We may defeat him, but it will cost lives. That was the thought of Jaina after her observance of Ajax. She cannot allow anyone from her guild to fall, not on her watch. Which is why–
"He's coming! Everyone, move like how I've told you!"
As someone who is the closest to Jaina, Fiona shrugs her orders and stands beside her.
"Do what our leader says! But I'm staying. David, lead them onwards!"
"Fiona– you!"
Erika and David squints. They look at each other and eventually make up their minds.
"It's not as if you will lose anyway. We'll see you later– Leader, Fiona!"
While nearing the end of their conversation, Ajax interrupts by launching himself towards David while hurling his spear.
CLANK!
"Oh? What a fast reaction."
Jaina blocked it with her dagger whilst fiercely looking at Ajax's eyes. It seems that she does not appreciate his attempt to harm her ally.
"David, quick."
Jaina calmly, yet sharply intonated. In response to this, Ajax becomes more excited.
"AHAHA! Yes, show me more of that fierce side of yours!"
"Tch!"
David and the others quickly leave the area as Ajax surprisingly lets them be without any chase.
"Well, looks like I stumbled against another quality hunter. Defeating you would be pleasing."
Jaina draws another dagger which is colored in red from her belt. She is currently wielding a red and a golden dagger which piques Ajax's curious battle mind.
'There should be a significance in their color. I must watch out for their effects.'
"{Hunter of Hunters}, a wanted criminal. I see, so you're all the commotion is about."
"Yeah? How much am I worth now? Well, it doesn't matter. What's important is that I'm being hunted and I'm down with that!"
"Maniac."
Fiona commented.
"Yes, he is. And for some reason, he is not working alone. We're being watched by someone who might just be his superior."
"Ha! I have no superior! We're all just using each other. As long as I get what I want, I don't care about being used."
Ajax then assumes a battle stance wherein he tucks one spear behind him and the other in front.
"And fighting strong opponents is one of them. So be sure to entertain me a lot, hunter!"
Fiona grips her sword tightly after noticing that her presence was being intentionally neglected by Ajax. It's like saying that she's not even a threat.
"This is frustrating…but I can't really say I'm a match for either of you."
Jaina taps her shoulder.
"Everything's not about strength Fiona. There are things suited for each of us. This man in front of us is a killing machine. It's just that we stepped on that certain playing field, an area where he excels the most, which explains his confidence."
"Bullcrap. As soon as you wear the title of being a hunter, you're already a killer."
"Maybe. But we take the lives of creatures whose main mindset is to kill. You, on the other hand, kill living human beings for your own entertainment."
Jaina lets out a sigh and crosses both her daggers.
"I know talking with someone like you is useless. Let's get this done."
Fiona also assumes a battle stance, placing her sword in front of her, the tip pointing at the sky.
"Yeah, all this talk is– making me numb!"
With no hesitation, Ajax fearlessly dashes towards Jaina. As a response, Jaina also rushes forward, confident with her agility to match his. Fiona then casts a supporting spell:
"
Their blades clashed as both of them looked fiercely in each other's eyes. Ajax whistles–
"Beautiful eyes you got there, purple haired hunter."
"Yours are awful."
Jaina responded in kind.
In just a few seconds of their clash, Ajax felt a slight disturbance in the air. It's as if the wind is helping Jaina push him back.
"I see, it's that supporting spell–!"
As soon as he said that, a stronger force finally shoved him away while Jaina did not let up and chased the thrown Ajax.
"HAHA!"
Ajax hurls his spear towards Jaina by which she swiftly evades. However, after evading, a continuous rampage of arrows was launched towards her.
'What– I didn't even see him draw his bow yet!"
"Haaah!"
Fiona's sword shines, glowing in green. She then swings it towards the projectiles that are about to hit Jaina. The swing creates a gust of wind that knocks out and breaks all the arrows that were launched.
"Ah, I forgot about that one."
Ajax remarked after landing on his two feet. He then begins to stretch as if readying for more.
"Hmp."
Fiona did not let his remark affect her, however. She is, after all, a hunter who has a decent control over her emotions with regards to herself and her own strength.
"Nice, Fiona. You saved me." ← Jaina
"Even though you could have deflected all that, I think it's better to reserve your strength."
Fiona responded.
"But that's weird, I don't see him use his bow at all. To think he launched all those arrows at once. Have you seen it, Fiona?"
Fiona nods.
"He did not use his bow, however, the arrows launched themselves. It seems to be his unique skill: an ability to control weapons at his disposal."
"I see. A profound skill fitted for a battle maniac."
