"You can't attack before the count of three!" said Serph as he got up.

"You said I couldn't hit you until the count of three, and I didn't," said Akiza. "Besides, in a real fight, no one is going to wait for you!" Akiza shouted back. "That was payback too."

"Payback for what?" asked Serph.

"For this morning!" Akiza shouted back.

Serph understood what that meant. But he also realized that Akiza was much more experienced in a fight. The phrase "real fight" stood out to him. In a real fight, things were unpredictable. You did not know where or when you would fight or what you would have on you. You had to work with what you had and Akiza was certainly good at that. She immediately closed the distance as soon as Serph took his eyes off her and technically, she did not break any rules because contact was not made until after the count of three.

"Again!" said Serph as he readied his weapon. "I will not take my eyes off of you this time."

"Three!" Serph shouted immediately as he dashed forward. However, Akiza disappeared and reappeared right behind him.

"Phoenix Steps is great," Akiza thought to herself as she slammed Serph into the ground.

Serph had been instantly defeated twice. "She's a monster!" Serph thought to himself. Akiza did not give off the aura of a fighter or a powerful killing intent, but she had the strength and the skills to back it up. On top of that, she has not even used her sword yet. Serph should have been at a clear advantage in terms of physical strength with his age alone. On top of that, he had greater reach with his sword, yet Akiza's speed was able to close that distance and make his longer reach into a disadvantage.

"One more!" said Serph.

"Alright," said Akiza.

Serph put away his sword and used his hands. He had been trained by his father a little, so he had some hand to hand skills even though he spent most of his time practicing with a sword.

"One..." said Serph. "Two... Three!"

Akiza did not move this time as Serph dashed forward extending his right arm. As he approached Akiza, he leaped in order to close the distance even faster. This was the skill he learned from his father. "Sonic Leap!" he shouted. "I got you!" he thought to himself.

Akiza watched as Serph closed the distance. She instantly moved to the left, swinging 90 degrees and struck Serph's wrist. Serph's fist opened up and he could no longer move it. Akiza had struck an important point on Serph's right wrist that disabled his entire right hand. He could not hold a sword or form a fist to attack. "Don't worry, it will go away in a bit," said Akiza.

"I give up!" said Serph. "I can't beat a monster like you."

"Who are you calling a monster?!?" said Akiza. "I can't believe how weak you are!"

"Then how about you fight me?" said a voice. Akiza turned around. It was a young man with black hair wearing a three piece suit.

"That's Haman! He's the strongest among the Apprentice," said Serph.

"Alright, I accept your challenge," said Akiza.

"Don't fight him!" said Serph. "He is notorious for being a brutal opponent who humiliates his enemies and is willing to do anything to win."

"It's too late, she already accepted my challenge!" shouted Haman.

"No..." said Serph. "Be careful Akiza."

Serph moved away from the arena ring. It was now just Haman and Akiza. Other spectators joined in. Haman was very skilled and they had hoped they could learn something. Haman used a sword, but it was a lighter one than Serph's.

"On the count of three," said Haman.

"Okay," said Akiza.

"One.." said Haman. "Two!" at that moment, Haman dashed forward to attack Akiza. "In a real fight, no one waits for you!" he shouted.

Akiza understood those words, but Haman fought dirty. At least Akiza waited for the count of three to actually land a hit. He was never planning to count to three.

Akiza backed off and avoided his thrust, but Haman grabbed her hair. "You're not getting away!" he shouted.

Haman fought with very dirty methods, but it was practical. He took advantage of Akiza's weaknesses, meaning he was very skilled too, but Akiza had tricks too. Akiza elbowed Haman in the stomach, forcing him to let go. As Haman backed off, the tip of his sword cut Akiza's left arm.

"What's the matter?" asked Haman. "Feeling tired already?"

Akiza was feeling weak. There was poison in Haman's sword. He was someone who was willing to do anything to win. Akiza gathered a pink flame in her right hand and put it over the cut on her arm.

"Sealing the wound doesn't stop it you know," Haman said. However, that was because he thought Akiza's fire was being used to seal the wound to stop the bleeding. In reality, Akiza's flame actually healed wounds, something that most people had never seen or believed in. Against weak poisons like Haman's it was easy to stop it.

"She's not falling down yet?" Haman said to himself. "That poison should have worked already."

"I don't have to hold back against someone who uses dirty methods," Akiza said.

Akiza dashed forward, but Haman attempted to throw sand hidden in his left hand at her. Akiza saw it coming and disappeared. "Where did she go?" Haman said.

Akiza reappeared behind Haman gathering a blue flame in her hand. It was Phoenix Steps. "Rising Phoenix Strike!" Akiza shouted as her flaming fist smashed into Haman's back.

"I can't move?" said Haman. Akiza had broken his spine.

"This injury is fitting for someone who has no backbone," said Akiza.

"I will get you for this! I will kill you for this humiliation!" shouted Haman.

"Burning Phoenix," said Akiza. The flames on Haman's coat exploded with ferocity. His entire body was black and it broke apart into dust.

Haman reappeared at the entrance of the Training Ground. Akiza had actually killed Haman, the strongest Apprentice. Haman was no longer the strongest. It was at this moment that Haman swore vengeance. He would do what he can to try to kill Akiza.