The ambush from the last floor was felt throughout the crowd.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGarBKLdgLL
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdgGrUZEHG
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUSE1K7sQw
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXJrHyaHbz
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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNQ3bAok7T
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKZC4BOVcm
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**109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2rjTswNEo
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10r8X75N92
"Ack!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIedm05VlC
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzVo5wrI0V
I wasn't prepared for the strength I slapped myself with. My muscles were incredibly tense, and I hadn't even realized.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBWkdcKRij
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0fZz344zI
"No use in thinking about it. No use in thinking about it! Come on!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvQuroMh1K
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPRdAPQWg7
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8hlD1MLEk
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"...Useless–!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEHa7LLf9h
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvhXm4kQG4
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–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLqgCPXboZ
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRX0cR0zkg
Suddenly, I noticed something. Though I naturally hadn't been paying much attention to her, the person beside her had changed.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYedZNOnp0b
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhqkjg4N0N
And it was someone I recognized109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydBPYKvKRU
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG0766rmuz
–
–
–
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynhWn8fZzS
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKe0gySTC9
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNwXvrQMpp
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRoxwynVz3
Especially now that her surrogate partner was a completely new face.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsIE4iKbam
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"Hi."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEskr6uRfV
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As she raced up the steps, a man in glasses only a little taller announced himself. She could see him facing her in her peripheral, and though her habits urged her not to, she matched his gaze.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIdqmKi4iB
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"What!?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06AnMMqobC
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwom2TA44gi
Though, perhaps, she should've spared an extra second checking her tone.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3lQDXuEy5
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PArQSxXqF
"S-Sorry for the intrusion, ma'am! I just thought we'd familiarize ourselves."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSv76wut9q
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8uyCkm4EJ
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88vQ79wmS5
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOQtrdlezA
"I'm Nigel. You're the volunteer, aren't you?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZlCrluemq
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFszFtvP5v
"Volunteer makes it sound lame! I'm Rover! L-Let's work well together, alright!?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhzsfTacWr
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWMNvOGjw5
Nigel's tense expression eased a little. He worried about a sudden reassignment just as much as Rover did.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt7uPlPsE6
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cdRKRzBvz
"I know this is a bit impromptu, but my partner perished on the floor below. Thank you for bearing with me."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC36dzpzEL
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo3e9anKJh
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQgrVVplSt
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjabYYwDgM
"That... that's really bad. I'm sorry for–"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlU2OokSvL
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5MBiwqvgJ
"Don't worry about it. You've suffered a similar fate, haven't you? We're in the same boat."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92kItHipii
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsRRo67oEZ
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCS0WqVmis
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaL56o7ST6
And then, finally, they hit a flat surface.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf19EYIT9J
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh1zHom1XT
"The next room's up ahead!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tc1C2dNiO
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucE1cbNIhi
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65aqkxddgF
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3l5at80IU
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–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPTr78WsCJ
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifjd3UXYCC
"Holy shit! Are ya a titan!?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNuQ0o9rNt
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CSVR0iQxD
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0EjclwnC6
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwf6iDzrBB
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxZq4AIQnM
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrN6NygledL
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZbRCbVBJB
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm42jQ2kPgW
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxv239HfFz
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrvTKDvKmn
"This is where your advance ends– huh?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqMIMUdIta
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf0EBFdWp4
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–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2X9uawC9f
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMBz5DF9gq
**THUD**109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcMm9JN4zg
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She shoved the man down to the ground. She immediately followed with a thrust, but she only caught his robe, and the man scurried away.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wdYJOF7oU
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"...Same tricks as always."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevx3Ry8M7A
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Though her snide remark was entirely unperturbed, the rest of the room stared with mouths agape, as if they had just witnessed alien life.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mLaSANL7n
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT67oZbDzSL
"Hoh– it is you. You!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv8qZa7opv
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEierAmYG06
Because, the once hulking, monster of a man, was now suddenly the size of a teenage boy.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6r1GnCMah
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinfpUDhaDn
"I never expected to run into you today, Rover! Hahaha!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz94zQbihxp
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVN3Ggz5Ct
The crowd was stunned. Only one member moved through the shock, and everyone stared to find it was Nigel.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXI68skXOu
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuLMfuVnEV
"Everyone," he shouted. "Move on, we'll take care of things here!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gY0flipvc
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgBCXl8qaF
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C6YHXgYKn
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAszMijJyHM
"Nigel."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPe6sAz203
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"Yes?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU5sKpcf2f
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"Leave. I'm fighting this one alone."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNNuI4Xibn
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ3dRm2Fvi
"...You're kidding me, certainly."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VXsZSvUoS
