The ambush from the last floor was felt throughout the crowd.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgBgFisSXH
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXylOELFls
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv7W0pZm8D
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfPldQSyu4
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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtxoMEaqbX
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HmWJYxjmW
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**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GIo7BR9jy
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"Ack!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfze3NHrKzp
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdOs2IIRmQ
I wasn't prepared for the strength I slapped myself with. My muscles were incredibly tense, and I hadn't even realized.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptEBisOwRW
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"No use in thinking about it. No use in thinking about it! Come on!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzOAN82kqb
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtBhgi6MYK
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuwxKTsZmB
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ1Cp9GM7B
"...Useless–!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUFm4mgt53
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa1uUS91p4
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–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0CVasqBcF
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FwK8YbeQd
Suddenly, I noticed something. Though I naturally hadn't been paying much attention to her, the person beside her had changed.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWvFIfrS3n
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7wky5DGUq
And it was someone I recognized229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5znnv6gRM
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RcJNu5CT3
–
–
–
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkkCa9DbiX
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuQdHfWt6Y
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1O8Lkej1t
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjN3ZVq8XM
Especially now that her surrogate partner was a completely new face.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8TVEfzrs9
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"Hi."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9psHl9lTe
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr6gFnoafN
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"What!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFihlFbgS45
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Though, perhaps, she should've spared an extra second checking her tone.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqR4E6Byzy
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"S-Sorry for the intrusion, ma'am! I just thought we'd familiarize ourselves."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1AndzEoOb
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCT89abq8jx
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBQlj8ofcs
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7dKcAkPDE
"I'm Nigel. You're the volunteer, aren't you?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLwlwUUb6H
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0Ou9P9fQq
"Volunteer makes it sound lame! I'm Rover! L-Let's work well together, alright!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAjA8DJn5w
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbW4HOWhNo
Nigel's tense expression eased a little. He worried about a sudden reassignment just as much as Rover did.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMD6pnCaf2
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXlMPT2X3W
"I know this is a bit impromptu, but my partner perished on the floor below. Thank you for bearing with me."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZ5b6WAhdo
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcl7Zq8ogr
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8xzPqTwvf
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNz0m2v4YW
"That... that's really bad. I'm sorry for–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVERlDzJpR
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRV8ZQMgEW
"Don't worry about it. You've suffered a similar fate, haven't you? We're in the same boat."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRpcKC5L3G
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl7t2XaFI8
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEKsCeDCXx
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3U1S4Za72
And then, finally, they hit a flat surface.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3avPJFjmNR
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS6XtcsuqZ
"The next room's up ahead!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTN6fDi0xb
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wmmh0utjB
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E2fcWHCgy
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡityWZk0EUL
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–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILSUw6fWmf
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7WxvqlzI9
"Holy shit! Are ya a titan!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLaNGG3Tyj
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRlBIklcQJ
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQQMvMYR2e
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4FCU0CRcl
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKJvfuLThf
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY2GyS2zEY
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu0LnROKLm
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqkLZodu9Z
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADVL16QBNe
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJHMPnE50S
"This is where your advance ends– huh?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwjzINrSag
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciteEN3JaA
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–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd7h2PlAMN
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8Rlu6UieO
**THUD**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ldFQyLcyf
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiuUe4YoUe
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j7vn42U8o
"...Same tricks as always."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH9dYOfLA0
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPqucfii3V
Though her snide remark was entirely unperturbed, the rest of the room stared with mouths agape, as if they had just witnessed alien life.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdwnuelAcz
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBc8fsMwIp
"Hoh– it is you. You!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lZlzaqg4v
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRqJh69BeL
Because, the once hulking, monster of a man, was now suddenly the size of a teenage boy.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02bdHwZYbE
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIt0rywz13
"I never expected to run into you today, Rover! Hahaha!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL6zvVuPgk
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE4qqmXdg2
The crowd was stunned. Only one member moved through the shock, and everyone stared to find it was Nigel.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EnktqHHqi
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KTkkfBDJY
"Everyone," he shouted. "Move on, we'll take care of things here!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMqa8IqFq6
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWCz7quNEX
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbVcxCAkKi
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"Nigel."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylTIeD4MpD
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mven0otwj
"Yes?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zycUpL2Lo
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"Leave. I'm fighting this one alone."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqTcX2mcD8
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCav3JXhESW
"...You're kidding me, certainly."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiXz0AX2Ac
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZn1EcAELi
Rover shook her head back and forth.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbrZd2adxA
