Nika was shocked at Akumu's transformation. She hadn't seen anything quite like this before.

  "What the hell?! She's...buffing herself?!”

  "How in the hell...?"

  Nika couldn't believe what she was seeing.

  "Since when do you have that superpower?! You weren't buff in your earlier match!”

  Akumu laughed again, her eyes glinting.

  "Oh, I had some blood earlier, so I'm using it as a power boost. I can turn it on and off at will. It's a little secret weapon I wanted to save for moments like this.”

  Nika's disbelief turned into surprise.

  "Hold up — blood? Are you a vampire or something?”

  This time, Akumu let out a full-blown laugh.

  "Pfft. Nah, little miss ass-attack, I'm not a vampire. I'm just a unique human with a taste for blood.”

  Nika couldn't believe her ears, "A human with a taste for blood? How does that even work?”

  Akumu shrugged nonchalantly, her weapon spinning around her hand.

  "It's a family trait. I need to feed on blood to recover my stamina. Helps with restoring my strength during matches.”

  Nika had never heard of such a Void Magic ability before, "And that blood you drank...was real human blood, wasn't it?”

  Akumu nodded, her smile growing more sinister.

  "Oh, absolutely. 100% genuine human blood. Makes for a great power-up, plus it tastes damn good.”

  Nica was taken aback but pressed on,

  "So...you're just casually drinking human blood for power ups? Are you like, a vampire-human hybrid or something?”

  Akumu's eyes gleamed with dark amusement.

  "Nope, still 100% human. Just a girl who happens to have a taste for the crimson life-fluid and a knack for turning it into powerful energy.”

  Nika was still trying to wrap her head around the revelation.

  "This is insane! What's in human blood that makes it give you such a crazy power boost?”

  Akumu chuckled ominously,

  "Oh, you know, the usual. Blood is packed to the brim with iron, minerals, vitamins, and all sorts of good stuff. When I drink it, my body processes it and converts it into the best damn energy source anyone can ask for. Plus, it gives me a real nice buzz~”

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  Nika's eyes went wide as saucers, "You mean to tell me...you turn human blood into a damn energy drink?!”

  Akumu nodded, her eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction,

  "Yep. And it's not just any energy drink. It's the deluxe premium version with human ingredients. You wouldn't believe how much of a power-up it is. I feel unstoppable when I feed.”

  Nika couldn't help but ask, "So... where d'ya get your blood supply from? You got hidden blood banks or something?”

  Akumu smirked again, clearly enjoying the twisted conversation.

  "Oh, I have my ways. I've found that hospital blood banks make for easy pickings, and if I get desperate, I can always find a willing donor...or unwilling participant~”

  Nika felt a chill run down her spine. "You...you steal blood from hospitals? And force people to give you blood too?!"

  Akumu's smirk widened, "Oh yes, and sometimes when I'm feeling frisky, I even hunt down some unlucky people in the dark alleys of my town. It's like a game to me.”

  Nika was beyond shocked now,

  "You...hunt innocent people and kidnap them, don't you?!"

  Akumu's grin grew even more sinister, "Oh, oh, oh, you have no idea. I love the thrill of the hunt, the rush I get from stalking my victims and striking when they least expect it. I'm like a little shadow assassin in the night~"

  Akumu's aura flared up, her muscles bulging, "And now, you will taste my new power!"

  Akumu charged forward and landed a quick punch on Nica's gut. The blow didn't affect Nika much, but she definitely felt an increase in Akumu's physical might.

  Nika gritted her teeth in pain but managed to counter,

  "Y-You're a damn monster!"

  Akumu chuckled, her power boost evident.

  "Oh, you don't know the half of it, little miss ass-attack~"

  "You just love that nickname, don'tcha!”

  Akumu laughed, her strength and confidence growing,

  "Aw, what's wrong? Do you not like being called what you are? You use your ass to attack. It's pretty fitting, don't you think?”

  Nika huffed, frustration and anger taking over,

  "Fine, I'll live up to the title you want me to have so badly."

  With that said, Nika turned her back to Akumu and leapt back, her rear slamming into her and sending both flying into the arena wall, with Akumu being crushed into the wall, right next to the previous butt print left behind during the battle with Mona.

  The impact stunned Akumu, knocking her out momentarily, the force of Nika's ass not to be underestimated. The other people watched with wide eyes.

  Nika couldn't help but crack a smirk,

  "See that? My ass isn't all bark, it's got bite too.”

  The crowd roared even louder, the surprise of Nika's move taking everyone by astonishment.

  "THE BUTT-ATTACK QUEEN STRIKES AGAIN!! HURRAH!!!!”

  This got Nika pumped up even more, her spirits soaring high.

  "That's right. I'm the Butt-Attack Queen!”

  Another voice chimed in,

  "SHE SMASHED THAT GIRL INTO THE WALL! NIKA'S ASS IS JUST TOO DAMN STRONG!”

  Nika's cheeks turned a bit red at all the attention and praise her rear was getting.

  "Well... guess these cheeks deserve some recognition.”

  "Your cheeks deserve the attention alright! You should be proud of that butt-smash you just showed us! It totally broke the damn wall!”

  With Akumu still knocked out, Marco’s countdown from 10 ended, and he announced: "Akumu has been knocked unconscious! The winner of the match is...NIKA!!!!!!”

  The crowd erupted into cheer and applause, they were amazed by the intense yet unconventional fight they just witnessed.

  Nika tried to hide her embarrassment, but she felt a sense of satisfaction and pride for having pulled off the one-hit K.O. victory.

  "The way she one-shotted that girl with her rear was insane! Nika has some serious cheeks of steel!”

  The praises were still being sung by the crowd as Nika went back to Celeste's suite to get back together with Yuki and the others.

  "That was amazing! I can't believe you pulled off that one-shot!" Yuki exclaimed, still in awe of Nika's victory.

  Nika chuckled, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins as her anticipation for the rest of the tournament grew.

  "Yeah, I guess my ass is more powerful than I thought it was. I never imagined it could pack such a wall-shattering punch. I bet it'll win me this tournament for sure.”