The ambush from the last floor was felt throughout the crowd.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnvgIrgaxI
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXFm9kFgRN
Even though Juke and I weren't affected, the other's faces were considerably downtrodden. Some members were now left without a partner and had to team up with people they weren't very familiar with. Morale was low, especially since our leaders were missing.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0Plq85cF0
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Qs6eiJIg
The remaining group was small, too. Only about eight people were left, meaning that, with the five remaining floors, some were simply required to take them alone. There was chatter of moving as a single unit, taking on each room as a whole rather than having forces split from the group, but others countered that doing so would be abandoning an order and that we had to "trust our other members."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHywzNY8kW
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFVa6ofLCK
As for me, my nerves only spiked. The image of all those fallen bringers was engraved into my mind, and I desperately tried to keep the word "corpse" out of my head. Over and over, telling myself that they were simply unconscious when the right side of my mind constantly told me otherwise–
**SLAP**164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnDKJNtgvD
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa6qBdnN2a
"Ack!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fXU0UYUnI
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZWJmUXRaV
I wasn't prepared for the strength I slapped myself with. My muscles were incredibly tense, and I hadn't even realized.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6JQP6NPF8
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4yLF5gOcy
"No use in thinking about it. No use in thinking about it! Come on!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHrthITmQk
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJ27v4ud10
I steeled whatever I had left of my resolve and kept trudging through the stairs. I had a complete vision of the crowd, and it made it apparent just how thinned out it had become. To my great dismay, I could even see Rover.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4hN8GRGCx
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloohPzwqoN
"...Useless–!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyZgAVAtud
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4ybmqrXIX
I tried not to think about anything that. I knew I couldn't suspend it for long, but every second I could force my legs forward was valuable. So I ran and ran and ran and ran and–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyUa5UoVOA
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIOOT4t4vP
Suddenly, I noticed something. Though I naturally hadn't been paying much attention to her, the person beside her had changed.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6a9mBBfb20
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlh3s6swhGM
And it was someone I recognized164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZM48KjXH0
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV45i1I4eoc
–
–
–
The most grueling part of this siege hadn't been the laborious running. It hadn't been the various enemies, the threat of death or even seeing allies fall like flies in the previous ambush. No, for Rover, it was restraint.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCQYpK54vB
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRHHtCusmn
To do nothing in the face of Hard-Bringer gave her near-uncontrollable rage. Those she swore she'd see crumble, running amok and stealing lives as they always have, unable to even point her weapon at them. If it weren't for those looming words by that wimpy child, resting in the corners of her mind like spiders, she would've caved in.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpjMc2RiPD
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEbjT6zzZG
Especially now that her surrogate partner was a completely new face.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL1Pfo7O1t
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14TQTdKWer
"Hi."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggxmkeKNuh
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OVtmhm6zp
As she raced up the steps, a man in glasses only a little taller announced himself. She could see him facing her in her peripheral, and though her habits urged her not to, she matched his gaze.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseHUDWl9WM
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFpVwrhZMK
"What!?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL2IlaKkio
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxj1cxKWcS
Though, perhaps, she should've spared an extra second checking her tone.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAER4ToBZm
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiCaf8DG8E
"S-Sorry for the intrusion, ma'am! I just thought we'd familiarize ourselves."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YtKL4qYig
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEaQbx0kx8
His nervous expression didn't loosen one bit. When Rover tried a softer face, the sweat on his brow multiplied. Rover gave up appearances, quickly discarding dismissive dialogue before her introduction.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZDrqekyXQ
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FVT2cV0Hm
"I'm Nigel. You're the volunteer, aren't you?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRLfyMR6Ex
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5Y97MkAQS
"Volunteer makes it sound lame! I'm Rover! L-Let's work well together, alright!?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh39f8I6sJC
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx5uKrJCYV
Nigel's tense expression eased a little. He worried about a sudden reassignment just as much as Rover did.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsS8C0ifSX
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIC8eBRHTR3
"I know this is a bit impromptu, but my partner perished on the floor below. Thank you for bearing with me."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQibxNWkvaC
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkO1JrluyD
He raised his right hand, one that clutched a metal collar with a tag. Rover knew immediately who it belonged to, and the unusual idea of consolement entered her mind.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdAOGUTEos
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuI6pgkexT
"That... that's really bad. I'm sorry for–"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc72D26BbE
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Jgv3bZJpA
"Don't worry about it. You've suffered a similar fate, haven't you? We're in the same boat."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdlFEnxa3u
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlol5VymbW
He kept a smile with those words, but his eyes lacked the light to convince her. He turned his head away, and the two of them kept running up with their usual worries.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaA4xn31W4
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdKYuTr1Z4
And then, finally, they hit a flat surface.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n117PyUSk
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqCR8AmQ6v
"The next room's up ahead!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bhft6xUYb
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGjUOS02zx
She had been in this scene nearly a dozen times already. And each time, she dreaded it. Sprinting to that door, knowing that there would be a monster in man's skin. She swallowed that dread like before, and each time, it poisoned her blood further and further.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcWbOQLxfp
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ji0KC6djt
The crowd made it to the room. It was relatively small, but an immediate feature was the giant stained windows, granting a tinted view of the city outside. Rover gave minimum attention to the stature of the room, however, because there, by the exit, sat a man who could only be described as–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj0nNXTWPV
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEniiXrRuLt
"Holy shit! Are ya a titan!?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIk0cRhRZd
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG87DI15dK
