A Stronger Bond

"Alright ladies, our next battle will be decided now!" Satomi snapped her fingers and the wheel on the holographic screen began to spin.

We looked at the screen and noticed the wheel stop on Team Match. The names were also randomly picked as well after the Match was chosen.

"Team A will be Orika and Ambrosia against Team B who will be Usagi and Hisumi. Team matches are important since most of the time it will be two to three to a mission. Right now we are doing two against two due to our limited battlefield." Satomi said.

"What the hell? Again?" I sighed.

"The screens don't lie." Satomi smiled.

I shrugged and stood up then made my way back to the battlefield with Usagi following behind. I looked back at Usagi and had a flashback to when we first fought each other on the Academy Rooftop. I looked back ahead then looked at Orika and Ambrosia. Ambrosia was like an older sister to Orika. She was coaching Orika on how to handle me, though I didn't feel to good about fighting Orika. I didn't want to hurt her.

Usagi grabbed my shoulder and I looked at her. "Leave Orika to me. I know you wouldn't want to hurt your little girlfriend."

"Eh..?" I looked at Usagi and pushed her hand away. "You don't need to do that. I'm perfectly capable of taking her on alone."

"You're lying." Usagi said then placed a hand on her hip.

"How do you know that?" I crossed my arms and rose an eyebrow.

"I am the daughter of a powerful Psychic. I am able to understand ones emotions even their hidden ones. Though on the surface it isn't a great ability for a Valkyria, it has its quirks. But all in all, you don't want to hurt Orika. That's why I will take her on. Ambrosia is more your speed." Usagi said then her eyes shined and she smiled.

I looked at Usagi then placed a hand on my hip and closed my eyes then sighed. I opened my eyes to look at Ambrosia and Orika. "Fine. I'll let you take on Orika, but she's not as weak as she carries herself to be. She's sent my father flying with a single punch. She's definitely stronger now."

The words Begin appeared on the holographic screen and Ambrosia summoned her emblem.

"Let's get this test underway." Ambrosia said and licked her lips looking at me. She giggled mischievously and snapped her fingers then a cane with an Orb on top appeared in her hand. "March forth, my little companion. This witch has everything under control..~"

"Okay! I trust you!" Orika dashed forward.

Usagi rushed forward as well and read Orika's mind then dodged her attack then grabbed Orika's arm, preventing her from releasing a beam of ice at her. Orika looked a bit surprised and covered her other arm with ice then went for a punch but a psychic barrier protected Usagi.

"I see...Usagi Fukuyo. Lower B Rank, Ability...Psychic Energy. She's an Expert Level user of Psychic Energy. She's gonna pose trouble. I'll deal with her first!" Ambrosia said then released a beam of dark magic at Usagi.

I appeared in front of Usagi and stuck the blade of my Greatsword into the ground and deflected the beam. The beam hit the wall and I looked at Ambrosia. "She's smart...she perfectly read Usagi...but how..?"

"That's the power of Status Reading..!" Usagi grunted as she blocked Orika's attack with her barrier. "Ambrosia can learn everything there is to know about you via your energy and aura. Her emblem allows for her to have such an ability. She has a legit counter for everything since she can also read your abilities."

I looked back at Usagi then looked at Ambrosia. The student council were more impressive than I could've ever imagined. I couldn't take Ambrosia lightly if she was as powerful as Usagi made her out to be. I took my sword out of the ground then changed it into a katana then awakened my Divine Energy. I tapped into my Ruler Form and looked at Ambrosia.

"She can awaken her Ruler and Overlord powers at will...For a Ruler who's new...she's a quick learner." Satomi said as she analyzed me.

Ambrosia smirked and her eyes shined. I dashed to Ambrosia then deflected her magic attacks then teleported above her and turned my katana into an axe then slashed down. Ambrosia dodged the attack then looked surprised when I had appeared in front of her in an instant. I grunted then slid backwards, avoiding an ice spike protruding from the ground.

"Nice save." Ambrosia smiled then touched the ice spike then the spike turned into a dark purple color. The spike turned into energy particles and she summoned a magic circle then a bullet hell of ice shards were being shot at me.

I turned my axe into a katana then began to deflect all of the ice shards.

Satomi clapped her hands then a protective shield appeared around the sidelines. "Such speed. Such accuracy of the Ruler of Raijin. I have never seen the Raijin in action in all of my years of living...I need to see more."

