Maverick readied his sword. His muscles bulged, veins pumped and swung his sword with a vengeance.
Kalika picked a blade off the ground, to block this attack. But it shattered from the sheer force of his strength!
"Ho…How strong is this guy!!!?"
Kalika distanced herself from Maverick.
Lucky for her the prisoners that left, also left their weapons behind. She reached another blade off the ground only to find Maverick already on her.
He slammed his sword to the ground, cutting her arm off.
Maverick unleashed attack after attack, all the while, Kalika was forced to dodge every precise and calculated attack. She could tell with each swing of his strikes and slashes were deliberate. Suddenly, she found herself pressing her into the wall.
He swung for her head.
She ducked!
"Wrong move,"
Kalika's eyes widened in surprise as her head flew in the air. She could see that he had forcefully cut through the stone wall tracing his blade back to her neck.
"I have to get out of there!!"
As if reading her thoughts, her own body scurried away from Maverick, bursting into a sprint.
Soon after, she resurrected back to her body with her arm back, finding herself running from Maverick. He easily caught up to her and running beside her, he brought his blade down forcing her to stop, dodging the attack.
She turned, running the other way. Sensing his approach she grabbed a club on the ground she quickly turned, blocking another one of his attacks. His sword was mere inches from breaking the club wielded, forcing her to abandon it.
"As long as I can keep this up I can just bleed out the clock."
Suddenly, a sharp pain hit her leg. She glanced down to find a blood spear now in her leg, keeping her pinned to the ground. "W-what!?"
Maverick's sword penetrated her chest, piercing her heart. She quickly looked back at the balcony to find a smug Daji, and the other demon women who were enjoying the spectacle.
"D…Damn y-you." Kalika hissed.
She coughed up blood. "I won't let you have your way with me!"
A few seconds later, Kalika died once again. She resurrected seeing another blood spear heading her direction.
She dodged it.
Another attack from Maverick, slicing and wounding her stomach.
She pushed through the pain, running through the arena, dodging and weaving through Maverick's precise swings the best she could.
"Stay still!" He swung, missing her again.
As this happened, Daji's attacks whistled through the air, penetrating the wall and ground. Each one inching ever closer to Kalika.
Unsatisfied with the results, Daji sent out an even faster flurry of blood spears, making them more noticeable in the arena. Even at her fastest she wasn't able to avoid these attacks. Eventually Kalika was struck thrice. once in the leg, the body and arm.
Using this opportunity Maverick once again slays Kalika.
Like before Kalika resurrected, But this time she found herself being held in place by Valam's blood rope.
Kalika could look on in shock before she is swiftly killed again. This was no longer a game of cat and mouse with her and Maverick. it was a one sided battle with those demon women playing god.
Maverick continued his onslaught of attacks as the three women stood in complete safely from the balcony.
"W…Where's your honor in this fight you brute!!"
Maverick sliced off her head. Not too long after she got held in place again by some rope, resurrecting.
"Honor? You're the last person that should be talking about that. In this hell, there's no room for honor."
Maverick curled a smiled, filled with anger and malice. "But if I'm honest I'm glad we're having this little unofficial rematch." Maverick once again stabs Kalika in the chest.
"N…No…"
Her vision became dark again, but this time the same wispy voice from before made itself heard. "Call me… Call me…"
"W-who are you!??" She asked through the darkness.
The echoes of water drops slowly become louder and louder.
She awoke, and was swiftly killed.
It becomes louder and louder.
Once more she is killed as she finished resurrecting.
She could now tell that whatever is approaching, is upon her. Slowly a figure reveals itself to be Kalika as she was back during the invasion, the youth that she lost. Her own visage stared at her as if mesmerized by her. She wore the same prisoner's clothes and was bloodied with golden yellow eyes. And a single thought ran through her mind upon seeing this.
"This is not me."
"Call me… Call me…" That same Wispy voice.
Kalika's Visage now smiled at her, holding out her hand.
"Yes. Zorbian."
Kalika is consumed by even further darkness.
She awoke finding her blood blade manifesting in her hand from her own blood! Mavericks' attack is blocked, not only shocking him. But also the demon women on the balcony. Even Kalika herself was taken aback, but quickly put the thought aside.
"Z…Zorbian??"
Maverick pressed down harder, obviously seeking to overpower Kalika. His aura around him started to become more and more malicious as he continued to try to break through Kalika's blood blade. All the while, Kalika stood firm, barely feeling any of the pressure.
Cracks formed beneath her feet as he pushed ever harder to break through her blade.
She deflected his attack.
She could feel the warmth of the blade in her hand and her head. Her thoughts and heart raced much faster than she thought would ever be possible. It was unlike how she felt, while fighting Ek.
Another several blood spears are hurled at Kalika, Hearing them she quickly dodges and deflects a few with much more ease. Valam then sent her rope only for it to be slashed to bits.
"Why is everything… Getting slower."
Maverick followed with his attack only for it to be blocked. His sword cracked upon impacting Kalika's blood blade.
