Kojo lay awake in his tent but he couldn't sleep. He sat up and went outside. The guards who were to keep watch were fast asleep. Kojo couldn't blame them today's ordeal was enough to make even him a bit fatigued. He had spread his aegis sphere to its full range and didn't sense anything. He paused. Though he didn't feel any malicious intent,he could sense a strange presence from a stream which was some distance into the forest. He paused and listened moving after realizing that it was coming from the direction he was headed. He saw a young woman with red hair bathing in the stream.
( Look away you pervert).
He heard the person mutering.
" I hate goblins. Now look at how awful I smell. I didn't sign up for this." Saleem complained as she washed herself. And that suit of armor stink. Like honestly,how are they able to move around in something so uncomfortable? And it's not going to offer one hundred percent protection"
Kojo couldn't understand what sh was saying. He tried to take a step forward to hear her better. He stepped on a twig.
" Who's there?" Saleem yelled. Kojo stood frozen. He decided it was best to retreat before being discovered. He took one step back and broke another twig. Saleem threw a stone in that direction which barely missed Kojo and took down some trees. Kojo rose out if his hiding place with his arms raised. Saleem quickly covered herself with her hands.
" Hey I'm sorry. I didn't mean to peep or anything. I was just taking a walk and happened to see you here so I uh...." He looked away but glanced at her and saw the look of embarrassment and anger on Saleems face.
" Ok I'm gonna go." He said turning. The ground in front of him exploded.
" Not so fast. You have to pay the price of look at a woman naked." She said.
" Look am really really sorry. Wait hold on,what are you doing here anyway?" Kojo asked.
" Well, I ,uh, don't try to change the subject." Saleem said. It was then that she noticed the ring on Kojo's finger.
" Look I-" Kojo began but stop talking instinctively tilting his head to avoid a fireball that reduced some trees behind him.
"Where did you get that ring" Saleem asked him. Walking out of the water,clothes materializing on her body.
" Huh?"
"Not that it matters.Give me the ring and bo one gets hurt."
Kojo was puzzled.
" Who are you?" Kojo asked." What are you planning?"
" That depends on whether you give me the ring or not" She said dissapeared. Kojo blocked but the force of her punch sent him flying . He did a backflip and landed some distance away. His arm trembled slightly.
( She's not normal. Be careful)
Saleem appeared beside him and threw a punch but Kojo caught her blow.
" Weak" She said throwing him above the trees. She flew up and punched him into the ground. She hovered and spread her arms forming blue fireballs . She pointed at Kojo causing them to shot at him. Kojo jumped out of the crater and rushed at her ,jumping around from one tree to the other and closing the distance between them.
" Is this the best you can do" Saleem said ,a fireball hovering in her palm.
" I think your getting a bit too cozy up there" Kojo said and stretched out his hand.
Impact.
Gravity increased and Saleem instantly plummeted into the ground. Kojos sword materialized in his hand and he jumped. Saleem jumped back creating two daggers and charging at him. They collided creating a shockwave.
" You're stronger than I had initially anticipated" she said . They jumped back .
" You still haven't answered my question " Kojo said " Who are you?"
"I am Saleem,servant of the dragoness of destruction, Demon Lord Dona Krymson."
Estelle ring tightened slightly. Saleem looked at Kojo, obviously displeased for not getting a reaction.
" You're one cocky bastard." She said,her eye twitching.
" I was sure you'd cower in fear and beg for your life once you knew who I was."
" That's because I've never heard of this Agnes of Deflation." Kojo said scratching his head.
( She's referring to a Demon Lord idiot. You know ,the all powerful beings presiding over everything)
"Oh,I think I remember."Kojo said.
"Wait, wasn't that like a story to keep children in Thier beds at night?"
" How dare you,insolent child mock the demon lord." Saleem yelled.
" I'm not mocking anyone. Cause there no way I'd wanna face someone who brings Deflation." Kojo said.
" Destruction!" Saleem yelled.
" Besides how'd a girl like you end up the demon lords servant if she's been sealed for thousands of years." Kojo asked.
" Excuse me. How are you calling little,I'm over 5,000 years old I'll have you know." She said folding her arms and raising her head with an air of pride.
" Right." Kojo said unconvinced.
" It's true" she yelled at him." Listen boy,hand over the ring and I'll let your friends go."
" Nah. If you want this so badly then you're gonna have to take it." Kojo said raising his finger.
" Now that I'll gladly do." Saleem said charging at him. Kojo grinned and rushed forward. Kojo slashed at her but she slid under it and did a backflip attempting to stab him while she was inverted in midair. She landed backfliping to avoid a downward slash from Kojo that destroyed the ground behind her. She tried to punch Kojo but her caught her fist. She pulled him closer and headbutted him. She jumped back then took a step forward, disappearing. Kojo looked around instinctively blocking a slash to his back. Saleem ran around him using the trees to jump at Kojo attacking him from multiple directions. She was moving so fast she appeared like a blur. Kojo sttod his ground, deflectimg her attacks. Saleem made a feint jumping over Kojo's swing. She was about to stab him Kojo did a backflip kicking his legs out and twisting, knocking her away. He stood upright but noticed that the attack had grazed his shoulder. Saleem charged again.
Quicksilver.
The forest became a flurry of attacks as the two fought. Shockwaves uprooted trees. Kojo and Saleem floated above of trees facing each other. Kojo shot toward Saleem making a quickdraw with his sword. Saleem dodged and tried to take advantage of the opening. Kojo let go of the sword and caught her wrist throwing her over his head and slamming her into the ground causing the ground to shake.
Saleem slamed her first into the ground the moment her skil touched it causing an explosion. Kojo was thrown back. He caught himself and looked the crater where Saleem was supposed to be.
( She's gone)
Soldiers began to come out if the forest .
Yukio and the girls came up to Kojo.
" What happened?" Yuki asked.
" I'm not exactly sure." Kojo said scratching his head.
Saleem wore the armor and walked back to the camp.
Deciphering: Babel Archive.
38.9%)