Rover glanced behind her, realizing that Juke was the one to yell that. She saw Kenny near him, huffing with his hands on his kneecaps.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE6YvN1u1o
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO6cSLHbPT
A titan. It was a familiar word. She heard it from the stories her mother told her. But, of course, there were no titans in King's Peak, only tales of them.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek9TNJmkKj
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGrFM7XvgZ
But, even if it was only in name, the titan a man was. A member of Hard-Bringer with such size, and his head nearly reached the ceiling when he stood. Such monstrous height intimidated nearly everyone, but for Rover, it was the opposite.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLLqPRtiBT
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloANDQQg0A
Rover recognized that height. Rover recognized that build, even though it was concealed by robes, and as the man went to pull his hoodie down, the face that appeared only confirmed her intuition.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgbkqw0yIU
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvHClT0N5z
"This is where your advance ends– huh?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr0BTaDsfs
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeVCm4tBD2
The towering man stopped his speech, compelled by the dashing girl with a rapier in hand. She leaped forward and stuck her foot out, but the man blocked the kick by raising his arm. Rover then thrust her blade, and the man narrowly dodged by tilting his head. However, his angled head was grabbed by her free arm, and through a feat unexpected of her size–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCZMewt4fP
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4kSmvHApY
**THUD**164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qcOIAXxVb
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3oqcMa3FX
She shoved the man down to the ground. She immediately followed with a thrust, but she only caught his robe, and the man scurried away.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N5JWHHShp
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyYPNgSOJa
"...Same tricks as always."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA8rjBgpdu
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgt7DO808e
Though her snide remark was entirely unperturbed, the rest of the room stared with mouths agape, as if they had just witnessed alien life.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6cJcm49Ac
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rlc1YYCzS
"Hoh– it is you. You!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyrOs6Iuy1
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeizQ1nGHh6
Because, the once hulking, monster of a man, was now suddenly the size of a teenage boy.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkI4pROo24
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2pCqG3WJJ
"I never expected to run into you today, Rover! Hahaha!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1j94IzcGf5
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqYYHmDbAm
The crowd was stunned. Only one member moved through the shock, and everyone stared to find it was Nigel.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2MJiQflbQ
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4EhraMacE
"Everyone," he shouted. "Move on, we'll take care of things here!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcZ9YNSwx9
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ368Ranvf2c
Rover pointed her weapon at the man, a clear warning to stay in place. The man obliged without much resistance, and Rover turned her head to make sure everyone would leave. But then she noticed how Nigel didn't move one inch to that door, and his use of 'we' only just registered in her mind.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfiXI4PC9Y
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwWXD07yIk
"Nigel."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R3Av7Rfkt
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux3nxLxAX9
"Yes?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCwgkqU0SN
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYa7wpaVPu
"Leave. I'm fighting this one alone."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEvxCa0flB
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwOlff8D2R
"...You're kidding me, certainly."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oWRt7x3R9
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5L0V5VcY4
Rover shook her head back and forth.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MT5CNnWcl
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL8Esgjfmr
"Do you honestly think you can take him alone? You saw what he did, didn't you?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaDNJ4ERZO
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtbzz4Es1X
"Of course I did. And I know how it works."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYip5fi7ow
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wzOVJhB5M
"You fought him before, then?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHEDUTvwTD
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdAQmXVjRw
Rover quickly nodded. Nigel looked at the man with a constrained face, balling his hands into shaking fists. After an irritated, almost hopeless sigh, he complied. But not before one final word.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDOeTGvjWg
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOLJlyRtTo
"Aren't you and I a team? Are you absolutely certain?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAvFkOks23
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaWKQA77jj
Operating on instinct, Rover nodded, but then his opening question computed with her, and her eyes suddenly constricted.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6h7gvAOoiA
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVUaBBW1nl
"Very well! Don't die on me!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVAfGDWkbx
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCddLsN5zWv
His opening words caught Rover like a chain. It reminded her of that moron's scolding, forced her to consider her vow– her earnest word that she'd cooperate –and inquired why she didn't abide by them. But Rover answered that inquiry easily.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFiHlA9Cek
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz2oowGOUd
This man wasn't just a Bringer. She had a history with him. This man was an enemy. A bipedal wretch, barely human, who boiled her blood and furrowed her brows.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZsAysFIgV
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZekF7B443
No, now she was certain of it. This monster had to fall to her hands; anyone else would just be a hindrance. So she would take him alone, as she always had.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzrj4LdUbg
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h7T4ONsE2
She looked back one last time, making sure that only she and the man were in the room. Nigel was gone, but to her surprise, there was still another member of the crowd there. He drew particular attention. Standing between the exit, not quite leaving it, with clear indecision festering within.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIiIOcfHel
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrNpgf0ps2
"Rover," Kenny suddenly shouted. Her eyes moved to his face, constricted and complicated. She was compelled to call it a scowl, but no scorn was in Kenny's face. Only concern, and disappointment.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFyn4CuKXw
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRQmGAcLOV
Even without hearing it, Rover knew his words. It suddenly was difficult, to see his face like that. Now, the embodiment of that vow was staring directly into her. Not just at her eyes, no– she felt the observation of her soul.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMZwICcK97
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5xJARK8QE
"..."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Clhz7hXCj
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2pvrXvT4A
It was suddenly difficult to do anything. And yet, the feelings that burned within her formed too great an inferno to douse. If that boy took two steps further into this room, or even one, she felt like she would lash out. She felt like– she knew she would yell at him not to butt in, to mind his own business, to go fuck himself, and to leave her alone. Words that she had slung candidly before. Words that she knew better than family.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7Nu83c0wd
