The ambush from the last floor was felt throughout the crowd.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSS8VGMfR1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrQ2dd9JDI
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpCRo9lOAu
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRb2VbDH6N
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkD6I1NUHk
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDg1Jm5NGJ
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**463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvcRw4mjWG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRlE7sMNft
"Ack!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGqQtmhjF7
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIAUShOFyH
I wasn't prepared for the strength I slapped myself with. My muscles were incredibly tense, and I hadn't even realized.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2qRfEbPMc
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lMBaaLkXb
"No use in thinking about it. No use in thinking about it! Come on!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVCUEM8W0Y
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOolgHSBgn1
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DDbIEugwQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jNEQrdZk4
"...Useless–!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iOHuZL6Ph
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpmuWHyFBp
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–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aU2pG0WUh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUpUmqxb5P
Suddenly, I noticed something. Though I naturally hadn't been paying much attention to her, the person beside her had changed.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEn4txOxXf9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLb3XJjizH
And it was someone I recognized463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbKRMScjEe
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppkH1ekRur
–
–
–
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aMHSgKGYR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwH9xiS5tC
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQJtOFtS3l
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttd6J5mle9
Especially now that her surrogate partner was a completely new face.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OXu4nYJKG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O28NS2Wyi
"Hi."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpjXY7oCdh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yqciBYlC4
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw1vaiFLYs
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiE04bOAV7
"What!?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kVCJmx6OS
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYZrveHncP
Though, perhaps, she should've spared an extra second checking her tone.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVkLv9ENnM
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDAeSjKvWP
"S-Sorry for the intrusion, ma'am! I just thought we'd familiarize ourselves."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AujzIrM8W
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLhS3T1Y7W
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmLWFS2PhV
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVr17zrAy6
"I'm Nigel. You're the volunteer, aren't you?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo4jlFYf8n
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIohfXjgU3
"Volunteer makes it sound lame! I'm Rover! L-Let's work well together, alright!?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh6McnAxkt
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKRzNQVJWk
Nigel's tense expression eased a little. He worried about a sudden reassignment just as much as Rover did.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JLpCbzbSh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwYaMEUChk
"I know this is a bit impromptu, but my partner perished on the floor below. Thank you for bearing with me."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaEMQQ3LEf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeicTW1X0c
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsypD9I8ScF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8AyR9oz4O
"That... that's really bad. I'm sorry for–"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgIYaHeGcG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3PhXsOEAT
"Don't worry about it. You've suffered a similar fate, haven't you? We're in the same boat."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVTmGXG4NQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tyHQMh1c0
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiVM117jTO
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4p48sU4sd
And then, finally, they hit a flat surface.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXbbUq53Pa
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAHwa719wn
"The next room's up ahead!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmkKKu9ieq
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyFQ6lFAYd
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn726vrxTed
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSwLcJV0Yr
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–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Zq67MforJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93DVZymAwb
"Holy shit! Are ya a titan!?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqWlkboDG5
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyBZ5eW2JT
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj6lYJVDSK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FjVsS82Vv
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YjW4rZsgb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45atmhgfXk
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxUVPLQV6y
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uGvO0OZ0h
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxWGuBlwxx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0EUEa7lsr
"This is where your advance ends– huh?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmk7YT7gPK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4P36Bm7DO
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–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHjMyoEyMy
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbp4qhboup
**THUD**463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGFxfqKYvF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbAnElzG9E
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBjsqUdsKk
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobNqgIRm2Y
"...Same tricks as always."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wpb3KEIdm
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDgWgSK1ad
Though her snide remark was entirely unperturbed, the rest of the room stared with mouths agape, as if they had just witnessed alien life.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHC9RYfZjz
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PQmjwIneQ
"Hoh– it is you. You!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLWOeoCJGL
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgpFayql4Y
Because, the once hulking, monster of a man, was now suddenly the size of a teenage boy.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkKvfrbRXY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTH42SyiVt
"I never expected to run into you today, Rover! Hahaha!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqYIRe0zT3
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ9icKyOkt