"I never expect to see this again. But that just makes this all the better!" Using the cross guards of his sword he created his own opening, he flicked her hand up and slashed from beneath Kalika. The next moment Kalika's heart exploded, and she resurrected immediately after with the slash healed.
Kalika readied the counter only to have it parried. It wasn't long before their strike and clashed became a war to see who would get cut first.
Not only did Kalika have to contend with each strike and slash from Maverick, but also the flurry of attacks from Daji and Valam that intended to make her lose focus.
Strike after strike, dodge after dodge and parry after parry. It all felt overwhelmingly chaotic, yet bearable. It was starting to slowly become formulaic.
Slowly but surely, both Daji and Valam became frustrated, unable to and connect their attack to Kalika. However, Florin with a smile, stepped up, offering some assistance. she pinched her fingers, watching the battle below, and with practiced ease, flung a drop of her blood straight at Kalika.
That very blood curved and wormed its way to Kalika like a guided projectile, splattering on her forehead and confusing her.
"
Kalika found herself freezing in place, unable to move a muscle.
seizing the opportunity, Maverick, thrusted his sword into her chest. Shortly after, he ripped the blade out and she resurrected just as quickly after.
Without warning her legs were swiftly cut. She now fell to the ground finding Maverick's sword closing in on her neck.
Kalika parried and rolled away as her heart exploded. she revived, quickly climbing to her knees to block another strike from above.
"D…Damn you…" Kalika muttered. She glared back up at the straight-faced Maverick. More blood spear's were aimed and shot at her, forcing to maneuver away from Maverick as he once again went on the attack.
She was once again on the defensive, trying to avoid and deflect the gleeful demons and Mavericks attacks.
Kalika glanced back angrily at the balcony, her own frustration becoming evident. She quickly surmised that Florin likely has an ability to control her will.
She scoffed, annoyed by them.
Suddenly Maverick scored another clean hit on Kalika. "I'm down here," Maverick Said.
Kalika blocked another incoming attack as Maverick slammed his blade down again with much more heft. By some miracle Kalika's knees barely held against Mavericks brute strength.
He slams his sword again. And again. And again. Each blow, bringing Kalika's strength to its limit.
Seeing this as an opening she charged in and with her dagger in both hands and stabbed Maverick at the side of his stomach. He grunts from the impact of the attack.
Maverick unexpectedly dropped his sword to the ground, confusing Kalika.
"D-did I... do it?"
Maverick grabbed onto both of Kalika's hands with his one hand and her hair with his other.
"W-what the-! Let go-!" She desperately tries to free herself but is met with a swift head butt. He head butts her again even harder. And a third, but this time much harder.
She loses grasp of her blade and is tossed aside. Her head was pounding and her vision distorted. She looked around the ground for her weapon only to realize that it was still in Maverick.
Maverick grabbed his cracked sword, aiming it like a spear and pelting it to Kalika's chest. He approached her, ripping it from her body, leaving her to cream in pain.
Darkness encroached seeing the dagger sticking from Maverick's stomach.
Kalika is kicked to the wall, she dodges, being much more oriented, but quickly gets pinned to the wall by another of Daji's blood spears.
"Damn it!"
From this point Kalika was once again pinned to the wall. between being pinned to the wall and killed without hesitation by Maverick, an overwhelming sense of frustration filled her. With all her strength, she catches Maverick's sword with both hands.
"G-give it back! you coward!"
She can clearly see that he's unconcerned with the dagger in his side. Slowly but surely Maverick's strength was overwhelming Kalika again.
Another blood spear struck her, but she refused to flinch. Another spear hit her, then another and another and another. Despite this she refused to give in to the pain she felt.
A drop of blood once again hits her forehead, Making her extremely weak "W-what the hell!???" She glanced back at the balcony, knowingly seeing the wide grin on Florin. The sword once again slashes through her.
Laughter could be heard from the balcony. Hearing this irritated Kalika as her body started to slide down against the wall behind her.
She stopped. Clenching her fists, frustrated.
Memories of manifesting the blade during her fight with Ek resurfaced. Thinking about it started to amuse her. "I don't have much to lose." Once more, death has claimed Kalika. "So your name is... Zorbian. Right?"
resurrecting, Kalika felt the handle of her weapon now manifesting in her grasp, Kalika moved, blocking Maverick's attack with her newly manifested blood blade.
Shocked, Maverick peeked to find the blade gone from his side, now bleeding from the wound.
Kalika squeezed her way from under Maverick's sword, slashing at the other side of hip.
Her hands became hotter and hotter. she then started to hear cheering. She blinked, finding herself in the caged area with a plethora of seats and demons sitting. Glancing back at the balcony she could see her demonic sister, Lillian, The Demon King, Lucius and Rakon all looking satisfied and impressed.
"End it." A man's voice said.
Kalika looked back recognizing the voice. "END IIIIIIT!!"
Before her knelt, a much thinner man, but she could tell by his hair and eyes that this was Maverick.
