And so, Zero and Will continue their exhilarating exchange of slashes, thrusts, and magic.
Locking each others' eyes, they threw their attacks with the intent of killing - Zero uses his spell [Fireball], releasing two massive-sized balls of flames from his left hand, each of which has the power to burn or explode monsters to death. But... Like the other magic that came before it, it was rendered useless by Will's adamantine weapon, her rapier, slicing off the flames like melons cut by a heated knife.
[ Tsk! ] unsatisfied with the result, a click of Zero's tongue was heard.
And with him now trying to regain his footing and hold of his sword, Will took an opportunity to move her legs fast, jumping towards him with an endless barrage of piercing thrust. For normal low-leveled people such as the knights that are watching, those attacks seemed unseeable, but to Zero, they're slowed in a level he could still react to. But because of the uncountable number of her thrust, even he had a hard time trying to dodge and block all of them.
Since Will's singular, powerful attacks were easily dodged by Zero, she decided to change tactics by increasing the speed of the rush of her rapier instead, even if they're not as powerful and deadly as her single and precise thrust. And just as what she thought would happen, her attacks were able to penetrate his guard -
Backing off with fast feet, Zero tried to dodge and block her attacks as hard as he could.
But Will's has still yet to land on the ground, her feet seem to be floating, the air seemingly her footing, she continues endlessly and reckless.
( With her skills, I'm nothing more than a newbie... ) that's the reality Zero had just realized. Her movements are nothing like his, which are nothing more than swinging his sword, thrusting it, and blocking with it. Whereas Will uses her sword in different varieties, with the coordination of her movements clean and perfected.
The only thing that he's at the advantage at is his enhanced instincts, which slows the movements of his enemy's movements in his vision, increasing his reaction time, better sort of sounds, etc. And other than that, the most important ones are his steel-like skin and skull-crushing attacks.
With him lacking skills, he knows that those are the only things he can use to win against his enemy. And of course, he ought to use them.
( ...! ) seeing the end of Will's barrage and as her feet finally touch the ground, Zero immediately acts to counter.
Planting his foot on the ground, he raises his sword and slashes towards the side of Will's stomach. And unprepared and unexpected, Will's eyes widened, knowing that she won't be able to react in time.
*Bam!
Then with a thud, she was thrown back by the slash of Zero's sword. The pattern of the wind visible white to Zero's sword as it hits her.
[ [ ... ] ]
After that, everything went quiet. The only sounds that were heard were heavy breaths and groaning sounds of pain.
[ Haa... ] as Will's body crumbles on the ground at least five meters away, Zero was finally able to relax his breathing and muscles. Taking long breaths as if they were his last. And feeling the wetness from his face, he touches it - normally, what he should see on his fingers were nothing but the wet of his sweat, but instead, what he sees is his own red blood.
Will was able to make a very small cut on his face as she was able to penetrate his defense. He felt stinging sensation coming from it, but it was really not that painful, only almost the same as a bite from an ant of a stung from a bee.
His enemy is really trying to kill him. Because of his eagerness to prove her wrong, he was put in danger. This was not the first time he got hurt like this, but his enemy is nothing like any he had ever fought before. He's now feeling a different kind of fear, it was a thrilling fear combined with excitement as he fought this person - like when he fights off players in the game, it was exactly the same.
[ Argh... ] he hears Will groans and moans as she finally tries to stand up.
She holds her side where he was able to hit her and see that her armor was already a sunken wreck, like a tin can that easily deteriorates. There was no blood in sight, but it's painful enough to make her fall into the ground a second time.
Defense is never Will's specialty, she has a very nimble body, but it's never tough... A single hit equivalent to her defeat, but saved by her armor, she was still able to keep conscious.
[ Haa... Haa... ] she took deep breaths as she kept her stance low, awhile gawking at her enemy with confusion in her eyes.
[ Zero-san... We're not done yet, alright...? ] with her usual battle-maniac-like demeanor, she supports the entirety of her body with her legs and tried to stand up again.
[ This is the best thing I've ever had...! ] and as if nothing had happened, she sharpened her eyes and took a grip of her rapier again.
Although in the untrained eyes, their previous exchange seemed to be one-sided, that was not the case at all. As before she was thrown to the ground, she was able to make a few hits on Zero, her brutal yet elegant style was able to make ties with him, and she knows that they're still on the same footing. She will continue.
[ Don't think this is over yet, Zero-san... ]
[ I know... ] he wouldn't let his guard down to an enemy like her. And like her, he will continue.
***
A few more minutes had passed and the fight was finally over. The fighting camp was silent and none was uttering a word. And through the large openings of the structure, the wind blew over.
[ Haa... Haa... This is... ] then suddenly, Will's voice resounded; seemingly exhausted and in pain. And catching up her chest for air as she did so.
[ Fine... You win... ]
With the tip of Zero's sword pointing at her defenseless neck, she can only admit defeat.
[ I lose. ]
And finally, they have reached the conclusion. The loser lose her footing, descending to the ground; while the victor remained standing, still with the grip of his sword.