Back in the fight, Crispina's chest was penetrated by Viktor's rapier.
Pan quickly retaliated as she sends out a desperate punch to keep him away. Crispina fell to the ground but Pan caught her just in time.
"Crispy..! Come on, don't die on me!" Pan desperately shook her awake.
"T-This is nothing..." Crispina struggled to say before placing her hand on her chest.
"I know a bit of healing magic..." Crispina says before she slowly healed herself.
Pan grits her teeth before standing up to face Viktor.
"You bastard! You'll pay for that, tenfold!" Pan says before charging forward, preparing her attacks.
"A straight attack?" Viktor muttered.
"Doughnut!" Pan shoots flour towards him, but it was ultimately dodged.
"What? You think something as slow as that can hit?" Viktor says with a sly smile.
"Tch..." Pan then tries again, this time attacking from a blindspot.
She releases another doughnut attack, but again, Viktor dodged.
"Try again." Viktor teased.
Pan was losing her patience before she quickly closes the gap and prepares to swing her arm.
"Baguette!" Pan shouted.
"A slashing attack? Interesting..." Viktor smirked before he sways backwards.
Pan slashed with flour, but it ultimately didn't hit. Even if she tried her fastest.
"No way..." Pan muttered before she starts releasing a flurry of her floury attacks.
Viktor effortlessly dodged them all, just smiling and smirking at Pan's useless effort to touch him.
Pan then stops before backing off, panting for air.
"It's like he can predict what I'll do next..." Pan thought before remembering what Cali warned.
"Damn it, so this is why... Tsk, I have to get Crispina out of here!" Pan thought before turning around to grab Crispina.
"Oh no, you're not escaping from me!" Viktor dashes forward with great speed, as his rapier strikes across Pan.
Pan grunted in pain, as she felt her core was attacked.
"How did he know it was there!?" Pan thought before turning around to fight back.
Viktor started his onslaught, Pan was outmatched as her core was getting more and more damaged.
Her power was dwindling, she overestimated her power and paid for it dearly.
"D-Damn it! Crispina, get out of here!" Pan shouted to her.
Crispina flinched before she looks over to see Pan struggle. She grits her teeth before pushing herself to stand.
"Go run, adventurer. I'll forget about your transgressions for today, I have my prey." Viktor says as he continues to effortlessly dodge Pan's attacks.
"Pan..." Crispina muttered, holding her chest in pain while looking at her.
Pan's core was struck again, the damage reflecting back on her human form as cracks formed around her face and body, her pained grunts echoed in the mind of Crispina.
This triggered Crispina's urge to fight once more, as she gritted her teeth and firmly grasped her blade.
"Get away from her, you monster!" Crispina shouted before dashing towards Viktor.
Viktor immediately saw her attack and dodged. Though Crispina didn't stop as she suddenly turns around and slashes.
Viktor was a little surprised but he saw the attack and blocked.
"Ironic, you're defending a monster and you call me one." Viktor says.
"If only you knew the desire consequences of your actions, then you'd stop to think. But someone like you will never do that... Just like those who rule, you care not as long it serves you and your twisted ideals!" Crispina exclaimed as she pushes back.
"Hah! Someone as low life as you has no right lecturing me." Viktor pushes Crispina back and slashes across her chest.
"Ack..!" Crispina started to bleed, but she didn't give up.
"C-Crispina, stop it! Just run..!" Pan's Human form was slowly dissipating, she can't hold it.
"No way, I promised to protect you, didn't I?" Crispina says through the pain.
"Don't throw away your life in the process! Get out of here, your brother needs you!" Pan shouted.
"I..." Crispina was at a loss of words.
"I can't do that... Its not just my brother that I'll disrespect, or Sir Cali..." Crispina continued.
"Someone who was once in my life threw everything away just to save me, now I have to do the same for the person I truly love!" Crispina declared.
"C-Crispina?" Pan says with widened eyes.
"I'll show this bastard the power of the Inas!" Crispina says before wind gathered around her body and blade.
Victor's eyes widened before, he sees something coming but he's unsure if he can dodge it.
