The ambush from the last floor was felt throughout the crowd.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqY3ywd4LB
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iLRCG5KS9
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtmp9NzHNE
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXuOZmGTsz
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."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjISjnbUk4
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFXRfbDxek
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**310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8rmUGK1wz
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tZtXkUuX3
"Ack!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiRus6uhk2
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqM5V4hfi3
I wasn't prepared for the strength I slapped myself with. My muscles were incredibly tense, and I hadn't even realized.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD11v6FEt3u
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtCweAfrSw
"No use in thinking about it. No use in thinking about it! Come on!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6sppOm1Hv
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJeFffEdqk
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcELxKcvVjn
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwyxks8i0A
"...Useless–!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT9rWMUESY
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmJAawLIJw
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–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnCAqfmwyY
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4wG9ZZ849
Suddenly, I noticed something. Though I naturally hadn't been paying much attention to her, the person beside her had changed.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObA1kShG3u
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfvxKrfq7Z
And it was someone I recognized310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNzNx8QXV6
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDctx9Ipf5o
–
–
–
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV60RCsTf5H
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUgwQyMMKs
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwt5SzA9HM
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlsilWgWwx
Especially now that her surrogate partner was a completely new face.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvDFEXLHgT
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY6BBLGFeu
"Hi."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJVCBdej63
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gI3cmKz1W
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNkCl4A7KS
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMZJs6TCPJ
"What!?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIi6DLF3CNZ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvblaGkmoWh
Though, perhaps, she should've spared an extra second checking her tone.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yvO4nLm7q
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmphQ2dvBm2
"S-Sorry for the intrusion, ma'am! I just thought we'd familiarize ourselves."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEMmTec2r4
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3mEXj8xYO
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cAu3MHeDt
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoqufphafR
"I'm Nigel. You're the volunteer, aren't you?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsK1kmfpnQ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNeZknEUR7
"Volunteer makes it sound lame! I'm Rover! L-Let's work well together, alright!?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YAAyuC8TF
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1sR3fhenQ
Nigel's tense expression eased a little. He worried about a sudden reassignment just as much as Rover did.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKmrfapBJR
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC9lWb9iXE
"I know this is a bit impromptu, but my partner perished on the floor below. Thank you for bearing with me."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwDdZ228Tj
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ972Z3SVoHw
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQZYMpiiBA
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWaoZ8bQin
"That... that's really bad. I'm sorry for–"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqfQCGNhby
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAj2pyNNkqc
"Don't worry about it. You've suffered a similar fate, haven't you? We're in the same boat."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn92CC41Rq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHKDiRCimv
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRArrqXWbSv
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam6fMeXjsX
And then, finally, they hit a flat surface.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR8R3GMv8L
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt4skdJUk0
"The next room's up ahead!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvmS9dScx0
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURBUzQl6UJ
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxocbURrnGx
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXdmBElzS5
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–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfRravE9ZC
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsInRebvla5
"Holy shit! Are ya a titan!?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R4a0KnlAH
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoDmXlrpON
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5sq0pcwNY
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ49hnYyZu
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXWAgRdiXm
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NuyIAPmCv
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchNiWozYhB
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSifJW8tZu
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlY67BGOi1N
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3ln6VDgTy
"This is where your advance ends– huh?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkogv9Khrh
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6A8668SsX
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–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZazaM6wuOE
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QJ1sHgySb
**THUD**310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1bgIHc21n
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxECUca5q1
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN0suw1g4G
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROvLXtQHzx
"...Same tricks as always."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUaYlYDUNH
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGHRpZdLcO
Though her snide remark was entirely unperturbed, the rest of the room stared with mouths agape, as if they had just witnessed alien life.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN2ZRsnLtw
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmmA8HHDbC
"Hoh– it is you. You!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWByFgwWia
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktaY60b8rK
Because, the once hulking, monster of a man, was now suddenly the size of a teenage boy.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6epIW3PAbe
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qWeqW6DYV
"I never expected to run into you today, Rover! Hahaha!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuSwn4c5qs
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p3V5uc43E
The crowd was stunned. Only one member moved through the shock, and everyone stared to find it was Nigel.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSBQK3829f
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnVPQGWqMU
"Everyone," he shouted. "Move on, we'll take care of things here!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lZ1mpgFOI
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoU74e0iYo
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM7vKHlWj4
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhzuq7Tzze
"Nigel."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1JUtarIt6
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcS1Tpz4wt
"Yes?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXs9nUhDlE
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuapyDWKdpG
"Leave. I'm fighting this one alone."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6Hu2zAnPa
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEPVrD8iht
"...You're kidding me, certainly."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLh2HGOtZv
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo2khH6XSS
Rover shook her head back and forth.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIB55swx1u
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI0YrgQ2uh
"Do you honestly think you can take him alone? You saw what he did, didn't you?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIegdkrxuuS
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FNSwUYHYr
"Of course I did. And I know how it works."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJWg0Xh00M
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8uAo5W2o9
"You fought him before, then?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnyZhwQCwd
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkgyl0ve4N
