We traded blows, our weapons meeting in a rhythmic clash. The sound of steel echoed through the air, telling the story of our intense confrontation. The impact reverberated through my body, each collision leaving its subtle mark.
Although I was able to, more or less, keep up with her, I couldn't afford to let her close in.
Her assassination techniques were impeccable. The smallest vulnerability on my part would mean my head rolling on the ground.
Now, with her deadly intent fully engaged, a conventional fight seemed out of the question.
Experience, strength, speed, reflexes, abilities... I lacked in every department. Yet, that very deficiency fueled my determination to overcome her.
There was nothing I could surpass her in at the moment, but that's precisely the challenge I aimed to conquer.
It might not happen in this or even the next loop, but a certainty burned within me—I will defeat her.
With this unwavering goal, I took a deep breath, mapping out a swift course of action, and charged headlong at her.
Since this time she was extremely wary of whatever I could do, there was no way I could pull anything off to surprise her, right?
Well, the answer may differ from what you expect.
A small window emerged when our weapons clashed, a brief moment where neither of us could act—a moment I exploited.
Leveraging my unique ability to perfectly jump in any circumstance, I summoned all the strength in my legs for a powerful leap.
Since the outcome always had to be perfect, that meant if there was some obstacle preventing me from perfectly jumping, then the Skill should aid me by removing that.
With its limits partially lifted, coupled with an unorthodox way to use it, even a skill like jumping could have some incredible uses.
And indeed, I was not disappointed.
If an obstacle hindered a perfect jump, for example a force binding me to the ground, the skill compensated by supplying the necessary strength to overcome it.
This simple notion birthed a remarkable result. The sheer pressure put on my legs and arms were enough to crush my bones to smithereens, but I was able to push past the stalemate and disadvantage I had, and not only that.
The unexpected surge of strength, coupled with the strategic concession of allowing her the upper hand, caught her off guard. As her stilettos nearly reached my neck, I seized the opportunity. With remarkable force, I disarmed her, sending both stilettos airborne as she was now bare handed.
Sure, she concealed more weapons in her clothes, but could she retrieve them before my counterattack?
The answer was a resounding no.
Mid-air, I executed a basic front flip, acknowledging my limited expertise in aerial maneuvers. However, my control over my body, guided by my talents and the Jump skill, granted me some semblance of mastery.
As my kick aimed for her head, she realized there was no time to reclaim her weapons. She braced herself for the impending impact, confronting the full force of my kick along with the crushing weight of my entire body.
Even for someone with her inhuman abilities, this presented a genuine challenge. The gritted teeth betrayed the strain, marking the first instance I managed to place her at a disadvantage. Yet, it was crucial to recognize that this didn't signify proximity to victory.
Since she had no weapon, and I could now really hack at her if I reached the ground, she opted for the next best thing as she decided to support my entire weight, and more than that.
With her inhuman reaction speed, she seized my leg, deftly spinning me once before forcefully hurling me across the room.
Anticipating such a counter, I aimed to adjust my body mid-flight to prevent a direct collision of my head with the wall. However, a miscalculation on my part grew evident.
Forcefully using my Jump skill in unconventional ways had already taken a toll on my body, leaving it weary and writhing in pain.
The sheer amount of strength I had to bear was higher than I could predict, and since my body had used a strength it shouldn't even have, it was no exaggeration to say my muscles were screaming in pain and had already began tearing apart.
I could not force my body more. Attempting to abruptly alter my trajectory now risked rendering me incapable of sustaining the fight.
Opting to spare my head from colliding with the wall at any cost, I made a split-second decision, sacrificing my non-dominant hand in the process.
As I was not that high in the air, I slammed my non dominant hand on the ground to slow down.
The impact created enough force to mitigate my speed so that I could safely hit the wall with my back, letting it absorb the damage.
My hand was left in a gruesome, half-bloodied mess, though it was not as bad as it should be, thanks to the protective influence of [Turtle Shell].
However, dwelling on such matters was a luxury I couldn't afford at the moment.
Rising once more, the distance between us now stretched to its maximum, placing us at opposite ends of the room.