He glared back angrily. "What are you waiting for? I'm the last one, right? You've got what you wanted so just do it." Maverick now held his arms out in defeat.
She found herself approaching the weak looking man placing her blood blade just under his chin.
"I pity you," the words, escaping her own mouth.
With those words said, she continued to walk past Maverick to the closest exit.
Mavericks' arms fell to the ground, fists balling up.
"You should be happy. This'll be the last time we'll meet in the arena so you're likely to live. But if you do die, please give your comrades my thanks… For being my training dummies."
Kalika had peeked behind, now finding Maverick seething in rage. She turned back to leave, hearing him cry out in rage.
Kalika quickly turned around, finding herself back in the present With Maverick in the air ready to attack from above. The rage in his eyes was unlike anything she's seen up until now.
Kalika dodged, leaving him to obliterate the ground beneath him with his attack. He quickly chained another attack sending Kalika flying into the arena wall. She coughed blood.
"He's strong. Really strong! But I can beat him!!"
Much more determined and with greater confidence, Kalika rushed over Maverick, Dodging and deflecting at the other attacks being sent by Daji and Valam.
From the corner of her eyes Kalika noticed drops of blood closing in. She used her dagger to block it, surprising Florin.
Kalika then followed up with another stab on Maverick, who nearly connected his attack.
Kalika kept driving the dagger deeper and deeper into Maverick's body.
"Heh. Finally having some change of heart. But if you're going to kill me… You'd better aim for the heart or neck!" Maverick pushed Kalika off himself. She tumbled to the ground, but she quickly oriented herself and dashed back into the fray with her dagger ready.
"Not that you can kill me! Because I have over another two-hundred of my kin to avenge!!!!!"
Maverick swung to kill and Kalika did the same. But to their shock, a man in black armor suddenly arrived with an even bigger sword!
He blocked both Mavericks and Kalika's attack. They all watched as Maverick's sword was completely shattered upon impact!
The fragments of Mavericks sword laid scattered across the ground.
Maverick could only look on in utter shock as standing before both him and Kalika was now a tall man, completely covered in black armor from head to toe. The man in black armor looked back at Kalika giving a glimpse of its terrifying helmet.
"The game is officially over." Rakon announced
His voice was heard from the balcony, prompting Kalika to look, finding Rakon standing happily. All the while the other Demon Ladies stood around awkwardly.
"Your performance was beyond my expectations. You even conjured your blood blade from your body."
Kalika's weapon was immediately snatched from her. "H-hey!"
She turned to find another Rakon standing happily.
"You performed an impressive feat most of your kin wish they could mirror." He patted her head, leaving her grumbling embarrassedly. "You should be proud, This time you didn't need my help."
"By the way, This man you see before you, is your opponent you'll be facing tomorrow."
Kalika looked back to the man in Black armor.
"For now, we'll dub him the 'Black Knight'." Rakon said.
"Unacceptable!" Maverick shouted.
"Give me a few more hours with her!" looking back at Maverick, his anger started to become more and more evident.
"You've already had your fun. You can leave now," Rakon said with a scary calmness.
At the snap of Rakon's finger, a plethora of guards surrounded Maverick.
Maverick paid no mind to the guards or Rakon, instead keeping his gaze fixated on Kalika.
Rakon, seeing this, stepped in his sight, glaring at Maverick much more menacingly. "Of course, if you wish to die, I can also grant you that accommodation myself."
Hearing Rakon's words, Maverick calmed himself. And without another word he turned, leaving the arena with guards following him close behind.
Rakon gazed up at the balcony "
"
This left Kalika with Rakon.
Shortly after, Kalika's gaze shifted to the ground before her. "The day wasn't over." a hint of disappointment evident in her voice.
"That doesn't matter. You did a very good job handling the matter. A little longer and you might've killed him I'm sure. A fact I'm sure he's still refuting"
Rakon offered a hand. Kalika, seeing this, refused. "Since when did you care that I'd win?"
"I don't. you can die a thousand times as long as it means I get what I want." Rakon gave a chuckle seeing Kalika's curious gaze now fixed on him.
"So I'm just a means to an end ?" Kalika sighed, turning away. "I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from a demon like you... Your kind must enjoy thriving in the chaos."
"I wouldn't say that. It's a little more… complicated. We all have our own wants and goals like you humans."
Suddenly, Rakon grabbed Kalika's chin forcing her to look at him. "The only difference between our kin is that we're not driven to avenge our friends or family. That said… We are also aimless creatures searching blindly for our own little reasons to live."
"I've long found my reason. What about you?" Rakon took a single finger, bringing it to the tip of her chin.
Kalika jerks her head off his hand. "S-stop it." she demanded, staring back at him indignantly.
Rakon could only chuckle to himself seeing this, amused by her reaction.
"O-once this stupid contract of yours is done, I want to leave this place forever. In fact, when this is done, I don't want to see you ever again."
"Oh. you wound me." Rakon chuckled, still amused. "By the way Kalika… Have you figured out your opponent's true identity?"
Kalika instantly relaxed herself. she frowned, knowing the answer.