The crowd was stunned. Only one member moved through the shock, and everyone stared to find it was Nigel.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR3zMYItwb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2V3mid3Kv
"Everyone," he shouted. "Move on, we'll take care of things here!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlnEZtZid5
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmuN0OXydq
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfvpEDqYcj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0dVBPJXSd
"Nigel."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSr2niuZdF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ33mVxLa2n
"Yes?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXF47sHxdj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiFoYtwkHe
"Leave. I'm fighting this one alone."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5Z4hp6AnY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WYLjqpbuh
"...You're kidding me, certainly."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc8r4COcQS
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdIq7GxONj
Rover shook her head back and forth.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mqvowxfLR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohf5CEIj8d
"Do you honestly think you can take him alone? You saw what he did, didn't you?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmRjEDzNcY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdykiDtjue
"Of course I did. And I know how it works."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwww7sQjJaR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zlYL42aHc
"You fought him before, then?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5u8uHtTE4
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HX7YST3Ns
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nb5lBfcn6
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKvez1eLZo
"Aren't you and I a team? Are you absolutely certain?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo0PqWqFdw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNUr1qgM9r
Operating on instinct, Rover nodded, but then his opening question computed with her, and her eyes suddenly constricted.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmddgxdGMiD
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhG0plpOIi
"Very well! Don't die on me!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzW5lJBIVz
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCUsV4RR8q
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KrhvqmqCI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6lF3Oh4gp
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPeuynHDvU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiroYq35RIn
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqP73mnrZo
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GI9zGpE4J
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0s2vlBHGE
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GKgoqyQYR
"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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZjKpC24Af
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJVneVXhwM
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6Q4Gx9DKR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcZRLlXW4p
"..."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ131I1mMKzS
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d68WSPcpR
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ82oAx2tXU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPEgRWP5Fu
And so, she communicated with a stern nod, and Kenny's biting mouth chipped his nail.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF5B31A7NF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEpIMxLJUh
"Fine. Good luck!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJTUg6zl0c
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKXbaEoSsF
And then, he was off. His bidding of good fortune completely stunned her. However, she quickly recovered–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ju8kPGfuq
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdosGgsNSA
**THUD**463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2eu4hBWU2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmu5HR85QG
"Sharp as always! I'm a fool to think that would work!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLX3vNUqbEF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yIvHa2tyd
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAtE5J5eio
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXCJOvBRvF
"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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKw7jYZF6IV
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBDL5NFDUr
She tried to ignore the uncertain, guilty way her stomach formed a pit.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpV802108x
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcqIY6hsIQ
"Come at me, Boris!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3dFZUgV1N
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzcEXJ7FUV
–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d3U6ee7PO
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeNLmPBGLi
–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5axcUpXqEV
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1wna10BxK
–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5lU6qF2qI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS5z0TWHlA
Right before she charged forth, her stalled thoughts sprung into action.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQjV0xL2p1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23w3ythpJx
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYvnatpyY4
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfUTbAPlTB
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB3SJv6Ew0
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1JqAuuVzY
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2i4Z3xBsK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y47qm1vpK
"Huh!?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldUW4HtGip
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhSrAc4YQJ
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDQZ0JZEu8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjSomoPJ4W
"Hah!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKjZcpt9Pj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjF6ExAOYy
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqTL7D1Phl
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d9Sdte8UU
But she didn't let up, because she knew that if she waited any longer–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPMMFaEPgP
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxJZZlMX4i
"Here!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl5eyNt9Z1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnelp1I6AFN
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdl9HBN7Gy
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWKSaEoAkO
"Good thing that dagger's so thin. Otherwise, this wound wouldn't be so easy to heal."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTc920SdD1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH3plzbXcy
"Tch."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNVqhLv2Kb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4RBWOPiDf
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5aGI40Vnc
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmWfsHAIhc
**CLANG**463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQe03yKrGQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyCKQAMAOh
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F5R7UiuWA
