But my assault wasn't over. Without pause, I swiftly executed a left kick, aiming to catch her off guard.
Yet, Reina displayed remarkable reflexes, reacting promptly to counter my attack with a potent kick of her own that struck me squarely in the chest.
The sheer force of her strike propelled me backwards, the impact robbing me of breath. I crashed onto the ground with a resounding thud, my chest heaving as I fought to recover my composure.
Amidst the haze in my vision, I discerned her approaching with a self-satisfied grin, evidently savouring her newfound advantage in our duel.
"I'll acknowledge your effort, Hiro. You did put up quite a fight," Reina commented, her tone carrying a trace of arrogance. It was evident that she considered the outcome inevitable.
Aware that she operated on a different level of skill and strength, I realized I needed to devise a new strategy to have any chance of defeating her. My mind raced as I scrambled for an alternative plan.
With a deep breath, I steeled myself, determined to rise to the occasion despite the odds stacked against me. I did what any other person would do in such a situation.
I attacked. I came at her with a full frontal assault, rushing toward her in an effort to regain the advantage.
Against my expectations, Reina deftly defended her position, maintaining a sound defensive position. My desperate punches and kicks failed to connect with her, leaving me frustrated with my efforts.
I continued to unleash my barrage of attacks upon her, but my punches were feeble, and my kicks were clumsy and inaccurate.
Despite finding myself at a disadvantage, I possessed a few tricks up my sleeve that could catch opponents, particularly those older and more battle-hardened, off guard. My combat skills went beyond what was typical for someone of my age, honed through the mastery of advanced martial arts and combined with my instinctual abilities.
One such move I had dubbed the "Priestess Tackle," a brilliant maneuver crafted for dire situations. As its name implied, this tactic was designed to incapacitate foes. Its execution was simple yet effective: charge at the opponent and unleash a relentless series of shoulder-based attacks. When executed with precision, the sheer force of these blows could send even the most formidable adversary tumbling, resulting in a hard-earned victory.
As exhaustion began to weigh down my limbs from the relentless exchanges, Reina made a strategic choice—she switched to an ultimate defensive tactic, nimbly evading my oncoming strikes. Given her exceptional speed and strength, she could have effortlessly delivered a decisive blow to conclude the battle, but she held back.
In contrast, I harbored no such reservations. My own energy stores were dwindling rapidly, and desperation had taken hold. With nothing left to lose except my pride, I threw myself into one final reckless charge.
Surprised by the unexpected move, Reina wasn't quite sure how to respond. Despite her speed, she couldn't completely evade the direct impact of my incoming tackle. It sent her stumbling backwards a couple of steps.
Recognizing my unwavering determination, she decided to meet my aggression head-on. In response, she launched herself forward, opting to counter my advances. Her retaliation was swift and meticulously aimed at the back of my head.
As her strike connected, my world descended into darkness, and I crashed heavily to the ground.
"Hiro... Hiro. Are you okay? It's not good to sleep on the floor," Reina's voice gently roused me from unconsciousness. The throbbing pain in my head was the first sensation to register, followed by the concerned expressions on Reina and Ayase's faces. It seemed I had fainted due to the force of the blow.
While I couldn't change the outcome of the match, I couldn't help but recall a technique called the "Enhanced Neck Snapper Technique." It was a brutal close-quarters move, requiring the opponent to be within striking range and unaware of the impending attack to succeed.
My strike was aimed to land squarely, but Yunia intervened, blocking my attack with her hand, and she appeared somewhat surprised by my action.
"The duel is over, Hiro. You can stop now," Yunia declared, her tone carrying a note of finality.
However, before I could fully process her words, Yunia launched a throwing kick with remarkable accuracy, sending my head spinning upside down.
It took some time for my senses to return, but when they did, Yunia's face came into view. "It seems you're a formidable combatant with a keen battle instinct," she noted, "and you certainly have the makings of a skilled rogue."
Reina appeared genuinely surprised, not only by my knowledge of secret and unconventional techniques but also by the fact that I had lost consciousness after just one round of combat. However, as she looked at my exhausted body, she seemed to gain a better understanding of the situation.
Yunia watched the events unfold with intense eyes, clearly assessing the situation.
Ayase couldn't help but comment, "That was quite a vicious attack..."
"Just be thankful he didn't follow through. He can snap necks, too," Yunia sighed, her expression showing a mixture of concern and curiosity. "What a troublesome and deadly child. Are you sure he didn't grow up in an assassin organization? Only someone from there would know how to fight with a complete disregard for the rules, using all means necessary to defeat their opponents, even resorting to lethal moves without hesitation," she remarked.
I responded calmly, "You said it yourself, the duel was over." Slowly, I raised myself from the ground, feeling my strength returning after a moment of rest.
"We won't know if you really killed us," Reina remarked in a matter-of-fact tone, her grip on my chin firm. A cold smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
Yunia nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it seems Hiro has impressive fighting instincts and skills, but he could benefit from further training in both his techniques and physical abilities."
Reina's attention shifted to her companion, Yuna, whom she referred to as her biological sister. "I want you to become Hiro's mentor and oversee his development as a warrior. Ensure he becomes a stronger mage as well," she commanded with authority.
My heart raced with anticipation at this announcement, but I was well aware that Reina wouldn't offer her support without expecting something in return. Winning a bet with Reina always came with a price.
Carefully choosing my words, I responded, "Is it possible for Ayase to join me in this mentoring arrangement?"
Yuna's gaze shifted to Ayase, her eyes lingering on the girl's petite form. She seemed to be silently assessing her potential.
"Hmm," Yuna mused, "she does appear to have strength and potential."
I chose not to delve into further explanations since Reina and Yuna were still strangers, even though Yuna was aware of my peculiar preferences and tendencies.
Yuna's advice was reasonable, cautioning against making me too powerful too quickly to ensure I continued to mature and improve as a mage. She also expressed a desire to limit unnecessary bloodshed.
Although I wasn't entirely satisfied with this arrangement, I decided to keep my alternate proposal in reserve for a more opportune moment.