The ambush from the last floor was felt throughout the crowd.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKDFdzcFhY
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh0PDyyymi
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BYwsREo99
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zVmqKOrQS
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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvRHmBixOx
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5IbMqVWbp
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**163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGcXcUa5TK
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjETZiDn3WY
"Ack!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ASuwmFBQn
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUNPPtedBu
I wasn't prepared for the strength I slapped myself with. My muscles were incredibly tense, and I hadn't even realized.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2fiCuC35j
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwmRfXdEKn
"No use in thinking about it. No use in thinking about it! Come on!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc5d6pmNae
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zjBUXxizy
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6ojtAiU3i
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYrBARv98u
"...Useless–!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4yypEMsT8
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqcwDV44T8
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–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROnhM5Ak2q
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoKeI1E8De
Suddenly, I noticed something. Though I naturally hadn't been paying much attention to her, the person beside her had changed.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7oa5ngGea
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkp6HSdjeU
And it was someone I recognized163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE5FPDyexL
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJHTc9Eui2
–
–
–
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyoOwPNWAA
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5R0S0AG1QE
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohw7sVNIjz
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaqYd1XhwE
Especially now that her surrogate partner was a completely new face.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3CFApOtMe
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xnjO5dMvV
"Hi."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ59ZF1wIxW
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxlDbXbImd
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOdESOh9hM
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTzZFxzNHz
"What!?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKL5KdZWf3
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKhbvJbPZr
Though, perhaps, she should've spared an extra second checking her tone.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLRze9ZQWH
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZyh0TjeoL
"S-Sorry for the intrusion, ma'am! I just thought we'd familiarize ourselves."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRciiNE07h
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqb367nkvQ
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvECUyWLiL
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tBekUZHtI
"I'm Nigel. You're the volunteer, aren't you?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg4hLpsg1f
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIfxPpYsn7
"Volunteer makes it sound lame! I'm Rover! L-Let's work well together, alright!?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLXuFfTNuc
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAp1ccA7eO
Nigel's tense expression eased a little. He worried about a sudden reassignment just as much as Rover did.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJU9hS8p0s
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOnYIKSMl8
"I know this is a bit impromptu, but my partner perished on the floor below. Thank you for bearing with me."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGLF7ngOla
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgRe0Do2Vk
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNmpMYqXWz
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzslpaEs2aU
"That... that's really bad. I'm sorry for–"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2PDReZbwc
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjEEMY0hpo
"Don't worry about it. You've suffered a similar fate, haven't you? We're in the same boat."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3SYgyh6LS
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtic1MZfQQG
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSQHSVw2KG
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmioEIngiKR
And then, finally, they hit a flat surface.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHD35ubVW1
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWNMx6nqIo
"The next room's up ahead!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fbFWJp4nU
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi5IDbu8rJ
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndTPxyx3BP
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30o9a9NAps
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–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sYkJouLly
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH1W8Dglem
"Holy shit! Are ya a titan!?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmPfMuvspi
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY22sqCQ0k6
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy3h86l5fI
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJseFcpkAZJ
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDXKh8fOKc
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogSeTZ7DcO
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEgR83KbBR
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4gaWk3sTn
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqS4LkKMsF
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuyCu8tVeH
"This is where your advance ends– huh?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPAIFMmBN2
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYEoLQdXSy
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–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyEHYTItsr
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQrYZckZs0
**THUD**163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbdAZIuvfI
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbsPCAdorJ
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI8Dr0OnfC
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuIG6duf3Q
"...Same tricks as always."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvaSAAsePc
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEoJeS0374
Though her snide remark was entirely unperturbed, the rest of the room stared with mouths agape, as if they had just witnessed alien life.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANCKSadTFR
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAQI7d1dR6
"Hoh– it is you. You!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW38p3oTMXB
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB9D91oEiH
Because, the once hulking, monster of a man, was now suddenly the size of a teenage boy.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOdabjMs7V
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi8cHJSZXs
"I never expected to run into you today, Rover! Hahaha!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c1j00EPfG
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgoMRpRGCW
The crowd was stunned. Only one member moved through the shock, and everyone stared to find it was Nigel.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdec5aTCwsM
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLv74WvNBx
"Everyone," he shouted. "Move on, we'll take care of things here!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHidxrMcWT
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyZPH3Vzju
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MvNjE0I8b
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4haMo2kRF
"Nigel."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1r1N98NtZ
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxBFePCEuK
"Yes?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJRGf2wAEC
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNlkhPRLVC
"Leave. I'm fighting this one alone."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpmtFFOoYX
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFBzovcZQf
"...You're kidding me, certainly."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbFfV7e1co
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyDLsUvpsH
