Elise vs. Trinity Shogun – Part 2
The arena echoed with the force of their clash. The impact of Elise's punch had faded, but the intensity of the fight had just reached a new level.
Trinity slowly raised her head, her eyes gleaming with a predatory light. The smile stretching across her lips wasn't amused—it was purely carnivorous.
— "Interesting…" she murmured, rolling her shoulders.
Elise knew she wouldn't get another chance like this. She had managed to steal a fraction of Trinity's strength, and it had been enough to land a hit. But how long would that stolen power remain hers?
Without hesitation, she exploded forward. Her feet barely touched the ground before she teleported just above Trinity, fist drawn back, ready to strike.
But this time, Trinity anticipated it.
Her hand rose gently… and the world around Elise seemed to freeze.
Fourth Assault – Exchange of Thefts
A crushing weight fell upon her. Her stolen energy… had just been turned against her.
— "You're not the only one who can play this game," Trinity said as she reclaimed the same ability Elise had taken from her.
The energy Elise had stolen moments ago was ripped from her, sending a wave of pain through her body. Her limbs felt heavier, her speed dropped… and suddenly, Trinity was right in front of her, her fist glowing with a dark aura.
Elise forced her body to move despite the exhaustion. Dodging wouldn't be enough—she had to take something from her again.
At the last moment, she twisted her body, barely grazing Trinity's palm. A chilling sensation surged through her arm as she successfully stole another fraction of her powers.
This time, it was… her endurance.
The punch should have sent her flying into a wall, but thanks to this new "theft," her body absorbed the impact better.
She rolled across the ground, breath ragged, then pushed forward once more.
Fist against fist. Power against power.
The battle intensified. Elise and Trinity continuously stole abilities from each other, locked in a brutal, rapid cycle. Every time one gained the upper hand, the other found a way to restore balance.
Speed, strength, reflexes, intangibility… Everything became an endless exchange.
Until they reached a perfect stalemate.
Their fists clashed with such force that the shockwave fractured the arena's mirrored walls.
Both fighters staggered back at the same time, breathing heavily, their bodies battered from the relentless attacks.
Elise felt pure adrenaline keeping her upright. She never would have thought she could last this long against Trinity.
But she knew one thing…
She would be the first to falter.
Fifth Assault – The Ultimate Burden
Trinity stopped moving for a moment. Then, with a fluid motion, she raised her right hand.
A shiver ran down Elise's spine. She knew this gesture.
The Debt Mark… but in a far more powerful form.
— "It's over," Trinity declared.
An invisible circle opened beneath Elise.
She tried to move, to escape, but this time, it wasn't just her body refusing to obey. It was her very existence being weighed down.
Her knees buckled under the unbearable force. Her breath hitched. Every fiber of her being was crushed by a debt she couldn't repay.
Trinity appeared before her in a blink, her fist radiating with immense power, ready to strike.
Elise had no strength left, no way to dodge.
She was at her limit.
Trinity's hand came down.
But… it never touched Elise.
Mere inches from her face, the fist stopped dead.
A heavy silence filled the arena.
Elise, gasping for breath, slowly lifted her gaze toward Trinity.
The woman stared at her, her expression unreadable. Then, gradually, she lowered her fist and stepped back.
— "You win."
Elise's eyes widened.
— "…What?"
Trinity smiled slightly, but this time, it wasn't a predator's grin.
— "You lasted longer than I expected. And more importantly… you managed to hit me."
She crossed her arms, observing Elise with a calculating gaze.
— "This wasn't a fight to see who was stronger. It was a test."
Elise remained silent, her body still trembling from exertion.
A test?
She wasn't sure she fully understood… but one thing was clear.
She had survived.
And against Trinity Shogun, that was already a victory.
Abilities of the Sinner of Debts: Trinity
1. Debt Mark (Invisible Link)
She can mark a person with an "invisible debt" whenever she does them a favor, lends them something, or helps them in any way.
The greater the debt, the more pressure it exerts on the victim, ranging from mild discomfort to complete submission.
Those who refuse to repay their debt experience a heavy burden on their soul, persistent misfortune, or a gradual loss of their abilities.
> Example of use: If someone unknowingly accepts a favor from the Sinner of Debts, they might find themselves forced to obey her in the future without understanding why.
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2. Payment Extraction
She can forcibly collect payment in alternative ways, not just through material possessions but also by taking memories, emotions, lifespan, or even talents.
The heavier the debt, the more significant the payment she can demand. This allows her to "steal" skills from her debtors and use them temporarily.
> Example of use: If someone owes her a great deal but cannot repay, she might take their ability to sing, their courage, or even their joy, leaving them hollow or diminished.
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3. Weight of the Past
She can awaken old debts, even those that were forgotten or forgiven.
She can remind someone of the times they took from others without giving back, breaking their mental stability and making them vulnerable.
In extreme cases, she can create illusions where the victim relives the moments when they took without repaying.
> Example of use: Against a powerful enemy, she could overwhelm them with illusions of all their past debts, forcing them to collapse under the weight of their guilt.
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4. Unfair Bargain
She can offer people something they deeply desire in exchange for a future debt.
However, the terms of the contract are never fully clear and always come with a much heavier price than expected.
The victim only realizes the true cost when the time comes to repay.
> Example of use: A desperate person asks for her help to save a loved one. She agrees… but in return, they must offer her their absolute loyalty once the rescue is complete.
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5. Collector of Indebted Souls
If a person accumulates too many debts toward her without being able to repay, she can assimilate them into herself or turn them into a spectral servant tasked with collecting more debts on her behalf.
The more debtors she accumulates, the more oppressive her presence becomes, like an entity growing stronger as its influence spreads.
> Example of use: A victim who owes her too much may be transformed into a Debt Shade, a silent servant who hunts down those who still have debts to the Sinner.
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6. The Sin Pact
When she wants to seal an especially powerful agreement, she can create a magical contract that forces the debtor to uphold the deal—or lose something precious (freedom, life force, loved ones…).
These contracts can be imposed without the victim's awareness, as long as they verbally accept a commitment.
> Example of use: A merchant promises to repay her, unaware that by speaking those words, he has just signed an invisible contract that will condemn him if he fails to pay.
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Weaknesses and Limitations
She cannot create debts from nothing—the victim must willingly accept some form of exchange, even unconsciously.
A truly incorruptible or excessively generous person might be immune to her powers, as they have no attachment to material possessions or favors.
If someone manages to repay her exactly what they owe without any loss, her influence over them disappears immediately.