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgxzYzqbg3
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtOF9S5tyN
"Aren't you and I a team? Are you absolutely certain?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfcAteZoqJ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YOqdcVpfu
Operating on instinct, Rover nodded, but then his opening question computed with her, and her eyes suddenly constricted.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd01WuEnJWP
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAJmI8JmEm
"Very well! Don't die on me!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGgksVvBaa
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EFOUh986f
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq19G6eev4s
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQHHtjy9kW
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJk2DGZVKa
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4gjjlKkgz
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykDjNYMDRi
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQTa2tJxvu
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInuVxS1k20
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iOCFhOyeJ
"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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvtkveDTSC
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqRuwuaq0Z
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6a4Pkm2QD
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLoQWclKWz
"..."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOxIB3aaCo
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh83LBlRJZZ
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW17OonCWX
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GGfr5jcXq
And so, she communicated with a stern nod, and Kenny's biting mouth chipped his nail.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLDVBSCOHk
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn4r3Fn3Gm
"Fine. Good luck!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1miG081ZCM
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgdLCZiA5v
And then, he was off. His bidding of good fortune completely stunned her. However, she quickly recovered–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq7VpUuThm
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkEjqrvjgP
**THUD**310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIcdMuORes
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KZWAkBlBe
"Sharp as always! I'm a fool to think that would work!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMp8iN8Tub
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJhhenOwAs
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadWwxs3N7N
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuYESzFyiQ
"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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx74Cp7mCd
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59ZBLEdNXE
She tried to ignore the uncertain, guilty way her stomach formed a pit.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwrFGgNxUA
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB2meKSB76
"Come at me, Boris!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJYsmw6sky
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOIoUepLW4
–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkNLXdhlgu
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNiaXXtmhN
–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOomIJCHYS0
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6ZapSDpOW
–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5GmiiNIlW
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bevrGkcjZ
Right before she charged forth, her stalled thoughts sprung into action.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSDPG5TFnq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI3JM6gYpD
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZfIDvwR0n
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2tnhbvsYn
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08OO4isk8T
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfszxJgPOt
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc9HBsnPwX
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ467zchqwuj
"Huh!?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctAHq0OAPo
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM7YHI6dfp
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO3Q0c00cP
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGxnsFnDm3
"Hah!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZeVX8hRgn
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf7By1SUfv
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33MPZfd4E5
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Qy3tiyk9y
But she didn't let up, because she knew that if she waited any longer–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3op9YhZpZ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNWPx2ojw6
"Here!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX3zLGrQA7
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2aQ1rZ1bQ
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsaRywgFs1
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRZfuj2OFZ
"Good thing that dagger's so thin. Otherwise, this wound wouldn't be so easy to heal."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQh5dDmvRN
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVAij5qbs6
"Tch."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAFjB1s2HI
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1kVTIQ7nO
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3KUYy0k5Q
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJQTHCiz3S
**CLANG**310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05lDAH2GWF
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3Xv7ummBG
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PqaOzXWvO
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Pv5Fp6HXk
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66iyAlT8nd
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu98ZBpUDh
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5aL0HnkwW
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eRXrCigpr
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–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa09rmvasJ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEiFCQKkMQ
**SMASH**310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SxO6jij2V
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7nrYtvzth
–shook the room as it ruined the wall.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLFzg6qIrw
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c33RdFDbu
"Ack. Shit!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPO7bfv3BP
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3srqDI6y1J
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRkt3bpnyi
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFUGiOZiQp
"These tactics don't work how they used to. You've grown. Haha, you've truly grown!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqsh39zPhU
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8L7MOhWmw
Boris deflated his comical size, returning to a more reasonable stature.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF5zujxwuL
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANWmcs0iJV
"But not enough."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxGfEFGNXV
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUffbtQbAZ
"--!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjpScOuppm
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAl63dPOoE
Those words, unlike anything prior, brewed steam within her head.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQbW46XIeq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvVIbMQU25
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm kicking your ass!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHDiXYfoPp
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VJn6jHJgQ
He wiped some dirt off his shoulder.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8bO3sVJNv
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqYEdRKsD9
"Your intellect hasn't improved one bit, has it? Can't you tell I'm still toying with you?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYzkk6trl6
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QjqANKDYu
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaugFPUAcVO
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7K5bykMvRw
"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 "310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiJD4pNL0e
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBKtgp6CxO
"...So what? What are you getting at, shitface?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAaGljuV15
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqFx3Pz3ow
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG52potilZI
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPxybLiPM1
But, as she was proven yet again, keeping expectations like that was for fools.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRxXkeedHD
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RvPk6nQ4X
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjMfZzaqyl
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLY2coH2XN
"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."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX8HegkFD6
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60ZbXBUgFC