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK8pkpe0ho
Rover shook her head back and forth.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTPrI9xjYf
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C143ebtyn
"Do you honestly think you can take him alone? You saw what he did, didn't you?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GTQb6ti3X
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRHx8VG8DN
"Of course I did. And I know how it works."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ79dt3KySy
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSWTK9rBuf
"You fought him before, then?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBYhrl4q5H
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5JGrTMLRl
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6aXmdqUNg
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozSsVBYioE
"Aren't you and I a team? Are you absolutely certain?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6XnezY1rE
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9aBQERslf
Operating on instinct, Rover nodded, but then his opening question computed with her, and her eyes suddenly constricted.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAPiak3OYG
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"Very well! Don't die on me!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu6fAWc27B
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LRWAbL5fd
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj8cFSXcZC
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY17jj33yiY
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a67eIHFXH
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfVORyQFIj
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmknR3fioX
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQbl7iXD44
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9Av0gSxq5
"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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZkjupfBdd
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE56lu0CkCU
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BEMb5na6x
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUm8tF0Txc
"..."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFb8WKlvFX
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It was suddenly difficult to do anything. And yet, the feelings that burned within her formed too great an inferno to douse. If that boy took two steps further into this room, or even one, she felt like she would lash out. She felt like– she knew she would yell at him not to butt in, to mind his own business, to go fuck himself, and to leave her alone. Words that she had slung candidly before. Words that she knew better than family.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCgqIxjjm5
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And so, she communicated with a stern nod, and Kenny's biting mouth chipped his nail.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW1udDeY0d
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoHATyFsti
"Fine. Good luck!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0YSL2Noft
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And then, he was off. His bidding of good fortune completely stunned her. However, she quickly recovered–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOU8aRaN9H
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrwII2I5pe
**THUD**109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMCOexNj2Z
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"Sharp as always! I'm a fool to think that would work!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebHzdvTx5o
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohpkLVtWYu
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNDkoRleXn
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHLh0bSAg0
"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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80ZrMEFExM
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She tried to ignore the uncertain, guilty way her stomach formed a pit.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNszftz1fhi
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"Come at me, Boris!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb07Q5RSAg
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfM4KpS6RMW
–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu21o7ixpDg
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7CXrgSTEG
–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMF8pEza7d
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6ZWstjigb
–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDwjQZ6qd8
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Right before she charged forth, her stalled thoughts sprung into action.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNifsKmX1a
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEiFOEHtbn
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZx6kQAcok
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsg4mos8Pd
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu4BmxoCfW
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOPv1GeCRV
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"Huh!?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1VCKR16cO
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ttz77UGs3
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXWI8wrtVn
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"Hah!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYdEqXxGK9
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She used her other to grab her dagger and stabbed at the man. He took the blow unceremoniously, even growing to lessen it, and she was sure it hurt by the subsequent grunt. He flew off her rapier a solid few meters away, taking Rover's dagger with his body.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolCYaIpexq
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoM2MztwKa
But she didn't let up, because she knew that if she waited any longer–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQI0MELXOx
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"Here!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpxwomtBcP
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbQQaLWUM8
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCGOGSZC60
"Good thing that dagger's so thin. Otherwise, this wound wouldn't be so easy to heal."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2GED2lvRD
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdUuztirRI
"Tch."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrp9XYiIv3
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OmfVO61fu
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYQkQnoEBg
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh7oSrNXnj
**CLANG**109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lMSuWXDwv
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And that trick came. Boris caught her thin rapier between his hands, clamping it so fiercely that the metal would snap any moment. But Rover's stance suffered no blow, and poised to strike back, she slung her leg from her side. The blow struck Boris right under the rib, and from his obvious wince, the damage wasn't meaningless.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRL27AdyPb
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMe5PnFItp
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R8Wkqexc0
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCIlf0OUJJ
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS7ixVF7wH
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFM5CcsiaM
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–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicHpa4COEv
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ws8RMul1z
**SMASH**109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NczanSEXc
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–shook the room as it ruined the wall.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTnJ4jpcyC
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"Ack. Shit!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN7hSH7Ral
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRRj95ASPD
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwzjWtpfLW
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4w0PH2KY7
"These tactics don't work how they used to. You've grown. Haha, you've truly grown!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsJOKbKE2G
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XOEKyIH1B
Boris deflated his comical size, returning to a more reasonable stature.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPU6zRYzAu
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"But not enough."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn4MHBvm1D
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"--!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFM5i18j4T
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Those words, unlike anything prior, brewed steam within her head.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnstClb0K7a
