The ambush from the last floor was felt throughout the crowd.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdRy4UheZW
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfA25N6vmOg
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH68M2KWPx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTPsXnUPre
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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEclBXhYYJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeLtu6byZb
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**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfD8xZHNEC
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zPdk7EZbI
"Ack!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9gG3yMDfX
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddgZmHi0zE
I wasn't prepared for the strength I slapped myself with. My muscles were incredibly tense, and I hadn't even realized.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisji8c1ui7
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeICBfBJTS
"No use in thinking about it. No use in thinking about it! Come on!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqlH3O9Y4z
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ03KjYlJbg
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL85TX4yhV
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV6biDr0Fp
"...Useless–!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEho6L8RYO0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeReKmfhiWj
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–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vLXdSR4iG
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UO9120V3s
Suddenly, I noticed something. Though I naturally hadn't been paying much attention to her, the person beside her had changed.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj23VPEkmsv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFUir8FWQ8
And it was someone I recognized195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwHKroP3pl
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIXF5GMWnp
–
–
–
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtUnbAUORv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YypeFmaB6
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhNUERuR0o
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TuZD1XNrb
Especially now that her surrogate partner was a completely new face.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7OM3OZYAZ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnXsxta6TK
"Hi."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7swwQZwkfp
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gMPaxzxy2
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMyDYq1vXn
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc7sQFNUu5
"What!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwJ3HJaQVn
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uTRmJuvAt
Though, perhaps, she should've spared an extra second checking her tone.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsP4IIlSVE
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbp816zR3h
"S-Sorry for the intrusion, ma'am! I just thought we'd familiarize ourselves."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzMxJtgPui
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyW2n0tgdI
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf1IeZTPCe
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdZnM6GnL4
"I'm Nigel. You're the volunteer, aren't you?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bT7Uv0wUa
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2LwrRH7yD
"Volunteer makes it sound lame! I'm Rover! L-Let's work well together, alright!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG1hIS8jJK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacUcKubCze
Nigel's tense expression eased a little. He worried about a sudden reassignment just as much as Rover did.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LyFJXRABQ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyQ8XoCgJl
"I know this is a bit impromptu, but my partner perished on the floor below. Thank you for bearing with me."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI7jBNMsKr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWcAg3hcLu
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgSO1jhnN9
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUEZtdFXmP
"That... that's really bad. I'm sorry for–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynWrapdKlo
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYqBRAHecN
"Don't worry about it. You've suffered a similar fate, haven't you? We're in the same boat."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JYVlKyn9S
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKsTDpwAE7
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdu4x3fWGh
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXJoMdx18D
And then, finally, they hit a flat surface.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECsMNnvI9E
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrUlD4014C
"The next room's up ahead!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOKx2IKUMd
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FqxJytszn
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHCGr9lQP8
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsnxYDK3yq
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–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeqW7MbM9n
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V1ianq3tz
"Holy shit! Are ya a titan!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ829mjQQ78C
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdqp92BxIy
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UtzYFCWLu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5FdCJKwFK
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacoVFIz7j9
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibvpecAzRH
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY6vNIDejl
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWo9iWbcX0
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoeZLr85aS
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS3gr5rtdT
"This is where your advance ends– huh?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26gD87kReM
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFdqvBWA8x
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–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu4Jp2cxCc
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs7Mwq1FtH
**THUD**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDVwK8PFWW
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4NGRxGyQP
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AjHrfULMn
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6fNFX6THa
"...Same tricks as always."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl2AvjhqIi
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3dVkwrwhR
Though her snide remark was entirely unperturbed, the rest of the room stared with mouths agape, as if they had just witnessed alien life.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVO3zxpTN7
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiz7qIcI9de
"Hoh– it is you. You!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAA5xTuAE3
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrkBvZfaKu
Because, the once hulking, monster of a man, was now suddenly the size of a teenage boy.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSBm6pTWmU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHktAmpQQ5w
"I never expected to run into you today, Rover! Hahaha!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYiLaFQOhI
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdARdkxV25R
The crowd was stunned. Only one member moved through the shock, and everyone stared to find it was Nigel.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi3XJwE9kZ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TSF3DVpX2
"Everyone," he shouted. "Move on, we'll take care of things here!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomHz6MezMV
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pKMRdJVd1
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu5lWc10hA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43lpptVa5U
"Nigel."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bioSQJsS4
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt4LLPRlCA
"Yes?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3r5dKMiLA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAWngR3rnk
"Leave. I'm fighting this one alone."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTwyL4vk5h
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRcUi17G6w
"...You're kidding me, certainly."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2es1uXTll5
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3d48gZlcw