Jaina then assumes a dashing stance, seemingly ready for another clash of blades.
"Well then, since he's already doing it, might as well use my attribute skill well."
"Interesting."
Ajax commented after hearing Jaina. He matches her stance and prepares to launch himself once again. Fiona on the other hand is ready for her backup spells whilst also searching for a moment to step up.
Not a moment after, both Jaina and Ajax dashed forward. Jaina, however, is faster due to her assassin perk and agility attributes. Though Ajax noticed this.
'As expected, she's faster than me–'
Since Ajax cannot risk the clashing of blades due to the gale, he aims to overpower in terms of raw strength to prevent a concurrent clash. He draws one of his swords and tightens his grip. Ajax then does a powerful sweeping slash to throw her balance off.
"I see, you indeed have a good sense in battle, but– you still underestimate me!"
Jaina displays a monstrous athleticism as she bends her body in a quick manner just before the spear reaches her side while also not losing her balance. She then gets back up to slash Ajax's neck with one of her daggers. All of it happened in just a very short time that Fiona could not keep up.
"You–!!"
Ajax knows he can't dodge it. In order to recompense and minimize damage, he used his left hand to block the red dagger.
"Aaaaack!!"
The dagger embeds itself into Ajax's palm, halting Jaina's hand. It stops just right before hitting his neck.
Jaina frowned after seeing that he blocked her attack. After all, she needs to finish as soon as possible to rejoin her guild mates which she is concerned about. Jaina then spins the other dagger around her hand and tries to finish Ajax off by stabbing his neck. But Ajax pulled his head away to evade and tightened his grip into Jaina's hand.
"Tch!" ← Jaina
As Ajax is about to draw another sword, Fiona quickly rushes in to assist, pulling her sword back to charge a swing towards Ajax.
"Hrrrrgh!!!"
Jaina was startled after feeling a strong force pulling her.
"Fiona watch out!" Jaina shouted.
"...!?"
As Fiona receives Jaina's warning, Ajax forcefully throws Jaina towards her creating quite a powerful impact.
**BAM!** "Ack!"
Fiona did not let herself fall down and managed to stand her ground while her foot was sliding on the ground and holding Jaina up. Although, as soon as the two look up, Ajax's spears are making way towards them, violently spinning, breaking all trunks and trimming all bushes along its path.
"Incoming!"
Fiona's sword shines brightly as she pulls it back.
"I'm still a Swordmaster, I'll have you acknowledge that!
Fiona does a sweeping slash which forms a wide ranged impactful shockwaves through the air that knocks out the flying spears. She then used the remaining wind lingering in her sword to propel herself towards Ajax.
"Haaah!"
"HAHA! That's more like it, I almost forgot we have someone like you here!"
Ajax insultingly remarked.
"Shut up!"
Fiona replied but still with composure. Her sword Ajax's weapon met each other. However, surprisingly–
"An…arrow?!"
Ajax blocks it with an arrowhead.
"Hahaha! Look, swordmaster– your strength with a sword only equates to me using an arrow!"
This time, Ajax finally got to Fiona's head.
"YOU!"
Though as soon as she's about to do something reckless, Jaina joins the fray once again.
"Fiona! Keep your composure, it's not like you!"
Ajax jumps away and pushes Fiona off as soon as Jaina joins in. She does multiple slashes with her daggers whilst juggling them around like a professional acrobat.
"What are you, a performer!?"
Ajax leaves a comment as he struggles evading Jaina's continuous assault.
"...!?"
He then felt a presence behind him which is unmistakingly Fiona's. However, just in time, his spears made it back to his hands and blocked both Fiona and Jaina's weapons.
"Guhh…this man–!" Fiona remarked.
With one of her hands free, Jaina tries to get his neck once again, but then–
"Gah!"
An arrow struck Jaina's hand.
"Hah! Huh–?"
As Ajax was about to make a taunt, his instincts urged him to back away, which he did by forcefully jumping from his position to get on a thick trunk.
'What the hell did I just feel? Like a snake coiling around my whole body!?'
"Jaina, are you alright?"
Fiona inquired after offering her a potion, which she takes and drinks immediately to ensure that the pain shall not slow her down.
"Yeah, I almost got him though."
Ajax noticed something as soon as Jaina looked up at his position.
"I see– interesting…interesting! You're really an interesting hunter! Show me more!"
"Jaina…" ← Fiona
"Fiona, from here on out–"
Jaina's eyes resemble a serpent, and her daggers glow depending on their colors.
"-I'll go full offensive."