Ding!
Xavier subconsciously took a step back. Eulene was standing at that same spot, her right hand holding the translucent sword while her left arm dropped to the ground.
Blood drenched her glittering silver robe, the left of her neck, her left cheek, and the corner of her curved lips. She was smiling, as if she was unscathed- having a walk around the park, talking with the birds. Her eyes glared at him, but he did not dare to look back at those black orbs.
The injury he received just now- it was not because of that sword in her hand or her unorthodox way of Mana manipulation- but rather because of her gaze, it was so sharp that it pierced through his skin.
But how was that even possible? He racked his brain. Was she a paranormal? Or was she-
His eyelids twitched as he stared back at her glare. Though piercing pain struck his eyes, flames of determination began to burn in them.
Xavier took back his relaxed posture, tipping his hat. "Seems like I have to get serious now," he said, his tone indifferent. "Hit me with your best shot."
Ding!
The smile on Eulene's face widened as she disappeared from the spot, gladly accepting his invitation.
Xavier's eyes tinted gold, so did his entire body. Invisible waves radiated out from him- which contained all the unnecessary particles on his body- dirt, physical particles from his own body, and even excess electrons and nucleons. Every bit of his decrease in mass would mean higher acceleration with the same amount of applied force. And where this battle was going- even an infinitesimal increase in performance could mean a lot.
She came into his view again. Eulene was already in close proximity to him, but he remained nonchalant. The plan was already made, all he needed to do was to execute it.
She slashed at him straight down, which he easily dodged with his lighter body. But his eyes widened in surprise again.
Every single particle in the surrounding was under his domain of control, and that slash- he could sense it cutting through even the nucleus of the particles in half.
But he regained his composure in a moment. He backed away. Even with his hypersonic speed, fighting close quarters against her would be disadvantageous.
He flew high into the sky, taking the battle away from the ground. Eulene followed his trail.
Despite being in what seemed like a frenzy, Eulene's mind was clear as day. The fact that someone could hurt her to this extent filled her heart with Euphoria. Unlike the martial realm, this world- it was fun!
Xavier manoeuvred in the air, changing direction like it was nothing. His hypersonic speed along with glowing figure gave the onlookers an image of strange golden geometric pattern on the night sky.
Ding!
Ding!
In just two seconds, the pattern expanded across the entire sky above the forest- to a three dimensional mesh of glowing lines. The wondrous phenomenon etched into the minds of the spectators.
Xavier dived back to the ground and zoomed towards the crater. During this entire session of fight, he evaded Eulene's strikes dozens of times. He computed all of the patterns in her offence- how would she attack? Would it be a slash or a stab, vertical or diagonal? Where would she strike- the vitals or the bones, the heart or the head? In which position she would be when she attacked? How would his own actions affect her decisions?- everything.
And there was a more than 90% probability she would come at his heart next, with a stab. He turned back to Eulene on the run and flew in reverse, his foot etching across the ground. Eulene closed in, her sword stretched over her head for a vertical slash.
However, Xavier did not bat an eye. When her sword came at him, a small explosion occurred beneath Xavier's foot, propelling him further back. Eulene stopped the missed slash midway and drove it at Xavier's heart.
Bingo! Xavier stopped in his track, surprising Eulene. The sword- pierced into Xavier's heart and exited from his back, missing the spine by a few millimetres. The golden glow in his body disappeared.
Despite her success, Eulene did not feel any sense of triumph. For the first time in decades, she met someone whose speed came close to hers. He was supposed to dodge this attack- easily at that.
Once again, the foreboding that hit her when she lost her arm dawned upon Eulene. And yet again, it was too late. The smile on her face disappeared.
Xavier wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close, and trapped her.
As for his own heart, Xavier cared little. Everything in this world were formed from particles he could manipulate, and his own body was not an exception. His blood vessels disconnected from the heart, and attached themselves together in such a way that blood can travel without the heart as a hub.
What pumped the blood? Blood was 70% water, and Xavier could manipulate water like it was his own limb. For Xavier, who knew all the routes of blood in his body, heart was just another convenient organ- nothing necessary.
And vessels and blood were not the only things he could influence. His bones were made of metallic particles: Particle 20.
Ten bony spikes protruded from his arms and ribs, tearing his skin and outfit and penetrated into her.
Ding! The tower chimed for the last time.
He had already discovered that the girl peculiarly circulated Mana in her own body. And with his senses, he uncovered the route of the circulation and its weak points. The spikes targeted exactly those areas, making Eulene unable to control Qi anymore.
The taller Xavier looked down at the abyssal eyes of Eulene while Eulene stared back into Xavier's mysterious moonlike eyes.
Seconds passed. Nobody made a single moved. The space between their eyes showed signs of rupture. After ten whole seconds, a period that exceeded the duration of the battle itself, they finally got a glimpse of each other's full power.
"Tsk!" Both of them clicked their tongues in unison.
The power output they used in the battle- it was far from their full power. If they used their strengths to the fullest, Derbury- a city home to tens of thousands- would not be left unscathed.
Eulene had a way to get rid of Xavier's entrapment, but continuing this battle would be a waste.
The spikes retreated back into Xavier's body as he let go of Eulene. Eulene's sword disappeared from Xavier's chest while she took a step back. She walked to her amputated arm and held it to her bloody shoulder. It automatically reattached. She warmed her left arm up through some basic movements.
The slits in Xavier's skin and dress healed themselves. The blood drenching his body turned into mist and vanished into the air.
The ring on Eulene's finger glinted as her silver robe reverted back to the cotton dress. She turned to look into Xavier's eyes, but-
Both of their stomachs growled.
The amount of energy they used in the battle was enough to power the Aramon-Derbury Steamliner for a century or two. Hunger- was a natural reaction.
Xavier looked away. Eulene's face tinted red.
"Umm…" Eulene teetered her eyes left and right as she forced a smile. "Want to eat something?"
Xavier stayed silent for a couple of seconds before nodding. "I know a place."
At that moment, both of them had the same thought in their minds.
Keep your friends close, but enemies- closer.