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZI70ipi6I
And so, she communicated with a stern nod, and Kenny's biting mouth chipped his nail.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6CrrmRd48
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXKbi6aoSD
"Fine. Good luck!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCAbJRSnwp
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdzS5XVjUt
And then, he was off. His bidding of good fortune completely stunned her. However, she quickly recovered–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OZtyaCYm6
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hyjkq2J8k
**THUD**164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsPygmi3Br
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4sxKu2Ncj
"Sharp as always! I'm a fool to think that would work!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl1hGBXvH0
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj6Tj3jS88
There came a sudden strike from her front, but it was one that she blocked. She freed her rapier from the struggle and backed away, brandishing her weapon and sliding a leg back into a stance.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddTRG8MW58
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0yvZdFhG1
"Are you ready," the man asked, a boorish smirk on his face. She could almost see the swirls in his eyes, the way they lost any reason, seeing only combat and carnage as they always had.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r8ph1YZFz
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBkSy13C8E
She tried to ignore the uncertain, guilty way her stomach formed a pit.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNLp3AyCVE
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu89ElJPm8
"Come at me, Boris!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmWKoLo8BY
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74LdOPg6sD
–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYUypfObhc
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcoh5MTPKw
–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gDKoVB87D
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzrFYj4hUu
–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESIHm9fhrU
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0BzdsXPKf
Right before she charged forth, her stalled thoughts sprung into action.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLEIQ2tPPk
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5fIJHP1Lq
Rover knew of their volatile unpredictability. But she was always prepared for it. Even on that street, when they made their audacious announcement, Rover hadn't a shocked bone in her body. But to see Boris utterly defied expectations. She wished she had more time, maybe a moment to sharpen the tip of her rapier, to check the grip on her dagger. But it was too late now, and as she took her first step into battle, she lost all leeway to care.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznbZ4OoQRi
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡextAIC4ow7
Boris contested her dash. As he charged forth his smaller stature expanded slightly. He leaped forward, but it wasn't to tackle or to grab. He swung his hips and turned ninety degrees, unbending his legs for a sudden drop kick.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNk3lVAkrA
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF7Ly2n6on
Rover blocked it with her hands. His increased size made the blow harder to cope with, but she still only slid a foot back. Now on the ground, Rover seized the opportunity to stab at the man. She thrust once, and her sword was met with the sole of his boot.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIgrIK7e2G
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYDm40lIkO
"Huh!?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamB2rwRxTh
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFwdS3CevT
He spun onto his belly, catching himself with his hands, using her rapier as a borrowed axel. He pushed himself off the ground with enough force that, even with his lack of leverage, he flew as a battering ram toward her. Rover's rapier nearly snapped under the pressure, but she moved it away before its steel blade turned into a wobbly tube. She ducked Boris' charge, but he grabbed onto her rapier, swinging back around and destroying Rover's balance. Rover, however, had only one hand on that Rapier.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvGyxasadh
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtv4YdqNaE
"Hah!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BdzVmJKrK
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAV8CgsEBrW
She used her other to grab her dagger and stabbed at the man. He took the blow unceremoniously, even growing to lessen it, and she was sure it hurt by the subsequent grunt. He flew off her rapier a solid few meters away, taking Rover's dagger with his body.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMueU4fZJs
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2gsjCrIt2
But she didn't let up, because she knew that if she waited any longer–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPskLXImm1
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yLleFP1vP
"Here!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPnH32CyOk
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx4kWtZ9C6
Boris dislodged her dagger and he chucked it like a throwing knife. Rover caught it at one of its crossguards, but as she was distracted with doing so, the man performed mana spinning.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6vKuHIVVo
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7hddE8LJ2
"Good thing that dagger's so thin. Otherwise, this wound wouldn't be so easy to heal."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2B9O2PvVz
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05eFMOeNSX
"Tch."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7bsAqF1yb
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEsURTPBDG
Boris returned to his former size. He stroked his chin, tending to his thoughts as he stared down Rover. She afforded him no time and charged forth. She thrust her rapier once, met with a jerk away, and thrust it again. She repeated her thrusts, each of which dodged but less comfortably each subsequent attempt. Rover knew him better, however. She knew that right as she thought she'd get him, he would pull an underhanded trick. So she assumed the eyes of an analyst, narrowing them and gazing at Boris like a hunting cat.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMMPqVdFcd
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h5oRQleqQ
**CLANG**164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jxSmRii1E
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjMpkHr1e3
And that trick came. Boris caught her thin rapier between his hands, clamping it so fiercely that the metal would snap any moment. But Rover's stance suffered no blow, and poised to strike back, she slung her leg from her side. The blow struck Boris right under the rib, and from his obvious wince, the damage wasn't meaningless.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm1STgJ1hw
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WDldESNxC
She struck again quickly, sliding her rapier out and using the butt of its hilt like a rock, smacking Boris square in the face. Boris reeled from the blow and took a few steps away, but Rover swung her arm back and straightened her Rapier, honing in for a vicious thrust.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzds9SLzv0
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRc8gnTDst
That thrust, however, had been dodged. And the force Rapier stockpiled only sent her tumbling to the ground. She never landed, though, because a sudden fist to the face replaced her embarrassing fall with a punitive flight. She soared across the room, disoriented, anchoring herself on the floor with her Rapier right before colliding with a wall.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKCIGS7BRo
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMP5Xg69HC
As she gathered her bearings, she saw Boris charging forth with a puffed chest. Only, it wasn't puffed, but swollen to inhuman degrees. The image of a bull came to her mind, and for a moment she was paralyzed. But she shook the intimidation off and stepped away, missing a blow that–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9AtCXVfkV