"What kind of power is this?" Viktor thought before suddenly, Crispina lunged to attack.
Viktor saw multiple attacks incoming, but with how fast Crispina was going, he had no choice but to block.
"Curling Slashes!" Crispina shouted before a flurry of fast curved attacks rained upon Viktor.
Viktor didn't know what to do but block her attacks, his eyes can see it but his body isn't fast enough to react.
He was ultimately pushed back, but it didn't take long for Crispina's stamina to dwindle, and she was winded after a few seconds of that relentless attack.
Though Viktor was a little stunned, his rapier was vibrating from the strikes. He didn't look happy at all.
"My rapier is shaking, an adventurer like her is here in this rotting village?" Viktor thought before lunging forward to kick her face away.
Pan quickly caught her, seeing how grievously wounded she was.
"Damn it, Crispina..." Pan muttered as she held her tight.
"Well, that was fun. I didn't expect to get you today, I'm way ahead of schedule." Viktor swipes his rapier to flick away blood.
"But this is better, the very gods has blessed me to smite a hideous monster once more!" Viktor says as he gestured to the sky while shrouded by the shades of the trees.
"You bastard, I'll get back at you, just you wait..." Pan stood up, struggling to keep her form and carry Crispina.
"Oh, there won't be any waiting." Viktor says before dashing forward.
"I'll send you back to hell, you lesser form!" Viktor cackled as he thrusted at her.
"Flour Plume!" Pan releases a thick cloud of flour at Viktor.
"What can a cloud of flour do to... Huh!?" Viktor then saw what came next and stopped attacking.
The cloud of flour exploded into fire, making Viktor stand back and watch.
"Tch... Fire magic?" Viktor thought as the black smoke cleared to see that both of them were gone.
"Damn... Looks like it wasn't my lucky day afterall." Viktor says before sheathing his blade.
He then looks to his unconscious subordinates and sighed.
"I guess we're on schedule..." Viktor says before he goes to the effort of waking each one of his Knights up.
A little while later, Pan managed to get back at the Guild.
Immediately, both of Pan and Crispina were put in extreme care. Cali wasn't that good with healing magic but he can manage.
Crispina was more injured than Pan, so she had to get more care. But there's nothing more they could do since the incident was between the Guild and the Monster Hunting Knights.
Basilio didn't take the news lightly, as he slammed his fist against the wall.
"Damn it!" Basilio shouted.
"Why didn't both of you flee?" Basilio turned to Pan, who was being treated by Clara the best she could.
"He was too fast..." Pan says in a saddened tone.
"Tch... Damn it, Crispina. Why did you have to fight back? You owe me nothing, I just need you to live!" Basilio angrily says.
"Shut it, Basilio. I don't want you making a mess in here. Calm down and understand the situation." Cali says in a serious tone.
"Oh yeah? I know what the god damn situation demands, and I'll do it." Basilio turns to the door before taking out his blade.
"Basilio! Don't you dare! Don't you even THINK about going after him!" Cali angrily says.
"Who are you to stop me? You expect me to just let this pass when my sister and her partner almost died to a psychopath!? You're not my damn father, you're just someone who took us in cause of a favour!" Basilio angrily shouted back and Cali was shocked to hear that.
Cali looked visibly hurt, but he kept his composure. Though he was at a loss of words after that.
Pan quickly picked up on that and stood up to defend Cali.
"Enough, Basilio! Don't say anything that you'll regret!" Pan says through gritted teeth, she transformed back into human flour form just to say that.
"Pan! Don't overexert yourself, please..." Clara says as she helps her stand.
Basilio grits his teeth before looking to Pan, pointing his blade at her.
"And you're supposed to protect her! You beat me, you were strong enough-" Basilio was attacking but Pan rebutted.
"Viktor was stronger! Okay!? He's no joke and if me and Crispina lost to him, what makes you capable of even touching him!?" Pan shouted and Basilio was now the one to shut up.
Basilio lowered his blade, he knows that Pan is right but he's just stubborn.
"That's right, Basilio. Just stay here and take care of your sister." Pan said but Basilio just turns around and grits his teeth.
