She certainly didn’t have my number.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the part we’ve all been waiting for. Practical combat," the announcer’s voice echoed across the stadium as a little music cue went off.
"Each and every one of these fights is electrifying and exciting. First up, Demoness versus Omnigirl!" He dragged out Omnigirl’s name and put a truckload of excitement behind it.
Knowing her cue, Omnigirl kicked off the wall and floated up into the air with her arms outstretched.
The stadium roared with applause, eating it up.
The cocky super smiled, soaking up the praise.
But Stella didn’t let herself fall to the wayside.
She flew up into the air, diving around on her bat wings as the crowd took up their cheers for her.
Those around us started stomping their feet and screaming Demoness at the top of their lungs.
Stella did an awkward wave to the four corners of the stadium before she shielded her eyes and squinted up into the stands.
She was clearly scanning for someone, but it was impossible for her to pick someone out of the current crowd.
Omnigirl did a slow twirl in the air, still grandstanding for the crowd as she gently set herself down on the stage and gave Stella a tilted head as she spoke something to her that us up in the stands couldn’t hear.
"This is going to be a good one." The announcer must have heard it.
"These two aren’t going to hold anything back. Get ready for the fight of the year."
Stella put her fists up, preparing.
But Omnigirl wasn’t waiting.
She flashed across the stage and caught Stella in the ribs with a fist that would have sent buildings crumbling.
Omnigirl followed up her first hit with another three punches.
Stella just barely managed to get an arm in front of them, but she was clearly favoring the side that had taken the first hit.
"Come on, Demoness!" Rachel cupped her hands around her mouth, shouting down at the stage.
I frowned.
Come on, Stella, I pleaded mentally, you are stronger than this.
But even as I thought it, Omnigirl kept at the assault.
Stella had no chance to do anything but defend herself during the fight as Omnigirl plowed into her hit after hit.
Tapping into my power, I looked down at the fight in a new light.
And I grimaced at what I saw.
Stella was running on fumes.
I froze, realizing that she probably hadn’t fed since she’d drained the bactimen.
And then she’d gone all out during the testing phase.
She hadn’t been able to restore her ki.
I immediately chastised myself.
I should have been there!
Even as I thought about it, I stopped and reiterated to myself the reason I’d walked away.
I’d wanted normal, and I couldn’t have that around her.
But I also was finding it fucking difficult to sit there and watch her get pummeled.
I wondered if I should leave.
If I stayed, there was no way I wouldn’t interfere.
But seeing Stella get hit again made my heart clench as she rolled to the floor from a devastating hit to the face.
I didn’t think, didn’t worry.
I just acted on instinct.
Reaching down into my ability, I pushed ki towards her, filling her.
The change was instant.
Omnigirl tried to kick Stella off stage, but Stella grabbed Omnigirl’s shin with one hand, stopping her cold.
Stella flipped up to her feet, still holding Omnigirl and thrashing her against the floor before tossing her off into the air.
Omnigirl spun several times before she stabilized her flight.
I smiled, glad that Stella had recovered.
But then Stella flew straight up into the air and started to slowly spin, looking into the crowd.
I realized she was looking for me.
Omnigirl grabbed her by the waist in her moment of distraction and spun Stella around, plummeting to the ground as she slammed her face first into the stage.
"Ooooh," the announcer made a pained voice.
"Is this it for our newbie? Omnigirl is going pretty hard on her, but she still needs to put up a good show in order to make Grade 1 for the BSH. So far, I’m not seeing it."
Come on, Stella. Finish this.
I poured more power into her, spiking her ability and sending it into overdrive.
As Stella pushed off the ground, I could see her bright blue eyes glowing, even from my distance.
Omnigirl floated and dodged the leg sweep, but Stella snapped to her feet and threw a wild haymaker punch that caught Omnigirl right in the gut.
There was almost a pause in the world before Omnigirl shot away, and a sonic boom announced her breaking the sound barrier.
A second loud gong sounded as she crashed into the big plate that Melody had used earlier to record her punches.
"Holy moly! What a punch." The announcer held his headset close to his ear as he nodded several times.
"I’m told Omnigirl just crashed into that plate hard enough to set a new record for punching strength. Demoness was holding back on us!"
A few uniformed people rushed onto the field to help Omnigirl out of the wreckage.
"Now that’s what we want to see from a top-grade hero."
Once again, Stella wasn’t interested in what was happening around her.
She was using her wings to fly up into the middle of the stadium as the crowd cheered, taking her actions for grandstanding.
I knew differently as she scanned the crowd slowly.
Time was running out.
She was going to pass over me in a few seconds.
I didn’t hide.
I just sat there, staring right back at her as she finally locked eyes with me.
Crossing my arms, I held up my hand to stop her even as she started to lean towards me.
Then I pointed down below at the changing rooms as I flashed five fingers.
The grin on her face made my heart beat a little faster, even if I was reluctant to admit it.
"That doesn’t look like she broke up with you," Ben whispered loudly, leaning over Mary and staring at me, along with the rest of our group.
"Maybe I broke up with her," I admitted.
"Maybe we need to talk, too."
"Shoo," All three girls said at once with angry glares.
Getting up out of my seat, I started making my way down as Stella’s eyes followed me.