From the back of his shoulders, a new pair of arms found home, and they pointed their fingers with snappy girth.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1M4jiPcYG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARcJK4ElGJ
"Hahaha! Come! Show me that this time, you'll do just that"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KHrGcoYIS
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHKN6TSEmX
"--Fine!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVVuc340l7
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSAeLHGVm9
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiRqwdlXVA
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbPWIxo9D8
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5soopcamJ2
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNATIXPiqlv
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xrEULmNnh
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbgnKaH3ho
"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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL9KVeQZi3
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTwTxd4QjE
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bohdd4xOe
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWdmNGZ6hZ
"Completely still. But, of course, you lost your only way to kill me. Will you give up?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMNwTSZyZN
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4pcpKJ434
"...You're counting me out already. It's pissing me off!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVJMuiItvK
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDe0lmCqH2
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8ZDuO1m0S
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVhoUwp4XD
"You've learned nothing, you overgrown oaf!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizldHKdECG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyULlpUxOc
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq8EpVw0w4
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1AwiqKsCO
"...I see. Hahaha, I see! And what kind of exotic mana does that hold?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGbGAAwmR3
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFHG7k8ia1
"Come and find out!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WcJBhdga7
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9b0If3UAvv
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdaOyLRc34
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0TZxKr2cb
Fortunately, she was always a better runner than Boris.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslvWronIck
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i9ZZtyngi
"Get back here! Come on you coward!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrRJy8rH8C
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPruaTFvgw
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTDNGSSomN
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHsJfoKGWy
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUdbo88wgq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFfsFygy9n
"Finally!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnIMFKgeyH
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrj0ilMaUB
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p7O1IclzU
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1APPR1h8Ot
"--Ack! Shit!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyOWOeYWCx
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4pTXWYPV3
The parrying dagger slid smooth like silk out of the wound. Rover dashed back immediately, anticipating some kind of reaction.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgBEWYSJ58
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1WgyUqBpn
"...My fingers are broken. Just what is that dagger made of?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLb8tznWN6
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EKoXlTiUr
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVuzjQ1RCf
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7iqBqKyrE
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–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxxmbnrgTq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctgCvHOXss
"...!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6EuFJqanu
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBWxSxX1QL
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–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTPz3g2vBQ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjJdzPS12O
"Ah-ha!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaou0FLyKe7
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgsrfHcX3A
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5GjaS0NNr
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnc1xRBFn2
The gesture alone confused Boris for a moment, just enough to stun him for what happened next.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUpvBp2ndq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxiLbKJye9
**THUD**310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0728NK8Yf
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3wdOesm3S
"Urk!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpUiBP0IlG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBumH4EZbLZ
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzCNmnQmnL
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGH433nSgE
Now at a distance, Rover observed the magic. But no magic came.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg8qUKOW1I
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnEFO8htLE
"Huh?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5ikiEBD9W
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWym5A81zJP
There was a fluttering cloud of orange dust before Boris, permeating through the room like any ordinary gas would.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1qddUzwjJ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Brn9LVgs
"Haha! What was I afraid of!?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2vsur63U4
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdeenboJUL
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQNAN4L8v9
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbR6gBJFCk
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT44PLEgPOm
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn4gIymEsG
"What's this? Doesn't smell like anything. You crack me up. At least you put on a good show!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTZ6KijiFj
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0hDT8QAME
Boris threw his arms wide.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYDSR6XbBv
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZN1cZvNSy
"But I like fights more than performances. I'll do both of us a favor and end this–"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsqeVdPugF
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EOgTO33Ix
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXPX3VQJbS
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGK1hOjo8J
And then the magic happened.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5O7Uq9mmz
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsACR5eUYgI
**BOOM**310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZdsemWbfZ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4dp4ecrh7
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8hAtlRxnB
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4fXhm6aMs
"Heh. And I even figured out your actual size."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OBQeJJzCR
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwDSryEWEc
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–"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lmFPKcQGC
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Nini7yBp2
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FJ8PRRgS7
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9OCQqPXtM
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPzeEXvInV
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktRJSheoX9
Then, it shrunk.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD55Fkhi3y
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudysO3hdaW
"Oh ho ho, you marvelous beast."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziSqQm3M1c
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX1R3g0OIu
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWqRGdrfcE
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3YPF7TsTZ
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGlX38DHX9
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOAZlUVUKL
"I can see it in your face. Your disgust. But I know that there's awe in those eyes. How couldn't there be?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nq5jGxPUx
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx34ln8OEA
Rover snapped out of her trance and brandished her dagger.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrZ7llSwEh
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3edvLAJ7IS
"What you're seeing is my Endowment. Many have called it a curse, but I'm not so ungrateful to insult it like that."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLdKHM3dXT
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibk4ix5yRg
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40VZ6baz3l
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxd0FgQ38v
And then, a few seconds later, another brick spat out a different hole.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYL1p60YdR
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bzbV0UOUP
"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."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GWDi4duwL
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG81lP7gxwn
Another brick spewed out. It came from his shoulder.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiVEWiVZpN
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzlpyFNVfC
"Well, you've certainly made a mess of my face. But I don't need good looks anyway."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVPnzwfkby
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YmwfEcwR9
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU1PZOvfsT
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7xawO8XIQ
"You're not done fighting, are you? Come on."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSBEsfEwpU
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiFkabzxL6
"...Freak."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnyhj95NjG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsWA48rH3E
"Oh yeah. You loved calling me that before, didn't you?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pT0XP3PgY
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYfCTS4Rsj
"And just look at how right I was."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaVBGutNqR
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xvHEYIF45
A hearty chuckle came from him.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeBOUsxFSh
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6NmXofnoB
"Well, that won't do you any good."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2YpHy1F7U
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN7GbxyCMl
Boris entered a stance, taunting Rover yet again.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIEcLEaltF
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGCBUVBIab
"Come on. My legs are scorched. Your marvelous plan gave you this opportunity."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46e8UlG943
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IvKZQBcWg
She put one leg forward.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgLxYnDsl0
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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."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E97oSSLWK
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Then another. Boris' grin grew wider.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI5FHz9XJf
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"A helpless dog like you shouldn't loiter around! Come on, Rover! Don't you have something to prove!?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2JV0dhYLD
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNxZwync7L
And even through his manic glare, Rover sprinted. She sprinted with energy to finish, the will to see that monster put down.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AoviyEe6e
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–
–
–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbIGA58oXG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcWbcgZU5Q
–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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jmUiIR23O
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8vA1eJdkm
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9KheJ8A16
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLJ9n8c3Sy
–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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4R20ckCnf
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRAr5Dz3pw
–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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX08nQ3IEtS
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNJCzcM9me
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxkZu23mYk
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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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5K27cffP5
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHMNoeoFxt
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8NHWRVK3S
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJzSPKuTaL
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**310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f7RtwgAq3
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfIWlKNwTv
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGLucH98Mq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK3RYV3reT
–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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiwoSdGf8F
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSryo2W0XM
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C6bXw1AY4
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"You have gotten smarter. Or maybe I've just gotten dumber."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZUqkgZ0Zt
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVzrSLa4Fd
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBwtNlmjNM
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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."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R5Zeg63KN
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIfFCIotpi
Rover balled his hands into a fist, scowling at Boris with daggers for eyes.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVUmV3mon6
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxH6m5DRQ5
"Relax, now. Twisting your face won't kill me. Might as well save the energy."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqovXbEaKb
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASO5E5iREf
"You... ass."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBtRv937M1
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzFApQxZlU
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs6aVcNZ6C
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"You're not crawling away?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyso7IKvYkn
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxEtrTH1Bn
"...I'm not a damn worm."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KBi7l2EWO
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJIDqFbLwx
"Right. You never were the type to do that. But your insults are missing. Well, not that it matters."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl8jQKeR1v
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjDlFYvgYC
Boris crouched down and gazed at her legs. A shiver crawled up Rover's spine, one that left tingling dread in its wake.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10qyk7lI0e
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"I'm spent, but I can't let you run around either. So how about I do, this?"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH83RbCfEt
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7levwoH62
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3cIW4ZDvG
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4J0yBZkCf
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYDzi2ruru
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And she couldn't do a thing.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3DYWlcp8j
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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:310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9xdJuJrUJ
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluhquo4d4Z
Sorry, mom–310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LabdThcI6
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**CRACK**310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTkCOKbsJ3
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"AG– AAAAAAAAAAHCK!"310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ak5R8VHvr
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Her nearly six years of combat experience couldn't have prepared her for this.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAw07p8OTD
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"And there goes your leg."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDUsI7DVJ1
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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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPYajw5iPP
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK0QkAMRLT
"It's funny. If it hadn't only been you, I'd probably be dead."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0B5A59gXq
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1jBZX4cdA
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."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5t7OkpNgI
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMGm7tfpjl
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUtpgpqsU0
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But those words of his stole it away.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUpk3LUwzG
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"Raw strength wins yet again. You got close, but I am still undefeated. Until we meet again, Rover."310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAOTgPY5d1
310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NLV4bm93w
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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEImzHHCVYM
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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.310Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGy05XZ5yS
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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.