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEEUpi6pXL
**SMASH**164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeSkGu61iA
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVc28bnALz
–shook the room as it ruined the wall.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTmOpEDjTM
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYulhipE4f
"Ack. Shit!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5zVbd1xLf
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iGqGX6ZG8
Rover realized his reckless gesture was an attempt at an early victory, but she was too energized to fall prey to it, and now Boris was only more hurt.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10GtGCs2sx
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbqOzn8JOs
"These tactics don't work how they used to. You've grown. Haha, you've truly grown!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFgbhlEoTx
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDEMJjDL7J
Boris deflated his comical size, returning to a more reasonable stature.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzQaWkoqVo
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vVWAUHfCY
"But not enough."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfgMmPDnFD
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0CgekfjUC
"--!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLh4DWpa2LN
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvhcn6pCAq
Those words, unlike anything prior, brewed steam within her head.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjPBS3aZnk
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bcoCpzaUK
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm kicking your ass!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWstBOCBxWa
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOujxOOQrvg
He wiped some dirt off his shoulder.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYf17qJn3i
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7iLjmolfa
"Your intellect hasn't improved one bit, has it? Can't you tell I'm still toying with you?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASaJOPkY2P
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP2JTlrkwi
Her jittering mouth couldn't open to respond. So badly did she want to deny it, to call him out for being coy. But to do so, would just be to lie.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBmzk4Hdl0
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tb2KiMcHt
"I remember when you and I first met. Back in those ivory fields, when I offered you a home, you scowled at me and called me scum. That a bringer like me ought "164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQ06Y3CS4X
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVptNfa6vpq
"...So what? What are you getting at, shitface?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMJpaTKvdb
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqkyKyejtc
He smirked. He placed his hands behind his shoulders, closing his eyes. Rover didn't understand what he was doing, and that worried her. That worried her deeply because she thought she knew every trick this monster could pull. She thought she knew every ace up his sleeve, every nook and cranny of his capacity.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd6G0pr5uH
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pZeQ4Vzwz
But, as she was proven yet again, keeping expectations like that was for fools.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GWImxknKz
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRmTDacLsj
From the back of his shoulders, cylindrical masses of earth formed, taking shapes and morphing as his hands moved outward. His arms stopped just above his chest, and as he lowered his arms, Rover's eyes blew open, her clenched throat vomiting a gasp.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxelVYlPbVo
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GWEf0g5C3
"You talked so much of this goal of yours. Of how you'd beat me. Of how you'd prove yourself to me and all of my colleagues."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBVva6t0Y8
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG00MZqYgJ
From the back of his shoulders, a new pair of arms found home, and they pointed their fingers with snappy girth.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOnTdErIXG
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik9P0tGDDD
"Hahaha! Come! Show me that this time, you'll do just that"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa2stJJcB4
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmsETla3a3
"--Fine!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0SK5NkUpC
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKF4RL1A6A
Though the doubling of his limbs was obviously intimidating, Rover tried not to be dissuaded by his appearance. She charged forth, dagger now firmly in hand. After all, if she fought the new Boris with a stale arsenal, she'd be crushed.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YXqabOOlE
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC3sJgrxkZ
She began with a thrust, and immediately it was caught by one of Boris' earthly arms, not budging an inch. He bent his legs and threw a regular punch at Rover, one she avoided with a backstep. Her rapier was now confiscated, and she watched Boris raise it with his earthen arms.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRLPOpopAy
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM67A910qi
Something inside urged her to scream in defiance. To yell at that man not to do it, but she pushed that unburied temptation down with a commanding glare. Gazing at Boris as he snapped the rapier like a twig.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmmWpvkgjG
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQNZDKNg5C
"Well," he asked, "what now?" He threw the split rapier to the side and taunted Rover, daring her to come closer. Rover didn't fall for the taunt, because what she had was not rage– at least, not at the man before her.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCptZwRUCC
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDypAHV6QC
Rather, her shaking fists were directed at herself. She raised the dagger and looked at it. Despite its needle-like blade, the curved cross-guards made it a poor tool for thrusting. This was her only weapon. This and her fists, anyway, but if her past had taught her anything, it was that fists were a futile tool against him.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vS298LULT
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRzMDpGSzb
"Completely still. But, of course, you lost your only way to kill me. Will you give up?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMSSShwqfE
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4GFbPhfxS
"...You're counting me out already. It's pissing me off!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGf8seSKlyF
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv5BBvum7d
Yes, her remaining weapon was better suited to defense. Yes, she was physically weaker than Boris. But if her kit made it so that she lived and died by the presence of her rapier, she would've gone all those years traveling King's Peak for nothing.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwguZHCAjA
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWH923eGje
"You've learned nothing, you overgrown oaf!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MlBIkb5WH
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwALj0u3MB
Her free hand latched onto the strap around her waist, turning it and revealing the satchel that had gone unnoticed by Boris. Unzipping it and reaching for its contents, Rover pulled out an item that made his eyes widen. A thin, elongated, but sturdy vial, one that fits comfortably into Rover's palm.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpTRMudzfT
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pVrkAYY8C
"...I see. Hahaha, I see! And what kind of exotic mana does that hold?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFjJeCfhPI
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMam5XyZ7K
"Come and find out!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6EmmKpPum
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs37JtqMuOF
And for the first time in the battle, Boris broke the neutral state, dashing at Rover with arms blazing. A result that came at the worst time possible. Because, although Rover revealed her condition for victory, not a single thought of how to use it came to her mind. And thus, she panicked.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxOaWjQmXs
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2dA1aTbBG
Fortunately, she was always a better runner than Boris.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvctoX0Vd2E
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjyO5ZvMRn
"Get back here! Come on you coward!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ0UlDDPvf
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgf8dBPl0n
Rover dismissed those venomous words. Or at the very least, she tried to, but its potent bite was felt throughout her body like the mountains of sweat her brow was producing. She had no idea what to do. For a moment she doubted that she remembered what the vial even contained. But one look at it, at its orange hue that signified distinct divergence, assured Rover that much.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqLHJLEWRO
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa45lxfbgPZ
And then, the answer came to her. The wave of panic crashed with the gentle grace of summer water. She stuck the dense vial in her mouth and turned around.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRpqlR3NI9
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgy6aXzC6s
"Finally!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tKeGiyT1o
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSvBbX113s
Boris threw his earthen arms directly at her, which Rover dodged. In a bent position, Boris brought both his arms up to uppercut. Rover blocked one fist with her palm and stabbed through the other.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqODZF7MKzk
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQ2uwfat9r
"--Ack! Shit!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDopLcVgDQJ
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYQY8mtnkS
The parrying dagger slid smooth like silk out of the wound. Rover dashed back immediately, anticipating some kind of reaction.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC7U94xWW5
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ206USZEuiQ
"...My fingers are broken. Just what is that dagger made of?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6AB8AxSV7
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBpAUBiWJN
And then a profound smile found itself on her face. He backed away to perform mana spinning potent enough only to close his wound. Those broken fingers were just what she needed.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuEqZq6PTY
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllunmJTj6G
She performed a swift dash, closing the gap between Boris and her. He immediately put his earthen arms up as a guard, disjointed just enough from his body to make an attack impossible. Rover thought this sudden focus on defense as suspicious, even as the mana spinning on his hand gave her a reason, so she dared not approach without caution. After all, with how volatile his size changes were, he could–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCl7EHp9ex
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWrRo4A8dv
"...!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKtxyUuhZI
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAU5HG5bmj
Her past experience came to the forefront of her mind, and now she observed her reality with a perplexed perspective. He barely altered his size throughout this fight. He stopped only when–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56PNgqlvzn
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml2rtYU2dr
"Ah-ha!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ171xgc68lz
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuanGXjnPM
Though her profession of understanding was muffled by the glass between her teeth, it made the rise of her confidence no less explosive. She seemingly threw all caution to the wind, charging forth directly into his earthen arms. Boris dashed away, keeping Rover at a distance, but to no avail. Her speedy struts caught up to his back peddling quickly, and instead of attacking, Rover grabbed the earthen hands.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5kakoFzGY
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY4yZxMJtU
The gesture alone confused Boris for a moment, just enough to stun him for what happened next.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwUKFQGWHr
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRooddRB0p
**THUD**164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsemEwcgJTU
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXC4lUgPAr
"Urk!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZPar634Uo
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnyzAQ7P9w
Using those arms like a swing, she propelled her feet into Boris' gut. But she didn't stop there. Because there was no better opportunity to do this than now. She pulled the glass right out of her mouth and popped the lid open, throwing it at Boris as she fell to the floor and rolled away.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4wHKXC7CS
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBzJPFJjbB
Now at a distance, Rover observed the magic. But no magic came.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5QD1ZSI7e
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlbbgRWD5X
"Huh?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTu6JyIQzR
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rNof2FfdZ
There was a fluttering cloud of orange dust before Boris, permeating through the room like any ordinary gas would.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepBC2LWm7I
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8huy11E8c0
"Haha! What was I afraid of!?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1b7yrnuDH
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb2h1EdaeV
Boris broke into a bellowing laughter. He held his gut not only to soothe the pain but to hold back his chuckles. Rover knew he would've pointed at her had one of his arms not suffered damage, and though that made her bitter, she kept herself composed for the moment.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR4hBRGTr5
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ8DpfpOEw
Boris quit his laughter, wiping a few tears out of his eyes. The orange cloud permeated slowly, so it still was rather thick, but that didn't dissuade Boris from sticking his head in and smelling it like morning air.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h07fVI95S
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRzbPa2ZTi
"What's this? Doesn't smell like anything. You crack me up. At least you put on a good show!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5d03q0GdiC
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTJMfbgvTM
Boris threw his arms wide.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9qHUPb9md
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF50c4GJnp
"But I like fights more than performances. I'll do both of us a favor and end this–"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8efyBzHVOs
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE76fxvvX5q
In a flash, as he spoke, as the spit flew out of his face, and as the lids of his eyes closed to blink, he raised his leg one step forward. With that leg, his body followed right after, crashing into the dust of orange, spreading it just far enough that it contacted the earthen arms.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPAuzgypYy
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq09C9cnUw
And then the magic happened.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoxbw7imPe
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d2No55ys2
**BOOM**164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuyetH3Vh8
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo4GjJtSvh
That cloud of dust erupted with volcanic ferocity, an explosion so small, yet so extreme that Rover struggled to keep her footing. A great cloud of smoke took the place of Boris' body, and Rover looked on with the slimiest grin she had ever worn.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCVjwUsKFu
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXcVsWU3j0
"Heh. And I even figured out your actual size."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Nt7DKItkB
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWovCLPx8Zg
She stood up and wiped whatever junk found itself on her shoulder. She approached the site of the explosion, and just like in her memories, it was near heatless. She didn't get too close, however. Just close enough to see Boris' crisps, when that cloud of dust would eventually fade.
