While a battle of strength had occurred between a Vampire and a Werewolf, and one of Strategy between A ghost and a Nymph.
It was time for a Battle of Stamina.
________
"I can't get an opening!" the Imp grit his teeth as he ran across the terrain taking behind the trees as a torrent of multiple arrows shot at him.
He hid behind a tree as three arrows shot at the bark, making small energy burst that broke the bark.
"I can't get hit by those! Wait why is she using arrows!" he peeked as another one whizzed past him, forcing him to quickly retreat into cover again.
"If you're worried about the arrows…they aren't the lethal types but they do pack quite a punch." Runa explained as she remained seated on the tree branch. "I can't drag this any longer anymore…I'll soon reach my limit."
Though, the girl had managed to successfully gain some distance from her opponent.
Her energy was quickly draining out and if she didn't find a way out of this fight sooner, she wouldn't have enough to search for more flags.
"Well that's good to know…" Cyrus said as both his hands started to produce an orange aura around them. "…but do you really think it's a good idea staying in one spot?"
The Imp dashed out from his shelter, running towards his opponent.
The defying the laws of physics, he ran up the tree, holding a pair of short blades in both hands.
When he got close enough, he swung his blades at the shadowy figure, dispersing it into a cloud of mist.
"Okay." Cyrus wheezed. "I've…taken care…of that pesky archer and…you have to…surrender…please."
He pointed a blade at the stunned girl, sweating profusely.
"The only downside of using my ability is the amount of energy it takes to summon my weapons along with the amount of concentration it takes to form it.
"Although looking at how exhausted she is, I guess it's the same for her as well, which this fight needs to end as soon as possible to avoid draining myself too much."
"Give up!" The Imp demanded, trying his best not to sound too pleading. "You know that there's no winning this fight."
Runa stared at him for a while, before taking lowering her head.
"I can't."
"Listen, Runa I don't want to—"
Before he finished the sentence the 'girl' in front of him disappeared as into a mist of green.
"Oh, come on! It's just one after the other, isn't it?" Cyrus complained.
It was then he heard a small snap from the branch above. Looking up, he saw the descending figure of Runa. He jumped off the branch as the girl's leg kicked the air.
"You're annoyingly persistent." The purple haired teenager stated as both landed on the floor, opposite each other. "That's actually is a good thing…if you think about it."
Runa pulled out another card. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Maybe…"
In that moment, Cyrus charged at her again with his blades but before he got close enough to strike, Runa's card glowed yet again.
"The Hermit." she said as a cloud of black mist swarmed her blocking her opponent's vision.
Cyrus clicked his tongue as he came to a skidding halt. "Okay, this is starting to get old!"
Through the mist he saw an elbow swing at his face and he leaned back to dodge, then another kick appeared making him sway to the side.
"Blocking my vision so you can attack, huh?" the Imp smirked "It seems I made a mistake to underestimate you yet again."
Seeing another attack coming his way, he dispersed the blades and grabbed on to the attacker's wrist. "Sorry."
Using her momentum against her, Cyrus threw her overhead and slammed her back onto the ground, denting it in the process as she let out a choked gasp.
He let go of the girl as she tried to move but she was too weak to do so.
"You are…one tough cookie." Cyrus panted as the attack took quite a lot out of him.
Runa, also panting, managed a small smirk. "I…I still got one more trick…up…my sleeve."
Cyrus' eyes widened as she showed a card that had already started glowing.
"Ace of Wands."
The next second, a beam of light shot out from nowhere and a sharp, heavy blow was felt in the Imp's solar plexus, threatening to make him spill out his lunch.
The impact sent him flying back as he rolled on the floor.
"What….was…that…" Cyrus groaned and looked up to see a sigil of a star floating not too far from where he was.
It was safe to say he was beyond stunned as his opponent was certainly drained but she managed to pull off another summon.
As his eyes went to her, she wasn't moving anymore but still breathing, making it clear that she must have used up every single speck of energy she had left in her.
"She's out cold?"
The teenager got up, clutching his stomach. She was obviously toning down the power of attacks to avoid giving him any injuries but the pain was next to unbearable.
"Arggh, it feels like I'm going to throw up." he hissed as he gripped his stomach harder. "No. I need to focus! We still…have…a game to…win."
He walked a couple of meters before his legs decided to betray him.
THUD.
Cyrus dropped on the floor like a ragdoll, his body shaking in pain.
"Welp…I'm out." He groaned internally. "I can't even think straight."
He mustered just enough strength and will to roll off his stomach, taking heavy breaths.
He glanced at Runa, who was still rendered unconscious on the ground. "She's got potential…so does Lucian too."
His fingers curled slightly, dragging the earth with them.
"I just need to work harder then! I won't ever give up, until I can prove it to you…Sister."
His vision blurred a bit, as he heard the crunching of boots beside him.
"I'll admit…You two have exceptional abilities," the man said as he crouched down beside the Imp. "But both of you have a long way to go in regulating it."
"T-Teach?"
Cyrus suddenly felt himself lifted off the ground and also saw Runa was also being carried alongside with him across the man's shoulder.
"You kids tend to overdo yourselves at times…" Kairo said as he carried the two effortlessly. "…It's ideally for testing your limits but also put a major strain on your body."
"I…I…can still…move…I wanna win this." Cyrus coughed weakly.
"In that state you're in? You'll be lucky enough to walk right now."Kairo pointed out "Just shut up so you don't waste your strength until we get to the nurse's office.
"You damn kids…always acting so dramatic all the time." Kairo sighed "Well I need to drop both of you so I can deal with the other."
Cyrus stared at the man for a while before saying a small 'Thank you' before he blacked out.
"Those two are getting out of hand…I need to hurry this thing up…fast."
He slid his foot back and with one powerful push darted into the woods like a rocket.