Ayla Versus Minamoto no Tokiwa

‹Space Devourer: Manipulate the darkness and devour the space in a one-meter radius around you. Shields you from incoming attacks; nothing can breach you where there is no space to breach. (Skill may gain more effects as the blessing grows stronger.)›

'A defense skill' It'll gain more use the stronger the blessing gets.' Ayla thought.

[This is expected. After all, you are technically my daughter, with you having a small portion of my essence.] Cynthia said, a sense of pride in her voice.

'Wouldn't that make you an incester, since I am technically your daughter?' Ayla looked at her directly in the eyes.

[No, it wouldn't. You could only be considered my daughter as you have my essence, but that doesn't make you actually my daughter. Hmph.' She crossed her arms, acting her usual pouty self.

'Say whatever you want. Just next time, don't tie your tongue too tightly; it could backfire on you.' Ayla changed into her kimono and set out for the public resting area.

Breathing in the fresh morning air as she walked past a small garden, Ayla felt comfortable.

She arrived at the public resting area, went to her spot, sat down, and waited for the match against Minamoto no Tokiwa.

As more of the spectators arrived, the more the stands began to fill up—this included the stands where the officials were.

Entering the official stands was a man donned in a luxurious blue and white kimono—his long black hair tied up into a bun with black eyes.

'That's… Minamoto no Yoritomo.' Ayla thought. 'I thought he was going to watch in the finals.'

[Since he's here, he will be spectating your match against Minamoto Tokiwa. It'd be best for you to avoid using your skills in front of him.] Cynthia said.

'I know?'

Soon, the stands were filled, and the judge had already announced the participants in the first match. On one side of the ring, there was a tall young man who had messy blonde hair with green eyes and who wore somewhat ancient blue and white armor. Around his waist was a sheathed odachi.

On the other side, there was a beautiful black-haired woman with red eyes, donned in only a black kimono with a katana sheathed in her obi.

"You must be courting death for not daring to wear any armor! Or maybe it's your arrogance that makes you think you can win! Since you want it, I don't mind granting you your death! After all, you're asking for it!" Tokiwa smirked, his hand gripping the handle of his odachi.

Ayla didn't respond. She didn't have any reason to in the first place, as Tokiwa was drastically underestimating her.

'This is why I dislike this type of world. All they do is talk and talk. Do they not have a zipper to seal their mouth?' Ayla thought.

"Match—begin!" The judge shouted and waved the flag vigorously.

"Ha!" With a roar, Tokiwa rushed towards Ayla, his sword already drawn and slashed out.

Clang!

"How?" Tokiwa exclaimed.

He had used Yori's skill the moment before his attack hit and aimed for Ayla's defenseless back. However, his attack never landed and instead was blocked by Ayla.

"Is that... all?"

"Don't be arrogant! I haven't shown you my true strength yet!" Tokiwa hadn't given me up as he believed his imperceptible attack was simply blocked by her luck.

His figure disappeared and he slashed out...

However, it hit nothing.

Ayla had leaned forward before his attack could hit, effectively avoiding it.

'Is this really not her luck?' Tokiwa doubted, 'No, it has to be! She must just have amazing luck! After all, I'm Genji's genius!'

He went for another attack. However, Ayla had already arrived before him and executed a kick to his chin. He got blown away by the chaotic wind currents produced by her kick.

"What!?" He felt his chin go numb as he leaned his body to adjust his posture in mid-air, but Ayla had already arrived beside him and executed an upper slash to his waist as he fell down from the sky.

'How come she is so quick?' He became anxious. He had fallen into Ayla's pace as her style was unlike anyone he had faced. Her strength had far exceeded his predictions, and she was ruthlessly fast to boot. At this rate, he knew it would be the end of him if he allowed her to close in!

Tokiwa crouched mid-air and slashed his sword towards Ayla's. However, Ayla simply struck his sword without even avoiding the attack.

Crack! A crack formed on the blade of Tokiwa's sword as it bounced back towards him and struck his rib cage.

"Argh!" A stabbing pain rushed throughout his body. Many of his ribs had broken and had pierced his lung.

Tokiwa spun in the sky in pain, but Lily kept attacking by leaping up and arriving beside him. It felt like an endless hell, but it had only been a few seconds.

"What!?" All Tokiwa could do was raise his sword to resist Ayla's blade, but Ayla's blade was just a fake with her intent lying in carrying out a kick!

Bam! Tokiwa was kicked towards the ring's floor and a moment later,

Boom! As the dust scattered, a crater could be seen on the ring, where Tokiwa had fallen.

"…"

The series of attacks had shown the difference in strength between Ayla and Tokiwa—this left all the spectators dumbfounded.

Although Tokiwa possessed a fourth stage level of cultivation as well as extraordinary talent and high battle sense, along with his unique copy skills that set him apart from the masses, his strength couldn't even compare to Ayla's, with there being a huge gap between them in terms of strength.

Even though it looked as if she had gone all out, she hadn't done that as she had listened to Cynthia's advice.

In the stands, many commented out of shock about the unexpected turn in this battle. They thought Tokiwa was going to come out as the victor with his copying skills.

Minamoto no Mitsumasa revealed an ecstatic expression, "That's what you get for stealing my spot! I never thought that this stacked woman would have such strength that she could beat you this easily! Hahahaha! You deserve this thrashing, Tokiwa! You acted so arrogantly with that copy skill of yours only to be beaten to a pulp in front of hundreds!"