Power!
It is the undeniable, most effective means of survival.
Lucy, having lived so long by that tenet, strived to achieve the heights of her human limits. Ever since 'that day,' she had promised herself never to cower in weakness.
Only the strong could survive in this cold, cruel world.
That was her ideal—her everything.
'I AM STRONG!'
Roaring in a fit of both determination and rage, while being surrounded by the amber aura of flames around her, Lucy charged at her prey with absolute ferocity.
>VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHH<
She left a blazing trail of flames behind her, but the ferocious girl didn't care. Her target was within reach. Her speed had surpassed its previous limits, and her power was on another level.
In a flash, Lucy closed their distance and took a wide swing, refusing to waste the momentum she had built up.
>SWISH<
To her immense surprise, the Hero still evaded the attack, tilting his body so the strike didn't touch as much as a hair on his body.
'GRRRRRR!' Her inner self growled as she refused to give up.
Now using both her hands to grip the blade, Lucy brought her blade down, aiming to slash the Hero in two.
To her surprise, the man underneath made the strangest movement and launched himself into the air before she could strike him.
'You're not getting away!' The girl growled as she launched herself upward with pure brute strength.
However, once again, he dodged her attack with lightning speed, twisting in midair as he spun and safely landed on the ground.
'ARGHHHHH!!!' Lucy was frustrated now, glaring at the unwavering confidence of the Hero.
She didn't want to give up now. She couldn't!
>FWOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<
Using the flaming cloak she donned, Lucy dived in the direction of the Hero, aiming to slit his throat. However, he succinctly twisted his body and evaded it. Every strike and deadly blow she launched was fluidly dodged by the Hero in the most amazing moves.
He would leap out of her range, and then move right before she did—successfully evading even her most skilled maneuver.
'Why can't I reach him? Why?!' Lucy contemplated angrily.
Was she lacking something? Was there something she was overlooking? Just what did she need to do?
'There's no way any person is this strong!' Her mildly exhausted gaze rested on the Hero before her.
There was no change in her evaluation of him. He still appeared as a mild—almost nonexistent threat to her. Yet… yet…
'He's pushed me this far!'
Lucy could feel her muscles aching. She hadn't gone all-out in battle for so long. Not after she had been so desperately fighting for her survival in the wild.
Sweat dripped from her face, then her whole body. She took slow, short breaths, not letting her gaze falter for a moment.
"Is that all?" The sudden words of the Hero cut through her like a hot knife through butter.
Lucy glared at him, scrutinizing his face for the first time.
Throughout their match, she had been paying absolute attention to his whole body—observing for whatever move he would make and how she would counter. However, this time, she shifted her focus to his face… and then his eyes.
'Shit!' Lucy felt herself tremble instantly.
The cold, unfeeling stare of the Hero was upon her. Her body refused to stop shaking as she stared into the deep calm of the one before her.
'T-those eyes… the way they look at me…' Her thoughts suddenly became incoherent.
'… It's as if they see everything!'
The piercing gaze of the man she fought had been on her ever since the start of the match. Lucy felt so foolish, yet stunned, when she realized it.
'Every move I made… he saw them coming a mile away…' She gritted her teeth.
The Hero was someone who wasn't bound by common sense, yet she had viewed him as a weakling. Lucy wanted to cry, but she held it in. She was sure that the Hero saw through her.
He could see her insecurities.
He could see her flaws.
He could see everything!
Then… what was the point of the entire duel?
"Do you realize it now? You cannot win." His condescending tone cascaded on her, causing her entire body to shiver.
Even though the words were heavy, Lucy didn't feel hurt in any way. This was simply the ultimate law of the world. The strong devoured the weak. She had simply been the strongest around… until someone of true power arrived—rendering her strength meaningless.
She gazed upon the Hero and hung her head in shame, regretting the foolishness of underestimating him.
But there was still something she could not let go of.
"Why… why didn't you strike even once?"
She had experienced his power and speed, but Lucy still didn't have a proper grasp on his strength. She could speculate so many reasons why he didn't attack. However, the most obvious was simple.
"I'm too weak, aren't I?" A sad smile formed on Lucy's face, tears glistening in her eyes.
For a moment, the entire field was silent. The young redhead looked at the Hero for an answer—for affirmation!
However—
"You're wrong." He said calmly.
—His words weren't what she expected.
"You're strong, Lucy. The strongest I've seen since I arrived here."
Lucy wanted to speak, denying the illusion of the meager strength she had. However, the Hero's next words rendered her speechless.
"The reason I did not return your strikes is simple. I was just too impressed… that I didn't want to hurt you."
Lucy's heart was thumping so hard as she stared hard at the Hero. Her crimson irises gleamed with delight.
"You are very valuable to me, and to this town. So, Lucy… I can't hurt such a valuable resource, can I?"
Before the young girl realized it, tears fell from her eyes, and she nodded in agreement.
"Y-yes… you're right…" She said meekly.
More tears streamed from her eyes.
The more she tried to wipe them off, the more they cascaded down her face.
She didn't want to show such an unsightly aspect of herself to the Hero, but the overflowing emotions simply didn't stop.
Before the magnificence of the Hero… in the presence of his overwhelming brilliance… Lucy's hardened heart had completely melted.