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAQEhloYv1
"Hmmm? This is taking a while–"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla7UXg5mQi
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uadOux8eJ
And indeed, that cloud of dust faded. It faded rather fast. But then Rover realized it wasn't that the dust faded. Rather, something had stolen its spot.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWkPeyexpC
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpel4tMF4K
The arm of a titan, reaching out for her, with its open palm like a claw. Rover's instincts forced her body to dash away. Then she stood and watched. Watched as a hulking mass exited the site of the explosion.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK8gyKbCM3
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgdsMyXx7y
Then, it shrunk.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk4UQn4EfQ
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6bj1ZcYjV
"Oh ho ho, you marvelous beast."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97tOttmWxv
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjAVWr68No
Boris' robes were gone. Cinders, undeniably. Then was the leather armor Rover knew he always wore. That was gone too. The only article of clothing that remained were his pants, and even they were hardly intact. He was covered in burns blistered the likes of which she'd never seen, and his earthen arms were now missing. By all strings of reasoning, Rover should've dashed in and dealt the final blow. But she couldn't.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotxXCoUtB7
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhhCdZiav9
Come to think of it, it was the first time she'd seen a part of his body aside from his face. And now she felt as if she just discovered a new man. Because all around Boris' torso was a carpet of gaping, sporadic holes.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2qgPvmwSQ
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCkOsnPSgx
"I can see it in your face. Your disgust. But I know that there's awe in those eyes. How couldn't there be?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDbaNTcHAe
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9qYKj6kao
Rover snapped out of her trance and brandished her dagger.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwk1HuT3J5
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OXL6i5OTb
"What you're seeing is my Endowment. Many have called it a curse, but I'm not so ungrateful to insult it like that."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkswIgAU4p
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsUretZ9YF
Boris raised his unbroken arm. He began mana spinning, forming a brick of earth in his hand. And then, from the large hole centered at his navel, the very same brick spewed out and plummeted to the ground.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHLqgVrcXv
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwVXYkIfhz
And then, a few seconds later, another brick spat out a different hole.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaROfPHhORr
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OX2hsMbuE
"Those arms I formed made for a dandy shield, wouldn't you say? Though of course, you hit me in the last place it spawned. Lucky you."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LhiEVbDO1
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfl04cvXSH
Another brick spewed out. It came from his shoulder.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixNeNwLVfU
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi69SlQgab
"Well, you've certainly made a mess of my face. But I don't need good looks anyway."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8MtEtG0id
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV4PHZIGMu
He dropped the brick in his hand right as another spewed out. He wound his arm, as if to stretch it, then gazed at Rover with the eyes of a monster.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7Brll4ogw
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrMzX9lN8y
"You're not done fighting, are you? Come on."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFrEZiWyoy
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU3bCkryqY
"...Freak."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLtYU3axiL
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjTXC0ZzWK
"Oh yeah. You loved calling me that before, didn't you?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwo1YcUX18U
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG91DKcynBe
"And just look at how right I was."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzXmRPh9OH
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGsJWdeQXd
A hearty chuckle came from him.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LAoLkSySV
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UUwfdNOls
"Well, that won't do you any good."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8U3T8Kywo
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSskG0UkIZ
Boris entered a stance, taunting Rover yet again.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjJR6aKfTf
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDouTEO1EV
"Come on. My legs are scorched. Your marvelous plan gave you this opportunity."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooCk9NiJPE
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkkxb9yrJk
She put one leg forward.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptkqaBOBve
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTnxrsplME
"You've got brains since the last time we met. At least, more than I expected. You used them well. You're still worth keeping around."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3G7D0C6brR
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxspDsCd3GR
Then another. Boris' grin grew wider.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnvCbINWRC
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuv6LKtgSb
"A helpless dog like you shouldn't loiter around! Come on, Rover! Don't you have something to prove!?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPFPgIc6J1
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxQS1OG2wI
And even through his manic glare, Rover sprinted. She sprinted with energy to finish, the will to see that monster put down.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpN2VmSbQ9
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi05Uof7nCx
–
–
–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkfnuUeod3
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsech72azg
–From an onlooker's perspective, Rover could see why she'd get concerned stares. Even though her body locomoted tactfully in the fight, the windows to her mind made contorted, bemused shapes. And the removal of her dagger compounded that contortion.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHIPCs3hjc
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq1z0Oloag
She threw a fist forward. It was slapped away by Boris, and he attempted a counterattack. Rover tucked her head just in time, and with the tiny space between her skull and his arm, she jumped. Boris avoided a dislocation, but Rover kept the assault with a kick from the side. It was blocked by his other hand. She slipped away just before it got caught, and using her right leg like an anchor, delivered a flurry of kicks at Boris, who went to block them.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLuxfgMAnG
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H0OE5opsk
–Rover's kicks were laced. Whether it hampered or bolstered them wasn't something she knew or cared about. At some point, she forgot all about the process of kicking, her mind wandering to holes in her gut. The oozing pastries behind the glass, unable to snatch that gilded stash.