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9v4zEkzjV
"Do you honestly think you can take him alone? You saw what he did, didn't you?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ipVmiwagT
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfv7Eyw2SS
"Of course I did. And I know how it works."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh1IxNSuBk
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"You fought him before, then?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05vAGPAxES
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg98Muj7Cfr
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTfcD1mSzm
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbkt2q6rDU
"Aren't you and I a team? Are you absolutely certain?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66efBsPsrx
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibKAKE99jB
Operating on instinct, Rover nodded, but then his opening question computed with her, and her eyes suddenly constricted.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR4GiXWv24
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUWQdvrlic
"Very well! Don't die on me!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJwGNxDz3x
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mkmsybPvq
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkSshnpkoJ
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNC7G1LjmL
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Me16jlasd
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkkY9Xl9Rk
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AEM7vS9CR
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDqDNYgdKo
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSIl1GFJIA
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrVcbyEqbi
"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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9EXMZFkHz
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfCDqsTWOa
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxwiup6I9m
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR5Tf5qOjj
"..."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtW8fqsgNO
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhQwlzBxTJ
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And so, she communicated with a stern nod, and Kenny's biting mouth chipped his nail.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHd77NOsps
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"Fine. Good luck!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuZixBRv7T
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuE2XlwCKr
And then, he was off. His bidding of good fortune completely stunned her. However, she quickly recovered–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4h5xmJksy
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLuyVcgOCQ
**THUD**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUGsGPIiGq
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"Sharp as always! I'm a fool to think that would work!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi31N79HNqG
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSNNyqRS7j
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP1Xbyz07K
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCzS07AOmJ
"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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B1s26tN4L
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She tried to ignore the uncertain, guilty way her stomach formed a pit.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9A5IiuRSZ
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"Come at me, Boris!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv5jyMy8B6
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBky97rG4xu
–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpH6M88nS7
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYVAbeFmnQ
–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVB6QvGcQTY
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO32VebTKr
–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pTbjAm1BO
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Right before she charged forth, her stalled thoughts sprung into action.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBYFf14lLz
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxQpEtNKel
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXa2Yx1L4j
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20BGjMTepM
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHshqEvwAUm
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2AO3hKrAB
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11hL8wpEy1
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"Huh!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JSs1Deh3B
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPDEiTgZlF
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0okTTG2sY
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"Hah!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYdyaKl31H
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBWg8O8xcu
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUcIdurpsP
But she didn't let up, because she knew that if she waited any longer–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6THoNUcgJ
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"Here!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qy6I1J1HY
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn7rSVozWn
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbpso31l7Q
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWFnGDm6qA
"Good thing that dagger's so thin. Otherwise, this wound wouldn't be so easy to heal."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mHFNLZZkt
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"Tch."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcc6pUpNz1
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTLgnNXeyT
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KRqij9QYt
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fOC0WQiqu
**CLANG**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS568USyfHA
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO5GmTEhkX
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc46ecE27xx
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5AF8aYQJy
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrh1BBjrSVK
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0DHX1adKP
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtT5ae0XEI
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–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSYB4IpgMT
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY6MoPg4Lu
**SMASH**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnuUa9G4iY
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TPbX3MFJb
–shook the room as it ruined the wall.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztB2qPK0pz
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI79tObKH8L
"Ack. Shit!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC81n2x7CN
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiazSTDxaqR
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1noFMB8AX
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKdHWVZLSA
"These tactics don't work how they used to. You've grown. Haha, you've truly grown!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfPPzHkQBM
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkstnzASD5h
Boris deflated his comical size, returning to a more reasonable stature.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLP1GOMCL4
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"But not enough."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1UdvYgBrv
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnAANzz7nI
"--!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVyAN61Sjl
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWvVCotUjF
Those words, unlike anything prior, brewed steam within her head.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO4zkUx5f2
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAFT13xDQg
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm kicking your ass!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZQ6WGyDek
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTe0EOiTqs
He wiped some dirt off his shoulder.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UJ4RVQtBt
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARITuoT9Iv
"Your intellect hasn't improved one bit, has it? Can't you tell I'm still toying with you?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVu4d0xnus
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwyjtXuMWM
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aqHU4cc2G