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"What the hell are you talking about? I'm kicking your ass!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwdisMr1NG
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUGMYbZ5Zp
He wiped some dirt off his shoulder.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJS0EwU6rR
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"Your intellect hasn't improved one bit, has it? Can't you tell I'm still toying with you?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBOAdYg0hl
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TIZlsyiQe
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C8PMg1r0T
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc0IVhSkV5
"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 "109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTVa29tu4V
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYj6m7HmoO
"...So what? What are you getting at, shitface?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5Z0X64WFW
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4NnRlDXGy
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxn66rIiAY
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But, as she was proven yet again, keeping expectations like that was for fools.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWPrZxtPHZ
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyWWcfIFnl
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGJBFkDSKj
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuI2Y8zHiw
"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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCqvbGTiXc
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hd5kyEkA5
From the back of his shoulders, a new pair of arms found home, and they pointed their fingers with snappy girth.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLIHawzf8W
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEVGMCzZoz
"Hahaha! Come! Show me that this time, you'll do just that"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUsP4DTHSq
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T12uXThtI
"--Fine!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LqQcbtF8Q
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JsPr8s1ey
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8fe7YPwIV
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatV53mLD1w
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjndjZpIcj9
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcfc5gyo13
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZAYxsMWbk
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgsghSTd9C
"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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv9RInh7HD
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8XouiGUT9
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCd7LmugZ0
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlq1pZgz5F
"Completely still. But, of course, you lost your only way to kill me. Will you give up?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03hgh82SFl
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnDmW5t4uT
"...You're counting me out already. It's pissing me off!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbdKjnkjF3
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmWHdkcBn1
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUmDs10kyS
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFa4zYjOnA
"You've learned nothing, you overgrown oaf!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmn4M4wWSR
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiai20nAlxI
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakS2YDV94e
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaBIyhA30u
"...I see. Hahaha, I see! And what kind of exotic mana does that hold?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLynDR7ZKkT
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlT5cyCbMA
"Come and find out!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69EdBP4vnX
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoNDQL5Icp
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PMlwniUWe
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Fortunately, she was always a better runner than Boris.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC4DhjvSyU
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"Get back here! Come on you coward!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr1kdKWir8
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg18TkgUfh4
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0uZDGqWIa
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHrtuuX62P
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeasbGZ3wCf
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"Finally!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIms7GUWNHC
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv2Ma3kHTi
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJj6rcE9Js
"--Ack! Shit!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHxjeZQlpY
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7uCTK09RU
The parrying dagger slid smooth like silk out of the wound. Rover dashed back immediately, anticipating some kind of reaction.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5OLLHEBzT
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRMQeixqEH
"...My fingers are broken. Just what is that dagger made of?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DR3eCvHrB
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJbcGhWsSw
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaaUeOmQyN
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse8wCuV0X4
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–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA2qbaPtsK
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHuO9EjtJw
"...!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWjiW2UpnL
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqGc6Hj2ZZ
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–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnuJMNgkUW
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"Ah-ha!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iwAEculSF
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCGfhNTRPs
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXfSCLwaGl
The gesture alone confused Boris for a moment, just enough to stun him for what happened next.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzZ3nDrW9o
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovrcR6qqBb
**THUD**109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJ8weSYrQo
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"Urk!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2270oYxWa
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc5aHg5JI8
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5EGAXdxFT
Now at a distance, Rover observed the magic. But no magic came.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs29FgQJf01
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"Huh?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgutdpjDQtL
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There was a fluttering cloud of orange dust before Boris, permeating through the room like any ordinary gas would.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwUGZ5OuPH
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"Haha! What was I afraid of!?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4n9ThJ9apy
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡennaF5guZ9
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIddwh20B0b
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3mZj6yMi7
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiz3CRXIvp
"What's this? Doesn't smell like anything. You crack me up. At least you put on a good show!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEKZFRg5If
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Boris threw his arms wide.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcebH8QGlm
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"But I like fights more than performances. I'll do both of us a favor and end this–"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtLtnZCrTP
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgr4Tyxok0
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKu0SeAibq
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjMVLIHap1
And then the magic happened.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYUUnQNCbB
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**BOOM**109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmMw5PTj35
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7shKjpeIh9
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"Heh. And I even figured out your actual size."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1VI3DXped
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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.