"Screw that..! I won't lose to the likes of him. I have to avenge my sister!" Basilio then kicks open the door and walked out.
"Basilio!" Cali shouted but Pan already ran out.
Clara was about to follow but she chooses to stay, she needed to take care of Crispina. Cali just sighed and sat down, rubbing his temple.
Basilio was quickly walking away but Pan was fast to catch up. She grabbed his arm and Basilio yanked it away.
Turning to her, Basilio grits his teeth, prepared to shout at her.
"Why don't you just mind your own business, Miss Pan!?" Basilio yelled.
"I'm dating your sister, you're my responsibility as well, you dumb oaf!" Pan says.
"Well, I don't want you interfering! I'll make sure he pays!" Basilio was about to turn around but Pan is more stubborn than he is.
"You will get yourself killed, Basilio! Trust me, what you're about to do ISN'T worth it!" Pan yelled.
"I KNOW IT ISN'T WORTH IT!" Basilio shouted, and that shut Pan up.
Basilio panted, his eyes spoke of a deep sadness that has never been said. Pan can feel his pain, but what was it?
"I'm no good big brother if I let my sister be hurt like this..!" Basilio's voice shook, he was on the verge of crying.
"You're no good big brother if you're dead." Pan says solemnly.
"I know that feeling, I had other siblings back in my old world. And everyday, I think of what they're doing and if they're still grieving for me." Pan says with a hand on her chest.
"So understand what I'm saying that even though it hurts for your pride that your sister got hurt, it'll hurt a lot more for her that the reason you died may be because of her own weakness!" Pan exclaimed.
Basilio's eyes widened before he looks down, a subtle tear going down his cheek.
"It's not just my pride who's hurt..." Basilio says, and Pan perks up.
Basilio then suddenly looks at Pan, tears dropping from his eyes as he grits his teeth.
"I promised... My mother that I'll protect Crispina from any harm..! And that I'll get as strong as her..! So Crispina or any of my friends won't die!" Crispina shouted and Pan understood what he was feeling.
"Your mother..?" Pan muttered.
Basilio rubs his eyes before looking down, clenching his fists.
"Fine, it's okay if I tell you... Your my sister's beloved, you deserve to know this... Why were so close to Cali and why we became adventurers..." Basilio says before he looks at Pan.
"Years ago, we weren't from this village. We're somewhere up north, at Karagatan Bay..."
And then the events of those years played out, as a young Basilio and Crispina were playing in the grass, with wooden swords.
They were waiting for someone, passing the time to themselves into becoming great adventurers.
"Hya!" Young Crispina slammed her wooden sword against young Basilio's guard.
Even with the height difference, Crispina showed promise in strength.
"Whoa, settle down, Crispy! We're playfighting, not having a duel!" Young Basilio says.
"Oh sorry! Haha!" Crispina chuckled before she hears footsteps behind her.
Basilio looked over and smiled, seeing a tall figure with luscious green hair.
"Mom!" They both said before rushing to the figure with swords in hand.
The figure kneels down before the siblings hugged her tightly. The figure chuckled.
"It's good to be back... How's your day, Basilio and Crispina?" Their Mother, Narcisa Ina, an A - Rank Adventurer.
"Did you get us real swords?" Crispina asked.
"No, that's too dangerous for you two. Stick with wooden swords for now." Narcisa says.
"How about some food?" Basilio smiled.
"Ofcourse~ Why would I come home without it? I know you two love to eat, so I brought home some sandwiches." Narcisa says before taking out a paper bag.
Basilio and Crispina celebrated before they went home to enjoy the meals their mother gave them.
Narcisa had the two after a one night stand, or two night stand, with another daring adventurer. Ofcourse, she was mad that he didn't even try to support them but when she had her children. Adventuring was more important for the guy than taking care of kids.
But Narcisa can support her own, she's an A - Rank Adventurer and her skills with the blade was unmatched besides the truly greatest in S - Rank.
Crispina and Basilio wished to be like their mom, strong and powerful. And they showed promised when they inherited Narcisa's powerful wind magic.