---
With all the time in the world, she retrieved her weapons, now even more cautious of my moves.
Trying the same approach again would be signing my own death warrant...
A chuckle escaped me as I raised my sword once more.
Surprisingly, this time, she took the initiative, rushing towards me.
Despite my precarious situation, I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. My Observation and Sixth Sense revealed she had injured her arm in our recent exchange.
Sure, the overall trade-off was terrible; she emerged almost unscathed while I teetered on the brink of death. Yet, the gratification came from the fact that one of my tactics had, against the odds, worked.
She's not an insurmountable mountain anymore. She's just... high up in the sky.
Once she was close enough, she surprised me by tossing one of her stilettos into the air.
My attention split momentarily; I couldn't afford to ignore such a potential threat.
Yet, instead of capitalizing on the airborne stiletto, we clashed once more. This time, I had the upper hand, but it felt unsettling.
Soon, my doubts found validation.
While I was confident she couldn't deflect my sword with just one stiletto, I underestimated her. She used both hands to engage me, but it wasn't necessary for maintaining a stalemate. I, more than anyone, understood the strength she wielded.
One of the hands holding her weapon was a decoy. The moment our blades met, it became clear I was at a disadvantage, and by the time I realized, it was too late.
With her newfound freedom, she seized my arm with unyielding strength before I could evade. In a forceful motion, she brought me crashing down, the impact threatening to drown me in the taste of my own blood. As if that weren't enough, the stiletto, once airborne, now elegantly found its way into her waiting hand. Without a moment's hesitation, she plunged it toward my heart, sealing the inevitable.
...That should've been an instant death.
This is what her face is telling me, and I couldn't help but smile.
"You thought that....was the end?"
Even in the face of her surprise attack, even as I feel the grip of death tightening on me, I refuse to die without taking a part of her with me. That's the promise I made to myself.
Defense was futile in that dire moment, yet I narrowly delayed the jaws of death as the stiletto had barely missed its target, but it was still a fatal wound.
Caught in the belief that a single strike would finish me after taking me off guard, she found herself vulnerable, unable to fend off my last-ditch effort with the remaining strength in my sword.
Her inhuman reflexes spared her from a fatal blow, yet...
Her fingers, still tightly clutching the stiletto embedded in my body, did not part ways with the weapon.
"Hahaha...I did it, Thorn Princess...This is.... punishment... for taking my life. The next time, I..."
I vomited a large amount of blood as although it was not an instant death, the stiletto had pierced through my artery.
I could see the world was starting to look darker and darker, and I was also losing sensibility all over my body.
Ahh...so this is how it feels to die.
It always happened so fast, I couldn't even focus on my feelings and senses during it.
Yet, amid the searing pain, beyond the chill that shivered through me, rage eclipsed all.
Why must I endure this torment for deeds I never committed? Why am I pitted against Yor Forger when all I sought was a quiet, ordinary life?
I only wished she could give me an answer instead of staring at me with such coldness, judging whether I was truly dying or not as she had urgent need to cover her wounds up and try to save her fingers...
With my dwindling breaths, I pondered crushing those fingers beyond repair, a final act of defiance
In the end, though, I shook my head.
I didn't want to let these feelings consume me. This is not who I am.
"Go reattach...these fingers. You need...to return...to your family"
It was difficult of me to speak with all the blood clogging my throat, but I wanted to convey my intentions.
My words clearly gave her a small shock as she seemed to understand I knew more than she thought, but instead of bothering me with questions, she lowered her weapon as she nodded.
I wonder if I managed to make her understand just how important her family was.
I couldn't help but smile a little.
Although my emotions were a mess right now, I had time to sort them out.
Such were my last thoughts as my sword slipped from my grasp, a silent echo marking its fall.
With a subdued thud, my body joined the cold ground, surrendering to the quiet embrace of unconsciousness.
---
Author's Note:
I was pondering splitting this chapter in two parts, but nah, I think it's better to leave this as is.
What do you think? I'm still learning, so your thoughts and considerations would be appreciated.
Anyway, I also want to dedicate this little space to thank Sallvos as the second patron. Thank you so much for the support! I deeply appreciate it