Her words resonated deeply within me, leaving me momentarily speechless. The realization that I had unwittingly placed myself in a vulnerable position was not lost on me, and I made a mental note to remain vigilant.
"If you believe you're quite strong," she remarked with a smirk, "I must admit you've piqued my interest. By the way, I was wondering if you'd like to have a duel with me? You're the first person I've encountered who seems to have genuine potential."
I contemplated her proposal for a moment, my instincts urging caution. "I have no reason to engage in a duel with you," I replied, politely declining her offer. "There's no purpose in fighting if we're not adversaries."
Reina responded with a sly grin, her persuasive charm evident. "Come on, don't be so uptight, Hiro. Let's just have a friendly little sparring session. We can even make a bet if you want."
The idea of a bet intrigued me, and Ayase couldn't help but express her curiosity. "A bet?" she chimed in, eager to know more about Reina's proposition.
Reina continued with a mischievous glint in her eye, "If you win, I'll grant you any favor you'd like. But, if you lose, then I'll take something from you." Her proposal held a tantalizing allure, kindling a spark of desire within me. I was genuinely curious about the extent of Reina's strength, and this seemed like an opportunity to test my own abilities while gaining valuable experience.
I pondered over the idea, contemplating what favor I could potentially request from Reina. My gaze lingered on her figure, and an intriguing notion took shape in my mind.
"What sort of favor?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued as I wondered if she would entertain the idea I had in mind.
A sly smirk graced her lips as she responded, "Anything you desire, Hiro." Her voice carried a seductive undertone, laden with a promise of limitless possibilities.
Her words ignited a newfound determination within me, and I felt emboldened to pose a question that I had never before dared to consider.
Despite her slender frame and muscular build, along with her long blonde hair neatly tied in a ponytail, I couldn't help but acknowledge that I might be at a disadvantage against this tall and formidable woman. As a child, I knew I was only slightly above average in terms of strength and skill.
However, I decided to take the plunge, seeing it as a calculated risk that could yield valuable experience. "Well then, if you want to truly test my abilities," I declared, a challenge in my tone. "How about we settle it once and for all, Reina?"
She responded with a hearty chuckle, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Very well, you have yourself a deal. If you can prove your worth, I'll consider extending a helping hand when the time calls for it."
She unsheathed her greatsword, its imposing presence casting a long shadow as she raised it to eye level. There was no doubt she meant business, and her readiness was palpable.
I, on the other hand, began to prepare myself. Lacking extensive knowledge of fighting combos and relying more on my instincts, I assumed a fighting stance. My hope was that my limited skills, along with some sneaky techniques and melee attacks, would be sufficient to secure victory in this duel.
Reina's gaze remained intense, a blend of anticipation and unwavering determination. "I'm ready whenever you are," she declared, a hint of excitement permeating her voice.
She then deferred to her companion, Yuna, entrusting her with the responsibility of setting the rules for our duel. "Yuna will oversee this duel and serve as the referee," she announced, shifting the focus to her friend.
With a nod of agreement, Yuna stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she prepared to officiate our duel.
"The rules are straightforward," Yuna explained, her voice clear and concise. "First, magic is prohibited. Second, the match concludes when one participant either concedes or is unable to continue."
With the rules established, Reina turned her fierce determination back towards me. Her eyes gleamed with a fiery resolve as she posed a question that carried a hint of amusement. "Well then, shall we commence?" she inquired.
A surge of excitement coursed through me as I replied, "Yes, let's begin."
As the match got underway, I focused intently on Reina's movements, keenly observing her attack patterns. My goal was to use this information to my advantage and formulate a strategy that would give me the upper hand. With her sword drawn and ready, Reina awaited Yuna's signal to initiate our duel.
Reina wasted no time and launched her initial attack, a swift upward slash through the air aimed at me. I managed to lean back, narrowly evading the strike and quickly retreated, maintaining a safe distance to avoid her sword's reach.
Undeterred, she closed the gap, taking a determined step forward and lunging at me with her weapon. My reflexes kicked in, and I swiftly sidestepped her assault, narrowly dodging the slicing arc of her blade.
Seeing an opening, I decided to go on the offensive. I dashed toward her, executing a sweeping kick aimed at her legs. Caught off guard, Reina stumbled, dropping to one knee. It was the perfect moment to try and disarm her, so I moved in, attempting to seize control of her sword hand.
However, instead of panicking, Reina wore a confident smirk and offered a wry comment. "I think you might be underestimating me, Hiro." Her words served as a reminder that she was a formidable adversary, and I couldn't afford to let my guard down.
Without warning, she slammed her knee into my stomach, sending me flying backward. I landed hard on the ground, my body aching from the impact.
She wasted no time and closed the distance between us, abandoning her sword to engage in hand-to-hand combat. Her strikes were relentless, a flurry of punches and kicks that left me struggling to defend myself. Her strength and speed were undeniable, making it a challenge to evade her powerful blows.
Her attacks were relentless, and I found myself struggling to stay on my feet. She was far stronger and faster than me, and it was all I could do to keep her from landing a solid blow.
Eventually, I managed to land a glancing blow, but it didn't seem to faze her.
Desperate for an advantage, I used a powerful back fist punch strike, knocking her off-balance. She fell to the ground, but I didn't waste any time. I quickly pounced on her and began punching and hitting her wherever I could. My fists connected with her face, ribs, and stomach, each punch sending a shockwave of pain up my arm.
She was a formidable physique and her height advantage made it incredibly challenging to land effective blows on her. My punches seemed to have little impact, and her punishing kicks, especially the one that connected with my jaw, left me with a bruise under my left eye.
However, amidst our intense clash, an opportunity presented itself. I finally managed to deliver a solid blow to her stomach, causing her to gasp and momentarily stagger.
"Not bad," Reina commented, her words tinged with a touch of amusement. "But you're still a novice, Hiro."
With the battle reaching its climax, I knew I had to bring it to an end swiftly. My every move was calculated, and the world around me seemed to slow as I assessed the situation.
Determined to bring this duel to a swift conclusion, I decided to go for a finishing move. I launched a powerful right roundhouse kick, aiming to knock her down.
In an almost effortless manner, Reina sidestepped my attack, appearing unaffected by my strike. It was clear that I had a long way to go before I could match her level of combat prowess.