Boris quit his consecutive parries, realizing that such a task was a fool's game. He backed away, which took a moment to compute with Rover, and Boris used that moment to charge in and deliver a quick blow. Rover fortunately blocked it, and as she didn't slide across the room, she had ample leverage to pull a maneuver. She spread her arms and wrapped them around Boris, turning around and putting it over her shoulder. Boris was bigger than her, but that mattered little with her strength. She threw him onto the ground, and his back's unceremonious clash with the floor made its effects apparent on his face. However, Boris pointed his vacant hand at her and out came a burst of wind. Rover didn't have the reflexes to dodge at such a short range and went flying across the room.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zWp7MlcFl
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnesaKxnI8
–Those morphing cakes reeked of red. Its verdant smell commanded her to smash the glass, but she was smarter than that. She knew that if she broke the shield, she'd lose on the spot. And that couldn't happen. Her blood boiled to steam. Her teeth ground themselves to powder. It was inevitable, seeing as that's how it always went.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZPkOGld4V
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhOc1EmyLn
Boris jumped up from the floor right as Rover landed on it. She struggled to get back on her feet, as the blow from his spell sent her head into a frenzy, but she made do with her wobbly knees. Boris charged forth and tackled with his shoulder. Rover tried to block it, and though she avoided any serious damage, she was swept off her feet yet again. Boris followed with a kick, but right as his foot was about to connect, another gust of wind blew from his chest. It saved Rover from a painful blow and sent Boris soaring away, but the edges of the gust still connected, and she was back on the floor.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyngrEpuzW
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnQCNVUIRX
–When things get at arm's length, they become untouchable. But the obstacle isn't always a protective pane of glass. Sometimes it's a shelf, one just high enough so it's out of your reach. Rover jumped for years, but every time her legs grew stronger, or her arms grew longer, the shelf grew with her, but always a little more. Eventually, her fiddling fingertips couldn't even brush it.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXotv8Zr1jt
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPb2sc70Fux
Rover fought yet again to get her feet to the ground. She wiped her mouth with her arm and spat out blood-infused spit. She must've cut her inner cheek.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzx4A6L2r5
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqXH2cYo7d
Boris was far away from her, but charing with full awareness. His pace slugged from before, it was clear to Rover that the explosion still affected him. She used that thought to muster her remaining strength and met Boris' charge head-on. The two entered a series of throwing and avoiding fists, and Rover's superior speed gave her an edge. She landed blows square in the chest, and as she hit his pores, they immediately constricted. Rover cared little as to what that meant and kept bashing, but then Boris landed a fist into her cheek. She rolled with the hit as well as she could before rounding back with her strongest punch yet. It landed right into Boris' palm. He twirled his arm, a clear attempt to break Rover's own, but she had experience with such tricks. She put her free hand onto Boris' and jumped, countering his rotation with her own, and kicking him in the head. But Boris didn't release his grasp, and instead threw Rover up and punted her gut.
–There was almost no doubt in her mind of what would happen. It was inevitable, in spite of her struggle. She was going to lose. Would she die? She knew Boris well enough, and so she knew she wouldn't. But to her, no future existed beyond the time of her loss. No prospects are had at the precipice of failure. It was like the blackness of recollecting one's memory as a fetus. But if these rotten thoughts were all that were within her, then maybe she could've squeezed out a tie.
