Once again I ducked under horizontal slash dropping on my knee and cutting from the side. Giselle jumped back avoiding the attack by inches. We were breathing heavily, sweat and bruises were covering our bodies. Giselle had inhuman stamina, I helped myself out with mana, which unfortunately was quickly running dry. Few of her attacks were a bit too… “passionate” resulting in bones getting broken or joints being dislocated. Each time she would just drop “sorry” with no real sorrow in her voice. She knew I could heal up in seconds, therefore, she had no reason to hold her blows.

“It still hurts, you know?!” “Aww. My poor little prince can’t take a mere scratch?” she mocked me in the voice that sounded as if she was talking to a baby.

I would only answer rising my arm which was bent in a strange direction before snapping it back into place. I believe that I don’t have to add that it hurt like a bitch.

“Damn…” she whispered “... It’s like cheating! If someone did that to me I would have to give up a fight!” She pouted. "...Also, it actually turns me on a little." “Giselle. Only an ogre or behemoth could actually break your bones.” “And a few others… but I get what you are saying… So, one more time?” she smiled readying her wooden sword.

To be honest, I have had enough, but seeing the spark of pure passion in her eyes made me only sigh before rising my sword on my head level, pointing tip in her direction.

You are now using [Te Ura Gasumi] stance

Overall Ballance up.

Reaction time 15% up

Damage 10% up

“Hoo? No more free-style?” “Sorry babe, I am kinda worn out. One of us is used to battles lasting for days, and the other one is me, so I have to end this quickly. I gotta hit you, then hit the hay, and then hit you in the hay.” “Idiot…” she laughed “… but, I am looking forward to all the things you put on the list.”

In response, she bend her right knee while stretching her left leg behind her letting her sword down in the straight line in such manner, that the tip almost touched the ground.

You are now using [Appraisal] Enemy has entered [Posta di coda longa] stance

Overall Ballance up

Reaction time 35% up

Defence 17.25% up

We were looking deep into one another's eyes. Our focus was absolute. In the instance, everything vanished. The room. The wall. The world. There were only the two of us and five meters of distance between us.

Slowly, I started heading in her direction using just my toes to move.

Our muscles were painfully stretched, vibrating from the pressure we put on them. Giselle waited perfectly still. I was the one in attacking stance, so she had to wait for me to get closer, but then again, she had longer arm-reach so she could be the one that would start with an aggressive form of “counter” before I would even start my attack.

Our breaths became shallow, we started letting air our through our mouth.

The stressful pressure appeared in my guts. Anticipation. The two of us were about to give everything we had into that last trade of blows.

Meter of distance between us vanished, to us, it appeared as if it lasted whole eons. Our muscles started nervously convulsing, twitching, begging us for action, we had to calm them down with sheer power of will.

Another meter.

We were almost in the range of one another, just few more inches, and if both of us could pounce at one another and we would actually be able to land a hit.

We knew, that it was almost time to act. Giselle smiled widely, like a devil preparing for a meal, after split of second I noticed, that I was doing the same.

Another step. The time was almost…

…NOW!..

In this moment the door opened with a loud slam shattering our little world. We were thrown out of balance completely, I missed the footing and almost dropped on my face, losing my sword in the process and Giselle’s legs gave up making her collapse on her butt.

“OH COME FUCKING OOOON!” we both cried “Are you fighting AGAIN!?” Lanele yelled from the doorway “… or did we just disturb you in something?” “HOOOW DAAARE YOOOU?!” Giselle was actually roaring from her spot, too tired to get up “… We were so close! It was all so intense! Almost there! Everything was perfect! The mood! The pressure! We almost reached our climaxes! It was about to be so… wonderful!”

Lana, Blanka, and Kim which were standing by the entrance where gazing on us, the first two, with mixed emotions plastered on their faces. They looked on us from the tip to toes.

Our clothes were ragged, barely holding on our bodies. Magically, our weapons were lying quite far from us. So here we were standing, me lying atop of Giselle, sweaty, almost naked…

“Intense, you say…?” Lana said with a blank expression. “Almost there, reaching climaxes, you say…?” Blanka followed “Blanka, did you hear? She said that mood and pressure were perfect…” “We are…. We are really very sorry. Please, don’t mind us, we are leaving, please, finish your business.” War dancress bowed her head apologetically and started dragging priestess and young chimera off the room “He? What’s going on? We just came? I wanted to play with big brother!” Kim raised a protest “We will tell you once you would grow up a little…” “But..” “Shhh! Let the adults tender to their needs.”

The door was closed behind them.

“Bastards. Impossible now… Also, why did their reaction appeared to be so shocked at the end?” “Giselle. Do you remember what you just said?” “I do.” “Do you see in what state and position the two of us are right now?” “I… do?” “Now, Giselle, take it easy. Take your time. Join the threads.” “Sure. But in a moment. Let me rest now.”

She relaxed on the ground stretching her exhausted muscles with her eyes shut. Dragoness exhaled happily finding comfort in blissful laziness.

Then, her eyes abruptly opened.

“Oh fuck! Oh shit! Of my…” “A-ha. Threads joined.” I just dropped on the floor myself sighting deeply pleased feeling the same sensation that Gis did mere seconds ago.

In the meantime, dragoness was already storming the door looking for her friends

“LANEEELEEE!!! BLANKAAA! IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS!!!”

The number of blows we landed on one another was more or less identical. This last clash was supposed to determine a winner.

But… it the things turned out this way… I wonder how “happy” Giselle would be once I tell her that I consider myself victorious because she was the one to flee from the battleground?

Your skill [Sword Usage - Apprentice] has leveled up. [Sword Usage - Apprentice] is now level 14

Months of adventuring and brawling with Giselle started paying off. I think I could rest for a day or t...

I reminded myself Sebastains warnings. I reminded myself of all the bizarre encounters of the last few months. I exhaled air annoyed and raised up to sitting position.

Not just yet. Can't rest. Not now. This time nobody will drag me into some fucked-up shit. This time no one will kidnap me. Noone will defeat me. Whoever is coming to challenge me, I will make him bow before me, even if I had to snap his or her body into two.

All of thy, standing in my way.

Bring it on,

You have entered [Meditation] state

Mana regeneration up

Spell's effects 22.25% up

You are now growing a new [Lesser Core]