Chapter 106
Duo on Duo
Back with Ryle and Arkay, the two of them were locked in a fight to the death that wasn’t going in their favor at all. From the very start, the two elf assassins had been dominating the fight against them with ease, as both the blonde and the cat boy were struggling to even land a single hit on their respective foes.
Ryle was able to keep the damage she sustained from being fatal by using her senses honed through years of combat in order to avoid the attacks sent her way. The almost invisible wires that Aliza was using could cut through stone and steel, making them a lethal weapon that would cut their opponent to pieces once given the chance. Had any of Ryle’s reactions been even slightly slower, she would have ended up dead already. However, while she could use her senses and fast movements to avoid the worst of the attacks, the numerous wounds were starting to pile up and take their toll on her. What made it worse was that Ryle had no way of getting close to her opponent, which would put her in the more advantageous position.
While things weren’t looking good for the blonde, Arkay wasn’t doing much better. Denzer was easily the worst possible opponent for him to fight, as the elf boy excelled at close combat that wasn’t the cat boy’s specialty at all. To make the situation even worse for Arkay, Denzer was able to mix his attacks in a manner that was very hard to defend against. The elf boy’s weapon was a knife that could extend into a spear, both weapons that he was very skilled at using. By switching between these two, he could adapt to any situation and catch his opponents off guard. Had it not been for Arkay’s magical abilities that helped him push back at his attacker, he would have ended up dead long ago. However, Denzer was relentless in his attacks and was showing no signs of being worn out, unlike Arkay.
In short, Ryle and Arkay were both in deep trouble.
image [https://i.ibb.co/BBpxPBc/Ch-106-Pic-1.jpg]
“Honestly, this is a bit disappointing,” Aliza said as she swung her wires at Ryle, cutting through the stone ground. “I was hoping that you’d be at least able to give me some entertainment, but all I’ve felt so far is disappointment and annoyance! If you’re not going to make this fun for me, at least die quickly, so I can get this over with!”
“Oh, I’m so freaking sorry YOU’RE not having fun!” Ryle shouted angrily, as she jumped out of the way of the wires and used her whip to strike back. “If you want this to be over with, why don’t you just come over here for a second!? I’ll make just rearrange your face a bit and we can be done here!”
“Please. Your bravado isn’t charming or convincing in the least,” the elf woman said as she used her wires to block the whip. “Honestly, it sucks that you had to be my opponent. Why did you have to be fitting for my style of fighting?”
“The hell are you complaining about now!?” the blonde asked. “What do you mean I’m fitting for your fighting style!?”
“Isn’t it obvious to you? You’re even dumber than I thought,” Aliza said with a sigh as she sent another attack. “Throughout this whole “fight” of ours, you haven’t been able to even land a singke hit on me. This is because my techniques are the perfect counter against you. In short, you have no chance against me.”
“Well, aren’t you just getting full of yourself!” Ryle said as she dodged the attack sent her way, as a boulder where she used to stand got cut into pieces. “But that’s the type of crap people often say right before getting their asses kicked! Just you wait until I get my hands on you!”
“There you go again with the bravado… It’s tiring to listen to, you know?” the elf woman said with a sigh. “I wish I could have fought against your adorable little partner instead. I would have enjoyed that immensely. Too bad I have to be a professional above all else…”
“...What?” the blonde asked with wide eyes. “What do you mean by that?”
“Simple. Even though I’m an assassin, I still have my preferences. And that little kitty that came to help you? He’s exactly what I like,” Aliza explained as a twisted grin spread across her face. “Cute boys like him are just my favorite playthings. Making them scream and cry, as I cut them with my wires is simply music to my ears. And when they tearfully beg for mercy just for me to crush all that hope in one swift move? That is the greatest pleasure one could ever give me!”
“...You sick, twisted freak. I’m going to make you regret ever admitting something like that to me!” Ryle said as her anger was building up. “Now I know that I must kill you, not just for Arnie’s sake, but for all the victims you’ve tortured and killed, and the ones you will in the future! You’re going to hell today!”