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFZAlKMEf7
"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 "229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFa7UVkZVm
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6M9E2nlgT
"...So what? What are you getting at, shitface?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdCAlQYQ3r
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbppo0bT8yq
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJJ1fwvzpF
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwVrbs4ZS2
But, as she was proven yet again, keeping expectations like that was for fools.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9C3WuSYKB
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CvOzpa9Z9
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQJWwK3VSK
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITHoeZExQY
"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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0gwK6BIR1
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf4PdSogmr
From the back of his shoulders, a new pair of arms found home, and they pointed their fingers with snappy girth.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFsKNBTLUB
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01wKlDTuCn
"Hahaha! Come! Show me that this time, you'll do just that"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZunuoQ30zw
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ARYTF1Vrk
"--Fine!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAZAM2gzeF
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJVRVAYGrZ
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxC3LTga3n
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJBUqsVDyM
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4zAc9s8eX
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYV7Yd16SH
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrHoI8e464
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmljpUHrZ7
"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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBZG0r3stN
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJqUUiufj3
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf2LHgR4o5
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCAimiLyGq
"Completely still. But, of course, you lost your only way to kill me. Will you give up?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7jz20yKDG
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqymE3hjQc
"...You're counting me out already. It's pissing me off!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFLMuRaNlz
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDHmcu4nQ8
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLvAFDxjaV
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YcMHYQJMa
"You've learned nothing, you overgrown oaf!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa6Sh3hdON
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qJXIQ0778
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJhYF8N2Ol
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHN132x7lI
"...I see. Hahaha, I see! And what kind of exotic mana does that hold?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjvsaLrSAt
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbng1fg86L
"Come and find out!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChtEH994K8
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbhMEP01xs
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLJjOeuj30
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKMooiwQZK
Fortunately, she was always a better runner than Boris.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAxKRDG0vF
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdBBUg0GDa
"Get back here! Come on you coward!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPUMh24giV
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPTJLkSv4s
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2WNMjF3h4
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy1LBszyfA
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG91mVuLUJJ
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApP7Nu8fW3
"Finally!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysYarzX1uk
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO24dmIif7n
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sAWUsG11C
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHkRrgAarF
"--Ack! Shit!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW8lb51Gvm
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGUbE2mhOu
The parrying dagger slid smooth like silk out of the wound. Rover dashed back immediately, anticipating some kind of reaction.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6JTNIet5C
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOywHiLlPKn
"...My fingers are broken. Just what is that dagger made of?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s6VehlyIq
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3lQqMzjA7
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UoziUlo8C
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpK2po0yjn
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–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhKflTmMSM
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLewz2wvBJx
"...!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjRZzWPyv5
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIdffpjWdm
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–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O9CylBQJh
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnLX4qYEXw
"Ah-ha!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgKUW1CJ5D
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspZnlr9mrL
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmbbWVyRHN
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIkbK3ytag
The gesture alone confused Boris for a moment, just enough to stun him for what happened next.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCU0MxCQ4F
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTM6wqpdWx
**THUD**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBk694M1Ye
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JpA24NtNy
"Urk!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzoOCmZw23
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOaNKxjXkZ
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTezMpNpHc
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9lt9V0byl
Now at a distance, Rover observed the magic. But no magic came.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReOxxYGMv6
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsTNp1vvlW
"Huh?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteeMO3YbES
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRd6MMOCbVP
There was a fluttering cloud of orange dust before Boris, permeating through the room like any ordinary gas would.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcWnc5KzSW
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyfEUxbU0D
"Haha! What was I afraid of!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQLER885M9
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXkNdssp8k
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudx86QgzNd
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5BiUiA1tO
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbHbxA3G1L
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaiVp9FFMX
"What's this? Doesn't smell like anything. You crack me up. At least you put on a good show!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayt9LdmnHb
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jUzs7dIoD
Boris threw his arms wide.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMrs89Z2xe
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXf0EoBT9j
"But I like fights more than performances. I'll do both of us a favor and end this–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HLNRJ9xDH
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbNWzhVn6x
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXeQAI315A
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljmKz1jcbr
And then the magic happened.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv4KDADwIT
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdIpx6NhRd
**BOOM**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ViY2y6GkK
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mYLgLqgQg
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjIuGDET8k
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmov5eIT6J
"Heh. And I even figured out your actual size."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgJZLnyr49
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP3AgotVuP
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.