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"Hmmm? This is taking a while–"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l5hrYjQJY
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKWLPCoTW4
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhDFF8ouzj
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5LWDoSlo9
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Then, it shrunk.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12rAnaN4NO
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"Oh ho ho, you marvelous beast."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgwgjwywvH
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi2zmIC3SI
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwQHbPWqRj
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdp6yWJJteo
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IoVqOAruz
"I can see it in your face. Your disgust. But I know that there's awe in those eyes. How couldn't there be?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5MT2NuPNm
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UANP5mBho
Rover snapped out of her trance and brandished her dagger.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ooVVnpi0H
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g33NkUM9T
"What you're seeing is my Endowment. Many have called it a curse, but I'm not so ungrateful to insult it like that."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNrOcaNIZy
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxbsKd50pk
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUB0LUEWeuM
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTb9Ur431S
And then, a few seconds later, another brick spat out a different hole.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmHdV9UYQd
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupDIcDzLIF
"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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejAvW5SbC2
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZKvXRngQs
Another brick spewed out. It came from his shoulder.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflZyhC5Mka
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"Well, you've certainly made a mess of my face. But I don't need good looks anyway."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy5QHLZJmy
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS2Qf0VFQg
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjho9C8wDO
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"You're not done fighting, are you? Come on."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87f3qrC6r0
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"...Freak."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnJUBM2xno
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAoe8bOgDD
"Oh yeah. You loved calling me that before, didn't you?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGlkALtPGc
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakiliObEc8
"And just look at how right I was."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZthqE5XLd5
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A hearty chuckle came from him.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUEwfJy7fw
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"Well, that won't do you any good."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SW2KdyqvC
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx394k8VMeq
Boris entered a stance, taunting Rover yet again.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFOcGaNTMJ
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"Come on. My legs are scorched. Your marvelous plan gave you this opportunity."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uXcDFbVxJ
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She put one leg forward.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSCYNjssUe
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"You've got brains since the last time we met. At least, more than I expected. You used them well. You're still worth keeping around."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ7wp6tCtd
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Then another. Boris' grin grew wider.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQdwCQkPpr
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"A helpless dog like you shouldn't loiter around! Come on, Rover! Don't you have something to prove!?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltTc2CLO1D
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And even through his manic glare, Rover sprinted. She sprinted with energy to finish, the will to see that monster put down.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQzc2OqiDf
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–
–
–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcAPBXHG4o
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–From an onlooker's perspective, Rover could see why she'd get concerned stares. Even though her body locomoted tactfully in the fight, the windows to her mind made contorted, bemused shapes. And the removal of her dagger compounded that contortion.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDU9OGoQh0f
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She threw a fist forward. It was slapped away by Boris, and he attempted a counterattack. Rover tucked her head just in time, and with the tiny space between her skull and his arm, she jumped. Boris avoided a dislocation, but Rover kept the assault with a kick from the side. It was blocked by his other hand. She slipped away just before it got caught, and using her right leg like an anchor, delivered a flurry of kicks at Boris, who went to block them.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBYImQFSVK
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n72QAKSL2
–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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFypG75xyJc
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTedJYywJtO
–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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA0Zs5WE4S
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uQzeNvUNU
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–When things get at arm's length, they become untouchable. But the obstacle isn't always a protective pane of glass. Sometimes it's a shelf, one just high enough so it's out of your reach. Rover jumped for years, but every time her legs grew stronger, or her arms grew longer, the shelf grew with her, but always a little more. Eventually, her fiddling fingertips couldn't even brush it.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgm2oA6rSWx
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Rover fought yet again to get her feet to the ground. She wiped her mouth with her arm and spat out blood-infused spit. She must've cut her inner cheek.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLZSF7upJa
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Boris was far away from her, but charing with full awareness. His pace slugged from before, it was clear to Rover that the explosion still affected him. She used that thought to muster her remaining strength and met Boris' charge head-on. The two entered a series of throwing and avoiding fists, and Rover's superior speed gave her an edge. She landed blows square in the chest, and as she hit his pores, they immediately constricted. Rover cared little as to what that meant and kept bashing, but then Boris landed a fist into her cheek. She rolled with the hit as well as she could before rounding back with her strongest punch yet. It landed right into Boris' palm. He twirled his arm, a clear attempt to break Rover's own, but she had experience with such tricks. She put her free hand onto Boris' and jumped, countering his rotation with her own, and kicking him in the head. But Boris didn't release his grasp, and instead threw Rover up and punted her gut.