Rover shook her head back and forth.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYy5QdOWSC
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdQikyMrLk
"Do you honestly think you can take him alone? You saw what he did, didn't you?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Pi5cYTAMU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdXEEdwgoV
"Of course I did. And I know how it works."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7G8CAZpVT
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeBWPZ27Zb
"You fought him before, then?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXWSSWC5K0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5gq62u0PO
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeyAx9Vjo2
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7XPTqlH6V
"Aren't you and I a team? Are you absolutely certain?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeytcMch2Ha
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMT91knB0T
Operating on instinct, Rover nodded, but then his opening question computed with her, and her eyes suddenly constricted.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Bpef4Pwft
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfFHoANVUC
"Very well! Don't die on me!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9THfPP1SfW
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBxU13nGzy
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqimycoRNJJ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiaKZ9ivN9
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDNSTMu8DK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuKp5ACEZQ
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7t5i9Krew
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGjF7k2TE0
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKS3AFLtao
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Hy5CHCkpQ
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKEQsSRMGx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xFYRWky7S
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioo7kwet9j
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCE3707IPN
"..."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa119Pp2nnU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJo1baYOfms
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cb45RoIKs
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BxfkWeivd
And so, she communicated with a stern nod, and Kenny's biting mouth chipped his nail.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEODGRXym6B
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGQFhEPqJl
"Fine. Good luck!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR3C4U5xbZ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIxZSpiba3
And then, he was off. His bidding of good fortune completely stunned her. However, she quickly recovered–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwU9iGfRIK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EwAktSVDl
**THUD**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2YyBdDOD4
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX26ghwO6Tf
"Sharp as always! I'm a fool to think that would work!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhkJFXSdcR
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8QtzpBe09
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrye1NY5ug9
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDHkzhTg8m
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HcmzvHTbf
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxee3xpoJjd
She tried to ignore the uncertain, guilty way her stomach formed a pit.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAgqIWl8Yb
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWFn6pBxST
"Come at me, Boris!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfZNzUlQMu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD6UC42cOI
–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW1yhVCKZe
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEW8hFFXkl
–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5BosEeW2H
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmR9W9VMYWZ
–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMggy6Fidr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mfipQkmew
Right before she charged forth, her stalled thoughts sprung into action.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd6pN2wxdi
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOjJCD2c97
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMWvkUiyHW
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBssMiBcbPx
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtzHrhiS97
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYPXgFCv2z
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEba26YF6jY
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnndilB9KX9
"Huh!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fuvccicl5
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUNTgei9Hf
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEbSdT7LgA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOCd0zmbhr
"Hah!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nj2R9BHHu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzBNRNZsLi
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMvGC3e1ly
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPTUQJHuic
But she didn't let up, because she knew that if she waited any longer–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7c12r9QG5d
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4LuQyI5Fs
"Here!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC3j0UcvRF
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJqsmFCGZn
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKMHdVneLm
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKVyAvyT59
"Good thing that dagger's so thin. Otherwise, this wound wouldn't be so easy to heal."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hQTfcgkwI
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGip3nKsar
"Tch."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbUEI9Yiig
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjrzwiO6tz
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaZv2PygbY
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3ykOS64tW
**CLANG**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAFUylXjfN
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aLzQbnFNP
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn2p0Gx7cE
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNQBETWGjb
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsypx0hoMg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRJQ10ZM8B
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0pR5XfPEB
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVIUvskUrY
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–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0FfUDxFMj
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRZYoARBCY
**SMASH**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTrIrzZ2Ey
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacwtE98zKN
–shook the room as it ruined the wall.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4tFBzVdgK
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LcV1bHp78
"Ack. Shit!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3grnUdXT4
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxo6gRpQC2
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq9k3I6Vhx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7zm3K97WD
"These tactics don't work how they used to. You've grown. Haha, you've truly grown!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopFSiuDXOo
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3dIRMBD14
Boris deflated his comical size, returning to a more reasonable stature.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlmLXJB6Vu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOfFUPhKFZ
"But not enough."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYszTjjM2d
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwj3rLGL3S
"--!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIvaDBwRmL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIL0FZH0Z9
Those words, unlike anything prior, brewed steam within her head.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzt7F9QjtY
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8zRF92UdA
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm kicking your ass!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JXznW6lYt
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Iyk73TPe6
He wiped some dirt off his shoulder.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgHT56kn6M
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2Ox1Uto20
"Your intellect hasn't improved one bit, has it? Can't you tell I'm still toying with you?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQViaq68vF