Rover shook her head back and forth.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoZKf7pPFp
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRObkYUk10q
"Do you honestly think you can take him alone? You saw what he did, didn't you?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZp3QQqeh2
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPGSDeBHvI
"Of course I did. And I know how it works."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl0C5ARA91
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIzi73kNbg
"You fought him before, then?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR2UgUezDc
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaUpdnD599
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdno8u3gQ5i
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6sObbDKqK
"Aren't you and I a team? Are you absolutely certain?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyrVwgIwdP
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGZVAMJmlT
Operating on instinct, Rover nodded, but then his opening question computed with her, and her eyes suddenly constricted.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCWi4bJYXx
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGws86q5CgD
"Very well! Don't die on me!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hoHOTY7CB
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr1Apy4453
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfRgBUB3fX
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWtFSRDKYH
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9yeV2C3wP
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmavQSXWn8
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdGjWPJMZz
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcDk1pLZAs
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZDxxboAdU
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWMan4nGZe
"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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvsf6dC3oD
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5GWOGhHKs
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rlp8AiSNB
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oxe4osnFE
"..."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx1yqQzq6A
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWHvngTvG2
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6UVEQWjjA
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfrO30qYAV
And so, she communicated with a stern nod, and Kenny's biting mouth chipped his nail.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzfaOuV4Og
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThB2KGaBo3
"Fine. Good luck!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfVgWoGDqL
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CpFvgpYvt
And then, he was off. His bidding of good fortune completely stunned her. However, she quickly recovered–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5DDwMatvU
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6AjI1Kp9w
**THUD**163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC8gaY1Gis
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h0InwvPyV
"Sharp as always! I'm a fool to think that would work!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwU7yMhhuR
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRIEnRyD87
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5Er3IyqiY
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSLp46GnDV
"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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPuGscNLvx
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHKHag46TU
She tried to ignore the uncertain, guilty way her stomach formed a pit.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHnDskkuFO
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2zcUDZQ9i
"Come at me, Boris!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBQ18hFBt4
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVQdKqPJt7
–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl6Hedp5AC
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxffQ0oh43
–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcq2R8TNtu
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOs4OVeE8D
–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqJvoKxjFM
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumPH1CaCAc
Right before she charged forth, her stalled thoughts sprung into action.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsmQqfNzcr
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGi7g9cfrO
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE4meRTi47
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CR8Ky7KHa
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2ErKAFiJ2
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv0nbXljdN
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ4QU35pMO
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6MeZj3S07
"Huh!?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71sFypH2d8
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8YFxgb2uQ
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPuzXiuuwU
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfLxoPdHaS
"Hah!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp3JuFobqV
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtrMzfwhOZ
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7zIHSpzJ2
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2vcovM2Yl
But she didn't let up, because she knew that if she waited any longer–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlanTKNKNRF
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUFYqsVjRj
"Here!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtrXUiU0dY
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8Ec9yVuj1
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWIvDclutV
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ddAwkTFGI
"Good thing that dagger's so thin. Otherwise, this wound wouldn't be so easy to heal."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sfbOLYqkC
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGDve9olOA
"Tch."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap7QAiqFcY
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7w2emKl8P
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphv8ULVHSq
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4Gb2ugEVx
**CLANG**163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemLNyrKY1c
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQD7KVma5d
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASrvqUwoJl
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbY3AG2QMM
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWxG6PqnzA
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2cYzhH1lK
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgWwtJ9Ix5
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfor4dK2vE
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–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6p9Sm4SaP
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyj4dFftvl
**SMASH**163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6vBhoycsT
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5Tz6QsErA
–shook the room as it ruined the wall.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihRcftfe2S
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrHT7iAbCi
"Ack. Shit!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wkA1OYoJd
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X5j89uzbl
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8i44MuyCt
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmAKg4kpDS
"These tactics don't work how they used to. You've grown. Haha, you've truly grown!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOn2AFIJQN
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7Y4oplMHY
Boris deflated his comical size, returning to a more reasonable stature.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbKWbIJpF0
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uIr2ZtGgZ
"But not enough."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcDgySNPVP
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNqpfiX23m
"--!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL5AiYQEDn
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHaDcQvhRy
Those words, unlike anything prior, brewed steam within her head.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI5Kri7mi6
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP1uLjzE0R
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm kicking your ass!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLSMececli
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfls3udSUh
He wiped some dirt off his shoulder.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWPk6jXrtn
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YQ4QnnEI1
"Your intellect hasn't improved one bit, has it? Can't you tell I'm still toying with you?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXmc75JDr4