–There was almost no doubt in her mind of what would happen. It was inevitable, in spite of her struggle. She was going to lose. Would she die? She knew Boris well enough, and so she knew she wouldn't. But to her, no future existed beyond the time of her loss. No prospects are had at the precipice of failure. It was like the blackness of recollecting one's memory as a fetus. But if these rotten thoughts were all that were within her, then maybe she could've squeezed out a tie.
Rover fell to the ground, wheezing and panting, remnants of her stomach escaping from her mouth. She expected an immediate attack and braced herself, but such an attack never came–
**THUD**109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNzDLOEkGf
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mWYVciXoY
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–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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2xVt7gG51
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Boris was caught off guard, but not as much as Rover hoped. He just raised one of his arms and let the dagger pierce right through. Boris' screaming was nearly musical to her. Blood leaked from the edges; it was clear the dagger was like a clog. But even so, Boris pulled the dagger out of his arm and sealed the blood-spewing hole with his fingers, performing mana spinning.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnMMdF8Y6h
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"You have gotten smarter. Or maybe I've just gotten dumber."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahU4YVvZPS
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Rover tried to get up and attack. After all, he was right in front of her, making himself vulnerable. She tried, and she was able to get her upper body off the floor, but Boris kept her down with another kick to the chin. Any strength to rise departed, and all Rover could do was watch as Boris approached.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzE3wnhAZz
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"What a shame. For you, of course. This is the closest you've ever gotten, but you didn't have that extra push."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm40n0vxZ8g
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Rover balled his hands into a fist, scowling at Boris with daggers for eyes.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN14VwU2xI
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"Relax, now. Twisting your face won't kill me. Might as well save the energy."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2dX2WUnsm
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"You... ass."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVnC3ZZ1Mm
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Boris stopped before her legs, staring at them while pinching his chin. Rover couldn't begin to imagine what was going on in his head. But she kept on scowling, even hissing at him as if the action would deter him at all.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocVXo1n4AM
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"You're not crawling away?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQfQfMP1xg
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"...I'm not a damn worm."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONJRM9RYXw
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"Right. You never were the type to do that. But your insults are missing. Well, not that it matters."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyUY5dxvHx
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Boris crouched down and gazed at her legs. A shiver crawled up Rover's spine, one that left tingling dread in its wake.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbpmCwzHS2
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"I'm spent, but I can't let you run around either. So how about I do, this?"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDCgpmD3Ds
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He grabbed her left leg by the ankle, and as he did so, he began mana expulsion. He formed a great club of earth in his hand and walked over to her hip. Immediately, Rover knew what was going to happen. She moved her arm in an attempt to slap it away, but her hands couldn't reach him.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh6o3SW3Vp
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMlsY5Kxxo
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And she couldn't do a thing.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCA6yEdpbE9
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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:109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeguKdyoDOw
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91K08VIVLL
Sorry, mom–109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yK88asI9U
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**CRACK**109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheVGoNiC01
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"AG– AAAAAAAAAAHCK!"109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjwuc5tBMA
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Her nearly six years of combat experience couldn't have prepared her for this.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOf2bLl0BJ
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"And there goes your leg."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXbqoxTBgo
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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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJT0THuEIq
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"It's funny. If it hadn't only been you, I'd probably be dead."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q9voQApBz
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfs910wDhx
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."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2SGLWi9IP
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrm1ny80oy
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.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzvBqBOtYs
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But those words of his stole it away.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g4ErMSz68
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"Raw strength wins yet again. You got close, but I am still undefeated. Until we meet again, Rover."109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2obwRHqwN
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Boris continued limping away until he reached the wall. Then, reeling his fist back, he smashed the glass panes open. He looked down and whistled before turning around and looking at Rover.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOu3n2jIUC
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She wanted to scream, but all the efforts of her throat and lungs were channeled to ease her suffering. And oh, how she hated it. How she hated the grin of his face, an arrangement of his teeth and mouth designed for eating feces. He waved her goodbye and jumped off while cackling like a witch.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdfk7oTuku
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No strength to draw, no will to push. All Rover could do was lay there and cope, lamenting her loss and that wretched monster's words.
