As Lucia's attacks on Tobi seemed as though she would never land a direct hit on him. She stopped and paused for a moment.

Silently letting out a little giggle and a wholesome laughter.

Lucia's sudden laughter caught Tobi off guard, her laughter echoing around them like a haunting melody. He watched warily as she raised her sword, a sense of unease creeping into his gut.

As she raised her blade slowly bringing it close to her face, symmetrically dividing her face in half, adopting the stance of a seasoned fencer, Tobi's eyes narrowed in suspicion. He had undergone all sorts of training under Naiara's tutelage, but none quite like the girl before him. Her laughter, her demeanor, it was all so unsettling to him.

And then, with a quiet determination, Lucia began to imbue mana into her sword. Tobi's breath caught in his throat as he watched the katana-like blade start to glow, the symbols etched into its surface pulsating with otherworldly energy.

In that moment, Tobi knew he was facing something far more dangerous than he had anticipated. Lucia wasn't just a skilled warrior; she was a mage, wielding the power of mana with deadly precision.

Tobi recalled one of his lessons with Naiara, where she discussed the concept of irregular mages. These individuals possessed not only formidable magical abilities but also honed their skills in close combat, making them exceptionally dangerous adversaries. Naiara had warned Tobi that attempting to gauge the strength of irregular mages was a perilous task, as their prowess extended beyond conventional measurements.

In combat, irregular mages defied easy categorization. Traditional assessments of magical aptitude or martial prowess fell short when applied to them, as their capabilities transcended the limitations of standard evaluation. Their fluidity between magical and physical techniques made them unpredictable and adaptable in battle, rendering conventional strategies ineffective against them.

Naiara emphasized the inherent uncertainty surrounding irregular mages, highlighting the inherent risks of underestimating or misjudging their abilities. In the heat of combat, their potential could shift dramatically, presenting unforeseen challenges and opportunities that could alter the course of a confrontation in an instant. As Tobi faced Lucia, he couldn't help but recall Naiara's cautionary words, recognizing the gravity of the situation before him.

As the mana-filled sword hummed with power, Tobi braced himself for what was to come. He knew he had to act fast, before Lucia unleashed whatever dark magic she had at her disposal.

With a fierce cry, Tobi launched himself at Lucia as fast as an arrow on full throttle, he formed a sword out of mana as he charged towards her, his own sword held high in a defensive stance. He knew he had to disarm her, to stop whatever spell she was preparing before it was too late.

But Lucia was ready for him. With a swift motion, she parried his strike, her blade meeting his with a force that sent shockwaves through the environment. Lucia gritted her teeth, pushing against his sword with all her strength, but Tobi held his ground, his eyes blazing with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

With a calculated motion, Tobi unleashed a surge of power that sent Lucia hurtling backward like a ragdoll, her body crashing into a nearby rock with a sickening thud. The impact left her momentarily dazed, struggling to regain her bearings as Tobi stood over her, his stance unwavering, and his expression steely.

For a moment, there was only the sound of Lucia's labored breaths, the wind whispering through the mountain pass as Tobi surveyed the scene before him. He knew he had the upper hand, his strength and skill far surpassing that of his opponent.

But as Lucia slowly picked herself up, a fierce determination burned in her eyes, undeterred by the setback she had just endured. Tobi watched her with a mixture of caution and respect, knowing that despite her apparent disadvantage, she was not one to be taken lightly.

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With a silent nod of acknowledgment, Tobi prepared himself for the next phase of their battle, knowing that Lucia would not go down without a fight. She may have been thrown off balance momentarily, but she was a fighter to her core, driven by a sense of duty that matched his own.

And so, with a renewed sense of focus, Tobi readied himself for the onslaught to come, as Lucia was on getting to her feet again.

