Jane felt as if her air passages were blocked, the weight of the punch resting on her body. Thanks to her muscular frame, nothing hurt her bones.
She quickly picked herself up, watching as Encender picked up her two remaining katanas.
"Ah, I see we have a challenger," the corrections Chief Officer said, her voice filled with confidence born of many victories. "But you will find that my blade is not easily bested, even if you use kicks and punches."
Encender swung her katanas to and fro, raising an eyebrow at this unusual threat.
"We shall see about that, my friend. Actions speak louder than words."
With a sudden burst of speed, Jane lunged forward, her heavy sword slicing through the air with deadly grace. Encender moved fluidly, her katanas meeting the heavy sword with a resounding clash.
Clang—!
Debris from the ceiling fell upon them as they exchanged attacks like they were in a game of chess.
"She is good," they all commented in their minds.
Each bead of sweat that fell to the ground confirmed their opponent's struggles to reach such a level.
However, Jane was more stunned by the inmate's impressive display of strength. With each minute she danced with Encender around the hallway, she could admit that Encender deserved to be the daughter of the strongest swordsman in all of Ablauf.
Be that as it may, Jane didn't stop exchanging swords with Encender without treating her as someone she would defeat or lose against.
A small hole was made in the ceiling, connecting to the floor above. The golden light dappled above the two swordswomen.
Crack—!
Feeling the tear of the air made by a thrust from the pointy part of the heavy sword, Encender had no choice but to sidestep and evade the attack.
Even so, she didn't escape unscathed as a tiny cut appeared on her cheek, leaving blood to drip on the already red floor.
Encender almost felt like she was out of her mind, detesting how Jane's blade always found a way to her position.
She might be one of the fastest inmates, but against Jane, her speed seemed matched.
However, that was only the beginning as the prison guard started being serious.
Jane used the ability the fastestbug gave her on herself at the cost of her sense of smell.
Her physical speed increased in an instant, and she started appearing like a blur in front of Encender's eyes.
Thanks to carrying a giant heavy sword, Jane couldn't properly use her body to perform killing moves. However, she was able to unleash a barrage of small cuts all over Encender's body.
"Tsk." The inmate clicked her tongue in frustration, unable to see a way to get past the lightning-fast barrage of slashes coming at her.
Red panda felt like she was trapped in a spider web.
But the moment she closed her eyes, she saw an escape route.
Putting the katana in her left hand on her back, she clutched the hilt of her remaining sword and delivered a fierce backslash.
South Miracle!
Boom—!
Smoke rose in the air as Encender's move left a wide crack in both the ceiling and floor, killing all the inmates and prison officers in its way.
However, it missed its intended target as Jane jumped to the side the moment she saw the attack coming. That being said, a deep cut was visible on her left shoulder.
"I must admit, you are a worthy opponent," the corrections Chief Officer said, her admiration plain in her voice.
"And you as well," the daughter of the strongest swordsman replied, a note of respect in her tone.
As if by mutual agreement, they both stepped back, their swords lowered for a brief moment of respite. The hallway seemed to hold its breath as if all the fighting had stopped.
The two swordswomen nodded at each other, a new form of determination shrouding their eyes. With a shared understanding, they lunged forward, their swords meeting in a shower of sparks.
Clang—!
The clash of steel rang out once more, a symphony of battle that echoed through the hallway and the second floor.
Clang—! Clang—! Clang—!
Their blades met in a flurry of strikes and parries, each fighter pushing the other to their limits. However, Jane seemed to have an advantage.
She bested Encender in both strength and agility. When it came to precision, they seemed to be on the same level.
Both felt a strain in their muscles. With sweat washing over their bodies, the godforsaken stench was overpowered by the smell of blood that spread throughout the whole hallway.
Bang—!
However, that only fueled their determination to find a victor in this fight, as each time their swords clashed, a few debris from the floor above dropped to the ground.
Lunging on the prison guard's left, Encender sent a fierce thrust towards Jane's open right chest.
However, such a slack in defense was a trap to lure in the young Tohil.
As the tip of the katana swiftly reached her, Jane used her leg muscles to lift herself in the air, rotating her body upwards before coming down like a meteor.
Whoosh—!
Jane couldn't help but grin as her sword whistled through the air, aiming to cut the young Tohil in half. However, she had forgotten about Encender's second sword.
Taking up the katana from her back, Encender held it vertically across her right shoulder. It was a dangerous move, as both swords had all the parts of their blades facing each other.
Clang—!
A huge spark was made, brighter than the golden lights from the second floor.
Encender gritted her teeth as she felt the crushing pain. Even so, she had a plan in hand.
Using her left sword, she aimed directly at Jane's right thigh, which was open thanks to her being airborne.
Thack—!