Mikoto Misaka watched Mitsuki end the fight swiftly and cleanly, understanding and approval flashing in her eyes.
She smoothed her short chestnut hair and walked into the arena with steady steps. Faint azure sparks, almost too subtle to see, gathered around her.
"Kumogakure, Mikoto Misaka. I look forward to our match."
Ao's single eye studied the brown-haired girl as he quickly reviewed the limited information he had:
A standout among Kumogakure's younger generation, gifted in Lightning Release. More importantly, she seemed able to manipulate electromagnetic forces... For a ninja who relied on a metal Ninja Sword, that ability was a natural enemy.
But Samehada is different, Ao thought. He nodded to the fierce-eyed young man with sharklike features behind him. "Shizumi, you're up."
"Yes!" Kurosuki Shizuma grinned, baring sharklike teeth. With the bandage-wrapped Samehada over his shoulder, its body faintly squirming as though alive, he leaped into the arena.
"Kirigakure, Kurosuki Shizuma!"
When the fight began, Mikoto Misaka did not rush in. She swept two fingers toward him, trying to disrupt or control the Samehada in his hands with electromagnetic force.
To her surprise, Samehada showed no obvious reaction. Instead, a greedy hiss came from the gaps in its bandages.
It even opened its mouth full of sharp teeth. A strange suction pulled at the electromagnetic energy she emitted, trying to devour and disrupt it!
"Hahaha! It's useless!" Kurosuki Shizuma laughed smugly, swinging Samehada. "Samehada is a living Ninja Sword that feeds on Chakra!"
"Your magnetism runs on Chakra too, doesn't it? To Samehada, it's nothing but a snack! Is that all Kumogakure's so-called genius can do? Give up before it drains your Chakra and leaves you an ugly husk!"
He attacked as he taunted her. In his hands, Samehada moved like a living beast, striking with tremendous force while