Episode 29: Talent

The stadium shook as pink energy swirled around as if it was a tornado. Mai took a deep breath. It was as if she could feel every fiber of her body, from the small hairs on the back of her neck to the blood flowing through her veins. She looked toward Nina and was shocked to see every little detail of her face so vivid she could almost see the smallest of blemishes. Don's eyes were locked on the stadium. "What did she just do?"

Mai brings her sword toward her side and leans down. Nina's face cracked with a smile. In a flash, Mai took off at mind bending speeds so fast that not even Don could follow. Sable chuckled. "The fight is over...."

A giant crash roared throughout the stadium, and the arena was instantly shrouded in dust. Maria covered her mouth and coughed. "What the hell happened? Why are those guys from team 1 so crazy?"

Alm's eye's widened. "I can't believe what I Just saw!"

Maria sneezes. "Yeah, it's insane that Mai girl may have killed that wack job."

Alm shook his head as he point at the arena. "I'm not talking about her."

Maria looked at the stadium as the dust cleared. A faint and confused smiled formed on her face. "What the hell happened?"

Caleb stood dumbfounded, but he quickly recollects himself and shouts. "THE WINNER IS NINA!!!!"

Nina stands over and unconscious Mai, smiling brightly. Don looks at Sable. "What the hell happened?"

Sable placed his hand on his chin. "It happened in less than a second, so it was probably impossible for most in this stadium to comprehend what had just happened. Mai took off at a speed that far exceeded Don's and got countered."

Duke rubbed his eyes, trying to understand how that would be possible. "If she was faster than Don, how did Nina even see her coming?"

"I don't think she saw her, per se." Sable explains.

Don's eyes widen. "Do you mean she sensed it?"

Sable nods his head. "Yep, in the instant before she began her attack, Nina shut off all the senses that were not vital to her at that moment. Sight, taste, sound none of it meant anything at the moment. She used only touch and sensory through that she deciphered when and where the attack was coming. She dodged like she was playing limbo and countered just before the attack finished its motion. That all happened in one tenth of a second, and I doubt she did it consciously."

Duke raised his head. "I think I've heard of something like that. Mastery, when someone has enough experience or practice, their bodies develop an automatic response system. It's the first step to entering the zone!"

Sable agrees. "I would think so. However, there is a slight problem with that theory."

Don looks back at Sable, confused. "What?"

"Nina has no such combat experience. Before the exam, she encountered no miracle users or daemons." Sable exclaimed.

Duke jumped up, surprised. "Then how did she do it?"

Sable chuckled. "There is only one explanation... Talent."

Don looked down at Nina, who was confidently stepping off the arena. "Talent?"

Sable nodded. "You must've noticed during the exams you guys went through. That girl has insane amounts of combat talent. It's not the same kind of talent that Ryan has. If I were to compare the two, Ryan's talent is like that of a finely tuned machine. He comprehends the situation and adapts his strengths and weaknesses accordingly. If I could give it a name, I'd say he is more of a genius. Nina is different. She doesn't think too much, she just does it. When she fights, it's instinctual, as if her body already knows what to do. I would categorize her as prodigy."

Nina walks into the corridor leading to the stadium. She stops as she sees's a familiar face. "Sup, good luck out there!"

Across from her is Ryan. "I don't need luck."

Nina smirks. "It's just something people say."

Ryan glares at Nina. "We will face each other in the next round."

Nina chuckles softly. "What? You worried I'll cream you?"

Ryan's contempt turns to blood lust. "No, but I do see you as a stepping stone. I'll devour all that talent of yours!"

Nina walks past Ryan confidently. "Devour me? A girl might get the wrong idea if you talk like that." She then turns slightly, matching Ryan's bloodlust. "Be careful, or you're the one who'll get devoured."

Ryan walks on to the arena. The crowd cheers as his opponent walks on the stage. A great hulking man carrying a hammer stands across from Ryan. His arms bulging from his t-shirt. The man stands at least 6 feet tall. Scars cover his entire body. Caleb points to Ryan. "On this side we have Ryan!!"

The crow roars for the star of the exam. However, not everyone cheers. There are a few who look at the young man with careful and calculating eyes. Caleb points to the large man on the opposite side of Ryan. "And on this side we have Jorden Town!!!!"

Jorden flexes his muscles. "I honestly thought you would be more built."

Ryan stares at Jorden. "What?"

Jorden switches his flexing pose. "I expected more from the man who is supposed to be the strongest participant."

"Shut up!" Ryan says impatiently

Jorden now flexes so hard his shirt ripped open. "You see this? This my friend is a real man's body. Forged in the fires of brotherhood. An unbreakable marble that has been chiseled through blood, sweat and protein. Yet you stand there smaller than my thumb telling me you're a real man? Blasphemy, I say you dare proclaim you are the strongest when you haven't even tasted the sweet blossoming nectar that is IRON!!!!!! You have not trudged through the trenches of your ancestors!!!! THE HOLY GRAIL THAT IS LIFTING!!!!! YET THIS STADIUM ROARS IN YOUR FAVOR WHEN YOU GOOD SIR HAVE NOT FACED THE COLD PLAINS OF MOUNT OLYMPUS!!!!!!" Jorden exclaims in heavy breath.

The stadium falls silent until a single female voice simply says. "EW."

Caleb dumbfounded coughs into his hand. "Right.... Let the round begin!"

Jorden prepares to grab his hammer when the sight of Ryan causes him to freeze. Ryan pointing down at Jorden's feet, causing him to look down. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the floor of the arena pops up as spikes. The Spikes stab into Jorden's arms, pulling him up above the stadium, leaving him unable to move as more spikes encapsulate his body in a prison. Blood drips down from Jorden's unconscious body, leaving the whole stadium speechless. Ryan turns around. "Hey Knight!"

Caleb shakes his head as if being pulled from a daze. "Huh?"

"The match is over. Get that meat head down from there." Ryan says as he walks away.

Caleb quickly responds. "The match is..... Over!"

Ryan steps off the arena. "Guess it wasn't unbreakable marble after all."