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XZ65bW9bY
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeW76ZWJbAJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaVT33Ndsh
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm9KJ81xFM
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfZhy8cLof
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–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzQt74lnB8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12JA93Yxih
**SMASH**463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhg23eEkCV
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ae8XtGHVq
–shook the room as it ruined the wall.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRGWF8yhs6
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZGoSzhUO5
"Ack. Shit!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0g2K0lLzO
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYHA8na5QG
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRdlsnLGuU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoLsM9WjRn
"These tactics don't work how they used to. You've grown. Haha, you've truly grown!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn0RG5viBS
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFKwtOpXd5
Boris deflated his comical size, returning to a more reasonable stature.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUFrmTg82c
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04JjuRS0Ha
"But not enough."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYN8g1fSLw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJu1D0Tk2B
"--!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuxwDl9kbT
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr5EtoC7ce
Those words, unlike anything prior, brewed steam within her head.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyxVn3L1WD
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZCz6fUWEq
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm kicking your ass!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGuHjDVeN1
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgITixDfcVF
He wiped some dirt off his shoulder.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJlC8Om1lJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBaPOgEAvX
"Your intellect hasn't improved one bit, has it? Can't you tell I'm still toying with you?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3LplYwasY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3hliDdn3D
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwyEMmdOik
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAkz4gMXOv
"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 "463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmIZngpbL5
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tQniido3O
"...So what? What are you getting at, shitface?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uHluabGAb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ty05IsIMC
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhanibLNHRG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSId41rDhr
But, as she was proven yet again, keeping expectations like that was for fools.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76n9zSWlu6
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUnsKfRTse
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3Y0ruMhWi
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sg7MwA7FA
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnrH16a58N
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c9x5ydg5m
From the back of his shoulders, a new pair of arms found home, and they pointed their fingers with snappy girth.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasqiDHn6U0
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa6A2AyS4B
"Hahaha! Come! Show me that this time, you'll do just that"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmivhB2HLA
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BItO4lkML
"--Fine!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtejDpPjX6N
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXkKTYfd9q
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmv1CgJz9Tw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6LTo9BKCX
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rvapFjZ3k
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftPAWyIdHP
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlpcByMjAG
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWZ30bv1hI
"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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCsghIaRy9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSnz58zlDL
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvWaUXOv6v
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkrQHUuLQG
"Completely still. But, of course, you lost your only way to kill me. Will you give up?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BNWyevxhm
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvkWHWmDQE
"...You're counting me out already. It's pissing me off!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XhnidjnEC
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJsyegZAJE
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgofM546H2
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82u3bDvIZ1
"You've learned nothing, you overgrown oaf!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtNBh7nDCt
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFECC2wJiR
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Sq8ZcZPlA
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v5j5sgud1
"...I see. Hahaha, I see! And what kind of exotic mana does that hold?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YvMcixNzZ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HRYFDODkG
"Come and find out!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ5C4zjntX
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdypXTQNSp
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gk88DMymc
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyG9VDgA4I
Fortunately, she was always a better runner than Boris.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzm2PfMQnu
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz11arPFedO
"Get back here! Come on you coward!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q4jKOmx7X
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q4MdHeo9D
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ196heer7Va
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeptEjXxV5
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvvYl0g6mJ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtikROiB2yq
"Finally!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz55Hbe4rs
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTALV6yuWL5
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYN5b9mMVH
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5UirfVbMn
"--Ack! Shit!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrcWs8iPlN
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDpcdXudpG
The parrying dagger slid smooth like silk out of the wound. Rover dashed back immediately, anticipating some kind of reaction.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu9Xc4WO3U
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mgrE48tSv
"...My fingers are broken. Just what is that dagger made of?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzKBczTHXw
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F7t8zF7oU
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13Om7c70WB
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T3ff25zZD