They lived a life destined to be great, but Karagatan Bay wasn't going to allow that.
Karagatan Bay had rampant corruption, slavery and prejudice. The bay was essentially a breeding ground for crime, and the government wasn't doing any to reduce it.
Numerous men and women were being enslaved for petty reasons, appearance and beauty are the eye catching prices. That's why when lowlifes saw Basilio and Crispina's luscious eye and hair, they made their action.
"Ah! Stop! Let us go!" Crispina shouted as she was getting stuffed in a sack.
"Unhand my sister! Just take me! God damn it!" Basilio says as he too was getting stuffed in a bag.
The kidnappers sighed and chuckled at their new catch, they then walked away to the deeper parts of Karagatan Bay.
"We have a good haul today, huh?" One of them said.
"Yep, they'll sell for loads of gold. We're gonna be stinking rich and we'll finally get out of this shithole!" Another said.
Crispina and Basilio struggled inside the sacks but they can sense each other's presence.
"Big bro, are you here?" Crispina whispered.
"Yeah, Y-Yeah, Crispy. I'm here, don't worry, alright?" Basilio whispered back.
"W-Will mom get us?" Crispina asked.
"She will. She loves us..." Basilio whispered and Crispina only hoped.
As the two were being taken to the cages of slavery, Narcisa wasn't taking none of it. As back home, she saw the results of their kidnapping.
Fear, overthinking and the drive to protect filled her mind. And in the process, her rage snapped and she let's out a monstrous scream.
Throughout Karagatan, the monstrous Narcisa wrecked havoc to everyone that she deemed evil.
It was an incident that they called "The Tornado of Karagatan Bay" and a tornado did destroy a part of that city.
"BASILIO! CRISPINA!" Narcisa shouted with all her heart and rage, killing any knight or adventurer tasked to stop her.
Eventually, she was faced by two adventurers that she knew and cherished. One was the lover she was in bed with, and the other was Cali.
"Narcisa, stop this! Finding your children shouldn't be like this!" Her lover says.
"Get out of my way! You left me for the sake of adventuring, Pedro!" Narcisa growled.
"That doesn't matter! You're wasting lives! Stop this now, I don't want to hurt you!" Pedro shouted as he takes out his weapon, a large mace.
Cali held onto his blade but did not unsheathe, he was unsure.
"My friend, Narcisa, please, stop... I don't want to fight you." Cali says.
"Cali..." Narcisa muttered before gritting her teeth.
"Get out of my way, Cali... Deep down... You know this city must be purged. But I care not for the lives of hogs and pigs..." Narcisa says.
"I NEED BASILIO AND CRISPINA!" Narcisa shouted before charging forward.
"Pedro..." Cali says as he goes into a fighting stance.
"Yeah... I hate to do this, Narcisa. I love you and so do our children..." Pedro muttered before going into a stance.
As the legendary battle between Narcisa vs. Pedro and Cali broke out at the inner bay, Basilio and Crispina are left to wonder what was all the chaos about.
"Big brother, what's happening?" Crispina says as she latched to Basilio.
"I-I don't know, just stick with me, come on..." Basilio says as he carries Crispina in his arms.
The other slaves with them were starting to panic, others took this as an opportunity to rebel but Knights gathered to control and direct them.
"Alright! Get back in line and hurry on! Get these filthy slaves on the ships!" One of the Knights said and the others followed, pointing their spears at the poor souls as behind them were galleons.
"W-Where are we going?" Crispina asked.
"Tch... We're going home!" Basilio says before he dashes out of the crowd and facing the Knights.
With his wind magic, he blasts them away, the slaves took this chance to run away or fight back.
"You little shit!" A knight kicked Basilio back, sending the two onto the dirt.
"You amount to nothing now! So get in line or you... ALL of you will suffer a painful, agonising death!" He announced to everyone with a booming voice.
But he felt a sudden wind hit his face gently, and he turns around to see the glowing monstrous eye of Narcisa.
"How dare you hit them?" Narcisa whispered before slashing the Knight in half.
A brawl broke out after that, with Narcisa zooming around each Knight and slaves that may attack her children.
