Status Quo rule no. 21 - UA fighters who lose too many fights, can be suspended from attending next year’s league.  

Skye hit the wall of the cage as a purple blade impaled her arm to it. With a squinty face, she yanked the blade out. The blade burnt the flesh that peaked from the straps on her hand. With a curse, she electrocuted the cage, letting the wave engulf everything around her in a blue, blinding light, hitting Taylor, her opponent. 

Taylor tried to redirect the wave but was too slow. She fell on the floor with a scream of pain, but regained herself quickly enough, and ran at Skye. Two electric balls manifested from her hands as she launched towards Taylor. One ball flew in Taylor’s way while two blades sped in Skye’s direction, one missed her shoulder, the other grazed her thigh.

She was lucky the man with the white Hirou healed her wounds. Taylor was a strong opponent and Skye struggled with this fight. 

Bradley’s unusual reaction to the man with the white Hirou made her even more nervous than she was before. He had no fear, no conscience, and no morals. He cared about power, and money, and what could give him more power and more money, yet he was afraid of that man. No, not afraid. It was something else. Still, it was odd, especially the fact that Bradley didn’t want anyone to know about him, or about the fact that he knew him. 

When she met the man with the white Hirou again, she thought she was tripping hard on whatever she had smoked. But when she woke up, still on the pavement next to the club, all of her wounds were gone. He came that night to see Bradley for sure, which could only mean they had some business going on and Bradley definitely didn’t like the fact that she was involved with him. 

Another blade cut through her other thigh, making her stumble mid-run. Taylor smiled with a crooked smile, her face had a small burn on her left cheek from the electricity she had taken before. 

Skye knitted her brows. Discharge neared her. She had enough strength for one last attack before she was done. One more minute until the fight ended, the clock screamed at her. With a sigh, she prepared herself. 

Mike fought before her and won his match, like he always did, but she wasn’t sure winning this one was possible for her. Her thoughts traveled to different places and her concentration was lacking. Each mistake she made became visible only after she got herself stabbed, and her head started to spin. Luckily, this was the last fight before the hiatus, almost a month after her last couple of wins, which would give her enough time to fully recover, and come fresh to the next round. 

Taylor ran at her head-on, a large blade in hand. Electricity cracked through Skye’s hands when the blade clashed with them. She held to the blade and Taylor pushed harder. The floor beneath them fractured from the powerful waves. Skye was sinking into the ground with each push, her power discharging rapidly. She let go of the blade with a quick jump backwards. It fell on the floor and broke, small shatters of purple magic-like energy scattered around the cage. 

With a quick move to Taylor’s left, using her last strength, she shot at her side. Slowly, stumbling steps pushed her backwards until she leaned on one of the cage’s walls, dragging her body down to a sitting position. 

Taylor cried out and prepared to shoot another blade at her, but Skye raised her hand up, her fingers tight together and her thumb at a ninety degrees angle, signaling her discharge. 

The buzz of the clock showed there were thirty seconds left in the fight. If she had to use any more power it would be too dangerous for her. There was a limited amount of power one could use before discharge took over and passing that limit could even end up in death. 

“The winner of the last UA battle of the season is Taylor Hill from Dash! But don’t worry about Skye guys! She earned enough points to move on to the next round! This concludes the battles for today! Thank you for coming everyone and have a great evening!” 

The walls of the cage disappeared, only the fixed wall on which Skye was leaning, remained. 

Bit by bit, the crowds left. The sound of random chattering filled the arena. 

Taylor paced to her, handed her hand, and helped her up to her feet.

“Fuck…” Skye groaned as the pain in her thigh throbbed and pumped with each move of her muscle. 

“Good fight,” Taylor said.

Skye nodded. 

After Taylor helped her up, she left the cage and let Mike handle the rest. He grabbed Skye in his arms. She didn’t like it but her legs were too sore for her to complain about it. He had a small burn mark on his muscled arms and she glared at it for a long moment. 

“Don’t worry about it, I spent most of my time fighting you, so I’m used to it.” He smiled.

She moved her eyes away and said nothing. When they stepped out of the cage, she insisted that he would put her down. He tried to argue about it but she left no place for further discussion. Carefully, he lowered her with an annoyed growl. 

The arena was almost empty, the sounds of people’s voices were replaced with the grunts of the injured fighters. Bradley was at the arena today and she hoped he wouldn’t approach her. Luckily, he didn’t, but Amit’s disappointed face didn’t help her injured ego. Taylor was a strong fighter, but she was better. She could only blame herself for the loss. Had she concentrated on the fight and not on the man with the white Hirou, she would’ve won. Yet, she let her mind drift away. At least she made it to the next round. Leaving Chrono seemed closer than ever.  

“Do you need a lift home? Can you even drive?” Skye lifted a questioning eyebrow at Mike. “Hey, I can only offer. Anyway, if you’ll feel better, come to Kaya’s school tomorrow,” Mike said while a paramedic bandaged her arm.

“Why?”

“Why not? She has a recital. Sierra insists she learns the piano for some reason.”

“It’s Saturday tomorrow.” 

“Yeah, the school wanted all the parents to come, you know, for the kids who have them. So anyway, it’ll be awesome if you could join us. You could stay afterwards and eat with us, if you’d like.” His face was like that of a pleading dog.

Skye rolled her eyes. “I don’t think so, I’m too tired, but thank you.”

“If you’d change your mind give me a call. It’s at 2 p.m.” His smile was all teeth, his eyes were all shiny. “Anyway, are you good to drive home?”

“Could be better, but I’m good, really.” She stood up when the paramedic gestured to her that he was done. 

A hiss escaped her lips when she moved her right leg. Mike took her hand and helped her limp back to the dressing room. She took her stuff, and with Mike’s help, limped to her bike. 

The cool winter breeze sent shivers down her spine as it entered her leather coat, but she refused to close it yet. With some effort, she swung her leg over the bike seat, feeling the ache in her thigh intensify as the adrenaline from the fight gradually waned. So she lit up a cigarette, inhaling deep, making circles of smoke as she exhaled. The familiar, yet awfully ashy taste relaxed her. 

It wasn’t the first fight she lost, but for some reason, it annoyed her more than she expected it to. Maybe because this time, she could only blame herself. The goal was clear, only one thing that mattered in her life. Letting Bradley and some mysterious guy take her thoughts away from it was no good. 

Leaning her head backwards, she mentally brought herself back from her down. She used to lose a lot when she first joined the UA. It wasn’t a new experience for her, but the past couple of weeks took its toll. She was drained of all energy, and motivation, and angry at herself that she was. With another sigh, she threw her cigarette away and put her helmet on. The red light of the arena sign reflected on the black glassy material. 

The engine roared as she waited for it to warm up, then drove away.