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MSG13vG2S
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3rz0ebgdY
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3voL1CJuiJ
"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 "163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr0oA0yufy
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90q6PvrA8z
"...So what? What are you getting at, shitface?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h38ofcVYo
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafxlKSsA3Y
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF9T8t7aUz
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVrg7Ojz01
But, as she was proven yet again, keeping expectations like that was for fools.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVs40fRF7Xh
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzAZOYDzGy
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9XIo5hSEC
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWps6go9loC
"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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DdExw1InA
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX5RTbUaE1
From the back of his shoulders, a new pair of arms found home, and they pointed their fingers with snappy girth.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhM5w67u4d
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKS9KCc2WX
"Hahaha! Come! Show me that this time, you'll do just that"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5UTfAtQg1
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0z5EHZDoS
"--Fine!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPaWl7yNO5
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnPuijd8Wh
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYvXFxB9sF
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bp6KRpuY1
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73TWMgxRSS
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinrjb88lVn
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq94ke8VDak
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJaVC8KqW8
"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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFYFDAcDAR
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1P7g6ieYQ
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfZIlKWa3A
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcab3lhqxVy
"Completely still. But, of course, you lost your only way to kill me. Will you give up?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY4HHnkE8A
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rn14U1ytI
"...You're counting me out already. It's pissing me off!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT7YGpi83e
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyEEAg4Ufq
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n95jbGh6R
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1tQpAkQxG
"You've learned nothing, you overgrown oaf!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs62Tf4BLXt
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqKP4p960S
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQWW66Hzeb
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReuIhR293Y
"...I see. Hahaha, I see! And what kind of exotic mana does that hold?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzZdLIgn6V
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t6Z2yEm0V
"Come and find out!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrShNgdGOEk
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9QmrtTi5j
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Jwwr0kSnZ
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMG7v1Ywi3
Fortunately, she was always a better runner than Boris.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU9FUi1e79
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN56j0n8HU
"Get back here! Come on you coward!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqi32wLE1Y
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTdtIJ9111
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiptxol5dth
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe7VAdFG1s
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCGsGWBycR
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQZjLPTuLW
"Finally!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKoTGIVb8n
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChvY69eGO0
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN7ZvMbVmM
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI0LnkpZ3g
"--Ack! Shit!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmlPSBm1lB
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstNFZKFXjX
The parrying dagger slid smooth like silk out of the wound. Rover dashed back immediately, anticipating some kind of reaction.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD2vWujAru
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhiYZp1bsH
"...My fingers are broken. Just what is that dagger made of?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59RC0VkEGV
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuBTFOe7iL
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8L6YxD85y
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQSZh7fhuN
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–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfFzPQtpRi
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHIGJ6996L
"...!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiVshubtO8
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjkEcbjqbg
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–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9w2YhG4iTb
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqQKWHJ9Eo
"Ah-ha!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLYtujsMhW
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDNR3W2d6D
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WVwmzhZPM
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbwpzOm2j6
The gesture alone confused Boris for a moment, just enough to stun him for what happened next.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PR3nm8SHY
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNmCEDlSeg
**THUD**163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVICCzbxHAU
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdADYVrnbU
"Urk!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU4JLxSowq
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs4HBmCl4F
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVraxJWpkz
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNV2YReALR
Now at a distance, Rover observed the magic. But no magic came.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbA6Vekrun
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoKIyHgQhv
"Huh?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfMSkllfjC
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOgyK9dRaa
There was a fluttering cloud of orange dust before Boris, permeating through the room like any ordinary gas would.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9cZ8zioLD
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIn5i2xg7E
"Haha! What was I afraid of!?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv80uKdX05f
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KnikOAW7u
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3gza7H5AQ
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMWL6JVgRy
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yxmidGKay
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYP4vOa7kB
"What's this? Doesn't smell like anything. You crack me up. At least you put on a good show!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDVYocvGJk
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMJFB63N9F
Boris threw his arms wide.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tGzwPtFlG
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEp89anCQl
"But I like fights more than performances. I'll do both of us a favor and end this–"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOOMvWb3iZ
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiv1OzxdOL
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJeAOZfUJj
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW87uRHb1c
And then the magic happened.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54dXDiWfeq
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0SOn8UNR3
**BOOM**163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9i8t0t8fSe
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe1Uwiwcuo
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ogtHCp0RU
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKfg71krZH
"Heh. And I even figured out your actual size."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAOEYwCwui
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHALICTmM26
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.