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–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoK1HYWu9uC
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVTAVyW2yP
"...!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8K0ugi74V
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShzAmjC7F3
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–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68HCOSZSpK
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9aOrts0hN
"Ah-ha!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mKY5Si1ET
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis5Z8tRh02
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8LmAObyXY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqKENsrQSl
The gesture alone confused Boris for a moment, just enough to stun him for what happened next.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ248JTDi0gx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJgLV64QcK
**THUD**463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh5U5iTZjQ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjwUdCoc4s
"Urk!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKQZWFNKGY
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrVUHys4P7
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2hlVMtk7s
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq3Cmkiz7x
Now at a distance, Rover observed the magic. But no magic came.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rL7tsgfr7
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eNe1n9wku
"Huh?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHecUeMHiIa
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnx1gmq8Xy
There was a fluttering cloud of orange dust before Boris, permeating through the room like any ordinary gas would.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGAEKIpPX8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO1zkdeMR0
"Haha! What was I afraid of!?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yb3jyIr49
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYtOyfckEj
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5ySoAMrOd
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR68kglKaGg
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN1AWOBNr4
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlUI6H4Xm7
"What's this? Doesn't smell like anything. You crack me up. At least you put on a good show!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl9MIoTLE6
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WGUljkNga
Boris threw his arms wide.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwwS2taHx7
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwTbZnjIDP
"But I like fights more than performances. I'll do both of us a favor and end this–"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlJUyPQgBI
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1hy4ukS2b
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV3MtYMYn8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnybHeO5co
And then the magic happened.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qL1TRkXcl
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoYGCOIasF
**BOOM**463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5gUIoZTXn
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqPzhXW9b3
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Q3huejQF
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjUh3MWdQb
"Heh. And I even figured out your actual size."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCsAYtquAk
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhhVBJHEMM
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.
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovh8lvbkuO
"Hmmm? This is taking a while–"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0EI5JANdb
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrItbec8dbw
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuObeeJROC
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCcTV2ZqvS
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqO1G79Voa
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOrRZOWZ6f
Then, it shrunk.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZGrSyUptU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzICVfVSa8Q
"Oh ho ho, you marvelous beast."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlf9ctD0cv
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5pNInieDv
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABfdXohoAT
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JHj0lKRUF
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot7NIenks7
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmHIDRGISi
"I can see it in your face. Your disgust. But I know that there's awe in those eyes. How couldn't there be?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4R31RnYsU
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1m26iNdId
Rover snapped out of her trance and brandished her dagger.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gnPABj2vD
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfcxgjWrdL
"What you're seeing is my Endowment. Many have called it a curse, but I'm not so ungrateful to insult it like that."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cd2CKyu53
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUZPMtmA0A
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1cny8aUEf
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLQSGRa50u
And then, a few seconds later, another brick spat out a different hole.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwoiPgeJXl
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDgE8fB8Os
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s5mn0cB3o
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnxDER53MO
Another brick spewed out. It came from his shoulder.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoI6bzYZEfA
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vhD6M60uF
"Well, you've certainly made a mess of my face. But I don't need good looks anyway."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkpfuKBw70
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhi3Tp7e4wo
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2vVihLUQj
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcXPSXkACJ
"You're not done fighting, are you? Come on."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0efkzgvPdv
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsspsk11Jtb
"...Freak."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS9wEVSs8q
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6S5G23r1n
"Oh yeah. You loved calling me that before, didn't you?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxWQiUcHCS
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYznRfMasdN
"And just look at how right I was."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBXFR2HcH9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPOZsxFOKV
A hearty chuckle came from him.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULZLyemy8f
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5heVm9hocP
"Well, that won't do you any good."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE8U2jNvUe
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip3XRMhAvO
Boris entered a stance, taunting Rover yet again.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpM73fnHLt
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUFw543GXa
"Come on. My legs are scorched. Your marvelous plan gave you this opportunity."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hCpBasEPk
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FGpV3vuDK
She put one leg forward.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UZJjIywIZ
