Trials of Hera 3

[Arnold POV]

In an instant, a barrier enveloped the entire ring, as the information regarding the domain entered the minds of everyone present. I had purpose extended the domain to include everyone in the arena just so everyone knew exactly what I was doing and thus no one would try to stop me. Yes, it would reveal one of my Trump cards, but it's not like information about this CT needs to be that well protected anyways. I mean, if prepared for it, I still have Malevolent Shrine and Infinite Void. I can afford the disadvantage.

And thus, normal mode was initiated as Wonder Woman was too busy dealing with the massive flood of information overwhelming her brain. This brought me 3 vital seconds which I used to immediately spin, starting the match with a 5 roll.

By this point, Wonder Woman rushed towards me and I summoned a red door to block a fist coming my way. I then spin again, and roll another 5, as we enter reach mode, the transit car scenario. This situation is not good for me, as this is a low probability riichi.

I nimbly manoeuvre around the stage, avoiding Wonder Woman's attacks as much as I can. Eventually, I roll the third number, and unfortunately for me it's a 2, which sends us back to normal mode.

'Let's try this again' thinking this, I roll once more. A three appears, as Wonder Woman launches a punch at me which I block once more, this time using a golden door. On seeing this I think 'Hell yeah! That's more like it.'

I spin once more, and Wonder Woman launches a kick at my face, as I reinforce my body with cursed energy and block her kick with my arms in a X position. I roll a second three and both of us enter the Friday Night Final Train Riichi. An almost guaranteed chance. I just have to stall a bit longer.

I barely dodge a roundhouse kick, as the final spin occurs, resulting in the jackpot. Immediately, the domain is dispelled and our surroundings return to normal.

The music starts. A wave of cursed energy enters my body as I rush towards Wonder Woman and punch her at full force, which is enough to send her flying into a wall. I think to myself 'So this is what infinite Cursed energy feels like? I can get used to this.'

Wonder Woman, still recovering from that previous blow, wipes some blood off her face, before picking up her sword. I couldn't care less, since it's not like I'll die now. Both of us charge at each other, with her swinging her sword at me. I simply grab it with my hand, causing it to tear into my hand, cutting off all my fingers.

This shocks her a little, and I use this opportunity to deliver an uppercut, which connects, launching her a few inches into the air, before my other hand heals and using it I punch her in the gut which sends her reeling back.

As she stands back up she says "I apologise. It seems I underestimated you. But I will no longer be holding back. Prepare yourself."

I answered "Sorry but, I think you're the one who should get prepared. Because I'm starting to get really fired up."

I feel another wave of cursed energy flow through my body as I take a fighting stance as Wonder Woman also raises her sword. I then rush towards her once more, and use my left fist to send a punch straight at her face, but she uses her sword to cut my entire arm into two, before sending a roundhouse kick straight at my neck which I block with my right arm, grabbing her leg as my other arm heals and I try to lift her up and slam her into the ground, but in the middle of that, as she is in mid-air, she swings her sword, cutting the arm I'm using to hold her leg clean off as she creates some distance between us.

I move closer to her, trying to not give her any room to compose herself, as my arms heal almost instantly. I then launched a kick straight at her, which she blocked with her sword. Unfortunately for her, although she blocked the attack, it was too much for her sword as it was bent into a V shape.

She immediately discarded the sword, before both of us looked at each other. In a moment, an understanding was formed as both of us took our stances. Soon a flurry of punches was launched at each side as both of us refused to give the other any ground. For 2 whole minutes, both of us duked it out, fists versus face. None of us bothered to dodge, as if pain didn't matter. While this occured I could only admire my opponents' tenacity. 'What a monster. I can automatically heal myself using Reverse Cursed technique. She's just walking off my blows like they're nothing even though I'm hitting her so hard that blood is coming out.'

Eventually, she landed a blow that sent me flying. As I landed, I felt that my cursed energy was decreasing. It seemed that my time was running out. And thus, I decided to go about it another way. I reached into my inventory, and took out the «Playful Cloud» and took my stance before warning the warrior in front of me "Please brace yourself. I just got this so I can't quite control this thing very well yet."

But as I said this, a voice rang out "Enough! The challenger has passed the first trial. We shall move on!"

On hearing this, I took a look around, only to see a majority of Amazons standing. Actually, on looking a bit closer, it seemed that only a couple still remained seated. Seeing this, I kept my weapons back inside the inventory before bowing to my opponent and saying "Thanks for the match."

Wonder Woman replied "No need. It allowed me to hone my skills as well. I must say, you are quite the formidable warrior."

I replied "You're being humble. I felt that last punch. It seems you were holding back until the end, even though you said otherwise."

With this, both of us shook hands as I moved on to the second trial.

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A/N: Man, Hakari's CT is a hella rough to write. I will not be using this unless I absolutely need to anymore. But anyways, in other news, I just recently saw the gojo figure incident and I must say... Nah, I'd bleed.