--- Alexia ---
I deactivated the protective barrier enveloping me, my gaze fixed on Zenon Sensei.
I don't need that to take him on.
Once upon a time, he belittled my skill level, mocking how I could never match up to my sister's prowess.
For someone I once held in high regard, whether in potential or present strength, he's turning out to be nothing more than a weakling, isn't he?
His strength couldn't hold a candle to the monster I've been sparring with for the past month and a half.
Facing him always felt like he could end me in a single exchange. The only reason I still had my sword in hand was that he never bothered to get serious.
Comparing the moments of despair in those exchanges to his current moves, they're falling quite short, to put it mildly.
Is it time to wrap things up?
"The person you have under custody, who do you think that is?"
I couldn't help but smirk.
The thought of it seemed like a joke.
Honestly, I half-expected Zenon Sensei to catch on immediately. After all, he should be familiar with my current fighting style. However, reality had different plans.
His arrogance blinded him. He never bothered to dig deeper and observe his target with more detail, settling for what was on the surface.
"Remember, Alexia. If you ever need to kidnap someone..."
Why did his words pop into my head now?
I wasn't planning on kidnapping anyone, after all.
Still, his advice lingered, echoing in my mind. "Never assume you know everything," he'd said. "Get under their skin so deep they can't hide a thing. People slip up when they're angry or cornered. Use anything or anyone to your advantage, no matter what."
...Anyhow.
As I tossed the question at him with a hint of amusement, I noticed him pulling out some strange red pills from his pocket.
Oh, those must be the Tears of Diablos, right? I get it now.
Fray explained their purpose to me. Essentially, they imbued someone with immense Magical Power and increased muscle mass for a short period of time.
Despite the numerous side effects, it's still considered a potent pill that cult servants use to overcome high-level enemies.
I didn't doubt Fray for a second, but this confirmed he was truly part of some shady Cult.
With my current speed and strength, I could easily stop him before he took them, but there was also another part of me that wished to know.
Have I truly improved in my swordsmanship?
I couldn't help but want to put myself to the test.
Take them. I'll also show you what I've managed to accomplish.
I didn't have to wait long.
As he took the red pills, a dark Magical Power enveloped Zenon Sensei, and his appearance began to change. His once-human features distorted, and demonic elements manifested. His eyes glowed with an eerie red light, and his skin took on a sinister, otherworldly hue...
It was kind of awkward just waiting while he transformed and all, like he assumed I was forced to wait on him or something, but oh well, what can you do with third-rate villains? They all have something wrong in the head;
We should be the ones to be understanding.
After he finished, he resembled more of a monster than a human, but what angered me was his look full of contempt, like now the situation had completely flipped or something.
"You fool. You do not know the stage we're standing at is higher than any fly like you will ever aspire to reach. To control this level of Magical Power, only someone worth joining the Knights of Rounds can hope..."
Oh, is that so?
He went on and on about things, like I asked for an explanation or something.
To be honest, even when I could feel the immense amount of Magical Power, I was not intimidated at all.
Compared to him, this is nothing.
You also need to consider the quality of the Magical Power, after all.
---
As expected, the difference was palpable.
With a swift parry, I deflected his incoming strike, only to find myself immediately on the defensive as he launched a relentless assault.
His sword sliced through the air with deadly precision, aiming for my vitals, forcing me to retreat step by step, my own blade working tirelessly to ward off his attacks.
The tension between us crackled like electricity, each clash of steel echoing through the air with a resounding clang. I hated to admit it, but despite my best efforts, I could feel the tide of battle turning against me.
As I felt his blade slicing through my arm, a searing pain shot through it, the burning sensation spreading with each heartbeat as I gritted my teeth to endure it.
The fabric of my tunic tore as the sword cut through, leaving a jagged tear and exposing the wound beneath.
In a swift motion, he hurled a punch at my stomach with the force of a charging bull.
The impact reverberated through my body like a thunderclap, the sheer power behind it driving the air from my lungs in a violent rush.
I felt as though I'd been struck by a battering ram, my abdomen crumpling under the brutal force of the blow.
With a sickening thud, I was sent hurtling several meters backward, my limbs flailing helplessly as I tumbled through the air.
The ground rushed up to meet me with merciless speed, and I crashed onto the unforgiving earth in a sprawl of limbs and dust.
My clothes, already stained in blood, greedily soaked up even more of it, the metallic scent mingling with the acrid tang of sweat given the fatigue I was feeling.
As I lay there, gasping for air, I could taste the iron tang of blood in my mouth, the thick aroma swirling around me like a sinister fog.
"Is that all you have? I expected so much more from you"
'Damn it'
This wasn't the moment to succumb to exhaustion.
I spat out the blood, defying his assumption that I was already defeated. His arrogance led him to believe he could toy with me, choosing not to finish the job and waiting like a fool.
His raw strength and magical power surpassed mine by a wide margin.
Even though I had grown much stronger in just over a month, there were limits. My magical power and physical strength wouldn't experience a sudden surge just because my technique had evolved. I had to make the most of what I had, putting me at a clear disadvantage.
As he mentioned, the overall skill level of swordsmanship is low.
Initially, I questioned such a claim, but witnessing his technique firsthand shed light on the reason behind his confidence.
Although I could anticipate Zenon's movements, I lacked the agility to dodge his strikes.
Am I still the same weakling I was a month ago?
While I could easily escape this predicament using the ring, I resisted that urge.
There's a feeling deep within me, urging me to seize this opportunity for growth, to ascend another step towards my goal.
If I shy away from it now, I might never have this chance ever again.
That's the gut feeling guiding me.
---
Author's Note:
Yeah, I once again didn't manage to complete all the fight in one chap, but I swear it's because this fight was 2500+ words long. It's not my fault :(
Anyway. I really tried my best to up the level of my fights. Although it's not complete, do you have any opinion so far?
I tried to give more attention to details, to enrich it as much as I could without doing too much(Which is why it took me so long).