and offer me a job.... GRAAAAAND... INQUISITOR!"