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWVH1dOD85
"Hmmm? This is taking a while–"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlxJ1DUmS3
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92ghuYoUYi
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr8YCy0owK
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImOwEj8Sdh
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOQUf5p3FT
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPS7YjMu7T
Then, it shrunk.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn14DH1zqg0
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY1yrMzdF3
"Oh ho ho, you marvelous beast."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXvnfEfQIt
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92V5MZXYmt
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTJvgWlrzJ
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5toJVRJd1z
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKItYlQMhxO
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH5R96xsAz
"I can see it in your face. Your disgust. But I know that there's awe in those eyes. How couldn't there be?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbzFr6M37E
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfuyHp9d2x
Rover snapped out of her trance and brandished her dagger.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30FWEb7Zkh
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3UIKyyX6G
"What you're seeing is my Endowment. Many have called it a curse, but I'm not so ungrateful to insult it like that."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT7GiExogo
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX5044VThf
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3zbizKbgS
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvUzG5rTXk
And then, a few seconds later, another brick spat out a different hole.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL89jcaNQQH
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfs3EeZi9n5
"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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRgaKPkkV1
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWt0XlMkHmT
Another brick spewed out. It came from his shoulder.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtvorjK7Op
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9vKRst0d0
"Well, you've certainly made a mess of my face. But I don't need good looks anyway."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIev8xBELE
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH778BrzxiB
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfLBzYtwA8
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtlp7EfyVX
"You're not done fighting, are you? Come on."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh46rrolwQj
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3LHdnAQoJ
"...Freak."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY29NsCwTjq
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv2k095AOO
"Oh yeah. You loved calling me that before, didn't you?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z2dPR2pFt
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBFgSz1AYF
"And just look at how right I was."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0cf85n0LX
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVFJHNaKoP
A hearty chuckle came from him.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OOPr1G4dF
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgzphyJ3wr
"Well, that won't do you any good."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRpeYFynFE
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfpaEAHT6r
Boris entered a stance, taunting Rover yet again.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sBxLXI7F4
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vsfy2Ha9a
"Come on. My legs are scorched. Your marvelous plan gave you this opportunity."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiNTheTSlS
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSNWAD0RSa
She put one leg forward.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CU8lWCZ8B
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"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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR14l1hYrP
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Then another. Boris' grin grew wider.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2hEjBU7L4
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"A helpless dog like you shouldn't loiter around! Come on, Rover! Don't you have something to prove!?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vYHx8BTCS
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPluBp8VTNI
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–
–
–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGd1Farcc0
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–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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt3LVdFPZa
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCfqbXPZMp
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–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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj410SaVmK
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–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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPWY75Kgop
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbhqnWfLm2
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–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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbgKjFEnIi
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsoxs1j9gK
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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**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFHYOqgIyl
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHC5xy4Hok
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIaOnXrzO6
–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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMTR6Yrwxl
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0lQHu7lUz
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"You have gotten smarter. Or maybe I've just gotten dumber."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf1yklK7TN
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXSmYB5v2j
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXowukUkRuK
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Rover balled his hands into a fist, scowling at Boris with daggers for eyes.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtRlKsqANF
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"Relax, now. Twisting your face won't kill me. Might as well save the energy."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu8DwtW8nm
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"You... ass."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN2InO8JeF
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvG4fGW1oF
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"You're not crawling away?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rVU5EkIDk
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"...I'm not a damn worm."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOfP8LIjbE
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"Right. You never were the type to do that. But your insults are missing. Well, not that it matters."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ1PvC6sid
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Boris crouched down and gazed at her legs. A shiver crawled up Rover's spine, one that left tingling dread in its wake.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57F4psBf5M
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"I'm spent, but I can't let you run around either. So how about I do, this?"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3215UpRJW
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QRawDKs0l
229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsxmhRnBpD
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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc8maJLJa4
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And she couldn't do a thing.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OPw7P8uPb
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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:229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO3kG9nC4l
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Sorry, mom–229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEo1JqthaU
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**CRACK**229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMWBuUq0XH
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"AG– AAAAAAAAAAHCK!"229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1CPDq2N0E
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Her nearly six years of combat experience couldn't have prepared her for this.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLFvlJJRQr
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"And there goes your leg."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YWQs7Mo5S
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdy94pnDYU
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"It's funny. If it hadn't only been you, I'd probably be dead."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7uavXuj37
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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."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9XsEwwzhG
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zjXoYUlmY
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But those words of his stole it away.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue94SlHNzY
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"Raw strength wins yet again. You got close, but I am still undefeated. Until we meet again, Rover."229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHXkZqJZmB
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDNEqwSrHN
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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.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBwEPyIFMb
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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.
