"Ten more push-ups to go, Mia,"
Crimson exclaimed, looking at Mia, who was going through her routine. Beads of sweat formed and dripped from her face, falling onto the dry leaves of the forest.
The sun lay at the horizon, shining its bright radiance upon the two as they exercised. The shade the trees provided wasn't enough, as the mid-afternoon heat warmed their bodies, making them seem exhausted.
"I can't do it, Crim. This is too much,"
Mia said as she was stuck on the ground, unable to push herself up.
"What's your number?"
Crimson said between breaths as he went up and down, seeming full of energy.
"Eighty-five. I can't go anymore,"
Mia answered, her fumbling arms finally giving in as she fell flat on the ground.
"Okay, that's enough,"
Crimson stood up, stretching his arms as he walked towards Mia.
"Get up, we're done for today,"
he said, looking at her with her face in the dry leaves, seeming lifeless.
Waiting for a few seconds to catch her breath, she stood up, trying to seem alright by standing firm.
"I can see your entire body shaking. No need to try to act tough,"
Crimson said with his usual emotionless demeanor, gesturing for Mia to sit and relax.
"It's been a week already, and I can only do eighty-five push-ups. I'm so pathetic,"
she said in a low tone, expressing her thoughts on herself.
"It's nothing, Mia. Comparing eighty-five to five, you've really improved,"
Crimson said, trying to be as cheerful as he could, but his tone nor face depicted any difference.
"How much did you go, Crim?"
Mia said, taking in a deep breath.
"Don't compare yourself to me. You know I've been working out since childhood. Anyway, I went 236."
"As expected… Sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, or even our daily jogging. You're always better,"
she said in a disappointed tone.
"Yeah, you know my power doesn't grant me any additional strength or defense, so I have to— and still have to— train my body to survive in a battle,"
he said as he took his clothes from the ground and put them on.
"But thinking of it, it's very impressive. All that power Crim possesses is not by gifts or blessings— it's his raw strength,"
Mia thought, closing her eyes and deciding to rest for a while before they set back on the road.
"How interesting for a mortal, a mere human, to possess such incredible strength to withstand an attack from me without any blessings,"
an unfamiliar voice sounded through the woods.
Mia instantly opened her eyes, both of them shifting their focus to the source of the voice that seemed to resonate from their right. Turning to lock gazes with the being that had attacked them a while back.
"It's you,"
Mia said in a surprised tone after getting up and grabbing her weapon.
"Yes, it's me, and I've come to finish what I started— which is killing the both of you."
The both of them remained silent, their weapons drawn as they stood prepared for battle.
"You seemed interesting, so I wanted to play with you for a while, especially you, male human. And after hearing that your power was pure strength, I thought it was a bluff. So I decided to keep myself hidden and see if you'd use any tricks that would give me more information.
"But so unfortunately, it seems you were telling the truth— and that's even more dangerous. Every time, I was watching as you trained, slept, ate, walked around carefreely in this death trap of a forest.
"All in hope that you'd show me something that seemed like a source of power. But since it's been a week already, it's time to die,"
he said with a seductive tone, expressing himself like a psycho.
"Before I commence with the slaughter, I have something to say to the pretty lady. Your body is quite pleasing to the eye— I'll have to keep it for myself, dead or alive."
He paced on, licking his lips as his eyes scanned all over Mia's half-naked body.
"That's not happening, freak,"
Crimson said, rage lingering in his tone. An aura instantly formed around his body, breaking like glass and leaking a powerful gust of wind from his body.
"Omniscient being, grant me the power to know my enemy,"
he chanted inwardly, as Mia also activated all her blessings.
"I don't have time to put on my clothes. Even the slightest mistake in this battle will lead to my death,"
Mia thought, overriding the feeling of shyness she felt as the being didn't take its eyes off her.
Her adventuring gear comprised outer clothes that were made of fabric but enhanced with magic stones. It was in the same style as her school uniform, being a long-sleeved top with a mini skirt that covered enough.
Apart from that were her gym clothes, which she usually wore beneath her armor. They comprised a black, skin-tight tube and shorts that were seemingly the same length as her skirt.
"I'm not in my gear, which means my defense has dropped immensely. I need to be extra careful."
"Why are all of you so riled up? Who said you'd be fighting me now? If that happens, there won't even be your bodies left for me to take as my trophies,"
he said as he snapped his fingers.
Several beings emerged out of the woods, numbering in the twenties as they surrounded the two humans.
"Witness the power I possess as one of the Seven Gates,"
he continued, leaping backward, seemingly giving space for the battle to commence.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Crimson spoke out with a spine-chilling voice as he stared with his crimson eyes, filled with murderous intent at the being after instantly appearing in front of him in midair.
"The only one here who's gonna die is you,"
he paced on, swinging his sword from behind and slashing the being in his belly. The force of his attack knocked him through the distance as he crashed through several trees, penetrating them with ease, before finally crashing into one that didn't break, blood escaping his mouth.
"Mia, it seems these guys are just foot soldiers. Take care of them— I'll deal with the main boss over there. Show me the result of your training,"
Crimson said without turning to look at Mia, seriousness in his tone as he stood in the direction the being flew, an intense aura pouring out of his body.
"How's this possible? After just a week of training, he's grown that much?"
Mia thought in amazement, replying to Crimson afterward, as he vanished, dashing with lightning speed toward the being.