When the fields were silent and covered in flames, Narcisa finally appeared to Basilio and Crispina. Cradled together in hopes everything was over
"Basilio... Crispina..." Narcisa says as she kneels down to her children.
"Ah!" Basilio looked over before hugging her, Crispina followed.
"Mom, we're so scared..! Thank the gods you came for us..." Basilio says.
"They tried to take us away! T-They didn't let us see you, mommy..!" Crispina says.
"Haha... I'm sorry that I didn't get home in time..." Narcisa says before coughing.
The two then looked up two her and backed up, they then felt the cool air hit their arms. They looked down to see red blood on their hands, and they finally see why.
Arrows stuck to her back, spears even. She fought with great energy just to get to her children.
Terrified, the two stood in shock at their mother who was barely alive.
"I'm so sorry, Basilio and Crispina... I went too far and paid for it..." Narcisa smiled before coughing up more blood.
Then suddenly, Cali appeared, just beside Basilio and Crispina. The two were too busy looking at their mother to notice.
"This place isn't safe for you two anymore... Hehe..." Narcisa then looks at the two weakly before she holds her blade, then breaking it in two.
"I'm a pretty bad mom, you know..? But I atleast tried... I love the both of you so much that I'll destroy the world for you to be safe... But don't be like me..." Narcisa then lends the two broken blades to the siblings.
"Protect each other... Don't let each other die... Be happy, be proud... Most importantly... Be sure to become strong... And wise... Be not like me..." Narcisa coughed.
"Be better..." Narcisa smiled softly.
Basilio and Crispina's tear ran down like waterfall before taking the broken blades of their mother. They looked at it, and tears fell upon it.
"Mom... You promised to come back with my favourite sandwich..." Basilio says.
"A-And the delicious bread you tried last week..." Crispina says.
Narcisa bit her lower lip before struggling to get up, she can sense more Knights incoming.
"Cali, old friend..." Narcisa called and Cali didn't look.
"Take care of them..." Narcisa says before turning around, the spears and arrows lodging deeper into her but she stands ready.
"Take them away, now!" Narcisa shouted.
Cali then quickly grabbed Basilio and Crispina, quickly traversing into the Shadows.
"MOM!" The two shouted in unison, reaching out for her yet she was already so far away.
The last thing they heard was fighting, bitter fighting. And there, the memory ended.
Back in the present, Basilio continued to silently cry as he clenched his fists. Pan felt pain unlike no other, her eyes darkened at the thought.
"I'm not strong... I'm not wise..! How can I honour her wishes!?" Basilio says.
"I'm weak! I can barely earn for my sister! And to top it all, I'm still damn hungry! Every time I eat your delicious bread, it reminded me of how she would buy them fresh from the bakery!" Basilio cried.
"How can I ever live like this!? Everything was torn apart just because some people wanted to sell us!"
"Frankly, I think of that day every single night, wishing it was just me who was taken away! M-Maybe mom would still be... Would..." Basilio slowly broke down, holding his eyes before wiping tears.
"Mom would've been..."
But then suddenly, Basilio felt something on his shoulder. It was Pan's hand, it felt strangely human.
"Basilio, it was strong of you to tell me you and your sister's story." Pan says sincerely.
"Your mother would be proud to see a son who can be true to his emotions..."
Basilio's eyes light up as Pan walks by, looking straight on as those words resonated.
Pan stops just behind him, her eyes still darkened but when she looks forward, it spoke with newfound determination and strength.
"Just give me one day, I'll be strong enough to beat that monster." Pan declared before walking away.
Basilio then grits his teeth before looking up, wiping them thoroughly.
"Y-Yeah..! That sounds great..! Thanks, Pan..!" Basilio's shaky yet thankful voice said.
Pan simply raised her fist in the air as she walked into deep forests.
Basilio returned to take care of her sister, with him apologising to Clara and Cali for his behavior.
Though they asked where did Pan go? Basilio just said that she'll return in one day, as she said.
Meanwhile, in the woods, Pan is pushing herself to the fullest as she fights deeper enemies.