Rover fell to the ground, wheezing and panting, remnants of her stomach escaping from her mouth. She expected an immediate attack and braced herself, but such an attack never came–
**THUD**164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyJYeqMzE8
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPnQOiQ0L4
Rover ate a kick to the face. She rolled across the ground but stopped herself quickly. Her right eye was covered in red, but she could see Boris even through a blizzard. He stomped to her, but Rover didn't move. She reached into the sheath and grabbed the hilt of her dagger, and right as Boris was in range to attack, she threw the weapon at her.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYA8gjqMab
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmPvyZHzZm
–There were chains around her arms, doubts in and out of hiding, pouncing and making escapes with military expertise. There was guilt in her limbs, the ones she used to seal the oath she carelessly shattered. There was anger in her stomach, the one that was always there, residing like a parasite but pulsing now as if it was bound to burst. There was sorrow in her heart, the one she used to fuel words about things she just didn't understand. The one she used to hope. But one affliction was chief among them all.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzQ9PeW3V6
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE2CBVerYn
Boris was caught off guard, but not as much as Rover hoped. He just raised one of his arms and let the dagger pierce right through. Boris' screaming was nearly musical to her. Blood leaked from the edges; it was clear the dagger was like a clog. But even so, Boris pulled the dagger out of his arm and sealed the blood-spewing hole with his fingers, performing mana spinning.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRhR0qS64Z
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yBTxQjDnE
"You have gotten smarter. Or maybe I've just gotten dumber."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyyACu861j
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk06JOTcuv
Rover tried to get up and attack. After all, he was right in front of her, making himself vulnerable. She tried, and she was able to get her upper body off the floor, but Boris kept her down with another kick to the chin. Any strength to rise departed, and all Rover could do was watch as Boris approached.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYozAzMTVqW
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJS0GuR6DWh
"What a shame. For you, of course. This is the closest you've ever gotten, but you didn't have that extra push."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWXA34zlEk
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln9RBpgrnq
Rover balled his hands into a fist, scowling at Boris with daggers for eyes.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7WE72pbem
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZB2gCJKu6
"Relax, now. Twisting your face won't kill me. Might as well save the energy."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuQo5LQFl6
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxLS2VKUQH
"You... ass."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANv5205E7v
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus7DaEiuI0
Boris stopped before her legs, staring at them while pinching his chin. Rover couldn't begin to imagine what was going on in his head. But she kept on scowling, even hissing at him as if the action would deter him at all.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8gczo37Ct
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMhdpaKgEw
"You're not crawling away?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDCS51x2V9
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxui1cM5mdR
"...I'm not a damn worm."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0XWSdY3Ms
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dS8DgAsj4
"Right. You never were the type to do that. But your insults are missing. Well, not that it matters."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQcOGcP9oC
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAf5IGkfHJ
Boris crouched down and gazed at her legs. A shiver crawled up Rover's spine, one that left tingling dread in its wake.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHt9TibDmR
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLK1PWFrR5
"I'm spent, but I can't let you run around either. So how about I do, this?"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhfNay6gyG
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP35covnGs
He grabbed her left leg by the ankle, and as he did so, he began mana expulsion. He formed a great club of earth in his hand and walked over to her hip. Immediately, Rover knew what was going to happen. She moved her arm in an attempt to slap it away, but her hands couldn't reach him.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHbBdx7Cmu
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopdRrf81jf
But, she still tried. As Boris raised the club above his head, the corners of her eyes were taken by darkness. More and more area, subjugated by black until only the very center of her pupils had the ability to look. They stared at the club, as it stood motionless above his head, and she knew any second it would come down, and she knew any second she would be made a fool.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroGoHMHeHn
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJi5tUsLfp
And she couldn't do a thing.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJcAsD7ZNR
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1TFDkfWmJ
–Frustration. It was her frustration. The object of her long-lived hatred, its ambassador stood right there. But she was being beaten down like a dog. An injured mutt who had to limp on all but one of its legs, even unable to beg. At the edge of achieving her dream, her ultimate goal, she was forced to watch it slip further and further away. And then she realized, she couldn't destroy Hard-Bringer. And then she realized, she couldn't even scratch it. And then she realized, she'd have to wait again, and then train again, and then search again, and then despair again. And as the final blow of the battle came, only two words sprung from her mind:164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw0RIGy0gQ
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlQTZLbLdE
Sorry, mom–164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0Dv73NucR
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qsttvJm55
**CRACK**164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlAr2pgKZZ
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYHsjIzFSK
"AG– AAAAAAAAAAHCK!"164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6dueiovLe
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5IHUCIe2K
Her nearly six years of combat experience couldn't have prepared her for this.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNqzIVLKBI
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhqgEBloOH
"And there goes your leg."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPFOmH5JEC
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwE7zp0TS7
She knew of no word to describe the sensation. Seething, writhing, pounding, shocking,
burning, aching, twitching, pulsing, churning– nothing came to her mind to describe it. The shattering of her femur, shooting fragments of bone like shrapnel to the lining of her skin, but not enough to pierce it. As if dozens of bugs drilled through her flesh, as if an entire home landed on her leg– that's what it was like.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPNUyphTBL
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfM3A3cjxo
"It's funny. If it hadn't only been you, I'd probably be dead."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5C82ngnmn
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4jHXEGijk
She couldn't even move to clutch her leg, to soothe it in any way. The most she could do was groan and yell and grit her teeth, but none of that was possible at once, and when her focus got captivated by his words the way it did, the pain exponentiated.
"Dogs like you– they like to hunt alone. But the moment they face something threatening, they bite just short of drawing blood. Maybe then, you're a defective wolf."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy82iJZ65wj
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzBknF87I2
Boris uncrouched and stepped away as a club of earth spat from a pore. He was clearly haggard, limping as he walked away, hardly able to move one leg before the other. That was the only consolidation Rover was afforded; a tiny solace within the sea of agony.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jviyoex8f
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwU17cTWHP
But those words of his stole it away.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVycoQNDszk
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmzyWjhB5Z
"Raw strength wins yet again. You got close, but I am still undefeated. Until we meet again, Rover."164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwSKSO7x2T
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3VecGuzdO
Boris continued limping away until he reached the wall. Then, reeling his fist back, he smashed the glass panes open. He looked down and whistled before turning around and looking at Rover.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLEP78NQRf
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OpbWa4J0t
She wanted to scream, but all the efforts of her throat and lungs were channeled to ease her suffering. And oh, how she hated it. How she hated the grin of his face, an arrangement of his teeth and mouth designed for eating feces. He waved her goodbye and jumped off while cackling like a witch.164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOYSPZ9GAi
164Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRIC7XNGAA
No strength to draw, no will to push. All Rover could do was lay there and cope, lamenting her loss and that wretched monster's words.