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx41gEP1iY
"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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rZxHVvztu
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VmtrfdK2A
Then another. Boris' grin grew wider.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NNvuQXwce
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyQOBIG3SB
"A helpless dog like you shouldn't loiter around! Come on, Rover! Don't you have something to prove!?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZE8HKfsbk
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfMQisQ6h0
And even through his manic glare, Rover sprinted. She sprinted with energy to finish, the will to see that monster put down.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfK70nZ7My
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VzQvhAu5V
–
–
–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwypbvzTOE
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIysCvoO2W0
–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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pvJtqnek9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAj2QMDWUS
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmHX4ASkm9
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixjNGiZT6L
–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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWC6HV99zV
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH2FeyI7jp
–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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1yYmK7GxC
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zi85CfnH7
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3ssQm5X42
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1XFPn77BG
–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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8gCUL7ep8
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeGVSpXIkU
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7PVXvmws7
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCDfueuNs0
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**463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzBy0SAp5U
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1WKrrJVU8
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFs8mjMfTLy
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VEr31texQ
–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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEygY60Y1c
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTjydmFwBS
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWQtvmooni
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVibV14zwC
"You have gotten smarter. Or maybe I've just gotten dumber."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4skUDjmDDO
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePsuUv5pty
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBiLECmUvp
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRrBsP77pL
"What a shame. For you, of course. This is the closest you've ever gotten, but you didn't have that extra push."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJJymvVEar
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMDIC8V9WW
Rover balled his hands into a fist, scowling at Boris with daggers for eyes.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUkd5B1iso
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRhMbF9lMd
"Relax, now. Twisting your face won't kill me. Might as well save the energy."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoldyHz6ORP
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TJjhhDAeU
"You... ass."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RdN18ErBh
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFDwcJ8Aye
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooyf0zGgTz
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTrW8QHeN1
"You're not crawling away?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ry48SX0W4
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTnlmaTM0X
"...I'm not a damn worm."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOgLPPGDWR
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxsxYxcOF0
"Right. You never were the type to do that. But your insults are missing. Well, not that it matters."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n72eWmk8B
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBZ5iN5H3v
Boris crouched down and gazed at her legs. A shiver crawled up Rover's spine, one that left tingling dread in its wake.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjZfSfwFxB
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vlguc5VYa
"I'm spent, but I can't let you run around either. So how about I do, this?"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ucy8VgR9M
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1w2RYAfXI
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeuVxV5HxE
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuMgbOTq42
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XWfWyC1lA
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKakWlgyGj
And she couldn't do a thing.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXbY4crCTT
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNZUS4fdKY
–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:463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAXrq2ptPO
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEtOdsFAmQ
Sorry, mom–463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCw7hExw9x
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SDmQDlPbC
**CRACK**463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG8kzSYr9O
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vZCMFPO7B
"AG– AAAAAAAAAAHCK!"463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HmttRn0Rx
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPc82IstduM
Her nearly six years of combat experience couldn't have prepared her for this.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdAKzmqp5q
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZnW1ySrJi
"And there goes your leg."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKakza1l5h
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeRWsz9Qxk
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAZ44jPTsV
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWw6D6pAo7
"It's funny. If it hadn't only been you, I'd probably be dead."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX93KD5ud7
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkJBw44YtA
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."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNvgzShkOr
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bNFnJwGpn
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXLPtkct2C
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08CkzipHyq
But those words of his stole it away.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTOyYsbFJV
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dyGJjVvQc
"Raw strength wins yet again. You got close, but I am still undefeated. Until we meet again, Rover."463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKjA77Puvp
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWIQUvJ9mR
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySaOVzdh9T
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOabMkWUA8H
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.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zFdXzqXDu
463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsscl9v940w
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.
and then Add to home screen.