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaH8XeiDxm
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pyMqn0iis
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQlY8yXbKn
"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 "195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw4jZVrG6R
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49YwUr6Gal
"...So what? What are you getting at, shitface?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixQXUnUa3n
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr6WK8rW9J
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW8prUfVVU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwthmM8ZAF
But, as she was proven yet again, keeping expectations like that was for fools.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUU1ri5uKq
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqlJk1dUqw
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMcmksUVI7
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG15OhTf8eH
"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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CGJ53d1qG
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikHmR6Bzbv
From the back of his shoulders, a new pair of arms found home, and they pointed their fingers with snappy girth.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9euDDXdS0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMUS9q8PLT
"Hahaha! Come! Show me that this time, you'll do just that"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKPuTOLOYL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBFFI8XwSf
"--Fine!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpElO1YSvv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKMWygeIRh
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9HGwgxF31
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCdPMpk4JO
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnHHboYwAe
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ9ymocpUe
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOUR5vsYHR
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFRUR8u9Jr
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpszB2Eemyy
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2cuRDm6v2
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EycPxW7fj
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNFG12whjj
"Completely still. But, of course, you lost your only way to kill me. Will you give up?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nTynsFvdH
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42qIKVuT1e
"...You're counting me out already. It's pissing me off!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfGiPgAHek
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dEiTORZwt
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPBexO82f8
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYplKqVvgo
"You've learned nothing, you overgrown oaf!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZFGBZspyc
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HQWacjynr
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNostLu6Z2L
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbBEUkCIvQ
"...I see. Hahaha, I see! And what kind of exotic mana does that hold?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUevw6t8vk
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxHb11KAlx
"Come and find out!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFY6GMTCGuk
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01t0pMo2PX
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5vfT96GG6
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVZvcmIQwT
Fortunately, she was always a better runner than Boris.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV99QTAni6l
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnnVYC4yX5
"Get back here! Come on you coward!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzTTIs4GDX
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AxEyKYJqf
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqBSK6hqiF
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0V79v7eLB
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd79G7HwYT
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kU5GZAAXD
"Finally!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlIqOm4hac
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j9IUZQk1k
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXeXoMLXw2
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FOXw4dwLT
"--Ack! Shit!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmA6fQ0E5K
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6lHJg5Nyi
The parrying dagger slid smooth like silk out of the wound. Rover dashed back immediately, anticipating some kind of reaction.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNkZjWkUog
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm94NVybcXp
"...My fingers are broken. Just what is that dagger made of?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjbvkFj6gx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp6ozFfLts
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XOFzZfHhi
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyfppfPYLJ
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–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6J04Zn7s5P
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5L0PT8MBL
"...!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9EBJ998GQ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYMGD1CA3b
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–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxweZ01VIv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGUb7WxxmZ
"Ah-ha!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LLKRCO5fv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZWhzfZNMB
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwkecWyL30
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFQfNsgFlO
The gesture alone confused Boris for a moment, just enough to stun him for what happened next.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG7eMPOKgO
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwWEFLvgzV
**THUD**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdhfd9Us0k
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTjWSIkcg2
"Urk!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVCerOGOWy
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF0WQghwf5
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kFkYQrPy4
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKZHQYUymC
Now at a distance, Rover observed the magic. But no magic came.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEGaD6Wmip
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpuYkN14gi
"Huh?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCd7OziCGG
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuR3E7YsXd
There was a fluttering cloud of orange dust before Boris, permeating through the room like any ordinary gas would.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7JamYTeRt
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2wbXSuMKf
"Haha! What was I afraid of!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnknTATagFR
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNgkmNWymq
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMDr3psvBv
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLaMW3fYwr
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEVMwO6TGS
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAHPkZrCfK
"What's this? Doesn't smell like anything. You crack me up. At least you put on a good show!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjYjpfHMhA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfF0Tp805x
Boris threw his arms wide.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuxV9Ceigd
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz76g0mBgn4
"But I like fights more than performances. I'll do both of us a favor and end this–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQKpmPT4rZ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekBTguHNZm
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPofHXSD23
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnEXbE7RgY
And then the magic happened.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw09llT9lun
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRRaqkJAMR
**BOOM**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb7O5StO1C
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKleY5L5xGQ
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDueVbyfXu2
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO4mUnZXJF
"Heh. And I even figured out your actual size."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaTybI1xIr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqHe5Ib1IX
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.