“What’s the matter? Did I upset you?” the elf woman said with a smirk. “Don’t worry. If we finish this up quickly, I think I might get a chance to play little kitty boy. While Denzer does like to play, he’s a considerate boy. I’m sure he’ll let me have my fun with his target, even if he was supposed to handle him.”
Feeling her anger give her a boost of power, Ryle charged at her opponent while letting out a rage-filled roar. While a bit surprised by this, Aliza didn’t get caught up in the attack and was able to avoid it with ease. She was still a bit taken aback by the sudden change in her opponent’s way of fighting.
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Meanwhile, Arkay wasn’t doing too well against Denzer. He tried launching a fireball at the elf boy, but the magical attack was easily deflected by his opponent’s spear. Denzer then charged towards the cat boy, trying to pierce him with his weapon. Arkay managed to avoid the attack, but it was soon followed up by Denzer shrinking his weapon back to a knife and engaging in a close-range melee. Arkay was able to defend himself with his own knife to some degree, but was soon pushed back, causing him to fall backwards against a boulder. Before he could recover from hitting the back of his head, his shoulder was pierced and pinned by the spear, causing him to scream from pain.
“Would you stop screaming? It’s getting on my nerves,” Denzer said with a frustrated sigh. “It’s your fault anyways that this is getting so painful for you. If you simply stayed still and let me kill you, this would have been over and done already!”
“Sorry... for making this... difficult for you!” Arkay said defiantly as he grit his teeth from pain. “If killing people is such a bother, why not switch professions!?”
“When did I say anything about killing being a bother? In fact, I enjoy it!” the elf boy said as a smile began to spread over his face. “Especially, when it’s people like that lady of yours that you came to help…”
“W-What?” the cat boy asked in shock.
“You saw how she looked at me back in the Black Market. The type who makes assumptions due to their own preferences and is head over heels once they see what they like,” Denzer explained, as his smile morphed into a twisted grin. “Those types are always so fun to toy with. The look of shock and horror, once they realize that I am not as sweet and innocent as they think. The way they cry in disbelief as I stab them. Nothing is more fun than that.”
“Y-You’re a sick-!” Arkay began to say angrily, only to get cut off by the elf boy.
“But now I have to deal with YOU,” Denzer said, his voice dripping with malice and a look of hatred in his eyes. “The complete opposite of what I enjoy. If it wasn’t for the fact that you are completely helpless against me and therefore the perfect opponent for me, I wouldn’t have bothered dealing with you at all. The least you could do for me is making this easy, so I don’t have to waste anymore of my time here.”
“...Sorry, but I don’t take requests from the likes of you!” the cat boy said defiantly, as he grabbed hold of the spear piercing his shoulder.
Without giving his opponent any time to react, Arkay sent electricity through the weapon. Not only did this hit Denzer, but it also hurt Arkay as well. However, the shock was enough to cause the elf boy to back away, taking out his spear at the same time.
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“You… You really want to make this difficult, don’t you!?” Denzer asked, seething with anger. “Fine then! I’ll just torture you, until you beg me to end your life!”
“We’ll see about that!” Arkay said as he got up and prepared to continue their fight.
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While they might have felt a surge in willpower due to wanting to protect each other, both Ryle and Arkay were still not doing all that great. Even if they were able to land a hit or two, it was only minimal damage they were able to do against their respective foes. It was clear to both of them that in order for them to win, they needed a new plan and they needed it quick.
Fortunately, Arkay had an idea. While not on the same level as Zeldana, he had really good ears and had managed to hear the conversation between Ryle and Aliza. Thanks to that, he knew that both their opponents had twisted obsessions that they were dying to feed and that they actually wanted to face different foes. Even though he knew it was going to be risky, the cat boy realized that this was their best shot at winning.
Using a fireball to create a cloud of dust to temporarily blind his opponent, Arkay rushed towards Ryle. The blonde soon noticed her young friend running towards her and wondered what he was doing.
“Ryle, we gotta switch opponents!” Arkay yelled, before Ryle could ask what he was doing.
“What!? No!” the blonde said out of shock. “Arnie, she’s-!”
“I know what she’s like, but trust me!” the cat boy yelled, cutting her off. “This is the only way we can beat these two!”
