Succubi Chapter 5. Rules Are Rules
I exhaled sharply, feeling the heat of battle burning in my veins. Ares was fast, relentless, and technically flawless—but the thing about flawless technique? It was predictable once you cracked the pattern.
And I just had.
I smirked, gripping my sword. "I guess it's time I take my spotlight, then."
Leon whistled. "Oh boy, here we go."
Ares barely reacted, his stance as rigid and perfect as ever. "Big words. Let's see if you can back them up."
He lunged.
I vanished.
Okay, not literally, but to everyone watching? That's probably what it looked like.
One second, I was in front of Ares. The next, I was gone, sidestepping so fast that his sword only hit the air.
I let him swing again—let him think he had a rhythm going.
Then I darted around him, dodging his attacks with the ease of someone who had seen them a hundred times before.
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder.
"Wait… he's not just dodging."
"He's playing with him."
Ares gritted his teeth, trying to match my speed. But that was the thing—he was too structured, too textbook. He reacted exactly how I expected, moving exactly how I knew he would.
I slid behind him, blade barely grazing his shoulder. "Getting slow, Golden Boy?"
He spun, slashing toward my torso—but I was already gone.
I pivoted to his left, my own blade swinging with effortless precision. Ares barely managed to parry, but I felt the impact rattle his arms.
He was strong. No doubt about that.
But strength alone wasn't enough.
His perfect, knightly discipline? I was unraveling it.
His frustration? I was feeding on it.
I feinted left, then twisted right, my blade cutting through the air in a blur of motion. Ares barely blocked in time, staggering back, his stance breaking for the first time.
Ares' breathing was heavier now. His grip tighter. He knew.
I was about to win.
I twisted my wrist, blade aimed straight for his chest.
And then, out of nowhere…
His sword exploded with radiant energy.
A golden shockwave burst from the blade, forcing me to retreat at the last second. My feet skidded across the ground as I barely avoided the impact, my heart slamming against my ribs.
I narrowed my eyes.
"What. The. Hell."
Leon's voice cut through the stunned silence. "Okay. That's cheating."
I scowled. "You said no magic. Pure skills."
Ares exhaled, rolling his shoulders like he didn't just break his own damn rule. "We have a battle system. So I decided to try it."
I gaped at him. "Bullshit."
Leon crossed his arms, frowning. "No, I have to disqualify you. Rules are rules."
Ares didn't look remotely sorry. In fact, he looked annoyed that he even had to hear this conversation.
And then—without warning— He threw a Sonic Slash straight at Leon.
The energy wave tore through the air, slicing toward Leon with explosive speed.
My brain barely processed what was happening before Leon moved.
Fast
One second, he was standing there. The next, he was gone— twisting in the air with a mid-air flip so clean it looked rehearsed.
The Sonic Slash ripped past him, slamming into the arena walls, leaving a deep, sparking gash in the stone.
Leon landed lightly, his expression dark.
Ares barely spared him a glance. He was already looking at me again.
'Oh, so that's how it was?'
I sighed, shaking my head. "Wow. You really don't like losing, huh?"
Ares didn't respond. He just moved.
Straight at me.
He swung with brutal force, his sword glowing with traces of residual energy. I barely had time to raise my blade, blocking as sparks flew between us.
He was faster now. Stronger. He was actually using his skills.
But the thing was… I didn't care.
Because I had already figured him out.
This was just muscle memory now.
He slashed high—I ducked low.
He lunged—I sidestepped, my blade grazing his arm.
His technique hadn't changed. He was stronger, faster, but still predictable.
And yeah, that was the weird part.
I had a thing. A habit. A skill. Whatever I wanted to call it.
I wasn't the fastest or the strongest. I wasn't some unbeatable genius.
But I could read people.
I memorized how they fought—every little movement, every habit, every rhythm.
At first, I always struggled to keep up. But once I got the hang of it?
I could glide through a fight like I was toying with them.
And right now?
Ares had no idea I had already mapped him out.
I stepped forward, forcing him onto the defensive. His footwork was strong, but I was already disrupting his flow.
Another clash. Another parry. Ares' frustration was starting to show.
"Still think I don't belong here?" I taunted.
He gritted his teeth, swinging hard. "You're just—annoying."
I smirked. "And yet, you still can't win."
I pushed forward, our swords locking in a struggle.
Ares' muscles tensed, trying to force me back. "Who are you?"
I exhaled, tilting my head. "Still figuring that out."
And with that, I twisted—breaking his balance.
His stance faltered.
I had him.
Ares' stance had faltered, his balance was broken, and for the first time, I saw that flash of realization in his eyes—the moment he knew he wasn't winning this.
But he refused to accept it.
He gritted his teeth, his pride practically oozing from his aura as he tightened his grip on his sword. He didn't want to lose.
And that was exactly why he did the most predictable thing imaginable.
"You're not that impressive," Ares muttered, his voice sharp with irritation. "You think you're fast? Let's see if you can handle this."
And before I could react—he swung his blade.
"Sonic Slash!"
A familiar golden energy wave shot toward me, tearing through the air with a piercing hum.
I could dodge it. I knew I could. I'd already figured out the timing of his attacks, the way he moved, the way he committed to his swings.
But…
Something inside me clicked.
Ares wanted to test me? Fine.
I'd test myself too.
Instead of dodging, I tightened my grip on my sword.
Time to see just what my Aether Slash could do.
I exhaled, lowering my stance, my entire body shifting instinctively into position.
My blade hummed.
"Aether Slash!"
The energy flared from my sword, surging with power as I swung in one smooth motion.
Two slashes collided.
No—my slash didn't just collide.
It broke through.
The second my Aether Slash hit his Sonic Slash, I felt the resistance—then nothing.
Like slicing through paper.
Ares' attack shattered instantly, golden energy dispersing into the air as my Aether Slash tore straight through and kept going.
Right at Ares.
His eyes widened. He barely had time to react before he twisted away at the last second, the force of my attack grazing past him.
Then I heard the sharp gasp from the crowd.
My heart stopped.
Because my Aether Slash was still going.
Straight to the audience.
And toward— A girl.
Blonde, messy hair. Sleepy green eyes. Holding a drink—bubble tea, I think.
She looked way too calm for someone about to get obliterated.
"LOOK OUT!" I shouted.