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLBaTR0Y4c
"Hmmm? This is taking a while–"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGXyzjkB5s
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrWG1JISbB
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8VH7IbpAk
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORTcsRzEsH
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndtJHodnPx
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx84nlMKtXL
Then, it shrunk.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozLjXNuQOU
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmLnkHUuUj
"Oh ho ho, you marvelous beast."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk4uYYzF6H
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfyLYV9fVf
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjFNmdwE6L
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjvt1yVJjN
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yumjcXSZv
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE9kQ9yFJa
"I can see it in your face. Your disgust. But I know that there's awe in those eyes. How couldn't there be?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcRFst3bG7
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofaBFEmvnW
Rover snapped out of her trance and brandished her dagger.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sVrAnxvKG
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM66GKBLGS
"What you're seeing is my Endowment. Many have called it a curse, but I'm not so ungrateful to insult it like that."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcrNOhmZ0k
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNAbNroXPW
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50HFp0HiQi
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX8cPiW3B1
And then, a few seconds later, another brick spat out a different hole.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCp8sihAO6
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVqlIj3VLB
"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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsF2hOybuh
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv86B3smjrH
Another brick spewed out. It came from his shoulder.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2hFDRjcNw
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6xx3aoIfF
"Well, you've certainly made a mess of my face. But I don't need good looks anyway."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEr7AdDqzC
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8mibCvxSw
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLJkeulH9a
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwRDVkWlJq
"You're not done fighting, are you? Come on."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO0b8TIqI0
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPy1hKtZb9
"...Freak."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIlfKNUwOS
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3zAZyeORY
"Oh yeah. You loved calling me that before, didn't you?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnt5vxQtYi
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiJ1Cj9SU1
"And just look at how right I was."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9jYzfRJ6T
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxscatF0CQ
A hearty chuckle came from him.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBs2TBbEUi
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNAWvNGy4u
"Well, that won't do you any good."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdS90bJL9U
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqn76A0JnI
Boris entered a stance, taunting Rover yet again.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kN5dfavx9
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4haw6r7xLY
"Come on. My legs are scorched. Your marvelous plan gave you this opportunity."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz3oopCaoJ
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1DQFaLAEf
She put one leg forward.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoFUCJIuzs
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmK2FahUPL
"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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB79ilqf08O
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Then another. Boris' grin grew wider.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ3IUaBpZV
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"A helpless dog like you shouldn't loiter around! Come on, Rover! Don't you have something to prove!?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZor2vHD8U
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And even through his manic glare, Rover sprinted. She sprinted with energy to finish, the will to see that monster put down.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WI5jVFhU0
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–
–
–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5UCZWqQUh
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmYN7VPq3G
–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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DFWn4zKkI
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04TZdj2jzh
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5i3r89ezB
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqOPfC4ADv
–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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8JWxUYpdp
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2URAaQCyRN
–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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxhR6Wc9vf
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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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReqFRRNoGv
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsdUVfK9he
–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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI81rJgvlfm
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIutyuRtfR
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAlQoD8SiU
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01IAHZ64e3
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**163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpZN5KhXht
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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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmydB8cocYC
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UygAZiIdt
–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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbpJBlwgbY
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDyYpumyvD
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEeh5X7NNJ
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"You have gotten smarter. Or maybe I've just gotten dumber."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWlPwWkIeF
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpmq4MjKjL
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2qcKdQt6h
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"What a shame. For you, of course. This is the closest you've ever gotten, but you didn't have that extra push."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmaYfnCSB4
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarlTfnkgEZ
Rover balled his hands into a fist, scowling at Boris with daggers for eyes.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeesirTbMS
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiri5d54ui
"Relax, now. Twisting your face won't kill me. Might as well save the energy."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK53rvBW810
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvLGVglqsK
"You... ass."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s8gDTSRWY
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHYbKDgbxq
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8Qvl0doUn
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"You're not crawling away?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimyAC8PBIm
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"...I'm not a damn worm."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkUXMc0ew7
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"Right. You never were the type to do that. But your insults are missing. Well, not that it matters."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNv0SPNHIX
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfy3DyRAPW
Boris crouched down and gazed at her legs. A shiver crawled up Rover's spine, one that left tingling dread in its wake.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKUSbolr9x
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"I'm spent, but I can't let you run around either. So how about I do, this?"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMWLwcOQp5
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOUTxVaxAl
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpYsR6Et78
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIambaUA00S
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCmFPFs2T1
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And she couldn't do a thing.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhav7HPSY6
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–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:163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcwXNYW7a6
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkjc0gROj6
Sorry, mom–163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW1PZ9DuTq
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**CRACK**163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFEv3Deb5z
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"AG– AAAAAAAAAAHCK!"163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRB7Se0mSM
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Her nearly six years of combat experience couldn't have prepared her for this.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0VZMVaOwU
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"And there goes your leg."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ106XKUyVaG
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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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJVXjAareA
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoofANw4lR
"It's funny. If it hadn't only been you, I'd probably be dead."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmmJt8uxz6
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflJ6yhZHeh
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."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtvwkJkadf
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42990bhUma
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuwimddyVb
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But those words of his stole it away.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2IwbKCZtT
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"Raw strength wins yet again. You got close, but I am still undefeated. Until we meet again, Rover."163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOnCk3WAaU
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSczYyVqYO7
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT70btabOR
163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCspskNLI2x
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.163Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeHd0kwFgU
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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.