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcQ2QiTAlI
"Hmmm? This is taking a while–"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuzDW4lc1H
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUmqn1m0CR
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPGyDYOO2z
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DSd91YcRr
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7fgR6nVJU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE5YMDipdg
Then, it shrunk.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYJ5KUQCIu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83MGFAIliO
"Oh ho ho, you marvelous beast."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIruXOCc4Q0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAFqHExzqj
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeskerLNWm
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFA9ktTu0D
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds7TmyZjw7
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpBZylEsjk
"I can see it in your face. Your disgust. But I know that there's awe in those eyes. How couldn't there be?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RiX09QDnl
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjWzZh0Efn
Rover snapped out of her trance and brandished her dagger.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSUmmGOJi8
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrMbWzJNiJ
"What you're seeing is my Endowment. Many have called it a curse, but I'm not so ungrateful to insult it like that."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6nYFPJr0u
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzVeswFo69
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamObX27Xyu
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSd1GDZAYf
And then, a few seconds later, another brick spat out a different hole.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtF28iSdIt
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77lRY4vMGJ
"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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHGrfnRQZr
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaQnz9Xdnm
Another brick spewed out. It came from his shoulder.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSvf3vE4rx
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyPqGmkym7
"Well, you've certainly made a mess of my face. But I don't need good looks anyway."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6Q5GYod25
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLC1GYcMGl
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wykwftG3H
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDVUJjblEI
"You're not done fighting, are you? Come on."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMd6GPEP70
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq5OnxRVcE
"...Freak."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mlhShtMwq
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70hW2YuMW8
"Oh yeah. You loved calling me that before, didn't you?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnA7b4i0B5
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULWBRB4wGL
"And just look at how right I was."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXWxRhVPgI
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPIs7Z6mve
A hearty chuckle came from him.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaPFISU4XN
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwoBrvyTuh
"Well, that won't do you any good."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuqRaBiRMw
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcSFKGzYdC
Boris entered a stance, taunting Rover yet again.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GMnKmXAbG
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L8cpv8sC4
"Come on. My legs are scorched. Your marvelous plan gave you this opportunity."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvTxka9Cat
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTftLcq9SyP
She put one leg forward.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiu7nO1Jec
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7GFxaovLO
"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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfn599p2Rkv
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Then another. Boris' grin grew wider.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0K5IjA4BN
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"A helpless dog like you shouldn't loiter around! Come on, Rover! Don't you have something to prove!?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS6JbUVADc
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQF7GVwoll
And even through his manic glare, Rover sprinted. She sprinted with energy to finish, the will to see that monster put down.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtAYgf2unI
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–
–
–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FwqkGylyT
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAztmUpMHa
–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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllMei8sUA0
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BuhMzjgwp
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSp97fSPwU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOocLODpFHa
–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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyt3n0iSrpU
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUFj5ikSFM
–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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dYE3qP42M
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7pxTH36aX
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mROznl76q
–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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZDUASlQbi
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGmfgixuMh
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTu4nS7DBT
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPBRn7KZ2J
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**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TSk4BzbQr
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQqVdp4KLp
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN98Eh5VlW
–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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwTldygt0H
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp93aBeyI6
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzPB4Ma4cj
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"You have gotten smarter. Or maybe I've just gotten dumber."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs2vXWS2Co
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpT8tRt1rF
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKijeQIcJZ
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqqBO415I7
"What a shame. For you, of course. This is the closest you've ever gotten, but you didn't have that extra push."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSQomPMygM
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpztLmNkqYo
Rover balled his hands into a fist, scowling at Boris with daggers for eyes.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSiWwtSxcp
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1ma2Lr6un
"Relax, now. Twisting your face won't kill me. Might as well save the energy."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI3qCgQ9cn
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzo23Bancq
"You... ass."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioEV7xYqLA
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgoI5h0QDG
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLt6IWAPjc
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"You're not crawling away?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxIh959KPV
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"...I'm not a damn worm."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblCxiFF1PQ
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"Right. You never were the type to do that. But your insults are missing. Well, not that it matters."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVr9DRkaco
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKcCXL36I5
Boris crouched down and gazed at her legs. A shiver crawled up Rover's spine, one that left tingling dread in its wake.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5dgg05o4Z
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"I'm spent, but I can't let you run around either. So how about I do, this?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoTWa8lszg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwrMt89qQ6
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4vRVuaN5d
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClJqlbFlRC
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNcszh5D0P
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And she couldn't do a thing.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRbp1nemS1
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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:195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3G1v7Mmfm
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Sorry, mom–195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3Nsz4VJ2x
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**CRACK**195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fODO2jjil
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"AG– AAAAAAAAAAHCK!"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlNfnKh6Co
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Her nearly six years of combat experience couldn't have prepared her for this.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbwKlTyRvA
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"And there goes your leg."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKo56BOoTf
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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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto2ffM1pbe
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"It's funny. If it hadn't only been you, I'd probably be dead."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEfBraNlPL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LlwVZVzT5
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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOe3XsdNcL
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanw7He70HL
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGBGPr3nGJ
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But those words of his stole it away.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQS1f1dj8v
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"Raw strength wins yet again. You got close, but I am still undefeated. Until we meet again, Rover."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByqwHVlGPg
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAVDFT98oT
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvb8li70bt
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CVTHoJ8LZ
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoSx6TgbQV
195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIya1LntOqp
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.
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