She aimed it at the rabid beast approaching her.

….

…

..

.

A dead horse and several men and women stood in the forest.

Next to the horse was a man who had his head stomped into a pink paste interspersed with bone fragments.

“Furor, did you really have to kill the guy?” Ruby asked. She shook her head looking at the corpse.

As always, he responded boisterously.

“The fuck was that you hag? You wanted to spare this piece of fucking garbage!?” He shouted.

“Furor we could have used him for info. Use your head more.”

She approached the fallen man and searched his pockets.

“Fuck off. We don't need that shit. We go in, do what we're supposed to and leave. And as long as Elizabeth's busy I'm the one in charge here, you hear!?”

The group gave disinterested sighs all around but reluctantly followed when he began moving. Ruby shrugged her shoulders after searching the man's body and got up.

Lily and Tina stayed at the back of the group with Nora walking slightly ahead of them.

Lily walked with her hands behind her head and turned her attention to Tina. It was obvious Tina was thinking about something.

“I'm surprised you kept quiet while he talked.” She said. Tina rolled her eyes and continued walking.

“Tch, I have better things to focus on than whatever that bastard has to say.” She returned to her thoughts.

“Really, Pinky?”

Tina didn't respond and continued walking.

“Huh, it must be important.”

“Let her think,” Nora interjected. “After all, this must be something she's thought about for a while. Lily, how do you feel about this whole thing?”

“How do I feel?” She looked up and shrugged. “I thought I'd feel more emotional coming here but it's kinda creepy how calm I feel right now.”

“Is that a good or a bad thing?” Nora asked.

“No idea. I might stay like this for the rest of this or I might explode after I pull my knife out and kill one of those bastards. For the time being, I guess I don't mind it.”

Nora left it at that and they continued walking along. That is until she noticed something. She looked around a few times and even eyed down the front of the pack.

(“Nigel, Ruby, Furor, Dennis, Josh, Agatha, Tyrel…”)

She looked behind her yet again.

Lily noticed her and was somewhat curious. “What's up, Nora?”

“I think I'm overthinking this but… where's Kevin?”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

This caught the attention of all the adventurers present and they all started looking around.

Furor showed no concern and continued walking. “That bastard will show up eventually. If he doesn't, I'll kill him myself.”

….

…

..

.

His mane grew longer and his body looked like it had shot up two weight classes.

Elizabeth fired the arrow at him and he swatted it out of the air. He brought his hand down and it left four evenly spaced claw marks on her chest plate. She dodged the blow but it seemed she underestimated him.

(“It's likely he ingested the powder. Thankfully he hasn't turned out like that bald asshole.”)

Leo's eyes were bloodshot and he swiped at her along with slashes from his sword.

(“This is amazing!”) He thought to himself. This was the first time he had used the powder. He initially had doubts it wouldn't work on him due to his lack of magic but he was pleasantly surprised.

His body was moving at speeds he could only dream of achieving. He managed to slash away at her hair and she used the crossbow as a bludgeoning weapon, slamming it into his torso. He clamped on it when he caught it and broke it like it was made of cheap plastic.

“Haha try as you-” He narrowly dodged a punch and caught her side with his claws. She showed no reaction and grabbed his hand, pulling him closer for a headbutt. He welcomed this and both slammed their foreheads into each other's.

She scoffed as she felt blood flow down her forehead and Leo laughed at her before getting his legs swept. She showed no mercy when she attacked and landed a remorseless kick on his crotch.

He kicked the floor to back away and threw his sword at her to buy himself some time. When he returned to his feet, she slammed the sword into his shoulder. He managed to stop it with the claws on one of his hands and stabbed the other hand towards her torso. Elizabeth jumped over it and sliced at him.

She caught part of his mane but other than that, he was unharmed.

“Blasted woman, just let me kill you already!”

He turned around into a blind swing but Elizabeth was already several metres away.

“Need a breather? Sorry, but I'm gonna end it here.” He chuckled before making his way over.

She touched her side with one of her arms and looked at the blood. (“It seems like I've been holding back too much.”)

She threw the sword in the other hand and readied herself.

(“Is she ambidextrous? Hmph what use is switching your arm?”)

He brought his hand down and blood flew in the air. But it wasn't the blonde adventurer’s blood but his own. He showed no hesitation backing and gazed at his hand. Four of his fingers had been cleanly bisected, leaving his thumb as the only whole finger.

Elizabeth clicked her tongue looking at her arm with the sword.

“I should have known it wasn't going to be as precise as the other arm.”

“What? Other arm? What the hell are you talking about!?” He shouted. “Are you telling me you've been using your less proficient arm this entire time!?”

This was right but it wasn't the whole truth. Elizabeth had seen this fight as a test of sorts. To test whether using her non-dominant would affect her capabilities in battle and how noticeable it would be. She considered her swordplay exceedingly sloppy for this battle so she was thankful the others weren't here to watch her. But there was also another reason.

(“I was hoping I could save my good arm for a stronger opponent but I can't afford to take careless damage before I encounter that bastard in black.”)

She blocked and parried the now desperate strikes of Leo.

(“Fuck off you whore, you think changing an am is going to do me in!?”)

He fought more conservatively and kept such obvious strikes to a minimum. He didn't lose his fingers to her change; he lost them to his own carelessness. He told himself that and pushed her further backwards, backing away to retrieve a spear on the floor.

(“Now I don't have to worry about her cutting my hand, you're finished.”)

He swung down with the spear but she blocked the with her sword and ran closer, her sword still rubbing against the shaft of the spear.

(“Her sword arm is busy, heh she's finished.”)

Within striking distance, he let go of the spear and moved both his hands towards it. He'd either stab with his thumb or slash her face with his healthy hand. The tides of battle would turn in his favour.

But before that could happen he wondered why he wasn't moving her sword.

(“She hasn't attempted to block, wh-”)

A chill ran down his spine. He was so used to fighting with that arm earlier, he didn't realise. She was using her weaker arm. He looked to see what the other arm was doing. That arm had pulled out the sword she left in its sheath.

Like a gunslinger, she drew her weapon and ended it in moments.