Highschool DxD: Spin to Win

The training grounds were just outside the main building of the school, hidden away from prying eyes by high walls and thick hedges. As Sona and I made our way there, I couldn't help but feel a strange excitement building up in my chest. Sure, sparring with her wasn't exactly how I imagined spending my afternoon, but it was a challenge I couldn't pass up. She wasn't just some random student. Sona Sitri was the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Underworld. Her strategic mind and control over her powers were legendary, and here I was—about to face off with her.

I glanced over at Sona as she walked beside me, her expression cool and collected. Despite her composed exterior, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was looking forward to this too. After all, she hadn't hesitated for a second when asking for the spar.

"Ready?" she asked, her voice sharp and calm, as though she was already ten steps ahead of me.

I took a deep breath, cracking my neck to shake off the nervous tension. "As I'll ever be."

We reached the training grounds, a wide open area surrounded by various training equipment. I felt a wave of nerves hit me, but I quickly suppressed it. There was no turning back now. We were here to spar, and it wasn't like I had any choice in the matter.

"Alright, no need to hold back. Show me what you've got," Sona said, eyes narrowing with focus.

I blinked at her, momentarily confused. Wasn't this supposed to be a fight? Wasn't she expecting me to defeat her or something? But then she gave me a small, almost imperceptible smile and added, "I didn't say you had to defeat me. Just push me to my limits. I'm curious to see how far you can go."

Oh… That was a relief. I wasn't exactly looking to get my ass handed to me by one of the most powerful devils in the Underworld.

Taking a deep breath, I raised my hand, gathering my energy. My ice powers were relatively new, but they were steadily becoming more precise and powerful. I could feel the cold radiating from my fingertips as I started to concentrate. The cool sensation running through me was almost… comforting, like a second skin.

"You ready for this?" I asked, grinning.

Sona's eyes flickered with amusement, her posture relaxed, almost teasing. "Whenever you are."

I didn't need any more encouragement. With a flick of my wrist, I sent a blast of ice in her direction. The cool mist filled the air as jagged shards of ice shot toward her, but before they could even get close, she raised her hand, and a shimmering blue barrier appeared in front of her, deflecting the ice with ease.

Of course. Sona wasn't some novice. Her control over her powers was precise, effortless. She didn't even flinch as my ice splintered against her shield.

I quickly assessed the situation. She was toying with me. I wasn't going to be able to defeat her outright—she hadn't told me to. All I had to do was push her as hard as I could. If I could find a way to get past her defenses, that would be a victory in itself.

So, I shifted my tactics. Instead of just hurling more ice at her, I moved around her, trying to flank her with quick, unpredictable moves. I dashed left and right, using my enhanced senses to predict her movements. I was faster than I had been yesterday, sharper too. The ice in my hands crystallized as I focused, sending several smaller projectiles at her from all angles.

To my surprise, Sona didn't even try to dodge. Instead, she stood perfectly still, raising her barrier again—this time, it expanded outward in a circular fashion, absorbing every shard of ice with an elegant sweep.

"Not bad," she said, voice calm but with a hint of approval. "But you'll have to do better than that."

I grinned. "Gladly."

This time, I wasn't just attacking. I was strategizing—keeping her on her toes. I gathered ice beneath my feet, skating toward her with incredible speed. The air around me grew colder, my power amplifying with every second. My enhanced senses told me where she would be, and I was already halfway through the motion before she could react.

But then—poof—she vanished.

I stopped dead in my tracks, eyes scanning the empty air. Wait, what? She was gone.

Then, out of nowhere, I felt a sharp tug at my side. I barely had time to react as Sona appeared beside me, her hand glowing with a fiery energy, before she sent me flying across the training grounds. My back hit the ground with a thud, and I groaned, dazed for a moment.

"Didn't see that coming, huh?" Sona said, her tone playful now.

I shook my head, trying to clear the fogginess. "Nope. Not at all."

She had moved like a blur, effortlessly closing the distance between us, and I had missed it entirely. Sona's speed was ridiculous. She was playing with me, but I wasn't about to go down without a fight.

I jumped to my feet, already reaching for more ice, my powers surging in my veins. But as I focused, I noticed her stance change—her eyes narrowing just slightly. Was she getting more serious?

Well, here we go.

I spun on my heel, summoning an ice storm that swirled around me in a violent, frigid whirlwind. It wasn't just simple ice anymore. I could feel the power of the storm crackling around me, the cold lashing out in all directions. The winds howled, and the ground beneath us began to freeze over, creating slick patches of ice that would make it harder for either of us to maintain our footing.

Sona's expression remained unchanged. She raised her hand, and once again, a barrier of energy appeared in front of her. However, this time, she didn't just block my attacks. She stepped forward, striding through the ice storm like she was walking through a gentle breeze.

I couldn't believe it. She wasn't even slowing down. With a flick of her wrist, she dispersed the icy winds, and the air went still once more.

"That's impressive," she said, her tone approving but still completely relaxed. "But you're still holding back."

I blinked, momentarily stunned by her confidence. "What? I'm not holding back. I'm giving it everything I've got!"

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You're not using your full potential. Ice is your power, yes, but you have a lot more at your disposal if you really push it."

I frowned, trying to process her words. But before I could respond, she was on me again, her movements so fast they left afterimages in the air. A sudden explosion of magic surged toward me, and I barely had time to raise a block of ice to shield myself. The impact was so strong that it sent me skidding back across the frozen ground, my feet slipping beneath me.

"How are you so fast?" I managed to grunt, wiping the ice from my face as I struggled to stay upright.

Sona smirked, standing tall, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and challenge. "I told you. You'll have to push me harder than that."

I grinned back, finally understanding. Oh, she's going to make me work for this.

"Alright, then. Let's crank it up a notch," I muttered, gathering my energy again. The fight wasn't over yet.

As I prepared for another round, Sona's gaze remained steady. She was waiting. Watching. I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to match her power or speed, but one thing was for sure—this spar was far from over.

And maybe, just maybe, I'd manage to land a hit.