Ryle still hesitated, knowing what might happen if Aliza got her hands on Arkay. However, seeing the determined look on his face convinced her that he knew what he was doing. The blonde might not have liked the idea, but she was now willing to through with it.
“Alright, I’ll trust you,” Ryle said. “But you better take care not to make me regret this, okay!?”
“You got it!” Arkay said with a smile, as he turned to face Aliza.
As this was happening, the elf assassin had been completely taken aback by the sudden development. On one hand, she felt like she should have remained professional and pursued Ryle, as she could easily defeat her. On the other hand, her more twisted side was taking over, as this was a chance for her to live out her darker desires and enjoy herself.
In the end, her desire was too great and she succumbed to it. A small grin came to her face, as she already imagined the things she would do to her new opponent.
“I have to say, this is a pleasant surprise,” Aliza said. “Although, are you sure about this? My brother isn’t exactly going to be a pleasant playmate with your friend.”
“Trust me, I am more than aware of what he’s like,” Arkay said. “But it’s you two who don’t realize just what type of people you’re dealing with here.”
“Oh, really now?” the elf woman said with a grin, as she prepared her wires. “I guess we’ll just have to see, don’t we? Whatever the case, I am going to enjoy this as much as possible.”
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Back with Denzer, the elf boy had remained at the spot Arkay had left him. Due to the dust that had been blasted at him, he had been effectively blinded and he couldn’t make any thoughtless moves. He was still on alert in case someone came attacking at him, so he could defend himself. Not only that, but even if his opponent had used this opportunity to run away, he was certain that he could chase him down, so he could take a moment to regain his senses.
However, after getting the dust out of his eyes and getting ready to go back into action, the elf boy was surprised to find a new opponent standing before him, as Ryle now stood before his eyes.
“Well, this is certainly a welcome surprise,” Denzer said with a smile. “Where did your little friend go? Did he cry and run to you for help?”
“No need to worry about him. He’s just going to beat kick your sister’s ass real quick,” the blonde replied as she glared at the elf boy. “He’s a thousand times tougher than the both of you put together. He’s no crybaby.”
“He’s facing my sister?” Denzer asked with a surprised look on his face. “That might have been a bit of a mistake. If you knew just what kind of a person she is, you’d be worried over your friend.”
“Trust me. I know just what kind of a sick freak she is,” Ryle said as she prepared her whip. “But you have better things to worry about. Like how you’re going to survive me.”
“Really now?” the elf boy said with a chuckle, before a twisted grin appeared on his face. “I THINK IT’S YOU WHO NEEDS TO WORRY!”
Denzer charged towards the blonde with his spear in his hands, aiming to impale his opponent. He was certain that he would get to enjoy his personal passion.
However, the elf boy was shocked, when his opponent stepped out of the way just as his attack was about to connect. This was followed by Ryle using her whip to wrap it around Denzer’s leg to trip him. Before he could even attempt to get up, he was flung away, causing him to hit a boulder.
“What the-!?” Denzer said as he struggled to get up, the impact still affecting his body. “Don’t get cocky just because-!”
“Yeah, yeah! I’ve heard that shit many times before,” Ryle said as she got ready to continue the fight. “Why don’t you just get your ass up and get back to fighting. Or do you need to run back to your sister and cry?”
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Back with Arkay, the cat boy was able to put Aliza under some pressure by using his magical abilities to launch projectile attacks at her. The elf woman was having a hard time dealing with the new onslaught of attacks and was starting to feel frustrated.
What she didn’t know was that Arkay was also in trouble. He might have been putting up a strong front, but his own injuries from his fight with Denzer were weighing on him. Not only that, but he was starting to run out of stamina and magic. The cat boy needed to find a way to end this quickly.
Luckily, he already had a plan. It would be very dangerous, but it would ensure his victory.
Shooting a fireball in a manner that looked like it was aimed at Aliza but was only meant to hit the ground close to her, Arkay created another large dust cloud that covered the area around them. The elf woman immediately used this opportunity to create distance between herself and the cat boy, and to maneuver behind him.
Much to her surprise, it looked like Arkay was still struggling with getting rid of the dust that had clouded his vision. This allowed her to send out her wires and wrap them around the cat boy’s throat. As the thin wires dug into his skin and drew blood, the assassin couldn’t help but grin maniacally. It seemed like her prey was at her mercy, just like she wanted.
