Mikino crazily muttered to herself, counting the Kojin in the basket as her body slowly regenerated through the effects of her Kainoe Tama, healing her injuries.
The announcer, still sitting on the ground, sweated profusely, unable to bear the sight of the bloodied woman.
'What is this woman made of? She took down all those men in just an hour without using her Rei... Could it be the clothes she's wearing? But that kind of equipment only exists in the Great Continents...'
As the announcer delved deeper into her thoughts, trying to comprehend Mikino's strength, she suddenly felt a bloodied, pale hand trailing over her face.
A small shriek escaped her lips. "Ahh!"
Mikino placed her index finger on the announcer's lips, a teasing smile growing on her face. "Shh... I like girls who don't make noises like that girl Sora... Girls should be silent, and when I peel off their beautiful faces, they must be at peace."
The announcer sweated profoundly, feeling something break loose inside her.
Mikino cringed at this sight of her, showing her dissatisfaction.
"Tsk, bad girl! I should girl you! Hahaha..."
Before her laughter could end, a naginata grazed part of her exposed arm, landing near the announcer.
A familiar voice called out from behind her, "I'm afraid I won't let you do that."
Mikino's smile deepened as she took the naginata, turning around to greet the uninvited guest.
"Look who came to enjoy the party... The very person who ended her own clan in cold blood... My former instructor."
Tsubaki furrowed her brows, displeased with Mikino's words, unsheathing her katana.
"I thought you had died at the X-You Mountain slaughter, but it seems I was wrong... Not only did you survive, but you also became a Tama-Artist."
She pointed her katana at Mikino, her eyes gleaming with malevolence.
"Well, it doesn't matter. I will finish my mission and obtain my freedom by handing over your head to him."
Mikino chuckled, puzzled by her words.
"Him? Are you talking about that ungrateful ex-fiancé of mine?"
Tsubaki charged at Mikino, letting her blade do the talking. Mikino took her naginata, charging towards Tsubaki. Their blades clashed, producing a metallic sound that resonated throughout the floor.
Clang!
The two were pushed back by the force of the attack. Tsubaki furrowed her brows at the sight of Mikino's strength.
"You've gotten stronger than before. It seems you weren't holding back on your training."
Her katana emitted a faint yellowish glow, her expression turning cold.
"But you're still leagues away from being a true onna-musha."
Mikino's naginata curved with a light bluish hue, making Tsubaki raise her eyebrows in surprise.
"Just a small lighting technique. I can do it too."
Mikino has always handled Yurei's finances, and had secretly saved Kojin for herself and bought important Tama.
'Too bad I couldn't use it yesterday because I suddenly lost access to my Primordial space. But thanks to that, Lucien and the rest had no idea I was embezzling money from them! What a bunch of idiots!'
Clearing her thoughts, Mikino charged directly at Tsubaki, aiming for the kill. Tsubaki replied in kind, charging without hesitation.
Within five minutes, the two women exchanged over a thousand blows, transforming the first floor into a battleground. The air was filled with the sound of clashing blades, and the floor was scarred with blade marks, showcasing the might of these two warriors.
As Tsubaki attempted to behead Mikino, the latter thrust her naginata forward. Tsubaki sidestepped, avoiding the attack, but the naginata's pole struck her, sending her flying across the floor, breaking tables in her path.
Tsubaki's expression darkened as she noticed a thin red line crossing her face, from the bottom of her right ear to the bottom of her left one.
'If I had dodged that attack, my head would have been severed.'
Tsubaki's eyes widened, fearing Mikino's strength:
'Did she use a berserk-type Tama? Those are banned, even on the black market, as they originate from the renegade path. Possessing one is punishable by death.'
Tsubaki swiftly stood up, gripping her sword firmly in both hands, "I didn't want to resort to this, but I'll show you the true power of an onna-musha."
Her sword erupted in flames as she swung it, unleashing two crosscuts toward Mikino. Mikino scoffed, swinging her naginata to block the attack. A crosscut made of ice rushed to intercept the flames.
Boom!
The collision resulted in a small explosion, leaving Tsubaki stunned.
"How...?" Tsubaki's words trailed off as Mikino appeared before her, naginata aimed at her exposed neck.
"Shut up and die!"
Tsubaki narrowly avoided the attack, attempting to counter with her incredible speed. However, Mikino spun around, kicking Tsubaki in the jaw, sending her crashing against the wall.
Bam!
Tsubaki picked herself up, determined not to give Mikino the upper hand, but her mind couldn't help but worry.
'With this amount of bloodlust, she's ready to kill me without a doubt.'
Tsubaki steeled herself, ready to kill Mikino, but unlike her opponent, she was not prepared to die.
The two women clashed once more, transforming the first floor into a spectacle of fire and ice.
However, it soon became clear that Tsubaki was being overpowered. Enraged, Tsubaki conjured a flame whip, swinging it around the first floor, leaving no spot untouched.
"Just die and let me be free already!"
Mikino gritted her teeth, feeling the whip's flames lash against her armor coat. However, she soon grinned teasingly, abandoning her naginata.
"So you've finally decided to get serious, huh? Then I'll do the same!"
Mikino's hands rose, and the end of her armor coat transformed into clawed gloves. She grasped the flaming whip, infusing it with her ice element.
The whip turned to ice, and soon, the entire first floor became a freezing hell.
Tsubaki, with only her head unfrozen, couldn't even shed tears of regret as she watched Mikino approach her with a cold-blooded smile.
"Any last words, dear Tsubaki-san? Hehehe..."