--- [Jade’s perspective]

After running for a little while, I finally caught up to Rin.

The enemy base is right around the corner, yet she stopped to wait for me…

Why?

I expected her to run in and fight them on her own.

Is something wrong?

“You’re finally here!” – Rin

“What’s up? What are you waiting for? – Jade

“Oh, just to tell you not to interfere! I haven’t had the chance to fight other hunters in a while, only dungeon monsters. I wanna test out my abilities, so just stay back while I deal with them. Okay?” – Rin

Yup, that’s the Rin I know…

“Sure.” – Jade

--- [Rin’s perspective]

There are three of them in base, meaning two went to take our flag.

Three shouldn’t be an issue.

Let’s not waste any more time, it’s time to attack!

I run into their base and announce my presence.

“Hi!” – Rin

Clearly startled, they stumble around while preparing to fight.

I don’t think they expected anyone to show up all alone and give their location away like that; it took them by surprise.

I could have used that element of surprise to get the upper hand, but that’s not what I’m here for.

I’m here to test out my powers on real people.

People who can fight back intelligently with their own powers, come up with plans, and use teamwork to overcome their foes.

It’s nothing like fighting dungeon monsters…

They’re mostly mindless beasts, but even the ones who do have some resemblance of intelligent thought behind their actions are missing the secret ingredient that makes combat fun…

The human element.

The struggle, the triumph, the desperation, the hope, the despair, the imperfections, the luck, and the sheer emotion…

All of that is missing when fighting monsters.

“You two! Take her out, I’ll protect the flag!”

“Got it!”

Before they know it, I’m on the other side of the room, waving around their flag.

“You mean this?” – Rin

“What the?!”

These guys are so slow…

How am I supposed to have any fun if they can’t even react to me?

“Don’t let her get away with that!”

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I put the flag back down.

“Don’t worry, I won’t run away.” – Rin

Let’s see what they’re made of.

The one who was supposed to guard the flag activates his ability.

A set of stone armor wraps itself around him, protecting every part of his body.

I try to hit him, but all it does is hurt my hand.

“Heh! This brat might be fast, but she’s weak as hell!”

“You’re right… Without my specialty, I’d never get through your armor.” – Rin

He tries to hit me, but there’s no use.

It’s like his fist moves in slow motion.

Again and again, he continues to throw blow and blow, but the result is still the same…

His fist will never reach me.

Even while the stone armor guy is actively trying his best to hit me, I get bored and ask the next person about their powers.

“What about you? What’s your power?” – Rin

“…”

None of them respond, it’s like they’re in shock.

Seeing me dodge all his attacks like it’s nothing must seem impossible to slow creatures like them.

This is yet another moment I could have taken advantage of to take them all out, but I chose not to.

I don’t want to win before even knowing what their specialties are.

They quickly snap back to reality and realize that they have to work together to defeat me.

The one I spoke to earlier points his palm at me, and shards of ice shoot out of it.

He unsuccessfully tracks my movements, and the shards pierces right through the walls of the base.

They’d probably do the same to me if they ever hit…

Luckily, they won’t.

The last guy puts his hands together and activates his ability.

I can’t immediately tell what it is, but I know he’s using it from the glow in his eyes.

Mere seconds later, I trip over and fall.

“What the?!” – Rin

I try to get back up, but I’m unable to.

It’s like the circuitry in my body is all jumbled up!

The guy with the ice shards points his palms at me, and shoots.

As the projectile slowly approaches me, I desperately try to get back up, but to no avail.

I try grabbing the ground and pulling myself away, but instead I lift my arms into the air.

The shards get closer and closer…

I try kicking myself away with my right leg, and instead end up curling my left.

It’s almost here!

I try using my core to lift myself up, but all I do is push myself down into the ground.

I need to get away!

I desperately try moving, but nothing seems to work…

I try to reach my left arm forward, but instead my right arm goes backwards.

Wait…

I get it!

My movements aren’t jumbled up, they’re inverted…!

Right before the shard hits me, I carefully concentrate on doing the exact opposite of what I want.

It wasn’t easy, but I barely managed to roll away in time.

Just as I got away, I see another ice shard shooting towards me.

Had it not been for my speed, it’d be over by now…

I need to take out the guy messing with my movements first.

Standing up in this condition would be almost impossible, let alone running.

I need to take him out while still on the ground.

Having had some practice with it already, I roll towards him.

I slowly and carefully move my arm towards his leg.

He doesn’t pull his leg back, or attempt to get away from me in any way…

It seems his specialty only works if he’s concentrating on that, and that alone.

I straighten out my fingers, then carefully make them touch his leg.

As I activate my ability, a coat of lightning envelops my limbs.

Despite it being lightning, it doesn’t shock people.

What it does do however is cut!

I yank my arm back, and a deep gash appears on his ankle.

The pain takes over, and he quickly steps back on instinct.

Due to the wound, he’s unable to stand up, and falls over.

His ability fades away, and before the ice shard can hit me, I get back up.

“Phew… That was close.” – Rin

He screams in agony as blood gushes out from his wound.

“Stay down and I won’t hurt you any more than I already have.” – Rin

He repeatedly nods as he desperately tries to stop the bleeding.

“Next is you.” – Rin

I dash over to the guy with the ice powers and shove my fingers deep into his palm before he’s able to shoot again.

The bleeding is just as intense, and he too gives up just as quickly.

The last guy however is a little different…

He seems confident I won’t get past his armor.

Just like before, he tries to hit me, but none of his punches are even remotely close to connecting.

I slash him from every side, but I can’t seem to break through.

I could easily just grab the flag and leave…

Should I…?

No…

That’s no fun!

I obviously can’t get through his armor by any normal means, so I’ll have to get creative.

Instead of attacking from every angle, I go for the same spot repeatedly.

Slowly but surely, I slice deeper and deeper into his armor.

It doesn’t take long for him to realize what is happening, and he accepts the inevitable; I will get through.

Be it smart or cowardly, he lays down on the ground and surrenders before I can hurt his real body.

“You win, okay?! Please don’t hurt me!”

“Okay!!” – Rin

I have no problems hurting someone in a fight, but that’s not the reason why I like fighting.

I like it because I like it; it’s just fun!

If they admit defeat, there’s no point in hurting them.

“Thanks for the good fight! I had a lot of fun!” – Rin