"Hisumi!" Usagi called out to me.

Orika broke through Usagi's shield then went for a powerful attack. The last thing Orika saw was her fist hitting the air then looked surprised as she was hit by five delayed slashes then was blown away. I reappeared on the battlefield, carrying Usagi bridal style.

"What...the fuck was that..?" Usagi asked and held onto me for dear life.

The lightning hands sheathed the lightning katana then a barrage of hidden slashes struck the battlefield, hitting Ambrosia and Orika at the same time. The two groaned and fell to their knees.

I set Usagi down then sensed Orika getting up then she looked at me with a smile on her face.

"You're amazing, Hisumi..." Orika said then held her arm. "There's never been a moment where I'm not amazed at your ability to do anything. From the first day we met...to your battle against Orishi to now...I have always looked up to you. Now I have the determination to push beyond my limits! Don't be afraid to hurt me Hisumi! I want to become even stronger! So please...Don't hold anything back!"

Ambrosia looked at Orika and noticed her change. She smiled and closed her eyes. "Their bond is so powerful...I remember this being me and Erika for the first time. Orika! Go all out! I'll support you!"

"Yeah! I'm on it, big sister!" Orika smiled with determination. "I have something to prove this time...For Orishi...I swear I'll become stronger. I won't coward down anymore!"

"Hisumi." Usagi looked at me.

I looked at Orika and smiled then closed my eyes. "Orika...I'll take you on."

I opened my eyes and the Eyes of Raijin formed in my eyes. Orika cloaked herself in ice and dashed to me. Ambrosia shot magic at Orika and made Orika stronger. She was much faster, stronger, and durable with her ice armor and with the help of Ambrosia's magic.

Orika yelled and went for a barrage of attacks, but I swiftly dodged each attack then my lightning hand began to rapidly strike Orika's armor with punches and Orika grunted, standing her ground. Orika's armor began to crack as she kept trying to endure the barrage of punches from my lightning hands.

"Orika can't endure much more from Hisumi's lightning limbs, but she also can't make any sudden movements. Orika is stuck unless she comes up with away to stop Hisumi's rapid attacks." Erika said.

Ambrosia attempted to shoot a dark beam at me, but Usagi protected me using her psychic barrier. The barrier cracked due to the sheer power of the beam and Usagi began to get a slight headache.

"These attacks are too fast...but if I am to become a Ruler...I need to match her..!" Orika said then yelled as her energy surged.

I noticed my lightning hands slowly freeze up due to the sheer coldness of Orika's energy. She took control of the now ice hands then began to rapidly strike my body with attacks. I grunted as I slid backwards and my energy surged as well then vanished and Orika looked surprised when I appeared behind her. A barrage of hidden slashes hit Orika and she groaned loudly. Her armor shattered and she fell to her knees. She grunted as she was slightly paralyzed.

"Hisumi's Iaijutsu is just so reliable. It even comes with armor piercing properties. Orika tried her hardest and held her own against Hisumi, but in the end...she still has a long journey ahead." Ambrosia smiled and sighed. "I give up."

Orika smiled and looked up. "I did the best I could...but she's always gonna walk ahead of me." Orika said then looked at me.

I looked at my hand once again and slightly frowned. "Even with this...it's not enough. Something is missing from this equation." I said to myself then walked over to Orika to check on her.

"Alright ladies, we can take a little break, but once break time is over it is back to exams." Satomi said.

We all left the battlefield and went to different areas of the campus. Orika and I walked together and she had her hands behind her back. She giggled softly and I looked at her.

"You know...Seeing you and Usagi working together is a breath of fresh air. You two literally fought each other the moment you met each other. It was nice to see old enemies cooperate." Orika smiled.

"I wouldn't say we were enemies." I said and had my hands behind my head as we walked together. "I would more over say we were...at a disagreement."

"A strong disagreement." Orika laughed softly. I rolled my eyes and smiled.

Usagi and Arei looked at me and Orika then Usagi smiled a bit. "You know. She's not even half bad."

"I agree. I guess it wouldn't hurt to be her friend after all that's happened. Wouldn't hurt to get to know her better." Arei smiled.

"Mmm." Usagi nodded. "I guess it can wait until exams are over. I'm kinda hungry. Wanna get some grub?"

"Yeah, but you're paying this time." Arei smiled and walked off with Usagi.

"Yeah yeah. I know." Usagi rolled her eyes.