Chapter 23: Yellow
POV Sapphire:
As we entered the training grounds, I saw large amounts of arena-style platforms, and teachers here and there monitoring the training students; probably why this place only opens at this time. Quite a few people have already started training on some of these platforms, so we quickly made our claim on one.
The arena seemed pretty normal for training standards. It was ovular in shape and about half the size of the competition standard. The platform was about three feet off the ground, thirty-three feet across at its longest point, and sixteen feet at its shortest. There are steps on each side of the platform, so people can easily get onto the arena.
-Clap Clap
I turned my attention from analyzing the arena to Ruby, who had clapped her hands.
After waiting for everyone's attention to gather on her, she spoke, "Alright Team, here's the plan for today. First, we will have five minutes to warm up, and then we will have forty minutes for sparing. The last fifteen minutes will be for teamwork practice. Ok, start!"
With the go-ahead from our leader, we spread out on the arena and started our warm-up exercises.
We had already changed into our gear and grabbed our weapons on the way here, so we didn't have to waste time getting ready.
The five minutes pass quickly, and we all gather back at the center of the platform.
"Ok, who's fighting Sapphire first?" Ruby asks.
"Haha, I am definitely going first!" Yang suggests and sends a feral grin in my direction.
Seeing no objections, Ruby accepted Yang's suggestion, and continued, "Ok, you two get ready. The rest of us will get out of your way."
Ruby, Blake, and Weiss get off the arena and stand parallel to the widest part of the platform. They watch silently as Yang and I take their positions.
I put on my mask, and pull up my hood.
Yang unfolds her gauntlets, and I draw my sword.
Ruby starts up the arena displays, and on them, two pictures are shown, one of me and one of Yang; each with a green bar underneath.
The green bar is a visual representation of the amount of aura a combatant has left.
We can pull up this information on our scrolls, but it only shows the aural levels of our teammates and not our opponents.
As I was looking at the displays, Ruby had pulled out her whistle. As soon as I noticed this I returned my attention to the duel.
Yang POV:
-Ffweeee!
With the whistle as a signal, I charge toward Sapphire, but she doesn't stay still either. She also charges toward me, so I meet her with an ax kick, which she blocks.
She uses one hand to hold her sword and supports the end with her other. She had bent her knees from the impact of the strike, but she used that position to shove my foot upwards.
I ride that momentum and flip myself over just in time to be met with a slash.
I cross my arms in order to block, but the strike still sends me backward.
I dig my feet into the ground in order to stop my forceful retreat, and once I do, I launch myself forward with shots from my gauntlets.
I reach her in a flash and deliver a series of strikes, but every punch I throw is dodged or parried. I try to deliver a shot with my gauntlet, but she grabs my wrist and throws me over herself before I can.
While in the air, I quickly orient myself and land on my feet, but she leaves me no leeway and delivers a diagonal slice just as I hit the ground.
I react quickly and jump backward, but she changes her slash into a forward stab.
The blow lands before I can do anything, and I am once again sent backward.
This is pissing me off!
My semblance activates, and I charge again.
As I am running, all I can think about is landing a punch right into that fucking mask, so that's what I do, or try to at least.
As soon as I'm within range, I deliver a punch toward that mask with all my might, but I suddenly find myself tumbling on the ground.
Sapph had dropped down and swept my legs from underneath me, and the momentum from my punch carried me forward.
What! the! HELL!
I get back up and immediately rush in again. This time my semblance flaring even more, and I deliver a straight kick to her face.
This too is dodged and met with a counterattack.
She stepped past me and delivered a swift kick to the back of my knee, and as I was falling she brought a roundhouse kick to the side of my head, sending me tumbling to the side.
I get back up to charge at her again, but I am met with no success.
This time I try for a right hook, but she ducks under it and brings the pommel of her sword smashing into the right side of my face, causing me to stagger to the left. This is met by Sapph once again sweeping my legs, and bringing me to the ground.
Fuck this!!
I spring up with the intention of delivering an uppercut with my left arm, but Sapph dodges this by stepping back. She counterattacks with a horizontal cut to the left side of my body that was left unprotected by my strike. I am once again sent tumbling to the side.
I get up and attempt to charge again, but I am interrupted by a shrill whistle.
-Fweee!!
"Yang, your aura is in the red. You lose, sorry," Ruby states with a complicated expression.
At Ruby's words, I look up and see that my aura is in the red, while Sapph's is still in the green.
"Seriously!?" I exclaim.
I mean I didn't expect to win, but I didn't think I'd lose this badly.
I hear footsteps approach me from behind, so I turn around to see Sapph, who has already removed her mask and hood, walk up to me.
"Yang, we need to talk," She says with a serious look on her face.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone