Blaze!

Pillar of radiant flames erupted everywhere as I continuously shoot off a ball of fires towards Flow. He deftly dodges with ease while grinning. He approaches me with dashes with intent to bring down his rabid claws but in return, I nimbly back away while firing off more flames at him.

As I landed on my knees while evading, Flow disappears from sight. Sensing that he did something to his presence again, my mind came to halt of what to do.

But something in my intuition, no, an awakened precognition swayed by guts and my ears twitched. I feel like I can predict two seconds ahead of time and it warned of impending doom behind me.

“There!”

I swing my body sidewards and flail my golden blazing tails that created a streak of sparkling light that ignited in combustion as it met something. As something exploded, I leaped backward again to create distance and freezes the ground where the sparks occurred.

The pain that coursing throughout my body is still there. I can still feel my body trembling a little from such sensation, but as I think about it, I strongly crave to inflict the same level of pain to my enemy. I can feel a tinged of enmity, however, it’s a boiling rage with no intention to use that power, Astlan’s Ira.

As I think about my next move, Flow emerges from the sea of flames and ice that slowly melts. His face, far from grinning, is default of any expression. His stance of walking doesn’t any show of any immediate attack, however, that won’t make me let my guard down.

He heaves a deep sigh that showed exasperated expression and looks at me while scratching the back of his head. I’m surprised he hasn’t killed himself yet by using those enormous claws for scratching.

“Well, who would have thought that you really did become stronger? No, more awakened of your own self is a more accurate phrase.”

“What are you blabbering about?”

“Does it matter? My answer won’t matter anymore. You have attained something greater than you have earlier and you are putting it to a good use. Heh, bullshit…precognition.”

“It’s not that I have any other drive other than gutting you open. I won’t let you win because I think that’s the best way to crush your stupid ideal. I dare say, my goal deviated from defeating you to crushing you because of my pride.”

“Pride? Yeah, you are quite prideful aren’t you? So bad…really bad…that you just have to mock me. Even for someone really tiny, you are quite cheeky. Well, being cheeking against, me, Flow, is some--!”

I got tired of chitchatting so I fired a compressed golden flame towards his direction. I can’t bear to move my mouth anymore and talk to him. This is no mere aversion to the opposite gender, this is me, hating on this guy.

Flow, who almost got shot in the face, dodged in a panic. That’s to be expected but I find it satisfying breaking his composure. As he jumps sideways, he looks at me with flabbergasted countenance.

“What was that for?! Haven’t you heard of the in-battle dialogue?!”

“Whatever it is, it sounds stupid.”

“Hey, hey, hey, we need that to build up a good story!”

What is he even talking about?

I really don’t care about it when I give thought to it.

I jump towards the sky and spins forward. As I gained momentum, I slammed the nine glowing tails on Flow in which he of course dodges. I land on my own two feet and gave chase to him. He, on the other hand, runs away with a stupid grin.

“I like chases like this too once in a while!”

As soon as I heard him saying that, I stopped my pursuit.

When he realized that I am not following anymore, he turns his head around and looks at me with dismay. I only gave him a cold gaze and stayed at my place. I am not going to do what he thinks is fun.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“You’re a real party pooper huh…”

“I am not at least worried that you will run away from me.”

“Hmm, why is that?”

“Why? Aren’t you a warrior deep inside? Despite everything you told, you actually wanted a fight. That’s why you are here in the first place. I don’t know any more underlying motives but most likely, you are driven to become my enemy.”

“Ahahaha! What a splendid child!”

I realized it myself.

Despite our exchange of words, I’ve come to realize that I tried to peer inside his motive. I don’t usually do that, no, I am certain that the past me won’t even do something like that. I don’t care about my enemies when I have the strong intent to defeat them.

But now, I was able to deduce that he most likely has a motive under his motivation of being here. I find it quite vexing that I am starting to think about his circumstances.

It was no sympathy but another turn in my mind that made me anxious that if I defeat him without knowing why is he really here, I am going to be really pissed.

“So, why are you really here?”

“What good will it bring to you?”

“Hmm, nothing. Just asked. You are someone who brought Asagao pain, killed someone dear for her, and stole one of her friend’s soul. I want something to say when Asagao asked about you.”

“Is that it? Just promise me one thing.”

“There’s nothing far worse than agreeing to what you want to ask, however, for the sake of proceeding with this dumb talk, I will.”

“Ahahaha! Well…how do I start…”

That man, Flow, looks down as if he is embarrassed.

I feel like vomiting as I watch him do that gesture.

“I want to die.”

His words resounded in my ears.

“I don’t know about my Lord or the other members of the Order but, I, myself, desired death for a long time now. Phasing through thousands of revision, alas, I got tired.”

Asagao would probably feel a swelling compassion for this man, however, for me, if he desires it, I could grant it to him. Ultimately, I wish he could just stand in one place as I burn him to cinders.

“You were thinking that I should just stand on my ground and let you burn me to cinders huh? That’s not quite what I wanted.”

“You are not making any sense anymore. I won’t even look at you with sympathy if you are looking for one. Asagao may even try to persuade you to live despite what you have done to her but I am different.”

“Ahahaha! I bet she will! However, right now, you are my enemy. I want to die at the hands of a strong enemy. I want you to promise me that you will struggle to the bitter end to kill me or I will find another enemy for me to die, well, like your sisters.”

“So, if you don’t die here like you wanted, you will continue seeking strong enemies, right? There are plenty of stronger candidates than me.”

“They won’t do. They have outgrown their potentials already unlike you. The rush of blood inside of me wanted someone weak standing up on their ground and starts showing results of their strong resolve. As such, you are perfect.”

“Is that so…?”

“Yeah, seeing you stands up countless of time, I got thrilled. Something inside of me lits up.”

“I see…even without conceding to your promise, I would definitely stop you here.”

At this point, the boiling rage inside of me slowly cools down.

I really don’t care now for his reasons as it is somewhat stupid for me. I have no interests in Revision of whatsoever. However, Asagao surely wants to hear about this. I won’t boast that I defeated this man but if possible, I want her to know this man, Flow, wanted to happen.

Needless to say, I will put everything that I have in this battle.

“Alright, let’s do this. I will grant you your death, prove to you that you are no longer needed in this world.”

“Bad…this bad…you are really serious now.”

Wordlessly, I dash towards him with blazing trails of flames. I brandish the soul weapon, umbrella in my hand and thrusts it to his direction.

Seeing my actions, Flow didn’t say any more words and dashes upfront and swings his claw faster than I can react. My weapon got deflected upward and I lost my momentum but in return, I started attacking with my tails by thrusting them in exchange for my failed attempt with the umbrella.

Flow didn’t expect that my tails can do such maneuver and got caught off guard. All grazes his body but one that struck him on the shoulders. The leather armor he is wearing proved no chance of deflecting it.

To my surprise though, he swings his feet to me like one of my tails. Flow delivered a heavy kick to my left arm. The difference in strength was further emphasized as I felt my bone fracturing. I didn’t let it blow me away as I planted my feet on the ground and supported if further as I used a tail to support me.

Flow didn’t run and I hold my ground.

Seeing that he grinned madly, we continued a rabid exchange of blows. I immediately planted two of my tails on the ground behind me to keep me standing while seven of them are assaulting Flow endlessly. I am still having difficulty controlling them as they are not my real tails.

In return, Flow keeps swinging his claws to me but I deflect it with my soul weapon, the sturdiest I have at the moment. Everytime those two clashes, my hand trembles in numbness. His other attacks consist of kicks.

Even though his attacks are now kicks, it was no joke for me as he keeps causing me fractured bones. Other than my right hand that holds the umbrella to deflect the lethal claws, my left arm, left shoulder, both hind legs, shins, and even some of my ribs started creaking in pain.

Through these exchanges, I slowly learn that this man, Flow, is somewhat like me in regards to fighting specs. We are both necessarily tricky and upfront confrontation like this is not our forte, I can be ascertained that to my own. I am the type of person to attack from a distance and barrages them with fire and ice. I am not cut out for this long dragged battle.

But indeed, I am getting a lot of broken bones and injuries, however, the same goes to Flow. His battered body is slowly letting up on the attack. Even though they are grazes, it made considerable burns all over his body.

After several minutes or so I think, after one of my tail flew towards his flank and pierced him causing him to have an open wound with burnt skin, he immediately jumps away.

No matter, I am far worse in terms of physical conditions…

“Hey…this is too much for you but I think I am in no position to talk.”

“……”

Any more words can decisively break my concentration…

“A stature of a true standing warrior. You’ve grown from a little girl earlier to a formidable foe in such a short time. I know…I know…you won’t fall down unless dead. That’s why I am going to end this once and for all.”

“……”

“Your glare grew from a cold one to an eye determined to win. But, as I said earlier, I want to die but not to lose purposely. That’s why, with everything I’ve got, I will strike you.”

Lies…

He could actually be a bit more evasive and tricky with his movements.

But this is perfect…

“Co…me…”

I weakly uttered as my gait stagger.

Once and for all, as he said, this will end…

My body can’t take any more damage so I will unleash everything…

The fire burning in my heart shall burn you to cinders.