Mei Terumi's team faced Karito's team. Under Dodai's signal, the second match officially began!
Having learned from her previous mistake of underestimating her opponent and charging in recklessly, Ringo Ameyuri did not rely on her speed advantage to launch a direct assault from the very start this time.
She drew her longsword, rapidly formed several hand seals, then casually swung it. A pale blue crescent of sword light flew forth, carrying a faint crackling sound as it slashed toward her opponent.
A simplified, opportunistic version of Flying Slash!
Clearly, Araki had taught her a technique he had once used himself.
Whoosh!
The lightning sword light flew incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, it had crossed half the arena and reached the spot where Hanaka had originally been standing.
The reason it was where he had originally been standing was, naturally, because he was no longer there.
Sizzle!
The sword aura missed, carving a shallow blackened mark into the ground.
As for Hanaka, who had already dodged in advance...
Ahem...
Believe it or not, he seemed to be ice-skating across the arena.
When Ringo Ameyuri swung her sword—no, even before she did, while Dodai's announcement that the battle had begun had yet to finish—Hanaka had already started forming hand seals.
"Earth Release: Floating Stone Dash!"
A slab of stone suddenly tilted up beneath his feet, just large enough for him to stand on. It seemed to merge with the surrounding ground, allowing it to slide sideways and dash forward and backward without the slightest obstruction.
Standing atop this floating stone platform, Hanaka's mobility immediately increased dramatically.
He did not even need to make any exerting movements. With a mere thought, he could control himself to travel a great distance in the blink of an eye.
Of course, this method