However, little did she know that she was the one walking into a trap.
“My my… Weren’t you a troublesome little kitty? Too bad you decided to play around with us out of all people. That will be a costly mistake that you’ll have to pay for,” Aliza said smugly as she walked up to Arkay, making sure to keep her wires tight on her prey. Once she had reached him, she pressed her foot down on his back, just to leave him at the edge of having his throat sliced open. “Unless… You decide to make it worth my time to keep you alive. How about it? Are you willing to try and beg me for your life?”
“Sorry… but I don’t think… I’ll be doing that...” Arkay managed to say while struggling to speak.
“Oh? And why is that?” the elf woman asked.
“Because of this!” the cat boy said defiantly, as he took hold of the wires and used magic to run electricity through them.
With her hands connected to her wires, Aliza was also struck by the electrical shock Arkay had sent out. The surge of electricity was so high that it caused her to scream from pain and even black out for a moment.
image [https://i.ibb.co/M8XT1gs/Ch-106-Pic-2.jpg]
While the attack hadn’t been enough to kill her, it was more than enough to make her lose her hold on her weapon. This allowed Arkay to get out of the hold he was in and finish their fight. Even though he was on his last legs, as the electrical shock he had used had hurt himself as well, the cat boy was able through sheer willpower to pull out his knife and stab it into Aliza’s chest.
For a moment, the elf assassin simply stared down at the knife sticking out of her body with wide eyes, before couching up blood. She then fell to the ground while staring at Arkay in disbelief, unable to fathom that she had just been defeated by him.
Seeing as his opponent was no longer breathing, Arkay removed his knife from her body and tried to go find Ryle in order to help her. However, as soon as he took his first step, he fell down from pain coursing through his body. The damage he had suffered wasn’t something he could simply walk off, so he could only hope that his comrade was doing well enough that she didn’t need his help.
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Back with Ryle, the blonde fighter was easily dominating her fight against Denzer. The elf boy might have been a successful assassin and a skilled fighter, but Ryle was on another level. Due to being always paired with his sister and mostly using surprise attacks, Denzer was left completely helpless against a professional fighter with years of experience.
Despite the obvious difference in skill, the elf boy was still going to do everything he could to succeed in their mission. He wasn’t even looking to take pleasure in his personal obsession anymore. All he cared about now was that they wouldn’t lose.
“Ghh…! Dammit!” Denzer cursed as he grit his teeth from frustration. “I’m going to-!”
“You’re going to what?” Ryle asked as she broke the assassin’s spear with a simple kick. “Tell me just what you’re going to do with that broken toy of yours?”
The elf boy stared at the broken weapon in his hands with eyes wide from shock. The feeling of shock was soon taken over by a feeling of rage, after which he charged towards the blonde while holding the sharp end of the spear in his hands.
Ryle didn’t even bother dodging, as she simply grabbed her opponent’s arm and twisted it. The sound of bones breaking could be heard, as Denzer screamed from pain and dropped his weapon. This was followed by the blonde kicking the boy, causing him to fall to the ground.
Denzer struggled to get up, but as he was doing this something wrapped around his neck. Ryle had wrapped her whip around the elf boy’s neck and was now holding him up in the air. Denzer’s legs tried to desperately kick at her, as his remaining arm was trying to futilely get the whip from around his neck.
“P-Please… Don’t-” the elf boy tried to beg for his life, but it wasn’t working. Ryle knew just what he was and wasn’t going to show him any mercy.
“Sorry, but that’s not gonna work,” Ryle said coldly, as she pulled on the ends of her weapon, tightening it around Denzer’s neck. “I’m at least going to make this as quick and painless as possible, though.”
image [https://i.ibb.co/4RVPZnN/Ch-106-Pic-3.jpg]
A cracking sound could be heard, as the blonde used her weapon to break her enemy’s neck. As soon as this happened, his body went completely limp and lifeless. With her enemy now dead, she dropped him to the ground and began to walk away, only for her to stop to give Denzer one last glance.
“Damn… Such a waste,” Ryle said with a sigh as she continued to walk away.