Her wounds had healed, and her stature was taller, prouder. The subtle red hint in her eyes, coupled with the four energy tendrils swirling around her, marked a significant shift in her demeanor.
The captain, acknowledging her resilience with a hint of respect, remarked, "I guess the pup does have a bit of fight left in her." Then, with a mocking gesture, he beckoned her to attack, pumping his open palm towards her twice, an evident taunt.
Kieran, responding with fierce determination, burst off the ground. Her whip moved as if alive with its own will, lashing out, cracking and striking independently of Kieran’s movements.
The captain, however, continued to dodge the whip and tendrils with a fluid ease, his experience and skill apparent in his every move.
As the tendrils lunged towards him to strike, the captain prepared to counter with a punch aimed at Kieran’s chest. The four tendrils reacted in time and intercepted his hand just inches from their target.
Kieran felt the interruption more than saw it. The tendrils were not only extensions of her weapon; they were starting to answer danger before she did.
The captain, noticing her adept use of the tendrils, commented, "So is this your upgraded form?
It’s a bit sloppy, don’t tell me this is your first time activating it." His smirk was both mocking and curious, revealing his interest in her newfound abilities.
Flexing his captured hand, the captain unleashed a jet of green energy from his fist. The energy, concentrated and potent, slammed directly into Kieran’s stomach.
The impact was a harsh reminder of the captain’s strength, testing Kieran’s resilience and control over her transformed state.
Kieran skidded backward from the captain’s relentless assault and stayed upright through will alone. The captain, poised to unleash another devastating wave of pure energy towards her face, was thwarted by one of her tendrils.
The tendril moved on instinct and slapped his hand aside just as the energy was released, absorbing it once again.
Amidst this tense exchange, Kieran, her voice firm and determined, called out, "MAXultimo!" The very ground seemed to respond to her command, trembling beneath their feet.
Then hundreds of rays of light burst through the sandy arena floor, each beam piercing the ground with precision and intensity. One of these beams struck the captain’s hand, instantly transforming it into a solid 2D surface and trapping it.
The rest of his body soon followed, each beam locking him in place, rendering him immobile.
Seizing this unexpected advantage, Kieran’s whip underwent a transformation of its own. It sharpened and morphed, taking on the form of a blade with a dragon’s hilt -- a weapon of both elegance and power.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she swung the blade downward towards the immobilized captain.
However, her attack failed -- the blade simply bounced off, unable to penetrate the captain’s defenses.
Then, in an unexpected twist, the captain returned to his normal form, breaking free from the 2D confinement. He looked at Kieran, a hint of approval in his voice, "Using my own energy to activate your first Ultimo. Now that’s a clever girl for you."
Just as the captain finished his statement, he demonstrated his superior skill and experience. In a motion almost too smooth to follow, he circled around Kieran.
With a precise chop to the back of her neck, he brought her down, his action both a demonstration of his prowess and a lesson in humility for her.
"Not bad," he acknowledged, criticism and encouragement in his voice, "but you still have a long way to go before you’re anywhere in our league. But you’ll get there if you survive."
Kieran, struggling to regain her footing, felt the captain’s hand on her back. In an instant, a vital change occurred -- her energy, the source of her newfound strength and abilities, began to fade.
The captain, demonstrating a skill similar to hers, absorbed her energy effortlessly.
His words followed with jest and warning, "You’re not the only one who can snatch a free snack, you know."
Captain Meruem, observing the end of the intense skirmish, seemed satisfied with the outcome. Clapping his hands, he signaled the conclusion of the duel.
His tone carried amusement and grudging respect as he addressed Kieran, "That’s enough fighting now. You’ve entertained me enough to make me spare you for now."
Then, turning his attention towards Aurelius, his voice boomed across the coliseum with command and jest, "Hey, you lazy bastard!" He acknowledged Kieran’s tenacity and potential in his own unique way, "I pass her; she can be A rank now."
Without lingering, Captain Meruem launched himself from the ground, his figure ascending.
As he prepared to leave, he issued a parting statement, "I have a few planets to attend to now, so don’t call me again unless she gets stronger." His dismissive words still carried expectations for Kieran’s growth and future challenges.
As the aftermath of the intense battle settled, one of the men in white, standing close to Captain Aurelius, expressed concern for Kieran, who had been pushed to her limits.
"Is she going to be okay?" he asked, his voice laced with worry for the fallen warrior.
Captain Aurelius, observing Kieran’s condition, responded with a tone of authority and assurance, "Yes, see to it she is given proper rest and medicine as needed." He then added further instructions, recognizing Kieran’s new status, "She is to report to the operations receiver once she has fully recovered, so she can accept her new attire and her new reign and title, being promoted into A tier."
As he concluded his instructions, Captain Aurelius announced his own plans, "I’m taking a bit of vacation for the time being. So if any issues do arise, see to it I am alerted at once. I will be on Planet Xeria for the time being. Is that understood?"
The man in white, acknowledging the captain’s orders, bowed slightly in respect and responded, "Of course." He then blew a whistle for medical assistance. Almost immediately, a stretcher team came running down towards Kieran’s location.