Lucia's breath came in ragged gasps as she staggered to her feet, her body battered and bruised from the relentless onslaught. Blood trickled down her arm, staining the earth beneath her as she limped towards her fallen sword. With a desperate lunge, she snatched it from the ground, her fingers closing around the familiar hilt with a mixture of relief and determination.

But as she knelt there, her gaze fixed upon the dark figure of Tobi standing before her, a wave of doubt washed over her. Despite the chaos of battle, she couldn't help but see him in a new light—an imposing figure, a force to be reckoned with.

His hair, once a shade of gentle blue, now seemed to ripple with an otherworldly energy, his eyes ablaze with a fierce intensity that sent shivers down her spine. Though nothing about him had physically changed, she now perceived him as something more than just a mere opponent—he was a predator, a creature of unparalleled strength and cunning.

In that moment, Lucia realized the true extent of the challenge that lay before her. She was not just fighting against Tobi; she was fighting against the very essence of his being, a force of nature that defied comprehension.

Lucia reminisced about her past days as the feared "mad dog" of the Holy Empire, a title bestowed upon her for her relentless pursuit of justice against those who strayed from the path of righteousness.

"Was it truly worth it? All those days, in the confines of my father's ever gazing eyes, was it worth to be molested by my father? Was it worth it all those monster hunts expeditions? Why couldn't I just have a normal childhood like the children of the kingdom? Why am I stuck in the holy empire?" As Lucia faced Tobi in battle, she couldn't help but question the usefulness of her past accolades.

"Is this thing human or perhaps a monster," she pondered.

"You... Mon..monster," Lucia said under her breath.

"Say what? You calling me a monster? I don't even know who or what you are," Tobi said to Lucia, his tone a mix of confusion.

"You are a monster!" Lucia yelled.

"I see," Tobi said softly, his tone calm and resolute. "There is no point in further discussions. I will now proceed to end," he declared, as he peered into Lucia's eyes.

She let's out a big smile, "you just might be able to fulfil my long wish."

Lucia charged towards Tobi, her sword glowing with the ethereal energy of mana, a primal roar tore from her throat, echoing through the mountain pass. With each step, her determination surged, fueled by the urgency of her mission.

Tobi braced himself for the impending clash, his senses sharpened as he prepared to meet Lucia's onslaught head-on. With a swift motion, he raised his own sword, ready to parry her attack and turn the tide of battle in his favor.

But as Lucia leaped into the air, her sword raised high above her head, a surge of adrenaline pulsed through Tobi's veins. With lightning reflexes, he moved to intercept her, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.

In that fleeting moment of impact, their swords met with a thunderous crash, sending shockwaves rippling through the surrounding landscape. A whirlwind of dust and frost enveloped them, obscuring their figures from view as the force of their collision reverberated through the earth.

For a heartbeat, time seemed to stand still, the world holding its breath as the two adversaries clashed in a symphony of steel and mana. And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the frenzy of dust and frost began to settle, revealing the aftermath of their titanic struggle.

Both fighters were no where to be found, the 'Mad Dog' had disappeared so did her adversary.

The holy knights whom were frozen in their tracks after Tobi had appeared could now move.

The once formidable ranks of the holy knights now crumbled like a castle under siege. With the cessation of the titanic clash between the revered mad dog and the mysterious challenger, the knights found themselves free from the paralyzing grip of mana's chaotic dance. Yet, their relief was short-lived as they were greeted by a scene of utter destruction.

Kneeling amidst the debris of their shattered pride, the knights emptied their guts in a futile attempt to purge the lingering dread that clung to their souls. From afar, they had witnessed the cataclysmic display of raw power unleashed by the combatants, but even their vantage point couldn't shield them from the overwhelming aura of the battle.

As they surveyed the aftermath, a collective sense of unease settled over the knights. The absence of their revered mad dog and the enigmatic challenger left a palpable void, echoing with the haunting echoes of their clash. With trembling hands and faltering resolve, the knights searched in vain for any sign of their vanished champion, their hearts heavy with fear.