Hordes of Goblins led by Hobgoblins. Packs of powerful dire wolves and larger slimes that would kill Rank D Adventurers. She was trying her very best to improve in such a short amount of time, as she knows that's the only time given to her by Viktor.
"Stronger! Stronger! I have to get Stronger!" Pan thought as she yelled out in her human flour form.
It was a bloodbath for all sides, she wasn't getting the results she needed.
So one break, she thinks deeply about the fight she had.
"Viktor is both fast and can predict my moves... That alone makes him such a powerful opponent, any of my current moves nor magic won't work on him..." Pan muttered.
He then remembers how Crispina fought, and that she pushed Crispina back. And then she realises for a moment.
"Crispina... She was strong enough to push him back but it only lasted for a short time." Pan thought before standing up.
"And his blade... I need my body to be able to tank hits... And my core as well, there must be a way to stop his blade from hurting it..." Pan the focuses before she lifts up her blade.
"I have to gather what I know and use it to the fullest... What can a floursack like me achieve..?" Pan says as she runs her mind in overdrive.
She then opens her eyes and realises before going into a pose. It looked like she was about to throw a straight punch.
But she aims at a thick tree before suddenly, an explosion was heard before the tree was dented by a powerful flying punch.
Pan took a deep breath before looking at her elbow, stained black by fire. And then at the tree, where her eyes saw a pile of dough in the trees.
Pan then smirks before looking at her fist.
"That's it... Anything hits hard hard if it's fast enough... And I just know the perfect counter to blades..."
And then her grueling training continues. Explosions were heard that night, whatever she was doing, it made her even stronger.
And finally, the next day came. And the Monster Hunting Knights prepared their trap for Pan.
"All set. We made sure to leave our tracks, sir Viktor" A Knight said.
"Good, we just need to wait then." Viktor says before he sensed a presence deep in the trees.
"Sir!" A Knight called.
"So she came, alone... Hehehe, how stupid." Viktor then took out his blade.
"Maybe she's surrendering for her comrades. Valiant, I admit, but monsters like you deserve no honour. You will suffer..." Viktor muttered.
And behold, Pan did appear from the woods. Approaching them and stopping at a clearing.
She was in her human flour form, and in her best attire of a black vest and tie. Her hand in her pockets as she glared at Viktor.
"Well, you came." Viktor says.
"That I did..." Pan then shows her fists before pointing at him.
"And I'm here to kick your ass, tenfold." Pan declared.
Viktor sighed before signaling his men to active the trap. And immediately, a ritual circle appeared below Pan and caged him in an anti-magic pyramid.
"Monsters like you are supplied with magic, so this anti-magic cage should be enough." Viktor chuckled.
"Now then, let's begin the purification..." Viktor chuckled evilly, and then cackling loudly.
But his laughing was suddenly interrupted by the sound of thudding. Viktor looks to the sound and saw Pan punching the cage.
"Does she really think she can escape from that? She's purely magic, I'm not sure someone like her can break free..." Viktor thought.
Though the Knights stared in horror as the punches were progressively getting stronger, and stronger...
Until finally...
"Doughnut..."
A powerful punch strikes the cage from inside, and a visible crack appeared.
"...SHOT!" Pan yelled as the cage breaks open
The ritual circle disappeared and her fist stretches towards one of the Knights in top speed.
He was sent flying onto a tree, completely knocked out. And the stretched fist slowly returned to Pan.
Viktor's eyes widened in shock, not only did she break the cage but she was stronger, and in a new form.
"Surprised, huh?" Pan said before she walks forward, her fist returning it her arm.
"My human flour form was made with the intent of love, you see. It was never for fighting..." Pan says before stopping, she shows her fist at the Knights and they were intimidated.
"But now, I achieved a new form and technique, solely to beat pieces of shits like you." Pan said before he flour started to circle around her once more.
And then flows of water formed before mixing into herself. The combination started it knead itself before getting absorbed back into Pan's body.
And when the dust of flour appeared, she transformed into a new flour based form.
"Behold, the form that'll kick your ass with stretchyness and doughiness..." Pan says.
"Child of Man..."
"Masa!"